SLIP RESISTANT COLLAR STAY

Abstract

A slip resistant collar stay resistant to shifting positions in its cooperating pocket when the garment in which it is used is worn. The slip resistant collar stay comprises an elongate body and a slip resistant element disposed thereon, wherein the slip resistant element is provided on at least one surface of the elongate body of the collar stay.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/105,680 filed Oct. 15, 2008, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH/DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates in general to certain new and useful improvements in shape retaining collar devices, and more particularly to slip resistant collar stays which enable a collar to maintain a neat and somewhat unbent position but nevertheless a natural looking position with respect to the remaining portion of the garment.

2. Description of the Related Art

The use of collar stays with shirts, and particularly knitted fabric shirts and dress shirts, is well known in the garment industry. Typical collar stays are either plastic or metal and have a tapered lower end. Moreover, collar stays are typically straight elements with smooth coplanar surfaces.

In operation, the typical collar stay is located in a cooperating pocket. In some shirt constructions, the cooperating pocket is imbedded within the collar to permanently house the collar stay. In other shirt constructions, the pocket is formed such that it can removeably receive the collar stay. In such a construction, the collar stay is inserted in the cooperating pocket to extend from the neckline, or in proximity to the neckline, toward the tips of the collar to maintain an unwrinkled and unbended appearance.

Despite the use of collar stays with collars, it is not uncommon, when the garment is worn, for the collar stay to shift position within its cooperating pocket, or slip completely out of its cooperating pocket. The smooth surfaces of the collar stay generate insufficient resistance to movement and the collar stay can easily shift positions in its cooperating pocket. This is particularly the case when the collar stay substantially exceeds the length of its cooperating pocket. Currently known collar stays, though being suitable to maintain the shirt collar in a substantially unwrinkled and unbended form, are not outfitted with any feature which restricts the collar stay from shifting position within its cooperating pocket, or inadvertently falling out of the pocket.

In dress shirts, collar stays have been known to slip completely out of the pocket, particularly when the shirt is unbuttoned and the collar is not cinched tightly around the neck. As identified above, currently known collar stays, though being suitable to maintain the shirt collar in an unbended form, are not outfitted with any feature which restricts the movement of the collar stay relative to its cooperating pocket. For the foregoing reasons, there is a need for an improved collar stay that is resistant to shifting positions in its cooperating pocket or falling therefrom when the garment is being worn.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The embodiment of the present disclosure is directed to a slip resistant collar stay that is resistant to shifting positions in its cooperating pocket when the garment is worn. The slip resistant collar stay comprises an elongate element with a front side and a back side. A slip resistant material is disposed on at least the front side of the element. The slip resistant material increases the coefficient of friction between the slip resistant collar stay and its cooperating pocket, thus eliminating or minimizing the movement of the collar stay relative to its cooperating pocket.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These, as well as other features of the embodiment of the present disclosure, will become more apparent upon reference to the drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a slip resistant collar stay constructed in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of the slip resistant collar stay shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the slip resistant collar stay shown in FIG. 1.

Common reference numerals are used throughout the drawings and detailed description to indicate like elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings wherein the showings are for purposes of illustrating a preferred embodiment of the present invention only, and not for purposes of limiting the same, FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 depict a slip resistant collar stay 1 constructed in accordance with the present invention. As shown in FIGS. 1-3, the collar stay 1 comprises an elongate body 10 which defines a generally planar top surface 10a, and an opposed, generally planar bottom surface 10b. The body 10 also defines an opposed pair of longitudinally extending side edges 16a, 16b disposed in spaced, generally parallel relation to each other.

In the collar stay 1, the side edges 16a, 16b of the body 10 transition to a first end portion 12 of the body 10 which has a generally tapered configuration and terminates at an apex 13. An opposed, second end portion 14 of the body 10 is defined by a laterally extending end surface 15 which extends generally perpendicularly between the side edges 16a, 16b. The transition between the end surface 15 and the side edges 16a, 16b is preferably defined by a pair of rounded corner regions 16.

The body 10 of the collar stay 1 is preferably fabricated from a plastic material of a thickness which imparts a suitable level of flexibility thereto, though materials other than for a plastic material are contemplated to be within the spirit and scope of the present invention. Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the shape of the body 10 of the collar stay 1 as described above is exemplary only, and that alternative shapes for the body 10 are contemplated to be within the spirit and scope of the present invention.

As best seen in FIG. 1, in addition to the body 10, the collar stay 1 of the present invention comprises a slip resistant feature 20 which is disposed on at least the top surface 10a of the body 10. In the embodiment of the collar stay 1 shown in FIGS. 1-3, the slip resistant feature 20 comprises three elongate protuberances or projections 22 which are disposed on the top surface 10a in spaced, generally parallel relation to each other, and are further arranged so as to extend angularly (e.g., at approximately a 45° angle) between the side edges 16a, 16b.

It is contemplated that each of the projections 22 will be fabricated from a slip resistant material such as rubber, though the present invention is not intended to be limited to any specific material for the projections 22. Additionally, it is contemplated that the projections 22 will project outwardly relative from the top surface 10a at a suitable distance which provides the desired non-slip effect for the collar stay 1 relative to the garment pocket in which it is positioned. In the collar stay 1, the slip resistant feature 20, and in particular the projections 22, are preferably provided on only the top surface 10a of the body 10. As a result, the collar stay 1 may be inserted into the complimentary pocket of the garment such that the opposed, generally planar bottom surface 10b extends along that side or surface of the garment collar which would normally be presented for outward appearance, the absence of any projections 22 on such bottom surface 10b thereby eliminating the appearance of any bumps or surface irregularities on the visible surface of the garment collar. Along these lines, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the projections 22 may be positioned on the bottom surface 10b rather than the top surface 10a without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention, since the top and bottom surfaces 10a, 10b are mirror images of each other. The projections 22 may comprise separate and distinct elements which are attached to the body 10 through the use of a suitable adhesive, including an adhesive tape or other suitable means for bonding two items to each other.

Though not shown, those of ordinary skill in the art will further recognize that each of the projections 22 may be provided in a number less than or greater than the three projections 22 shown in FIG. 1 without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Moreover, the projections 22 may be provided in alternative shapes or sizes than shown in FIG. 1 (e.g., circular) without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Additionally, the projections 22 having the size and shape depicted in FIG. 1 may be extended generally perpendicularly between the side edges 16a, 16b, rather than angularly therebetween.

In addition to the foregoing, it is further contemplated that the slip resistant feature 20 may alternatively take form of a uniform non-slip coating or surface treatment which is applied to cover the entirety of the top and/or bottom surfaces 10a, 10b of the body 10 of the collar stay 1. As will recognized, such a uniform coating would, in large measure, eliminate the need to orient the collar stay 1 in its complementary pocket in a prescribed manner as may be desirable if the projections 22 are included for the reasons described above.

This disclosure provides exemplary embodiments of the present invention. The scope of the present invention is not limited by these exemplary embodiments. Numerous variations, whether explicitly provided for by the specification or implied by the specification, such as variations in structure, dimension, type of material and manufacturing process may be implemented by one of skill in the art in view of this disclosure.

Claims

1. A collar stay for use with a garment having a collar and a pocket formed on the collar, the collar stay comprising:

an elongate body having an upper surface and an opposing lower surface, the elongate body defining a first end portion and an opposing second end portion, the first end portion terminating in an apex, the elongate body being sized and configured to be insertable within the pocket; and

a slip resistant member disposed on the upper surface, the slip resistant member being configured to engage with the collar to mitigate movement of the elongate body relative to the collar when the elongate body is inserted within the pocket.

2. The collar stay recited in claim 1, wherein the slip resistant member includes a projection disposed on the upper surface.

3. The collar stay recited in claim 2, wherein the projection is fabricated from rubber.

4. The collar stay recited in claim 1, wherein the elongate body defines an opposed pair of longitudinally extending side edges disposed in spaced, parallel relation to each other, the slip resistant member including a projection disposed on the upper surface, the projection being disposed angularly relative to the pair of side edges.

5. The collar stay recited in claim 4, wherein the projection is disposed at a 45° angle relative to the pair of side edges.

6. The collar stay recited in claim 1, wherein the slip resistant member includes a plurality of projections disposed on the upper surface.

7. The collar stay recited in claim 1, wherein the elongate body is formed out of a plastic material.

8. The collar stay recited in claim 1, wherein the slip resistant member includes a non-slip coating.

9. A collar stay for use with a garment having a collar and a pocket formed on the collar, the collar stay comprising:

an elongate body having an upper surface and an opposing lower surface, the elongate body defining a first end portion and an opposing second end portion, the elongate body being sized and configured to be insertable within the pocket; and

a slip resistant member disposed on the upper surface, the slip resistant member being configured to engage with the collar to mitigate movement of the elongate body relative to the collar when the elongate body is inserted within the pocket.

10. The collar stay recited in claim 9, wherein the slip resistant member includes a projection disposed on the upper surface.

11. The collar stay recited in claim 10, wherein the projection is fabricated from rubber.

12. The collar stay recited in claim 9, wherein the elongate body defines an opposed pair of longitudinally extending side edges disposed in spaced, parallel relation to each other, the slip resistant member including a projection disposed on the upper surface, the projection being disposed angularly relative to the pair of side edges.

13. The collar stay recited in claim 12, wherein the projection is disposed at a 45° angle relative to the pair of side edges.

14. The collar stay recited in claim 9, wherein the slip resistant member includes a plurality of projections disposed on the upper surface.

15. The collar stay recited in claim 9, wherein the elongate body is formed out of a plastic material.

16. The collar stay recited in claim 9, wherein the slip resistant member includes a non-slip coating.

17. A collar stay for use with a garment having a pocket, the collar stay comprising:

an elongate body having an upper surface and an opposing lower surface, the elongate body defining a size and shape complimentary to the pocket so as to be insertable within the pocket; and

a slip resistant member disposed on the upper surface, the slip resistant member being configured to engage with the collar to mitigate movement of the elongate body relative to the collar when the elongate body is inserted within the pocket.

18. The collar stay recited in claim 17, wherein the slip resistant member includes a projection disposed on the upper surface.

19. The collar stay recited in claim 18, wherein the projection is fabricated from rubber.

20. The collar stay recited in claim 17, wherein the slip resistant member includes a non-slip coating.