Apparel – Body garments – Neckties
Reexamination Certificate
1999-01-04
2001-04-03
Calvert, John J. (Department: 3741)
Apparel
Body garments
Neckties
C002S144000, C002S157000, C002S207000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06209136
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a multipurpose necktie with a neck portion, a tie portion, and a front apron. The tie portion may be looped to form a knot. A multipurpose necktie as used herein is also understood to include a cravat or long necktie, a neck cloth, or even a kind of scarf, provided the cut of same changes over their length.
Normally, neckties comprise a tie portion, a neck portion, and a front apron. It is not necessary that same exhibit a clear separation from one another. Preferably, the tie portion is looped to form a knot in such a manner that a portion of the front apron covers with its free end the projecting length of the neck portion. Thus, the selection of the necktie material and the configuration of the front apron essentially determine the decorative appearance of the necktie. However, both the configuration and the selection of the necktie material are not arbitrary. In the manufacture of neckties, the material may not be embroidered or designed as desired, for example, be made of lace. This would not support a possibly traditional further processing of a necktie material. On the other hand, the selection of the necktie material is likewise restricted in that requirements exist that result from the use of a finished necktie. These requirements are, for example, longevity, ruggedness, tying quality, washability, and/or pressability. As a result, it is possible that optical quality may become insignificant in the selection of a necktie material. A further restriction of a necktie results from stylish ideas, which ultimately permit for certain areas or occasions only different configurations of a long necktie. While festive occasions require a rather modest form of a necktie, neckties with colorful, in part even loud designs are preferred in particular in the area of leisure-time activities. In addition, likewise the taste as regards styling a necktie changes in the course of time. This change imparts to a necktie an only limited usable life. Known are neckties with exchangeable individual components. DE 88 17 058 U1 discloses a necktie, wherein at least the front apron is exchangeable. EP 0 579 972 discloses a long necktie of a length that is composed of different, combinable individual sections. These individual sections may have different designs and/or patterns. Likewise, DE 92 06 006 U1 discloses a multipart necktie with a front apron consisting of different, but combinable portions. Between these portions it is possible to hide a cleaning cloth for glasses. In comparison therewith, FR 73 37 114 shows a necktie wherein a front apron can be inserted into a neck portion.
Furthermore, DE 69 13 333 discloses a cravat of the kind of a long necktie with two layers of necktie material. Same form each a display surface, and both display surfaces are in part joined to each other at the edge of the necktie. By unfolding one of the two display surfaces, the other one is exposed. Another kind of a multipurpose use is shown in FR 25 93 680. The long necktie shown therein is described a surprise necktie, since its front apron can be unfolded for removing a bow tie from a thus-formed space.
FR-A-846 674 discloses a long necktie, which has to free ends. One is the end of the front apron, the other is the end of the neck portion of the long necktie. It a tied condition, both ends can overlie each other such that none the two ends can be moved against each other. To this end, the narrower end of the neck portion is overlapped by a freely foldable flap of the front apron and secured to same. This is to avoid that the narrower end of the neck portion becomes visible, when the front apron dislodges.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,613,992 discloses again a multipurpose necktie that permits a variety of tying possibilities of the long necktie, namely both as a cravat and, for example as an Ascot. To this end, the long necktie consists of a neck tying portion and a square of fabric attached thereto. The fabric of the square may be folded depending on the desired form of the multipurpose necktie.
It is the object of the present invention to provide a necktie, which is capable of serving several purposes, and provides by itself different styles. Furthermore, it is an object of the invention to provide a suitable method of using the multipurpose capabilities of the necktie with the inclusion of different styles of the necktie.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The multipurpose necktie is made in one piece with an overall length consisting of a neck portion of one width, a tie portion, and a front apron. The tie portion can be looped to a knot. The multipurpose tie is made variable by constructing at least one foldable part of the front apron of a first length of at least 15 cm with at least two freely foldable flaps. In this connection, an additional possibility of variation is present by
an adjustability of the overall length of the multipurpose necktie, the overall length being repeatedly variable; and/or
an adjustability of the width of the neck portion, the width being repeatedly variable.
Freely foldable means that the two flaps are not permanently joined to each other by a seam. This allows varying the width of the foldable part as desired. Furthermore, the variable multipurpose necktie with a neck portion, a tie portion, and a front apron is made in one piece. The use of a single multipurpose necktie for different occasions does not require carrying always along additional parts for the multipurpose necktie. The multipurpose necktie itself guarantees the variability. Therefore, the freely repeatable foldability is likewise an independent inventive idea which also stands by itself.
Furthermore, variability is achieved in particular by an adjustability of the overall length and/or the width, preferably in the neck portion. This allows use of the multipurpose necktie not only for festive events, but also as a scarf or casual neckerchief. Thus, for example, a multipurpose necktie having a length of about 1.5 m and being worn as a cravat is shortened to an overall length of about 1.1 m, when this multipurpose necktie is used as a scarf or a neckerchief.
The method of changing a multipurpose necktie with a neck portion, a tie portion and a front apron from a necktie form to a scarf form includes the following steps:
Repeatedly shortening the neck portion by means of a fastening device;
Unfolding at least two freely foldable flaps of the front apron up to a passthrough and/or a seam in the front apron that is protected against ripping, in particular a bar tack;
Wrapping the tie portion about itself until the passthrough or the seam just disappears below a thereby formed scarf knot; and
Covering the formed scarf knot with the unfolded flaps.
It is possible to reverse the conversion and use the multipurpose necktie as a long necktie.
A partial insertion of the shortened neck portion through the passthrough will facilitate in particular the wrapping of the tie portion, so as to obtain an adequately wide and thick scarf knot. It will be especially advantageous, when the wrapping of the tie portion and the formation of the scarf knot are performed such that a neck width is adjusted by pulling at the neck portion. The use of the multipurpose necktie as a scarf is supported by the fact that a part of the neck portion is repeatably widened.
A particularly preferred embodiment of the invention provides that the front apron comprises at least in a foldable part at least three freely foldable flaps. When folded, the flaps may come to lie against one another or even overlap at least in part. Advantageously, they are combinable with one another. To this end, they are provided with suitable fastening means. In this connection, it has shown to be advantageous that the foldable part of the front apron measures at least 25 cm, in particular at least 30 cm, and preferably at least 35 cm. This allows to avoid that folds forms when the opened foldable part is used in an embodiment of the present invention, so as to form a kind of Ascot-type overlap of the knot that is preferably made in
Alston & Bird LLP
Calvert John J.
Patel Tejad
LandOfFree
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