NECKTIE

Technical Field

The present invention relates to providing a necktie, which utilize a fastening means to give rise to a variety of advantages such as that it can easily be worn or fitted and that there is no sense whatever of oppression around the neck area fitted with it.

Background Art

A necktie as a male's accessory that displays an expression of such as its wearer's taste, character, social status or emotion is an extremely important ware that has been used since the early nineteenth century. However, fitting or tying a necktie is hard if it is inexperienced. In addition, oppression around the neck area during its fitting restrains emission of the body heat and at the same time detriments flow of the blood, causing some to get the stiffness in the shoulders, and its improvements have thus come to be desired. Also, the knot in the conventional necktie when tied and its wider flap section beneath the knot are discontinuous in pattern and design, marring its appearance.

Accordingly, in order to facilitate fitting there has hitherto been proposed a necktie 1 as shown in Fig. 1 as Example 1 which is preformed with a knot 2 having a shape into which it is tied. A string 3 is passed through the knot 2 in the form of a circle and is hung around the neck and its one end 3a is pulled to tighten the circle. However, this prior art does not eliminate oppression around the neck area in fitting either and, if the end 3a of the string 3 is pulled intensively, even a suffocation may be brought about. Also, with a narrower flap section of the necktie tied in a layer on the collar of a shirt, the body heat is hard to escape so that it is stifling especially in the summer season. There are further the shortcomings that having a specialized maker form the knot 2 raises the manufacturing cost and that the knot 2 soiled most easily with sweat tends to absorb much water when washed and then is hard to dry and tends to lose its shape.

There has also been proposed a necktie 1 as shown in Fig. 2 as Example 2 which to facilitate its fitting is preformed with a knot 2 having a shape into which it is tied, the knot 2 including a nipping hook (snap fitting) 4 that is nipped on the collar of a shirt to fasten the knot thereto. While this prior art is designed to eliminate the oppression around the neck area during fitting, the first button of a shirt need necessarily be then fastened and, though it is simple to fit, considerable force is required to detach. Further, direct contact of a hook section of the nipping hook 4 with the skin easily brings about an allergic reaction. Here again, there are further the weak points that having a specialised maker form the knot 2 raises the manufacturing cost and that the knot 2 soiled most easily with sweat tends to absorb much water when washed and then is hard to dry and tends to lose its shape.

Furthermore, both the neckties mentioned above which have been machined into the shape in which they are tied cannot be returned to the state of a normal necktie. Also, with the knot made in a complicated way of tying, the problem of pattern discontinuity has been met in both types of neckties, impairing their appearances. Example 3 discloses a necktie which is adapted to be fastened to the collar of a shirt by fastening means.

Example 5 discloses a necktie comprising a support element 10, around which first section of cloth 90 is wrapped to form a knot like section, which first section of cloth 90 retains a second section of cloth 104 designed to fasten to a corresponding shirt or strap element. A separate drape portion 120 is removably attached to the support element 10 to form the main body of the tie.

• [Patent Literature 1] JP P 2002-317321 A
• [Patent Literature 2] JP UM 3,012,134 A
• [Patent Literature 3] US-A-1 616 238
• [Patent Literature 4] US-A-2 552 977
• [Patent Literature 5] US 4,995,118 A

Disclosure of the Invention

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a necktie which with the use of a fastening means has many advantages including those that it can be easily fitted and detached, it does not require the first button of a shirt to be fastened, it makes oppression around the neck area nil, it requires only a minor change to be made on an ordinary necktie to allow it to be manufactured inexpensively, it can be washed and can retain its shape if washed and it can be retuned easily to the state of an ordinary necktie.

In order to achieve the object mentioned above, there is provided in accordance with the present invention as set forth in claim 1 a necktie which comprises an uncut, unseparated, undrilled and otherwise unmachined tie body that is formed with a knot or knot like section, the knot or knot like section being shaped by an insertable generally triangular shaping element, the shaping element being adapted to be attached to the collar of a shirt by a fastening means to cause the tie body to be suspended, the fastening means in the form of a removable and stretchable band piece having fastening sections at both ends thereof adapted to engage with fastening sections which are provided on the collar of a shirt, the band piece passing through a hole in the generally triangular shaping element.

According to this makeup in which the necktie is not wound around the neck, the necktie can be easily fitted and detached while making the oppression around the neck area nil.

There is provided in accordance with the present invention as set forth in claim 2 a necktie as set forth in claim 1, characterized in that the said knot like and wider flap sections are continuous and have a pattern, design or ornament applied thereto on their surfaces. In an ordinary necktie, the knot and the wider flap section of the tie body beneath it are not continuous in surfaces and hence a pattern or the like cannot be shown continuously from the knot. However, this can be made possible in accordance with the present invention.

There is provided in accordance with the present invention as set forth in claim 3 a necktie as set forth any one of claims 1 to 2, characterized by the said band piece having another fastening section which is adapted to engage with a further fastening section that is provided in the said knot or knot like section.

There is provided in accordance with the present invention as set forth in claim 4 a necktie as set forth in claim 3, characterized in that at least one of the said fastening sections on the said band piece comprises a male and female snap fastener which are secured to the said band piece coaxially on its front and rear surfaces.

There is provided in accordance with the present invention as set forth in claim 5 a necktie as set forth in any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that a dimple is formed on a surface of the said wider flap section of the tie body by picking up a portion thereof from its rear surface.

There is provided in accordance with the present invention as set forth in claim 6 a necktie as set forth in any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that a button fastener for engaging with a shirt button on the said shirt other than its first button is provided on a rear surface of the said wider flap section or a front or rear surface of the said narrower flap section of the tie body at a position that can adjustably be varied corresponding to the position of the said shirt button. This makeup permits a button and a button fastener to serve as a substitute for a normal tie clip.

There is provided in accordance with the present invention as set forth in claim 7 a necktie as set forth in any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the tie body is folded along a crease between a wider and a narrower flap section thereof so that the rear surfaces of the said sections face with each other, edges of the said narrower flap section in the vicinity of the crease are folded about a longitudinal center line to form a reduction of area there and then edges of the said wider flap section are folded to wrap the said reduction of area therewith in the vicinity of the said crease and secured together to form a constriction there, thereby forming the said knot like section between the said constriction and the said crease.

This makeup provides a necktie that is not wound around the neck and that is without the knot (but with a knot like section).

A necktie according to the present invention, of which a knot or knot like section is only arranged and required to be attached to the collar of a shirt by a fastening means, can be fitted and detached very easily. Also, since the ring of a string need not be hung around the neck area and since the first button of a shirt need not be fastened, the oppression around the neck area during fitting is made nil so that there will not be flow of the blood getting worse and not be having a stiff shoulder. Further, easily coming off if pulled by a stranger, the necktie is high in safety. Also, the body heat is easily escaped and it is cool in the summer season. Also, since it can only be done to use a simple fastening means and to form a knot like section upon forming a constriction by folding and stitching or tying with a string or to form a knot or knot like section in an ordinary tying manner, the necktie can be manufactured inexpensively. Also, formed with a knot like section simply by folding to provide a constriction in a region of a fold or crease, the necktie is continuous in pattern and excels in appearance. Further, changing the positions of the crease and the constriction allows changing the size of the knot like section and adjusting the length of the necktie when fitted. Also, separating a pair of fastening sections from each other allows the necktie to be returned to the state that it is untied and thus to be washed and to retain its shape when washed.

Brief Description of the Drawings

In the drawings,

• Fig. 1 is a view illustrating the essential parts of a necktie as Example 1 in the prior art;
• Fig. 2 is a view illustrating the essential parts of a necktie as Example 2 according to the prior art;
• Fig. 3 is a view of development illustrating a first embodiment of the necktie according to the present invention;
• Fig. 4 is a view illustrating a basic form of the first embodiment when fitted;
• Fig. 5 is a rear view of Fig. 4;
• Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view of Fig. 4 taken along the line V-v;
• Fig. 7 is a cross sectional view of an alternative embodiment taken along the line V-V in Fig. 4;
• Fig. 8 is a perspective view illustrating a shaping element inserted in a knot or knot like section;
• Fig. 9 is a perspective view illustrating an alternative shaping element inserted in a knot or knot like section for the necktie according to the present invention;
• Fig. 10 is a perspective view illustrating a fastening means;
• Fig. 11 is a view illustrating a state of a shirt to which the fastening means shown in Fig. 10 is attached;
• Fig. 12a is a view illustrating that the necktie of the first embodiment is fitted to a shirt;
• Fig. 12b is a view illustrating the state that a collar of the shirt of Fig. 12a is turned up;
• Fig. 13 is a view illustrating that a pattern is continuous;
• Fig. 14 is a view illustrating a shaping element and a fastening means
• Fig. 15a is a front view of the necktie
• Fig. 15b is a rear view of the necktie
• Fig. 16a is a view illustrating a necktie fitted onto a shirt;
• Fig. 16b is a view illustrating the state that a collar of the shirt shown in Fig. 16a is turned up;
• Fig. 17 is a perspective view illustrating a fastening means of a necktie according to the present invention;
• Fig. 18 is a view illustrating the essential parts of a necktie according to the invention.
• Fig. 19a is a plan view of a band piece with a snap pair;
• Fig. 19b is a front view of the band piece with the snap pair;
• Fig. 20 is a view illustrating a dimple for the necktie;
• Fig. 21 is a cross sectional view taken along the line VI-VI in Fig. 20;
• Fig. 22a is a front view illustrating a button with a snap fastener for a shirt to be fastened to a button fastener;
• Fig. 22b is a cross sectional view taken along the line VII-VII in Fig. 21a;
• Fig. 23a is a view illustrating the male of a Velcro fastenepr attached to a stopper for narrower flap section as a part of the button fastener;
• Fig. 23b is a bottom view of Fig. 23a;
• Fig. 24a is a view illustrating a female of a Velcro fastener and a male snap fastener as parts of the button fastener; and
• Fig. 24b is a bottom view of Fig. 24a.

Best Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to embodiments thereof illustrated in the drawing figures.

Fig. 3 is a view of development illustrating a first embodiment of the necktie according to the present invention; Fig. 4 is a view illustrating a basic form of the first embodiment when fitted; Fig. 5 is a rear view of Fig. 4; and Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view of Fig. 4 taken along the line V-V.

A necktie 10 according to the present invention comprises a wider flap section 11 and a narrower flap section 12 and is designed to take its basic form when fitted, by folding the tie body 10 along a crease 13 between the wider and narrower flap sections 11 and 12 so that rear surfaces of these sections face each other. Also, as in an ordinary necktie, the wider flap section 11 has a stopper for narrower flap section 14 attached to a suitable rear surface area thereof for passing the narrower flap section 12 to hold the latter in place.

And, edges of the narrower flap section 12 in the vicinity of the crease 13 are folded along a longitudinal center line from its front to rear side, and if needed are tied with a string or stitched together, to form a reduction of area 15 there. In this connection, note that the reduction of area 15 may alternatively be formed by folding edges of the narrower flap section 12 along the longitudinal center line from its rear to front side. After the reduction of area 15 is formed, the tie body 10 is folded along the crease 13, and then edges of the wider flap section 11 are folded to wrap the reduction of area 15 therewith and secured together to form a constriction 19 there, thereby forming a knot like section 17 between the constriction 19 and the crease 13. In this connection, note that to secure the edges of the wider flap section 11, there is a method in which as shown in Fig. 3 the wider flap section 11 is provided on its rear surface with a pair of fastener sections 16a and 16b (e.g., made of snap fasteners, Velcro fasteners or hooks) which are adapted to be fastened together. Also, although not shown, the edges of the wider flap section 12 may be stitched together, or may be tied together with a string or scarf.

The part corresponding to the constriction 19 shown in Fig. 4 and Fig. 5 as its rear view has a cross section as shown in Fig. 6. In this connection, note that when the reduction of area 15 is formed, the narrower flap section may be doubly folded as shown in Fig. 7.

Also, a solid body 28 that is generally triangular as shown in Fig. 8 or another solid 29 which has a body section 28a that is generally triangular and a drooping section 28b as shown in Fig. 9 may, as a shaping element, be inserted in the knot like section 17 to shape it neatly. Such a shaping element is formed with a hole 40 for passage by the fastening means.

Also, a button fastener 18 for engaging with a shirt button on a shirt other than its first button is provided on a rear surface of the wider flap section 11 or on a front or rear surface of the narrower flap section 12 at a position spaced from the constriction 19. As this button fastener 18, use may be made of a band piece with a button, a snap fastener adapted to be fitted with a snap fastener of a button with snap fastener 70 to be described later, or a button hole directly formed in the narrower flap section 12.

Fig. 10 shows a band piece or strip 30 used as the fastening means in a necktie 10 in the present embodiment. Also, Fig. 11 shows fastening sections 22 provided on the collar of a shirt 20 for engagement with those of this band piece 30. In Fig. 11, the collar 21 of the shirt is shown as turned up. Further, Fig. 12a shows the state that the necktie 10 of the present invention is fitted onto the shirt 20 with the fastening sections 31 engaged with the fastening section 22. Fig. 12b shows the state that the collar 21 of the shirt shown in Fig. 12a is turned up.

The necktie shown in Figs. 12a and 12b is a novel necktie which has so far never existed, in which a pattern appears as it is without discontinuing, and which excels in appearance. An example is shown in Fig. 13 in which a human head is drawn on the knot like section, continuing to its torso drawn on the wider flap section.

By the way, providing the button fastener 18 keeps the necktie 10 retained on the shirt 20 if the band piece 30 is removed from the shirt 20, thus preventing the necktie 10 from falling and from getting dirty. Also, a rise of the necktie 10 can be curbed.

For the band piece 30 shown in Fig. 10, a material having some degree of stretchability and flexibility is suitable such as a rubber product, cloth or plastic. Each of the fastening sections 31 at its both ends, with consideration given to the fact that a shirt 20 to be fastened to is washed, is suitably of detachable type and may be a snap fastener, Velcro fastener, button, button hole, hook or the like. In this connection, note that the fastening sections 31 at right and left hand sides may be different in type from each other; as shown in Fig. 10, a snap fastener and a button hole may be at the left and right hand sides, respectively. Also, these fastening sections 31 are attached to the band piece 30 by means of stitching, bonding, caulking or the like, and the fastening sections 22 shown in Fig. 11 are likewise attached to the shirt 20.

Thus, according to the present embodiment, fitting is very easy as mentioned above. Also, oppression around the neck area during fitting is nil, and there cannot be having a deteriorated flow of the blood or stiff shoulders. Also, the body heat is easy to escape, and it is cool in the summer season. Also, since it can only be done to use a simple band piece 30 and to make a minor change to an ordinary necktie such as providing a constriction 19 and a button fastener 18, the cost of manufacture is low. Also, as it is sufficient to simply fold followed by forming a knot like section 17 by providing a constriction 19 in the vicinity of a crease 13, a necktie is provided that is continuous in pattern and excels in appearance. Further, changing the positions of the crease 13 and the constriction 19 allows the size of the knot like section 17 to be altered and the length of the necktie when fitted to be adjusted. Also, detaching a pair of fastener sections 16a and 16b from each other allows the necktie to be easily returned to the state shown in Fig. 3, namely to the developed state and hence to be washed and to retain its shape when washed. Further, if a pair of fastener sections 16a and 16b are detached, the button fastener 18 is unfastened and a reduction of area 15 is unfolded, unstitched or untied, the necktie can be returned easily to the ordinary state.

Also, in a second embodiment of the necktie according to the present invention, if as shown in Fig. 14 a band piece 30 is passed through a hole 40 of a shaping element 29 and a necktie is tied around the shaping element 29 in an ordinary manner of tying (basically such as the semi-Windsor or Windsor knot with the exception that there is no neck-encircling section), a tied form of the necktie as shown in Fig. 15a and Fig. 15b (a rear view of Fig. 15a) is obtained. And, fastening the band piece 30 to the collar of a shirt gives rise to the state shown in Fig. 16a and Fig. 16b. Seeing Fig. 16a only will have everyone consider the necktie an ordinary necktie fitted around the neck but if the collar 21 of the shirt is turned up, the necktie is in fact as shown in Fig. 16b and is seen to be a necktie of unprecedentedly new type. Apparently unvaried from an ordinary necktie but not wound around the neck, the necktie is nil in oppression around the neck area and is refreshing when worn.

In a further embodiment of the present invention, a band piece or stripe 30 has a snap fastener, button, Velcro tape, hook or the like attached thereto as a fastener section 32a as shown in Fig.17 and a necktie 10 has its counterpart attached thereto as a fastener section 32b as shown in Fig. 18 to cause the tie body 10 to be suspended from the collar of a shirt 20.

As mentioned above, a necktie in which a knot 50 or knot like section 17 is made according to the invention can be fitted simply to the collar of a shirt 20, is nil in oppression around the neck area, and is high in safety since it can come off easily if pulled by a stranger. The necktie can be returned to its original state for washing and it is especially convenient in the summer season. Above all, using this necktie saves a person the trouble of tying a necktie before going to work each day and gives rise to various advantages including that its service life can be extended. Consequently, it is believed that those disagreeable with a necktie use a necktie of the present invention willingly.

Next, a band piece or strip 80 with a snap pair that is fitted with a snap fastener is shown in Fig. 19a (plan view) and Fig. 19b (front view). This band piece with snap pair 80 has at least one of its fastening sections made of a male and a female snap secured coaxially to its front and rear surfaces, there being indicated the male snap fastener, the female snap fastener and a button hole at 81, 82 and 83, respectively.

If the band piece with snap pair 80 is used for the band piece 30 for the necktie 10 shown in Fig. 12b fitted to the shirt 20 (with a button with snap fastener 70 used for each of the fastening sections 22 in Fig. 11), the male snap fasteners 81 are supposed to lie at the right and left hand sides of the collar of the shirt 20. If these male snap fasteners 81 are used in conjunction with a napkin (having mating female snap fasteners 82) so that the female snap fasteners 82 mate with the male snap fasteners 81), one can conveniently finish eating without getting dirt on one's necktie 10 or shirt 20. Other than this example, the utilization of the button with snap fastener 70 and the band with snap pair 80 is of wide range as they can be used to fasten together and unfasten things to which they are secured, and is not only to neckties but rather to clothes in general.

Of late, it is becoming popular to setting a dimple on a necktie, which in the present invention is shown in Fig. 20. Fig. 21 is a cross sectional view taken along the line VI-VI in Fig. 20. A dimple 60 is formed beneath a knot like section 17. This is made on a surface of the wider flap section 11 by picking up a portion thereof 61 from its rear surface as shown in Fig. 21. In picking up the portion 61, stitching or clipping the wider flap section 11 or the like is conceivable.

As mentioned above, providing the button fastener 18 on a front or rear surface of the narrower flap section 12 to secure it to a button on a shirt 20 other than its first button can keep the necktie from falling and getting dirty while preventing a rise of the necktie. With a snap fastener used as the button fastener 18, the button with snap fastener 70 has been invented as its mating counterpart. Thus, as shown in Fig. 22a and Fig. 22b (a cross sectional view taken along the line VII-VII in Fig. 22a), the button with snap fastener 70 is made by forming a surface of a button 71 with a dent of a diameter a little larger than that of a snap fastener 72 and pasting its surface and the bottom surface of the snap fastener 72 together with an adhesive agent. The button with snap fastener 70 may, however, be made by pasting without forming the dent on the button. And, the button with snap fastener 70 is secured to a shirt 20, using button holes 73 stitched thereto, and is fastened to the button fastener 18. The button with snap fastener 70 can be made by molding (from a material such as nylon or urea), and it is possible to manufacture the button integrally with the snap fastener in a mold.

The button with snap fastener 70 can be used to function as a tie clip. Thus, the fifth button or the like of a shirt 20 is replaced with the button with snap fastener 70 and its mating female snap fastener 82 is provided on the wider flap section 11 of a necktie. However, it is difficult to fit the male and female fasteners exactly. Accordingly, Velcro tapes 41 and 42 that act as male and female are used as part of the present invention to allow the position of the female snap fastener 82 on the wider flap section 11 to be varied at will according to the position of the button with snap fastener 70. Thus, in Figs. 23a and 23b the female Velcro tape 42 is attached to the narrower flap section's stopper 14 at, e.g., the center thereof, on the wider flap section 11 by bonding or stitching. And, its mating male Velcro tape 41 as shown in Figs. 24a and 24b is attached to cloth 43 (having the female snap fastener 82, e.g., stitched thereto), by stitching or bonding. The male and female snap fasteners can be fitted exactly in position upon changing the amount of overlap of the male and female Velcro tapes 41 and 42. Snapping these male and female snap fasteners prevents the necktie from dangling and buckling as a tie clip and is fashionable and smart.

Also, making the strength of fastening by the Velcro tapes greater than that by the snap fasteners causes the necktie to come off the shirt by the snap fasteners. This is very advantageous, e.g., in fastening a seat belt on a car, i.e., by removing the necktie from the shirt before fastening the seatbelt.

Next, as a novel necktie a band piece having fastening sections at its both ends as shown in Figs. 19a and 19b is made the necktie. The band piece is made of a material such as a rubber product or cloth and can be used with its surface colored or marked in any of a variety of ways. Having neither "wider flap section" 11 nor "narrower flap section", it is convenient in carrying goods with one's breast.

Also, while a bow tie or ribbon necktie is ordinarily used with a string wound around the neck, using the fastener means therefor makes oppression around the neck area nil.

Finally, a shirt is required which is suited with a necktie of the present invention. It is required that the shirt be provided at the collar with fastening sections and with a button with snap fastener.

Industrial Applicability

A necktie of the present invention made in the manner described in the foregoing can be used by one regardless of set and age as a novel necktie that substitutes for a conventional necktie and for a simplified necktie of detachable type.

Also, a necktie of the present invention, which the fastener means is used only to cause to be suspended below the neck of a shirt, can make oppression around the neck area nil, and its fitting and detaching can be accomplished in a several seconds. Also, the necktie can be washed easily, and excels in appearance with a pattern continuing in its knot and wider flap sections. It is comfortable if fitted on a hot summer day and has an energy saving effect, too. And, the neckties will certainly be liked by haters of neckties.

Becoming a "necktie revolution" that breaks through the fixed idea that the necktie is wound around the neck and is worrisome, a necktie according to the present invention is high in practical utility.