Patent Application
20230035991
This patent document contains material subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the reproduction of this patent document or any related materials in the files of the United States Patent and Trademark Office, but otherwise reserves all copyrights whatsoever.
This invention relates to garments and garment manufacture. More particularly, this invention relates to garments and garment collars.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 9,756,879, 9,872,522, and 10,375,999 describe expandable and flexible garment collar stands and garments with the same. U.S. Pat. No. 9,756,879 describes, among other things, a collar stand formed from a self-fabric, where the collar stand comprises an inner piece and an outer piece, each formed from the self-fabric fused with a two-way fusible substrate. U.S. Pat. No. 9,872,522 describes, among other things, a collar stand comprising an inner piece and an outer piece, wherein at least one of the inner piece and the outer piece is formed from a self-fabric fused with a fusible substrate. U.S. Pat. No. 10,375,999 describes, among other things, a collar stand having stretch and recovery in at least two non-laterally-opposing directions thereof, wherein said collar stand comprises an inner piece and an outer piece, and wherein the inner piece and the outer piece are each formed from a self-fabric fused with a two-way fusible substrate. U.S. Pat. Nos. 9,756,879, 9,872,522, and 10,375,999 are hereby fully incorporated herein by reference for all purposes.
It is desirable to provide a garment collar stand that provides cooling to the wearer.
It is desirable and an object hereof to reduce the cost of existing collar stands and garments.
It is further desirable to provide a garment with such a collar stand.
The present invention is specified in the claims and the description below. Preferred embodiments are particularly specified in the dependent claims and the description of various embodiments.
One general aspect includes a collar stand. The collar also includes an inner piece and an outer piece, where at least one of the inner piece and/or the outer piece is formed from a self-fabric impregnated with a glue.
Implementations and/or embodiments may include one or more of the following features, alone and/or in combinations:
Another general aspect includes a garment with a collar stand, as described in the first general aspect. The garment may be, e.g., a shirt or a dress
Below is a list of collar stand and garment embodiments. Those will be indicated with the letters “C” and “G,” respectively. Whenever such embodiments are referred to, this will be done by referring to “C” or “G” embodiments.
Below is a list of method or process embodiments. Those will be indicated with a letter “P.” Whenever such embodiments are referred to, this will be done by referring to “P” embodiments.
The above features and additional details of the invention are described further in the examples herein, which are intended to illustrate the invention further but are not intended to limit its scope in any way.
Various other objects, features, and attendant advantages of the present invention will become fully appreciated as the same becomes better understood when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and wherein:
For the purposes of this description, the length of the collar stand 12 is the horizontal dimension in the drawings, and the width of the collar stand is the vertical dimension. A collar stand need not have the same width across its length (i.e., it may be wider at some points than others). Similarly, a collar stand need not have the same length across its width (i.e., it may be longer at some points than others). For example, with reference to
The top part 22 may also be referred to as an inner piece, and the bottom part 24 may also be referred to as an outer piece. The inner piece is positioned to be on the inside of the shirt 10 when worn, while the outer piece is positioned to be on the outside of the shirt 10 when worn. The inner and outer pieces are overlaid, as described below, to form the collar stand 12. The collar stand 12 preferably curves around the neck when attached to a shirt and worn.
The collar stand 12 may be formed, as described here with reference to
The collar stand 12 with the glue-impregnated piece(s) may be attached to the shirt (and, optionally, to a collar), as described below.
Instead of a single piece of fabric/material 30 (as described above), the top and bottom parts 22 and 24 may be or comprise two separate pieces of fabric/material 40 and 42, e.g., as shown in
The resulting collar stand 12′/52 may be stitched in one or more locations to keep the glue-impregnated pieces of material 48 and 50 together.
In other examples, when two separate pieces of fabric/material 40 and 42 are used, e.g., as shown in
The two pieces of material, 40 and 42, and the resulting glue-impregnated pieces 48 and 50 are preferably substantially the same shape and size.
When two pieces of material, 40 and 42, are used, properties of the two pieces may differ. For example, the two pieces may be of different thicknesses or colors. Additionally, when two pieces of material 40 and 42 are used, different amounts or types of glue strips may be used. Thus, in the examples shown in
In some cases, e.g., as shown in
The material/fabric used for the fabric/material 30 (
The material/fabric used for the fabric/material 30 (
The fabric/material 30, 40, and 42 may, but need not be, the same fabric as the shirt.
The glue strip may comprise a coolant such as jade, e.g., as fibers or in chemical form such as a powder.
When the collar stand includes a cooling fabric and/or a glue comprising a coolant, the cooling fabric and/or glue with coolant is preferably used at least on the piece of the collar stand that will be in contact with the wearer's skin.
As shown, e.g., in
Thus, e.g., with reference to
In some cases, different amounts of glue (e.g., less glue) may be used to achieve different degrees of infusion.
The glue strip preferably has no underlying fabric or substrate so that when the glue is melted, there is no remaining structure, fabric, or substrate.
When two separate pieces of fabric/material 40 and 42, are used, the two pieces may be the same or distinct materials.
When two separate glue strips are used (e.g.,
As noted above, U.S. Pat. Nos. 9,756,879, 9,872,522, and 10,375,999 describe expandable and flexible garment collar stands and garments with the same. U.S. Pat. No. 9,756,879 describes, among other things, a collar stand formed from a self-fabric, where the collar stand comprises an inner piece and an outer piece, each formed from the self-fabric fused with a two-way fusible substrate. U.S. Pat. No. 9,872,522 describes, among other things, a collar stand comprising an inner piece and an outer piece, wherein at least one of the inner piece and the outer piece is formed from a self-fabric fused with a fusible substrate. U.S. Pat. No. 10,375,999 describes, among other things, a collar stand having stretch and recovery in at least two non-laterally-opposing directions thereof, wherein said collar stand comprises an inner piece and an outer piece, and wherein the inner piece and the outer piece are each formed from a self-fabric fused with a two-way fusible substrate.
Embodiments hereof may use a collar stand where one side (e.g., the inner piece) is formed as described above, from a fabric infused or impregnated with a gel, and the other side (e.g., the outer piece) is formed as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 9,756,879, 9,872,522, and 10,375,999, from a self-fabric fused with a fusible substrate. The fabric used with the gel may but need not be the same as the self-fabric used for the other piece. The gel and/or the fabric used with the gel may be or comprise a cooling fabric, and it may contain jade and/or jade fibers.
Attaching the Collar Stand to the Garment
As noted above, the bottom of the collar stand 12 (12′, 12″, 12′″) may be attached to the shirt body 14, e.g., along the line X-X′ (
With reference to
To attach the collar stand 12 (12′, 12″, 12′″) to the shirt body 14, a top portion of the shirt body 14 is positioned between the inner and outer pieces 22 and 24 of the collar stand 12 (12′, 12″, 12′″) and the pieces are stitched together. The width (W2) of the shirt portion of the collar 20 that is positioned between the inner and outer pieces of the collar stand is preferably about ⅛ inch (0.3175 cm) to ¼ inch (0.635 cm).
It should be appreciated that the width W1 should be sufficient to maintain the collar 20 in the collar stand 12 (12′, 12″, 12′″) without taking up too much space in the collar stand 12 (12′, 12″, 12′″). Similarly, the width W2 should be sufficient to maintain the collar stand 12 (12′, 12″, 12′″) connected to the shirt body, also without taking up too much space in the collar stand 12 (12′, 12″, 12′″).
With reference to
As noted, the inner and outer pieces 22 and 24 of the collar stand 12 (12′, 12″) are not necessarily parallel, and so the widths W1 and W2 and the width W3 may not be the same across the entire collar stand 12 (12′, 12″, 12′″).
As noted, in preferred embodiments hereof, the collar 20, or at least the lower portion of the collar 20 that is attached to the collar stand 12 (12′, 12″), is substantially rigid. In some preferred embodiments, e.g., for dress shirts and the like, the entire collar 20 is substantially rigid. The shirt body is generally not rigid, and therefore the bottom of the collar stand 12 (12′, 12″) can grow/expand larger than the top. A collar stand that is about 15 percent compacted will match the stretch of the attached shirt and may also match the stretch of a stretch shirt.
As described above, the collar stand 12 (12′, 12″) may be connected to the shirt body 14. As understood by those of ordinary skill in the art, the collar stand 12 (12′, 12″) may be connected to different parts of the shirt body 14. In the back of the shirt, the collar stand 12 (12′, 12″) is typically connected to the shirt's yoke or a back panel of the shirt.
Embodiments hereof are described with reference to a shirt. This invention relates to garments and garment collars, and shirts are used as an example. Those of skill in the art will understand, upon reading this description, that the collar stand may be used with other garments, e.g., dresses and the like.
Some non-limiting examples are provided here:
A collar stand is formed from an inner piece and an outer piece, where the inner is formed from a self-fabric impregnated with a glue.
The collar stand of Example 1 is formed with the outer piece formed from a self-fabric impregnated with a glue.
The collar stand of Examples 1 and 1.1, where the self-fabric has stretch properties.
The collar stand of Examples 1, 1.1, and 1.2, where the self-fabric has mechanical stretch properties.
The collar stand of Examples 1, 1.1, 1.2, and 1.3, where the self-fabric is cut on a bias thereof.
The collar stand of Examples 1, 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, and 1.4 where the self-fabric is selected from a shirting fabric, cotton, poly-cotton, and linen.
The collar stand according to any of the preceding examples, where at least one of the inner piece and/or the outer piece is formed from a cooling fabric.
The collar stand according to the preceding example 1.6, where the cooling fabric contains jade and/or jade fibers.
The collar stand according to any of the preceding examples, where both the inner piece and the outer piece are formed from the self-fabric impregnated with the glue.
The collar stand according to any of the preceding examples, where the inner piece and the outer piece are part of a single piece of folded fabric.
The collar stand according to any of the preceding examples 1 and 1.1-1-8, where the inner piece and the outer piece are two distinct pieces of fabric.
The collar stand according to any of the preceding examples, where the inner piece and the outer piece are impregnated with glue to different degrees.
The collar stand according to any of the preceding examples, where the glue contains jade and/or jade fibers.
The collar stand according to any of the preceding examples, where the cooling fabric comprises cooling polymers.
The collar stand according to any of the preceding examples where one of the inner piece and the outer piece is formed from the self-fabric impregnated with the glue, and wherein the other of the inner piece and the outer piece is formed from a fabric fused with a fusible substrate.
A garment formed with a collar stand according to any of the collar stand Examples 1, and 1.1 to 1.14.
A garment formed according to Example 2, where the garment is a shirt or a dress.
Where a process is described herein, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the process may operate without any user intervention. In another embodiment, the process includes some human intervention (e.g., a step is performed by or with the assistance of a human).
As used in this description, the term “portion” means some or all. So, for example, “A portion of P” may include some of “P” or all of “P.” In the context of a conversation, the term “portion” means some or all of the conversation.
As used herein, including in the claims, the phrase “at least some” means “one or more” and includes the case of only one. Thus, e.g., the phrase “at least some ABCs” means “one or more ABCs” and includes the case of only one ABC.
As used herein, including in the claims, the phrase “using” means “using at least” and is not exclusive. Thus, e.g., the phrase “using Z” means “using at least Z.” Unless stated explicitly by the use of the word “only,” the phrase “using Z” does not mean “using only Z.”
In general, as used herein, including in the claims, unless the word “only” is specifically used in a phrase, it should not be read into that phrase.
As used herein, including in the claims, the phrase “distinct” means “at least partially distinct.” Unless expressly stated, distinct does not mean fully distinct. Thus, e.g., the phrase “X is distinct from Y” means “X is at least partially distinct from Y” and does not mean “X is fully distinct from Y.” Thus, as used herein, including in the claims, the phrase “X is distinct from Y” means that X differs from Y in at least some way.
It should be appreciated that the words “first” and “second” in the description and claims are used to distinguish or identify and not to show a serial or numerical limitation. Similarly, the use of letter or numerical labels (such as “(a),” “(b),” and the like) are used to help distinguish and/or identify and not to show any serial or numerical limitation or ordering.
While the invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiment but, on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional patent application No. 63/203,702, filed Jul. 28, 2021, the entire contents of which are hereby fully incorporated herein by reference for all purposes.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63203702 | Jul 2021 | US |
