Tie button

Abstract

A tie button for covering and providing ornamentation at the juncture of the lower portion of a necktie knot and the free hanging portion of the tie disposed immediately below the knot is provided. The button includes an ornament body structure defining front and rear sides and the front side of the structure includes characteristics which render the body structure ornamental when viewed from the front side thereof. The rear side of the body structure includes clamp arms which open toward each other and are supported at one pair of adjacent ends from a central portion of the rear side of the ornament body for pivotal movement relative to the body structure about axes disposed at generally right angles relative to a front-to-rear extending path passing centrally through the body structure between closed operative positions with the other pair of ends of the arms swung toward each other and open inoperative positions with the other pair of arm ends swung away from each other. The arms, when in the closed positions, define at least a substantially closed generally circular boundary for disposition about the associated necktie and spring structure is provided for yieldingly biasing the arms toward their operative positions.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

At present neckties are made of thicker material than in the recent past and for the most part a polyester material is used in the construction of neckties. However, present necktie fashions dictate the utilization of a wider necktie which, in combination with the thicker polyester material, lessens the ability of a tie to be tied in a knot which is sharply tapered or V-shaped in appearance. Accordingly, many persons who are forced to use the newer wider ties constructed of polyester materials are unable to tie a knot which provides a tapered V-shaped appearance. Further, a second problem is encountered in tying a knot with thicker and wider ties in that the part of the tie below the knot has a tendency to twist and the neat appearance of the tie is at least partially destroyed. Also, a third problem encountered when tying ties presently sold resides in the fact that the knots in the ties tend to slip after the necktie is worn for a period of time and as the knot slips it is lowered in relation to the forward portion of the collar of the associated shirt exposing the forward collar portion and even the button utilized to secure the front portions of the collar together.

While several devices have been heretofore designed for the purpose of maintaining the neat appearance of a necktie after the tie has been knotted, these previous devices have had various drawbacks in usage and appearance. Examples of previously patented necktie clasps may be found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,101, 493, 2,673,983 and 2,050,433. Further, examples of previously patented structures including structural features somewhat similar to the instant invention may be found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 299,658 and 310,795.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The tie button of the instant invention may be defined as a clamp structure having an ornamental base and functions to secure the lower portion of the knot of a necktie in a manner so that the knot will retain a tapered V-shaped appearance, prevents the material below the knot from twisting, and prevents the knot from slipping and becoming loosened. Further, the tie button further serves as a decorative piece of jewelry and the forwardly facing ornamental portion of the button may assume substantially any ornamental appearance.

The main object of this invention is to provide a tie button which, in addition to providing an ornamental appearance, will secure a necktie knot so that it retains a tapered or V-shaped appearance.

Another object of this invention is to provide an apparatus which will prevent the material below the knot tied in a necktie from twisting.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a structure in accordance with the preceding objects which will prevent the knot tied in a necktie from slipping so as to become loosened.

A final object of this invention to be specifically enumerated herein is to provide a tie button which will conform to conventional forms of manufacture, be of simple construction and easy to use so as to provide a device that will be economically feasible, long lasting and relatively trouble free in operation.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the collar portion of a shirt with a knotted necktie operatively associated therewith and the tie button of the instant invention mounted on the tie at the juncture between the lower portion of the knot and the upper portion of the free hanging section of the tie disposed immediately below the knot;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the structure illustrated in FIG. 1 as seen from the left side thereof;

FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view of the tie button;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged top plan view of the tie button with the clamp arms thereof illustrated in closed positions by solid lines and in open positions by phantom lines;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 5--5 of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 6--6 of FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, the numeral 10 generally designates a conventional form of shirt including a collar 12 having downwardly tapering tabs or wings 14 and 16.

The numeral 18 generally designates a conventional form of necktie which is tied about the collar 12 in order to form a downwardly tapering knot 20 and a free hanging portion 22 depending downwardly from the lower portion of the knot 20.

The tie button of the instant invention is referred to in general by the reference numeral 24 and includes an ornament body 26 having front and rear sides 28 and 30 and an ornamental stone 32 is secured over the front side of the body 26.

The central portion of the rear side 30 of the body 26 has a U-shaped mounting bracket 34 secured thereto. The bracket 34 includes a pair of generally parallel flanges 36 interconnected at one pair of corresponding ends by means of a bight portion 38 extending therebetween and the bight portion 38 may be secured to the rear side 30 of the body 26 in any convenient manner such as by soldering. The ends of the flanges 36 remote from the bight portion 38 include aligned bores 40 through which a pivot shaft 42 is secured.

A pair of generally semi-circular clamp arms 44 and 46 are provided and one pair of corresponding ends of the clamp arms 44 and 46 include interdigitated furcations 48 and 50, respectively. The furcations 48 and 50 have aligned bores formed therethrough registered with the bores 40 and through which the pivot shaft or fastener 42 is rotatably received. In addition, the bifurcated or base ends of the clamp arms 44 and 46 are relieved as at 50 and 52 and a butterfly spring 54 has its coiled portion 56 disposed about the pivot shaft 42 intermediate the furcations 48 and its opposite ends engaged with the relieved portions 50 and 52. The spring 54 biases the clamp arms 46 toward the closed positions thereof illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 of the drawings with the free ends of the clamp arms 44 and 46 abutted against each other and away from the open phantom line positions of the clamp arms 44 and 46 illustrated in FIG. 4.

When the free ends of the clamp arms 44 and 46 are spaced apart as illustrated by phantom lines in FIG. 4, the clamp arms 44 and 46 may be advanced into engagement with the juncture of the lower portion of the knot 20 in the upper end of the portion 22 whereby the aforementioned juncture is received between the arms 44 and 46. Then, the arms 44 and 46 may be released for swinging toward the closed operative solid line positions thereof illustrated in FIG. 4 to clamp reasonably tightly about the aforementioned juncture.

By clamping the clamp arms 44 and 46 about the lower portion of the knot 20 the tapered V-shaped configuration of the knot 20 is retained. Further, the upper extremity of the portion 22 of the tie 18 is prevented from twisting and loosening of the knot 20 is prevented.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

Claims

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A tie button for covering and providing ornamentation at the juncture of the lower portion of a necktie knot and the free hanging portion of the tie disposed below the knot, said button comprising an ornament body defining front and rear sides, the front side of said body including means rendering the structure ornamental when viewed from the front side thereof, the rear side of said body including curved C-shaped clamp arms opening toward each other and supported at one pair of adjacent base ends from a central portion of the rear side of the body for pivotal movement relative to the body about an axis disposed at generally right angles relative to front-to-rear extending path passing centrally through the body and generally normal to a plane in which the other pair of ends of the clamp arms are swingable between closed operative positions with the other pair of free ends of said arms swung toward each other and open inoperative positions with said other pair of ends of said arms swung away from each other, said arms, when in said closed positions, defining at least a substantially closed generally circular boundary for disposition about said juncture, and means connected between said arms and said body yieldingly biasing said arms toward said operative positions, a pair of apertured mounting flanges outstanding from the rear side of said body in spaced apart generally parallel relation, said base ends of said arms including corresponding pairs of opposite side interdigitated furcations provided with aligned apertures, said flanges including bores aligned with said apertures, and a pivot shaft passed through said apertures and bores defining said axis, said means connected between said arms and said body comprising a butterfly spring having a coiled central portion disposed on the center portion of said pivot shaft between said opposite side furcations and opposite end portions engaged with the outer surfaces of said base ends of said arms and biased toward said free ends of said arms.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said other pair of ends of said arms are endwise abuttingly engaged with each other when said arms are in said closed operative positions.