Fix your tie (FYT)

United States Patent Application 20080148463

A necktie restraining device that restrains unwanted movement of neckties worn by a wearer along the front portion of a dress shirt having uniformly spaced fastening buttons. The necktie restraining is composed of an elongated member and a horizontal member attached transversely to the elongated member. The necktie restraining device has three uniformly spaced button holes disposed vertically on the elongated member that align directly and engages the uniformly spaced fastening buttons on the front of a dress shirt. The horizontal member of the necktie restraining device is attached to the elongated member between the middle button hole and either of the button holes located on each end of the elongated member, forming a loop that enables the narrower end of a necktie to be inserted through the loop permitting essential vertical movement of the neck apparel along the restraining device, while generally restraining all other movement.

Vaughn, Lasalle Roger (San Antonio, TX, US)

11/948576

06/26/2008

11/30/2007

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PATEL, TAJASH D

Dr. LaSalle Vaughn (San Antonio, TX, US)

We claim the following for the FYT necktie restraining device:

1. A necktie restraining device for restraining movement of the plurality of necktie apparel worn by a user along the front portion of a men's dress shirt having uniformly spaced fastening buttons, said necktie restraining device disposed vertically and parallel to said necktie apparel and proximate an unrestrained portion of said neck apparel, said necktie restraining device slidably engaging with and interposed behind a transversely arranged necktie member disposed on said unrestrained portion of said neck apparel for permitting vertical movement of the transversely arranged neck apparel member and the unrestrained portion of said neck apparel along said vertically disposed restraining device and generally restraining all other movement, said necktie restraining device that is comprised of an elongated member of fabric or cloth with three button holes disposed vertically the size of which being the same as fastening button hole sizes located vertically on the front of men's dress shirts, said three button-holes on the elongated member of fabric being spaced the same distance apart on the elongated member so that they align directly with the fastening buttons on the front of men's dress shirts allowing the elongated member to attach directly to the front of the dress shirts using the fastening buttons on such said shirt, said elongated member being a length to accommodate the uniformly spaced button holes and allowing a distance of no more than ½ inch between the end of the elongated member and the edge of the button hole on each end of the elongated member, said elongated member being a width of approximately one (1) inch, said elongated member having a horizontal member of cloth approximately ¼ to 1 inch in width that is attached to the horizontal member transversely at a location between the middle button hole and either of the button holes located on each end of the elongated member with a minimum spacing of ½ inch from either button hole, said horizontal member is attached to transversely to the elongated member to form a loop of size that enables the narrow or smaller end of a necktie to pass through the loop unencumbered, said horizontal member is comprised of the same fabric or cloth as the elongated member, said horizontal member is attached to the elongated member by stitching,

2. The necktie restraining device recited in claim 1 wherein said fabric or cloth is the same fabric or cloth, including colors, textures, patterns, and quality of cloth or fabric, used to make dress shirts for men, which would allow said necktie restraining device.

3. The necktie restraining device recited in claim 1 wherein said fabric or cloth is the same fabric or cloth, including colors, textures, patterns, and quality of cloth or fabric, used to make neckties.

4. The necktie restraining device recited in claim 1 wherein said device includes a label.

5. The necktie restraining device recited in claim 1 wherein said device includes a monogram.

6. The necktie restraining device recited in claim 1 wherein said device includes embroidery.

7. The necktie restraining device recited in claim 1 wherein said device includes indicia.

8. The necktie restraining device recited in claim 1 wherein said neckwear apparel includes a necktie.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Please refer to application No. 60,867,879, which is the provisional application number associated with this non-provisional application.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISC APPENDIX

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Neckties have traditionally been a prominent part of men's apparel. Recent trends also disclose an increase in women who wear neck neckties. Given the prominence of neckties, it is important to keep the neck apparel neat, clean, and in place in its proper position which is vertically against the front of the shirt or blouse of the wearer.

Unfortunately however, the traditional knotted necktie includes at least one unrestrained end opposite the neck of the wearer. This unrestrained end is typically very difficult to keep in place. This unrestrained portion receives the majority of occurrences of soiled or out of place neck apparel. Tie-wearing consumers are often seen adjusting the tie at the chest as the tie flips, flaps, and flops giving an unprofessional and untidy appearance.

Other prior art attempts reflected in U.S. patents below have met with limited success for a number of reasons.

• • U.S. Pat. No. 4,827,576
  • U.S. Pat. No. 4,972,523
  • U.S. Pat. No. 4,554,710
  • U.S. Pat. No. 5,109,547

Fix Your Tie is a simple solution to the problem of off-center ties. This clever accessory will attach to the buttons of any dress shirt and will accept a tie to hold the neckpiece in place for the duration of wear.

Several prior art attempts at providing neck apparel restraints have met with limited success for a number of reasons. For example, tie pins permanently damage a necktie and become inoperative whenever either the clasp or pin portion become lost or separated. Tie bars similarly permanently wrinkle the necktie. Further, tie pins or bars are not an accepted part of women's jewelry. Most importantly, both tie pins and tie bars restrict the vertical movement of the neck apparel on the wearer, often causing the neck apparel to pull down from the neck of the wearer or causing a large bow in the upper portion of the neck apparel between the neck of the wearer and the tie pin or bar.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Fix Your Tie (FYT) was designed to provide a tie-wearing consumer with a better way to secure his tie to his shirt. This product provides a more professional way to wear a tie as it prevents the tie from sliding, blowing, and otherwise moving from position. The easy to attach product will slide onto the tie and secure to the buttons of a shirt to keep the tie in place at all times.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

For a more complete understanding of the FYT invention, and for further details and advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following Detailed Description taken in conjunction with the following drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates the FYT in plan view.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The Fix Your Tie (FYT) neck tie restraining device can be used with any type of neck ware apparel that lies in an elongated vertical position against the front of a shirt or blouse of a wearer. The FYT necktie restraining device is comprised of two distinct sections:

• • 1) An elongated member (1) that is approximately 1 inch wide and a length to accommodate three uniformly spaced button holes (2) the size of said button holes being the same as fastening button holes located vertically on the front of men's dress shirts and allowing a distance of no more than ½ inch between each end of the elongated member and the edge of the button hole on each end of the elongated member. The three button holes (2) on the elongated member are located such that they align directly and engage the fastening buttons on the front of men's dress shirts.
  • 2) A horizontal member (3) that is attached (sewn) transversely to the elongated member in a location between the middle button hole and either button hole located near the edge of the elongated member. The horizontal member is attached transversely to the elongated member in a manner such that a loop is formed that allows the narrower end of a necktie to pass through the loop freely and unencumbered.

The FYT restraining device is used by first attaching the elongated member (1) to the dress shirt using the three button holes (2) on the elongated member, with the horizontal member (3) (or loop) end located in the upward position closest to the neck of the user.

Once the FYT is attached to the shirt and with the necktie properly tied around the users shirt collar, the user then inserts the smaller and narrower necktie section (which lies under the wider outer side of the necktie) into the loop (3) on the FYT and also through the loop located that is typically attached to the underside of the outer tie portion.

The FYT allows the necktie a significant degree of movement in the vertical direction while significantly reducing the degree of movement in the horizontal direction. The allowance of vertical movement for the necktie enables better response to the user's various positions while maintaining a neat appearance by keeping the necktie straight. For instance, when a user is in a sitting position, the necktie may slide up or down, adjusting the to the user positions, while not bunching, buckling, or curling and remaining flat against the user's shirt.

The FYT necktie is manufactured using the same range of fabric material, colors, and patterns as dress shirts as well as the same material as the neckties. The elongated member (1) of the FYT can be manufactured using a single layer of fabric or double layer of fabric. In either case, the elongated member (1) of the FYT has a single line of stitching along the perimeter of the rectangular vertical piece and located 1/16 of an inch from the edge of the vertical piece. The stitching can be the same color of the fabric or a different color depending on the effect. The horizontal loop (3) of the FYT is also made of the same material as the elongated member (1) and is sewn to the elongated member (1) in a location half the distance between the middle button-hole and either of the outer button-holes. Each end of the horizontal member (3) (or loop) that is attached to the elongated member (1) is located 1/16 of an inch inside of the stitching (4) spanning the perimeter of the elongated member (1).

FYT can be packaged in the following manners:

• • a. As an accessory for dress shirts when made of the identical fabric as the dress shirt;
  • b. As an accessory for neckties when made of the identical fabric as the necktie;
  • c. As a separate accessory made of fabric typical to men's dress shirts and in the full multitude of colors available for the resulting fabrics.

The FYT may include a label on the elongated member (1) on the side opposite the side where the horizontal member (loop) (3) is attached, or may include written or printed indicia such as a label, monogram, or embroidery on the horizontal loop (3) side of the elongated member (1), in a location suitable for the user. This allows the FYT to be personalized for the user or marked with a distributor's or clothing store's private label.

The advantages of the FYT over other similar neckwear restraining devices are:

• • a. Three button holes that allow a more secure attachment to the dress shirt
  • b. The width of the FYT allowing for easier insertion of the narrower portion of the necktie located under the outer, wider portion of the necktie
  • c. The ability to manufacture and package with the same material as dress shirts, neck ties or as a separate accessory.

Modifications and substitutions by one of ordinary skill in the art are considered to be within the scope of the present invention which is not to be limited except by the claims which follow.