The nature of some garments requires the formation of a slit opening for conveniently putting the garment on. Such an opening is often comprised of overlapping inner and outer plackets. An example of such a garment is the button-up shirt, in which the plackets ordinarily extend downwardly from a central location at the front of a neck opening. In making such garments, formation of the placket usually involves placement of additional layers of material over the primary fabric layer and/or folding the primary layer back onto itself. Button holes are formed on the outer placket by cutting a slotted opening through the placket in the desired location and sewing along each side of the opening through all of the layers. The inner placket includes a plurality of buttons, usually attached with thread, each of which is aligned with a corresponding button hole.
Buttoned plackets, particularly on the front of a shirt, are prone to gaping. When a shirt is chosen to properly fit a person's shoulders and arm length, for example, the chest portion of the shirt is often too small to accommodate the person's chest without pulling the plackets of the shirt apart, thereby creating a gap. This problem with button down garments is especially troubling for women. A gaping blouse can be a source of embarrassment or unwanted staring. Different bra sizes and styles, such as padded bras, may exacerbate the tightness of a blouse, contributing to the problem.
Others have attempted to address this problem by placing double sided tape between the plackets of clothing prone to gape. Tape provides a temporary solution; however, the tape loses its adhesion over time and may fail during use. Furthermore, the tape is not reusable and a new piece must be used for each garment each time it is worn.
Accordingly, there is a need for a reusable solution to a gaping placket that works with multiple garments with different button spacing. Moreover, there is a need for a solution that is inconspicuous and durable.
Described herein are various exemplary embodiments of a placket truss for use on a placket that has a front side, with a plurality of buttons sewn thereto with thread, and an opposite back side. In one embodiment, the placket truss comprises an elongate member including opposed end portions, wherein each of the end portions includes at least one slot sized and adapted to engage the thread of a corresponding button. The slots may also include at least one notch adapted to receive the thread of a corresponding button. The elongate member may comprise a strip of flexible, resilient material and may be substantially flat.
The slot or slots may extend in the same direction as a length of the elongate member. Alternatively, the slot or slots may extend in a direction transverse to a length of the elongate member. In another embodiment, some slots may extend transversely to the length while others extend along the length of the elongate member.
In an embodiment, each of the end portions may include a clip, wherein each of the clips includes at least one slot and the elongate member is adapted to confront the back side of the placket. In this embodiment each of the clips is adapted to confront the front side of the placket whereby each of the clips is capable of grasping the placket. The placket truss may further comprise a medial clip disposed between the opposed end portions.
In another embodiment, one of the clips includes a first set of slots spaced apart from each other a selected first pitch and the other clip includes a second set of slots spaced apart from each other a selected second pitch.
Also contemplated is an embeddable placket stiffener for use in a placket having a plurality of fasteners attached thereto. The stiffener comprising a resilient elongate strip sized for placement in the placket. An article of clothing is contemplated that incorporates a placket stiffener. The article of clothing includes a garment including a placket having a folded edge margin and a plurality of fasteners attached thereto. An elongate strip is disposed inside the folded edge margin of the placket. The strip is substantially flat and comprised of a flexible, resilient material.
These and other aspects of the present device and methods will be apparent after consideration of the Detailed Description and Drawings provided herein. It is to be understood, however, that the scope of the invention shall be determined by the claims as issued.
Non-limiting and non-exhaustive exemplary embodiments, including the preferred embodiment, are described with reference to the following figures, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the various views unless otherwise specified.
Embodiments are described below with reference to the accompanying figures, which form a part hereof and show, by way of illustration, specific exemplary embodiments. These embodiments are disclosed in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. However, embodiments may be implemented in many different forms and combinations thereof and the invention should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense.
As shown in
Each clip 32 and 34 includes a set of slots 40 and 42 respectively. In this embodiment, the slots extend transverse to the length of the elongate member 22. Clip 32 includes a plurality of slots 40 which are spaced apart from each other at a pitch P1. Clip 34 includes a plurality of slots 42 which are spaced apart from one another at a pitch P2. Pitch P1 and P2 may be the same; however, spacing the two sets of slots at different pitches creates a wider range of button spacings with which the placket truss will mate. For example, P1 may be 0.050 inches and P2 may be 0.063 inches. Other spacings may be selected as desired to mate with various button spacings. In this case, each slot 40, 44 includes a plurality of notches 44, 46, respectively. Notches 44, 46 engage or receive button threads 17 in order to help keep the placket truss 20 from sliding off placket 12. The notches are spaced along each slot to accommodate different width plackets.
By engaging threads 17 via slots (40, 42) and by grasping placket 12 with clips 32 and 34, the placket truss 20 tensions placket 12 along arrow T, which resists pulling force A described above. It should also be noted that placket truss 20 is flexible at least along elongate member 22 in order to conform to the garment as well as the wearer's body. Elongate member 22 may be pre-formed with a bend, or an arc, as shown in
The placket truss may be formed of suitable materials that are flexible yet resilient, such as sheet metal or plastic. For example, 0.015 inch thick spring tempered 301 stainless steel is a suitable material to form the above described placket truss. Another suitable material is 0.016 inch thick spring tempered 510 bronze. Other materials include aluminum and plastics such as polycarbonate. Applicable plastics may be opaque or clear. The placket truss according to this embodiment may be formed by traditional metal stamping and forming methods as are known in the art. The truss may also be thermoformed or molded in the case of plastic. The above suggested materials, sizes, and manufacturing methods are for exemplary purposes only and should not be construed as limiting.
Methods relating to the above described placket truss are also contemplated. The methods thus encompass the steps inherent in the above described mechanical structures and operation thereof. Broadly, one method could include grasping the placket and engaging the threads of adjacent buttons and resiliently maintaining the buttons at a desired distance. A method could further include supporting the backside of the inner placket relative to the buttons. Furthermore, a method could also include grasping the placket approximately midway between adjacent buttons.
Although the technology and methods of using and/or applying the same have been described in language that is specific to certain structures, materials, and methodological steps, it is to be understood that the invention defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific structures, materials, and/or steps described. Rather, the specific aspects and steps are described as forms of implementing the claimed invention. Since many embodiments of the invention can be practiced without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, the invention resides in the claims hereinafter appended.
This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/099,359, filed May 3, 2011, U.S. Pat. No. 10,188,149, issued Jan. 29, 2019, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 13099359 | May 2011 | US |
Child | 16259101 | US |