Patent Application
20050251891
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an adjustable shirt collar, and more particularly to an elastic strip that self-adjusts a circumference of the shirt collar to provide a comfortable fit.
2. Description of Related Art
There are occasions when people need to expand the collar of the shirt they are wearing to obtain a comfortable fit. Shirts with permanently attached collars, particularly dress shirts, are normally manufactured in standard collar sizes based on the circumference of the collar. Although standard collar sizes may initially provide a comfortable fit, many individuals who fall between standard collar sizes or experience a change in weight over time may experience discomfort when wearing the shirt. Moreover, it is well known that clothing, i.e., shirts, shrink after several washings, which also results in a change in the actual size of the shirt collar, whereupon, it becomes uncomfortable to wear the shirt. Therefore, an adjustable shirt collar becomes necessary to ensure that shirts may adjust to fit the wearer comfortably.
Various solutions to this problem have been offered in the art. One known solution offers collar adjustment using an adjustable shirt collar fastening device having an elastic strip secured between the lining and the ply of the collar by stitches. A button is attached at the end of the elastic strip, which is maneuverable so as to pass through a horizontal button hole in the collar. Additionally, a U-shaped metal cap is adapted to prevent the elastic strip from inadvertently entering or being drawn into or through the horizontal button hole. A finished fabric strip folds over the elastic strip and the button. Although this solution offers collar expansion, a wearer may desire to conceal the elastic strip if the top button is unbuttoned to provide a neater and arguably more professional appearance.
Another known solution is a shirt having a fixed unit, which contains a relatively short and resilient strap vertically disposed and bent back onto itself. A button is attached to the end of the strap by stitching. Additionally, two tabs of the collar shift together allowing the button to pass through a button hole to hold the tabs together. The collar extends when the strap is stretched outwardly through the opening of the inner tab and through the button hole. The strap is oriented orthogonally relative to the collar band. Therefore, to relieve discomfort, the collar is adjusted by stretching the strap outwardly through the horizontal button hole. Because such adjustment is due to a force that pulls the button and the strap outward rather than the more natural side-to-side movement of the button and strap, the fit may still be uncomfortable as the button presses against the front center portion of a wearer's throat. Moreover, because the strap is attached orthogonally relative to a longitudinal axis of the button hole, any sideways movement of the strap results in the button loosening, or the alteration of the stitching holding the strap to the collar, or both.
Other solutions are disclosed by U.S. Pat. No. 912,958 to H. S. Hawks; U.S. Pat. No. 1,879,527 to J. Sansone; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,142,843 to S. Berger. Each patent describes a collar button structured to relieve pressure on the neck of the wearer without using an expanding strip.
Additionally, U.S. Pat. No. 6,212,686 to Krause et al., as well as U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,898,941 and 6,250,116 to Groshens disclose solutions using expandable fabric weaves, expandable fabric patterns, expandable fabric weaves and patterns, or stitching in the collar to provide the necessary expansion.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,692,240 to Steele discloses another solution wherein the stationary collar button is replaced with adjustable hook and loop fasteners adapted for removable attachment to one another. A third hook and loop fastener strip allows the covering strip to be retracted and attached for concealment. However, the solution taught by Steele requires several manufacturing steps that result in a substantial increase in manufacturing costs, which are passed along to consumers. Additionally, the hook and loop fasteners become less effective after multiple washings because the hook and loop fasteners ability to lockingly engage is impeded by the friction that occurs during the washing process. Furthermore, it is well known that the hook and loop fasteners inadvertently attach to other items that may cause a build up of threads or particles, which reduces the effectiveness or the aesthetic appearance of the fasteners.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,828,365 to Berger merely discloses an expandable button hole. Furthermore, U.S. Pat. No. 2,646,570 to E. Rinehart et al. discloses a shirt having an elastic cord covered with fabric. A loop at the end of the elastic cord extends across the collar opening to attach to one of several buttons under the collar on the opposite side of the collar.
Many of the solutions described above are susceptible to deterioration or create constrictive pressure on the throat of the wearer. Additionally, the solutions do not allow the wearer to conceal the apparatus when the collar is unbuttoned and left open. Therefore, there is a need for an expandable shirt collar that adjusts the fit of the collar without placing undesirable and unnecessary pressure on the throat of the wearer. There is a further need for an expandable shirt collar that creates an appealing look and allows the wearer to conceal the apparatus of the expandable shirt collar.
Aspects of the present invention provide a self-adjusting shirt collar that provides a comfortable fit for the wearer.
One aspect of the present invention relates to a collar. The collar includes a neckband assembly, a flap, an extendable elastic strip, a fabric strip, a button, a horizontal buttonhole, and a vertical fabric strip hole. The elastic strip is secured to a neckband by stitching. The neckband also has a vertical fabric strip hole secured near one end of the neckband. Moreover, the fabric strip is attached to a free end of the elastic strip and a button is secured to a free end of the fabric strip. A buttonhole is provided on an end of the neckband opposite the button end, such that the buttonhole is configured to receive the button upon extending the fabric strip. The fabric strip is covered and concealed when retracted and not in use.
In another aspect of the invention, the neckband assembly has an inner band and an outer band. The fabric strip extends from the outside of the outer band and through a vertical fabric strip hole. The vertical strip hole allows the fabric strip to automatically be hidden when retracted. Also, the vertical strip hole allows an operating length of the fabric strip to adjust, such as, for example, to increase the circumference of the collar. Additionally, the fabric strip slides through the vertical fabric strip hole unimpeded so as to not place any constricting pressure on the throat of the wearer. Moreover, the fabric strip does not place strain on the elastic strip or fabric strip stitching, which could eventually disengage the elastic strip or fabric strip, or both, from the collar. Moreover, because there is no interruption when maneuvering the fabric strip through the fabric strip hole, the wearer does not have to aggressively pull the button or the fabric strip to button the collar. As a result, the button stitching is not susceptible to loosening. Finally, the button is attached to prevent the fabric strip from being drawn inadvertently back through the vertical fabric strip hole and away from the outer side of the outer band.
Additional advantages and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description.
As shown in
In particular,
Additionally, the neckband assembly 20, as shown in
As shown in
The fabric strip 14, which is attached to the collar 10 by the elastic strip 19, may be manufactured in any color, design or material, e.g., plaid, satin, or the same color and material as the wearer's tie, but particularly, in the same color and of the same material as the shirt 1. The fabric strip 14 extends along the length of the collar 10 when the wearer grasps the button 50 and inserts the button 50 through the horizontal buttonhole 28 such that the second end 21b overlaps the first end 21a of the outer band 21. See
The elastic strip 19 and fabric strip 14, when attached to the collar 10 through the vertical fabric strip hole 25, functions to expand the circumference of the neckband assembly 20, as needed, when the fabric strip 14 is buttoned into the horizontal buttonhole 28. By expanding the circumference of the neckband assembly 20, the wearer may maximize the comfort of the shirt collar 10.
Additionally, many modifications may be made to adapt the teachings of the expandable collar of this invention to particular situations or materials without departing from the scope thereof. Therefore, this invention should not be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed herein, but includes all embodiments within the spirit and scope of the disclosure.
