COLLAR SUPPORT

Abstract

A collar support for supporting a shirt collar or the like that includes a flexible body carrying pressure sensitive adhesive bodies for adhesive coupling to a garment, wherein a planar surface surrounds each pressure sensitive adhesive body to minimize or eliminate accidental adhesion to the garment that may interfere with proper installation of the collar support to the garment.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a garment support and particularly to a collar support for a dress shirt.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is well known that a dress shirt includes a band portion, which encircles the neck of the wearer, and is attached to a turned down portion sometimes referred to as the collar. It has been well known that the collar of a shirt may be deformed and creased if not properly packaged for transport. A collar support/stay may be used to prevent the deformation of the collar of a dress shirt. A primary purpose of a collar support is to retain the collar's shape while it is being transported, for example, from a dry cleaning facility or a shirt packaging facility, or while the garment is being stored or displayed, for example, in a store.

Collar supports formed with an elongated flexible body are well known. For example, GB 2138275 A discloses a collar support that is comprised of an elongated, flexible body having adhesives located at opposite ends thereof. The purpose of the adhesives is to couple the flexible body to the shirt's band so that the flexible body does not move during transport or storage of the shirt.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,865,286 discloses another collar support. This support includes a slot for mounting the support to the top button of a shirt, and opposite wing portions for providing support to the collar of a shirt. Pressures sensitive adhesive is coated onto the wing portions in order to adhesively secure the wings to the collar.

As can be readily seen, in both cases, pressure sensitive adhesive extends to the peripheral edges of the support. It has been found that during installation of collar supports having pressure sensitive adhesive as arranged according to the prior art discussed above, the adhesive couples to the shirt before the support is adjusted to its proper position during the installation process. While it is possible to disengage the support for adjustment, in large scale operations (e.g. a shirt packaging facility), the process of repeatedly disengaging the adhesive for adjustment is not feasible. Thus, it has been found that many shirts are packaged with mis-aligned supports, which may deform the shirt and/or render the shirt unsuitable for display in a retail environment.

It is, therefore, desirable to have a support without the drawbacks of the prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to devise a collar support that can be preinstalled in place, positionally adjusted, and then fixed in place.

A collar support according to the present invention includes a flexible body carrying pressure sensitive adhesive bodies each surrounded by a respective planar surface.

It has been found by the inventor that the pressure sensitive adhesive bodies do not adhere to the shirt while the collar support is being mounted in place if a planar surface that slips easier than the pressure sensitive adhesive bodies surrounds each pressure sensitive adhesive body. Consequently, an installer can preinstall a collar support according to the present invention, adjust the position of the support, and then apply pressure to the pressure sensitive adhesive bodies to fix the support in place.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of the invention which refers to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a plan view of a collar support according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the collar support illustrated in FIG. 1 along line 2-2 viewed in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 3 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the collar support illustrated in FIG. 1 along line 3-3 viewed in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 4 illustrates a second plan view of a collar support according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 illustrates a cross-sectional view along line 5-5 in FIG. 1 viewed in the direction of arrows.

FIG. 6 shows a plan view of a collar support according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 illustrates a plurality of collar supports according to the present invention stacked atop one another according to another aspect of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

An article according to the present invention is a collar support which can be used to retain the shape of a shirt collar for transport or storage. Referring to FIGS. 1-5, a collar support 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention can be used to support the collar portion of a dress shirt. Collar support 10 includes a first arcuate flexible body 12 and a second arcuate flexible body 14. First flexible body 12 and second flexible body 14 are coupled to one another via a decorative element 16, which may be in the shape of a bow tie. Decorative element 16 is coupled to first flexible body 12 by a first living hinge 18, and second flexible body 14 is coupled to decorative element 16 by a second living hinge 20. First flexible body 12 and second flexible body 14 are otherwise separated from one another by gaps 24. Further, note that decorative element 16 is separated from first and second flexible bodies 12,14 by gaps 25.

In the preferred embodiment, first flexible body 12, second flexible body 14, and decorative element 16 form an integrated, unitary body.

Each flexible body 12, 14 is elongated and includes a planar top surface 26 and a planar bottom surface 28 opposite and parallel to planar top surface 26. In use, bottom surfaces 28 of each flexible body 12, 14 make contact with the collar portion of the shirt. Specifically, bottom surface 28 of first body 12 will make contact with the outer surface of the band portion of the collar (i.e. the surface that would face away from the wearer's neck) and bottom surface 28 of second elongated body 14 would make contact with the inner surface of the collar (i.e. the surface that would make direct contact with the wearer's neck).

According to an aspect of the present invention, a first window 30 is defined at a first end of first flexible body 12 to allow access from its top surface 26 to its bottom surface 28. A second window 32 is defined at a second end of first flexible body 12 to allow access from its top surface 26 to its bottom surface 28. A first substrate 34 spans first window 30 and includes a first pressure sensitive adhesive 36 on a first surface thereof. First pressure sensitive adhesive 36 is adhered to top surface 26 of flexible body 12 and resides between first substrate 34 and top surface 26. A second substrate 38 spans second window 32 and includes a second pressure sensitive adhesive 40 on a first surface, which is adhered to top surface 26 of flexible body 12 and resides between second substrate 38 and top surface 26 of first flexible body 12. Thus, each pressure sensitive adhesive body 36, 40 is at a recessed position relative to bottom surface 28 of flexible body 12 and accessible via a respective window 30,32 as illustrated in FIG. 3.

A third window 42 is defined at a first end of second flexible body 14 to allow access from its top surface 26 to its bottom surface 28. A fourth window 44 is defined at a second end of second flexible body 14 to allow access from its top surface 26 to bottom surface 28. A third substrate 46 spans third window 42 and includes a third pressure sensitive adhesive 48 on a first surface thereof. Third pressure sensitive adhesive 48 is adhered to top surface 26 of second flexible body 14 and resides between its top surface 26 and third substrate 46. A fourth substrate 50 spans fourth window 44 and includes a fourth pressure sensitive adhesive 52 on a first surface thereof. Fourth pressure sensitive adhesive 52 is adhered to top surface 26 of second flexible body 14 and resides between its top surface 26 and fourth substrate 50. Thus, each pressure sensitive adhesive body 48, 52 is recessed relative to bottom surface 28 of second flexible body 14 and accessible from bottom surface 28 via a respective window 42,44.

Note that windows 30,32,42,44 are preferably rectangular but may be any suitable shape. Also, note that preferably, each substrate 34,38,46,50 spans the entire open area of a respective window 30,32,42,44 although each window may partially span the open area of a respective window without deviating from the scope and the spirit of the present invention.

According to an aspect of the present invention, each window 30,32,42,44 defines a respective planar surface 30′, 32′, 42′, 44′ that surrounds a respective pressure sensitive adhesive body 36,42,48,52. Each planar surface terminates at peripheral edges 27 of an end portion of a respective flexible body and extends preferably continuously and uninterruptedly from the peripheral edge toward a respective pressure sensitive adhesive body. Thus, each planar surface 30′, 32′, 42′, 44′ so defined constitutes a frame around a respective pressure sensitive adhesive body.

According to an aspect of the present invention each planar surface that surrounds a respective pressure sensitive adhesive body is less slip resistant than the adhesive bodies and thus slips more readily on the shirt.

It has been found that because the adhesive body is recessed as described and because of the frame formed around the pressure sensitive adhesive bodies, the adhesive bodies do not adhere to the shirt collar support 10 when collar support 10 is being mounted to the shirt. Thus, the installer can mount the collar support 10 and adjust the position of collar support 10 without interference from the adhesive bodies. Once mounted and adjusted, collar support 10 can be fixed in place by pressing on the substrates to adhere the pressure sensitive bodies to the shirt.

Referring now to FIG. 6, a collar support 54 according to the second embodiment of the present invention provides direct support for the collar portion of a dress shirt. Support 54 includes a planar and flexible body 55 made with any suitable material for a collar support (e.g. chipboard, paper, cardboard, plastic and/or any suitable material for a collar support) which includes two wing portions 56,58 meeting one another at an axis of symmetry 59 to define a generally V-shaped body. A slot 60 is defined in the flexible body 55 the purpose of which is to receive a thread that couples the top button of a shirt to its collar whereby, in use, the V-shaped flexible body may be installed behind the top button as illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 3,865,286. Each wing portion 56,58 includes a respective pressure sensitive adhesive body 60,62 which is directly printed thereon through any suitable method.

According to an aspect of the present invention each adhesive body 60,62 terminates before reaching the edges of flexible body 55. Consequently, each pressure sensitive adhesive body 60,62 is surrounded by a respective planar surface 64,66 that extends from its boundary, preferably continuously and uninterruptedly, to the respective edges of a respective wing portion 56,58. According to an aspect of the present invention each planar surface 64,66 surrounding a respective pressure sensitive adhesive body 60,62 slips more readily on fabric than pressure sensitive adhesive bodies 60,62, which allows the user to adjust the position of flexible body 55 after it has been received behind the top button of a shirt with minimal interference from pressure sensitive adhesive bodies 60,62. After adjustment, the user may press the collar portion of the shirt against pressure sensitive adhesive bodies 60,62 to fix collar support 54 in place.

It should be noted that the windows 30, 32, substrates 34, 38 and combination of pressure sensitive adhesives 36, 40 as arranged in the first embodiment of the present invention may be applied to a collar support of any shape and configuration including a collar support having a configuration resembling or identical to the collar support according to the second embodiment as depicted in FIG. 6 without deviating from the scope and spirit of the present invention. Thus, for example, a collar support according to an alternative embodiment may include a planar and flexible body similar or identical to body 55 with windows similar or identical to windows 30, 32 defined in wing portions 56, 58 thereof. Substrates similar or identical to substrates 34, 38 and pressure sensitive adhesives similar or identical to pressure sensitive adhesives 36, 40 may be used to realize the same arrangement as described above with reference to the first embodiment. Thus, nothing herein should be understood to limit the present invention to a collar support of any particular shape.

According to one aspect of the present invention the substrates may have a non-stick surface opposite the surface that receives a pressure sensitive adhesive body. Thus, as illustrated in FIG. 7, a plurality of collar supports according to the present invention may be stacked atop one another without permanently sticking to one another. That is, the non-stick surface of the substrate of one collar support can weakly attach to a corresponding pressure sensitive adhesive body of another collar support, thereby allowing the collar supports according to the present invention to be stacked neatly. Advantageously, collar supports according to the present invention may be stacked without the need to use intervening release liners to allow the collar supports to be readily separated from one another. However, it is also possible to apply a release agent to the non-stick surface in order to avoid even a weak adhesion between a substrate of one collar support with a pressure sensitive adhesive body of another collar support.

A collar support according to the first embodiment of the present invention may be fabricated by first defining windows 30,32,42,44 in a flexible body. Note that windows 30,42 would be defined along one column while windows 32,44 would be defined along another column spaced from the column of windows 30,42. The flexible body may be any material suitable for the construction of a collar support such as chipboard, paper, cardboard, plastic and/or any synthetic material suitable for fabrication of a collar support. Thereafter, a strip-shaped adhesive tape having a pressure sensitive adhesive on one surface thereof is applied to cover windows 30,42 in the first column and another strip-shaped adhesive is applied to cover windows 32,44 in the other column. The strip-shaped adhesive tape may have a non-slip surface opposite the surface having pressure sensitive adhesive. After applying the two strip-shaped adhesive tapes, the collar supports 10 are defined by making suitable cuts into the material using, for example, an appropriate die. Thus, arcuate boundaries, and gaps 24, 25 may be cut to define the peripheral boundaries of first flexible body 12, second flexible body 14 and decorative element 16. An appropriate tool may be devised to define the aforementioned cuts simultaneously. This process is not limited to a collar support having a shape similar or identical to the first embodiment, but may be applied to fabricate a collar support of any suitable shape having windows to provide an adhesive surface at the bottom of a recess according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

Although the present invention has been described in relation to particular embodiments thereof, many other variations and modifications and other uses will become apparent to those skilled in the art. It is preferred, therefore, that the present invention be limited not by the specific disclosure herein, but only by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A collar support comprising:

a flexible body having a first planar surface at a first end thereof surrounding a first pressure sensitive adhesive body and a second planar surface at a second end thereof opposite said first end, each said planar surface extending from respective peripheral edges of said flexible body toward a respective pressure sensitive adhesive body, said planar surfaces being able to slip on fabric more readily than said pressure sensitive adhesive bodies.

2. The collar support of claim 1, wherein said pressure sensitive adhesive bodies are directly adhered to said flexible body.

3. The collar support of claim 2, wherein said flexible body includes a slot located between said first end and said second end, said first pressure sensitive adhesive being located spaced from one edge of said slot, and said second pressure sensitive adhesive being located spaced from another opposite edge of said slot.

4. The collar support of claim 1, further comprising a first window defined in said flexible body, a second window defined in said flexible body, a first substrate having a surface area larger than said first window and including said first pressure sensitive adhesive on a surface thereof, a second substrate having a surface area larger than said second window and including said second pressure sensitive adhesive body on a surface thereof, wherein a portion of said first pressure sensitive body surrounds said first window and is disposed between said flexible body and said first substrate, and a portion of said second pressure sensitive adhesive body surrounds said second window and is disposed between said flexible body and said second substrate.

5. The collar support of claim 1, further comprising a first window defined in said flexible body and including a top edge adjacent said first planar surface and a bottom edge adjacent a bottom surface opposite said first planar surface, and a second window defined in said flexible body and including a top edge adjacent said second planar surface and a bottom edge adjacent a bottom surface opposite said second planar surface, each said pressure sensitive adhesive body being disposed at a respective second edge vertically spaced from a respective first edge.

6. The collar support of claim 5, wherein said flexible body is arcuate.

7. The collar support of claim 1, wherein said flexible body is arcuate.

8. The collar support of claim 1, wherein said flexible body is comprised of cardboard.

9. The collar support of claim 1, wherein said flexible body is comprised of plastic.

10. A collar support, comprising:

an elongated flexible body having a first planar top surface and a second planar bottom surface opposite said first planar top surface, a first window defined at a first end of said elongated flexible body to allow access from said first planar top surface to said second planar bottom surface, a second window defined at a second end of said elongated flexible body to allow access from said first planar top surface to said second planar bottom surface, a first substrate spanning said first window and having a first pressure sensitive adhesive on a first surface thereof adhering to said first planar top surface, a second substrate spanning said second window and having a second pressure sensitive adhesive on a first surface thereof adhering to said first planar top surface, said first pressure sensitive adhesive and said second pressure sensitive adhesive being accessible through said first window and through said second window respectively from said second planar bottom surface.

11. The collar support of claim 10, wherein said elongated flexible body is arcuate.

12. The collar support of claim 10, wherein said elongated flexible body is comprised of cardboard.

13. The collar support of claim 10, wherein said elongated flexible body is comprised of plastic.

14. The collar support of claim 10, further comprising another elongated flexible body hingedly coupled to said elongated flexible body.

15. The collar support of claim 14, wherein said another flexible body includes a third planar top surface and a fourth planar bottom surface opposite said third planar top surface, a third window defined at a first end of said another elongated flexible body to allow access from said third planar top surface to said fourth planar bottom surface, a fourth window defined at a second end of said another elongated flexible body to allow access from said third planar top surface to said fourth planar bottom surface, a third substrate spanning said third window and having a third pressure sensitive adhesive on a first surface thereof adhering to said third planar top surface, a fourth substrate spanning said fourth window and having a fourth pressure sensitive adhesive on a first surface thereof adhering to said third planar top surface, the third pressure sensitive adhesive and said fourth pressure sensitive adhesive being accessible through said third window and through said fourth window respectively from said fourth planar bottom surface.

16. The collar of claim 15, wherein said elongated flexible body and said another elongated flexible body are arcuate.

17. The collar of claim 15, wherein said elongated flexible body and said another elongated flexible body are coupled to one another via a decorative element, said decorative element being hingedly coupled to said elongated flexible bodies.

18. The collar of claim 15, wherein said windows are rectangular.