Patent Application
20140366242
This invention relates to a method and apparatus for keeping a shirt collar properly aligned and secured, magnetically, with a decorative collar link assembly.
The inability to keep a shirt collar properly aligned and positioned against a shirt front, has been an ongoing problem. Solutions to this problem involving magnetic devices have been attempted. Reference in this regard, Boos U.S. Pat. No. 8,108,948 entitled Method and Apparatus for Keeping a Shirt Collar Aligned and Fastened, Magnetically, which utilizes an elongated stainless steel strip inserted into the collar and held in place with a magnet. A shortcoming is that the said collar stay is concealed and without an outward displayed decorative element offers no additional visual appeal to the aligned and fastened shirt collar. Barnes U.S. Pat. No. 6,748,602 entitled Decorative Magnetic Collar Link, utilizes a decorative, detachable/attachable outwardly visible magnetic top collar link portion, and a concealed collar bottom link portion. The top piece contains two magnets arranged to be attracted to magnets of the bottom body, which has two magnets and a nose and butt configuration, such that when the top piece is set on top of a collar with the bottom piece positioned directly underneath the collar, the top and bottom pieces are locked together via the magnetic attraction. The top piece provides a bridge for placement of a customized logo, which can be affixed thereto by a pin. A shortcoming of said design is that multiple magnets are required for holding each collar, which makes the device hefty as well as weighty. Still further, no provision is disclosed for attachment of a collar to a shirt front. This can be a shortcoming where it is desired for the collar of a shirt to be positioned at a certain location on and in relation to the front of a shirt, and/or a certain orientation, for achieving a particular look.
Other devices utilizing magnetics are also known. Reference in this regard, Ellis U.S. Pat. No. 2,397,931, which discloses a magnetic button including two associated parts having the general appearance of an ordinary button, which are magnetic and oppositely attached to flaps of a garment to hold the flaps together. However, the parts are both simple disc shaped members, there is no decorative component, and there is no disclosure of a capability thereof for retaining the shape and/or alignment of a shirt collar.
Thus, what is sought is a method comprising magnetic attraction of opposing magnets and an apparatus comprising a decorative collar link assembly adapted for keeping a shirt collar in a particular desired alignment with a shirt front or other reference, and secured to the shirt front, and which overcomes one or more of the shortcomings and limitations discussed above.
A method and apparatus for keeping a shirt collar aligned and secured, magnetically, with a decorative collar link assembly, which overcomes one or more of the shortcomings and limitations discussed above.
A decorative collar link assembly for the outside of a shirt collar comprising a decorative cap coupled to a single base magnet. The decorative collar link assembly is positioned on the outside surface of the shirt collar. The decorative cap can be any size, shape, finish, or design and any material such as metal, plastic, composite, fabric, mineral, rock, jewel, gem, and/or wood. The single base magnet assembled under the decorative cap forms the outer decorative collar link assembly. The decorative collar link assembly can be manufactured from methods including but not limited to adhesives, machining, and/or fabrication. The magnet can be, for instance, but is not limited to, a neodymium magnet of a round or square disc shape, metal plated or coated with epoxy or plastic. The decorative collar link assembly is positioned against the outside surface of the front of a shirt collar. An opposing single magnet is placed under the inside surface of the shirt material and aligned opposite the decorative collar link assembly positioned at the outside front surface of the collar. The single magnet can be, for instance, but is not limited to, a neodymium magnet of a round or square disc shape, metal plated or coated with epoxy or plastic. The magnets have sufficient magnetic power for magnetically attracting and attaching or coupling to one another and holding the decorative collar link assembly in a desired position and orientation in relation to the magnet placement, and thus to the front of the shirt, through at least one layer of shirt fabric, for securing the shirt collar against the shirt front, in a desired position and orientation. The magnets can have a disk shape, or alternatively any shape or thickness suitable for the apparatus. The decorative collar link cap surface can be any suitable size or shape of design pattern, insignia, logo, emblem, or finish that would be typically construed as visually appealing and thereby add to the fashionable sense of the aligned and magnetically secured shirt collar. A suitable range of thickness for each magnet is suggested as, but not limited to, ⅛ to ¼ inch, or from about 0.3 to 0.6 cm. If a round disc magnet is used a suitable range of diameter is suggested as, but not limited to, ⅜ to ½ inch, or from about 0.9 to 1.2 cm. If a square disc magnet is used a suitable range of length is suggested as, but not limited to ⅜ to ½ inch, or from about 0.9 to 1.2 cm. The magnetic attractive forces will secure the decorative collar link assembly, and thus the collar, in the desired position and orientation, in opposition to normal forces that are anticipated to be exerted there against, for instance as a person wearing the shirt turns his or her neck, under a typical human range of motions.
According to still another preferred aspect of the invention, the following method is used to install the decorative link collar assembly;
Referring now to the drawings, wherein like numerals refer to like parts,
The above steps are then repeated for the other collar 32 of shirt 34 such that each of two positioned decorative collar link assemblies are visually aligned with one another, with one decorative collar link assembly 20 on each opposing collar 32 of shirt 34. Here, it should be noted that a decorative collar link assembly 20 strategically placed on the outside surface 38 of a shirt collar 32 is intended to maintain a shirt collar 32 strategically in place against a shirt front 36 and be visually apparent, thereby providing an added fashionable sense that is cosmetically appealing. The magnetic attraction between oppositely aligned magnet 30 and magnet 22 of a collar link assembly 20 will be sufficient to secure the shirt collar 32 in the desired position and orientation in relation to the shirt front 36.
Referring also to
As should be apparent from the disclosure above, the various embodiments of a decorative collar link assembly and magnets of the invention can be used in combination to achieve a desired retention and positioning of a shirt collar in relation to a shirt front, including the angular orientation of the collar in relation thereto, with the decorative collar link assembly apparatus used for the same being visible or apparent to persons observing the shirt. The various decorative collar link assemblies can optionally be positioned to different locations on the collar to some extent by hand, to achieve a desired appearance, for instance, for different fashion purposes. Thus, for example, a collar could be positioned and retained by the present apparatus in a widely spread manner, for a more contemporary look, or positioned closer to the neck of a shirt, for a more traditional look.
Thus, there has been shown and described a novel method and apparatus for keeping a shirt collar aligned and secured, magnetically, which overcomes many of the problems set forth above. It will be apparent, however, to those familiar in the art, that many changes, variations, modifications, and other uses and applications for the subject device are possible. All such changes, variations, modifications, and other uses and applications that do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention are deemed to be covered by the invention which is limited only by the claims which follow.
