Form Retainers Patents (Class 223/83)
  • Patent number: 11420811
    Abstract: A single piece of collar support strap to package collar portion of a shirt is described. Shirt collars are traditionally packaged in a way to reflect the collar's positioning and shape in actual use. Conventional methods employ multiple pieces of support items placed in different locations. A collar support strap provides the positioning of the collar in a packaged shirt not only through a single piece item, but also provides ease of packaging by avoiding multiple steps of operations to package the shirt. The collar support strap enables adjustment to varying collar sizes, anchoring to the collar button, and accommodation of the different collar types.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: r-pac International Corp.
    Inventor: Michael Teitelbaum
  • Patent number: 8296865
    Abstract: An apparatus for stiffening the folded collar of a dress or collared shirt is provided. A collared shirt includes a placket and a folded collar including an interior fold. The apparatus includes a circular, semi-rigid element for surrounding the interior fold of the folded collar, wherein the semi-rigid element is coextensive with the folded collar and includes a gap located at a placket of the shirt. The apparatus further includes a first elongated element that projects downwards at an acute angle from a left side of the semi-rigid element such that a tip of the first elongated element contacts a left shoulder of the shirt. The apparatus further includes a second elongated element that projects downwards at an acute angle from a right side of the semi-rigid element such that a tip of the second elongated element contacts a right shoulder of the shirt, wherein the semi-rigid element and the first and second elongated elements are integrally formed of a single piece of material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Inventor: Jorge Carlos Gutierrez Garcia
  • Publication number: 20120043355
    Abstract: A buckle type accessory attachment piece in conjunction with straps which may wrap around the neck and enable wearer to create a plurality of clothing or accessory pieces from a piece of fabric, scarf or sarong is disclosed. Scarf tying system accessory is comprised of the attachment piece which has openings to insert scarf, fabric or sarong and slit openings to insert strap and the set of straps sized to insert into the slit openings in the attachment piece.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2011
    Publication date: February 23, 2012
    Inventor: Meeka Ann Cook
  • Patent number: 8065746
    Abstract: A winged collar support for a shirt collar including an elongated body portion having a first end, a second end and a center portion. A pair of wings protrudes from one of the first and second ends of the elongated body portion. The pair of wings has an inner side facing the center portion of the elongated body portion and an outer side opposite to the inner side. A plurality of rows of notches are formed in each wing. The plurality of rows of notches extend from the inner side of the wing to the outer side of each wing. Each notch extends from the surface of the wing to a depth of no more than half the thickness of the wing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: Capital Mercury Apparel, Ltd.
    Inventor: Jim Keeter
  • Publication number: 20080314939
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for fixing and tying a necktie, shawl, scarf or the like, comprising a clip device, particularly a fixing clip (3) and a tube-like element (5), wherein the clip device includes a folding aid around which at least one end of a necktie, shawl, scarf or the like can be wound, the tube-like element being able to be freely fixed relative to the folding aid in a number of positions at least in areas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2006
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Inventor: Hi-Po Truong
  • Publication number: 20080295214
    Abstract: A device for straightening and holding portions of apparel tending to lose their original configuration subsequent to extended ownership and use is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2008
    Publication date: December 4, 2008
    Inventor: DAVID KRAUSS
  • Publication number: 20080229472
    Abstract: A collar protector comprises a patch mount that is attached to the back portion of a shirt collar. A collar shield removeably attaches to the patch mount and covers a back portion of a wearer's neck preventing staining and discoloration of the shirt's collar. In one embodiment, the user applies a scent to the collar shield to release a pleasing odor while wearing the shirt. As the collar shield becomes stained, it is replaced with a new one keeping the shirt from being soiled. In one embodiment, a hook and loop attachment system is used to removeably attach the collar shield to the patch mount. In one embodiment, the collar shield is made of a fabric that matches the shirt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2008
    Publication date: September 25, 2008
    Inventor: Peter A. Maggs
  • Publication number: 20080047984
    Abstract: A winged collar support for a shirt collar including an elongated body portion having a first end, a second end and a center portion. A pair of wings protrudes from one of the first and second ends of the elongated body portion. The pair of wings has an inner side facing the center portion of the elongated body portion and an outer side opposite to the inner side. A plurality of rows of notches are formed in each wing. The plurality of rows of notches extend from the inner side of the wing to the outer side of each wing. Each notch extends from the surface of the wing to a depth of no more than half the thickness of the wing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2007
    Publication date: February 28, 2008
    Inventor: Jim Keeter
  • Patent number: 6976613
    Abstract: Provided is a necktie holder for attachment to a shirt under a shirt button. The shirt button is attached to the shirt by a threading having a width. The necktie holder comprises a flexible body having a tie slot sized for the placement of a tie therein, a channel defined in the flexible body and extending to an interior mouth, and first and second shoulders opposedly positioned within the channel. The shoulders define a constriction proximate the interior mouth, the constriction being smaller than the width of the threading. As a result, the button can be manually urged beyond the first and second shoulders while causing the constriction to resiliently flex the flexible body to momentarily permit passage of the shirt button into the interior mouth. Also provided is a method for securing a necktie to a shirt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2005
    Assignee: Peacock Apparel Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Cin Kim
  • Patent number: 6889387
    Abstract: A collar protector for preventing the collar on a shirt or other garment from being crushed, distorted or wrinkled during handling when the shirt or garment is stored, stacked or displayed. The collar protector is constructed as a shaped, unitary body made of a resilient, preferably plastic, material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2005
    Assignee: DES-L Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Irving Tiss, Burton J. Schwartz
  • Publication number: 20030209576
    Abstract: A stay is provided for a shirt collar having transverse tubes formed integrally at respective ends of the collar. The stay comprises an elongate stiffener body and hook means for engaging fabric material of the shirt collar as the stiffener body is slidably inserted into a respective transverse tube of the collar. The hook means resists sliding movement of the stiffener body relative to the transverse tube of the shirt collar in a reverse direction after insertion to ensure that the stays do not fall out of the tubes as the collars are handled in the interim before assembly onto a finished garment. The hook means are particularly useful for resisting sliding movement between the stays and the knitted tubes of a knitted collar because the hook means readily engages the chained loops of threaded material forming the tubes in knitted collars.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2002
    Publication date: November 13, 2003
    Inventor: Michael H. Silbert
  • Patent number: 6435571
    Abstract: A tool (10) is provided for creating an indentation, dimple or furrow in the portion of a necktie (20) that flows down and out of the knot (22) formed when the necktie is tied around a human neck. The tool includes a rigid fin (14). An elongate probe (16), projects from one end of the fin. The end of the elongate probe (18) is inserted into the bottom of the untightened knot in the necktie and pushed upward until it protrudes from the top of the knot. The necktie is then folded against the rigid fin and the tool is slid upward and downward alternately as the necktie knot is tightened down. As the necktie knot begins to tighten around the elongate probe, the tool is removed from the knot. At this point a dimple has formed in the portion of the necktie that flows down and out of the knot. The user will grasp this dimple between his forefinger and thumb and cinch down the knot to lock the dimple (32) in place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2002
    Inventor: Michael I. Parietti
  • Patent number: 6269988
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved shirt collar former for use in laundry and dry cleaning applications. A tapered cone of suitable material, preferably a ceramic, contains a slot for holding shirt hangers. The cone is combined with a heat source for accelerating the drying of shirt collars which typically contain more layers of material than the balance of the shirt. The tapered cone may accommodate shirts with collar sizes in a broad range. The slot contains a wide base capable of storing a number of hangers so that the hangers are readily available for use. Hangers may be positioned to receive a shirt when the shirt is placed over the collar forming cone. The present invention allows the convenient and efficient storage of hangers, drying of collars, and removal of shirts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2001
    Inventor: Russell J. Kool
  • Patent number: 5878927
    Abstract: A necktie holder is used for removal of stains. The necktie is fitted with the holder and is maintained in a flat condition and in tight tension during stain removal procedures. The holder is also used as a hanger which maintains the necktie in the same condition until it is completely dried out. The holder comprises two pieces of wire rod and a flat leaf spring. Both ends of the leaf spring are bent, and a coupler is attached on the both bent ends. The coupler receives each end of the wire rods, each wire rod being turned around to produce a leaf spring loop condition for storing resilient power. The necktie is kept flat and in tight tension by the two wire rods empowered with stored resilience of the leaf spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Assignee: Vegirl Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Akira Ohzawa
  • Patent number: 5769287
    Abstract: A shaping clip for a shirt collar to hold the shirt collar in a neat round position when not being worn, and to prevent the shirt collar from becoming wrinkled. The shaping clip comprises an outer relatively long V-shaped band of somewhat resilient but yet stiff material to be placed along the outside of the central front portion of the shirt collar, and an inner relatively shorter arcuate shaped band of the same stiffening material to be placed along the inner surface of the central front portion of the shirt collar. A clamping mechanism is provided to clamp the outer band and inner band together with the central front portion of the shirt collar sandwiched therebetween. The clamp mechanism includes a socket member with a receiving socket integrally formed on one of the bands, preferably the outer band, and an insert member integrally formed on the other for clamping reception in the receiving socket of the socket member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1998
    Inventor: Randy Kim
  • Patent number: 5769288
    Abstract: A convenient disposable flat collar blank having an arcuate upper portion attached to an enlarged lower portion for keeping a freshly laundered shirt in a desired configuration, avoiding wrinkles and/or preventing creases. The back surface of the blank bears a pressure sensitive adhesive. A removable backing material is provided to cover the adhesive until the blank is put into use. The upper arcuate portion defines two elongated fingers for adhesive attachment to the neckband of a shirt under the collar in alignment with the seam of the neck of the shirt. The lower portion is adhesively engaged with the shirt over the uppermost region of the front placket, usually covering over the top button, with room for a display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1998
    Inventor: Stephen E. Berglund
  • Patent number: 5613628
    Abstract: The present invention provides a hanger device that is adapted to maintain a garment in a fixed and wrinkled free position. The hanger of the present invention comprises a hook that is secured to a pair of shoulder supports. The shoulder supports extend outwardly in opposite direction from the hook. A supportive sleeve extender extends from the shoulder support. These sleeve extenders are displaced from the shoulder support and extend inwardly and back towards each other, providing a gap to be located between the sleeve extenders and shoulder supports rendering the sleeve extenders and shoulder supports to be on different planes. A second gap is also located between the ends of the sleeve extender. This will enable a user to secure a garment for the upper body on the device in a worn position so that the back of the garment contacts the sleeve extenders. Once secured, the user tilts the hanger forward and inserts their hand between the sleeve extenders and the shoulder support, one side at a time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 25, 1997
    Inventor: John C. Burkhalter
  • Patent number: 5605261
    Abstract: A convenient disposable flat collar blank having an arcuate upper portion attached to an enlarged lower portion for keeping a freshly laundered shirt in a desired configuration, avoiding wrinkles and/or preventing creases. The back surface of the blank bears a pressure sensitive adhesive. A removable backing material is provided to cover the adhesive until the blank is put into use. The upper arcuate portion defines two elongated fingers for adhesive attachment to the neckband of a shirt under the collar in alignment with the seam of the neck of the shirt. The lower portion is adhesively engaged with the shirt over the uppermost region of the front placket, usually covering over the top button, with room for a display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 25, 1997
    Inventor: Stephen E. Berglund
  • Patent number: 5577778
    Abstract: A tool (10) is provided for creating an indentation or furrow in the portion of a neck tie (20) that flows down and out of the knot (22) formed when the neck tie is tied around a human neck. The tool includes a sheet of flexible material (12) that is bent, folded or curved along midline so as to create a concave and convex surface in the approximate shape of a hollow half cylinder without ends or a piece of tubing split in half along its length. A fin (14) runs along the midline of the sheet of flexible material on its concave surface and bisects the cavity created by the concave surface of the sheet of flexible material. An elongate probe, (16) projects from one end of the fin. The end of the elongate probe (18) is inserted into the bottom of the untightened knot in the necktie and pushed upward until it protrudes from the top of the knot. The fin and concave surface of the sheet of flexible material are then pressed into the surface of the tie that hangs below the knot and faces out and away from the chest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 26, 1996
    Inventors: Michael I. Parietti, Frank K. Parietti
  • Patent number: 5575410
    Abstract: A collar and cuff protecting device comprised of a protective collar portion fabricated of a pliable material. The protective collar has a central circular portion and a pair of end portions extending from opposing edges of the central circular portion whereby the pair of end portions are diametrically opposed from one another. The protective collar portion is adapted for securement underneath a shirt collar with the end portions extending around the shirt collar. Next is a protective cuff portion comprised of an open circular member. The protective cuff portion is adapted for securement within a cuff of a shirt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 19, 1996
    Inventor: Rose A. Compton
  • Patent number: 5526967
    Abstract: Methods and devices for shaping garment collars and conveying discount coupons and other advertising media are disclosed in which the collar shaping devices consist of a single piece of paperboard or other resiliently flexible material, the paperboard being divided by elongated cuts into a tongue projecting from a spine and fingers also projecting outward from the spine and lying on both sides of the tongue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 18, 1996
    Inventor: Chung B. Kim
  • Patent number: 4133463
    Abstract: The invention relates to a support member for shirt collars to be used during storage and display of the shirt. The support member is formed from a strip of pliable plastic material by a stamping process, for example, and includes free ends, a medial portion and a pair of spaced apart corrugated portions between said free ends and said medial portion. The corrugated portions provide hinge points to facilitate bending the strip into the desired shape to fit between the neckband of the collar and the outer downwardly folded portion thereof so as to maintain the collar in an upright position. The upper portions of each of the free ends of the strip are bent inwardly along lines defined by a longitudinally extending rib on each free end. Oppositely disposed pairs of transverse ribs are also provided in the free ends of the support member and intersect the longitudinal ribs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1977
    Date of Patent: January 9, 1979
    Inventor: Isaac Bourrian