US3755821A

US3755821A - No-knot tie

Info

Publication number: US3755821A
Application number: US00279405A
Authority: US
Inventors: F Tellone
Original assignee: SQUIRE TIES Ltd Inc
Current assignee: SQUIRE TIES Ltd Inc
Priority date: 1972-08-10
Filing date: 1972-08-10
Publication date: 1973-09-04
Anticipated expiration: 1990-09-04

Abstract

A pre-tied, clip-on tie giving the appearance of having no knot at the end of the tie attached to a collar of wearing apparel consisting of a rigid tie form on which the tie fabric is placed for attaching the tie to the wearing apparel of the user. The tie fabric is placed smoothly around the rigid form so that the fabric pattern is continuous from the neck of the wearer to the opposite end of the tie with no wraps, wrinkles, folds, twists or bends being present on the front side of the tie, thereby presenting a no-knot appearance at the end of the tie attached to the wearer, and an unbroken continuity in fabric design. The rigid form gives the simulated appearance of a bulk area at the point of attachment to the wearer''s apparel and presents a controlled flare area in the zone of the bulk area. Hooks or clips of a special design are attached to the back of the rigid form opposite the side on which the fabric is positioned for attaching the knotless tie to the collar of the apparel of the user.

Description

Kittited States Patent [1 1 Teilone Septd, 1973 l NO-KNOT THE [75] Inventor: Frank A. Tellone, St. Petersburg,

Fla.

[73] Assignee: Squire Tires Ltd. Inc., St. Peters burg, Fla.

[22] Filed: Aug. 10, 1972 [211 App]. No.: 279,405

Primary Examiner-Patrick D. Lawson Attorney- Richard C. Sughrue, Donald E. Zinn et al.

[57] ABSTRACT A pre-tied, clip-on tie giving the appearance of having no knot at the end of the tie attached to a collar of wearing apparel consisting of a rigid tie form on which the tie fabric is placed for attaching the tie to the wearing apparel of the user. The tie fabric is placed smoothly around the rigid form so that the fabric pattern is continuous from the neck of the wearer to the opposite end of the tie with no wraps, wrinkles, folds, twists or bends being present on the front side of the tie, thereby presenting a no-knot appearance at the end of the tie attached to the wearer, and an unbroken continuity in fabric design. The rigid form gives the simulated appearance of a bulk area at the point of attachment to the wearers apparel and presents a controlled flare area in the zone of the bulk area. Hooks or clips of a special design are attached to the back of the rigid form opposite the side on which the fabric is positioned for attaching the knotless tie to the collar of the apparel of the user.

11 Claims, 15 Drawing Figures PATENTEDsEP 4 ma sum 2 or 2 HEN NO-KNOT TIE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to a pre-tied necktie'of the type designed to be attached to the collar of wearing apparel by means of a clip or similar means and having the appearance of the lack of a knot at the end of the tie to the collar of-the wearing apparel, with the tie fabric being free from any twists, breaks, wraps, folds or wrinkles on the front side thereof.

2. Description of the Prior Art The prior art clip-on neckties are designed to give the appearance of having a knot at the end of the tie attached to the collar of the wearing apparel of the user, with such knot simulating the tying of the necktie under the collar and around the neck of the person wearing the apparel with which the tie is used. Accordingly, such prior art clip-on neckties attempt to simulate the twists, bends, breaks, folds and wrinkles which are found in a conventionally tied necktie.

Although fashions have undergone drastic changes in styles and appearances, conventional neckties have remained basically the same in appearance. None of the prior art neckties of either the conventionally tied type or of the clip-on simulated tie type have presented a tie form having a no-knot appearance, that is, one presenting a continuous pattern in the tie fabric from the collar of the wearing apparel to the opposite end of the tie and lacking the appearance of a knotan'd its related wrinkles and twists in the end of the tie attached to the collar.

Furthermore, most of the conventional clip-on simulated neckties employ a tie form having a conventional design such that the tie material may be wrapped about the form in the manner to simulate a tied knot at the end of the tie to be attached to the collar of a shirt. These prior art tie forms generally have a triangular configuration and employ a clip member attached thereto for attaching the tie having the simulated tied knot to the collar of the shirt of the wearer. The only differences in the prior art necktie form and knot forming devices are in the specific construction of the clip members used therewith.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is one object of the present invention to present a necktie of the clip-on type lacking the appearance of having a knot at the end of the tie attached to the collar of the wearers shirt.

Another object of the present invention is to present a tie having an unbroken continuity of design in the fabric from the top to the bottom of the frontal area thereof.

A further object of the present invention is to present a tie appearance which lacks the twists, bends, breaks, wraps, folds or wrinkles present on conventional pretied clip-on ties.

A still further object of the present invention is to present a specific tie construction utilizing a special form and having a unique method of inserting the form in the tie material to present the desired knotless appearance.

A still further object of the present invention is to present various modifications of the structural details of the clip-on mechanism used with the special tie form.

These and other objects of the present invention will be realized when reading the specification of the subject invention in view of the illustrations of the following drawings in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an overall front view of the knotless tie according to the present invention attached to the collar of a shirt;

FIG. 2 is a rear view of a tie form assembly of the present invention showing the clip for attaching the knotless tie to the collar of a shirt;

FIG. 3 is a front view of the tie form assembly of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a detailed side view of a clip element used with the tie form assembly of FIGS. 2 and 3;

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view taken along lines 55 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 illustrates the method of the present invention of placing the tie fabric on the tie form assembly;

FIG. 7 shows a top view of the fabric placed over the tie form assembly;

FIG. 8 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a knotless tie accordingto the present invention showing the layers of the tie fabric placed on the tie form assembly;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the tie fabric on the rigid form taken along lines 9-9 of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a rear view of a tie form used in the present invention showing a modified attaching clip structure;

FIG. lll is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a tie form of the present invention utilizing a special attaching clip structure; and

FIGS. 12a, 12b, 13a and 13b are detail views of the special clip used in the embodiment of FIG. 11.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT As illustrated in FIG. 1, the knotless necktie 2 constructed according to the present invention is formed with an upper end 4 and lower end 5, with the upper end 4- of the tie being attached to the shirt collar 6 of the wearer. As illustrated in FIG. I, the unique construction of the tie 2 presents an unbroken pattern in the material between the upper end 4 and the lower end 5 thereof, with the upper end 4 presenting a knotless appearance, that is, the absence of any twists, bends, breaks, wraps, folds or wrinkles, which are apparent in all other pre-tied ties. A smooth flare area 7 joins the upper end a and lower portion 5. Thus, there is an unbroken continuity of design in the fabric from the top to the bottom of the frontal area as the fabric is drawn over a simulated knotal area, with the tie form controlling the flare of the upper end area 4.

Turning now to FIGS. 25, the unique tie form used in the construction of the present invention will now be described. The special fonn assembly 8 consists of a rigid piece of material It) formed of molded plastic, stamped sheet metal, or the like material, and shaped in an hour-glass configuration, as seen specifically in FIGS. 2 and 3. The vertical sides of the necktie form 10 flare outwardly toward top wings or ends 13 and bottom ends or wings l5 and taper inwardly in the sides at 17 toward the center of the form. The form 10 is curved in the horizontal plane, as will be seen from viewing FIGS. 5 and 9 of the drawings. The combination of the inwardly tapered side edges 117, the upper and lower wings l3 and 115, and the curved configuration of the form is used to control the flare of the tie, depending upon the length and width thereof, as desired.

The form 10 has a groove or recess Ill formed in the outer, or convex, side thereof, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 9, to accommodate the folded and stitched edges of the tie fabric to prevent undesired bulges and ridges from appearing in the tie material, as will be described hereinafter. The groove or recess 11 is formed to one side of the longitudinal center of the tie form 10, although it can be located in the center of the form M), if desired.

In one embodiment, the necktie form 10 has a hook insertion slot formed by an upraised portion 12 molded or cut therein on the rear side near the upper edge of the form for insertion of a collar hook or clip 6 for attaching the tie to the collar 6 of the wearing apparel. Two bosses 14, shown in FIG. 2, are formed on the rear, or concave side of the necktie form 10 immediately below the hook insertion slot 12 to act as a stop for the collar hook 16 inserted into the slot, as shown in FIG. 5. If desired, a single boss 14 could be used.

The collar hook or clipl6 is constructed of a springlike material, such as molded plastic, or spring steel. Openings or slots 18 are formed on each side of the clip I6 adjacent one end thereof for cooperation with the bosses 14 on the necktie form 10 to secure the clip 16 to the necktie form 10. The end of the clip 16 opposite the slots 18 is bent to form a loop 20 to present a hook for attaching a pre-tied tie to the collar 6 of the wearing apparel. If desired, a single, central opening 18 can be formed in the clip 16 to cooperate with a single boss 14.

Referring now to FIGS. 6-9, the specific arrangement of the tie fabric and the necktie form assembly 8 will be described. The tie fabric consists of an outer layer of facial fabric material 24 having the desired pattern or design thereon and wrapped around the necktie form assembly 8 in a manner to be described hereinafter. A piece of full cut tie liner material 26 is placed between the outer facial fabric 24 and a piece of backside fabric 28, as seen in FIG. 6.

The method of assembling the fabric material and the necktie form 10 of the clip-on knotless tie according to the present invention will now be described with reference to FIGS. 6-9. The pieces of

material

24, 26 and 28 used for making the tie are arranged in layers in the manner shown in FIG. 6, with the full cut liner piece 26 being placed on top of the backside fabric 28. A slot 30 corresponding to the width of the collar hook or clip I6 is cut transversely across the width of the facial fabric 24 adjacent the top end of the tie, and the hook or clip 16 of the tie form assembly 8 is inserted through the slot 30. The tie form assembly 8 is positioned with the outer or convex surface of the form 10 facing the liner fabric material 26 and the uppermost end of the form 10 positioned in the direction of the lower end of the layers of tie material. The edges of the pieces of the tie material are pulled around the sides of the form 10 and are stitched on the concave side of the form 10 slightly to one side of the longitudinal centerline of the tie form to align with the area of the groove or recess 11 formed in the tie form 10 so that the groove 11 will accommodate the gathered and folded material. The form of the tie following this operation will be as shown in FIG. 7 of the drawings.

After the material has been stitched along a line corresponding to the location of the groove 11, the lower end of the pieces of

tie material

24, 26 and 28 are bent around the tie form 10 in the direction of arrow 32 around bend line 34, thereby positioning the tie form assembly 8 in the proper relationship relative to the ends of the tie for attaching the tie to the collar of wearing apparel, The resulting tie structure is as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, wherein a single piece of facial fabric material 24 passes around the backside, or concave side of the necktie form 10 and the remaining tie mate-. rial, including the outer or facial fabric material 24 surrounds the full cut tie liner material 26 and the backside fabric 28, as seen specifically in FIG. 9 of the drawings. In this position, the front, or convex, side of tie form 10 and the front of the tie facial material face the same direction. It will be seen from viewing FIG. 9 that the groove or recess l1 formed in the convex side of the necktie form 10 accommodates the layers of fabric laminated to the right of the center line of the tie form, thereby eliminating any lopsided effect or ridge that the buildup of the layers of the tie material may have in the simulated knotal area 4 of the tie form 10.

Following the folding of the tie material around the fold or bend line 34, it will be noted that upper wings 13 on the tie form 10 will produce a starting point for forming the upper end portion 4 of the tie. The fabric is gathered together along both sides of the tie form 10 and is worked to the backside, or concave side of the tie form I0 along the length of the form. The material gathered from both sides of the form 10 is then secured together by any suitable means, such as by spring clips, stitching, hooks, rivets, plastic retaining devices, etc., to hold the material, thereby resulting in the smooth flare portion 7 between the knotless upper end 4 and the bottom portion 5 of the frontal area of the tie 2, as shown in FIG. 1.

Depending upon the type of device used to secure the fabric together, the layers of tie material can be made. to be removed from the form assembly 8, if so desired.

Although the embodiment described hereinabove has been described as incorporating a tie form assembly employing a collar hook or clip 16 formed. of spring-like material such as spring steel or plastic and secured to the tie form If) by insertion through a slot 12, it is obvious that any suitable type of attaching clip structure can be readily adapted to the embodiment of the subject invention. For example, as shown in FIG. It), the necktie form 10 and the collar hook or clip 16 could be molded or formed as a one-piece construction by a molding or stamping process, if so desired.

Referring to FIGS. II-llSb, a special clip construction for use with the tie form assembly of the present invention will be described. As seen in FIG. Ill, the hook insertion slot is formed by an upraised portion or pillar I2 attached to the rear side of a form 10', by molding or glueing thereto. The upstanding end of the pillar 12' has a generally V-shaped notch or depression formed therein. The clip assembly 40 is of a two-piece construction including a stationary spring member 42 and a curved, movable arm member 52 pivotably attached to one end of the stationary spring member.

As will be seen from the side elevation view of FIG. 12, the stationary spring member 42 is generally flat and has an opening 18' formed in one end thereof, this opening corresponding to the openings or notches 18 described hereinabove, relative to the embodiment of FIG. 2, for association with an upstanding boss 14 to lock the clip assembly 40 to the necktie form 10'. Two parallel slots 44 are cut longitudinally in the spring member 40, with the central portion 45 forming the spring leaf being bent out of the plane of the spring member 42 and generally parallel thereto, as seen in MG. 112. The end of the spring leaf 45 is bent generally at right angles to form a hook on the end thereof. The outer leaf strips 46 formed on each side of the spring leaf 45 have the ends thereof bent in a generally U- shaped configuration opening toward the hook on the end of spring leaf $5 to form a hinge for the movable arm member 52.

The movable arm member 52 is formed in a general T-shape, with the Tshaped end thereof being bent back toward the opposite end in a generally J-shape, as seen in HOT 13. The end of the movable arm member 52 having tabs 5d extending outwardly on each side thereof and forming the T is bent at a sharp angle relative to the remaining curved portion of the arm member 52 to form the hinge of the clip assembly 410 in combination with the spring leaf 45 and outer leaf strips 46 of the stationary spring member 42. If desired, the opposite end of the movable arm member 52 may have a depression 56 formed therein to assist in increasing the holding capabilities of the clip assembly at) in attaching the tie assembly to the collar of a user's shirt in assembly, the end of the movable arm member 52 having the outwardly extending tabs or ears S4 is positioned between the center spring leaf 45 and the curved portions of the outer leaf strips 46 so that the tabs 54 are positioned in the curved ends of the outer leaf strips 46, with the spring leaf 45 applying a biasing force against the end of movable member 52 to bias the depressed end 56 of the movable arm member 52 in the direction of the surface of the stationary spring member 42. The stationary spring member 42 is then inserted into the slot formed below the upstanding portion or pillar 12, with the depressed portion 56 of the movable arm member 52 thereby being biassed into the V-shaped slot formed on the end of the upstanding pillar 112'. The movable clip assembly AM) is locked in position by engagement of the boss or bosses M with the opening 18 or corresponding slots formed in the sides of the stationary spring member 42.

in assembling the tie fabric onto the tie clip modification of FIGS. Ill-13, the slot 30 cut in the outer fabric layer 24! is slipped over the upstanding pillar l2 and the above-described method of assembling the fabric material is followed.

A further modification of the subject tie form 110 for assisting in the attachment of the tie fabric to the form is shown in H6. 11. As shown in FIG. 11, the tie form has two or more holes 60 formed in the central por tion of the side edges 17 near the outer edges thereof for securing the tie fabric by stitching after the fabric has been drawn around the sides 17 of the form 10'. The use of the holes 60 eliminates the necessity of stitching the material on the back side thereof.

Other alternatives would be to moveably attach the collar hook or clip 16 to the upper edge of the necktie form It) and provide a torsion spring to bias the clip against a standoff attached to the concave side of the form 10, or to make the standoff and spring clip of a one-piece construction and attach the complete clip assembly to the concave side of the form It). It should be noted that any of these embodiments of the detail pertaining to the means for attaching the tie structure to a collar of wearing apparel can be employed without varying from the scope of the present invention.

The invention described hereinabove results in the manufacture of a tie that is attractive, as well as unique in appearance, of low cost due to the use of less fabric and, accordingly, less stitching required, is easy to make since it requires only minor steps of assembly, is rugged, easy to store and easy to disassemble if it is desired to adapt other pieces of material to the single form or to replace the material originally supplied thereon.

While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to a preferred embodiment 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.

What is claimed is:

ll. A method of fabricating a pretied knotless necktie employing a generally rigid tie form adapted for releasable attachment to the collar or neck band of wearing apparel by an attaching means, wherein the tie gives the appearance of the absence of a knot at the end of the tie attached to the wearing apparel, comprising the steps of:

forming indentations in each longitudinal side of the tie form; inserting the attaching means of the tie form through a slot formed in a tie facial fabric;

placing the tie form and facial fabric against a piece of full cut tie liner material, with the tie form lo cated between the pieces of fabric;

folding the facial fabric and liner material over the tie form on the sides of the tie form opposite the attaching means;

gathering the tie material along each longitudinal side of the tie form at the indentations thereof on the side opposite the layers of the liner material and the facial fabric to present a smooth flared surface on the side of the tie form opposite the attaching means;

securing together the material gathered from each side of the tie form, wherein the assembled tie form and tie fabric material presents an uninterrupted smooth pattern along the entire length of the tie on the side of the material opposite the attaching means.

2. The method as set forth in claim ll, further comprising the step of forming the tie form into a concave configuration in a transverse plane in the direction of the attaching means for the tie form to assist in the flare control of the tie.

3. A method as set forth in claim H, further comprising the step of forming a recess in the surface of the tie form on the side opposite said attaching means for accommodating the folded tie material to prevent the appearance of a ridge caused by the material foldover.

4. A clip-on necktie comprising in combination, a tie form assembly including a generally rigid form member having means for attaching said form to a collar of wearing apparel, said attaching means being secured to one side of said form in the area of an uppermost edge thereof, the longitudinal side edges of said tie form being flared inwardly from each corner toward the center of the form to present an hour-glass configuration when viewed from the front side thereof, a tie fabric material consisting of a first piece of outer facial fabric and a second piece of tie liner fabric positioned on the back side of said facial fabric, said facial fabric having a slot cut transversely therein for insertion of said attaching means therethrough, said facial fabric being positioned on the side of said necktie form having said attaching means, said attaching means being inserted through said slot in said facial fabric to position said tie form between said facial fabric and said liner material, said facial fabric and liner material being folded over the side of said tie form opposite said attaching means, and gathered around each longitudinal side of said form to pull said material tight against the side of said form opposite said attaching means, and means for securing the facial fabric gathered around each inwardly flaring longitudinal side of said tie form on the side thereof where said attaching means is located, wherein said tie form controls the flare of said end of said tie fabric located adjacent a collar to which the tie is attached to present a no-knot appearance with a continuous fabric pattern extending the entire length of the tie.

5. A no-knot tie structure as set forth in claim 4, wherein said tie form further includes a recess formed longitudinally in the surface of said tie form on the side opposite said attaching means to accommodate the folded layers of material at the rear of the tie.

6. A no-knot tie structure as claimed in claim 4, wherein said attaching means comprises a generally U- shaped member having one end thereof extending through a slot formed in said tie form, said U-shaped member forming a clip for hooking onto a collar of a shirt to attach said tie to a collar.

7. A no-knot tie structure as set forth in claim 4, wherein said attaching means comprises a U-shaped member, said U-shaped member being formed from the surface of said tie form and having one end severed from the tie form, the other end of said U-shaped member remaining attached to the tie form, the leg of the U-shaped member having the end severed from the tie form being positioned generally parallel to the surface of the tie form to form a clip for attaching the tie assembly to a shirt collar.

8. A no-knot tie structure as set forth in claim 4,

wherein said attaching means comprises a stationary member secured to said form, said stationary member having a longitudinal leaf spring means formed therein and terminating at the end of said stationary member positioned in the direction of the uppermost edge of said form, said stationary member having the ends thereof adjacent said leaf spring formed in a generally U-shaped configuration to form a hinge, a movable arm member having outwardly extending tabs formed on one end thereof, the end of said arm member having said tabs being curved toward the remaining end of said arm member, said tabs being movably positioned in the U-shaped curved end portions of said stationary spring member, said spring leaf biassing against the surface of said movable member opposite the surface in movable contact with the curved portions of said stationary member, whereby the end of said movable arm member opposite the end having said outwardly extending tabs is biassed into contact with the surface of said stationary spring member for attaching said tie structure to a shirt collar.

9. A no-knot tie structure as claimed in claim 8, further comprising an upstanding pillar having one end thereof rigidly attached to said one side of said tie form and being positioned on said stationary spring member between the end of said movable arm member biassed in the direction of said stationary spring member and said stationary spring member, whereby said movable arm member is biassed against the outermost end of said upstanding pillar to form a clip to attach said tie structure to a shirt collar.

10. A no-knot tie structure as set forth in claim 9, wherein said upraised pil lar has a depression formed in the outermost end thereof, said movable arm member being biassed into engagement with the surface of said depression formed in the upstanding end of said pillar.

Ill. A no-knot tie structure as set forth in claim 10, wherein said depression formed in the upstanding end of said pillar has a generally V-shaped configuration.

Claims

1. A method of fabricating a pretied knotless necktie employing a generally rigid tie form adapted for releasable attachment to the collar or neck band of wearing apparel by an attaching means, wherein the tie gives the appearance of the absence of a knot at the end of the tie attached to the wearing apparel, comprising the steps of: forming indentations in each longitudinal side of the tie form; inserting the attaching means of the tie form through a slot formed in a tie facial fabric; placing the tie form anD facial fabric against a piece of full cut tie liner material, with the tie form located between the pieces of fabric; folding the facial fabric and liner material over the tie form on the sides of the tie form opposite the attaching means; gathering the tie material along each longitudinal side of the tie form at the indentations thereof on the side opposite the layers of the liner material and the facial fabric to present a smooth flared surface on the side of the tie form opposite the attaching means; securing together the material gathered from each side of the tie form, wherein the assembled tie form and tie fabric material presents an uninterrupted smooth pattern along the entire length of the tie on the side of the material opposite the attaching means.

2. The method as set forth in claim 1, further comprising the step of forming the tie form into a concave configuration in a transverse plane in the direction of the attaching means for the tie form to assist in the flare control of the tie.

3. A method as set forth in claim 1, further comprising the step of forming a recess in the surface of the tie form on the side opposite said attaching means for accommodating the folded tie material to prevent the appearance of a ridge caused by the material foldover.

6. A no-knot tie structure as claimed in claim 4, wherein said attaching means comprises a generally U-shaped member having one end thereof extending through a slot formed in said tie form, said U-shaped member forming a clip for hooking onto a collar of a shirt to attach said tie to a collar.

8. A no-knot tie structure as set forth in claim 4, wherein said attaching means comprises a stationary member secured to said form, said stationary member having a longitudinal leaf spring means formed therein and terminating at the end of said stationary member positioned in the direction of the uppermost edge of said form, said stationary member having the ends thereof adjacent said leaf spring formed in a generally U-shaped configuration to form a hinge, a movable arm member having outwardly extending tabs formed on one end thereof, the end of said arm member having said tabs being curved toward the remaining end of said arm member, said tabs being movably positioned in the U-shaped curved end portions of said stationary spring member, said spring leaf biassing against the surface of said movable member opposite the surface in movable contact with the curved portions of said stationary member, whereby the end of said movable arm member opposite the end having said outwardly extending tabs is biassed into contact with the surface of said stationary spring member for attaching said tie structure to a shirt collar.

10. A no-knot tie structure as set forth in claim 9, wherein said upraised pillar has a depression formed in the outermost end thereof, said movable arm member being biassed into engagement with the surface of said depression formed in the upstanding end of said pillar.

11. A no-knot tie structure as set forth in claim 10, wherein said depression formed in the upstanding end of said pillar has a generally V-shaped configuration.