DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0016] As shown in FIG. 1, a detachable attaching member 20 of the present invention may be used to securely attach a knotted necktie to a collar of a shirt or other apparel. The detachable attaching member 20 may be positioned between an outer knot portion 15 and an inner knot portion 16 of necktie 10. A knotted necktie 10 may include an outer portion 11, inner portion 12, outer knotted portion 15 and inner knotted portion 16, as shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 5 illustrates another view of a necktie, which may include an outer portion 11, a connector portion 13 and an inner portion 12.

[0017] An inner portion 12 may be draped down from the inner knot portion 16 and positioned under the outer portion 11. The connector portion 13 may connect the outer portion 11 and the inner portion 12, and may be positioned behind the upper end of the necktie when the knot is formed. While the connector portion 13 may be varied in dimension of width and length according to the size of the knot, connector 13 may have a preferred length of approximately 70 mm and a preferred width of approximately 5 mm.

[0018] The detachably attaching member 20 may include an insert-ring portion 21, a connector portion 22, a fitting portion 23 as well as shaping portions 25, as shown in FIG. 5.

[0019] The insert-ring portion 21 may be inserted between the inner knot portion 16 and the outer knot portion 15 of the knotted necktie 10. For example, the insert-ring portion 21 may include a front part (e.g., a distal end from connector portion 22) having a shape of an ellipse or other similar shape (e.g., a rounded heart). For example, the insert-ring portion 21 may have a preferred length from top to bottom of approximately 35 mm, and may be backwardly inclined at about 10°, as shown in FIG. 7.

[0020] The connector portion 22 of the detachable attaching member 20 may be projected from a rear part (e.g., a proximal end to connector portion 22) of the insert-ring portion 21 at an angle of approximately 60°, as shown in FIG. 6, and may have a preferred length of approximately 20 mm. The fitting portion 23 may be provided at an end of the connector portion 22, as shown in FIG. 4. The connector portion 22 may have a thickness and a width which may be varied according to the type of material used. For example, the connector portion 22 may have a preferred thickness of approximately 5 mm and a preferred width of approximately 10 mm.

[0021] The fitting portion 23 may be inserted behind a front neck portion 30 of a shirt or other apparel, and may securely fit the knotted necktie 10 to the front neck portion 30 of the shirt. While the fitting portion 23 is shown connected to the connector portion 22 via a hinge portion 24, the present invention is not necessarily restricted to this configuration. The fitting portion 23 may be made of a flexible material with a degree of elasticity and plasticity so that the fitting portion 23 may maintain the fitted position or other attached position under a small amount of force. The fitting portion 23 may have a thickness and a width that may be varied according to the materials used. For example, if made of plastic (or other similar material), the fitting portion 23 may have a substantially similar thickness as that of the connector portion 22. In another example, the width of the fitting portion 23 may preferably be of a width wider than that of the connector portion 22.

[0022] As shown in FIG. 6, after the inner knot portion 16 and the outer knot portion 15 of the necktie 10 are formed, the insert-ring portion 21 may be inserted through the outer portion 11 and the inner portion 12 from the lower ends. Then, the insert-ring portion 21 may be moved upward and inserted between the outer knot portion 15 and the inner knot portion 16 so that the fitting portion 23 passes above an upper end of the inner knot portion 16 to be positioned backward. The fitting portion 23 may be subsequently attached securely to a front neck portion of a shirt or other apparel. For example, the knotted necktie 10 may be formed so that the outer knot portion 15 and the inner knot portion 16 are provided at a top end of the outer portion 11 along a side of the connector portion 13.

[0023] In attaching a knotted necktie with a detachable attaching member, the fitting portion 23 of the detachable attaching member 20 may be hooked on a front neck portion 30 of the shirt (or other apparel). In detaching the knotted necktie, the fitting portion 23 may be released from the front neck portion 30 of the shirt. Due to its flexibility, the fitting portion 23 may be bent to securely attach to the front neck portion 30 of the shirt.

[0024] FIG. 3 illustrates details of a hinge portion 24, according to an embodiment of the present invention. The hinge portion 24 may include indentations 22a and 23a formed at opposed ends of the connector portion 22 and the fitting portion 23 to be elastically engaged to each other so as to fix the fitting portion 23 at a desired angle in order to securely and firmly attach the detachably attaching member 20 to the front neck portion 30 of the shirt. The fitting portion 23 may be preferably pivoted at an angle of 90° or smaller so that the front neck portion 30 of the shirt is sandwiched between the fitting portion 23 and the inner knot portion 16.

[0025] According to another embodiment of the present invention, the insert-ring portion may further include a shaping portion 25. The shaping portion 25 enables the insert-ring portion 21 to be contracted and shaped accordingly by applying pressure to the shaping portion 25. The shaping portion 25 may be implemented to support the inner knot portion 16. The shaping portion 25 may have a substantially V-shaped configuration. The shaping portion 25 may be formed integral with the insert-ring portion 21. In addition, the shaping portion 25 may be formed separate from the insert-ring portion 21 so as to be inserted and fixed into a knotted tie. For example, the shaping portion 25 may be widened at a preferred front angle of 70 to 80° as shown in FIG. 2 and at an angle of 40° about the insert-ring portion 21 as in FIG. 7.

[0026] In another example, the connector portion 22 and/or the fitting portion 23 of the detachable attaching member 20 may be substantially V-shaped, according to another embodiment of the detachable attaching member 20. In this example, the fitting portion 23 may be fitted at both sides to the front neck portion 30 of the shirt so that the knotted necktie may be attached securely.

[0027] FIG. 7 illustrates another embodiment of the detachable attaching member of the invention. As shown in FIG. 7, an inclined shaping portion 25 may be projected approximately 2 cm above the knotted necktie. Marks may be formed in the shaping portions 25 so that the shaping portion 25 may be adjusted (e.g., cut) to a suitable (or preferred) length for a user. The shaping portion 25 may be fitted at a neck portion of a shirt for obtaining a more stable configuration. When the neck portion is pressed or the attachment/detachment is inconvenient, the shaping portion 25 can be cut into the suitable length according to the marks.

[0028] The detachably attaching member may be made of synthetic resin which may be easily injection molded at a low cost. Other materials may be used for the detachable attaching member in accordance with the present invention. The lengths of the outer portion and the inner portion of the necktie may be varied as desired by a user.

[0029] While the invention has been shown and described with reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.