Tie with Permanent Knot Having Attachment Mechanism Formed Therein and Related Methods

Abstract

A tie has a narrow end and a broad end with a length and a midsection portion along the length with a knot formed in the midsection portion of the tie. The knot forms a first length portion extending from the knot to the broad end of the tie and a second length portion extending from the knot to the narrow end of the tie. The midsection portion of the tie forms the knot and is transverse to the first length portion of the tie. An attachment is provided for securing the second length portion of the tie to the knot. The attachment is wrapped in the knot with the transversely extending midsection portion of the tie substantially covering over the attachment. The attachment has a tubular portion dimensioned to receive the second length portion of the tie therethrough. A method of forming and using the same is disclosed.

Description

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to a necktie with a permanent knot that enables the user to use the tie a number of times without having to re-do the knot.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a rear view of an exemplary tie with a simple tie knot formed therein with an attachment mechanism formed in the knot of the tie that allows the user to fasten the tie without having to tie a knot.

FIG. 2 is a rear view of another embodiment of an exemplary tie with a knot formed therein commonly known as a “full Windsor” with an attachment mechanism formed in the knot of the tie that allows the user to fasten the tie without having to tie a knot

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the attachment device of FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the attachment device of FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 5 through FIG. 9 show an illustrative sequence of steps of forming a knot around the attachment in an exemplary tie.

FIG. 10 shows a guide portion that may be used with an exemplary tie.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A necktie 20 as described herein has a permanent knot 22 formed therein that enables the user to use the tie a number of times without having to re-do the knot. With a permanent knot 22 pre-formed in a midsection of the tie, the knot-forming steps are eliminated, so all that is necessary in fastening a tie around a collar is to direct a narrow end of the tie through an attachment formed in the knot, and slidingly draw the knot up snug against the collar by downwardly pulling on the narrow end of the tie.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the tie 20 comprises a narrow end 24 and a broad end 26 with a length 28 of the tie extending therebetween. Intermediate the narrow end 24 and the broad end 26 is a midsection portion 30 of the tie. The midsection portion 30 of the tie has the knot 22 formed therein. Preferably, the knot 22 is monolithically formed from the length of the tie and does not comprise a separate piece of fabric. The advantage of forming the knot monolithically from the midsection portion of the tie is that the knot simulates a conventional knot formed in a tie, rather than a separate piece wrapped around the attachment, which would otherwise detract from the aesthetic appearance of the tie. In effect, the knot 22 divides the tie into a first length portion 32 which extends from the knot to the broad end 26 of the tie and a second length portion 34 which extends from the knot to the narrow end 24 of the tie. The knot may comprise several folds as is commonly known in tie knots, for instance, and not in any limiting sense, a simple knot (FIG. 1) or full Windsor (FIG. 2). Generally speaking, in the knot, the midsection portion 30 of the tie extends transversely to and over the first length 32 of the tie, that is, the portion of the length of the tie extending to the broad end. The second length 34 of the tie is directed through an attachment 40 in the knot as described herein in order to fasten the tie around the user's collar. Although the terms “narrow” and “broad” are used to define the opposite ends of the tie, the tie described herein is not intended to be limited by these definitions, and a tie having a uniform width may employ the principles disclosed herein. Thus, the terms narrow and broad are intended to convey the relative position of the ends of the tie when the tie is worn by the user, that is the broad end is intended to mean the end with the outwardly facing portion of the tie and the narrow end is intended to mean the end that is behind the outwardly facing portion when the tie is worn by the user.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, the attachment 40 is fitted inside the knot 22 so that the midsection portion 30 covers over the attachment thereby providing an aesthetic appearance for the tie and obscuring the attachment from ordinary view. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the attachment 40 is wrapped in or included as part of the knot 22 and the midsection portion 30 of the tie substantially covers the attachment, even from a rear view. However, the midsection portion of the tie may substantially cover only the front, outwardly appearing aspect of the attachment, leaving the remaining surface of the attachment to be obscured from view by the user's collar and shirt when the tie is worn. The dashed lines in FIGS. 1 and 2 are intended to show different folding patterns for the creating the knot that wraps around, includes or envelops the attachment. The knot of the tie may formed around the attachment or the attachment may be inserted into the knot as may be desired. The attachment may also be mounted to the tie behind the knot so that the knot or midsection portion of the tie obscures the attachment from ordinary view, without or with the collar, when the user wears the tie.

For ease and purposes of illustration and not in any limiting sense, the description below will make reference to a generally triangular shaped tie knot with two generally vertical sides and a generally horizontal side. These orientations are intended for ease of illustration and not in any limiting sense with reference to a tie as it is ordinarily worn by the user. Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the attachment 40 comprises a tubular member 42 with a lug portion 44 extending tangentially therefrom. The lug may also project from a radially as opposed to tangentially from a side of the tubular member. In the knot 22, the midsection portion 30 of the tie may have one or more loops, depending upon knot style, around the tubular member 42 that forms one generally vertical side of the triangular shaped knot, and the lug portion 44 may have one or more loops, depending upon knot style, that forms the other generally vertical side of the triangular knot. Again, depending upon the type of knot (full Windsor, four-in-hand, etc.), the number of loops around the lug and the tubular member may vary. The orientation of the lug portion and tubular member may also vary and be reversed (i.e., the lug portion and tubular member may have a “left” and “right” orientation, as may be suited for person's preference and dominant hand).

For purposes of illustrating the principles of a method of wrapping the attachment in a knot, and not in any limiting sense, the illustrations of FIGS. 5-9 depict a full Windor-type knot wrapped around the attachment. In FIG. 5, the attachment 40 is positioned in the midsection portion 30 of the tie with the lug 44 oriented toward the second length portion 34 and the narrow end 24, and the broad end 26 of the tie is directed over the tubular member 42 to form a loop 50 over the tubular member outer surface. The broad end 26 of the tie is then directed over a “v” shaped portion 52 formed between the lug portion 44 and tubular member 22 to extend (downward in FIG. 5) from the knot. Per FIGS. 6 and 7, the broad end 26 of the tie is then directed over the tubular member 42 thereby again forming a second loop 54 with the midsection portion over the tubular member. The broad end 26 of the tie is then directed over the lug 34 so that the first length portion 32 and the broad end 26 extends (downward in FIG. 7) from the “v” shaped portion 52 formed between the lug portion and the tubular member. Following the sequence per FIGS. 8 and 9, the broad end of the tie 26 is then looped over the lug 34 and directed to the front (i.e., outward facing portion) of the knot 22 to eventually become the transverse midsection 56 portion of the knot. The broad end 26 of the tie is then looped around the tubular member over the “v” shaped portion 52 formed between the lug and tubular member and behind the traverse midsection portion 56 of the tie, where the broad end 26 of the tie and the first length portion 32 depend from the knot. The narrow end 24 of the tie may then be directed through the interior of the tubular member 42. By grasping and pulling the narrow end 24 of the tie and the second portion 34, the user may snug the knot 22 and attachment 40 against the user's collar. Other knot tying styles may also be employed using the general principles shown in FIGS. 5-9 to envelop or include the attachment in the knot, and the illustration of FIGS. 5-9 is not intended to be limiting in any sense.

After forming the knot 22 around the attachment 40, the lug portion 44 and/or tubular member 42 may be stitched or adhered, or otherwise mounted, to the tie to permanently affix the attachment member to the midsection of the tie in the knot. Alternatively, the attachment may be held in place solely by the knot. The attachment and tie may be sold as a kit to be formed by the end user of the tie. The attachment may be sold separately and used by the end user in connection with existing ties. The tie may be sold to the end user with the attachment formed in the knot.

In use, the narrow end 24 of the tie and the second portion 34 is directed through the interior of the tubular member 42 of the attachment. To facilitate directing the second portion through the interior of the tube, it is preferable to have the entrance of the tubular member positioned at or just below the transverse midsection portion of the tie. This way the tubular member (and attachment) will remain obscured from ordinary view while allowing the user access for threading the second portion through the tubular member. Once the narrow end passes through the tubular member, the use may then grasp the narrow end and the knot may be drawn snugly against the user's collar. If the user decides to remove the tie, the user may simply pull on the second length of tie on the other side of the knot thereby loosening or retracting the narrow end from the tubular member of the attachment member.

Referring to FIG. 10, the narrow end 24 of the tie may be provided with guide 60 portion to allow the user to first direct the narrow end through the tube member. Preferably, the guide portion 60 is removably attachable to the narrow end 24 of the tie. For instance, the guide portion 60 may be formed with a slot 62 adapted to receive the narrow end 24 of the tie for purposes of threading the narrow end through the tubular member interior. The guide portion 60 is preferably longer than the length of the tubular member 42 and smaller in width than an inner diameter of the tube so that the guide may pass through the tube and enable the user to thread the narrow end through the tubular member interior with the guide portion. When that narrow end 24 of the tie clears the tube, the guide portion may be removed as may be desired. Alternatively, the narrow end of the tie may be formed sufficiently rigid to allow it to be manipulated through the tubular member.

In view of the foregoing, it will be seen that the several advantages are achieved and attained. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. As various modifications could be made in the constructions and methods herein described and illustrated without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the foregoing description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative rather than limiting. Thus, the breadth and scope of the present invention should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims appended hereto and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A tie having a narrow end and a broad end with a length extending therebetween, the tie having a midsection portion along the length with a knot formed in the midsection portion of the tie, the knot in the midsection portion of the tie forming a first length portion extending from the knot to the broad end of the tie and a second length portion extending from the knot to the narrow end of the tie, the midsection portion of the tie forming the knot being transverse to the first length portion of the tie; and

an attachment for securing the second length portion of the tie to the knot, the attachment being included in the knot with the transversely extending midsection portion of the tie substantially covering over the attachment, the attachment having a tubular portion dimensioned to receive the second length portion of the tie therethrough thereby allowing the user to grasp the narrow end of the tie and snug the knot up against the user's collar when wearing the tie.

2. The tie of claim 1 further comprising a guide removably attachable to the narrow end of the tie, the guide being dimensioned to pass through the tubular member interior hollow interior thereby enabling the user to thread the tie through the tubular member interior.

3. The tie of claim 1, wherein the tubular member has a smooth interior.

4. The tie of claim 1, wherein the attachment is permanently affixed to the knot of the tie.

5. The tie of claim 4, wherein the lug is permanently affixed to the knot of the tie.

6. The tie of claim 1, wherein the knot simulates a conventional knot in a tie.

7. The tie of claim 1, wherein the midsection portion of the tie is wrapped around the attachment.

8. A method comprising:

forming a tie having a narrow end and a broad end with a length extending therebetween, the tie having a midsection portion along the length;

forming a knot in the midsection portion of the tie such that the knot in the midsection portion of the tie forms a first length portion extending from the knot to the broad end of the tie and a second length portion extending from the knot to the narrow end of the tie, the midsection portion of the tie forming the knot being transverse to the first length portion of the tie; and

wrapping an attachment in the knot with the transversely extending midsection portion of the tie substantially covering over the attachment, the attachment having a tubular portion dimensioned to receive the second length portion of the tie therethrough thereby allowing the user to grasp the narrow end of the tie and snug the knot up against the user's collar when wearing the tie.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

attaching a guide dimensioned to pass through the tubular member interior hollow to the narrow end of the tie.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising directing the guide through the tubular member interior hollow interior thereby threading the tie through the tubular member interior.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the attachment is permanently affixed to the knot of the tie.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the lug is permanently affixed to the knot of the tie.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the knot simulate a conventional knot in a tie.

14. A method comprising:

forming a tie having a narrow end and a broad end with a length extending therebetween, the tie having a midsection portion along the length;

forming a knot in the midsection portion of the tie such that the knot in the midsection portion of the tie forms a first length portion extending from the knot to the broad end of the tie and a second length portion extending from the knot to the narrow end of the tie, the midsection portion of the tie forming the knot being transverse to the first length portion of the tie; and

inserting an attachment in the knot with the transversely extending midsection portion of the tie substantially covering over the attachment, the attachment having a tubular portion dimensioned to receive the second length portion of the tie therethrough thereby allowing the user to grasp the narrow end of the tie and snug the knot up against the user's collar when wearing the tie.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

attaching a guide dimensioned to pass through the tubular member interior hollow to the narrow end of the tie.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising directing the guide through the tubular member interior hollow interior thereby threading the tie through the tubular member interior.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the attachment is permanently affixed to the knot of the tie.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the lug is permanently affixed to the knot of the tie.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein the knot simulate a conventional knot in a tie.