DETACHABLE COVERS FOR SHIRT COLLARS AND SLEEVES

Abstract

A protective cover for the exposed edges of the folded collar and cuffs of a dress shirt can be mounted on the shirt to protect the shirt from being soiled at these areas of a dress shirt that are typically subjected to wear. The detachable protective covers are attached to the shirt by fastening devices that can include sticky hook and loop fasteners, sew on, soft and flexible, hook and loop fasteners, tack on pins, double sided fabric tape or magnets. The soiled protective covers can be removed from the shirt for cleaning, thus saving the shirt from wear and tear and extending the life of the dress shirt. The use of different colors or patterns of material on the protective covers, as opposed to the material of the underlying shirt, creates different appearances by using different protective covers on the same shirt.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to attachments and accessories for clothing and, more particularly, to a device attachable to the collar and the cuffs of a shirt or similar garment to keep the collar and cuffs clean with respect to oils and dirt from contact with the person wearing the shirt and from the environment.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many shirts, particularly long sleeved dress shirts, have collars and sleeves that are subject to wear and tear, particularly where the shirts make their most contact with the body, which are typically the collar and the terminus of the sleeves. Damage to shirt collars and sleeves range from mild to unwearable and this damage could happen after the first time of wearing the shirt or after a period of time. The oils and dirt collected from the environment and from the body of the person wearing the shirt can change the color of the collars and sleeves in some instances to yellow or even black stains. Typically, the stains on sleeves are less visible than the stains on collars. The wear and tear of the collars and sleeves of these shirts can result in the collars ripping away from the shirt. Dry cleaners often deal with these hard to remove stains around the collars and sleeves, which can cause some difficulties as their customers expect the dry cleaners to remove the stains for the money they are paying. A solution to this collar and sleeve stain problem that will keep the collars and sleeves free from accumulating dirt, sweat and oils from the body would be desirable.

U.S. Pat. No. 10,314,381, issued on Jun. 11, 2019, to Joseph D. Silva, et al, discloses a removable collar cover formed of a circular, flat piece of material that fits over the exterior of the wearer's shirt collar to protect the exterior of the shirt collar from liquids and hair particles while at the barber shop. This collar is reusable and is formed of soft silicone or latex material. Similarly, a larger clothing protector is found in U.S. Pat. No. 6,094,744, granted on Aug. 1, 2000, to Ramona F. Dibenedetto, et al, that is sized to tuck into the interior of the collar and extend therefrom over the back of the wearer to protect the customer's clothes from hair treatment liquids and chemicals.

In U.S. Pat. No. 9,332,788, granted to Kouros Jalveh on May 10, 2016, an attachable cover is disclosed for a shirt collar in which the cover is shaped like the shirt collar but has an open side to form an envelope for insertion of the shirt collar into the envelope. The Envelope-like cover has button holes and buttons at the end of the envelope opening to help secure the cover to the shirt collar. The circumference of the cover opening is also formed with elastic material to help close the cover around the collar. The Jalveh patent also discloses covers for the sleeve cuff that covers the outside surface of the sleeve cuff. The shirt collar cover only covers the portion of the collar that projects outwardly from the shirt, which would correspond to the fold line of the collar. Accordingly, the Jalveh shirt collar cover and sleeve cuff cover cannot protect the interior surface of the shirt collar where the shirt collar contacts the skin of the wearer. The Jalveh shirt collar cover is largely protective of the exterior surface of the shirt collar and sleeve cuff.

A different form of collar cover is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,182,486, granted to Louis Broder on Dec. 5, 1939. Like the Jalveh patent, the Broder cover is formed like an envelope that receives the outside ends of the shirt collar to encompass the entire exterior portion of the shirt collar. The Broder shirt collar is connected at three marginal portions of the edges of the envelope. Also, the Broder cover is reversible when soiled. Although the Brody cover does disclose a neck band that projects down the neck of the wearer from the folded edge of the collar cover to help secure the collar cover, the Broder cover is intended to protect the exterior surface of the shirt collar.

It would be desirable to provide a collar cover and a sleeve cover that are easily mountable on a shirt and will protect the interior surface of the shirt collar and sleeve cuffs from dirt, liquids and oils, particularly from those areas of the body engaged by the collar and sleeve cuffs of a shirt.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of this invention to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art by providing detachable shirt collar and shirt cuff protective devices.

It is another object of this invention to provide a protective device for the collar and cuffs of a dress shirt to protect the folded edges of the collar and cuffs from damage, wear and soiling.

It is a feature of this invention that the protective devices fold over the edges of the collar and cuffs of a shirt and utilize a fastening apparatus to secure the protective device in the operative position.

It is an advantage of this invention that the protective devices can be removed from the shirt for cleaning.

It is another advantage of this invention that the detachable protective devices can be utilized on multiple shirts.

It is another feature of this invention that the use of a collar cover and cuff covers of a different color or pattern of material than the material of the underlying shirt establishes a different appearance for the shirt.

It is still another advantage of this invention that the protective covers for the shirt collar and cuffs can extend the life of the shirt by preventing wear on the underlying edges of the shirt collar and shirt cuffs.

It is still another feature of this invention that the fastening apparatus can be formed in a multiple of configurations, including sticky hook and loop fasteners, sew on, soft and flexible, hook and loop fasteners, tack on pins, double sided fabric tape or magnets.

It is yet another feature of this invention that the use of hook and loop fastening apparatus requires the opposing hook and loop fastening apparatus to be attached to appropriate locations on the shirt.

It is still another feature of this invention that the use of magnets as fastening apparatus enables the fastening apparatus to be carried completely within the protective covers.

It is still another object of this invention to provide detachable protective covers for the folded collar and cuff edges of a dress shirt to protect the exposed edges of the collar and cuffs from wear, damage and soiling from dirt and sweat.

These and other objects, features and advantages are accomplished by the instant invention by providing a protective cover for the exposed edges of the folded collar and cuffs of a dress shirt. The detachable protective covers are attached to the shirt by fastening devices that can include sticky hook and loop fasteners, sew on, soft and flexible, hook and loop fasteners, tack on pins, double sided fabric tape or magnets. The soiled protective covers can be removed from the shirt for cleaning, thus saving the shirt from wear and tear and extending the life of the dress shirt. The use of different colors or patterns of material on the protective covers, as opposed to the material of the underlying shirt, creates different appearances by using different protective covers on the same shirt.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The advantages of this invention will be apparent upon consideration of the following detailed disclosure of the invention, especially when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of an unfolded collar cover incorporating the principles of the instant invention, showing the exterior side of the collar cover;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of an unfolded sleeve cuff cover incorporating the principles of the instant invention for use on the left and right sleeves of a long sleeved dress shirt showing the exterior side of the sleeve cuff cover;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of an unfolded collar cover incorporating the principles of the instant invention and showing the interior side of the collar cover;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of an unfolded sleeve cuff cover for the left and right sleeves of a long sleeved dress shirt showing the interior side of the sleeve cuff cover;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a folded collar cover incorporating the principles of the instant invention, showing the exterior side of the collar cover;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a folded sleeve cuff cover for the left and right sleeves of a long sleeved dress shirt showing the exterior side of the sleeve cuff cover;

FIG. 7 is a front perspective view of a folded shirt collar incorporating the principles of the instant invention mounted on the collar of a dress shirt;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a sleeve cuff protected by a folded sleeve cuff cover;

FIG. 9 is a plan view of an upper portion of the inside of a dress shirt with the collar unfolded away from the shirt to show an embodiment of the invention having fastening devices attached to the shirt in order to be engaged by the fastening devices on the collar cover;

FIG. 10 is a plan view of the exterior side of a shirt cuff splayed outwardly to show an embodiment of the attachment of fastening devices to the cuff for engagement by corresponding fastening devices on the cuff cover; and

FIG. 11 is a plan view of the interior side of a shirt cuff splayed outwardly to show an embodiment of the attachment of fastening devices to the cuff for engagement by corresponding fastening devices on the cuff cover.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to FIGS. 1-11, a shirt collar cover and a sleeve cuff cover incorporating the principles of the instant invention can best be seen. The collar cover 10 has an exterior side 12, shown in FIG. 1 that is preferably formed from the same material as the shirt 1 on which the collar cover 10 is to be mounted. The color or pattern of the material on the exterior side 12 of the collar cover 10 may be different from the shirt 1, but is preferably of a fashionable color and pattern that will coordinate with the shirt 1. The collar cover 10 has a fold line 15 along the length of the collar cover 10 about which the collar cover 10 is folded for installation onto the shirt 1, as will be described in greater detail below.

In FIG. 3, the interior side 14 of the collar cover 10 can be seen. The interior side 14 is preferably formed from a comfortable cloth material that is water resistant or water proof. The exterior side 12 and the interior side 14 are sewn together to form the collar cover 10 with the fold line 15 extending along the central length thereof. The water resistant or water proof material is positioned on the interior side 14 of the attachable collar 10 to resist, repel and absorb dirt and sweat normally absorbed by the cloth material of the shirt collar 5 thereby protecting the shirt collar 5 from wear and tear.

The sleeve cuff covers 20 are shown in an unfolded state in FIGS. 2 and 4, and in a folded state in FIG. 6. The sleeve cuff covers 20 are constructed similarly to the collar covers 10 described above in that the exterior surface 22 is formed of a cloth material that matches or coordinates with the shirt 1, while the interior surface 24 is a water resistant or water proof material to resist, repel and absorb dirt and sweat normally absorbed by the cloth material of the sleeve cuff 8 thereby protecting the sleeve cuff 8 from wear and tear. The sleeve cuff covers 20 are formed with notches 27, which when the sleeve cuff cover 20 is folded about the fold lie 25, as depicted in FIG. 6, align with the cuff button (not shown) on the sleeve cuff.

Both the shirt collar cover 10 and the sleeve cuff cover 20 are provided with mounting devices 19, 29 incorporated into the material on the interior side 14, 24 of the cover 10, 20. These mounting devices 19, 29 can be sticky hook and loop fasteners, sew on, soft and flexible, hook and loop fasteners, tack on pins, double sided fabric tape, magnets or buttons sewn onto appropriate locations on the shirt collar 5 and/or cuffs 20 for connection to the covers 10, 20. When the covers 10, 20 are folded, as depicted in FIGS. 5 and 6, the mounting devices 19, 29 will interconnect through or to the material of the shirt collar 5, or sleeve cuff 8 to secure the cover 10, 20 to the corresponding portions of the shirt 1.

As is best seen in FIGS. 9-11, the shirt collar 5 and cuffs 8 can be fitted with fastening devices 19, 29 that correspond to the fastening devices incorporated into the fabric of the collar cover 10 and the cuff cover 20. These devices 19, 29 on the shirt collar 5 and shirt cuffs 8 can be the corresponding part of a hook and loop fastener device having one half sewed onto, or affixed by adhesive unto, the collar cover 10/cuff cover 20, and the opposing half sewed onto, or affixed by adhesive unto, the shirt collar 5/shirt cuffs 8 to be detachably engagable together and secure the collar cover 10 and cuff covers 20 into proper positioning on the dress shirt 1. Alternatively, these fastening devices 19, 29 on both shirt collar 5/shirt cuffs 8 and collar cover 10/cuff covers 20 can be magnets that are mounted with opposing magnetic poles facing each other when properly positioned, which would hold the collar cover 10 and cuff covers 20 in proper positions.

With the use of magnets as the fastening devices, magnets with sufficient magnetic strength can be utilized so that only the collar cover 10 or cuff covers 20 will need to have magnets attached as the magnetic attraction will pass through the material of the shirt collar 5 or shirt cuffs 8 to secure the collar cover 10 or cuff covers 20 in place. A further alternative fastening device utilizing magnets to secure the collar cover 10 and cuff covers 20 to shirts would be to use a first set of four or more magnets secured to the cover 10, 20 as described above, and to also provide a second set of loose magnets corresponding to the four or more secured magnets. Once the collar cover 10, as an example, is properly positioned on the shirt collar 5, a loose magnet can be placed on the opposing side of the shirt from each of the secured magnets to connect the collar cover 10 to the shirt collar 5. Because of the need to attach fastening devices to the shirt itself in order to use certain types of fastening devices, such as hook and loop fasteners, the use of magnets attached as described above is the preferred configuration of the fastening devices.

The collar cover 10 is attached to the main collar 5 of the shirt 1 over the fold of the shirt collar 5 to provide a buffer between the wearer's body and the main collar 5. The collar cover 10 is sized to have a first portion 16 overlapping the outside of the shirt collar 5 and a second portion 17 that will extend around the interior of the shirt 1 from the fold of the shirt collar 5 to provide the buffer relative to the body of the wearer. Similarly, the sleeve cuff covers 20 are attached to the sleeve cuffs 8 over the terminal end of the sleeve cuff present an outside portion 26 and an inside portion (not shown) that will provide a buffer between the wearer's body and the sleeve cuffs 8. Accordingly, the collar cover 10 and the sleeve cuff covers 20 will take the beating and accumulation of dirt and oils that the main shirt collar 5 and sleeve cuffs 8 would normally absorb resulting in wear and tear on the shirt 1. When the collar cover 10 and the sleeve cuff covers 20 become dirty, they can be simply detached from the shirt 1 and washed, saving the shirt 1 from this wear and tear as well.

One set of collar covers 10 and sleeve cuff covers 20 can be used on multiple shirts as a user will find fit and fashionable. In fact, different colors and patterns of collar covers 10 and sleeve cuff covers 20 can be attachable to the shirt 1 at different times to transform the basic shirt 1 into a different appearance by detaching and then substituting different covers 10, 20 with ease. Through utilization of the instant invention, dress shirts will last longer without requiring replacement due to wear and tear. Once the covers 10, 20 are suffering from wear and tear, replacement of the covers 10, 20 will be less expensive than replacing the entire shirt 1. The shirts may be worn more than once before cleaning, particular dry cleaning, as the primary dirty places on a shirt, i.e., the shirt collar 5 and the sleeve cuffs 8 are protected by the covers 10, 20.

Accordingly, the use of the detachable collar cover 10 and sleeve cuff cover 20 will protect the shirt collar 5 and sleeve cuffs 8 from the dirt and sweat that can accumulate directly on the shirt collar 5 and sleeve cuffs 8. Instead, the dirt, sweat, water and oils are picked up by the detachable collar cover 10 and sleeve cuff covers 20, which can be selectively detached, and hand washed or dry cleaned separately many times over.

It will be understood that changes in the details, materials, steps and arrangements of parts which have been described and illustrated to explain the nature of the invention will occur to and may be made by those skilled in the art upon a reading of this disclosure within the principles and scope of the invention. The foregoing description illustrates the preferred embodiment of the invention; however, concepts, as based upon the description, may be employed in other embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A shirt collar cover mountable on a shirt collar comprising:

an exterior side formed of cloth material and an interior side formed of water resistant material sewn together to form a body having a fold line extending along a length dimension of said shirt collar cover, said fold line being aligned with a fold in said shirt collar to position an outer portion over the shirt collar and an inner portion between the inside of the shirt collar and the wearer; and

mounting devices detachably engaged between said shirt collar cover and said shirt collar to secure said shirt collar cover to said shirt collar and to provide a buffer between the wearer of the shirt and the shirt collar, said mounting devices being disengageable to permit the selective removal of said shirt collar cover from said shirt collar.

2. The shirt collar cover of claim 1 wherein said mounting devices are incorporated into the interior side of said shirt collar cover in opposing positions when the shirt collar cover is folded about said fold line.

3. The shirt collar cover of claim 2 wherein said mounting devices are hook and loop fasteners with one half of each said hook and loop fastener being affixed to the interior side of said shirt collar cover and the opposing half of said hook and loop fastener being affixed to a corresponding location on said shirt collar to properly locate said shirt collar cover on said shirt collar.

4. The shirt collar cover of claim 2 wherein said mounting devices are magnets.

5. The shirt collar cover of claim 4 wherein said magnets are secured to both said shirt collar cover and said shirt collar in appropriate locations to properly position said shirt collar cover on said shirt collar, said magnets on said shirt collar cover being oriented in opposing configurations with respect to the magnets of said shirt collar such that opposite magnetic poles of the respective magnets face one another for attraction therebetween.

6. The shirt collar cover of claim 4 wherein said magnets are only secured to the interior side of said shirt collar cover with opposite magnetic poles being oriented in order for the opposing magnets to be attracted to one another through the shirt collar when the collar cover is folded about said fold line and installed over said shirt collar.

7. The shirt collar cover of claim 2 wherein said mounting devices are tack on pins that pass through the shirt collar cover and the enclosed portion of the shirt collar beneath said shirt collar cover.

8. The shirt collar cover of claim 2 wherein the exterior side of said shirt collar cover is formed from material having a different color and/or different pattern than the material from which said shirt is formed.

9. A sleeve cuff cover mountable on the sleeve cuff of a shirt, comprising:

an exterior side formed of cloth material and an interior side formed of water resistant material sewn together to form a body having a fold line extending along a length dimension of said sleeve cuff cover, said fold line being aligned with a terminal end of said sleeve cuff and folded to position an outer portion over the sleeve cuff and an inner portion between the inside of the sleeve cuff and the wearer; and

mounting devices detachably securing said sleeve cuff cover to said sleeve cuff to provide a buffer between the wearer of the shirt and the sleeve cuff.

10. The sleeve cuff cover of claim 9 wherein each said sleeve cuff cover is formed with opposing notches on opposing ends of said sleeve cuff cover to permit passage around a cuff button when said sleeve cuff cover is mounted on said sleeve cuff.

11. The sleeve cuff cover of claim 10 wherein said mounting devices on said sleeve cuff covers are positioned at the opposing ends thereof adjacent said opposing notches.

12. The sleeve cuff cover of claim 11 wherein said mounting devices are incorporated into the interior side of said sleeve cuff cover in opposing positions when the sleeve cuff cover is folded about said fold line.

13. The sleeve cuff cover of claim 12 wherein said mounting devices are hook and loop fasteners with one half of each said hook and loop fastener being affixed to the interior side of said sleeve cuff cover and the opposing half of said hook and loop fastener being affixed to a corresponding location on said sleeve cuff to properly locate said sleeve cuff cover on said sleeve cuff.

14. The sleeve cuff cover of claim 13 wherein the respective halves of said mounting devices are sewn onto said sleeve cuff cover and said sleeve cuff.

15. The sleeve cuff cover of claim 12 wherein said mounting devices are magnets.

16. The sleeve cuff cover of claim 15 wherein said magnets are secured to both said sleeve cuff cover and said sleeve cuff in appropriate locations to properly position said sleeve cuff cover on said sleeve cuff, said magnets on said sleeve cuff cover being oriented in opposing configurations with respect to the magnets of said sleeve cuff such that opposite magnetic poles of the respective magnets face one another for attraction therebetween.

17. The sleeve cuff cover of claim 15 wherein said magnets are only secured to the interior side of said sleeve cuff cover with opposite magnetic poles being oriented in order for the opposing magnets to be attracted to one another through the sleeve cuff when the sleeve cuff cover is folded about said fold line and installed over said sleeve cuff.

18. The sleeve cuff cover of claim 12 wherein said mounting devices are tack on pins that pass through the sleeve cuff cover and the enclosed portion of the sleeve cuff beneath said sleeve cuff cover.

19. The sleeve cuff cover of claim 12 wherein the exterior side of said sleeve cuff cover is formed from material having a different color and/or different pattern than the material from which said sleeve cuff is formed.