Shirt collar form
A collar forming device which is configured to at least maintain shape and add structure to a collar in an article of clothing comprising: flexible material which is worn at least inside and around the collar of an article of clothing.
This application is a continuation in part of and claims priority to U.S. Patent Provisional application No. 61/344,003, filed May 5, 2010, entitled Shirt Collar Form.
This substitute application contains no new matter and is provided as a correction to the application Ser. No. 13/068,242 originally filed on May 5, 2011.
BACKGROUNDCollared shirts inherently do not have the necessary rigidity around the collar to keep shape and maintain structure while buttons near the collar are undone, typically leading to the shirt collar widening, spreading and sitting in an undesirable location. This results with a collar that becomes spread too wide in an undesirable fashion.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONAccording to an embodiment of the present invention and not intended to limit the scope of the invention, a collar forming device comprises: a body, at least one arm configured to be capable of forming the shape of a collar. The collar forming device is designed to be used while the user is wearing an article of clothing that has a collar. This invention was created to add structure, control and form the collar on various types of articles of clothing for both male and female users. For one embodiment of this invention, the device is placed in the same area where a neck tie would sit within the folded over collar and neck area of an article of clothing. The inserted device adds the necessary structure to the collar, and provides the user with adjustability so a shirt or article of clothing can maintain the desired shape or form of the collar and collar opening while being worn.
In another embodiment of the present invention, a collar forming device comprises: at least one collar support, and an article of clothing that is configured with at least a pocket and loop at least under the collar and around and inside to at least adhere and attach the collar support to the article of clothing. With the collar support attached to a collared article of clothing, the collar forming device is capable of at least shaping and adding structure to the collar while being worn so the user can adjust or maintain the desired shape or form of the collar and collar opening while being worn.
The collar forming device will be described more with reference to
The collar forming device body 2 comprises a material that may be made of a flexible material such as fabrics, interfacing, organic materials, paper materials, composites, cardboards, plastics and metals or any combination thereof. More preferably, fabric is used in this embodiment. The collar forming device body 2 may take any shape, such as but not limited to a rectangular shape, an angled shape, a multi-angled shape, curved shape, a circular shape, hemispherical shape, or any combination of the previously mentioned. The design may comprise a plurality of dimensions in thickness, length and width. Dimensions could be of any size, preferably between 1 inch to 20 inches in length, 0.025 inches to 3 inches in width and 0.05 inches to 0.5 inches in thickness. More preferably between 3 inches and 18 inches in length, 0.5 inches to 2 inches in width and 0.0625 inches to 0.25 inch in thickness, depending on application.
Referring now to
The arms 3, may be comprised and constructed from various rigid and malleable materials including but not limited to metals, wire, rubber, plastics, fabrics, composites, memory materials and organic materials. The function of the arms 3 is to give structure to the collar forming device which results in added structure and forming capabilities to a collar in an article of clothing. The design may comprise a plurality of dimensions in thickness, length and width. Dimensions for the arms 3, could be of any size, preferably between 1 inch to 30 inches in length, 0.01 inch to 5 inches in thickness, and 0.01 inch to 5 inches in width. More preferably between 3 inches and 20 inches in length, 0.01 inch to 0.25 inches in thickness and 0.01 inch to 0.25 inches in width, depending on application.
In this particular embodiment (the design is not to be limited in any way by this particular example), the arms 3 are comprised of two individual pieces of at least malleable and rigid material which when inserted into the body pocket 4 from opposite sides of the body 2 are held in place from the friction of the two arms 3 bypassing and touching each other. Additionally the pocket 4 is configured so that when the arms 3 are inserted into it, additional friction created to prevent the arms 3 from unnecessary movement.
Referring now to
One example of how the collar forming device 1 can be installed is by completely folding up the shirt collar 10 and the collar flaps 9 & 11 and placing the collar forming device 1 (held parallel to the ground), along the shirt neck 12 centering it to the rear of the shirt collar 10 wrapping it around the shirt neck 12 and bending the collar forming device 1 to the contour of the neck of the individual wearing the article of clothing or the contour of the neckline of the article of clothing. The collar flaps 9 & 11 are then folded down over the collar forming device 1. The arms 3 would then be pulled or pushed into the body 2 and further adjusted by bending the arms 3 to the desired location to form and control the shirt collar 10 and the collar opening 19 to the users liking. The collar forming device 1 can be installed with the article of clothing on or off an individual and using various methods of installation. The friction from the shirt neck 12, the shirt collar 10 and the shirt collar flaps 9 & 11 holds the collar forming device 1 securely in place. The above referenced example of installation is just one of many possible methods to install the collar forming device 1 into an article of clothing.
Referring now to
The collar support 18, may be comprised and constructed from various rigid and malleable materials including but not limited to metals, wire, rubber, plastics, fabrics, composites, memory materials and organic materials. The function of the collar support 18 is to give structure to the collar 10 of an article of clothing and aid in controlling the collar opening 19. The design may comprise a plurality of dimensions in thickness, length and width. Dimensions for the collar support 18, could be of any size, preferably between 1 inch to 30 inches in length, 0.01 inch to 5 inches in thickness, and 0.01 inch to 5 inches in width. More preferably between 3 inches and 20 inches in length, 0.01 inch to 0.25 inches in thickness and 0.01 inch to 0.25 inches in width, depending on application.
The collar support pocket 16 and the collar support loop 17 may be comprised and constructed from various flexible, rigid and malleable materials including but not limited to metals, wire, rubber, plastics, fabrics, composites, memory materials and organic materials. The function of the collar support pocket 16 and the collar support loop 17 is to hold the collar support 18 in place so that the shirt collar 10 can be shaped. The collar support pocket 16 and the collar support loop 17 can be adhered anywhere on the shirt neck 12 by various methods such as but not limited to: stitching, adhesive, stapling, magnetic forces, or manufactured in. The design may comprise a plurality of dimensions in thickness, length and width. Dimensions for the collar support pockets 16 and collar support loop 17, can be of any size, preferably between 0.125 inch to 20 inches in length, 0.01 inch to 1 inches in thickness, and 0.01 inch to 1 inches in width. More preferably between 0.25 inches and 20 inches in length, 0.125 inch to 0.25 inches in thickness and 0.125 inch to 0.25 inches in width, depending on application.
Claims
1. A collar forming device which is configured to at least maintain shape and add structure to a collar in an article of clothing comprising:
- a body constructed of flexible material which is worn at least inside and around the collar of an article of clothing.
2. The collar forming device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising at least one arm which is at least malleable and rigid.
3. The body as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a pocket within the body material to house at least one arm.
4. The pocket as claimed in claim 3, wherein is configured to allow the arm(s) to bypass each other and create friction between the arms and the pocket in a manner to hold the arms in place and limit unwanted movement.
5. A clothing system, comprising at least:
- a article of clothing;
- a collar;
- a collar forming device as claimed in claim 4 which is configured to at least maintain shape and supplement structure to the collar.
6. A method of wearing a clothing system comprising:
- a clothing system as claimed in claim 5;
- Providing the collar forming device as claimed in claim 4;
- Using the collar forming device at least in and around the collar in the clothing system to at least maintain a desired shape and add structure to the collar.
7. A collar forming device which is configured to at least maintain shape and add structure to a collar in an article of clothing comprising:
- a collar support which is configured to be at least adhered and attached to the collar to maintain shape and supplement support to the collar.
8. The collar support as claimed in claim 7, wherein said collar support comprises at least one collar support section which is at least malleable and fixed.
9. The article of clothing as claimed in claim 7, wherein is configured to hold the collar support in place with at least one of a collar support pocket and collar support loop.
10. A clothing system, comprising at least:
- a article of clothing configured to incorporate the collar forming device as claimed in claim 9;
- a collar;
- a collar forming device which is configured to at least maintain shape and add structure to the collar as claimed in claim 8.
11. A method of wearing a clothing system comprising:
- a clothing system as claimed in claim 10;
- a collar forming device as claimed in claim 8;
- Using the collar forming device at least in and around the collar in the clothing system to at least maintain a desired shape and add structure to the collar.
12. A collar forming device which is configured to at least maintain shape and add structure to a collar in an article of clothing comprising:
- a body which is worn at least inside and around the collar to maintain a shape;
- at least one arm; and
- a pocket within the body configured to secure the arm(s) in place with friction created between the arm and pocket.
13. A clothing system, comprising at least:
- a article of clothing;
- a collar;
- a collar forming device as claimed in claim 12 configured to at least maintain shape and add structure to the collar.
14. A method of wearing a clothing system comprising:
- a clothing system as claimed in claim 13
- a collar forming device as claimed in claim 12;
- Using the device at least in and around the collar in the clothing system to at least maintain a desired shape and add structure to the collar.
Type: Application
Filed: May 5, 2011
Publication Date: Dec 1, 2011
Inventor: David Michael Arrona (San Luis Obispo, CA)
Application Number: 13/068,242
International Classification: A41D 27/00 (20060101); A41B 3/00 (20060101);