Patent Application
20170055611
A portion of the disclosure of this patent contains material that is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.
Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a necktie and separate necktie mounting device. In particular, it relates to a necktie which slips through the necktie mounting device, which is covered with necktie material, avoiding the user having to tie the necktie.
Description of Related Art
The tied necktie is a standard part of traditional men's dress for decades. While its use has declined, it is an appropriate dress for many occasions and environments. Normally, tying the knot in the necktie consists of learning to tie one of four basic knots, i.e. the half-Windsor, the Windsor, the Pratt knot or the four-in-hand knot.
However, no matter how many times one learns to tie a necktie knot, it can take several times attempting to tie the knot to get the ends the right length. This can be very frustrating and, if one is in a hurry, it usually ends up meaning even more mistakes are made. Because of the difficulty, many persons never master the art of tying a necktie. It does mean that it is not uncommon to find people who just refuse to wear a tie because of the difficulty. Some people resort to the clip-on tie, which is mostly ridiculed, though it did enjoy some popularity in the past.
In the past, there have been some knot ties that one could use with a necktie. One is held in place by the pinching action of its cardioid cross section, and another held in place by a spring. Unfortunately, these devices are visibly not part of the tie when viewed from the side, they wear/abrade the necktie material, and since the necktie length does not shorten because it is not tied, in most cases the resulting necktie is also too long or just doesn't look right.
The present invention relates to a two piece snap lock for mounting a tie, which does not need a spring, a cardioid shape, or edges up against the necktie fabric to hold it in place. It avoids the problem of tying the tie too long, while also avoiding needing to tie the tie.
In one embodiment, the present invention is a necktie system for a necktie wearer comprising:
While this invention is susceptible to embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings, and will herein be described in detail, specific embodiments, with the understanding that the present disclosure of such embodiments is to be considered as an example of the principles and not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments shown and described. In the description below, like reference numerals are used to describe the same, similar, or corresponding parts in the several views of the drawings. This detailed description defines the meaning of the terms used herein and, specifically, describes embodiments in order for those skilled in the art to practice the invention.
The terms “about” and “essentially” mean ±10 percent.
The terms “a” or “an”, as used herein, are defined as one or as more than one. The term “plurality”, as used herein, is defined as two or as more than two. The term “another”, as used herein, is defined as at least a second or more. The terms “including” and/or “having”, as used herein, are defined as comprising (i.e., open language). The term “coupled”, as used herein, is defined as connected, although not necessarily directly, and not necessarily mechanically.
The term “comprising” is not intended to limit inventions to only claiming the present invention with such comprising language. Any invention using the term comprising could be separated into one or more claims using “consisting” or “consisting of” claim language and is so intended.
References throughout this document to “one embodiment”, “certain embodiments”, and “an embodiment” or similar terms means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, the appearances of such phrases in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments without limitation.
The term “or” as used herein is to be interpreted as an inclusive or meaning any one or any combination. Therefore, “A, B or C” means any of the following: “A; B; C; A and B; A and C; B and C; A, B and C”. An exception to this definition will occur only when a combination of elements, functions, steps or acts are in some way inherently mutually exclusive.
The drawings featured in the figures are for the purpose of illustrating certain convenient embodiments of the present invention, and are not to be considered as limitations thereto. The term “means” preceding a present participle of an operation indicates a desired function for which there is one or more embodiments, i.e., one or more methods, devices, or apparatuses for achieving the desired function, and that one skilled in the art could select from these or their equivalent in view of the disclosure herein, and use of the term “means” is not intended to be limiting.
As used herein the term “necktie” refers to a form of neckwear which is a long piece of cloth fashioned of decorative fabric of a first pattern and sometimes lined, which is then tied into a necktie knot, as described above, for wearing around the neck of a collared shirt. The ends are typically tapered to a point and the length is designed such that when the tie is tied with a necktie knot the tip of the front part of the necktie is around the beltline. Because boys are shorter and some men are taller, neckties can come in different lengths. In one embodiment of the present invention, the untied necktie (tie that is not tied) is of a shortened length to compensate for the fact the tie will not be tied with a knot and, unless the length of cloth is shortened, the necktie will be too long in the front. One of skill in the art could produce a shortened necktie and distinguish it from a regular necktie length. A shortened necktie would not be suitable for actual tying of a necktie with a necktie knot, because it would be too short.
The necktie of the present invention has a first end and a second end, and is constructed of a material having a first pattern. The material is typically a fabric such as cotton, silk, polyester, or the like, and the pattern can be dyed or otherwise applied to the fabric.
As used herein, the phrase “two piece shell device” refers to a necktie shaped front piece covered with necktie material of the first pattern (i.e. that of a corresponding tie) and locking back piece which hides the edges of the necktie on the back side of the front piece. The two pieces fit together and hold a tie that is slipped through the device and, optionally, just through the back piece. The necktie with the necktie material covered front piece has the look of a necktie that is tied. The shell can be made of any rigid material, such as plastic, metal, or wood.
The “necktie knot shaped front piece”, as used herein, has a front and back side, the front side faces outward and with a piece of material of a first pattern designed to appear to be a necktie knot. The back side of the front piece has ends of the tie material (see figures e.g.) and a device for attaching the front and back pieces together, and holding the two in place, covering the ends of the tie material. In one embodiment, it is one or more locking posts, or snaps, as shown in the figures. The back piece is adapted to receive the device for attaching the front piece to the back piece, such as holes to receive locking posts. The back side of the back piece is also adapted to receive and hold the tie vertically. Clips or channels or the like as shown in the figures can be utilized.
As used herein a “necktie system” refers to the combination of an untied necktie in combination with the two piece shell of the present invention that appears to be tied necktie knot. The shell, in one embodiment, can be partially or completely covered by necktie material separate from a necktie. In one embodiment, this material is the same as the “first pattern” as the necktie. In one embodiment, the tie is designed shorter to allow for the absence of a knot in the tie when used in the present device.
Now referring to the drawings,
Those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains may make modifications resulting in other embodiments, employing principles of the present invention without departing from its spirit or characteristics, particularly upon considering the foregoing teachings. Accordingly, the described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative, and not restrictive, and the scope of the present invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description or drawings. Consequently, while the present invention has been described with reference to particular embodiments, modifications of structure, sequence, materials and the like apparent to those skilled in the art still fall within the scope of the invention as claimed by the applicant.
