TIE SUPPORTING, ANCHORING AND/OR SECURING APPARATUSES OR DEVICES AND METHODS OF USING SAME

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of supporting, anchoring and/or securing devices, and, more particularly, to tie supporting, anchoring and/or securing apparatuses or devices, including tie positioning devices, providing support to a tie, operating to keep a tie in position and/or preventing loosening, shifting, moving etc. of the tie from a predetermined or rest position and methods of using same. Such tie anchoring and/or securing devices provide consistency and reliability to tie placement while a user of the tie wears, installs and/or removes same, particularly where the tie(s) would shift, loosen, move, etc. without use of the one or more tie anchoring and/or securing apparatuses.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The tie, and especially a knot tie (also referred to here as a “necktie”; various types of knots may be used, such as, but not limited to, the four-in-hand knot, the Windsor knot, half-Windsor knot, the Pratt or Shelby knot, etc.) having a thinner or short (back) end and a thicker or longer (front) end, a bow tie, a Bolo tie, a cravat or neckband, ascot or other type(s) of ties having material (such as cloth) worn around the neck of a user (e.g., for decorative purposes), has been a garment(s) worn by many persons for hundreds of years or longer. The necktie and bow ties are particularly popular types of ties worn by many users, especially as such ties often form a part of regular office, work or formal wear. Typically, such ties are worn without any type of support or securing assistance beyond that which the ties provide due to their structural attributes. Typically, ties are worn for a particular fashion look and/or feel, and often times provide various types of decorations, designs, appliqués, etc. thereon. As such, users often prefer that ties do not shift, loosen, move or otherwise become out of place after the initial placement of such ties.

Unfortunately, constant problems users encounter with ties of various types is that such ties often loosen, shift, move, swing or otherwise become out of place from the original, predetermined, rest position in which the user places the tie for wearing. When one or more of these problems occur, the user may appear disheveled, unkempt, anti-symmetrical (and therefore lack uniformity in appearance), and messy. While tie clips have been developed over the years, such tie clips are deficient because they fail to prevent the tie from loosening while also keeping the tie in place.

Thus, it would therefore be desirable to provide one or more apparatuses or devices that provide support to a tie, operate to keep a tie in position and/or prevent loosening, shifting, moving etc. of the tie from a predetermined or rest position and one or more methods of using same.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with one or more embodiments of the present invention, tie supporting, anchoring and/or securing apparatuses or devices for providing support to a tie, operating to keep a tie in position and/or preventing the loosening, shifting, moving etc. of the tie from a predetermined or rest position, and methods of using the tie supporting, anchoring and/or securing apparatuses or devices are provided.

The one or more tie supporting, anchoring and/or securing apparatuses or devices may be placed on one or more types of ties (see e.g., several types of ties discussed above) after a predetermined type of tie is in position. While various types of tie supporting, anchoring and/or securing apparatuses or devices are disclosed herein, preferably a user selects one of the tie supporting, anchoring and/or securing apparatuses or devices for use with a particular, predetermined type of tie. That said, the tie supporting, anchoring and/or securing apparatuses or devices may be interchangeable for the one or more types of ties as discussed herein.

Preferably, the selected apparatus or device is disposed on a first side (e.g., a backside where, in at least one embodiment, the front side of a tie may be one or more sides of the tie facing away from the user and the backside of the tie may be one or more sides of the tie facing towards the user and/or located between the user and the front side of the tie) portion of a tie knot (or other predetermined tie location) and prevents the knot (or other tie portion) from slipping downwards or from otherwise coming undone. The apparatus or device may be disposed in a back, middle (e.g., between both cloth portions (e.g., the thinner or short (or back) end and the thicker or longer (front) end) of the tie) or front portion of a tie. Preferably, tie movement is prevented using a “U” or “V” shaped or substantially “U” or “V” shaped buttress element, which is disposed on the tie such that one or more portions of the knot or tie rest in the buttress element. The device may include metal, plastic or other material that provides the structural attributes discussed herein.

A tie securing, anchoring and/or supporting apparatus may include: a body or flex frame having a first portion with first and second ends thereof and a second portion with first and second ends thereof, the first end of the first portion being connected to the first end of the second portion, the second end of the first portion operating to be releasably or permanently connected to the second end of the second portion, and the first and second portions being sized and shaped to define a hole or a zone of space therebetween, the hole or zone of space of the body or flex frame operating to be widened and/or opened to receive a portion of a tie therein and to be narrowed and/or closed to hold the portion of the tie therein, and a buttress element connected to and extending from the body or flex frame, the buttress element having a first portion and a second portion, at least one of the first portion of the buttress element and the second portion of the buttress element extending from the body or flex frame, the first and second portions being sized and shaped to define a zone of space therebetween and operating to receive and hold at least a portion of a tie therein, wherein the first and second portions of the body or flex frame are springingly biased towards each other.

The apparatus may operate to at least one of: keep the tie in position and prevent at least one of: loosening of the tie, shifting of the tie, and moving of the tie; prevent a knot of the tie from loosening, slipping, and/or becoming undone; and be installed or placed on the tie after the tie is placed in a predetermined position on a user. The apparatus may be disposed, or substantially disposed, on a first portion of the tie, wherein the first portion includes at least one of: a knot; a front portion or side; a middle portion; a back portion or side; a backside portion where the front side of a tie may be one or more sides of the tie facing away from the user and the backside of the tie may be one or more sides of the tie facing towards the user and/or located between the user and the front side of the tie; a smaller portion of the tie as compared to other portions of the tie; a larger portion of the tie as compared to other portions of the tie; and a portion of the tie located between both cloth portions of the tie. The apparatus may include a cinch mechanism having at least a first hole and a second hole, the cinch mechanism operating to: (i) align and misalign the first and second holes thereof; (ii) further secure, anchor and/or support the portion of the tie disposed in, and extending through, the first and second holes when the first and second holes are misaligned; and (ii) insert the portion of the tie into and through the first and second holes, and/or release the portion of the tie disposed in, and extending through, the first and second holes when the at least first and second holes are aligned. The apparatus may further include a pin and pin receptacle to further anchor, secure, support and/or grip the tie, wherein the pin operates to pierce and grip a portion of the tie.

The buttress element may be (i) built into, made integral with, and/or permanently connected to the body or flex frame; or (ii) releasably connectable to the body or flex frame. The buttress element and the body or flex frame may at least one of: (i) operate to be connected to each other for use and then disconnected from each other after use, during manufacturing, for storage, and/or for shipment; and (ii) be connected by at least one of: gluing, welding, press-fitting, riveting, bonding, fusing, adhering, molding, clamping, screwing, latching, and friction-fitting. The buttress element may include at least one clip or clasp or other connecting means connected to, and extending from, a base of the buttress element or a base of at least one of the first portion and the second portion of the buttress element, the at least one clip or clasp or other connecting means operating to releasably connect the buttress element to the body or flex frame. The other connecting means may include at least one of another clip, another clasp, at least one screw, and at least one hook.

The body or flex frame may be at least one of: sized and shaped to operate to receive and hold a portion of the tie in the hole or zone of space thereof; sized and shaped to operate to receive and hold a portion of the tie therein; substantially O or 0 shaped; substantially O or 0 shaped, thereby defining the hole or the zone of space, such that any portion of the tie disposed therein is encompassed by the body or flex frame; opened and/or widened when a force or a pressure is applied against the ends of the first and second portions, thereby opening and/or widening the hole or the zone of space of the body or flex frame; opened and/or widened when a force or a pressure is applied against the ends of the first and second portions, thereby opening and/or widening the hole or the zone of space of the body or flex frame, wherein the force or the pressure is minimal and/or of a predetermined, pre-selected amount; closed and/or narrowed when the force or the pressure is removed from the ends of the first and second portions, thereby closing and/or narrowing the hole or the zone of space of the body or flex frame; and closed and/or narrowed when the force or the pressure is removed from the ends of the first and second portions, thereby closing and/or narrowing the hole or the zone of space of the body or flex frame, such that the body or flex frame operates to return to its original, at-rest position, orientation and/or configuration, thereby having a resilient elasticity. The body or flex frame may further include at least one of: a clip; a clip that is U, V, C, (and/or ) shaped and/or substantially U, V, C, (and/or ) shaped; a component having a spring-like bias; and at least two components that are springingly biased towards each other.

The springing bias of the first and second portions of the body or flex frame may be defined and provided by the size and shape of the first and second portions of the body or flex frame. The springing bias of the first and second portions of the body or flex frame may be modifiable by changing the size and/or shape of the first and second portions of the body or flex frame. The first and second portions of the body or flex frame may be at least one of: U, V, C, (and/or) shaped and/or substantially U, V, C, (and/or ) shaped; connected to each other; positioned and/or connected to each other such that the connected first and second portions have a shape that is at least one of ] [, > < and ) (; oriented and/or connected to each other such that each has respective first or inside surfaces and second or outside surfaces; the first and second portions of the body or flex frame are built into, made integral with, and/or permanently connected to each other or are releasably connected to each other via one or more releasable connection means; the first and second portions of the body or flex frame have the same or substantially the same width, height and length or have at least one of the width, height and length thereof being different; and the first and second portions of the body or flex frame extend along, substantially along, substantially parallel to, and/or parallel to a longitudinal axis extending through the apparatus. When the body or flex frame is in its original, at-rest position, orientation and/or configuration, the body or flex frame may operate, and, therefore, the first and second portions of the flex frame may operate, to grip and hold the tie and/or a portion of the tie in a preselected, predetermined position, orientation and/or configuration. The first or inside surfaces of the first and second portions of the body or flex frame may substantially face each other. The first or inside surfaces of the first and second portions of the body or flex frame may define the hole or the zone of space therebetween. The second or outside surfaces of the first and second portions of the body or flex frame may substantially face away from each other. The second or outside surfaces of the first and second portions of the body or flex frame may define a perimeter of the body or flex frame. When the body or flex frame is in the original, at-rest position, orientation and/or configuration, the first or inside surfaces and at least respective sections of the second or outside surfaces may be parallel or substantially parallel to each other. The body or flex frame may include at least one of one or more elevations, one or more depressions, one or more protrusions, one or more hooks, one or more convex contours, one or more concave contours, one or more tapers, one or more sloped surfaces, and one or more chamfered surfaces to better grip, support, anchor and/or secure the tie. The at least one of one or more elevations, one or more depressions, one or more protrusions, one or more hooks, one or more convex contours, one or more concave contours, one or more tapers, one or more sloped surfaces, and one or more chamfered surfaces may be located on at least one of: at least one of the first or inside surfaces and at least one of the second or outside surfaces. The releasable connection means may include at least one of: one or more hinges, one or more pin-receptacle combinations and one or more latches.

The buttress element may have at least one of the following features: the buttress element operates to prevent movement of the tie and/or to prevent the knot of the tie from loosening; one or more portions of the knot of the tie and/or the tie rest and/or are disposed in the buttress element; one or more portions of the knot of the tie and/or the tie rest and/or are disposed in the zone of space between the first and second portions of the buttress element; the buttress element is U or V shaped or substantially U or V shaped; the first and second portions of the buttress element are connected directly or indirectly to the body or flex frame and are oriented such that the first and second portions of the buttress element define and form the U or V shape or the substantial U or V shape of the buttress element; the first and second portions of the buttress element are connected to each other and oriented such that the first and second portions of the buttress element define and form the U or V shape or the substantial U or V shape of the buttress element; the buttress element has one of the following geometric shapes: substantially circular, circular, substantially semi-circular, semi-circular, ovular, semi-ovular, point or pointed, conical, substantially conical, post-like, pillar-like, bar-like, spring-like and coil-like; the buttress element extends from the body or flex frame along an axis that is a different axis than the longitudinal axis of, and/or extending through, the body or flex frame; the buttress element: (i) is perpendicular, transverse, substantially perpendicular and/or substantially transverse to the body or flex frame; or (ii) extends from the body or flex frame at any other predetermined, preselected angle, the predetermined, preselected angle being at least one of: 45 degrees, 60 degrees, 30 degrees, anywhere in the range of about 20 degrees to about 85 degrees; anywhere in the range of about 0 degrees to about 85 degrees, and anywhere in the range of about 0 degrees to about 180 degrees; the buttress element includes at least one of one or more elevations, one or more depressions, one or more protrusions, one or more hooks, one or more convex contours, one or more concave contours, one or more tapers, one or more sloped surfaces, and one or more chamfered surfaces to better grip, support, anchor and/or secure the tie; the first portion of the buttress element includes at least one curved portion such that the first portion of the buttress element extends from the second portion of the buttress element for a predetermined distance and then curves and continues to extend such that the remainder of the first portion of the buttress element is parallel or substantially parallel to the second portion of the buttress element; the first and second portions of the buttress element have the same or substantially the same width, height and length or have at least one of the width, height and length thereof being different; and the first and second portions of the buttress element are built into, made integral with, and/or permanently connected to each other or are releasably connected to each other via one or more releasable connection means.

One or more embodiments of a tie securing, anchoring and/or supporting apparatus may include at least one of the following features: the body or flex frame further comprises a hinge on one end thereof and one or more receptacles on the other end thereof; the first and second portions of the body or flex frame are connected at at least one of the first and second ends thereof by the hinge; the other of the at least one of the first and second ends of the first and second portions of the body or flex frame operate to be releasably connected/disconnected by a pin-receptacle combination including the one or more receptacles; the pin-receptacle combination comprises: (i) one or more receptacles disposed at the other of the at least one of the first and second ends of the first portion or the second portion of the body or flex frame; (ii) at least one receptacle disposed at the other of the at least one of the first and second ends of the other of the first portion or the second portion of the body or flex frame; and (iii) a pin that operates to be removably disposed in the one or more receptacles and the at least one receptacle of the body or flex frame when all of the receptacles are aligned, thereby locking, and connecting together, the other of the at least one of the first and second ends of the first and second portions of the body or flex frame when the pin is located in the one or more receptacles and the at least one receptacle of the body or flex frame and thereby unlocking the other of the at least one of the first and second ends of the first and second portions of the body or flex frame when the pin is removed from the one or more receptacles and the at least one receptacle of the body or flex frame; and the pin mates with the one or more receptacles and the at least one receptacle of the body or flex frame to prevent piercing or injury to the user of the apparatus.

One or more embodiments of a tie securing, anchoring and/or supporting apparatus may further include at least one of the following features: the body or flex frame further comprises a magnet to magnet or magnet to metal combination that operates to further anchor the portion of the knot of the tie and/or the tie disposed in the body or flex frame; the first and second portions of the body or flex frame include material that is attracted to each other via one or more magnetic forces; a first magnet is disposed on, and/or connected to, the buttress element, and a second magnet is disposed such that one or more portions of the tie are located between the magnets, thereby further anchoring, supporting and/or securing the tie therebetween; the first magnet is built into, made integral with, and/or permanently connected to the buttress element, or is connected to the buttress element using at least one of: gluing, welding, press-fitting, riveting, bonding, fusing, adhering, molding, clamping, screwing, latching, and friction-fitting; and one or more components of the apparatus are made of at least one of: plastic, clear plastic, polyurethane polymer, foam, polymer foam, balsa wood, wood, rubber, hard rubber, cork, a soft material, a material that operates to be inflated with air, textile material, polymer, thermoplastic polyurethane polymer, cloth fabric, vinyl, leather, suede, synthetics, a substantially resilient material, a hard or rigid material, metal, magnetic material, polytetrafluoroethylene, carbon fiber, and fiber.

One or more other embodiments of a tie securing, anchoring and/or supporting apparatus may include at least one of the following features: the body or flex frame further comprises a hinge on at least one end thereof that operates to hold together and connect at least one of the first and second ends of the first and second portions of the body or flex frame; the body or flex frame further comprises a magnet to magnet or magnet to metal combination that operates to at least one of: (i) hold the first portion and the second portion of the body or flex frame together via one or more magnetic forces; (ii) connect directly and/or indirectly, and hold together, at least one of the first and second ends of the first and second portions of the body or flex frame via one or more magnetic forces, thereby anchoring the portion of the knot of the tie and/or the tie disposed in the body or flex frame; (iii) be opened by the application of one or more forces or pressures to the first and second portions of the body or flex frame; and (iv) be opened by the application of one or more forces or pressures to the first and second portions of the body or flex frame, wherein the one or more forces or pressures applied to the first portion of the body or flex frame and the one or more forces or pressures applied to the second portion of the body or flex frame are applied in substantially opposite or opposite directions; the first and second portions of the body or flex frame include material that is attracted to each other via one or more magnetic forces; the first and second portions of the body or flex frame include material that is attracted to each other via one or more magnetic forces while the first and second portions of the body or flex frame retain their respective resilient flexibility and spring-like bias; at least one of the first and second portions of the body or flex frame include at least one of a magnet, magnetic metal, metals that are attracted to magnets and metals that operate to act as one or more magnets; a first magnet is disposed on, and/or connected to, the buttress element, and a second magnet is disposed such that one or more portions of the tie are located between the magnets, thereby further anchoring, supporting and/or securing the tie therebetween; the first magnet is built into, made integral with, and/or permanently connected to the buttress element, or is connected to the buttress element using at least one of: gluing, welding, press-fitting, riveting, bonding, fusing, adhering, molding, clamping, screwing, latching, and friction-fitting; and one or more components of the apparatus are made of at least one of: plastic, clear plastic, polyurethane polymer, foam, polymer foam, balsa wood, wood, rubber, hard rubber, cork, a soft material, a material that operates to be inflated with air, textile material, polymer, thermoplastic polyurethane polymer, cloth fabric, vinyl, leather, suede, synthetics, a substantially resilient material, a hard or rigid material, metal, magnetic material, polytetrafluoroethylene, carbon fiber, and fiber.

Yet a further embodiment of a tie securing, anchoring and/or supporting apparatus, may include: a cinch mechanism having at least a first hole and at least a second hole, the at least first hole and the at least second hole operating to align and misalign with each other such that when the at least first hole and the at least second hole are aligned a portion of a tie may be disposed therethrough and/or removed therefrom and when the at least first hole and the at least second hole are misaligned the at least first hole and the at least second hole operate to hold the portion of the tie disposed therethrough, thereby securing, anchoring and/or supporting the portion of the tie; and a buttress element connected to and extending from the cinch mechanism, the buttress element having a first portion and a second portion, at least one of the first and second portions extending from the cinch mechanism, the first and second portions being sized and shaped to define a zone of space therebetween and operating to receive and hold at least a portion of a tie therein.

The apparatus may operate to at least one of: keep the tie in position and prevent at least one of: loosening of the tie, shifting of the tie, and moving of the tie; prevent a knot of the tie from loosening, slipping, and/or becoming undone; and be installed or placed on the tie after the tie is placed in a predetermined position on a user. The apparatus may be disposed, or substantially disposed, on a first portion of the tie, wherein the first portion includes at least one of: a knot; a front portion or side; a middle portion; a back portion or side; a backside portion where the front side of a tie may be one or more sides of the tie facing away from the user and the backside of the tie may be one or more sides of the tie facing towards the user and/or located between the user and the front side of the tie; a smaller portion of the tie as compared to other portions of the tie; a larger portion of the tie as compared to other portions of the tie; and a portion of the tie located between both cloth portions of the tie. The apparatus may further comprise a pin and pin receptacle to further anchor, secure, support and/or grip the tie, wherein the pin operates to pierce and grip a portion of the tie.

The further embodiment of an apparatus may at least one of the following features: have the buttress element: (i) be built into, made integral with, and/or permanently connected to the cinch mechanism; (ii) be releasably connectable to the cinch mechanism, or (iii) have at least one portion that is built into, made integral with, and/or permanently connected to the cinch mechanism and at least another portion that is releasably connectable to the cinch mechanism; have the buttress element and the cinch mechanism operate to be connected to each other for use and then disconnected from each other after use, during manufacturing, for storage, and/or for shipment; have the buttress element and the cinch mechanism be connected by at least one of: gluing, welding, press-fitting, riveting, bonding, fusing, adhering, molding, clamping, screwing, latching, and friction-fitting; have the buttress element include at least one clip or clasp or other connecting means connected to, and extending from, a base of the buttress element or a base of at least one of the first portion and the second portion of the buttress element, the at least one clip or clasp or other connecting means operating to releasably connect the buttress element or a least one of the first portion and the second portion of the buttress element to the cinch mechanism; and have the other connecting means include at least one of another clip, another clasp, at least one screw, and at least one hook.

The cinch mechanism may at least one of: be sized and shaped to operate to receive and hold a portion of the tie in the at least first hole and the at least second hole thereof; be sized and shaped to operate to receive and hold a portion of the tie therein and/or therethrough; have one or more surfaces or walls defining an interior zone of space, such that any portion of the tie disposed therein is encompassed by the cinch mechanism or is located in the interior zone of space of the cinch mechanism; further comprise at least one spring and at least one button or actuation element, the at least one button or actuation element operating to compress and/or decompress the spring and including at least one of the at least first hole and the at least second hole of the cinch mechanism such that the compression and/or the decompression of the spring operates to align and/or misalign the at least first hole and the at least second hole; be opened and/or has its at least first hole and at least second hole aligned when a force or a pressure is applied to the at least one button or actuation element, thereby compressing and/or decompressing the spring; be opened and/or has the at least first hole and the at least second hole thereof aligned when a force or a pressure is applied to the at least one button or actuation element, thereby compressing and/or decompressing the spring, wherein the force or the pressure is minimal and/or of a predetermined, pre-selected amount; be closed and/or has the at least first hole and the at least second hole thereof misaligned when a force or a pressure is applied to, or removed from, the at least one button or actuation element, thereby compressing and/or decompressing the spring; and be closed and/or has the at least first hole and the at least second hole thereof misaligned when a force or a pressure is applied to, or removed from, the at least one button or actuation element, thereby compressing and/or decompressing the spring, wherein the force or the pressure is minimal and/or of a predetermined, pre-selected amount.

The further embodiment of an apparatus may have at least one of the following features: the at least first hole and the at least second hole are positioned on the cinch mechanism such that at least an axis, a line or a plane passes therethrough and/or the at least first hole and the at least second hole are co-linear and/or co-planar; at least one of the at least first hole and the at least second hole is disposed on and in communication with one or more surfaces or walls of the cinch mechanism; the at least first hole is disposed on and in communication with one or more surfaces or walls of the cinch mechanism and the at least second hole is disposed on and in communication with one or more other surfaces or walls of the cinch mechanism; one of the at least first hole and the at least second hole is disposed on and in communication with one or more surfaces or walls of the cinch mechanism and the other of the at least first hole and the at least second hole is disposed on and in communication with the button or actuation element of the cinch mechanism; the geometry of at least one cross-section of the cinch mechanism is at least one of: triangular, substantially triangular, rectangular, substantially rectangular, square-shaped, substantially square-shaped, parallelogram-shaped, substantially parallelogram-shaped, conical, substantially conical, cylindrical, substantially cylindrical, pentagonal and substantially pentagonal; the cinch mechanism includes at least one of one or more elevations, one or more depressions, one or more protrusions, one or more hooks, one or more convex contours, one or more concave contours, one or more tapers, one or more sloped surfaces, and one or more chamfered surfaces to better grip, secure, anchor and/or support the tie; the at least one of one or more elevations, one or more depressions, one or more protrusions, one or more hooks, one or more convex contours, one or more concave contours, one or more tapers, one or more sloped surfaces, and one or more chamfered surfaces are located on and/or in communication with at least one of: the at least first hole of the cinch mechanism, the at least second hole of the cinch mechanism and the one or more surfaces or walls of the cinch mechanism; and the at least first hole and the at least second hole have the same or substantially the same radius, diameter and circumference or have at least one of the radius, diameter and circumference thereof being different.

One or more embodiments of an apparatus may have at least one of the following further features: the buttress element operates to prevent movement of the tie and/or to prevent the knot of the tie from loosening; one or more portions of the knot of the tie and/or the tie rest and/or are disposed in the buttress element; one or more portions of the knot of the tie and/or the tie rest and/or are disposed in the zone of space between the first and second portions of the buttress element; the buttress element is U or V shaped or substantially U or V shaped; the first and second portions of the buttress element are connected directly or indirectly to the cinch mechanism and are oriented such that the first and second portions of the buttress element define and form the U or V shape or the substantial U or V shape of the buttress element; the first and second portions of the buttress element are connected to each other and oriented such that the first and second portions of the buttress element define and form the U or V shape or the substantial U or V shape of the buttress element; the buttress element has one of the following geometric shapes: substantially circular, circular, substantially semi-circular, semi-circular, ovular, semi-ovular, point or pointed, conical, substantially conical, post-like, pillar-like, bar-like, spring-like and coil-like; the buttress element extends from the cinch mechanism along an axis that is a different axis than the longitudinal axis of, and/or extending through, the cinch mechanism; the buttress element: (i) is perpendicular, transverse, substantially perpendicular and/or substantially transverse to the cinch mechanism; or (ii) extends from the cinch mechanism at any other predetermined, preselected angle, the predetermined, preselected angle being at least one of: 45 degrees, 60 degrees, 30 degrees, anywhere in the range of about 20 degrees to about 85 degrees; anywhere in the range of about 0 degrees to about 85 degrees, and anywhere in the range of about 0 degrees to about 180 degrees; the buttress element includes at least one of one or more elevations, one or more depressions, one or more protrusions, one or more hooks, one or more convex contours, one or more concave contours, one or more tapers, one or more sloped surfaces, and one or more chamfered surfaces to better grip, secure, anchor and/or support the tie; the first portion of the buttress element includes at least one curved portion such that the first portion of the buttress element extends from the second portion of the buttress element for a predetermined distance and then curves and continues to extend such that the remainder of the first portion of the buttress element is parallel or substantially parallel to the second portion of the buttress element; the first and second portions of the buttress element have the same or substantially the same width, height and length or have at least one of the width, height and length thereof being different; and the first and second portions of the buttress element are built into, made integral with, and/or permanently connected to each other or are releasably connected to each other via one or more releasable connection means.

Additionally or alternatively, one or more embodiments of an apparatus may have at least one of the following features: the at least one button or actuation element comprises at least one of the first portion and the second portion of the buttress element; the buttress element and the cinch mechanism are integrated such that the at least one portion of the first portion and the second portion of the buttress element operates to compress and/or decompress the spring and to align and/or misalign the at least first hole and the at least second hole of the cinch mechanism; the cinch mechanism is opened and/or has its at least first hole and at least second hole aligned when a force or a pressure is applied to the at least one of the first portion and the second portion of the buttress element, thereby compressing and/or decompressing the spring; the cinch mechanism is opened and/or has the at least first hole and the at least second hole thereof aligned when a force or a pressure is applied to the at least one of the first portion and the second portion of the buttress element, thereby compressing and/or decompressing the spring, wherein the force or the pressure is minimal and/or of a predetermined, pre-selected amount; the cinch mechanism is closed and/or has the at least first hole and the at least second hole thereof misaligned when a force or a pressure is applied to, or removed from, the at least one of the first portion and the second portion of the buttress element, thereby compressing and/or decompressing the spring; the cinch mechanism is closed and/or has the at least first hole and the at least second hole thereof misaligned when a force or a pressure is applied to, or removed from, the at least one of the first portion and the second portion of the buttress element, thereby compressing and/or decompressing the spring, wherein the force or the pressure is minimal and/or of a predetermined, pre-selected amount; when the at least first hole of the cinch mechanism is disposed on and in communication with a surface or wall of the cinch mechanism and the at least second hole of the cinch mechanism is disposed on and in communication with another surface or wall of the cinch mechanism, at least one of the at least one button, actuation element and the at least one of the first portion and the second portion of the buttress element includes at least a third hole of the cinch mechanism; the at least third hole of the cinch mechanism operates to be aligned and/or misaligned with the at least first hole and the at least second hole of the cinch mechanism, thereby locking the cinch mechanism when one or more of the three holes are misaligned and unlocking the cinch mechanism when all three holes of the cinch mechanism are aligned; the cinch mechanism is opened and/or has the at least first hole, the at least second hole and the at least third hole aligned when a force or a pressure is applied to the at least one of the first portion and the second portion of the buttress element, thereby compressing and/or decompressing the spring and aligning the at least third hole with the at least first hole and the at least second hole; the cinch mechanism is opened and/or has the at least first hole, the at least second hole and the at least third hole aligned when a force or a pressure is applied to the at least one of the first portion and the second portion of the buttress element, thereby compressing and/or decompressing the spring and aligning the at least third hole with the at least first hole and the at least second hole, wherein the force or the pressure is minimal and/or of a predetermined, pre-selected amount; the cinch mechanism is closed and/or has at least two of the at least first hole, the at least second hole and the at least third hole thereof misaligned when a force or a pressure is applied to, or removed from, the at least one of the first portion and the second portion of the buttress element, thereby compressing and/or decompressing the spring and misaligning the at least third hole with at least one of the at least first hole and the at least second hole; and the cinch mechanism is closed and/or has at least two of the at least first hole, the at least second hole and the at least third hole thereof misaligned when a force or a pressure is applied to, or removed from, the at least one of the first portion and the second portion of the buttress element, thereby compressing and/or decompressing the spring and misaligning the at least third hole with at least one of the at least first hole and the at least second hole, wherein the force or the pressure is minimal and/or of a predetermined, pre-selected amount.

Additionally or alternatively, one or more embodiments of an apparatus may have at least one of the following features: the cinch mechanism is: (i) locked when the spring is compressed and unlocked when the spring is decompressed; or (ii) unlocked when the spring is decompressed and locked when the spring is compressed; when the spring is decompressed and the hole of at least one of the at least first hole, the at least second hole and the at least third hole that is disposed on and in communication with the button, actuation element and/or the at least one of the first portion and the second portion of the buttress element is positioned closer to the zone of space of the buttress element than the other two holes of the at least one of the at least first hole, the at least second hole and the at least third hole, then the cinch mechanism is locked when the spring is decompressed and is unlocked when the spring is compressed; when the spring is compressed and the hole of at least one of the at least first hole, the at least second hole and the at least third hole that is disposed on and in communication with the button, actuation element and/or the at least one of the first portion and the second portion of the buttress element is positioned further away from the zone of space of the buttress element than the other two holes of the at least one of the at least first hole, the at least second hole and the at least third hole, then the cinch mechanism is unlocked when the spring is decompressed and is locked when the spring is compressed; the button or actuation element extends through a first or front wall or surface of the cinch mechanism and the spring extends from a second or back wall or surface of the cinch mechanism; the cinch mechanism further comprises a second spring and a latch mechanism that operates to slide towards the spring, thereby locking the spring in a compressed position, and to slide away from the spring, thereby unlocking the spring from its compressed position; the latch mechanism includes a curved, sloped, tapered and/or chamfered surface such that, when the at least one of the button, the actuation element and the at least one of the first portion and the second portion of the buttress element slides along the curved, sloped, tapered and/or chamfered surface of the latch mechanism, the latch mechanism is pushed away from the spring such that the second spring becomes compressed, thereby unlocking the spring from its compressed position; the cinch mechanism further comprises at least one of: (i) one or more tracks, one or more rails and/or one or more guideposts that operate to guide the at least one of the button, the actuation element and the at least one of the first portion and the second portion of the buttress element in the cinch mechanism; (ii) one or more tracks, one or more rails and/or one or more guideposts that operate to guide the second spring and/or the latch mechanism in the cinch mechanism; and (iii) one or more tracks, one or more rails and/or one or more guideposts that operate to guide the spring in the cinch mechanism; the second spring and the latch mechanism operate to be locked in, and released from a compressed position, thereby allowing the user of the apparatus to control when the apparatus is opened and closed; the cinch mechanism is sized and shaped to operate to guide at least one of the spring and the at least one of the button, the actuation element and the at least one of the first portion and the second portion of the buttress element therein; and one or more components of the apparatus are made of at least one of: plastic, clear plastic, polyurethane polymer, foam, polymer foam, balsa wood, wood, rubber, hard rubber, cork, a soft material, a material that operates to be inflated with air, textile material, polymer, thermoplastic polyurethane polymer, cloth fabric, vinyl, leather, suede, synthetics, a substantially resilient material, a hard or rigid material, metal, magnetic material, polytetrafluoroethylene, carbon fiber, and fiber.

The apparatus or device may include a clip having a resilient elasticity such that the clip may be opened with minimal force and may grip and hold the tie in the preselected position. The clip may be “U” or “V” shaped or substantially “U” or “V” shaped. The clip may be connected to the buttress element such that they are perpendicular, transverse, substantially perpendicular and/or substantially transverse to each other. The buttress element and the clip may be disposed at any other angle (e.g., 45 degrees; as otherwise discussed herein; etc.) with respect to each other. The clip may include one or more elevations and depressions (e.g., protrusions, hooks, convex and concave contours, etc.) to better grip the tie.

The apparatus or device may include a pin that further secures the tie. Preferably, the pin mates with a pin receptacle to prevent piercing/injury. The device may use the pin and pin receptacle instead of the clip to achieve the desired supporting, anchoring and/or securing functionality. Preferably, the pin is disposed perpendicularly, transversely, substantially perpendicularly and/or substantially transversely to the buttress element. The pin may be oriented towards the user or away from the user such that the pin receptacle may be placed at least one of: under one or more portions of the tie of the user, under the shirt of the user, and on top of the tie of the user. Preferably, the pin receptacle is hidden from view.

Additionally or alternatively, the apparatus or device may include a flex frame that opens when a user pinches the frame and remains closed or in a rest position when not pinched. Preferably, the flex frame is “O” or “0” shaped such that any portion of the tie in the frame is encompassed thereby.

The apparatus or device may include a magnet to magnet combination that further anchors the tie. Preferably, a first magnet is disposed on, or connected to, the buttress element, and a second magnet is disposed such that one or more portions of the tie (preferably at least the short or thinner end) are located between the magnets. The magnets may be used instead of the clip and/or pin. The first magnet may be built into, made integral with and/or permanently connected to the buttress element, or may be connected to the buttress element using fusing, gluing, bonding, press-fit, welded, etc.

The apparatus or device may include a cinch mechanism that further anchors the tie. Preferably, the cinch includes a spring, and the cinch has two positions. The first position is where the two holes in the cinch are not lined up (where the spring is not compressed), thereby locking a portion of the tie therein. The second position is where the two holes in the cinch are lined up (where the spring is compressed), thereby unlocking the cinch. The cinch may be used instead of the magnets, clip, and/or pin. A button may be used to actuate and move the spring between the compressed and decompressed positions. Alternatively, at least one portion of the buttress element may include a third hole and may operate to move the spring between the compressed and decompressed positions thereof. For example, the at least one portion of the buttress element (e.g., the portion of the buttress element that is disposed in the knot of the tie) may be moved towards the frame of the apparatus or device (e.g., the spring is compressed) to align the three holes or, in one or more other embodiments, may be moved away from the frame (e.g., by using the force of the spring) to align the three holes, depending on the location of the third hole of the at least one portion of the buttress element.

In accordance with one or more embodiments of the present invention, a tie supporting, securing and/or anchoring apparatus or device includes: a body or frame that is sized and shaped to operate to receive and hold therein a portion of a tie and a buttress element attached to, and extending away from, the body or frame. Preferably, the buttress element operates to connect to, and hold, at least a portion of a tie (such as, but not limited to, a portion of the knot of a tie) therein.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the structure and orientation of the one or more components of the apparatuses or devices may be modified in various ways while providing the benefits described herein. For example, the one or more components may be sized and shaped to have different geometric shapes, such as, but not limited to, being at least one of: substantially circular, semi-circular, point or pointed (e.g., conical or substantially conical in shape), post-shaped, pillar-shaped, bar-shaped, spring-shaped, etc., as further discussed herein.

The size and shape of the invention may be such that user of the invention can properly support, anchor and/or secure one or more types of ties as discussed herein. The one or more components may have a width, length, radius and/or diameter that is shorter than the width, length, radius and/or diameter of another component of the apparatuses or devices.

One or more components of the apparatuses or devices may include at least one of: plastic, clear plastic, polyurethane polymer, foam, polymer foam, balsa wood, wood, rubber, hard rubber, cork, a soft material, a material that operates to be inflated with air, textile material, polymer, thermoplastic polyurethane polymer, cloth fabric, vinyl, leather, suede, synthetics, a substantially resilient material, a hard or rigid material, metal, magnetic material, magnetic metal, polytetrafluoroethylene, carbon fiber, fiber or any other suitable material known to those skilled in the art. One or more components of the apparatuses or devices may be built into, made integral with, and/or permanently connected to each other.

The present invention of the instant application aids or assists a user in supporting, anchoring and/or securing a tie, is easy to use by the user, is cheap to manufacture, and reduces and/or eliminates the chance(s) that the tie will become shifted, loosened, moved, undone, etc., which may result from wearing a tie without the invention.

The methods of using the one or more tie securing, supporting and/or anchoring apparatuses or devices aid or assist the user in learning how to maintain proper position of the tie, and in allowing the user to perform one or more activities, e.g., work, office and/or formal activities, while maintaining a neat, kempt and uniform appearance and/or without worrying about the tie becoming loose, shifted, displaced, etc.

At least one method of using at least one tie securing, anchoring and/or supporting apparatus or device, may include the steps of: (i) applying a force to a body or flex frame of the at least one apparatus or device to open, or expand a hole of, the body or flex frame a predetermined amount; (ii) positioning and/or placing a portion of a tie into and/or onto the body or flex frame and/or the hole thereof or removing the portion of the tie from the body or flex frame and/or the hole thereof; and (iii) releasing or removing the force placed on the body or flex frame of the apparatus or device such that the resilient elasticity and/or the spring-like bias of the body or flex frame and/or the portions of the body or flex frame, the portions of the body or flex frame being springingly biased towards each other, operate to close, and/or narrow the hole of, the body or flex frame and/or anchor, secure, lock and/or support the portion of the tie in a predetermined, pre-selected position, orientation and/or configuration. The applying step may further include opening the body or flex frame by separating at least two portions of the body or flex frame. The releasing or removing of the force step may further include closing the at least two portions of the body or flex frame, wherein the at least two portions of the body or flex frame are closed by at least one of: (a) a pin and receptacle arrangement; and (b) one or more magnetic forces drawing the at least two portions together. The method may further include positioning at least a portion of the tie and/or a knot of the tie in a buttress element, the buttress element being connected to, and extending from the body or flex frame, thereby further anchoring, securing, locking and/or supporting the portion of the tie and/or the knot of the tie in a predetermined, pre-selected position, orientation and/or configuration and/or preventing the knot from loosening.

One or more other methods of using at least one tie securing, anchoring and/or supporting apparatus or device, may include the steps of: (i) aligning at least two holes of a cinch mechanism of the at least one apparatus or device to open and unlock the cinch mechanism; (ii) positioning and/or placing a portion of a tie into and/or onto the cinch mechanism and/or the at least two holes thereof or removing the portion of the tie from the cinch mechanism and/or the at least two holes thereof; and (iii) misaligning the at least two holes of the cinch mechanism to close and lock the cinch mechanism and/or anchor, secure, lock and/or support the portion of the tie in a predetermined, pre-selected position, orientation and/or configuration. The one or more other methods may further include positioning at least a portion of the tie and/or a knot of the tie in a buttress element, the buttress element being connected to, and extending from the cinch mechanism, thereby further anchoring, securing, locking and/or supporting the portion of the tie and/or the knot of the tie in a predetermined, pre-selected position, orientation and/or configuration and/or preventing the knot from loosening. The at least two holes may include at least three holes. The alignment step may further include aligning the at least three holes; and the misalignment step may further include misaligning at least two of the at least three holes.

The methods of using the tie supporting, securing and/or anchoring apparatuses or devices may further comprise forming, providing and/or making one or more components of the apparatuses or devices having at least one of: plastic, clear plastic, polyurethane polymer, foam, polymer foam, balsa wood, wood, rubber, hard rubber, cork, a soft material, a material that operates to be inflated with air, textile material, polymer, thermoplastic polyurethane polymer, cloth fabric, vinyl, leather, suede, synthetics, a substantially resilient material, a hard or rigid material, metal, polytetrafluoroethylene, carbon fiber, and fiber.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For the purposes of illustrating the various aspects of the invention, wherein like numerals indicate like elements, there are shown in the drawings simplified forms that may be employed, it being understood, however, that the invention is not limited by or to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown. To assist those of ordinary skill in the relevant art in making and using the subject matter hereof, reference is made to the appended drawings and figures, wherein:

FIG. 1A is a perspective back view of an embodiment of a tie supporting, securing and/or anchoring apparatus or device being attached to a tie in accordance with one or more aspects of the present invention;

FIG. 1B is a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 1A where the tie supporting, securing and/or anchoring apparatus or device has a flex frame that is in an open position due to a user applying force thereto in accordance with one or more aspects of the present invention;

FIG. 1C is a perspective view of the embodiment of FIGS. 1A-1B where the tie supporting, securing and/or anchoring apparatus or device has the flex frame in a closed, at-rest position in accordance with one or more aspects of the present invention;

FIG. 1D is a side view of the embodiment of FIGS. 1A-1C where the apparatus or device is attached to a tie in accordance with one or more aspects of the present invention;

FIG. 2A is a perspective view of at least an additional embodiment of a tie supporting, securing and/or anchoring apparatus or device having a flex frame including hinges that may be releasably connected using a pin or locking mechanism in accordance with one or more aspects of the present invention;

FIG. 2B is a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 2A where the hinges of the flex frame are releasably connected using a pin or locking mechanism in accordance with one or more aspects of the present invention;

FIG. 3A is a perspective view of at least an additional embodiment of a tie supporting, securing and/or anchoring apparatus or device, in an open position (the pin or locking mechanism is not disposed in the flex frame) having a flex frame and a buttress element, where the buttress element is releasably connectable to the flex frame in accordance with one or more aspects of the present invention;

FIG. 3B is a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 3A where the tie supporting, securing and/or anchoring apparatus or device is in an closed or locked position because the pin or locking mechanism is disposed in the flex frame in accordance with one or more aspects of the present invention;

FIG. 4A is a perspective view of at least another embodiment of a tie supporting, securing and/or anchoring apparatus or device having a flex frame including only one hinge on one side thereof, where the flex frame includes magnetic material therein such that the first and second portions of the flex frame operate to releasably connect to each other and the flex frame is shown in an open position in accordance with one or more aspects of the present invention;

FIG. 4B is a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 4A where the flex frame is shown in a substantially closed or closed position (e.g., the magnetic forces of the flex frame operate to connect the first and second portions of the flex frame and/or draw the first and second portions of the flex frame towards each other) in accordance with one or more aspects of the present invention;

FIG. 4C is a side view of the embodiment of FIGS. 4A-4B where the apparatus or device is attached to a tie and the both ends of the magnetic first and second portions of the flex frame are in direct contact with each other in accordance with one or more aspects of the present invention;

FIG. 4D is a perspective back view of the embodiment of FIGS. 4A-4C where the apparatus or device is attached to a tie and, while the releasably connectable ends of the magnetic first and second portions of the flex frame are in a closed or locked position on the tie, where the releasably connectable ends are at least indirectly connected to each other because a portion of the tie lies therebetween in accordance with one or more aspects of the present invention;

FIG. 5A is a side view of at least a further embodiment of a tie supporting, securing and/or anchoring apparatus or device having a cinch mechanism, including a button and spring arrangement therein, that operates to releasably connect to a portion of a tie in accordance with one or more aspects of the present invention;

FIG. 5B is a top view of the embodiment of FIG. 5A showing the button and spring mechanism arrangement of the cinch mechanism to be in a locked position (e.g., where two holes of the cinch mechanism are misaligned; where a hole located on the button or actuation mechanism is misaligned with a hole located on a body of the cinch mechanism; etc.) in accordance with one or more aspects of the present invention;

FIG. 5C is a top view of the embodiment of FIGS. 5A-5B showing the button and spring mechanism arrangement of the cinch mechanism to be in an open position (e.g., where two holes of the cinch mechanism are aligned, thereby allowing the tie to be positioned therein and/or removed therefrom; where a hole located on the button or actuation mechanism is aligned with a hole located on a body of the cinch mechanism; etc.) in accordance with one or more aspects of the present invention;

FIG. 5D is a perspective back view of the embodiment of FIGS. 5A-5C showing the apparatus or device being attached to a tie in accordance with one or more aspects of the present invention;

FIG. 6A is a cross-sectional view of a further embodiment having at least the structure of the embodiment of FIGS. 5A-5D taken along line 6A-6A (as shown in FIG. 5B) showing the internal components of the cinch mechanism and also including an additional spring-latch mechanism therein in accordance with one or more aspects of the present invention;

FIG. 6B is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 6A taken along line 6B-6B (as shown in FIG. 5C) showing the internal components of the cinch mechanism and also including an additional spring-latch mechanism therein in accordance with one or more aspects of the present invention;

FIG. 7A is a side view of yet a further embodiment of a cinch mechanism for a tie supporting, securing and/or anchoring apparatus or device where the buttress element of the apparatus or device is integrated with the cinch mechanism such that at least one portion of the buttress element operates to actuate the spring located in the cinch mechanism to align and/or misalign the holes thereof, the holes being shown in the misaligned, closed and locked position in accordance with one or more aspects of the present invention;

FIG. 7B is a side view of the embodiment of FIG. 7A where the holes are aligned such that the cinch mechanism is in the open and unlocked position in accordance with one or more aspects of the present invention; and

FIG. 8 is a side view of yet a further cinch mechanism having a triangular cross-sectional structure where one portion of the buttress element acts to actuate the spring of the cinch mechanism in accordance with one or more aspects of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

Tie supporting, securing and/or anchoring apparatuses or devices are disclosed herein for providing support to a tie, operating to keep a tie in position and/or preventing loosening, shifting, moving etc. of the tie from a predetermined or rest position and methods of using same. Such tie anchoring and/or securing devices provide consistency and reliability to tie placement while a user of the tie wears, installs and/or removes same, particularly where the tie(s) would shift, loosen, move, etc. without use of the one or more tie anchoring and/or securing apparatuses. The apparatuses or devices may be used in any location for various types of activities, such as, but not limited to, office, work and formal events. The apparatuses or devices may be sized and shaped to accommodate one or more of various types of ties, and may be designed to include one or more contours, cut-outs, shapes, etc. to comfortably accommodate one or more types of ties when the apparatuses or devices are being used.

The one or more tie supporting, anchoring and/or securing apparatuses or devices may be placed on one or more types of ties (e.g., several types of ties discussed above) after a predetermined type of tie is in position. While various types of tie supporting, anchoring and/or securing apparatuses or devices are disclosed herein, preferably a user selects one of the tie supporting, anchoring and/or securing apparatuses or devices for use with a particular, predetermined type of tie. That said, the tie supporting, anchoring and/or securing apparatuses or devices may be interchangeable for the one or more types of ties as discussed herein.

Turning now to the details of the figures, FIG. 1A illustrates at least one embodiment of an apparatus or device 10 attached to at least a portion 3 of a tie 2 (and also attached to a knot 4 of the tie 2). As best seen in FIGS. 1A-1D, the apparatus 10 includes a body or flex frame 11 having a first portion 12 and a second portion 13 connected to each other at the ends thereof, and a buttress element 14 extending from the body or flex frame 11, the buttress element 14 having a first portion 14a and a second portion 14b that are sized and shaped to define a zone of space between the first and second portions 14a, 14b. The apparatus 10 is releasably connectable to the tie 2, and the apparatus 10 operates to keep the tie 2 in position and prevent loosening, shifting, etc. of the tie 2. The apparatus or device 10 may be placed on the tie 2 after the tie 2 is placed in a predetermined, desired position on a user 1. As seen in FIG. 1A, preferably, the apparatus or device 10 is disposed, or substantially disposed, on a first portion (e.g., a backside portion; a backside portion (e.g., such as the portion 3) where, in at least one embodiment, the front side of a tie may be one or more sides of the tie facing away from the user and the backside of the tie may be one or more sides of the tie facing towards the user and/or located between the user and the front side of the tie; etc.) of a tie knot 4 or of the tie 2 (or other predetermined tie location, such as, but not limited to, a front portion (e.g., the larger portion of the tie 2 shown in FIG. 1A)), and operates to prevent the knot 4 (or other tie portion) of the tie 2 from slipping downwards or from otherwise becoming undone. The apparatus or device 10 may be disposed in a back portion, a middle portion (e.g., between both cloth portions (e.g., the thinner or short (or back) end (see e.g., the portion 3 of the tie 2) and the thicker or longer (front) end (see e.g., the thicker portion of the tie 2 as shown in FIG. 1A) of the tie 2)) and/or a front portion of the tie 2 (or combinations of those portions of the tie 2). The apparatus or device 10 may include metal, plastic or other material (see further discussion below) that provides the structural attributes discussed herein.

Preferably, the body or flex frame 11 is sized and shaped to operate to receive and hold therein at least a section of the portion 3 of the tie 2 and/or the portion of the tie 2. Preferably, the body or flex frame 11 is substantially O or 0 shaped, thereby defining a hole or a zone of space in communication with the body or flex frame 11, such that any portion of the tie 2 disposed therein is encompassed by the body or flex frame 11. In one embodiment, the body or flex frame 11 may include a clip (e.g., which may be U, V, C, (or ) shaped or substantially U, V, C, (or ) shaped) or other component having a spring or spring-like bias, such as, but not limited to, the first portion 12 and the second portion 13 of the body or flex frame 11 connected to each other at respective ends thereof (see FIGS. 1A-1D). Preferably, the first portion 12 and the second portion 13 are springingly biased towards each other, and the body or flex frame 11 may be opened by the user 1 by applying force to the body or flex frame 11 (preferably at the ends (e.g., end portions 12c, 12d, 13c, 13d as discussed below; where one or more hinges are located on the ends of the portions 12, 13; etc.) of the portions 12, 13 of the flex frame 11 (see the user 1 applying such force to the flex frame 11 by pinching same in FIG. 1B). When the force is removed from the body or flex frame 11, the body or flex frame 11 (and/or portions thereof, such as the first and second portions 12, 13) operates to return to its original, at-rest position, orientation and/or configuration, thereby having a resilient elasticity. The force may be minimal and/or of a predetermined, pre-selected amount based on the needs of the user 1 and the structure of the apparatus or device 10. As such, the amount of force may be modified from one embodiment of the apparatus or device 10 to the next embodiment (see e.g., the other apparatuses or devices 20, 30, 40, 60, 80, etc. as discussed herein below) depending on the needs of the user 1. The springing bias of the first and second portions 12 and 13 of the flex frame 11 may be provided and/or increased by the size and shape of the first and second portions 12, 13. For example, in at least one embodiment, the first and second portions 12, 13 may be U, V, C, (or ) shaped or substantially U, V, C, (or ) shaped, and positioned, and connected to each other, such that the first and second portion combination is at least one of ] [shaped, > < shaped and/or ) (shaped (e.g., the shape of each of the first and second portions 12, 13 are such that the first and second portions 12, 13 operate to bow or spring towards each other). Preferably, when the body or flex frame 11 is in its original, at-rest position, orientation and/or configuration, the body or flex frame 11 operates, and, therefore, the first and second portions 12, 13 of the flex frame 11 operate, to grip and hold the tie 2 (and/or a portion thereof) in the preselected, predetermined position, orientation and/or configuration (see e.g., FIGS. 1A and 1D). As best shown in FIGS. 1B-1C, the first and second portions 12, 13 are preferably oriented and connected to each other such that each has respective first or inside surfaces 12b, 13b (e.g., the first or inside surfaces 12b, 13b substantially face each other; may define a zone of space therebetween; etc.) and second or outside surfaces 12a, 13a (e.g., the second or outside surfaces 12a, 13a substantially face away from each other; may define a perimeter of the body or flex frame 11; etc.), and the first and second portions 12, 13 extend along, substantially parallel to, and/or parallel to a longitudinal axis, L, extending through the apparatus or device 10 (see FIG. 1C). As such, when the body or flex frame 11 is in its original, at-rest position, orientation and/or configuration (and especially when the tie 2 is not disposed therein), the surfaces 12a, 12b, 13a, 13b (and/or at least sections thereof) may be parallel or substantially parallel to each other. The body or flex frame 11 may include one or more elevations and depressions (e.g., one or more protrusions, one or more hooks, one or more convex contours and/or one or more concave contours, etc.; preferably located on one or both of the first or inside surfaces 12b, 13b but may be located on one or both of the second or outside surfaces 12a, 13a alternatively or additionally) to better grip the tie 2. Preferably, the first and second portions 12, 13 have the same width, height and length. In one or more embodiments, at least one of the width, height and length of the first and second portions 12, 13 may be different. Preferably, the first and second portions 12, 13 are built into, made integral with, and/or permanently connected to each other. That said, as discussed further below, the first and second portions 12, 13 may be releasably connected via one or more releasable connection means, such as, but not limited to, hinges, pin-receptacle combinations, latches, etc.

As best seen in FIGS. 1A and 1D, the buttress element 14 operates to prevent movement of the tie 2 and/or to prevent the knot 4 from loosening, and one or more portions of the knot 4 and/or the tie 2 may rest in the buttress element 14. Preferably, the one or more portions of the knot 4 and/or the tie 2 are disposed in the zone of space located between the first and second portions 14a, 14b of the buttress element 14. The buttress element 14 is preferably U or V shaped or substantially U or V shaped (e.g., the first and second portions 14a, 14b are connected to each other and oriented such that the first and second portions 14a, 14b define and form the U or V shape or substantial U or V shape). Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the structure and orientation of the first and second portions 14a, 14b with respect to each other may be modified in various ways while providing the same benefits described herein. Preferably, the buttress element 14 is connected to the body or flex frame 11, and extends from the body or flex frame 11 along an axis that is a different axis than the longitudinal axis, L, of the body or flex frame 11. Preferably, the buttress element 14 is perpendicular, transverse, substantially perpendicular and/or substantially transverse to the body or flex frame 11. Alternatively, the buttress element 14 may extend from the body or flex frame 11 at any other predetermined, preselected angle (e.g., 45 degrees, 60 degrees, 30 degrees, in the range of 20-85 degrees, in the range of 0-85 degrees, etc.). Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the structure and orientation of the body or flex frame 11 and the buttress element 14 with respect to each other may be modified in various ways while providing the same benefits described herein. The buttress element 14 may include one or more elevations and depressions (e.g., one or more protrusions, one or more hooks, one or more convex contours and/or one or more concave contours, etc.) to better grip the tie 2. As best seen in FIGS. 1B-1C, the first portion 14a of the buttress element may include a curved portion such that the first portion 14a extends from the second portion 14b a predetermined distance and then curves such that the remaining section of the first portion 14a is parallel or substantially parallel to the second portion 14b of the buttress element 14. Preferably, the buttress element 14 is built into, made integral with, and/or permanently connected to the body or flex frame 11. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the buttress element 14 may be connected to the body or flex frame 11 using any methods known to those skilled in the art, such as, but not limited to, gluing, welding, press-fitting, riveting, bonding, fusing, adhering, molding, clamping, screwing, latching, friction-fitting, etc. Additionally or alternatively, in one or more embodiments (see e.g., FIGS. 3A and 3B and discussion below), the buttress element 14 may be releasably connectable to the body or flex frame 11 so that the buttress element 14 and the body or flex frame 11 may be connected for use and then disconnected after use, during manufacturing, for storage, shipment, and/or for any other suitable scenario. For example, the buttress element 14 may include a clip or clasp 19 (best seen in FIGS. 3A-3B) or other connecting means connected to, and extending from, the base of the buttress element 14 (e.g., the base of the second portion 14b of the buttress element 14), the clip or other connecting means operating to releasably connect the buttress element 14 to the body or flex frame 11. In one or more other embodiments, one or more clips or clasps 19 may be connected to the base of the second portion 14b and/or the first portion 14a of the buttress element 14. Preferably, the first and second portions 14a, 14b have the same width, height and length. In one or more embodiments, at least one of the width, height and length of the first and second portions 14a, 14b may be different.

The other embodiments of the tie securing, anchoring and/or supporting apparatuses or devices 20, 30, 40, 80, etc. as discussed herein may include the same or similar elements as those included in the apparatus or device 10 discussed above. Indeed, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the elements (e.g., the body or flex frame 11; the first and second portions 12, 13 of the body or flex frame 11; the first and second surfaces 12a, 12b, 13a, 13b of the first and second portions of the body or flex frame 11; the first ends 12d, 13d of the first and second portions 12, 13 of the body or flex frame 11; the second ends 12c, 13c of the first and second portions 12, 13 of the body or flex frame 11; the buttress element 14; the first and second portions 14a, 14b of the buttress element 14; the longitudinal axis, L, of the body or flex frame 11; the hinge 15 of the body or flex frame 11; the pin 18 and receptacles 16, 17a, 17b of the body or flex frame 11; the clip or clasp 19 of the buttress element 14; the cinch mechanisms 31, etc.) of the apparatuses or devices 20, 30, 40, 80, etc. or any other tie securing, anchoring or supporting apparatuses or devices discussed herein may operate in the same or similar fashion to those like-numbered elements of the apparatus or device 10 as discussed above or any additional like-numbered elements discussed further herein below. For example, FIGS. 4A-8 as discussed further below may also show one or more of the same or similar like-numbered elements as already discussed above for the apparatus or device 10. Indeed, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the aforementioned discussions and teachings regarding such elements apply to the additional embodiments, such as, but not limited to the apparatuses or devices 20, 30, 40, 80, etc. as discussed further below. As such, the subject teachings regarding the like-numbered elements are not repeated herein below.

As aforementioned, the first and second portions 12, 13 may be releasably connected via one or more releasable connection means, such as, but not limited to, one or more hinges, one or more pin-receptacle combinations, one or more latches, one or more latch-catch combinations, etc. As best seen in FIGS. 2A-2B, in an alternative embodiment of the tie securing, anchoring and/or supporting device or apparatus 10, the first and second portions 12, 13 may be connected at first respective ends 12d, 13d thereof by a hinge 15 of the body or flex frame 11, and may be releasably connected/disconnected from each other at the second respective ends 12c, 13c thereof by a pin-receptacle combination. For example, the second portion 13 of the body or flex frame 11 may include one or more receptacles 17a, 17b, and the first portion 12 of the body or flex frame 11 may include a receptacle 16 such that, when all of the receptacles 16, 17a, 17b are aligned (e.g., the receptacle 16 is located between the receptacles 17a, 17b such that the holes therein are aligned; the holes of the receptacles 16, 17a, 17b are co-linear; etc.), a pin 18 may be disposed in the receptacles 16, 17a, 17b and through the holes thereof to releasably connect the second ends 12c, 13c of the first and second portions 12, 13 together (as best seen in FIG. 2B). When the user 1 desires to disconnect the second ends 12c, 13c (as best seen in FIG. 2A), the user 1 may remove the pin 18 from the receptacles 16, 17a, 17b. Preferably, the pin 18 mates with the receptacles 16, 17a, 17b to prevent piercing/injury to the user 1. While FIG. 2A shows the pin 18 entering the receptacles 16, 17a, 17b in the direction of the shown arrow (by first entering the receptacle 17a), the pin 18 may alternatively enter the receptacles 16, 17a, 17b from the opposite end (by first entering the receptacle 17b).

As also discussed above, the buttress element 14 may be releasably connected to the body or flex frame 11 via one or more releasable connection means, such as, but not limited to, a clip, a clasp, a screw, a hook, etc. As best seen in FIGS. 3A-3B (showing the body or flex frame 11 in an open or closed orientation, configuration and/or position while being disconnected from the buttress element 14), in an embodiment of the tie securing, anchoring and/or supporting device or apparatus 10 alternative to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2A-2B, the buttress element 14 may further include at least one clasp or clip 19 that operates to releasably connect the buttress element 14 to the body or flex frame 11. As such, the user 1 of the apparatus or device 10 may decide to position either the buttress element 14 or the body or flex frame 11 on the tie 2 first before connecting the buttress element 14 and the body or flex frame 11 together. Depending on the type of tie being used with the apparatus or device 10 and/or depending on the preference(s) of the user 1, the user 1 may decide whether it may be easier for the user 1 to install the buttress element 14 on the tie (such as the tie 2) first, or whether it may be easier for the user 1 to install the body or flex frame 11 on the tie (such as the tie 2) first.

Additionally or alternatively, the apparatus or device 10 may include a magnet to magnet combination that further anchors the portion of the knot 4 and/or the tie 2. For example, the first and second portions 12, 13 of the body or flex frame 11 may include material that is attracted to each other via magnetic force(s). By way of another example, in at least one embodiment, a first magnet may be disposed on, or connected to, the buttress element 14, and a second magnet may be disposed such that one or more portions of the tie 2 (preferably the short end 3 of the tie 2) are located between the magnets. The magnets may be used instead of a clip and/or a pin, or may be used in addition to a clip and/or a pin. The first magnet may be built into, made integral with, and/or permanently connected to the buttress element 14, or may be connected to the buttress element 14 using fusing, gluing, bonding, press-fit, welded, etc.

As shown in FIGS. 4A-4D, a magnet to magnet combination may even be used by itself as an alternative way to releasably connect the first and second portions 12, 13 of the body or flex frame 11 together. As beset seen in FIGS. 4A-4B, the first and second portions 12, 13 of the body or flex frame 11 may include one or more materials that are attracted to each other, e.g., via magnetic forces, such as, but not limited to, magnets, at least one magnet and at least one magnetic metal (e.g., metals that are attracted to magnets; metal(s) that may operate as magnets; etc.). As best seen in FIG. 4A, at least one of or both of the first and second portions 12, 13 of the body or flex frame 11 may retain the aforementioned resilient flexibility and spring-like bias when including such magnet(s) and/or such metal(s). As shown in the apparatus or device 20 of FIGS. 4A-4B, the first ends 12d, 13d of the first and second portions 12, 13 of the body or flex frame 11 may be connected via the hinge or other similar connecting element 15. The second ends 12c, 13c of the first and second portions 12, 13 of the body or flex frame 11 may be connected (e.g., directly (as best seen in FIG. 4C) and/or indirectly (e.g., through the tie 2, the portion 3 of the tie 2, another portion of the tie 2, etc. —see e.g., FIG. 4D where the magnetic force(s) may connect the first and second portions 12, 13 indirectly through the portion 3 of the tie 2 and/or may permit the first and second portions 12, 13 to be connected directly at at least respective portions thereof) by the attractive force(s) of the magnet(s) and/or the metal(s) included in the first and second portions 12, 13 of the body or flex frame 11. The magnetic force(s) is/are sufficient such that the first and second portions 12, 13 of the body or flex frame 11 may be spaced away from each other for a predetermined distance (e.g., the thickness of the portion 3 of the tie 2 resting therebetween; a distance preselected by the user 1; a distance preselected by a manufacturer of the apparatus 20; etc.), and may not separate from each other without assistance from the user 1 applying force(s) to the first and second portions 12, 13 to separate them when desired. As such, while the apparatus or device 20 of FIGS. 4A-4B may not include the pin 18 and receptacle (e.g., using the receptacles 16, 17a, 17b) arrangement, the apparatus or device 20 may include the pin 18 and receptacle (e.g., using the receptacles 16, 17a, 17b) arrangement if the user 1 desires additional locking capabilities for the device 20.

Additionally or alternatively, a tie anchoring, securing and/or supporting apparatus or device may include a cinch mechanism that further anchors the tie 2. While the cinch mechanisms discussed herein may be used with a flex frame, preferably, in one or more embodiments, the one or more cinch mechanisms are employed as the body of the devices or apparatuses as an alternative to the aforementioned flex frame(s) 11 to anchor the tie 2 (as best seen in FIG. 5A). As shown in FIGS. 5A-5D, at least one embodiment of the tie securing, anchoring and/or supporting apparatus or device 30 includes a cinch mechanism 31 instead of the aforementioned flex frame(s) 11. The cinch mechanism 31 (also referred to as a body of the apparatus 30) may be attached to the buttress element 14 (and the first and second portions 14a, 14b of the buttress element 14) in the same or similar fashion as described above for the body or flex frame 11. As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the cinch mechanism 31 and the buttress element 14 may be connected to each other using any methods known to those skilled in the art, such as, but not limited to, gluing, welding, press-fitting, riveting, bonding, fusing, adhering, molding, clamping, screwing, latching, friction-fitting, etc. Additionally or alternatively, in one or more embodiments, the buttress element 14 may be releasably connectable to the cinch mechanism 31 so that the buttress element 14 and the cinch mechanism 31 may be connected for use and then disconnected after use, during manufacturing, for storage, shipment, and/or for any other suitable scenario. Preferably, the buttress element 14 and the cinch mechanism 31 are built into, made integral with, and/or permanently connected to each other. Preferably, the cinch mechanism 31 includes a spring 39 (best seen in FIG. 5B), and the cinch mechanism 31 has at least two positions (i.e., a locked or closed position (e.g., where at least two holes (see e.g., holes 41a, 41b as discussed below) of the cinch mechanism 31 are misaligned) and an unlocked or open position (e.g., where the at least two holes (see e.g., holes 41a, 41b as discussed below) of the cinch mechanism 31 are aligned) as best seen in FIGS. 5B-5C. For example, the cinch mechanism 31 may further include a button/actuation element 35 having a hole 41a in a portion thereof and at least one hole 41b in at least one surface or wall of the cinch mechanism 31 such that when the holes 41a, 41b are aligned (as best seen in FIG. 5C), the spring 39 is compressed and the cinch mechanism 31 is, therefore, in an open or unlocked position, thereby allowing the portion 3 of the tie 2 to run through the holes 41a, 41b (best seen in FIG. 5A) and/or to be removed from the holes 41a, 41b (e.g., after use). In at least one embodiment of the cinch mechanism 31, the user 1 may push the button or actuation element 35 to align the holes 41a, 41b to insert and/or remove the tie 2 therefrom (see e.g., FIG. 5C). When the user 1 wishes to have the cinch mechanism 31 clamp, hold, grip, etc. a portion of the tie 2 (e.g., the portion 3 of the tie 2), the user 1 may simply release the button or actuation element 35, and the spring 39 will force the holes 41a, 41b to become misaligned (see e.g., FIG. 5B). In an alternative embodiment, the button or actuation element 35 and the spring 39 arrangement may be designed such that the button or actuation element 35 may be pushed to compress the spring 39, and then pushed again to decompress the spring 39. For example, when the desired portion of the tie 2 (such as the portion 3 of the tie 2) is positioned properly (e.g., in a predetermined location) in the cinch mechanism 31, the user 1 may push the button 35 to decompress the spring 39 such that the at least two holes 41a, 41b become misaligned (as best seen in FIG. 5B) such that the cinch mechanism 31 is, therefore, in a closed or locked position, thereby anchoring, securing and/or supporting a portion (e.g., the portion 3) of the tie 2 therein (as best seen in FIGS. 5A and 5D). Alternatively, depending on the positioning of the hole 41a on the button/actuation element 35, the locked or closed position may occur when the spring 39 is compressed, and the unlocked or open position may occur when the spring 39 is decompressed. The cinch mechanism 31 may anchor, secure and/or support a portion (e.g., the portion 3) of the tie 2 therein regardless of whether the buttress element 14 is attached to a portion of the tie 2 and/or the knot 4 of the tie 2. The button 35 may extend through a first wall or surface 32 (e.g., a front wall or surface of the cinch mechanism 31; the wall or surface of the cinch mechanism 31 that faces away from the user 1; a wall or surface of the cinch mechanism 31 that is located between the larger, front portion of the tie 2 and the smaller, back portion (such as the portion 3) of the tie 2; etc.). The spring 39 may extend from an inside surface (e.g., the inside surface of the back wall 33) of the cinch mechanism 31.

The button 35 (e.g., alone, in combination with other components of the cinch mechanism 31, etc.) and/or any other actuating member or component may operate to compress and lock the spring 39 in the locked, closed configuration of the cinch mechanism 31 as aforementioned. Indeed, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the structure and orientation of the spring 39 and the button 35 with relation to the body of the cinch mechanism 31 discussed herein may be modified in various ways while providing the benefits described herein. For example, as best seen in the cross-sectional views of FIGS. 6A-6B (taken along lines 6A-6A and 6B-6B of FIGS. 5B-5C, respectively), at least one embodiment of the cinch mechanism 31 may further include a second spring 61 and latch 62 mechanism that slides out (e.g., via the force provided by the spring 61) to lock the spring 39 in the locked configuration of the cinch mechanism 31 and slides inwards (e.g., when a portion of the button 35 and/or any other actuation member being used for the cinch mechanism 31 slides down along a curved, sloped, tapered, etc. surface of the latch 62, thereby pushing and sliding the latch 62 away from the spring 39; when a latch-catch mechanism holding the spring 61 and latch 62 mechanism in the locked position (and/or a decompressed position for the spring 61) is released, etc.) and thereby compressing the spring 61 a predetermined distance to allow the spring 39 to decompress and push the button 35 towards and into the unlocked, open configuration of the cinch mechanism 31. Preferably, while not a requirement for the cinch mechanism 31, at least a portion of the button 35 extends between, and is guided by, tracks, rails or guideposts 35a, 35b, and at least a portion of the spring 61 and latch 62 mechanism is guided by, and extends between, tracks, rails or guideposts 63, 64 (best seen in FIGS. 6A-6B). The cinch mechanism 31 may be used instead of the magnets, clip, and/or pin elements discussed above.

Additionally or alternatively, the buttress element 14 may be integrated with the cinch mechanism 31 such that the cinch mechanism 31 may not require the button 35 but may instead use at least one portion (e.g., the portion 14a, the portion 14b, etc.) of the buttress element 14 to actuate, and compress and/or decompress, the spring 39, thereby controlling the locking and unlocking of the cinch mechanism 31. For example, as shown in FIGS. 7A-7B, at least one embodiment of the apparatus or device 40 may include a cinch mechanism 31 where the hole 41 a is positioned on, and extends through, a surface or wall (e.g., the back surface or wall 33) of the cinch mechanism 31 and the hole 41b is positioned, and extends through, another surface or wall (e.g., the front surface or wall 32, a top surface or wall, a bottom surface or wall, etc.) of the cinch mechanism 31. At least one portion (e.g., the portion 14a as shown in FIGS. 7A-7B; the portion 14b; etc.) of the buttress element 14 may be attached to, and extend into, the body of the cinch mechanism 31, and may include a third hole 41c on at least a section of the portion (e.g., the portion 14a as shown in FIGS. 7A-7B; the portion 14b; etc.) of the buttress element 14. The spring 39 may be located between the portion (e.g., the portion 14a as shown in FIGS. 7A-7B; the portion 14b; etc.) of the buttress element 14 and a surface or wall (e.g., the bottom surface or wall 34 as shown in FIGS. 7A-7B) of the cinch mechanism 31 such that the at least one portion (e.g., the portion 14a as shown in FIGS. 7A-7B; the portion 14b; etc.) of the buttress element 14 may operate to compress and/or decompress the spring 39. Thus, when all three holes 41a, 41b, 41c are aligned (as best seen in FIG. 7B), the spring 39 is compressed and the cinch mechanism 31 is, therefore, in an open or unlocked position, thereby allowing the portion 3 of the tie 2 to run through, and/or be disposed in, the holes 41a, 41b, 41c and/or to be removed from the holes 41a, 41b, 14c (e.g., after use). When the desired portion of the tie 2 (such as the portion 3 of the tie 2) is positioned properly (e.g., in a predetermined location) in the cinch mechanism 31, the user 1 may release or push the at least one portion (e.g., the portion 14a as shown in FIGS. 7A-7B; the portion 14b; etc.) of the buttress element 14 to decompress the spring 39 such that the spring 39 causes the third hole 41c to misalign from at least one of the first and second holes 41a, 41b (as best seen in FIG. 7A). As a result, the cinch mechanism 31 is in a closed or locked position, thereby anchoring, securing and/or supporting a portion (e.g., the portion 3) of the tie 2 therein. Alternatively, depending on the positioning of the hole 41c on the at least one portion (e.g., the portion 14a as shown in FIGS. 7A-7B; the portion 14b; etc.) of the buttress element 14, the locked or closed position of the cinch mechanism 31 may occur when the spring 39 is compressed (e.g., the spring 39 is locked in a compressed position), and the unlocked or open position may occur when the spring 39 is decompressed. For example, the at least one portion of the buttress element 14 (e.g., the portion 14a of the buttress element 14 that is disposed in the knot 4 of the tie 2, the portion 14b, etc.) may be moved towards, and/or further into, the cinch mechanism 31 of the apparatus or device 40 (e.g., the spring 39 is compressed) to align/misalign the three holes 41a, 41b, 41c or, in one or more other embodiments, may be moved away from the cinch mechanism 31 (e.g., by using the force of the spring 39; by the user 1 pulling on the at least one portion of the buttress element 14; etc.) of the apparatus or device 40 to align the three holes 41a, 41b, 41c, depending on the location of the third hole 41c of the at least one portion (e.g., the portion 14a as shown in FIGS. 7A-7B; the portion 14b; etc.) of the buttress element 14.

Additionally or alternatively, the cinch mechanism 31 may be of any geometric shape or cross-sectional geometric shape while still possessing the structural attributes and features discussed herein. For example, as best seen in FIG. 8, a tie securing, anchoring and/or supporting apparatus or device 80 may include the buttress element 14 attached to the cinch mechanism 31, where the cinch mechanism 31 has a triangular cross-sectional shape. In such an embodiment, the first and second holes 41a, 41b may be disposed on and in communication with surfaces 33, 32, respectively, as shown. Alternatively, the surface 33 could be oriented to be parallel to surface 32 such that the cinch mechanism has a parallelogram-shaped or other geometric-shaped cross-section (e.g., the surface 33 starts a predetermined distance from where the portion 14b enters the cinch mechanism 31 and extends parallel or substantially parallel to the surface 32 and towards the bottom surface or wall (e.g., the surface from which the spring 39 extends, the wall from which the spring 39 extends, the surface or wall from which the stand or angled surface 82 extends, etc.) of the cinch mechanism 31 such that the bottom surface or wall of the cinch mechanism 31 against which the spring 39 is disposed directly or indirectly (e.g., a stand or angled surface 82 may be provided such that the spring 39 extends between the stand or angled surface 82 and the portion of the buttress element 14 (e.g., the portion 14a as shown in FIGS. 7A-7B; the portion 14b; etc.) as best seen in FIG. 8), and extends therefrom, is shorter than as shown in FIG. 8; the cinch mechanism 31 is sized and shaped such that the body thereof operates to guide the portion 14b and/or the spring 39 therein; the spring 39 and the portion 14b of the buttress element 14 could extend through the body of the cinch mechanism 31 where the surfaces 32 and 33 would operate to guide the spring 39 and/or the portion 14b of the buttress element 14 therein; etc.). In one or more other embodiments, the holes 41a, 41b may be located on one or more other surfaces of the cinch mechanism 31 while still operating with the structural attributes and features as discussed herein. Indeed, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the structure and orientation of the first and second portions holes 41a, 41b with respect to each other may be modified in various ways while providing the same benefits described herein. At least one portion (e.g., the portion 14b, the portion 14a, etc.) of the buttress element 14 may operate to actuate the spring 39 by sliding in and out of the cinch mechanism 31 along an axis, L1, or along an axis that is substantially parallel or parallel to the axis, L1 (as shown in FIG. 8). A portion (e.g., the second portion 14b, the first portion 14a, etc.) of the buttress element 14 may include the third hole 41c thereon such that the portion (e.g., the second portion 14b, the first portion 14a, etc.) of the buttress element 14 operates in combination with the spring 39 to lock and close, and/or unlock and open, the cinch mechanism 31 for the user 1 to dispose the tie 2 therein and/or remove the tie 2 therefrom. The apparatus or device 80 may include one or more other actuation mechanisms as discussed herein, including, but not limited to, the spring 61 and latch 62 mechanism. Indeed, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the structure and orientation of the cinch mechanism 31 may be modified to include any actuation mechanisms known to those skilled in the art, such as, but not limited to, a latch-catch mechanism, a lock-unlock mechanism, a compression-decompression mechanism, etc. while providing the cinch mechanism 31 with the same or similar benefits, features and/or structural attributes described herein.

The one or more embodiments of the apparatuses or devices 10, 20, 30, 40, 80, etc. may include a pin (e.g., the pin 18 as discussed above, or an additional pin extending from the apparatuses or devices 10, 20, 30, 40, 80, etc.) that further secures the tie 2 (or portion (e.g., the portion 3) thereof). Preferably, the pin (e.g., the pin 18 as discussed above, or an additional pin extending from the apparatuses or devices 10, 20, 30, 40, 80, etc.) mates with a pin receptacle (e.g., the pin receptacles 16, 17a, 17b, or additional receptacles added to correspond to the additional pin extending from the apparatuses or devices 10, 20, 30, 40, 80, etc.) to prevent piercing/injury. The apparatuses or devices 10, 20, 30, 40, 80, etc. may use the pin (e.g., the pin 18 as discussed above, or an additional pin extending from the apparatuses or devices 10, 20, 30, 40, 80, etc.) and pin receptacle (e.g., the pin receptacles 16, 17a, 17b, or additional receptacles added to correspond to the additional pin extending from the apparatuses or devices 10, 20, 30, 40, 80, etc.) instead of a clip to achieve the desired supporting, anchoring and/or securing functionality. Preferably, the pin (e.g., the pin 18 as discussed above, or an additional pin extending from the apparatuses or devices 10, 20, 30, 40, 80, etc.) is disposed perpendicularly, transversely, substantially perpendicularly and/or substantially transversely to at least one of the buttress element 14, the body or flex frame 11 and the cinch mechanism 31. The pin (e.g., the pin 18 as discussed above, or an additional pin extending from the apparatuses or devices 10, 20, 30, 40, 80, etc.) may also be disposed along an axis that is different from at least one of: the longitudinal axis, L, of the body or flex frame 11, from a longitudinal axis of the buttress element 14, and/or from a longitudinal axis of the cinch mechanism 31. The pin (e.g., the pin 18 as discussed above, or an additional pin extending from the apparatuses or devices 10, 20, 30, 40, 80, etc.) may be oriented towards the user 1 or away from the user 1 such that the pin receptacle (e.g., the pin receptacles 16, 17a, 17b, or additional receptacles added to correspond to the additional pin extending from the apparatuses or devices 10, 20, 30, 40, 80, etc.) may be placed at least one of: under one or more portions (e.g., the portion 3 of the tie, the knot 4 of the tie, another portion of the tie 2, etc.) of the tie 2 of the user 1, under or through a shirt of the user 1, and on top of the tie 2 of the user 1. Preferably, the pin receptacle (e.g., the pin receptacles 16, 17a, 17b, or additional receptacles added to correspond to the additional pin extending from the apparatuses or devices 10, 20, 30, 40, 80, etc.) is hidden from view.

One or more components (e.g., the body or flex frame 11, the buttress element 14, any other components further discussed below, etc.) of the one or more embodiments of the tie securing, anchoring and/or supporting devices discussed herein (e.g., apparatuses or devices 10, 20, 30, 40, 80, etc.) may be made of inexpensive and/or lightweight components or materials, such as, but not limited to, one or more of the following: plastic, clear plastic, polyurethane polymer, foam, polymer foam, balsa wood, wood, rubber, hard rubber, cork, a soft material, a material that operates to be inflated with air, textile material, polymer, thermoplastic polyurethane polymer, cloth fabric, vinyl, leather, suede, synthetics, a substantially resilient material, a hard or rigid material, metal, magnetic material, polytetrafluoroethylene, carbon fiber, and fiber.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the structure and orientation of the buttress element 14 with relation to the body or flex frame(s) 11 and/or the cinch mechanism(s) 31 discussed herein may be modified in various ways while providing the benefits described herein. For example, the buttress element 14 may extend: (i) from one or more other surfaces or walls of the body or flex frame(s) 11 and/or the cinch mechanism(s) 31; and/or (ii) at one or more different angles in relation to the body or flex frame(s) 11 and/or the cinch mechanism(s) 31, and the buttress element 14 may be sized and shaped to have different geometric shapes, such as, but not limited to, substantially circular, circular, substantially semi-circular, semi-circular, ovular, semi-ovular, point or pointed (e.g., conical or substantially conical in shape), post-shaped, pillar-shaped, bar-shaped, spring-shaped, coil-shaped, etc., as further discussed herein.

Additionally or alternatively, one or more components of the apparatuses or devices 10, 20, 30, 40, 80, etc. (e.g., the buttress element 14; the portions 14a, 14b of the buttress element 14; the body or flex frame 11; the portions 12, 13 of the body or flex frame 11; the one or more surfaces 32, 33, 34, etc. of the cinch mechanism 31; the cinch mechanism 31; etc) may include one or more contours, tapers, slopes, chamfered surfaces or other shapes therein and/or thereon while still maintaining the one or more structural attributes provided by such apparatuses or devices 10, 20, 30, 40, 80, etc. as described above. For example, depending on the type of tie being used by the user 1, the portion 14a of the buttress element 14 may be sized and shaped differently than the portion 14b of the buttress element 14. By way of another example, the portions 12, 13 of the body or flex frame 11 may have different sizes, shapes, contours, slopes, tapers, etc. as desired.

One or more features, elements, aspects, etc. of the device(s)/invention(s) (such as, but not limited to, the tie securing, anchoring and/or supporting apparatuses or devices 10, 20, 30, 40, 80, etc.) as discussed herein may be employed when practicing the method(s) of using the invention. For example, a method of using an apparatus or device (e.g., apparatus or device 10, 20, etc.) having a flex frame 11 includes at least the steps of: (i) applying a force to a body or flex frame 11 of the apparatus or device (e.g., apparatus or device 10, 20, etc.) to open, or expand a hole of, the body or flex frame 11 a predetermined amount such that a portion (e.g., the portion 3) of the tie 2 may be disposed into the body or flex frame 11 and/or the hole thereof; and (ii) releasing or removing the force placed on the body or flex frame 11 of the apparatus or device (e.g., apparatus or device 10, 20, etc.) such that the resilient elasticity and/or the spring-like bias of the body or flex frame 11 and/or the portions 12, 13 of the body or flex frame 11 (which are springingly biased towards each other) operate to close, or narrow the hole of, the body or flex frame 11, thereby anchoring, securing, locking and/or supporting the portion (e.g., the portion 3) of the tie 2 in a predetermined, pre-selected position, orientation and/or configuration.

In one or more additional methods of using a tie securing, anchoring and/or supporting apparatus or device (e.g., apparatus or device 10, 20, 30, 40, 80, etc.), the one or more additional methods may include the steps of: (i) opening the body or flex frame 11 by separating at least two portions 12, 13 of the body or flex frame 11; (ii) disposing a portion (e.g., the portion 3) of the tie 2 into and/or onto the body or flex frame 11 or removing the portion (e.g., the portion 3) of the tie 2 from the body or flex frame 11; and (iii) closing the at least two portions 12, 13 of the body or flex frame 11, wherein the at least two portions 12, 13 of the body or flex frame 11 are closed by at least one of: (i) a pin and receptacle arrangement; and (ii) one or more magnetic forces drawing the at least two portions 12, 13 together.

In one or more additional methods of using a tie securing, anchoring and/or supporting apparatus or device (e.g., apparatus or device 30, 40, 80, etc.) using the cinch mechanism(s) 31 as discussed herein, the one or more additional methods may include the steps of: (i) aligning at least two holes 41a, 41b to unlock and open the cinch mechanism 31; (ii) disposing a portion (e.g., the portion 3) of the tie 2 into and/or through the at least two holes 41a, 41b of the cinch mechanism 31 or removing the portion (e.g., the portion 3) of the tie 2 from the at least two holes 41a, 41b of the cinch mechanism 31; and (iii) misaligning the at least two holes 41a, 41b of the cinch mechanism 31 to lock and close the cinch mechanism 31. The cinch mechanism 31 may include at least a third hole 41c which operates to open and unlock the cinch mechanism 31 when aligned with the at least two holes 41a, 41b and to close and lock the cinch mechanism 31 when misaligned with at least one of the at least two holes 41a, 41b. The one or more additional methods may further include using at least one of a button-spring arrangement and an actuator-spring arrangement (e.g., where one or more portions (e.g., the portion 14a, the portion 14b, etc.) of the buttress element 14 operate as the actuator) to align and misalign the at least two or three holes 41a, 41b, 41c.

Although the invention herein has been described with reference to particular embodiments, it is to be understood that these embodiments are merely illustrative of the principles and applications of the present invention. It is therefore to be understood that numerous modifications may be made to the illustrative embodiments and that other arrangements may be devised without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.