Improvements in Neckties.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 13th July, 1897-Accepted, 14th Aug.,
1897
Improvements in Neckties.
We, THE HAND-TIED CRAVAT COMPANY of No. 238 Montgomery Street, in the
City and County of San Francisco, State of California, U.S.A., a Corporation duly
organized and existing under and by virtue of the laws of the State of California,
U.S.A., and CHARLES WADE TUDOR DAVIES President of the above Company, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
This invention relates to an improved article of neck wear specially designed for
ladies and gentlemen's use.
It consists in the novel construction of a tie, with means for securing it upon
the neck, and a connection in front between the two parts whereby the ends
extending beyond the connection may be made up in any suitable or desired form
of tie without being subjected to the strain necessary to retain in place that part
which surrounds the neck.
It also consists in details of construction which will be more fully explained by
reference to the accompanying drawings, in which-
Figure 1 is a view shewing the tie or scarf open;
Figure 2 shews it closed;
Figures 3, 4 and 5 show modified forms.
In Figures 1 and 2, the tie is made in two parts, A and B.
The rear part of the
tie has a hook, buckle or any suitable or desired form of fastening by which it can
be connected together at the rear of the collar, as shewn at C.
This connection may be partly formed with an elastic or it may be rigid at this
point.
Between the two parts A and B is fixed a connection D which may be of any
desired material, elastic or inelastic, and permanently fixed or detachable as
desired.
This connection is fixed at such a point that it will bear firmly against the front
portion of the collar when the rear portion has been united together, as previously
described. If the rear portion be provided with the elastic, it is not indispens-
able to make the front connection also elastic, but if the rear portion is inelastic
this front connection is preferably made elastic.
This leaves the projecting ends of the tie free, and a bow or any other suitable
form of knot which is desired may be made and drawn up with any degree of ten-
sion or looseness to make a fine and perfectly natural appearance. This is rendered
possible because there is no strain brought upon the tie forward of the connecting
band D to retain it in place about the collar, other than just sufficient to hold it
when made up, well in position at the collar front.

page_text: This front connection will also readily lend itself as a device to prevent the tie
from slipping up, as the edge of it when drawn taut will pass beneath the collar
button and thus hold the parts down in place.
If made elastic, it fits closely to the curvature of the collar, and it will be found
impossible for it to slip out of place after once being attached, thus keeping the
whole neck band snugly covering the space between base of collar and shirt.
It will be manifest that the ordinary bow-knot, Ascot or other well known desir-
able form of ties can be constructed. in this manner, the advantage being in réliey-
ing the portion forward of the fastening D from all pull or strain and allowing it
to be tied in any loose graceful form, and also in the absolute security of its position
both at front and around the collar.
While this invention has been above described with special reference to a certain
form of necktie, it will be understood that it includes the application of the con-
nection D to various other forms, whether permanently made up or designed to be
tied by hand.
In those made up varieties which are constructed to fasten around the neck-band
at rear of collar, such for instance, as the adjustable band-bow as commonly con
structed and as shewn on Figure 5, the connection D is preferably secured at both
its ends to the inner side of the neck-band immediately behind the made up knot
and to each side thereof, where its functions are similar to those already described
for the previously described form, viz., to relieve the knot from strain, while in-
cidentally dispensing with the necessity for the usual metal retainer which tends
so much to stiffen and otherwise disfigure the appearance of the knot.
In those made up ties, however, which are made to fasten in front, like the Teck"
and Puff as commonly constructed, see Figure 3, one end only of the connection D
need be secured to the inner side of neckband beside the knot, while its free end is
provided with a pin, or other fastening device, whereby it may engage the free end
of the neckband. When thus fastened around the collar, the surplus end of the
neckband may be inserted into the usual opening in the head of the knot without
having to engage the pin or other fastening contrivance generally concealed in the
body of the knot under this construction.
As this purpose is entirely fulfilled by the connection D, the necessity for these
fastening devices is dispensed with.
Similarly with those ties which are designed for tying by hand, such as we have
indicated at Figure 4, for instance, as the Club tie and Four-in-hand, the conare
tion need be secured to one side only of the neckband and fastened as described
with reference to the Teck and l'uff, thus leaving two free extensions ready for
tying purposes. In this case the action is similar to that explained under the
first described form, save that owing to the absence of an opening in the rear
of the neckband, it becomes necessary to tie and untie the knot on each occasion
of wearing.
In all forms which fasten in front of the collar it is preferred that the connec-
tion should be made adjustable in length, so that ties of standard make may
be adjusted as to the neckband to suit varying sizes of collars. The attachment
may also be furnished separately, adjustable or otherwise, and provided with
fastening devices at each end to engage the inner side of tie as above explained.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is :-
1. A necktie comprising a center piece and two side pieces secured thereto, said
side pieces extending rearwardly from the centre piece to form the neck-band and
also extending forwardly from the said piece to form the tying or made-up portion
of the tie, and a separable attaching means for connecting the free ends of the
rear extensions.
2. An attachment for a necktie consisting of a connection secured to the inner ¿

page_text: side of the neckband, immediately behind the knot and to each side thereof, to
relieve the knot from strain.
side of the neckband, immediately behind the knot and to each side thereof, to
relieve the knot from strain.
Dated this Thirteenth day of July, 1897.