Shirt

Abstract

A new and improved shirt is disclosed. The shirt of the present invention includes an adjustable neck which can increase or decrease in size as required by the wearer. The top fastener of the shirt is located at the top of the fastening panel, rather than on a neckband, allowing the edges of the shirt at the neck to slide apart when an increase in neck circumference is desired while the fastener remains closed. Additionally, the collar line of the present shirt is cut at an angle with the overlap and underlap aligned with the ends of a neckband (though the presence of a neckband is optional) and collar to present a neater, smoother look to the collar line of the shirt. In one embodiment, the shirt includes a placket front. The shirt can be worn either as a dress shirt or, in one embodiment, is a sport shirt when worn without a tie.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] In the world of fashion, attempts at combining style and comfort have proven to be problematic at best. Quite often, what is considered to be attractive can be uncomfortable to wear for any extended period of time. Conversely, what is comfortable to wear can be too casual in appearance for dress or business attire.

[0002] The design of men's dress shirts is one specific area of fashion where this dichotomy has been difficult to overcome. For example, in the past, many attempts have been made to create an attractive shirt which may also comfortably be worn with a tie. Dress shirts worn with a tie tend to become uncomfortably tight, especially at the neck. This tightness can be from many possible sources. For example, the desired shirt material may shrink upon laundering, causing the neckline of the shirt to actually decrease in circumference. Additionally, the wearer's neck can increase slightly in size over the course of a day, causing a shirt which fit comfortably in the morning to feel too tight by afternoon. Often, the wearer will attempt to alleviate neck constriction by unbuttoning the top button under the knot of the tie. This can present an unsightly appearance, however, because the shirt can gap and slip causing the neckband to become visible above or below the knot of the tie.

[0003] Other problems encountered with shirts in the past involve the overall appearance of the shirt, whether worn with or without a tie. For example, when a tie is worn with a buttoned shirt, the distance between the top button, usually on the neckband of the shirt, and the next button, on the fastening panel, can be such that the material can pucker or bunch, causing a gap to form between the underlap and the overlap portions of the fastening panel. This effect can be even more pronounced when the top button has been unfastened under the knot of the tie in an attempt to loosen the shirt at the neck.

[0004] Often, when a shirt is worn without a tie, in an open-neck arrangement, the overall look of the collar area, particularly the collar line, can be considered unattractive by both those wearing the shirt as well as those seeing the shirt on others. For purposes of this invention, the collar line is defined as the line formed by the outer edges of the fastening panel, the neckband (when present) and the collar in the completed garment. Additionally, the collar area of a shirt is defined to include the chest, neck, and collar sections of a shirt. In prior art garments the collar line can present a jagged line with the separate sections of the shirt pieced together in a disharmonious manner. Additionally, when worn without a tie, the edge formed where the collar folds over at the neck often forms a sharp, inverted V shape. Many wearers would prefer a smoother, less angular look to the chest and collar area of the shirt.

[0005] As such, a need exists for a shirt which can be comfortably and attractively worn throughout the day with a tie, and can also present a neat, elegant appearance when worn in either a dress or casual setting. The shirt of the present invention fulfills this need by providing not only comfort through an adjustable neck size but also a smooth, attractive presentation when worn either with or without a tie.

SUMMARY

[0006] The present invention is directed to a shirt which includes an adjustable neck size. In one embodiment, the shirt includes an underlap, an overlap, a neckband and a collar. The underlap and overlap together can form a fastening panel, allowing for closure between the two sides of the shirt front. The underlap includes a top edge near the shirt collar and a bottom edge at a distance from the shirt collar with the top edge being narrower than the bottom edge. The overlap, similarly, can have a top edge near the shirt collar which is narrower than its bottom edge. The top edges of the underlap and overlap can be attached to the bottom edge of the neckband. The underlap top edge can be attached to the bottom edge of the neckband at one end of the neckband and the overlap top edge can be similarly attached to the bottom edge of the neckband at the other end of the neckband. The bottom edge of the collar can then be attached to the top edge of the neckband. The various pieces of the shirt can be aligned with each other, such that the exterior edge of the underlap, one side edge of the neckband and one side edge of the collar can be aligned to form one continuous, unbroken line on the underlap side of the shirt. Similarly, the exterior edge of the overlap, the second side edge of the neckband and the second side edge of the collar can be aligned to form a second continuous, unbroken line on the overlap side of the shirt. In one embodiment, these first and second lines of the shirt can be mirror images of each other.

[0007] In order that the top edges of the underlap and the overlap are narrower than their corresponding bottom edges, the exterior edges of the overlap and the underlap can be cut at an angle at a distance from their upper edges. Generally, both the overlap and underlap can be cut at an angle from vertical having a value of between about 10° and about 45°. Specifically, the overlap and underlap can be cut at an angle from vertical having a value of between about 15° and about 40°. In one embodiment, the overlap and underlap can be cut at an angle from vertical having a value of about 20°. The bottom edges of the overlap and the underlap can be from about 1.0 inches to about 2.0 inches in width. The top edge of the overlap and the underlap can be narrower than the corresponding bottom edges. For example, the top edges can be less than about 75% of the width of the bottom edges of the underlap and the overlap.

[0008] The top fastener of the shirt is located on the fastening panel of the shirt and provides some form of removable attachment between the overlap and the underlap in order to promote shirt closure. In one embodiment, the top fastener can be on the fastening panel less than about two inches below the bottom edge of the neckband. The top fastener can be, for instance, a button, a snap, a stud, a hook, hook and loop, or the like.

[0009] In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the overlap and the underlap can extend upward and connect directly to the collar of the shirt, with no neckband between the two. In such an embodiment, the distance between the top button and the top of the fastening panel may be at least about 1.5 inches. In any case, no matter how far up the collar line the fastening panel extends, the top fastener on the shirt can be at a point at least about 1.5 inches below the fold line of the collar area.

[0010] In one particular embodiment of the shirt, the overlap and underlap can form a placket front on the shirt. In general, the placket can be less than about 15 inches in length as measured from the top of the fastening panel to the bottom edge of the overlap. More specifically, in an embodiment wherein a neckband is located between the fastening panel and the collar, the placket can be less than about 13 inches in length.

[0011] In order to make the shirt front stiffer and able to stand fairly straight, even when worn without a tie, any or all of the underlap, the overlap, the neckband and the collar can include an inner layer such as, for example an interfacing material.

[0012] When fully assembled, the shirt will include a shirt body, with the underlap and overlap attached to either side of the shirt body at their respective inner edges, the collar of the shirt attached to the shirt body, and left and right sleeves attached to the shirt body at the appropriate locations. The shirt body may or may not include a neckband, as desired.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] A full and enabling disclosure of the present invention, including the best mode thereof, to one of ordinary skill in the art, is set forth more particularly in the remainder of the specification, including reference to the accompanying figures, in which:

[0014] FIG. 1 is a view of a portion of the collar area of one embodiment of the shirt of the present invention;

[0015] FIG. 2 is a view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 when worn with a tie;

[0016] FIG. 3 is a view of the collar area of one embodiment of the shirt of the present invention when worn in an open neck fashion;

[0017] FIG. 4 is a view of a portion of the collar area of a prior art shirt; and

[0018] FIG. 5 is a view of a portion of the collar area of an alternative embodiment of the shirt of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0019] It is to be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that the present discussion is a description of exemplary embodiments only, and is not intended as limiting the broader aspects of the present invention, which broader aspects are embodied in the exemplary construction.

[0020] In general, the present invention is directed toward an improved shirt. More specifically, the shirt of the present invention has an adjustable neck size and an improved collar line appearance. The shirt provides not only an improved look for the wearer, but also, when worn with a tie, can provide a comfortable fit at the neck over an extended period. For example, merely by loosening or tightening a tie, the present shirt can self-adjust to the desired neck circumference of the wearer. The shirt can be a comfortable, attractive shirt when worn with a tie and additionally, in one particular embodiment, can be an attractive sport shirt when worn in an open-neck style.

[0021] In the past, problems have been encountered with shirts, and specifically shirt collar construction, due to shrinkage of the shirt at the neck and/or increase in size of the wearer's neck. Either of these phenomenon can cause the shirt to be uncomfortably tight at the neckline. As such, the inventor has devised a shirt having an adjustable neck size without the need of additional attachments or tabs. In fact, the present shirt can be manufactured using less material than similar shirts of the past.

[0022] Referring to FIG. 1, a portion of the collar area of one possible embodiment of the shirt of the present invention 10 is shown. The shirt of the present invention can be constructed of various separate pieces of material which can then be connected to form the shirt. The manner of forming the shirt is not critical to the present invention. For example, in one possible embodiment, the shirt may be hand stitched. Alternatively, the shirt of the present invention may be machine stitched in a single shirt production process or alternatively in a multi-shirt industrial production setting. Additionally, the various sections of the shirt may be joined together by stitching, heat fusing or any other suitable means known in the art.

[0023] Shirt 10 includes an underlap 12 and an overlap 14 where fastening devices, such as buttons and button holes can be located. Underlap 12 and overlap 14 together form the fastening panel of the shirt. The underlap 12 and overlap 14 can extend the entire length of the shirt, as in conventional dress shirts, or alternatively, can form a placket, as illustrated in FIG. 3, which extends only part of the way down the front of the shirt, such that the shirt is a pull-over shirt. For example, in one embodiment, wherein the fastening panel of the shirt is in the form of a placket, the placket can be between about 5 inches and about 15 inches in length as measured from the top edge of the fastening panel to the bottom edge of the overlap. More particularly, the placket can be between about 8 inches and about 14 inches in length. In one particular embodiment, the placket can be about 11 inches in length as measured from the top edge of the fastening panel to the bottom edge of the overlap.

[0024] In such an embodiment, that is, a placket fronted shirt, when the shirt is worn without a tie, it will be in the style of a sport shirt. In this as in other embodiments however, the shirt may alternatively be worn with a tie to present a more formal appearance. When this particular embodiment of the shirt is worn with a tie, the tie can cover the placket and the shirt can be essentially indistinguishable from a conventional dress shirt. In general, the placket can be designed to extend far enough down the chest of the shirt to allow for the attachment of a tie tack to the fastening panel of the shirt.

[0025] The shirt of the present invention can be made of any suitable material. For example, the shirt can be a cotton, polyester, knit, silk, wool, cotton blend or any other fabric-type material. Different embodiments of the shirt can also include any desired variations in style. For example, the shirt can have one or two front pockets which can in turn include buttons. Additionally, the shirt can be long-sleeved, short-sleeved or ¾ sleeved. The collar of the shirt can be button-down or include no buttons. The shirt collar can include stays within the collar to insure a stiff edge to the collar. Such variations are not per se a part of the present invention.

[0026] Referring again to FIG. 1, the underlap 12 includes top button 15 and button 17. The number of buttons included on the fastening panel depends on desired design of the shirt. In general, top button 15 and button 17 will be separated by a distance of from about 2 inches to about 4 inches. More specifically, top button 15 and button 17 can be about 3 inches apart. When additional buttons are included down the front of the shirt, they can be separated by a distance equal to the separation distance of top button 15 and button 17, though this is not an essential feature of the invention. Overlap 14 includes corresponding top button hole 21 and button hole 22. In general, top button hole 21 can be horizontal, to allow for a better fit and material lie at the neck, though this is not essential to the present invention. Though buttons are shown on shirt 10, any other suitable manner of closing the shirt would be acceptable.

[0027] In general, in order to provide for closure of the shirt front, at least one fastening device can be attached to either the underlap or the overlap and can be removably attached to the other. For example, a top button 15 can be attached to the underlap 12 by sewing. Top button hole 21 on the overlap 14 provides for a method of removably attaching top button 15 to the overlap 14 thereby closing the shirt front. In addition to buttons, snaps, hooks, studs, hook and loop, or any other suitable fastener could be employed to close the shirt front, as long as a removable attachment can be formed between the overlap and the underlap allowing the shirt front to be closed. The shirt front can include only one removable attachment, for example, only one fastener near the neckband of the shirt or one strip of hook and loop down the fastening panel of the shirt, or alternatively can include a series of fasteners down the fastening panel of the shirt, such as a row of snaps or buttons. Additionally, the top fastener can be of a different form than the other fasteners. For example, the top fastener could be a stud while buttons could be used down the remainder of the fastening panel.

[0028] When several fasteners are included on the shirt, the number of fasteners can depend on the length of the fastening panel and the distance desired between the closures. For example, in the placket fronted embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3, three buttons are included below the top button, for a total of 4 buttons, usually placed equidistant from each other. Alternatively, a longer placket can be formed on the shirt including four buttons below the top button, for a total of five buttons on the placket. Greater numbers of closures can usually be found on those embodiments including an open fronted shirt.

[0029] Of course, the shirt of the present invention can close in the manner of a man's shirt, with the left side of the shirt overlapping the right side of the shirt, or alternatively can close with the overlap being on the right side of the shirt, in the manner of a woman's shirt.

[0030] In general, top button 15 is located on underlap 12 a distance below underlap top edge 13. For example, in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, top button 15 can be located on underlap 12 such that the center of top button 15 is less than about three inches below underlap top edge 13. Specifically, top button 15 can be located on underlap 12 such that the center of top button 15 is less than about two inches below underlap top edge 13. More particularly, top button 15 can be located such that the center of top button 15 is about 0.5 inches below underlap top edge 13.

[0031] Referring to FIG. 1, shirt 10 includes line 24 and line 26. Line 24 can be defined as the line created by the alignment of the exterior edge of underlap 12, one side edge of neckband 16 and one side edge of collar 18. Similarly, line 26 can be defined as the line created by the alignment of the exterior edge of overlap 14, the other side edge of neckband 16, and the other side edge of collar 18.

[0032] At a point, A, on the exterior edge of underlap 12, line 24 can be altered from a vertical direction to a new direction by an angle &thgr;. In general, angle &thgr; can be between about 5° and 45°. Specifically, angle &thgr; can be between about 10° and 40°. In one embodiment, angle &thgr; can be about 20°. The location of point A can be anywhere along the exterior edge of underlap 12 such that the underlap top edge 13 is narrower than the underlap bottom edge (not shown). For example, in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, the location of point A can be within about three inches of underlap top edge 13. Specifically, point A can be less than about two inches below underlap top edge 13. More specifically, point A can be about 1.5 inches below underlap top edge 13.

[0033] Similarly, line 26 can be altered from a vertical direction at point B by an angle &thgr;′ which can be substantially equal in value to angle &thgr;, but opposite in direction, though this is not a requirement. Point B, where the change in direction of line 26 occurs can be anywhere along the exterior edge of overlap 14 such that the overlap top edge 19 is narrower than the overlap bottom edge (not shown). For example, in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, point B can be within about three inches from overlap top edge 19. Specifically, point B can be less than about two inches from overlap top edge 19. More specifically, point B can be about 1.5 inches below overlap top edge 19. In one embodiment of the shirt, line 26 can be a mirror image of line 24.

[0034] In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, both underlap top edge 13 and overlap top edge 19 can be attached to the bottom edge of neckband 16 at either end of the neckband. The top edge of neckband 16, in turn, can be attached to the bottom edge of collar 18. As can be seen in FIG. 1, the ends of both neckband 16 and collar 18 can be cut at the same angles from vertical as are the corresponding exterior edges of overlap 14 and underlap 12. One of the side edges of the neckband 16 and one of the side edges of collar 18 can then be aligned with each other and the exterior edge of overlap 14 to define line 26. Similarly, the other side edge of neckband 16 and the other side edge of collar 18 can be aligned with each other and the exterior edge of underlap 12 to form line 24. In this manner, when the shirt is assembled, line 24 and line 26 can continue from the points A and B respectively to the top edge of collar 18 in substantially straight lines. However, a straight continuous line for line 24 and/or line 26 is not specifically required. For example, the lines 24 and 26 could also include elements of curvature for aesthetic or other purposes.

[0035] FIG. 5 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the shirt of the present invention. As can be seen in FIG. 5, shirt 50 is similar to shirt 10, shown in FIG. 1, save for the extension of the fastening panel to the bottom edge of collar 518. In this particular embodiment, the two outer edges of neckband 516, do not extend to lines 524 and 526, respectively, but rather meet the inner edges of the overlap 514 and the underlap 512. As such, line 524 is formed of the outer edge of the underlap 512 and one side edge of collar 518, and line 526 is formed of the outer edge of the overlap 514 and the other side edge of collar 518. Due to the increased length of the fastening panel in this embodiment, the distance between top button 515 and underlap top edge 513 will be similarly increased over the distances described in the embodiment of FIG. 1.

[0036] For example, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the center of top button 515 can be between about 1.5 and about 4 inches below underlap top edge 513. Specifically, the center of top button 515 can be between about 1.5 and about 2.5 inches below underlap top edge 513.

[0037] Similarly, both the distance between underlap top edge 513 and point 5A and the distance between overlap top edge 519 and point 5B on the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5 can be between about 1.5 and about 5 inches. Specifically, both the distance between underlap top edge 513 and point 5A and the distance between overlap top edge 519 and point 5B on the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5 can be between about 2.0 and about 4.0 inches. More specifically, point 5A can be about 3 inches below underlap top edge 513 and point 5B can be about 3 inches below overlap top edge 519.

[0038] Additionally, in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5, line 524 has been rounded somewhat at point 5A as has line 526 at point 5B to present a softer look to lines 524 and 526.

[0039] In an alternative embodiment, the fastening panel of the shirt front can be further extended up the collar of the shirt to any desired point, up to the point where the inner edges of the underlap and the overlap meet the outer edges of the collar. In such an embodiment, the distance between the top of the underlap and the top button as well as the distances between the top of the fastening panel and the points of change of direction of the overlap and underlap would be similarly extended. No matter how far up the shirt front the fastening panel extends, the top button and the points of direction change on the fastening panel should be located on the fastening panel such that they are at least about 1.5 inches below the fold line of the collar area. The fold line of the collar area being defined as that line where the collar area folds or rolls over itself when the shirt is worn. This line would be roughly equivalent to the bottom edge of the collar in both FIG. 1 and FIG. 5.

[0040] In yet another alternative embodiment, the neckband and the collar of the shirt can be formed together as one collar piece, rather than as two separate pieces sewn or otherwise attached together.

[0041] Due to the angled portions of line 26 and line 24 of FIG. 1, or alternatively line 526 and 524 of FIG. 5, the overlap top edge and the underlap top edge will be narrower than their corresponding bottom edges. For example, the width of the overlap top edge and the underlap top edge can be less than about 75% of the width of their corresponding bottom edges. More specifically, the width of the overlap top edge and the underlap top edge can be less than about 67% of the width of their corresponding bottom edges. The bottom edges of the overlap and the underlap can any desired width. For example, the bottom edges of both of the overlap and the underlap can be between about 1.0 inches and 2.0 inches. In one possible embodiment, the bottom edges of the overlap and the underlap can be about 1.5 inches in width. In such an embodiment, the corresponding top edges of the overlap and the underlap can be less than about 1.0 inch in width.

[0042] In accordance with the present invention, the shirt size at neck band 16 can adjust as required by the wearer. As shown in FIG. 2, when shirt 10 of the present invention is worn with a tie 20, tie 20 can cover the two side edges of neckband 16, with collar 18 folded down over tie 20 and neckband 16. The broken lines of FIG. 2 illustrate sections of shirt 10 which are covered by illustrated portions of tie 20.

[0043] Top button 15 is located near the top of the fastening panel but below the knot of necktie 20. The location of top button 15 allows the neck size of shirt 10 to vary as desired by the wearer. For example, should it be necessary to increase the circumference of the shirt neck, whether due to shirt shrinkage, increase in neck circumference, or for any other reason, the edges of the shirt located under the tie are able to pull apart from each other, even when top button 15 is fastened, thus increasing the neck size of the shirt.

[0044] When worn with tie 20, line 26 of shirt 10 in the collar area will be substantially covered by tie 20 and will only be visible where collar 18 extends above tie 20. Thus the angled portions of line 24 and line 26 below the fold of collar 18 can be covered by tie 20.

[0045] FIG. 4 illustrates a portion of a prior art shirt 110. As shown, the underlap 112, overlap 114 and neckband 116 are not angled, as in the present invention, but rather squared off at the top edges with the side edges of collar 118 set back from the side edges of the neckband 116. If an attempt is made to increase shirt neck size, by, for example, unfastening top button 115, neckband 116 can rotate or slide up or down and a portion of neckband 116, particularly the squared-off ends, can stick out above or below the knot of the tie. This problem is avoided by the shirt of the present invention. Because of the angles of line 24 and line 26, as well as the alignment of the various pieces of the shirt at the outer edges, should the ends of neckband 16 rotate slightly as they pull apart when neck circumference is increased, there are no neckband corners to stick up above the knot of the tie in an unsightly manner. The smooth lines of the shirt can be maintained throughout the increase or decrease of the neck size.

[0046] Additionally, the angles of lines 24 and 26 can allow the shirt of the present invention to be manufactured using less material than would be the case for prior art shirt 110, due to the smaller fastening panel and neckband areas.

[0047] When wearing prior art shirt 110 with a tie, a gap can form between the underlap 112 and overlap 114 in the distance between the top button 115, located on the neckband 116, and button 117, located on underlap 112. This effect most often occurs when the top button 115 has been unfastened under the knot of the tie. Attempts have been made to overcome this problem in the past by, for example, adding an additional fastener at the top of the underlap, immediately below the neckband. This is not a problem with the shirt of the present invention, however, due to the location of the top fastener on the fastening panel rather than on the neckband. The top two buttons of the present shirt can be close enough together to prevent gapping without added buttons on the fastening panel, in fact, fewer buttons can be used in the present shirt, for additional cost savings in manufacturing. The fastening panel of the present invention can lay flat and present a neat, professional appearance while the expansion capability at the neck allows for an extended comfortable fit.

[0048] In addition to providing an improved dress shirt, the shirt of the present invention is also an improvement over prior art shirts when worn in a more casual setting. While prior art dress shirts can obviously be worn without a tie, they appear to be just that, a dress shirt worn without a tie. The shirt of the present invention, however, is not only an attractive dress shirt, but also presents an improvement in appearance when worn without a tie.

[0049] FIG. 3 illustrates one embodiment of the present invention when worn in an open-neck fashion. As can be seen, line 24 and line 26 provide smooth, unbroken lines all the way to the top edge of collar 18. When the collar 18 of the shirt is folded down, as in the open neck arrangement displayed in FIG. 3, these straight collar lines provide a very neat, attractive look to shirt 10. Prior art shirts, such as that of FIG. 4 present a jagged collar line when worn in an open neck style due to the combination of the vertical cut of the fastening panel and the neckband, the squared top edges of neckband 116 as well as the offset between the side edges of neckband 116 and the corresponding side edges of collar 118.

[0050] As previously stated, in one particular embodiment, the shirt of the present invention can be designed with a placket style fastening panel, rather than a completely open front in which the fastening panel extends the length of the shirt front. Many sport shirts are designed with such a placket front. In this particular embodiment then, when the shirt is worn without a tie, it is a sport shirt rather than a casually worn dress shirt. In either case, however, with or without a placket front, the shirt includes the improved collar line.

[0051] In one embodiment of the invention, the collar area of the shirt can be made fairly stiff, such that the collar and fastening panel can remain essentially upright even if button 17 as well as button 15 is not fastened, as shown in FIG. 3. With added levels of inflexibility of the fastening panel, the shirt front can be formed to remain essentially upright, even when worn with all buttons unfastened. Thus, the shirt can be quite loose and comfortable in the collar area, while maintaining the desired neat, yet casual appearance. Stiffness in the collar area can also allow the collar to fold over the neckband in a soft inverted U-shaped fold, rather than the sharp inverted V-shaped fold found in many shirts when worn without a tie. The stiffness of the collar area of the shirt can be created in any suitable manner. For example, the shirt can be made of a stiff material such as a heavy corduroy or a heavy chamois material. Alternatively, the shirt can include a stiffener, such as a layer of interfacing material, within any or all of the fastening panel, the neckband and/or the collar in order to provide the desired amount of stiffness to the collar area and maintain the desired look of the shirt. An inner layer can be any suitable layer, such as an interfacing fabric material, a plastic material such as a collar stay, or any other suitable material.

[0052] These and other modifications and variations to the present invention may be practiced by those of ordinary skill in the art, without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention, which is more particularly set forth in the appended claims. In addition, it should be understood that aspects of the various embodiments may be interchanged both in whole or in part. Furthermore, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the foregoing description is by way of example only, and is not intended to limit the invention so further described in such appended claims.

Claims

1. A shirt comprising:

an underlap comprising an underlap top edge, an underlap bottom edge, and an underlap exterior edge, said underlap bottom edge being wider than said underlap top edge;

an overlap comprising an overlap top edge, an overlap bottom edge, and an overlap exterior edge, said overlap bottom edge being wider than said overlap top edge;

a top fastener, said top fastener providing a removable attachment between said underlap and said overlap;

a neckband, said neckband comprising a neckband top edge, a neckband bottom edge, and first and second neckband side edges, said neckband bottom edge being attached to said underlap top edge and said overlap top edge, said first neckband side edge being aligned with and forming a continuation of said overlap exterior edge, said second neckband side edge being aligned with and forming a continuation of said underlap exterior edge; and

a collar comprising a collar bottom edge and first and second collar side edges, said collar bottom edge being attached to said neckband top edge, said first collar side edge being aligned with and forming a continuation of said first neckband side edge, said second collar side edge being aligned with and forming a continuation of said second neckband side edge.

2. The shirt of claim 1, wherein said overlap and said underlap form a placket.

3. The shirt of claim 2, wherein said placket is less than about 14 inches in length.

4. The shirt of claim 2, wherein said placket is less than about 11 inches in length.

5. The shirt of claim 1, wherein said top fastener is attached to said underlap below said top underlap edge and removably attachable to said overlap.

6. The shirt of claim 5, wherein said top fastener is a button.

7. The shirt of claim 1, wherein said top fastener is selected from the group consisting of a button, a snap, a hook, a hook and loop fastener, and a stud.

8. The shirt of claim 1, wherein the width of said overlap bottom edge is between about 1.0 and about 2.0 inches and the width of said underlap bottom edge is between about 1.0 and about 2.0 inches.

9. The shirt of claim 1, wherein the width of said overlap top edge is less than about 75% of the width of said overlap bottom edge and the width of said underlap top edge is less than about 75% of the width of said underlap bottom edge.

10. The shirt of claim 1, wherein any of said overlap, said underlap, said collar, and said neckband further comprise an inner layer.

11. A shirt comprising:

an underlap comprising an underlap top edge, an underlap bottom edge, and an underlap exterior edge, said underlap exterior edge defining a first line, said first line extending from said underlap bottom edge to a first point, said first line changing direction at said first point by a first angle such that the width of said underlap top edge is less than the width of said underlap bottom edge;

an overlap comprising an overlap top edge, an overlap bottom edge, and an overlap exterior edge, said overlap exterior edge defining a second line, said second line extending from said overlap bottom edge to a second point, said second line changing direction at said second point by a second angle such that the width of said overlap top edge is less than the width of said overlap bottom edge;

a top fastener, said top fastener providing a removable attachment between said underlap and said overlap at a point below said overlap and underlap top edges;

a neckband, said neckband comprising a neckband top edge, a neckband bottom edge, and first and second neckband side edges, said neckband bottom edge being attached to said underlap top edge and said overlap top edge, said first neckband side edge being aligned with and forming a continuation of said first line, said second neckband side edge being aligned with and forming a continuation of said second line; and

a collar comprising a collar bottom edge attached to said neckband top edge, a first collar side edge being aligned with and forming a continuation of said first line, and a second collar side edge being aligned with and forming a continuation of said second line.

12. The shirt of claim 11, wherein said overlap and said underlap form a placket, said placket being less than about 14 inches in length.

13. The shirt of claim 11, wherein said first and second angle are between about 10° and about 45°.

14. The shirt of claim 11, wherein said first and second angle are between about 15° and about 40°.

15. The shirt of claim 11, wherein said second line is a mirror image of said first line.

16. The shirt of claim 11, wherein said top fastener is a button located less than about two inches below said neckband bottom edge.

17. The shirt of claim 11, wherein said top fastener is selected from the group consisting of a button, a snap, a hook, and a stud.

18. The shirt of claim 11, wherein the width of said overlap bottom edge is between about 1.0 inches and about 2.0 inches, and the width of said underlap bottom edge is between about 1.0 inches and about 2.0 inches.

19. The shirt of claim 11, wherein the width of said overlap top edge is less than about 75% of the width of said overlap bottom edge, and the width of said underlap top edge is less than about 75% of the width of said underlap bottom edge.

20. The shirt of claim 11, wherein any of said overlap, said underlap, said collar, and said neckband further comprise an inner layer.

21. A shirt comprising:

an underlap comprising an underlap top edge, an underlap bottom edge, and an underlap exterior edge, said underlap bottom edge being wider than said underlap top edge;

an overlap comprising an overlap top edge, an overlap bottom edge, and an overlap exterior edge, said overlap bottom edge being wider than said overlap top edge;

a top fastener, said top fastener providing a removable attachment between said underlap and said overlap; and

a collar comprising first and second collar side edges, said collar being attached to said underlap top edge and said overlap top edge, said first collar side edge being aligned with and forming a continuation of said overlap exterior edge, said second collar side edge being aligned with and forming a continuation of said underlap exterior edge.

22. The shirt of claim 21, wherein said overlap and said underlap form a placket.

23. The shirt of claim 22, wherein said placket is less than about 15 inches in length.

24. The shirt of claim 21, wherein said top fastener is attached to said underlap below said top underlap edge and removably attachable to said overlap.

25. The shirt of claim 24, wherein said top fastener is between about 1.5 inches and about 4 inches below said top underlap edge.

26. The shirt of claim 21, wherein said top fastener is located at a point at least about 1.5 inches below the fold line of the collar area.

27. The shirt of claim 21, wherein said top fastener is selected from the group consisting of a button, a snap, a hook, a hook and loop fastener, and a stud.

28. The shirt of claim 21, wherein the width of said overlap bottom edge is between about 1.0 and about 2.0 inches and the width of said underlap bottom edge is between about 1.0 and about 2.0 inches.

29. The shirt of claim 21, wherein the width of said overlap top edge is less than about 75% of the width of said overlap bottom edge and the width of said underlap top edge is less than about 75% of the width of said underlap bottom edge.

30. The shirt of claim 21, wherein any of said overlap, said underlap, and said collar further comprise an inner layer.

31. A shirt comprising:

an underlap comprising an underlap bottom edge having a width of about 1.5 inches, an underlap top edge having a width less than about 1.0 inch, an underlap interior edge, and an underlap exterior edge, said underlap exterior edge defining a first line, said first line being a vertical line from said underlap bottom edge to a first point, said first line changing direction at said first point by a first angle;

an overlap comprising an overlap top edge having a width of less than about 1.0 inches, an overlap bottom edge having a width of about 1.5 inches, an overlap interior edge, and an overlap exterior edge, said overlap exterior edge defining a second line, said second line being a vertical line from said overlap bottom edge at a second point, said second line changing direction at said second point by a second angle, said second line being a mirror image of said first line;

a top button, said top button being attached to either of said underlap or said overlap such that said overlap may be removably attached to said underlap, said removable attachment being located at least about 1.5 inches below said underlap top edge;

a collar comprising a first and second collar edge, said underlap and overlap being attached to said collar such that said first collar edge is aligned with and forms a continuation of said first line, and said second collar edge is aligned with and forms a continuation of said second line;

a shirt body, said shirt body being attached to said underlap interior edge, said overlap interior edge, and said collar; and

first and second sleeves attached to said shirt body.

32. The shirt of claim 31, wherein said overlap and said underlap form a placket.

33. The shirt of claim 31, wherein any of said overlap, said underlap, and said collar further comprise an inner layer.

34. The shirt of claim 31, wherein said first angle is between about 15° and about 45°.