SHIRT COLLAR INCLUDING LOOPS FOR SECURING A NECK ACCESSORY

Abstract

A collar of a shirt includes a collar band including a first inner surface and a first outer surface, a collar flap attached to the collar band, the collar flap including a second inner surface facing the first outer surface of the collar band, and a second outer surface, and a plurality of loops configured to accept and secure a neck accessory.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a nonprovisional application of, and claims the benefit of, U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/914,051 filed on Apr. 26, 2007, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a shirt collar used with a neck accessory. More particularly, the present invention relates to a shirt collar including loops for fitting and securing a neck accessory, such as a necktie, to the shirt collar.

2. Description of the Related Art

Neck accessories, such as neckties, necklaces and scarves, are commonly worn by users fashioning collared shirts. When such accessories are chosen to be worn with a collared shirt, individuals may encounter difficulty securing the accessory, for example a necktie, around their neck once the shirt is donned, especially where the individual has physical challenges or reduced dexterity in their hands or fingers. While the individual may request help from another person, the individual may still prefer to complete their dressing independently and without outside assistance. In this case, a mechanism for pre-attaching the necktie to the shirt before donning the shirt may be desirable, where the necktie remains securely attached to the collar while the shirt is being donned.

Additionally, neck accessories may provide decoration and fashion value to the individual wearing the accessory. An ability to see a portion of or substantially all of the neck accessory while it is being worn with a collared shirt may increase the decorative value and attractiveness of the neck accessory. To facilitate securing of the neck accessory along with allowing portions of the accessory to be seen on an outside of a shirt, the neck accessory may be attached to the collar of the shirt and at the same time, be exposed to an outside of the shirt.

While the neck accessory provides an attractive decoration to a shirt, a mechanism for attaching the accessory to the collar of the shirt should also be visually pleasing and not detract from the appeal of the individual's outfit. For example, it may be desirable for the mechanism attaching the neck accessory to the shirt to be changeable depending on the outfit, the neck accessory or merely based on the visual effect desired by the individual.

Therefore, a product that facilitates pre-attachment of a neck accessory to a collared shirt and exposure of a portion of the neck accessory to an outside of the shirt for viewing, is desired. Specifically, a collar of a shirt is desired having an attaching mechanism which fits and secures the neck accessory, allows exposure of the accessory to an outside of the shirt and is aesthetically pleasing to a user.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An exemplary embodiment of a collar of a shirt includes a collar band including a first inner surface and a first outer surface, a collar flap attached to the collar band, the collar flap including a second inner surface facing the first outer surface of the collar band, and a second outer surface, and a plurality of loops configured to accept and secure a neck accessory.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGS. 1A-1C are perspective views of exemplary embodiments of a shirt including loops disposed at the shirt's collar securing a necktie and allowing the necktie to be exposed for viewing from both a front and a back of the shirt, according to the present invention;

FIGS. 2A-2E are perspective views of an exemplary embodiment of a shirt including loops disposed at an outer side of a collar band, and allowing the necktie to be exposed for viewing from both a front and/or a back of the shirt, according to the present invention;

FIGS. 3A-3C are perspective views of an exemplary embodiment of a shirt including loops disposed at an inner side of a collar band, according to the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of another exemplary embodiment of a shirt including loops disposed at an inner side of the collar band, and openings in a collar flap allowing a neck accessory secured at the inner side of the collar band to be exposed to an outside of the collar band and the collar flap, according to the present invention;

FIG. 5A is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a shirt including loops disposed at an inner side of a collar flap, according to the present invention;

FIG. 5B is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the inner side of the collar flap of FIG. 5A showing the loops attached to the inner side of the collar flap according to the present invention;

FIG. 6A is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a shirt including loops disposed at an outer side of a collar band and a collar flap attached to a lower edge of the collar band such that the collar flap is folded up to cover a portion of the collar band and an entire of the loops, according to the present invention; and

FIG. 6B is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the outer side of the collar band of FIG. 6A showing the loops when the collar flap is not folded up and the collar is unbuttoned according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention is described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the exemplary embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. In the drawings, the size and relative sizes of layers and regions may be exaggerated for clarity. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

It will be understood that, although the terms first, second, third, etc., may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions and/or sections, these elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element, component, region or section from another region, layer or section. Thus, a first element, component, region, layer or section discussed below could be termed a second element, component, region or section without departing from the teachings of the present invention.

Spatially relative terms, such as “lower”, “upper” and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe the relationship of one element or feature to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. It will be understood that the spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation, in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turned over, elements described as “lower” relative to other elements or features would then be oriented “upper” relative to the other elements or features. Thus, the exemplary term “lower” can encompass both an orientation of above and below. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

FIGS. 1A-1C are perspective views of exemplary embodiments of a shirt including loops disposed at the shirt's collar securing a necktie and allowing the necktie to be exposed for viewing from both a front and a back of the shirt, according to the present invention.

FIG. 1A shows a front view of shirt 90 with a neck accessory 80 secured to the shirt 90 by a securing member, such as loops 10, attached to a collar 20 of the shirt 90. FIGS. 1B and 1C are rear views of the shirt 90 including the neck accessory 80 secured to the shirt by loops 10. Loops 10 may be disposed at a front portion of the collar 20, at a side portion of the collar 20, at a back portion of the collar 20 and/or at any of a number of positions around the collar 20 such that the neck accessory 80 is exposed (e.g., to be seen from an outside of the collar 20 and shirt 90).

In exemplary embodiments, the loops 10 may be exposed to the outside of the collar 20 and shirt 90, or may be disposed such that the loops 10 are not visible to the outside of the collar 20 and/or shirt 90. In exemplary embodiments, the collar 20 may include a collar band, a collar flap and the loops 10, or the collar 20 may include the collar band and the loops 10 only. When the collar flap is omitted from the collar 20, the loops 10 may essentially function as a collar flap of the shirt 90.

FIGS. 2A-2D are perspective views of an exemplary embodiment of a shirt including loops disposed at an outer side of a collar band, and allowing the necktie to be exposed for viewing from a front and/or a back of the shirt, according to the present invention, according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 2A, around a neck opening 92 of the collar 20, is disposed a collar band 30. The collar band 30 includes an inner surface 32 and an outer surface 34. Loops 10 are attached to and facing the outer surface 34 of the collar band 30. The outer surface 34 of the collar band 30 may extend around an entire of the neck opening 92 and under loops 10.

The loops 10 may be attached at an upper edge 36 and a lower edge 38 of the collar band 30. Front loop 12 disposed at a front area of the collar 20 may be attached to one or both of the upper and lower edges 36 and 38 of the collar band 30. In the illustrated embodiment, the front loops 12 are attached to the upper edge 36 of the collar band 30 and attached to the shirt 90 at an area below the collar 20. The loops 10 and 12 may function or be considered a collar flap when a separate collar flap is not included in the shirt 90.

When there is no separate collar flap 40 (FIGS. 2A-2E), and the loops 10 are spaced from each other along the outer surface 34 of the collar band 30, the neck accessory 80 may be viewed from both a front and a back side of the shirt 90. Alternatively, when the shirt 90 includes a separate collar flap 40 (FIG. 2E), the neck accessory may be visible only a front side of the shirt 90, such as at a front portion 31 of the outer surface 34 of the collar band 30. The loops 10 attached at the outer side 34 of and to the collar band 30 are otherwise covered and hidden by the collar flap 40.

The loops 10 and 12 may be attached by any of a number of attachment methods. In exemplary embodiments, the loops 10 may be fixedly attached or removably attached to the shirt 90. In the illustrated embodiment, the front loops 12 are removable secured at one end using a button assembly 72 (FIG. 2A). At an opposing end, the loops 12 are fixedly secured to the upper edge 36 of the collar band 30. In one exemplary embodiment, the shirt 90 may include the button and the front loop 12 may include a hole configured to accept the button and secure the front loop 12 to the shirt 90.

The loops 10 and 12 may have any of a number of shapes and configurations as are suitable for the purpose described herein. The shape of the loops 10 and 12 may be chosen based on a style of the shirt and/or a visual effect desired, such as considering the neck accessory 80 to be secured to the shirt 90. As illustrated in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the loops 10 have a substantially rectilinear shape, and the front loops 12 have a substantially triangular (e.g., wing tip) shape, but the invention is not limited thereto. As illustrated in FIG. 2C, both the loops 10 and front loops 12 have a substantially rectilinear shape. In exemplary embodiments, the loops may include a rectilinear shape, triangular shape, linear sides and curved sides.

Referring to FIG. 2D, a neck accessory 80 is secured to the shirt 90 by loops 10 and is exposed “A” and viewable from a back side of the shirt 90. A length of the loops 10, taken in a direction from the upper edge 36 to the lower edge 38 of the collar band 30, may be configured such that a corresponding dimension of the neck accessory 80 is sufficiently accommodated. The length of the loops 10 may be defined as a dimension allowing the neck accessory 80 to relatively easily pass through the loops 10 around the collar 20, while resting flat (e.g. substantially parallel) against the outer surface 34 of the collar band 30, such as may be required by a necktie.

Alternatively, when a neck accessory 80 that does not require being held substantially flat, such as a scarf or bandanna, is secured to the shirt 90, the loops 10 may be dimensioned such that the neck accessory 80 can be bunched or gathered while being disposed and resting between the loops 10 and the outer surface 34 of the collar band 30. When the neck accessory 80 can be gathered and a dimension of the neck accessory 80 corresponding to the length of the loop 10 may be reduced, the length of the loop 10 can be correspondingly reduced. Reduction of the length of the loop 10 may include not extending the loop 10 from the upper edge 36 of the collar band 30 fully to the lower edge 38. Instead, the length of the loops 10 may be shorter than a distance between the upper and lower edges 36 and 38, such as facilitating placement of the loops 10 top justified at the upper edge 36, bottom justified at the lower edge 38 or attached between the upper and lower edges 36 and 38.

In exemplary embodiments, the length and/or a width (e.g., perpendicular to the length) of the loops, may be substantially the same for all of the loops, or dimensions may vary for the length and the width of the loops.

FIGS. 3A-3C are perspective views of an exemplary embodiment of a shirt including loops disposed at an inner side of a collar band according to the present invention. When the loops are disposed at an inner side of the collar band, a user may wear a neck accessory, such as a necktie on the insider of the collar, such as at a neck opening region. The user is still allowed to slide the neck accessory through individual loops before donning the shirt and secure the neck accessory in a useable position, such as to be visible from an outside of the shirt. The loops provided on an inside of the collar band may provide a method of wearing a neck accessory, such as jewelry or a necklace, relatively higher on a user's neck, such as for more visibility and comfort, by positioning the necklace off a back or without touching the user's neck.

Referring to FIG. 3A, around a neck opening 92 of the collar 20, is disposed a collar band 30 and a collar flap 40. The collar band 30 includes an inner surface 32 and an outer surface 34. Loops 10 are attached to and facing the inner surface 32 of the collar band 30. The inner surface 32 of the collar band 30 extends around a portion of or an entire of the neck opening 92 and under loops 10.

The collar flap 40 includes an inner surface 42 facing the outer surface 34 of the collar band 30, and an outer surface 44 exposed to an outside of the shirt 90. The collar flap 40 is attached to the upper edge 36 of the collar band 30 and folds downward along the upper edge 36. The collar flap 40 covers a portion of the outer surface 34 of the collar band 30, such as exposing a front portion 31 of the collar band 30 to be viewed from an outside of the shirt 90.

Referring to FIG. 3B, the loops 10 may be disposed around the neck opening 92, such as substantially at regularly spaced intervals. While four loops 10 are illustrated, the invention is not limited thereto and any of a number of loops 10 may be used to attached a neck accessory 80 to the shirt. A spacing of the loops 10 may be defined such as to allow the neck accessory 80 to be visible between adjacent loops 10, even when the loops are disposed on the inner surface 32 of the collar band 30.

Ends of the loops 10 may be attached substantially at an upper edge 36 and a lower edge 38 of the collar band 30, such as meeting the upper edge 36 and/or the lower edge 38, or be disposed a distance away from the upper and/or lower edges 38.

When the collar flap 40 folds downwards, openings, such as slits or holes (not shown) may be disposed in the collar band 30 and proximate to the front portion 31 of the collar band 30, such as at opposing sides (e.g., left and right) of the front portion 31. The openings allow the neck accessory 80 to protrude from an inside of the shirt 90 (e.g., at the neck opening 92) to an outside of the shirt 90 to be exposed and visible.

In an exemplary embodiment, when the neck accessory 80 protrudes out of the openings in the collar band 30, free ends of the neck accessory 80 may be held under the collar flap 40, meet proximate to the front portion 31 and hang downward from the collar 20 along a front of the shirt 90, to be worn by a user. Alternatively, the collar flap 40 may also include openings such that the neck accessory is threaded through both the openings in the collar band 30 and in the collar flap 40 to be exposed and viewed from an outside of the shirt 90.

FIG. 3C shows an exemplary embodiment of the inner surface 32 of the collar band 30. The loops 10 are attached at substantially regular intervals along an extended length of the collar band 30 (e.g., in a left-right direction as shown in FIG. 3C). The neck accessory 80 is threaded through the loops 10 and held in place by the loops 10. A length of the loops 10, taken in a direction from the upper edge 36 to the lower edge 38 of the collar band 30, may be configured such that a corresponding dimension “B” of the neck accessory 80 is sufficiently accommodated between ends of the loops 10.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of another exemplary embodiment of a shirt including loops disposed at an inner side of the collar band. The collar band 30 includes an inner surface 32 and an outer surface 34. Loops 10 are attached to and facing the inner surface 32 of the collar band 30. The inner surface 32 of the collar band 30 extends around a portion of or an entire of the neck opening 92 and under loops 10.

The collar flap 40 includes an inner surface facing the outer surface 34 of the collar band 30, and an outer surface 48 exposed to an outside of the shirt 90. In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 4, the collar flap 40 is attached to the upper edge 36 of the collar band 30 and folds downward along the upper edge 36. The collar flap 40 covers a portion of the outer surface 34 of the collar band 30, such as exposing a front portion 31 of the collar band 30 to be viewed from an outside of the shirt 90.

Openings 46, such as slits or holes may be disposed in the collar band 30 and proximate to the front portion 31 of the collar band 30, such as at opposing sides (e.g., left and right) of the front portion 31. The openings allow the neck accessory 80 to protrude from an inside of the shirt 90 (e.g., at the neck opening 92) to an outside of the shirt 90 to be exposed and visible.

When the collar flap 40 is flipped upwards as illustrated in FIG. 4, the openings 46 in the collar band 30 are visible at the front of the shirt 90. Conversely, when the flap 40 is folded down, the flap 40 covers the openings 46 such that they are not visible. When the neck accessory 80 protrudes out of the openings 46 in the collar band 30, the free ends of the neck accessory 80 may then hang downward from the collar 20 along a front of the shirt 90, to be worn by a user.

FIG. 5A is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a shirt including loops disposed at an inner side of a collar flap according to the present invention. Around a neck opening 92 of the collar 20, is disposed a collar band 30 and a collar flap 40. The collar band 30 includes an inner surface 32 and an outer surface 34.

The collar flap 40 includes the inner surface 42 facing the outer surface 34 of the collar band 30, and an outer surface 44 exposed to an outside of the shirt 90. The collar flap 40 is attached to the upper edge 36 of the collar band 30 and folds downward along the upper edge 36. The collar flap 40 covers a portion of the outer surface 34 of the collar band 30, such as exposing a front portion 31 of the collar band 30 to be viewed from an outside of the shirt 90.

Loops 10 are attached to the inner surface 42 of the collar flap 40 and facing the outer surface 34 of the collar band 30. When the collar flap 40 folds downward along the upper edge 36 of the collar band 30, the loops 10 are not visible from an outside of the shirt 90. When the collar flap 40 attached to the upper edge 36 is flipped upwards, the loops 10 would then be viewable from the outside of the shirt.

FIG. 5B is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the inner side 42 of the collar flap 40 of FIG. 5A, showing the loops attached to the inner side 42 of the collar flap 40 according to the present invention. The loops 10 may be disposed along an extended direction of the collar flap 40, such as substantially at regularly spaced intervals (e.g., in a left-right direction as shown in FIG. 4B). The neck accessory 80 is threaded through the loops 10 and held in place by the loops 10. A length of the loops 10, taken in a direction from the upper edge 36 to the lower edge 38 of the collar band 30, may be configured such that a corresponding dimension “B” of the neck accessory 80 is sufficiently accommodated between ends of the loops 10.

FIG. 6A is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a shirt including loops disposed at an outer side of a collar band and a collar flap attached to a lower edge of the collar band such that the collar flap is folded up to cover a portion of the collar band and an entire of the loops, according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 6A, around a neck opening 92 of the collar 20, is disposed a collar band 30. The collar band 30 includes an inner surface 32 and an outer surface 34. The collar flap 40 includes an inner surface 49. Loops 10 are attached to the outer surface 34 of the collar band 30 and facing the inner surface 49 of the collar flap 40.

A lower edge 41 of the collar flap 40 may be attached to an entire of the lower edge 38 of the collar band 30 and folds upward along the lower edge 38 of the collar band 30. Alternatively, the lower edge 41 of the collar flap 40 may be partially attached to the lower edge 38 of the collar band 30, such as at a back side of the collar band 30, but unattached at a remaining part of the collar band 30, such as from a side to a front portion of the collar band 30. An upper edge 43 of the collar flap 40 may not be attached to the shirt and is free to be lifted up and down. When the collar flap 40 is folded up, the collar flap 40 covers a portion of the outer surface 34 of the collar band 30, such as exposing a front portion 31 of the collar band 30 to be viewed from an outside of the shirt 90. When the collar flap 40 is folded up, the loops 10 are covered and are not visible.

When the collar flap 40 folds upward along the lower edge 38 of the collar band 30, the loops 10 are not visible from an outside of the shirt 90. When the collar flap 40 attached to the lower edge 38 is flipped down, the loops 10 would then be viewable from the outside of the shirt 90.

The collar 20 may include a member to secure the collar flap 40 that is upwardly flipped in a useable position. Referring again to FIG. 6A, the collar band 30 may include a first securing member 24, such as a button, and the collar flap 40 may include a second securing member 22, such as a hole. When the collar flap 40 is flipped upwards to a useable position, the first and second securing members 22 and 24 may be combined to hold the collar flap 40 in its upright position.

FIG. 6B is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the outer side of the collar band of FIG. 6A showing the loops when the collar flap 40 attached at lower edges 38 and 41 is not folded up, and the collar is unbuttoned according to the present invention. The loops 10 are attached at substantially regular intervals along an extended length of the collar band 30 (e.g., in a left-right direction as shown in FIG. 6B).

In exemplary embodiments, the loops may be fixedly attached or removably attached to a shirt and/or collar assembly. The loops may be fixedly attached by any of a number of methods, including but not limited to, sewing, stitching, and being integrally formed with a remainder of the shirt's body and/or the collar assembly (e.g., the loop is an extension of the shirt body or the collar assembly and not detachable). The loops may be removable attached by any of a number of methods, including but not limited to, button, snap, a Velcro® member and magnetic member.

A neck accessory may include, but is not limited to, an article of clothing, ornamental and/or decorative item that wraps around a neck of a person and falls to a front of the shirt. Alternatively, the neck accessory may originate in a proximity of a neckline or neck opening of a shirt and drape downward, such as at the front of the shirt. Exemplary embodiments of the neck accessory include a necktie, scarf, bandanna, necklace and lanyard attached to objects (e.g., personal identification cards, access passes, sunglasses).

The loops may be made of any of a number of materials. The loops may be a same or different color, texture and/or material as components of the shirt and/or collar. Exemplary embodiments of materials of the loops include a transparent or translucent material, elastic, rope, metal, textile and thread. The loops may include patterns or have no patterns. The loops may be decorated with various objects, including but not limited to rhinestones, beads and leather trim. The loops may provide an area for promotional information, patterns, logos, characters, etc., to be disposed, such as by directly printing on, otherwise attaching a separate item thereto or as is part of the material chosen for the loops.

Although the exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been described, it is understood that the present invention should not be limited to these exemplary embodiments but various changes and modifications can be made by one ordinary skilled in the art within the spirit and scope of the present invention as hereinafter claimed.

Claims

1. A collar of a shirt, including:

a collar band including a first inner surface and a first outer surface;

a collar flap attached to the collar band, the collar flap including a second inner surface facing the first outer surface of the collar band, and a second outer surface; and

a plurality of loops configured to accept and secure a neck accessory.

2. The shirt collar of claim 1, wherein the neck accessory is a necktie.

3. The shirt collar of claim 1, wherein the loops are removably attached.

4. The shirt collar of claim 3, wherein the loops are removably attached using one of a button, snap, Velcro® member, magnetic member and a combination including at least one of the foregoing.

5. The shirt collar of claim 1, wherein the loops are disposed on the first outer surface of the collar band.

6. The shirt collar of claim 1, wherein the loops are disposed on the first inner surface of the collar band.

7. The shirt collar of claim 6, wherein the collar band includes first openings at a front portion of the collar band, the first openings configured such that the neck accessory protrudes from the first inner surface of the collar band to an outside of the shirt to be exposed at the outside of the shirt.

8. The shirt collar of claim 7, wherein the collar flap includes second openings corresponding to the first openings, the first and second openings configured such that the neck accessory protrudes from the first inner surface of the collar band to an outside of the shirt to be exposed at the outside of the shirt.

9. The shirt collar of claim 1, wherein the loops are disposed on the second inner surface of the collar flap.

10. The shirt collar of claim 1, wherein the collar flap is attached to an upper edge of the collar band and configured to flip downward thereby covering a portion of the first outer surface of the collar band.

11. The shirt collar of claim 1, wherein the collar flap is attached to a lower edge of the collar band and configured to flip upward thereby covering a portion of the first outer surface of the collar band.

12. The shirt collar of claim 1, wherein the loops are spaced apart from each other such that the neck accessory is exposed between adjacent loops.

13. The shirt collar of claim 1, wherein the loops are formed of a same or different material than the shirt.

14. The shirt collar of claim 1, wherein the loops are formed of a same or a different color than the shirt.

15. The shirt collar of claim 1, wherein a length of the loops is equal to or larger than a corresponding dimension of the neck accessory.

16. The shirt collar of claim 1, wherein a width of the loops is substantially the same.

17. The shirt collar of claim 1, wherein the loops include one of a substantially rectilinear shape, triangular shape, linear sides, curved sides and a combination including at least one of the foregoing.