Adjustable Neck Gaiter
An adjustable neck gaiter, or sleeve worn around the neck, is adjustable in length to extend to cover the user's neck and may be adjusted to fit a variety of users. Fasteners, such as corresponding magnetic and metallic elements are positioned inside the fabric such that they can slide against each other maintaining a magnetic attraction to allow for adjustment of the length of the gaiter and corresponding diameter, allowing the adjustable neck gaiter to fit around wearers' different neck sizes, as well as allowing for varied tightness of the gaiter around a single wearer's neck.
The present application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 63/292,638 for an invention titled “Magnetically Adjustable Neck Gaiter” filed Dec. 22, 2021, currently co-pending, and a copy of which is included herein by this reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates generally to the protection of the neck from environmental elements such as inclement weather. The present invention more particularly pertains to an adjustable sleeve worn around the neck and can be referred to as a neck gaiter.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONA neck gaiter is a sleeve worn around the neck, often for warmth, that can be pulled up over the nose and mouth to function as a face covering in addition to covering the neck. Over the years there have been many different types and kinds of neck gaiters with various circumferences, lengths, and thickness.
One of the issues with existing neck gaiters is the problem of people's varying neck sizes. No two persons have the same body measurement, which means they will have varying neck dimensions. The typical solution today is to buy a neck gaiter that fits the precise neck measurement. The problem with this approach is the need for people to shop around for a suitable neck gaiter that fits their exact neck size that can also stretch over their heads. Moreover, multiple neck gaiters may be necessary in order to provide tighter or looser fits as needed for use in different environments as well as being worn with different clothing.
Another issue is negotiating a neck gaiter on and off to adapt to varying temperatures as a person enters and exits controlled environments. Today, there is no solution other than donning and doffing the neck gaiter over the head, subjecting it to overstretching. Because the neck gaiter is slipped on and off over the head, makeup and hair can be affected in an undesired manner by placement or removal of the neck gaiter.
Overstretching is also an issue with neck gaiters. Overstretching wears out neck gaiters. The only solution to an overextended neck gaiter is to purchase a new one. Sometimes, especially with children, the neck gaiter will become too small due to the child or a person's neck growing in circumference. There is no solution to overcome this problem other than buying a larger in circumference neck gaiter.
In view of the above, it would be advantageous to provide a neck gaiter that can be adjusted in size. It would be further advantageous to provide a neck gaiter that can be placed and removed without affecting hairstyle and makeup. It would be further advantageous to provide an adjustable neck gaiter that is aesthetically pleasing, easy to use, and relatively cost effective.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONAn adjustable neck gaiter is disclosed and includes an elongated body that has a fabric covering and configurable to form a tubular shape to form an adjustable neck gaiter, or sleeve, worn around the neck, that can include a scarf that can extend to cover the lower part of the face, including the nose and mouth, or can be worn open draped around the back of the neck. In a preferred embodiment, elongated fasteners having magnetic elements, such as metallic collar stays, are located inside the fabric at one end of the gaiter body, and reciprocal fastener having magnetic elements, such as magnets, are located on the opposite end of the gaiter body to facilitate the fastening of the adjustable neck gaiter, and for the adjustment of the circumference of the gaiter in use to accommodate different sized necks, and the wearing of different clothing.
To achieve the adjustable diameters of the gaiter, a preferred embodiment of the adjustable neck gaiter of the present invention includes a rectangular-shaped fabric body. The rectangular fabric body has a first end and a second end and a top and bottom edge. The elongated fasteners are positioned inside the material panel of the rectangular body proximate to the top and bottom of the first end, and aligned to be substantially parallel with the top and bottom edges. The reciprocal fasteners are positioned inside the fabric of the rectangular body proximate to the top and bottom edges near the second end. The elongated fasteners and the reciprocal fasteners are removably attachable to each other. By placing the reciprocal fasteners adjacent to the elongated fastener, varying diameters of the sleeve can be created such that the varying diameters of the sleeve fit around wearers' different neck sizes, as well as allowing for varied tightness of the sleeve around a single wearer's neck and face.
The novel features of this invention, as well as the invention itself, both as to its structure and its operation, will be best understood from the accompanying drawings, taken in conjunction with the accompanying description, in which similar reference characters refer to similar parts, and in which:
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It should be noted that other fasteners may be used without departing from the spirit of the adjustable neck gaiter 100. For example, it would be possible to use snaps, buckles, ties, a plurality of vertical or horizontal hook-and-loop strips, or other fasteners placed between the upper edge 101 to bottom edge 102 to connect the first end 103 to the second end 104.
When fastened, the adjustable neck gaiter 100 effectively forms a sleeve around a wearer's neck. As a result of fastening the first end 103 to the second end 104, there is some overlap 110 of the body 100A of the adjustable neck gaiter 100, with the first end 103 being placed over the second end 104, or in some embodiments, the second end 104 being placed over the first end 103. The amount of overlap can be adjusted. For instance, in a preferred embodiment of the adjustable neck gaiter of the present invention, a number of elongated fasteners may be positioned end-to-end, such as the three metallic collar stays 300A, 301A, and 302A placed in a row proximate the upper edge 101, and three metallic collar stays 300B, 301B, and 302B placed in a row proximate the bottom edge 102. By positioning the reciprocal fastener at various positions along the elongated fasteners to adjust the amount of overlap, the adjustable neck gaiter 100 is adaptable to the size of the wearer's neck and the desired tightness for a particular use case.
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The wearer can replace medallion 212 with another medallion 212 having a different face 214. Exemplary faces 214 contain simple designs, provide artistic flair, artwork, or a logo or design associated with an institution or cause, such as a sports team, resort, national or regional flag, university, or other design meaningful to the wearer, or simply prominent product branding. Thus, a detachable and interchangeable medallion 212 functions in a manner analogous to a cufflink for the neck, combining the operational use of magnets 200A and 200B with an additional use in style and messaging.
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An alternative embodiment of the adjustable neck gaiter of the present invention is shown in
As shown, a first set of three reciprocal fasteners, such as metallic collar stays, 800A, 800B, and 800C are adjacent to the second end 604 and equally spaced apart from the upper to bottom edges 601 and 602. Another set of reciprocal fasteners 801A, 801B, and 801C are positioned farther away from the second end 604 than fasteners 800A, 800B, and 800C but closer to the second end 604 than 802A, 802B, and 802C. Yet another set of reciprocal fasteners 802A, 802B, and 802C are positioned further away from the second end 604 than reciprocal fasteners 801A, 801B, 801C. According to an alternative embodiment of the present invention, all sets of reciprocal fasteners (800A, 800B, 800C), (801A, 801B, 801C) and (802A, 802B, 802C) are positioned in three parallel rows such that they are substantially parallel to the upper edge 101 and bottom edge 102.
Referring now to
As described herein, membranes 650, 651, 652, 653, 654 and 660 are made from materials which are flexible and will bend along with panels 605 and 606 while the adjustable neck gaiter of the present invention is in use. Moreover, in preferred embodiments, these membranes may be adhesively attached to the panels 605 and 606 so as to closely seal the various fasteners to the panels 605 and 606. The membranes may be a plastic membrane having an adhesive layer on the side contacting the panels to adhesively secure the fasteners in place. Alternatively, the membranes may be a cloth material either adhesively, heat-bonded or sewn to panels 605 and 606 to maintain the position of the various fasteners in place.
Throughout this description, fasteners and reciprocal fasteners have been described has having a cooperative attraction to each other in order to secure the adjustable neck gaiter of the present invention in place. Magnetic fasteners are used in a preferred embodiment, and can include magnet fasteners and ferrous reciprocal fasteners. However, it is to be appreciated that either the fastener or the reciprocal fastener may be magnetic, with the other being simply metallic or ferrous so as to attract itself to the magnetic element. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a suitable fastener is a circular or button magnetic, and a corresponding reciprocal fastener is an elongated rectangular metal panel, such as a metallic collar stay such as those used in dress shirts to maintain collar stiffness. These examples are merely exemplary of suitable fasteners, and those skilled in the art will recognize that other suitable fasteners will suffice.
While there have been shown what are presently considered to be preferred embodiments of the present invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made herein without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.
Claims
1. An adjustable neck gaiter, comprising:
- a rectangular-shaped body having a first end and a second end and configurable to form a tubular shape in which said first end is adjacent said second end;
- one or more fasteners positioned within the body adjacent to said first end;
- one or more reciprocal fasteners positioned within the body adjacent to said second end; and
- wherein said one or more fasteners align with and are configured to removably attach to one of said one or more reciprocal fasteners to maintain said body in a tubular shape having a variable diameter.
2. The adjustable neck gaiter of claim 1, further comprising:
- said body having an inner panel and an outer panel.
3. The adjustable neck gaiter of claim 2, wherein said inner panel and said outer panel are made from different materials.
4. The adjustable neck gaiter of claim 1, further comprising:
- said fastener is a magnet; and
- said reciprocal fastener is made from a ferrous material.
5. The adjustable neck gaiter of claim 1, wherein said body has an upper edge extending from said first end to said second end, and a lower edge extending from said first end to said second end;
- said one or more fasteners is two fasteners with a first fastener adjacent said first end and said upper edge, and a second fastener adjacent said first end and said lower edge;
- said one or more reciprocal fasteners is two reciprocal fasteners with a reciprocal fastener adjacent said second end and said upper edge, and a second reciprocal fastener adjacent said second end and said lower edge; and
- wherein said first fastener and said first reciprocal fastener, and said second fastener and said second reciprocal fastener, are magnetically attracted when said body is in said tubular configuration.
6. The adjustable neck gaiter of claim 5, further comprising:
- a third fastener positioned between said first fastener and said second fastener;
- a third reciprocal fastener positioned between said first reciprocal fastener and said second reciprocal fastener;
- wherein said third fastener and said third reciprocal fastener are magnetically attracted when said body is in said tubular configuration.
7. The adjustable neck gaiter of claim 1, wherein said one or more reciprocal fasteners positioned within the body adjacent to said second end further comprises a plurality of reciprocal fasteners in a linear array substantially parallel to said upper edge of said panel.
8. The adjustable neck gaiter of claim 1, further comprising a pouch for each said fastener positioned on the exterior of the rectangular panel adjacent the upper and bottom edges and the first end and wherein said fastener is secured within said pouch.
9. An adjustable neck gaiter, comprising:
- a rectangular-shaped body having a first end and a second end and configurable to form a tubular shape in which said first end is adjacent said second end;
- a fastener positioned within the body adjacent to said first end;
- a reciprocal fastener positioned within the body adjacent to said second end; and
- wherein said fastener aligns with and is configured to removably attach to said reciprocal fastener to maintain said body in a tubular shape having a variable diameter.
10. The adjustable neck gaiter of claim 9, further comprising a pouch for said fastener positioned on the exterior of the rectangular panel and wherein said fastener is secured within said pouch.
11. The adjustable neck gaiter of claim 10, further comprising a plurality of reciprocal fasteners, said reciprocal fasteners positioned within the body adjacent to said second end in a linear array substantially parallel to said upper edge of said panel.
12. An adjustable neck gaiter, comprising:
- a rectangular-shaped body having a first end and a second end, and having an inner panel and an outer panel, and configurable to form a tubular shape in which a portion of said inner panel adjacent said first end is adjacent said outer panel adjacent second end;
- one or more fasteners positioned on the inner panel of said body adjacent to said first end;
- one or more reciprocal fasteners positioned on the outer panel of said body adjacent to said second end; and
- wherein said one or more fasteners align with and are configured to removably attach to one of said one or more reciprocal fasteners to maintain said body in a tubular shape having a variable diameter.
13. The adjustable neck gaiter of claim 12, wherein said inner panel and said outer panel are made from different materials.
14. The adjustable neck gaiter of claim 12, further comprising:
- said fastener is a magnet; and
- said reciprocal fastener is made from a ferrous material.
15. The adjustable neck gaiter of claim 12, wherein said body has an upper edge extending from said first end to said second end, and a lower edge extending from said first end to said second end;
- said one or more fasteners is two fasteners with a first fastener adjacent said first end and said upper edge, and a second fastener adjacent said first end and said lower edge;
- said one or more reciprocal fasteners is two reciprocal fasteners with a reciprocal fastener adjacent said second end and said upper edge, and a second reciprocal fastener adjacent said second end and said lower edge; and
- wherein said first fastener and said first reciprocal fastener, and said second fastener and said second reciprocal fastener, are magnetically attracted when said body is in said tubular configuration.
16. The adjustable neck gaiter of claim 15, further comprising:
- a third fastener positioned between said first fastener and said second fastener;
- a third reciprocal fastener positioned between said first reciprocal fastener and said second reciprocal fastener;
- wherein said third fastener and said third reciprocal fastener are magnetically attracted when said body is in said tubular configuration.
17. The adjustable neck gaiter of claim 12, wherein said one or more reciprocal fasteners positioned within the body adjacent to said second end further comprises a plurality of reciprocal fasteners in a linear array substantially parallel to said upper edge of said panel.
Type: Application
Filed: Dec 22, 2022
Publication Date: Aug 17, 2023
Inventor: Curtis Lefebvre (Chicago, IL)
Application Number: 18/145,733