ZIPPER TIE WITH RELEASABLE FASTENER

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/161,311, filed May 14, 2015 entitled ZIPPER TIE WITH RELEASABLE FASTENER, the entire content of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Disclosure

The present invention relates to a necktie that includes a zipper for adjusting a neck loop thereof and a fastener to releasably secure the neck loop around a user's neck.

2. Related Art

Neckties have been used and worn for many years. Traditionally, a necktie is a single strip of fabric that is wrapped around a user's neck, or more specifically, the collar of a user's shirt. Conventionally, a knot is formed in the strip of fabric at a front of the user's neck to define a loop that fits around the user's neck. A front tail end extends downward from the knot and a rear tail end extends downward from the knot behind the front tail end. The front tail end is typically wider and often longer than the rear tail end and is intended to face outward to be visible to others. The rear tail end is typically hidden behind the front tail end and is adjustable in length relative thereto via the knot to change the size of the loop that goes around the user's neck. Tying such a knot, however, is somewhat time consuming and can be difficult to master. Further, these neckties may be a safety hazard in that they are wrapped and secured around the user's neck and could choke the user.

Alternative neckties exist in which the loop is pre-formed such that the user need not actually tie a knot. In general, such neckties include a loop connected to a knot shaped structure at the front of the user's neck with the front tail end and rear tail end of the tie connected thereto. In these alternative neckties, the knot is essentially decorative and is not used to adjust the size of the loop. Typically, the size of the loop is adjustable to some extent using an adjustment mechanism positioned on the loop itself. Typically, a fastener element is provided on the loop to open and close the loop to allow the necktie to be easily put on and taken off. While these ties are easy to put on and take off, the size of the loop is limited and cannot be adjusted over a wide range such that several different sizes of the necktie must be made.

Other neckties exist in which the loop is formed by a zipper assembly. These zipper neckties typically provide a zipper assembly that is opened and closed to adjust the loop size. The zipper portion typically sits behind the front tail end and a knot shaped structure. While these zipper neckties allow for relatively easy adjustment of the loop size over a relatively wide range of sizes, they may be difficult to take off and may pose a safety hazard since they wrap around the users neck and may not be easily released.

Accordingly, it would be beneficial to provide a necktie that avoids these and other problems.

SUMMARY

It is an object of the present invention to provide a necktie that includes a zipper element to provide for adjustment of the loop that encircles the user's neck and a fastener to releasably secure the loop around the user's neck.

A necktie in accordance with an embodiment of the present application includes a knot element, a front tail element connected to the knot element and extending downward therefrom and a zipper element, movable relative the knot element and front tie element. The zipper element includes a first side, a second side, a fastener releasable connecting the first side and the second side at a top end thereof with a lower portion of the first side and a lower portion of the second side separated from each other to form a loop; and a bottom end at which the first side and second side are permanently joined and forming a bottom tail element positioned behind the front tail element, such that movement of the zipper element relative to the knot element changes a size of the loop.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of the invention which refers to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a front view of a necktie in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates the necktie of FIG. 1 with the loop thereof set at a different size.

FIG. 3 is a rear view of the necktie in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a more detailed view of the front of a necktie in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4A is detailed rear view of a portion of the zipper element of the necktie of FIG. 4.

FIG. 4B is a detailed side view of a portion of the zipper element of the necktie of FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

A front view of an embodiment of a necktie 10 in accordance with the present disclosure is illustrated in FIGS. 1-2, for example. The necktie 10 preferably includes a zipper element 12 (see FIG. 2, for example) with a knot element 18 provided generally in front of the zipper element. A front tail portion 19 extends downward from the knot element 18 generally in front of the zipper element 12. The knot element 18 and front tail portion 19 are preferably shaped to have the appearance of a conventional necktie. The knot element 18 and the front tail portion 19 are preferably secured to each other and remain in place relative to each other. That is, the front tail portion 19 is generally not adjustable relative to the knot element 18. The zipper element 12 is adjustable, or movable, relative to both the knot element 18 and the front tail portion 19.

The zipper element 12 includes a slider 14 (see FIG. 3, for example) and a set of teeth 16. Specifically, the teeth 16 include a first set of teeth 16a positioned on a first side 12a of the zipper element 12 and a second set of teeth 16b positioned on a second side 12b of the zipper element 12. The two sides 12a, 12b of the zipper element 12 are joined permanently at a bottom B thereof. The slider 14 joins and separates the two sets of teeth 16a, 16b along the length of the zipper element 12 to close and open the zipper element 12. The open portion of the zipper element 12 forms the loop L of the necktie 10. FIG. 1 illustrates the necktie 10 with a relatively large loop L. As can be seen in FIG. 1, in this case, the bottom end B of the zipper element 12 is positioned close to the knot element 16.

To reduce the size of the loop L, the user pulls down on the bottom end B of the zipper element 12 as indicated by the arrow in FIG. 2. The bottom end B of the zipper element 12 corresponds to the rear tail end of a conventional necktie in appearance generally. This results in joining of the teeth 16a, 16b along an increased portion of the zipper element 12 to reduce the size of the loop L, as can be seen in FIG. 2. Similarly, pulling up on the loop part L will increase the size of the loop and move the bottom end B of the zipper element 12 closer to the knot element 18.

In a preferred embodiment, a support element 20 is mounted in and behind the knot element 18. More specifically, the support element 20 is mounted under an outer fabric layer 18a of the knot element 10 and provides support therefore (See FIG. 4, for example). In an embodiment, the fabric layer 18a may be an end of the front tail portion 19 that is wrapped around the support 20 to provide an appearance similar to the knot of a conventional tie. An exemplary embodiment of the support element 20 is illustrated in FIG. 4 with the outer layer 18a of the knot element 18 shifted so that the support element is visible. The support element 20 is preferably secured to the slider 14 with a pin or other securing element 22 and to the front tail portion 19 such that the slider, support element and front tail portion are generally not movable relative to each other. Any suitable securing element 22 may be used. The support element 20 holds the slider 14 in place as the teeth 16 move through the slider. Accordingly, the size of the loop L of the necktie 10 is adjusted by pulling upward or downward on the zipper element 12 to move the teeth 16 through the stationary slider 14.

In addition, the loop L includes a fastener 30 that may be used to open and close the loop to easily remove the necktie 10 from the user's neck. The fastener 30 may be used to open and close the loop L regardless of the size of the loop. In a preferred embodiment, the fastener 30 is a hook and loop type fastener. A hook and loop type fastener 30 provides for increased safety since these fasteners are easily released to minimize the possibility that a user will be choked by the necktie 10. That is, the fastener 30 will release when a relatively small force is applied. While a hook and loop type fastener is preferred, any suitable releasable fastener may be used, for example, an adhesive. The fastener 30 releasably joins the first and second sides 12a, 12b of the zipper element 12 at a top thereof. This fastener 30 releases the connection between the first and second sides 12a, 12 upon application of sufficient force. In this context, the fastener 30 is used to prevent accidental choking or other injury to the user in the event that the necktie gets caught in machinery or otherwise pulls on the neck of the user. Accordingly, the fastener 30 is preferably provided such that it will release when a relatively small force is applied, for example, a force no larger than that which can be exerted by a child yanking on the necktie 10.

The necktie 10 allows for easy adjustment of the loop L to accommodate a relatively broad range of neck sizes and easy release of the loop from the user's neck to provide additional safety. These additional safety features are particularly important when the user of the tie is a child.

Although the present invention has been described in relation to particular embodiments thereof, many other variations and modifications and other uses will become apparent to those skilled in the art.