U.S. patent number 3,890,678 [Application Number 05/485,132] was granted by the patent office on 1975-06-24 for tie button.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Sidney H. Leonard, Sr.. Invention is credited to Sidney H. Leonard, Jr..
United States Patent |
3,890,678 |
Leonard, Jr. |
June 24, 1975 |
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.
Inventors: |
Leonard, Jr.; Sidney H.
(Kenosha, WI) |
Assignee: |
Leonard, Sr.; Sidney H.
(Kenosha, WI)
|
Family
ID: |
23927024 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/485,132 |
Filed: |
July 2, 1974 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
24/66.9; 24/510;
63/15.45; 24/66.11; 63/33; 2/153; 63/8 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A41D
25/022 (20130101); A41D 25/10 (20130101); Y10T
24/199 (20150115); Y10T 24/4447 (20150115); Y10T
24/1986 (20150115) |
Current International
Class: |
A41D
25/00 (20060101); A41D 25/02 (20060101); A41D
25/10 (20060101); A41d 025/04 () |
Field of
Search: |
;2/153,150,144
;24/87R,243J,243GC,248JE,248GC,248SB,252CL,252GC,252TC,252J,49KC |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Scanlan, Jr.; Richard J.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: O'Brien; Clarence A. Jacobson;
Harvey B.
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.
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.
* * * * *