MAGNETICALLY-INTERCOUPLED NECK STRAP AND TIE ASSEMBLY
The present invention provides a neck strap having a magnetic receptacle to which either a pre-tied bow tie or pre-tied tie is engagably and magnetically attachable. Two types of neck straps are disclosed. A first embodiment neck strap is a conventional elasticized cloth strap, adjustable in length, having clasp-together, hook and eye opposite ends and having a button magnetic receptacle secured to a middle portion thereof. The second embodiment neck strap is a cloth strap having a first end to which a pair of spaced-apart neodymium magnets are sewn or bonded. The opposite end has a series of equally-spaced ferromagnetic discs which are sewn or bonded thereto. The ferromagnetic discs are attracted to the neodymium magnets, thereby holding the ends of the strap together. A bow tie or dress tie has a plug that magnetically secures itself to the magnetic receptacle.
This invention relates, generally, to ties and bow ties and, more particularly, to pre-tied dress ties and bow ties.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThough the wearing of pre-tied dress ties and bow ties is considered, by many, to be gauche and tawdry, as well as evidence of a lack of style and good taste, pre-tied dress ties and bow ties are highly functional and serve to enhance both safety and convenience of the wearer.
During the early days of the Battle of Britain, RAF fighter pilots were required to wear light-blue dress shirts and black ties. However, after a number of pilots drowned because of the tight-buttoned collars after ditching their fighter planes in the British Channel, the dress policy was altered to allow for unbuttoned shirts without ties. A similar situation occurs in present-day police departments. Because departments are concerned that a tie-wearing officer may be at risk of strangulation if attacked, pre-tied ties, that attach with clips to the collar of a dress shirt, have become the norm.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention provides a neck strap having a magnetic receptacle to which either a pre-tied bow tie or pre-tied tie is engagably and magnetically attachable. Two types of neck straps are disclosed. A first embodiment neck strap is a conventional elasticized cloth strap, adjustable in length, having clasp-together, hook and eye opposite ends and having a button magnetic receptacle secured to a middle portion thereof. The second embodiment neck strap is a cloth strap having a first end to which a pair of spaced-apart neodymium magnets are sewn or bonded. The opposite end has a series of equally-spaced ferromagnetic discs which are sewn or bonded thereto. The ferromagnetic discs are attracted to the neodymium magnets, thereby holding the ends of the strap together. Adjustability is achieved by the use of the series of equally-spaced ferromagnetic discs, which enable the strap to be sized larger or smaller to fit the neck of a wearer. Like the first embodiment neck strap, the second embodiment neck strap also has a button magnetic receptacle secured to a middle portion thereof. The magnets as preferably neodymium magnets, which are actually an alloy of neodymium, iron and boron having the chemical formula Nd2Fe14B. Developed in 1982 in bonded form by General Motors Corporation and in sintered form by Sumitomo Metals, these magnets—along with samarium cobalt magnets—are the strongest types of permanent magnets currently available. A bow tie and a dress tie are provided. Each has a ferromagnetic plug that magnetically secures itself to the magnetic receptacle of the neck strap.
The invention will now be described in detail with reference to the attached drawing figures. It is to be understood that the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale and that they are intended to be merely illustrative.
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Although only several embodiments of the neck strap having a magnetic receptacle to which either a pre-tied tie or bow tie is engagably attachable have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those having ordinary skill in the art that changes and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the scope and the spirit of the invention as hereinafter claimed.
Claims
1. A neck strap and tie assembly comprising:
- a neck strap securable around a neck of a wearer, said neck strap having a magnetic receptacle secured on an outer surface thereto; and
- a tie having a ferromagnetic plug secured to a rear portion thereof, said ferromagnetic plug being engagably and magnetically attachable to said magnetic receptacle.
2. The neck strap and tie assembly of claim 1, wherein said tie is a pre-tied dress tie.
3. The neck strap and tie assembly of claim 1, wherein said tie is a pre-tied bow tie.
4. The neck strap and tie assembly of claim 1, wherein said neck strap is an elasticized cloth strap, adjustable in length, having clasp-together, hook and eye opposite ends.
5. The neck strap and tie assembly of claim 1, wherein said neck strap is a cloth strap having a first end to which at least one magnet is secured, and a second end to which a series of equally-spaced ferromagnetic discs are secured.
6. The neck strap and tie assembly of claim 5, wherein said at least one magnet is of neodymium composition.
7. The neck strap and tie assembly of claim 5, wherein said at least one magnet and said equally-spaced ferromagnetic discs are sewn to said neck strap.
8. The neck strap and tie assembly of claim 5, wherein said at least one magnet and said equally-spaced ferromagnetic discs are bonded to said neck strap.
9. The neck strap and tie assembly of claim 5, wherein said at least one magnet comprises a pair of spaced-apart neodymium magnets.
10. The neck strap and tie assembly of claim 1, wherein said button magnetic receptacle and said ferromagnetic button plug are keyed to prevent rotation of the tie.
11. A neck strap and tie assembly comprising:
- a neck strap securable around a neck of a wearer, said neck strap having a neodymium button magnetic receptacle secured thereto in a generally central portion and on an outer surface thereof; and
- a tie having a ferromagnetic button plug secured to a rear portion thereof, said ferromagnetic button plug being engagably and magnetically attachable to said button magnetic receptacle.
12. The neck strap and tie assembly of claim 11, wherein said tie is a pre-tied dress tie.
13. The neck strap and tie assembly of claim 11, wherein said tie is a pre-tied bow tie.
14. The neck strap and tie assembly of claim 11, wherein said neck strap is an elasticized cloth strap, adjustable in length, having clasp-together, hook and eye opposite ends.
15. The neck strap and tie assembly of claim 11, wherein said neck strap is a cloth strap having a first end to which at least one neodymiummagnet is secured, and a second end to which a series of equally-spaced ferromagnetic discs are secured.
16. The neck strap and tie assembly of claim 11, wherein said button magnetic receptacle and said ferromagnetic button plug are keyed to prevent rotation of the tie.
17. The neck strap and tie assembly of claim 16, wherein said button magnetic receptacle and said ferromagnetic button plug are keyed by making each a regular polygonal shape.
18. The neck strap and tie assembly of claim 17, wherein said regular polygonal shape is a square.
19. The neck strap and tie assembly of claim 15, wherein said at least one magnet and said equally-spaced ferromagnetic discs are sewn to said neck strap.
20. The neck strap and tie assembly of claim 15, wherein said at least one magnet and said equally-spaced ferromagnetic discs are bonded to said neck strap.
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 11, 2013
Publication Date: Apr 17, 2014
Inventor: Felix Ike (Orem, UT)
Application Number: 14/052,664