Device and Method for Attachment of Necktie

Abstract

A device is provided for the easy engagement of a necktie around the neck of a user in an as-used position. The device employs a curved resilient member having a gap between its distal ends which eliminates the over tightening such neckties produce on the user's neck. The curved member will dismount when force is exerted to the tie sufficient to overcome the inward bias of the curved member providing a user a secure yet easily disengageable mount for their necktie.

Description

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/323204 filed on Apr. 12, 2010 and is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention herein disclosed relates generally to neckties. More particularly it relates to a device for the easy engagement of a necktie around the neck of a user which eliminates the over tightening such neckties produce on the user's neck, yet provides a secure yet easily disengageable mount.

2. Prior Art

Neckties have been worn by men for decades as a fashion accessory and as standard issue clothing for executives. Neckties are also conventionally worn by men at dress affairs such as weddings and holidays such as New Year's Eve. More modernly women, too, have endeavored to wear neckties with suits and coats as a fashion accessory and to achieve the perception of being an executive or professional when viewed by others.

While neckties provide the user with the ability to display flare and accessorize their suit or coat with color and patterns, they can be a nuisance to tie around the neck of the user. Neckties are not standardized and some are too long for one knot and others too short for a bigger knot such as a double Windsor.

For wearers who don't wear and therefor tie neckties very often, tying the knot in a necktie is a learning experience each time its attempted. Even for wearers who wear neckties daily, tying a necktie is fraught with potential for frustration due to the different lengths and thicknesses of the fabric effecting the final outcome of the time after knotting. Thick fabric or short ties cause the tied necktie to appear too short and above the belt line. Thinner fabric or longer neckties can end up having their distal ends hanging over the fabric of a pair of pants.

Further, neckties can be dangerous. Working around machinery, neckties present an especially dangerous hazard in that they can become entangled in moving gears and components. Because they are tied around the user's neck, and because they are reasonably strong since they are formed of multiple fabric layers, a necktie caught in machinery can cause the wearer to have their head pulled into the moving components of machinery. Since the fabric tie is encircling the wearer's neck, the risk of severe injury or strangulation is quite real.

Pre-tied neckties have been attempted in the past. One example is the “clip-on” tie that is still popular today. However clip-on ties, to those experienced in fashion are readily apparent since there are no fabric portions extending up the wearer's collar. Further, clip-on ties must be purchased in the configuration with a clip implanted and therefor a wearer cannot take their favorite tie from the closet and engage it upon a clip for subsequent use. Wearers are at the mercy of the manufacturers for style and color which can be problematic.

As such, there exists an unmet need, for a device and method to allow necktie wearers to tie any of their own collection of neckties onto a neck engaging component which is easily mounted and removed. Such a device should provide an appearance to a viewer, of a necktie which has fabric extending into the collar so that stylish users are accommodated. Further, such a device and method should also allow for neckties to be manufactured and provided from the factor in a tied condition upon the neck mounting component.

In addition, the necktie engaged upon the neck mounting component, should also provide safety to the wearer around machinery. Consequently, such a device and method should provide a necktie mount for a wearer's neck that provides the illusion that the tie is engaged around the collar, but in fact is engaged to the neck mounting component. The neck mounting component should provide a solid mount of the tie with the user's neck and shirt, but, must be self-releasing when engaged such that the user is not pulled into machinery.

With respect to the above, before explaining at least one preferred embodiment of the necktie mount and method in detail or in general, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangement of the neck mount, tie, or other components or the steps set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The various apparatus and methods of the disclosed necktie mounting invention are capable of other embodiments, and of being practiced and carried out in various ways, all of which will be obvious to those skilled in the art, once the information herein is reviewed. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception upon which this disclosure is based may readily be utilized as a basis for designing other modes of neck-engaging mounts for neckties which easily release, and for carrying out the several purposes of the present disclosed device and method. It is important, therefore, that the embodiments, objects and claims herein, be regarded as including such equivalent construction and methodology insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The disclosed device and method provides a solution to the above noted shortcomings of pre-tied neckties and the conventional means of engagement of such to the user's neck such as with clip-on ties. The device and method herein provides a novel system engaging a tie from a wearer's own collection, or from the manufacturer, to a neck mount which extends around a majority of the circumference of the user's neck and engages portions of the necktie up into the collar to appear hand tied.

In a preferred mode of the device, a curved neck mounting member is employed which is substantially U shaped and is made of resilient material such as plastic. The distal ends of the mounting member are positioned slightly apart from each other by the circular or curved shape of the neck mounting member thereby forming a gap. The resilient nature of the material forming the neck mounting member allows the user to enlarge the gap between the distal ends and engage the neck mounting member around their neck and through the collar of a dress shirt.

However, because the neck mounting member is formed of resilient plastic or other material, once engaged around the neck, the mounting member inherently biases the distal ends toward each other and by doing so provides a loose but solid engagement to the neck and shirt of the user.

The same flexible nature of the neck mounting member, allow it to be easily disengaged from the wearer's neck along with a tie engaged to the member. A simple pulling apart of the distal ends to enlarge the gap therebetween, allows for removal from the wearer's neck. In the event the engaged necktie becomes caught in moving machinery, instead of pulling the wearer's face and head toward the machinery, the neck mounting member is simply pulled from the wearer's neck thereby providing a means to release the device from the user passively and effectively to avoid injury.

A necktie is tied at a central portion of the neck engaging member. In one mode of the device, the knot is positioned by tying the necktie in a Windsor or other knot, around the neck engaging member. Alternatively, and to increase the stability of the tied necktie in maintaining a position, a recess can be formed at the central point of tying the knot. The slight recess provides a means to prevent sliding of the necktie along the neck engaging member.

In another mode of the device, a pair of necktie engaging mounts are formed a short distance from the central portion where the necktie is knotted. During a tying of the tie to the neck engaging member, a first leg is engaged on one mount and a second leg is engaged on the second mount. Then the tie is engaged in a conventional knot at the middle portion. When the member is engaged around the neck of the user and into the collar of the shirt, the two legs give the appearance of the tie extending around the user's neck.

In yet another mode of the device herein, which can be provided by the factory, the neck engaging member is covered with fabric, or painted or dyed, to make the member appear the same as the pattern of the necktie. When the neck engaging member is placed in the “as worn” position around a user's neck, the portions of the member extending from the central area of the knot, to the distal ends, appear as legs of the fabric forming the tie. This mode of the device also gives the illusion that the tie extends around the user's neck and is tied, even though it is not.

The wearer can thus have all of their favorite ties pre-engaged to individual neck engaging members. This allows them to easily and simply engage the necktie to hang in a natural fashion at the front of the shirt with the knot between the two portions of the collar. The distal ends of the member are simply separated to enlarge the gap sufficiently to allow the distal ends to slide into the collar and around the user's neck.

Dismounting is as simple as pulling on the tie, or the central portion of the mounting member, to thereby cause the distal ends to move away from each other as the resilient material of the mount bends. This easy dismount also provides a means for passive disengagement from the neck of the user should the tie become caught in machinery or the like.

It is an object of this invention to provide a means to pre-engage a user's neckties to a knotted configuration and then be engaged to the neck of the user.

It is another object of this invention to provide a system for pre knotting of neckties that provides for a portion of fabric to extend into the collar of the user to give the illusion of a tied necktie.

Finally, it is an object of this invention to provide a necktie mount that will passively release from the wearer should the tie become caught in machinery.

These together with other objects and advantages which become subsequently apparent reside in the details of the necktie pre-tying and engagement system herein as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING FIGURES

FIG. 1 depicts a favored mode of the device, wherein the curved neck engaging member is shaped to encircle the neck of a wearer and has all or a portion colored to make it appear the fabric tie extends into the collar.

FIG. 2 depicts a mode of the neck engaging member which is formed of resilient material which is pre-shaped to a curve.

FIG. 3 depicts a preferred mode of the neck engaging member having a recess formed at a central portion to provide a means to prevent lateral sliding of the tied tie knot, on the member.

FIG. 4 depicts the curved resilient neck engaging member showing colorization of areas adjacent to the central portion to appear as an extension of the tied tie placed in the central portion.

FIG. 5 depicts the device in a first as-used position, engaged on the collar and surrounding a user's neck, and showing the extension portions adjacent to the tied tie, appearing as an extension thereof.

FIG. 6 depicts the device in a second as used-position engaged on the collar of a shirt which would surround a user's neck, where the collar is buttoned.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the FIGS. 1-6, the necktie knotting and engagement device 10 herein, which when employed in an as-used position such as in both FIGS. 5-6, provides a natural appearing hand-tied necktie 12 when it is tied upon the central portion 13 of a resilient curved neck engaging member 14.

As noted above, the curved member 14 is formed of resilient material which is elastic in nature or has a memory and after a deformation by expanding it such as placement around a user's neck, biases to its original curved contracted shape. A gap 16 is formed between the two distal ends of the member 14.

The member 14 is configured to encircle the neck of a user and upon a surface facing the shirt 15, to frictionally engage therewith. Means to increase frictional engagement between the shirt 15 and the curved member 14 may be provided by a shaped surface 17 such as the shown tooth edge. This helps prevent the curved member 14 from rotating when in the as-used position encircling the user's neck between two portions of a shirt collar 19 of a shirt 15.

In the preferred mode of the device 10, extensions 21 which are portions of or on the member 14, extending away from the central portion 13 where the tie 12 is knotted, are imparted with a pattern or color or other means to make the member 14 in the region of the extensions 21, appear as an extension of the tie 12 to someone viewing the user wearing the tie 12 in the as used position of FIG. 5. The extensions 21 may be a painted, dyed or more preferably have fabric thereon substantially similar in pattern and color to that of the tie 12, to make the extensions 21 appear to be part of the tie 12, and extending into the collar 19 of the user's shirt. (FIG. 5)

Employing the curved member 14, a user may also engage their own tie 12 thereto at the central portion 13. This may be done by looping a portion of the tie around the curved member 14, while tying the knot of the tie 12 in a conventional fashion. Thereafter the loop formed may be cut, and the two portions of the loop, engaged upon the curved member 14, by removing and replacing the conventional seam in such ties 12.

It is envisioned however that the device 12 will be more popular where the device 10 is manufactured with the tie 12 and extensions 21 placed thereon, and sold as a unit in stores. However, if the curved member 14 is formed of a neutral material such as black, or of a transparent material which is hard to see, the device 10 may be assembled by the user using a tie 12 and eliminating the extensions 21 if they do not wish to cut their tie 12. Using dark or black colorized material for the curved member 14 and a dark tie 12 will give the appearance that the portions of the member 14 adjacent to the tie 12 knotted to the central portion 13 are part of the tie 12.

Once the tie 12 is engaged to the member 14 it may be left in that fashion. Subsequent engagement to the neck of the user is accomplished by pulling the distal ends to enlarge the gap 16 therebetween, and sliding the member 14 around the user's neck under the collar 19 of a shirt 15 such as in FIGS. 5 and 6.

The tie 12 is thus frictionally engaged around the user's neck by the inwardly biasing curved member 14 reducing the gap 16 to less then the diameter of the user's neck. Particularly preferred in all modes of the device 10, is a reduced diameter of the member 14 in the central portion 13, as in FIG. 3. This provides a means to maintain the knotted tie 12 at the central portion 13, by making it hard for the tie so knotted, to slid onto the extension areas.

In the as-used position of FIGS. 5-6, the member 14, and tie 12, may be passively dismounted from the user's neck, should the tie 12 become caught in machinery, or, should another person pull on the tie 12 while in the as-used position. This is because the biased inward engagement of the curved member 14 on the neck of the user, is overcome by any pulling on the tie 12 sufficient to cause the flexible member to expand the gap 16 to allow the member 14 and tie 12 to move in the direction of the force exerted on the tie 12. This means for passive dismount from the as-used position on the user's neck, will save the user from severe injury if the force exerted on the tie 12 is from machinery, or from an assailant attempting to disable the user.

Finally, the device 10 is adapted for storage on a conventional closet hanger member (not shown) which conventionally holds hangers with clothing. A curved portion 25 at the distal ends of the curved member 14 is configured to provide a good mount to such circular hanger members and maintain the device 10 hanging on the member better than a planar surface.

While all of the fundamental characteristics and features of the necktie engagement system herein, and employment thereof have been shown and described herein, with reference to particular embodiments thereof, a latitude of modification, various changes and substitutions are intended in the foregoing disclosure and it will be apparent that in some instances, some features of the invention may be employed without a corresponding use of other features without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth. It should also be understood that various substitutions, modifications, and variations may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Consequently, all such modifications and variations and substitutions are included within the scope of the disclosed system and apparatus for engagement of neckties to a wearer's neck, as defined by the following claims.

Claims

1. An apparatus positioning a necktie upon a user's neck, comprising:

a U-shaped member having a pair of distal ends defining a gap therebetween;

said member formed of resilient material;

said member having an interior circumference defined by a contact surface;

said interior circumference sized to frictionally engage upon a neck of a user in an as-used position;

a central portion of said member having a necktie knotted thereon; and

said member having an engagement position achievable by imparting a force to said distal ends in opposite directions to form an enlargement of said gap to a distance sufficient to allow a passage of said neck therethrough to position said member in said as-used position with said necktie hanging from said central portion, and, said member will passively disengage from said as-used position upon communication of said force to said tie in a direction away from said member.

2. The apparatus positioning a necktie upon a user's neck of claim 1, additionally comprising:

a recess formed in said member at said central portion;

said recess defining a mounting position for said necktie; and

said recess providing means to maintain said necktie at said central portion by preventing a sliding upon said member.

3. The apparatus positioning a necktie upon a user's neck of claim 1, additionally comprising:

extension portions of said member extending from said central portion; and

a colorization of said extension portions rendering them to appear as extensions of said necktie knotted at said central portion.

4. The apparatus positioning a necktie upon a user's neck of claim 2, additionally comprising:

extension portions of said member extending from said central portion; and

a colorization of said extension portions rendering them to appear as extensions of said necktie knotted at said central portion.

5. The apparatus positioning a necktie upon a user's neck of claim 3, additionally comprising:

said colorization of said extension portions provided by a fabric covering thereof; and

said fabric covering having an appearance substantially similar to said necktie's appearance.

6. The apparatus positioning a necktie upon a user's neck of claim 4, additionally comprising:

said colorization of said extension portions provided by a fabric covering thereof; and

said fabric covering having an appearance substantially similar to said necktie's appearance.

7. The apparatus positioning a necktie upon a user's neck of claim 3, additionally comprising:

said colorization of said extension portions adhered upon an exterior surface of said member; and

said exterior surface having an appearance substantially similar to said necktie's appearance.

8. The apparatus positioning a necktie upon a user's neck of claim 4, additionally comprising:

said colorization of said extension portions adhered upon an exterior surface of said member; and

said exterior surface having an appearance substantially similar to said necktie's appearance.

9. The apparatus positioning a necktie upon a user's neck of claim 1, additionally comprising:

a portion of said contact surface formed of alternating recesses and points; and

said alternating recesses and points providing a means to enhance a frictional engagement of said contact surface with fabric of a shirt worn by said user to prevent a rotation of said member when in said as-used position.

10. The apparatus positioning a necktie upon a user's neck of claim 2, additionally comprising:

a portion of said contact surface formed of alternating recesses and points; and

said alternating recesses and points providing a means to enhance a frictional engagement of said contact surface with fabric of a shirt worn by said user to prevent a rotation of said member when in said as-used position.

11. The apparatus positioning a necktie upon a user's neck of claim 3, additionally comprising:

a portion of said contact surface formed of alternating recesses and points; and

said alternating recesses and points providing a means to enhance a frictional engagement of said contact surface with fabric of a shirt worn by said user to prevent a rotation of said member when in said as-used position.

12. The apparatus positioning a necktie upon a user's neck of claim 4, additionally comprising:

a portion of said contact surface formed of alternating recesses and points; and

said alternating recesses and points providing a means to enhance a frictional engagement of said contact surface with fabric of a shirt worn by said user to prevent a rotation of said member when in said as-used position.

13. The apparatus positioning a necktie upon a user's neck of claim 5, additionally comprising:

a portion of said contact surface formed of alternating recesses and points; and

said alternating recesses and points providing a means to enhance a frictional engagement of said contact surface with fabric of a shirt worn by said user to prevent a rotation of said member when in said as-used position.

14. The apparatus positioning a necktie upon a user's neck of claim 6, additionally comprising:

a portion of said contact surface formed of alternating recesses and points; and

said alternating recesses and points providing a means to enhance a frictional engagement of said contact surface with fabric of a shirt worn by said user to prevent a rotation of said member when in said as-used position.

15. The apparatus positioning a necktie upon a user's neck of claim 7, additionally comprising:

a portion of said contact surface formed of alternating recesses and points; and

said alternating recesses and points providing a means to enhance a frictional engagement of said contact surface with fabric of a shirt worn by said user to prevent a rotation of said member when in said as-used position.

16. The apparatus positioning a necktie upon a user's neck of claim 8, additionally comprising:

a portion of said contact surface formed of alternating recesses and points; and

said alternating recesses and points providing a means to enhance a frictional engagement of said contact surface with fabric of a shirt worn by said user to prevent a rotation of said member when in said as-used position.