FASHION OR SPORTS ACCESSORY USING FABRIC AND ATTACHMENT MECHANISM TO FASTEN AROUND A PERSON'S NECK

Abstract

A bandanna can connect a person to an object, such as a sports team for example, by printing the team name on the bandanna and wearing the bandanna around the neck. The bandanna may be worn for team sports to identify players on different teams by using differently designed bandannas, making uniforms unnecessary. In some embodiments, the bandanna may be used for sports such as flag football or flag rugby, where the bandanna may act as the flag where removal of the bandanna is a “tackle”. The bandanna may connect around the neck using a magnet or a clip, for example.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. provisional patent application No. 61/446,658, filed Feb. 25, 2011, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to fashion or sporting accessories and, more particularly, to a bandanna, fashion accessory, or sports accessory using fabric and magnets or a clip to fasten around a person's neck.

Fashion accessories may be limited in availability, designs and ease of taking on and off. For sports fans, for example, there are limited ways to support your team, such as wearing T-shirts, hats, or other such items. With items such as shirts, it is often inconvenient to change shirts or add or remove team support.

As can be seen, there is a need for a clothing item that may easily attach and remove from the wearer and provide the wearer with a new way to add to their wardrobe.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, a bandanna comprises a fabric body shaped by folding a square shaped piece of material into a triangular shape having a first corner and a second corner disposed along a fold line; and at least one connection mechanism disposed in at least one of the first corner and the second corner, the connection mechanism permitting the first corner to attach to the second corner.

In another aspect of the present invention, a bandanna comprises a fabric body shaped by folding a square shaped piece of material into a triangular shape having a first corner and a second corner disposed along a fold line; at least one magnet disposed in the first corner; and a magnetically attractive material disposed in the second corner.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a bandanna, in use, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the bandanna of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top view of the bandanna of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a bandanna according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a bandanna worn as a fashion accessory according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a bandanna that can connect a person to an object, such as a sports team for example, by printing the team name on the bandanna and wearing the bandanna around the neck. The bandanna may be worn for team sports to identify players on different teams by using differently designed bandannas, making uniforms unnecessary. In some embodiments, the bandanna may be used for sports such as flag football or flag rugby, where the bandanna may act as the flag where removal of the bandanna is a “tackle”. The bandanna may connect around the neck using a magnet or a clip, for example.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 through 6, a bandanna 10 may include a fabric body 12 that may be designed by folding a square piece of material in half. A fold line 24 may form the edge that is placed about a wearer's neck. The fabric body 12 may be made from various materials, including natural and synthetic or blended materials, such as cotton.

An attachment mechanism may be disposed at one or both ends of the fold line 24. In some embodiments, the attachment mechanism may be one or more magnets 18. In some embodiments, opposite pole magnets 18 may be disposed on each end of the fold line 24. In other embodiments, a magnet 18 may be disposed on one end of the fold line 24 and a magnetically attractive material 20, such as a ferro-magnetic metal, such as steel, may be placed on the other end of the fold line 24. Both designs allow the bandanna 10 to be easily attached when worn around the neck.

The magnet 18 and metal 20 may be disposed on the outside of the fabric body 12, or may be disposed inside the fabric body 12, on each side of the folded material. For example, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the first and second magnets 18 or the magnet 18 and the metal 20 may be disposed inside the fabric body 12. A stitch line 30 may be disposed about the magnet 18 and/or metal 20 to secure it therewithin. In some embodiments, the magnet 18 and/or metal 20 may be glued inside or outside the fabric body 12.

The third corner of the bandanna 10 (where the other two corners have the connection mechanism, such as magnets 18 or a magnet 18 and metal 20) may be connected together by various mechanisms. In some embodiments, the third corner may be stitched together. In other embodiments, the third corner may be sealed with a glue 22, as shown in FIG. 6.

Various emblems/logos 34 may be disposed on the fabric body 12 of the bandanna 10. For example, a team name or logo may be disposed on the bandanna 10. In some embodiments, the bandannas may be made in different colors to help identify team designations. The emblems/logos may be imprinted, embossed, embroidered, or placed in any manner known in the art.

The bandanna 10 may be made in various sizes. For example, in some embodiments the bandanna 10 may be made from a square sheet of material from 14 to 17 inches in size. Other sizes may be designed for children and adults. While the above description describes the bandanna as a triangular bandanna formed from folding fabric, the bandanna may be made of a single sheet of fabric, where the attachment mechanism is attached to the outside of the fabric by glue, for example.

The connection mechanism, as described above, may be a magnet with metal, or two magnets. Other connection mechanisms may be known in the art, provided that the connection mechanism may be disconnected when a predetermined force is applied to the bandanna. For example, referring to FIG. 7, a clip 32 may be disposed on one side of the bandanna 10. The clip 32 may be, for example, a spring loaded clip that the user may depress to open and clip onto the opposite corner of the bandanna 10 when worn.

The bandanna 10 may be connected by other mechanisms. For example, a safety breakaway connection, such as those used on lanyards, may be used to connect the ends of the bandanna 10 around a wearer's neck. Other attachment mechanism, as may be known in the art, may be included within the scope of the present invention.

Referring back to FIG. 1, the bandanna 10 may be worn around a player's necks 26 on players 14, 16 on opposing teams. Typically, the bandanna 10 may be worn to point down the back of the player's neck 26, such that one player 16 may have a line of sight 28 to the bandanna 10 of another player 14 when running after the player 14.

Referring now to FIG. 8, the bandanna 10 may be worn as a fashion accessory. In this embodiment, the bandanna 10 may be worn around the neck, with the logo area 34 being disposed below the wearer's chin 36, extending toward the wearer's chest 38. In this embodiment, the bandanna 10 may be used as a fashion accessory that can be quickly and easily worn or removed.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

Claims

1. A bandanna comprising:

a fabric body shaped by folding a square shaped piece of material into a triangular shape having a first corner and a second corner disposed along a fold line; and

at least one connection mechanism disposed in at least one of the first corner and the second corner, the connection mechanism permitting the first corner to attach to the second corner.

2. The bandanna of claim 1, further comprising a connection formed at a third corner of the fabric body.

3. The bandanna of claim 2, wherein the connection is formed with glue.

4. The bandanna of claim 1, wherein the connection mechanism includes at least one magnet.

5. The bandanna of claim 4, wherein the magnet is retained in at least one of the first corner or the second corner with stitching.

6. The bandanna of claim 4, wherein the connection mechanism includes at least one magnet at the first corner and at least one magnet at the second corner.

7. The bandanna of claim 4, wherein the connection mechanism includes at least one magnet at the first corner and a ferro-magnetic metal at the second corner.

8. The bandanna of claim 1, wherein the connection mechanism includes a clip on the first corner, the clip adapted to connect to the second corner.

9. A bandanna comprising:

a fabric body shaped by folding a square shaped piece of material into a triangular shape having a first corner and a second corner disposed along a fold line;

at least one magnet disposed in the first corner; and

a magnetically attractive material disposed in the second corner.

10. The bandanna of claim 9, wherein the magnetically attractive material is one of a magnet or a ferro-magnetic material.