WEAR PROTECTION WITH PROFILE FOR A COLLAR TIP

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of International Application No. PCT/EP2021/025261, filed on Jul. 14, 2021, which takes priority from German Patent Applications Nos. 10 2020 004 999.0, filed on Aug. 17, 2020, and 10 2020 007 469.3, filed Dec. 8, 2020, the contents of each of which are incorporated by reference herein.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention is directed to a device for wear protection of a collar tip of a shirt or blouse collar (hereinafter referred to only as shirt collar). The wear protection protects the collar tip, which is particularly susceptible to wear, during a washing process. Thus, it is possible for shirts to remain intact despite several washing operations and thus to be worn longer by the user. The present invention is further directed to a composite of a plurality of wear protection devices, and to a method of manufacturing the corresponding device.

BACKGROUND

DE 60 032 618 T2 discloses a garment container for use in a washing machine, comprising: at least one web for enclosing a garment and having a plurality of apertures, the plurality of apertures in the web allowing water to flow into the container during washing to thereby provide the container with a garment wetting effect of between 90% and 100%; and closure means for closing the container so that the container encloses the garment to be washed in the washing machine.

Particularly high-quality shirts, for example made-to-measure shirts, are worn with particular pleasure by the user and are therefore intended for a long period of wear over several years. The wearing period includes various washing processes during which the shirt is mechanically stressed. Thus, individual garments rub against each other, and abrasion occurs on a shirt, making it look unsightly.

It has been shown that the tip of the collar is particularly susceptible to such mechanical abrasion. The tip of a shirt collar is the front deepest part of the wear, which is typically designed at a right angle. Depending on the design of the shirt collar, this point may vary in angle. Thus, typically, particularly pointed shirt collars are especially susceptible. The so-called shark collar or the needle collar are merely cited as examples of special shirt collar designs.

The problem of physical abrasion in a shirt collar is exacerbated by the fact that, in the case of colored shirts, the shirt color typically differs from the base color of the collar interior. For example, a shirt is light blue or the shirt collar is light blue and the color of the inner material used to reinforce the collar is white. This results in a visually very conspicuous abrasion and the white inner layer in the light blue collar stands out, especially at the collar tip. Thus, the shirt becomes unsightly and the user typically discards it, although this abrasion is often the only wear on the entire shirt.

Thus, garbage is created and the user is disappointed that he has to purchase a new shirt due to only the wear at the collar tip. Shirts are typically worn at work or on prestigious occasions and thus the user and his counterpart are particularly attentive here.

With regard to the present problem, the state of the art provides, for example, that bags are provided in which individual items of clothing are collected in order to minimize abrasion or rubbing against one another. However, the prior art does not show a solution that specifically addresses the weak point of the collar tip. Even if the prior art minimizes abrasion, the collar tip remains a weak point that significantly reduces the overall life of the shirt.

SUMMARY

Thus, it is an object of the present invention to provide a device which makes it possible to particularly protect the collar tip of a shirt. The appealing device is to be easy to handle and to be producible with low technical effort. Furthermore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a possibility or a means by means of which the devices can be provided, for example, in pairs and which makes it possible that also several devices can be provided in one working step. Furthermore, it is an object to propose a method for manufacturing the device.

This object is addressed by a device with the features according to the embodiments described herein.

Accordingly, a device for wear protection of a collar tip of a shirt collar is proposed, comprising a protective unit having a receiving compartment suitable for partially enclosing the collar tip; and a fixing rocker partially pivotally supported in a recess of the protective unit, which in a lowered rest state narrows the receiving compartment and in a raised state compared to the rest state widens the receiving compartment to receive the collar tip, wherein a plastic material is used which integrally forms the device such that the fixing rocker becomes pivotable by being arranged with only thin webs on the protective unit within the recess in the protective unit.

The thin webs can act like a spring by using an elasticity of the plastic. It is advantageous to use a single plastic for the entire device.

The receiving compartment may alternatively be referred to as an insertion compartment, since the collar tip can be inserted on an open side. In general, the receiving compartment may also be referred to as the receiving unit. The recess may also be referred to as a viewing window, which allows the position of the collar tip within the device to be assessed and adjusted through the recess. Therefore, the recess can be formed larger than would be necessary for inserting the fixing rocker. If the device is formed in one piece, the recess is created such that it extends beyond the area of the locating rocker. The recess can be dimensioned so large that the collar tip can nevertheless be fixed in the receiving compartment in a non-slip manner, but a function as a viewing window is still suitably provided.

Partially pivotable can also be understood as tiltable or partially rotatable. The fixing rocker is lifted with respect to the inner bottom of the protective unit by means of external force and with respect to the inner bottom of the protective unit is brought into the starting position or rest position close to the bottom of the protective unit in the absence of force. In this context, close means a distance that allows the collar tip to be clamped between the base of the protective unit and the fixing rocker in the resting state. This can mean no distance or a distance of a few tenths of a millimeter, but preferably no more than four millimeters.

Wear protection according to the present invention refers to mechanical abrasion or repulsion of the collar tip. For this purpose, embodiments of the proposed invention are clipped or plugged onto the collar in such a way that the collar tip is protected by the device. This is done by the protective unit having a receiving compartment into which the collar tip can be inserted and fixed. Thus, the receiving compartment is a recess or depression in the protective unit. Thus, the protective unit serves as a sleeve and partially encloses the collar tip. The receiving compartment is configured such that the collar tip can be inserted therein. The receiving compartment is thus elongated and typically triangular in shape. Thus, it is possible for the user to insert the collar tip into the receiving compartment or to pull the protective unit over the collar tip.

Thus, the dimensions of the receiving compartment are such that they are slightly larger than the collar tip of a typical shirt. This makes it possible for the collar tip to lie in a form-fitting manner in the receiving compartment and thus for the protective unit to partially enclose or surround the collar tip. In this case, it is possible that the collar tip is not arranged completely positively in the receiving compartment, but rather it is advantageous to design the dimensions of the receiving compartment in such a way that the collar tip has slight play in the receiving compartment. Concrete, exemplary dimensions are shown by way of example in the figures.

A receiving compartment is typically closed in substantially all directions and has only one open side for receiving the collar tip. Closed essentially in all directions can mean that only passages for wash water are provided. Alternatively, the receiving compartment is not closed in all directions but has a larger recess in the area of the fixing rocker. This can be designed in such a way that the fixing rocker swings freely and the receiving compartment is not completely closed even when the fixing rocker is open or pressed.

Since the collar tip has now been inserted into the receiving process and the protective unit has been pulled over the collar tip, it is now advantageous to fix the protective unit to the collar tip. This is done in such a way that the protective unit, or the device as a whole, remains attached to the collar tip even in the event that the corresponding shirt is subjected to great mechanical stresses in a washing machine.

The device is fixed to the collar tip by means of a fixing rocker. This fixing rocker is mounted in a recess in the protective unit in such a way that it exerts pressure on an inserted collar tip in such a way that the collar tip is subjected to pressure on one side with the fixing rocker and the collar tip is thus pressed against the inner base of the protective unit. Similar to the principle of a clothespin, the collar tip is thus fixed in the protective unit.

The fixing rocker can be attached to the protective unit in such a way that it remains in a lowered position in a resting state. The lowered position allows the collar tip to be clamped between part of the fixing rocker and part of the protective unit.

This corresponds to the operating principle of a clothespin, which is closed in a resting state. The fixing rocker is therefore designed in such a way that it is closed in a resting state and can be opened by applying force to an outer side of the rocker. Thus, the collar tip is snapped or locked into the protective unit by means of the fixing rocker.

In the lowered resting state, the fixing rocker narrows the receptacle in such a way that this is slightly narrower than a typical collar tip. This ensures that the collar tip is subjected to pressure and thus cannot slide out of the protective unit. If pressure is now applied to an outer part of the fixing rocker, the locking part of the fixing rocker is lifted and the collar tip can be removed from the protective unit.

It is particularly advantageous to design the device for wear protection of the collar tip in one piece. In this case, a plastic can be used which integrally forms the device in such a way that the fixing rocker can be pivoted by arranging it with only thin webs on the protective unit within the recess in the protective unit. This makes it possible, with a slightly elastic plastic, that in a single work step the device can be provided and that the user by means of a force action on the fixing rocker loads the webs. Due to the elastic plastic, these webs yield slightly and thus the fixing rocker can be varied in its position.

Thus, according to embodiments of the invention, it is possible that several components do not have to be provided, as is the case with a clothespin, but rather a one-piece device can be provided which is created from a uniform material. The plastic or the material of the device is to be selected in such a way that the protective unit is rigid or substantially rigid and the fixing rocker is likewise substantially rigid. The latter should nevertheless be elastic in such a way that the fixing rocker is flexible by means of the webs which hold it in the protective unit or in the recess in the protective unit. Consequently, due to the relatively thin design of such webs, it is possible for only the webs to yield and for the rest of the proposed device to be rigid such that the collar tip remains firmly enclosed.

According to one aspect of the present invention, the receiving compartment is triangular in shape. This has the advantage that the receiving compartment can have an opening on one side of the triangle, so that the collar tip can be pushed in or the protective unit can be pulled over the collar tip. It is thus possible for the collar tip to come to rest in the receiving compartment in a substantially form-fitting manner.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the receiving compartment is shaped as an isosceles triangle, with the angle at the apex of the triangle being between 60 and 120°. This has the advantage that the receiving compartment can be shaped according to common angles of the collar tips. It is particularly preferred that the triangular shape is configured such that the apex of the isosceles triangle is 90°. This makes it possible for the receiving compartment to accommodate common collar tips. Depending on the design of the collar to be protected, the receiving compartment can also be designed.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the fixing rocker is elongated. This has the advantage that pressure can be applied to the fixing rocker particularly easily, and thus the proposed device can be easily released from the collar tip again. Thus, the fixing rocker can also be fixed in the recess of the protective unit by means of less elastic webs, since a longer fixing rocker enables easier force transmission. The bars are the pivot point of the pivoting fixing rocker.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the fixing rocker is arranged orthogonally to an opening of the receiving compartment. This has the advantage that the typically triangular receptacle, or receptacle compartment, can be configured such that one side of the triangle can be configured as an opening for insertion of the collar tip, and orthogonal thereto the fixing rocker is arranged. This can then be arranged with respect to the open side of the protective unit in such a way that it is aligned orthogonally with respect to the open edge and, figuratively speaking, can be pivoted upwards and downwards. Thus, the proposed device is particularly well fixed to the collar tip. The open edge or opening serves to receive the collar tip, and the receiving compartment may have further openings.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, the receiving compartment is suitable for positively enclosing the collar tip. This has the advantage that the receiving compartment is shaped according to common collar tips. In this case, there is a form fit which can preferably leave some play in such a way that the collar tip can be easily inserted into the receiving compartment. Thus, a substantially form-fitting enclosure occurs. For example, one to two millimeters of clearance may be left at the top and bottom of the collar tip. This also takes into account that the thickness of a collar is not the same for every shirt, and thus a substantially form-fit occurs. The tolerance range allows for different fabric thicknesses.

According to a further aspect of the proposed invention, the fixing rocker is mounted in such a way that, in the lowered resting state, it narrows the receiving compartment in such a way that a received collar tip is subjected to pressure. This has the advantage that the fixing rocker is lowered in the resting state and thus presses any collar tip inserted against the protective unit. This ensures that the collar tip does not fall out of the protective unit even during a washing process or that the device detaches from the collar tip. Rather, this ensures that the device always remains attached to the collar tip as long as the user does not exert pressure on the fixing rocker.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, the protective unit is at least partially transparent. This has the advantage that the user can always see how the collar tip is arranged within the protective unit. Thus, they can guide the proposed device over the collar tip and thus insert it into the receiving compartment. They can then inspect through the transparent material whether the collar tip is positively arranged within the receiving compartment. If necessary, the user can readjust the positioning of the device on the collar tip.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the protective unit has at least one passage. This has the advantage that, during a washing process, the washing water can enter the protective unit without losing the protective effect on the collar tip. Thus, detergent is also delivered to the collar tip and it is cleaned in the same way as the rest of the shirt. The recesses can be shaped as holes and can be round, square or triangular in shape. In general, any form of apertures is conceivable. The passages are designed in such a way that the collar tip is also rinsed with washing water during a washing process.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the protective unit comprises an extension which is arranged with respect to the fixing rocker in such a way that pressure can be applied to the fixing rocker and the extension provides a counter pole for applying pressure. This has the advantage that the fixing rocker can be easily changed in its position. According to the principle of a clothespin, the fixing rocker thus forms one side of the clip and the extension forms the other. Thus, a user can operate the fixing rocker with one finger and can thereby exert pressure on the fixing rocker so that he finds a hold on the extension with another finger. Consequently, they can press both parts against each other and can consequently lift the fixing rocker. If the user slackens the force applied, the rocker will lower again and return to the closed position or rest position.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, the fixing rocker and/or the protective unit are each at least partially corrugated. This has the advantage that the fixing rocker can be designed in such a way that a corrugated part meets the collar tip. This fixes the collar tip particularly well. However, it is also possible to design another part of the fixing rocker as ribbed, so that the user does not slip off so easily. The protective unit can be designed fluted in such a way that it locks the collar tip particularly well or that the device as a whole does not slip with respect to the collar tip. An alternative to the ribbing is that the corresponding parts are designed to be rough in such a way that slipping is generally prevented.

The task is also solved by a composite of at least two devices as described. The at least two devices are connected to each other in such a way that they can be separated. Thus, a one-piece arrangement with at least two of the proposed devices is obtained. The devices are coupled to each other in such a way that they can be detached from each other in a separable manner, that is, in a non-destructive manner. For this purpose, small webs with predetermined breaking points can be arranged between the devices. In this way, the user receives devices in pairs and can then separate them. Preferably, even numbers of fixtures are always connected. For example, two or four fixtures can be delivered. This is particularly advantageous because the user always needs two of the fixtures for one shirt, and thus the appropriate number of pieces can be provided to him. Because of the connections between the devices, two or four devices can be provided in one piece and consequently can also be manufactured in a single process step. The examples with two or four devices are merely exemplary.

The object is also solved by a method for manufacturing a device for wear protection of a collar tip of a shirt collar, comprising providing a protection/protective unit with a receiving compartment which is suitable for partially enclosing the collar tip; and providing a locating/fixing rocker partially pivotally mounted in a recess in the protective unit, the locating rocker narrowing the receiving compartment in a lowered rest condition and widening the receiving compartment to receive the collar tip in a raised condition relative to the rest condition, wherein a plastic is used which integrally forms the device such that the locating rocker becomes pivotable by being disposed with only thin webs on the protective unit within the recess in the protective unit.

Further advantages, features and details of the invention will be apparent from the following description, in which aspects of the invention are described in detail with reference to the drawings. In this connection, the features and aspects mentioned in the claims and in the description may each be essential to embodiments of the invention individually or in any combination. Likewise, the features mentioned above and those further elaborated herein may each be used individually or in any combination. Functionally similar or identical parts or components are partially provided with the same reference signs. The terms “left”, “right”, “top” and “bottom” used in the description of the embodiments refer to the drawings in an orientation with normally readable figure designation or normally readable reference signs. The embodiments shown and described are not to be understood as conclusive, but have an exemplary character for explaining the invention. The detailed description is for the information of the person skilled in the art, therefore known structures and methods are not shown or explained in detail in the description in order not to complicate the understanding of the present description. The skilled person will recognize that construction lines or auxiliary lines are partially drawn in the figures, which are not physically implemented in this way. The size specifications and angles are exemplary and not restrictive and merely represent a preferred design. The corresponding dimensions are in millimeters.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the figures show:

FIG. 1: A shirt collar having a collar tip and the proposed device according to an aspect of the present invention;

FIGS. 2A-C: The proposed device according to another aspect of the present invention in several perspective views;

FIG. 3: A side view of the proposed device according to another aspect of the present invention;

FIG. 4: A plan view of the proposed device according to another aspect of the present invention;

FIG. 5: A side view of the proposed device according to another aspect of the present invention;

FIG. 6: A bottom view of the proposed device according to another aspect of the present invention;

FIG. 7: A front view of the proposed device according to another aspect of the present invention;

FIG. 8: The proposed composite according to another aspect of the present invention comprising a plurality of devices; and

FIG. 9: A schematic flow diagram of the proposed method according to another aspect of the present invention for manufacturing the device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows a shirt collar with a collar tip S. On the right side, the proposed device is arranged and it is clear that the collar tip S is inserted into the receiving compartment. The collar tip S is fixed and thus the device adheres to the collar tip S. If the left side is now also provided with the proposed device, the shirt is ready for a washing process in which the collar points are optimally protected.

FIGS. 2A-C show the proposed device in several perspectives. In FIG. 2A, an upper perspective view is shown and in FIG. 2B a bottom perspective view is shown. In FIG. 2C a top view is shown, which is rotated with respect to FIG. 2A. The present figures show the fixing rocker FW in the recess A, and the extension V arranged thereunder. In addition, the protective unit SE is shown, which is triangular in shape.

In addition, a passage is shown in the center, which allows water to enter the protective unit SE during a washing process. In FIG. 2A, it can be clearly seen that the extension V is arranged with respect to the fixing rocker FW in such a way that these two elements can be pressed against each other. The fixing rocker FW is rotatably or pivotally mounted so that the fixing rocker is lifted at the top and then the collar tip can be inserted or the device can be fitted onto the collar tip.

FIG. 3 shows a side view of the device, whereby it can be seen that the fixing rocker FW is lowered in a rest state. If the fixing rocker on the right side (rotated view, i.e. bottom) is actuated, the fixing rocker FW on the left side (rotated view, i.e. top) is raised and the receiving compartment AF is opened. The collar tip can then be inserted and the fixing rocker FW is released. The rocker then lowers onto the collar tip and holds it in place.

In particular, FIG. 3 shows a device for wear protection of a collar tip S of a shirt collar, comprising a protective unit SE with a receiving compartment AF which is suitable for partially enclosing the collar tip S; and a fixing rocker FW which is partially pivotably mounted in a recess A of the protective unit SE and which narrows the receiving compartment AF in a lowered rest state and widens the receiving compartment AF for receiving the collar tip S in a raised state compared with the rest state. Also shown is that the receiving compartment AF is not formed closed, but that in the present figure a continued opening is provided above the recess for the fixing rocker FW. The opening between the fixing rocker FW and the upper part of the protective unit SE serves to prevent the ingress of washing water, and also has the advantage that the device as a whole can be easily manufactured by injection molding. Thus, in the present FIG. 3, the receiving compartment AF is open to the right, which corresponds to the underside of the device V in proper use.

As can be seen in the present FIG. 3 on the fixing rocker on the right side and on the actuating device on the left side, the lettering forms a relief. This has the advantage that a profile is created by the different elevations or depressions and thus the user can press the device together from both sides, for example with two fingers. In the present FIG. 3, pressure is applied to the fixing rocker and the device at the bottom, and thus the user's fingers come to grip precisely at these points. Thus, the rising label provides the technical effect of forming a relief so that the user does not slip off.

In conventional embodiments, corresponding handles are smoothly formed or writing is merely printed on them. If the writing is merely printed on, as is the case in the prior art, the problem arises that the user may slip off when operating the device. According to embodiments of the invention, it is provided that the writing forms a profile which prevents precisely this slipping. A further disadvantage in the prior art is overcome in the present case by the fact that the profile creates a typeface, as it were. If, for example, a profile is created on a handle in the prior art, it is again difficult to insert a font because the surface is not smooth and thus printing is impossible.

In the present case, this is overcome and the lettering creates a dual function, namely that firstly a textual or pictorial message can be conveyed and secondly a profile is created. Thus, it is not merely an ornamental font, but rather the rising font ensures that the user can safely operate the device. By way of example, the font may be “Collar-Pro”, registered trademark.

FIG. 4 shows the device in a top view and in particular shows the fixing rocker FW from above. The protective unit SE is located at the top of the figure. The openings are shown as dashed lines, since they would not be visible from this perspective or are only visible if the material is transparent.

FIG. 5 is similar to FIG. 3 and again shows a side view of the device. Here, the design of the protective device SE is shown. The receiving compartment AF is located inside the protective device SE. If the fixing rocker FW is now actuated on the right-hand side (rotated view, i.e. at the bottom in this case), the collar tip can be inserted and is then positively located in the protective unit SE.

FIG. 6 shows the proposed device from below together with extension V. In this view, the hole at the bottom of the device, which causes the ingress of washing water, can be clearly seen.

FIG. 7 shows a front view of the device, with the fixing rocker FW extending from the bottom of the protective unit. If the fixing rocker FW is actuated, it disappears visually in this view.

FIG. 8 shows a composite of several devices which are joined together at their tips in such a way that they can be separated. The devices can thus be separated and then put into use. The proposed composite is particularly easy to manufacture, since the composite is formed in one piece and can thus be manufactured in one operation.

FIG. 9 shows in a schematic flow diagram a method for manufacturing a device for wear protection of a collar tip S of a shirt collar, comprising providing 100 a protective unit SE with a receiving compartment AF which is suitable for enclosing a collar tip S; and providing 101 a fixing rocker FW partially pivotally supported in a recess A of the protective unit SE, which in a lowered rest state narrows the receiving compartment AF and in a raised state widens the receiving compartment AF for receiving the collar tip S compared to the rest state, wherein a plastic material is used which integrally forms the device such that the fixing rocker becomes pivotable by being arranged with only thin ridges on the protective unit within the recess in the protective unit.

The skilled person recognizes here that the steps can have further sub-steps and in particular that the process steps can each be carried out iteratively and/or in a different sequence.