Although visible pins, clips, tie-tacks, and the like, which were traditionally used for securing neckties in place against the wearer's shirt, appear to have now declined in popularity, it is still desirable to provide means for restraining the loose end portions of a necktie against displacement, while being hidden from view. As far as is known, the only such device that has heretofore been available consists of a strip of cloth passed through the crosswise band or loop that is commonly attached on the back of the wider end portion of a necktie, and secured using buttonholes, provided at spaced locations, to receive buttons on the shirt.
While not ostensibly related, a common problem that is encountered by those whose manual dexterity is compromised, through birth defect, illness, or injury, is to independently perform the otherwise facile task of engaging a button in its associated buttonhole. Devices for that assisting function, such as the so-called “Button Helper,” are commercially available; and in some instances, such as in a Unikia product, the device may incorporate means for assisting in engaging a zipper, to facilitate its operation as well.
It is broad object of the present invention to provide a device that is capable both of retaining the loose, opposite end portions of a necktie against free displacement, away from a shirt with which the tie is worn, and also of providing assistance, to those whose manual dexterity is compromised, in engaging a button in its associated buttonhole.
Corresponding broad objects of the invention are to provide novel methods for securing a necktie against free displacement of its loose opposite end portions, and also for assisting individuals in carrying out buttoning functions.
More specific objects are to provide such a device, and components thereof, which is and are of incomplex and inexpensive construction, facile to use, may be aesthetically attractive and suited for promotional purposes.
It has now been found that certain of the foregoing and related objects of the invention are readily attained by the provision of a device that serves for both limiting necktie displacement and also for assisting buttoning of a garment. The device comprises first and second loop elements, each constructed to define a compound aperture having a larger end section that is dimensioned and configured for passage therethrough of a common button, secured to a garment by at least one fastening element attached at a central location on the button, a smaller end section that includes a narrow channel extending from the larger end section and being dimensioned and configured to receive such a fastening element while being engaged under the secured button, and a neck or constriction at an intersection of the larger and smaller end sections; and a flexible link element having opposite end portions, one of the first and second loop elements being attached to each of the opposite end portions of the link element at a location adjacent an outer extremity of the larger end section of the aperture of the attached loop element.
The device of the invention can be attached to one or (more commonly) two buttons on a garment, which will normally be buttons that are adjacent to one another, by passing the button or buttons through the larger end section of the aperture in each of the loop elements, and thereafter shifting the loop elements to positions beneath the associated button or buttons so as to cause the button fastener elements to lie within the narrow channels in the loop elements and thereby to cause the loop elements to engage under an associated button. With the link element passed through a strip, loop, or other receiving element on the back of an end portion of a necktie, such an arrangement will cause the device to secure the tie against free movement away from the garment.
Each of the loop elements of the device can also be employed for assisting buttoning of a garment. That is achieved by inserting the loop element through a buttonhole of the garment, manipulating the inserted element to a position above an adjacent button secured to the garment, moving the loop element downwardly so as to cause the button to pass through the larger end section of the compound aperture, and shifting the loop element to a position beneath the button so as to cause the fastening element of the button to lie within the narrow channel of the compound aperture and thereby to engage under the button. Withdrawing the inserted loop element, and thereby the engaged button, back through the buttonhole will effect engagement of the button in the buttonhole.
Normally, the larger end section of the aperture in each of the loop elements of the device will be generally circular (e.g., truly round, substantially or truly elliptical, or oval), and the narrow channel of the smaller end portion of the aperture will desirably taper to form the neck at its intersection with the larger section. The loop elements will preferably be relatively thin and planar, so as to enable them to readily fit between a secured button and the garment, and will be fabricated from a substantially rigid, but resiliently deflectable, material so as to facilitate manipulation and capture of a button (albeit compression of the fastener element, and subsequent expansion to resume its normal volume, may suffice to permit passage through the constriction and maintenance within the smaller end section); the loops will preferably be of formed-wire construction. The flexible link element will normally be a metal chain (although wire, plastic chains, solid fibers and filaments, etc. may be employed as well), and the flexible link element will advantageously incorporate, along its length, at least one small, plate-like piece constructed for bearing indicia, such as by having a logo or other trade designation stamped, engraved, printed, or otherwise applied to it.
Another object of the invention is attained by the provision of a method for securing the loose end portions of a necktie against free movement away from a garment, using the device described herein. The method comprises the steps: passing the link element of the device through a strip or loop at the back of the necktie; attaching the device to at least one, but usually two, buttons on a marginal portion at the front of a garment, by passing one of the button or buttons through the larger end section of the aperture of each of the loop elements; and thereafter shifting the loop elements to positions beneath an associated button so as to cause the button-fastening elements to lie within the narrow channels of the loop elements and thus to engage under the button. It will be appreciated that the device may most conveniently be used by attaching one of the loop elements to a button before the link element is passed through the receiving element on the necktie.
A further object of the invention is attained by the provision of a method for assisting buttoning of a garment, or the like, using the device described herein. The method comprises the steps: inserting one of the loop elements of the device through a buttonhole of the garment; manipulating the inserted loop element so as to cause an adjacent button, secured to the garment, to pass through the larger end section of the compound aperture thereof; shifting the inserted loop element to a position beneath the button so as to engage under the button and cause the fastening element of the button to lie within the narrow channel of the compound aperture of the loop element; and withdrawing the inserted loop element, and thereby the engaged button, back through the buttonhole for engagement of the button therein.
As seen in
The two loop elements 10 are connected to one another by a flexible link element, generally designated by the numeral 18. The link element 18 consists of a length of chain 20 comprised of links 26 and, in the embodiment illustrated, a plate-like piece 22 at one end; in some embodiments such a piece 22 will desirably be provided at both ends of the chain 20. Each loop element 10 has an eyelet 24 adjacent an outer extremity of the larger aperture section 12 and engaged by the endmost link 26′ at one end of the chain 20; the eyelets may be separately fabricated attached elements, or they may be integrally formed, such as for example by twisting wires comprising the loop elements 10. A endmost link 26′ at the opposite end of the chain 20 engages a ring element 27, which is received in an aperture 28 in one end of the plate 22. The eyelet 24 on the second loop element 10 is received in a second aperture 28 formed in the opposite end of the plate 22.
A modified embodiment of the device is employed in the arrangement depicted in
In serving its intended purpose, the device is passed through the transverse fabric loop or strip 32 (shown broken away, to expose the underlying section of the link element 18) that is normally affixed, as a receiving element, to the back of the wider end portion of a necktie 30 (the narrower end portion of the tie usually being passed through the loop 32 so as couple it to the wider end portion). The loop 10 at one end of the device is secured under a button 34 sewn on a marginal portion at the front of the shirt (not shown in this figure), with the fastening threads 36 lying within the channel 14 of its aperture, and with the neck portion 16 helping to maintain the established relationship; the loop element 10 at the opposite end of the device is similarly engaged beneath an adjacent button 34. It will readily be appreciated that this simple arrangement will effectively maintain the end portions of the necktie 30 against free displacement away from the wearer's shirt, while being hidden from view in normal use.
To effect buttoning using the device, one of the loop elements 10 is initially inserted through a buttonhole 40 made in the marginal portion 38a along one side of the front of the shirt 50. The inserted loop element 10 is then manipulated (the attached chain 20 and incorporated plate 22, if present, may serve to facilitate gripping for manipulation) so as to align the larger end section 12 of its aperture over the button 34 for passage therethrough. The loop element 10 is then shifted so as to cause the button-fastening threads 36 to enter, and lie within, the narrow channel 14, ultimately to bear upon the material of the element 10 loop at the outer extremity of the smaller end portion of its aperture; that is the relationship depicted in
While the plate-like piece 22 (shown in
Typically, the device of the invention will have an overall length of about 4½ to 5 inches; each loop may be about 1 to 1½ inches long, with the larger aperture portion being about ⅜ inch wide and ¾ inch long and the smaller aperture portion being about ½ inch long and ⅛ inch wide at its widest point (tapering to about 1/64 inch in width, or indeed to establish direct contact, or zero clearance, between the opposing elements, at the neck portion); an incorporated plate-like piece would typically be about ⅝ inch in length or diameter.
The loop elements of the device will normally be made of metal (e.g., spring temper phosphorous bronze, stainless steel, etc.), with any separate eyelet piece being joined thereto by welding or soldering, as may be most appropriate. The chain will typically be fabricated from brass or stainless steel (with pieces again being affixed by welding or soldering, as appropriate), and any logo plate incorporated will typically be made of brass or nickel-brass alloy. Parts fabricated from suitable plastics, natural materials, etc., may also be employed, however, as will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art based upon the description provided herein.
Thus, it can be seen that the present invention provides a device that is capable both of retaining the loose, opposite end portions of a necktie against free displacement away from a shirt with which it is worn, and also of providing assistance, to those whose manual dexterity is comprised, in engaging a button in its associated buttonhole. The invention further provides novel methods for securing a necktie against free displacement of loose opposite end portions, and also for assisting individuals in carrying out buttoning functions. The device is of incomplex and inexpensive construction, is facile to use, and may be aesthetically attractive and/or well suited to serve promotional purposes.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20160143399 A1 | May 2016 | US |