IMPROVEMENTS IN NECK SCARFS and in what,
Year: 1885

page_text: I JAMES FREDERICK BABCOCK of Bangor in the county of Penobscot State of
Maine one of the United States of America do hereby declare the nature of the
said invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN NECK SCARFS and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in' and by
the following statement :—
My invention relates to an improvement in scarfs or ties for neck wear of the
class that is made in permanent form and is not tied when worn but is secured in
place by a narrow strip or neck band passing around the collar of the shirt or by an
elastic loop passing over the collar button of the shirt and is illustrated in the
accompanying drawing in which figure 1 is a front view of a neck scarf shewing
the top and bottom of the front so formed as to be vertically reversible; figure 2,
is a back view of the scarf shewing the top and bottom of the back so formed as
to be vertically reversible and also a form of attachinent of the detachable
neckband and different methods of securing the scarf in position; figure 3, is a
back view of a different style of scarf shewing the top and bottom made in
different styles but still reversible. Similar letters refer to corresponding parts
throughout the several figures.
In the use of the various styles of neckwear of the class to which my invention
is applicable it is well known that the ends of the scarf are subject to very
unequal wear the upper end becoming rapidly frayed and defaced while the lower
end being protected from exposure by the coat or waist-coat of the wearer preserves
its texture and freshness. When the upper end becomes defaced the scarf is
discarded and the whole material of the lower end is lost.
The object of my invention is to provide a scarf or tie of any of the various
styles possible of the class named that shall permit of the utilization of its lower
end either alternately with the upper end or after the upper end is worn out.
As before stated the kinds of neckwear to which my invention is applicable are
secured in position by a narrow strip or neckband passing over the collar and
around the neck or by an elastic loop stretched over the collar button.
In the former case the neckband is permanently attached to one of the upper
corners of the scarf or to a shield or backing secured to the upper part of the back
side of the scarf by stitches at each corner of the shield or wherever necessary and
passing around the neck of the wearer is introduced on the opposite side of the
scarf between the scarf and shield drawn sufficiently tight to hold the scarf in
037

page_text: position and secured by a pin or spike projecting from the lower edge of the shield
which must have sufficient stiffness to retain its shape when the scarf is adjusted
in position and the neckband secured. The shield is sometimes made of the same
material as the scarf itself when the texture of that material is sufficiently
firm but is more frequently reinforced with paste board or some light and stiff
substance.
The elastic loop fastening is used only upon the shields of scarfs intended to be
worn with turn-down collars. It is attached to the back side of the shield nearly
in its centre and is of such length that when stretched over the collar button it
shall by its elasticity hold the upper edge of the scarf in contact with the inner
side of the fold of the collar. A great variety of styles of scarfs may be used with
these methods of fastening and the shape of the shield varies according to the
style of the scarf to which it is attached.
I accomplish my object by fashioning the top and bottom A, and B, of the front
surface of the scarf similarly, that is so that both top and bottom (though not
necessarily alike in style) are adapted to be exposed to view as the tops of scarfs
commonly are or in other words so that either end may be used as the top of the
scarf. The shape of the top and bottom of the back of the scarf is made to
conform to the shape of the top and bottom of the front and I provide both the top
and bottom of the back with the shields C, C, or other stiffening material when
required, thus making the body of the scarf vertically reversible, the shields C, C,
serving to afford a firm point of attachment at each end of the scarf for the
appliances by which the scarf is held in position when in use.
If the scarf is intended to be held in position by the elastic loop fastening
I provide such a loop D, upon each of the shields C, C. In the form of scarf shewn
in figure 3, the form of the shield at the upper end differs from that more
commonly used and shewn in figure 2, and extends around the front of the scarf
forming a portion of the part of the scarf exposed to view when the scarf is in
use but the portion of the shield on the back side of the scarf performs the same
function as that shewn in figure 2, viz: affords a firm point of attachment for the
appliance by which the scarf is held in position.
If the scarf is designed to be secured by a neck band passing around the neck
I form such neck band entirely separate from the scarf and provide one end of it
with a suitable means for attaching it to the shields C, C; My neckband is shewn
at E E in the several figures. In figures 2, and 3, I have shewn it provided with
the hooks a, a, adapted to engage with the eyes or loops b, b, upon the corners c, c,
of the shields C, C, but I do not confine myself to this form of attachment the
essential feature of this part of my invention being the detachable neckband E, E,
which may be attached to the shields by hooks, clamps, springs, or any suitable
mode of fastening.
In this way the scarf is made vertically reversible and the neck band detachable,
the latter being arranged to be attached to either end of the scarf. I thus provide
a means of using both ends of the scarf until all the material is completely worn
out and thus obtain twice as much use from the scarf as is afforded by those
hitherto used.
It is obvious that there may be various applications of my invention. The top
and bottom may be made of the same material and fashioned either alike or in
different styles or they may be made of different material and fashioned alike or in
different styles. Both kinds of fastening may be used on the same end of the.
same scarf or only one kind or one kind on one end and the other on the opposite
end or one kind of fastening may be used on one end and both on the other. The
detachable neck band may also be used with scarfs not reversible and the elastic
loop may be used on the same scarf together with the detachable neckband if
desired.
I do not claim any of the forms of fastening neckwear that are in use or a
neckband broadly or an elastic loop or the shields to which the fastening is

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
(1). A scarf or tie for neckwear having a vertically reversible front and back,
both the upper and lower ends of the front surface of the said scarf being fashioned
similarly or so formed that either of said ends as desired may be exposed to view
as a neck scarf and having the upper and lower ends of the back surface of said
scarf each adapted to receive and fitted with a shield or backing C.
(2). In a scarf for neckwear the combination of the vertically reversible front
and back, shields C, C, and elastic loops D, D.
(3). In a scarf for neckwear the separate detachable neckband EE provided
with a suitable means of attachment to and detachment from the scarf.
(4). In a scarf for neck wear the separate detachable neckband E E provided
with a suitable means for attachment to and detachment from the scarf in
combination with a shield or backing C, adapted to be connected with the said
neck band and pin or spike S.
(5). In a scarf for neckwear the combination of a vertically reversible front
and back, separate detachable neck band E, E, provided with a suitable means of
attachment to and detachment from the scarf or shields; shields or backings C, C,
adapted to be connected with said neckband and pins or spikes S, S.
(6). In a scarf for neck wear the combination of a vertically reversible front and
back, separate detachable neck band E E provided with a suitable means of
attachment to and detachment from the scarf or shields; shields or backings C, C,
adapted to be connected with the said neckband; pins or spikes S, S and elastic
loops D, D.