Button Tags

Abstract

A method of securing a shirt collar to a shirt and shirt collar kit structured and arranged to instantly transform a button-less dress-shirt collar into a button-down collar. Useful in situations where a quick “dress up” is required for work or social occasions, thereby eliminating the “fly-away collar” phenomenon that diminishes one's appearance, and make any dress shirt immediately presentable, with or without a necktie. The Button Tags can also be used to eliminate gaps in the chest area.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application is related to and claims priority from prior provisional application Ser. No. 62/407,904, filed Oct. 13, 2016 which application is incorporated herein by reference.

COPYRIGHT NOTICE

A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever. 37 CFR 1.71(d).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The following includes information that may be useful in understanding the present invention(s). It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art, or material, to the presently described or claimed inventions, or that any publication or document that is specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to the field of collar fastener devices and more specifically relates to a method of securing a shirt collar to a shirt and shirt collar kit structured and arranged to instantly transform a button-less dress-shirt collar into a button-down collar.

2. Description of the Related Art

An annoying phenomenon familiar to millions of men: the so-called “fly-away collar” that results from wearing a necktie with a dress shirt that lacks a button-down collar. In modern clothing and fashion design, a button is a small fastener, now most commonly made of plastic, but also frequently made of metal, wood or seashell, which secures two pieces of fabric together. Buttons are most often attached to articles of clothing but can also be used on containers such as wallets and bags. However, buttons may be sewn onto garments and similar items exclusively for purposes of ornamentation. Buttons serving as fasteners work by slipping through a fabric or thread loop, or by sliding through a buttonhole.

Unfortunately, without buttons to hold the ends of the collar in place, the collar behaves as though it were a pair of wings that wanted to take flight—and the man's appearance is makeshift and haphazard, even slovenly. Therefore, a need exists for a specially designed device to eliminate this unfortunate situation not by giving the man (and in some cases, the woman) a new shirt, but instead by providing a handy and immediate fix for the shirt he is wearing.

Various attempts have been made to solve problems found in collar fasteners art. Among these are found in: U.S. Pat. No. 2,384,788 to David Bakerman; U.S. Pat. No. 3,319,304 to Erby E. Adams; and U.S. Pat. No. 2,795,795 to Gordon A. Hobbs. This prior art is representative of collar-fastening pins.

Ideally, a method of securing a shirt collar to a shirt and shirt collar kit should be user-friendly and safe in-use and, yet should operate reliably and be manufactured at a modest expense. Thus, a need exists for method of securing a shirt collar to a shirt and shirt collar kit structured and arranged to instantly transform a button-less dress-shirt collar into a button-down collar and to avoid the above-mentioned problems.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known collar fastener devices art, the present invention provides a method of securing a shirt collar to a shirt and shirt collar kit (entitled Button Tags). The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail is to provide a method of securing a shirt collar to a shirt and shirt collar kit structured and arranged to instantly transform a button-less dress-shirt collar into a button-down collar.

A method of securing a shirt collar to a shirt, the method comprising the steps of: step one providing a piercing tool; step two providing a collar button comprising a button body and a button post; step three providing a button holder comprising a button holder body and a button post hole; step four using the piercing tool to puncture a first hole in the shirt collar; step five inserting the button post into and through the first hole, such that the button body remains on an outside surface of the shirt collar; step six using the piercing tool to puncture a second hole in the shirt; step seven placing the button holder upon an inside surface of the shirt adjacent the second hole to thereby align the second hole with the button post hole; and step eight inserting the button post into and through the second hole and into the button post hole of the button holder, to thereby releasably secure the shirt collar to the shirt. The piercing tool is adapted to puncture holes within the shirt and the shirt collar. The button post is attached to the button body at a proximal end thereof. The button post hole is adapted to releasably hold the button post therein.

A shirt collar kit comprising: a piercing tool; a plurality of collar buttons, each including button body and a button post; and a plurality of button holders, each including a button holder body and a button post hole. The piercing tool is adapted to puncture holes within a shirt and a shirt collar. The button post is attached to the button body at a proximal end thereof. The button post hole is adapted to releasably hold the button post therein. The piercing tool is adapted to puncture a first hole in said shirt collar. Wherein each button post is adapted to be inserted into and through the first hole, such that the button body remains on an outside surface of the shirt collar. The piercing tool is adapted to puncture a second hole in the shirt. Wherein each button holder is adapted to be placed upon an inside surface of the shirt adjacent the second hole to thereby align the second hole with the button post hole, such that the button post can be inserted into and through the second hole and into the button post hole of the button holder, to thereby releasably secure the shirt collar to the shirt.

The present invention holds significant improvements and serves as a method of securing a shirt collar to a shirt and shirt collar kit. For purposes of summarizing the invention, certain aspects, advantages, and novel features of the invention have been described herein. It is to be understood that not necessarily all such advantages may be achieved in accordance with any one particular embodiment of the invention. Thus, the invention may be embodied or carried out in a manner that achieves or optimizes one advantage or group of advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving other advantages as may be taught or suggested herein. The features of the invention which are believed to be novel are particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings and detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The figures which accompany the written portion of this specification illustrate embodiments and method(s) of use for the present invention, a Method of Securing a Shirt Collar to a Shirt And Shirt Collar Kit (entitled Button Tags), constructed and operative according to the teachings of the present invention.

FIG. 1 shows a flowchart illustrating a Method of Securing a Shirt Collar according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a shirt collar kit according to an embodiment of the present invention. according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the shirt collar kit including: a piercing tool; a collar buttons; and a button holder according to an embodiment of the present invention of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating the shirt collar kit in an in-use condition according to an embodiment of the present invention of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As discussed above, embodiments of the present invention relate to a collar fastener devices and more specifically relates to a method of securing a shirt collar to a shirt and shirt collar kit (entitled Button Tags) structured and arranged to instantly transform a button-less dress-shirt collar into a button-down collar

Generally speaking, the Button Tags comprise, a handy, compact, solid rubber, slide resistant unit within a kit, for instantly transforming a button-less dress-shirt collar into a button-down collar. Useful in situations where a quick “dress up” is required for work or social occasions, thereby eliminating the “fly-away collar” phenomenon that diminishes one's appearance, and make any dress shirt immediately presentable, with or without a necktie. The Button Tags can also be used to eliminate gaps in the chest area.

The Button Tags preferably enable the consumer, in only moments, to transform any button-front shirt with a dress collar (typically referred to as a “spread collar”) into a shirt with a button-down collar—a feature particularly important when the consumer wishes (or is required by circumstances or the occasion) to wear a necktie.

The Button Tags may be packaged and sold as a kit that a man—or a woman—could stow in a desk drawer, briefcase, or a vehicle's glove-box for those occasions, for example, when he or she has to leave work to attend a funeral, attend a “dress up” meeting or presentation, or go straight from the office to a play, concert, dinner, or party. Women can also use the Button Tags for additional support for keeping the chest area of a blouse closed, negating any wardrobe malfunctions. The Button Tags invention may consist of a few simple components, best illustrated by the inventor's description of how the Button Tags may work: “With the included piercing tool, you puncture a very small hole in the shirt-collar where the button for a button-down Oxford collar may be. You then insert the Button Tag—a collar button mounted to a descending, cylindrical post—into this hole. Using the post, you then puncture a second small hole in the shirt.

The post is then inserted into a receiving, post-holder fitting; and this process is then repeated for the other side of the collar.” The top of the post will be smaller than the button, and the end of the post will feature a smooth rounded end to prevent the sharp end from pricking the collar bone as the post passes through the holder. The holder is comprised of a clear, round, solid rubber piece to prevent the post from sliding down due to repeated use. The buttons employed in the Button Tag system may be in a variety of colors, so as to closely match the buttons of the button-front shirt being converted.

The Button Tags may permit anyone to convert a free-ended spread collar into a button-down collar quickly and easily. Clever in conception and thoughtful in design, the Button Tags have been conceived to meet a real need shared by millions of consumers—and this simple solution for converting a free-collared shirt into a button-down shirt should find a wide and enthusiastic reception.

Referring to the drawings by numerals of reference there is shown in FIG. 1, shows flowchart 150 illustrating method 100 of securing shirt collar 420 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Method 100 of securing shirt collar 420 to shirt 410, method 400 comprising the steps of: step one 101 providing piercing tool 210; step two 102 providing collar button 220 comprising button body 230 and button post 240; step three 103 providing button holder 260 comprising button holder body 270 and button post hole 280; step four 104 using piercing tool 210 to puncture first hole 212 in shirt collar 410; step five 105 inserting the button post 240 into and through first hole 212, such that button body 230 remains on an outside surface of shirt collar 420; step six 106 using piercing tool 210 to puncture second hole 216 in shirt 410; step seven 107 placing button holder 260 upon an inside surface of shirt 410 adjacent second hole 216 to thereby align second hole 216 with button post hole 280; and step eight 108 inserting button post 240 into and through second hole 216 and into button post hole 280 of button holder 260, to thereby releasably secure shirt collar 420 to shirt 410.

It should be noted that the steps described in the method of use can be carried out in many different orders according to user preference. The use of “step of' should not be interpreted as “step for”, in the claims herein and is not intended to invoke the provisions of 35 U.S.C. § 112, ¶6. Upon reading this specification, it should be appreciated that, under appropriate circumstances, considering such issues as design preference, user preferences, marketing preferences, cost, structural requirements, available materials, technological advances, etc., other methods of use arrangements such as, for example, different orders within above-mentioned list, elimination or addition of certain steps, including or excluding certain maintenance steps, etc., may be sufficient.

Referring now to FIGS. 2-4, showing perspective views illustrating shirt collar kit 200 according to an embodiment of the present invention of FIG. 1.

Shirt collar kit 200 comprising: piercing tool 210; plurality of collar buttons 220, each including button body 230 and button post 240; and plurality of button holders 260, each including button holder body 270 and button post hole 280. Piercing tool 210 is adapted to puncture holes within shirt 410 and shirt collar 420 as shown in in-use condition 400. Piercing tool 210 is adapted to puncture first hole 212 in shirt collar 420. Button post 240 is attached to button body 230 at a proximal end thereof. Button post hole 280 is adapted to releasably hold button post 240 therein. Button body 230 is formed as a circular disk. Button holder body 270 is formed as from a rubber material. The button holder body 270 is translucent.

Wherein each button post 240 is adapted to be inserted into and through first hole 212, such that button body 230 remains on an outside surface of shirt collar 420. Piercing tool 210 is adapted to puncture second hole 216 in shirt 410. Wherein each button holder 260 is adapted to be placed upon an inside surface of shirt 202 adjacent second hole 216 to thereby align second hole 216 with button post hole 280, such that button post 240 can be inserted into and through second hole 216 and into button post hole 280 of button holder 260, to thereby releasably secure shirt collar 420 to shirt 410. Button post 240 is formed as an elongated cylindrical post. Wherein a distal end of the elongated cylindrical post of button post 240 is formed having a smooth rounded end adapted to avoid piercing the skin of a person wearing shirt 410.

The kit has instructions such that functional relationships are detailed in relation to the structure of the invention (such that the invention can be used, maintained, or the like in a preferred manner). Shirt collar kit 200 may be manufactured and provided for sale in a wide variety of sizes and shapes for a wide assortment of applications. Upon reading this specification, it should be appreciated that, under appropriate circumstances, considering such issues as design preference, user preferences, marketing preferences, cost, structural requirements, available materials, technological advances, etc., other kit contents or arrangements such as, for example, including more or less components, customized parts, different color combinations, parts may be sold separately, etc., may be sufficient.

The embodiments of the invention described herein are exemplary and numerous modifications, variations and rearrangements can be readily envisioned to achieve substantially equivalent results, all of which are intended to be embraced within the spirit and scope of the invention. Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientist, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application.

Claims

1. A method of securing a shirt collar to a shirt, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a piercing tool; wherein said piercing tool is adapted to puncture holes within said shirt and said shirt collar;

providing a collar button comprising: button body; and a button post; wherein said button post is attached to said button body at a proximal end thereof;

providing a button holder comprising: a button holder body; and a button post hole; wherein said button post hole is adapted to releasably hold said button post therein;

using said piercing tool to puncture a first hole in said shirt collar;

inserting said button post into and through said first hole, such that said button body remains on an outside surface of said shirt collar;

using said piercing tool to puncture a second hole in said shirt;

placing said button holder upon an inside surface of said shirt adjacent said second hole to thereby align said second hole with said button post hole;

inserting said button post into and through said second hole and into said button post hole of said button holder, to thereby releasably secure said shirt collar to said shirt.

2. The method of securing a shirt collar to a shirt of claim 1, wherein said button body is formed as a circular disk.

3. The method of securing a shirt collar to a shirt of claim 2, wherein said button post is formed as an elongated cylindrical post.

4. The method of securing a shirt collar to a shirt of claim 3, wherein a distal end of said elongated cylindrical post of said button post is formed having a smooth rounded end adapted to avoid piercing the skin of a person wearing said shirt.

5. The method of securing a shirt collar to a shirt of claim 1, wherein said button holder body is formed as a circular disk.

6. The method of securing a shirt collar to a shirt of claim 5, wherein said button holder body is formed as from a rubber material.

7. The method of securing a shirt collar to a shirt of claim 6, wherein said button holder body rubber material is translucent.

8. A shirt collar kit comprising:

a piercing tool; wherein said piercing tool is adapted to puncture holes within a shirt and a shirt collar;

a plurality of collar buttons, each comprising: button body; and a button post; wherein said button post is attached to said button body at a proximal end thereof;

a plurality of button holders, each comprising: a button holder body; and a button post hole; wherein said button post hole is adapted to releasably hold said button post therein;

wherein said piercing tool is adapted to puncture a first hole in said shirt collar;

wherein each said button post is adapted to be inserted into and through said first hole, such that said button body remains on an outside surface of said shirt collar;

wherein said piercing tool is adapted to puncture a second hole in said shirt;

wherein each said button holder is adapted to be placed upon an inside surface of said shirt adjacent said second hole to thereby align said second hole with said button post hole, such that said button post can be inserted into and through said second hole and into said button post hole of said button holder, to thereby releasably secure said shirt collar to said shirt.

9. The shirt collar kit of claim 8, wherein said button body is formed as a circular disk.

10. The shirt collar kit of claim 9, wherein said button post is formed as an elongated cylindrical post.

11. The shirt collar kit of claim 10, wherein a distal end of said elongated cylindrical post of said button post is formed having a smooth rounded end adapted to avoid piercing the skin of a person wearing said shirt.

12. The shirt collar kit of claim 8, wherein said button holder body is formed as a circular disk.

13. The shirt collar kit of claim 12, wherein said button holder body is formed as from a rubber material.

14. The shirt collar kit of claim 13, wherein said button holder body rubber material is translucent.