US20080028495A1

US20080028495A1 - Tie-pocket shirt

Info

Publication number: US20080028495A1
Application number: US11/485,517
Authority: US
Inventors: Adam F. Alfin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-07-13
Filing date: 2006-07-13
Publication date: 2008-02-07

Abstract

A Tie-Pocket Shirt including a front shirt panel and a pocket disposed on the front shirt panel. The pocket is disposed on the front shirt panel and includes a pocket body attached to the front shirt panel and a flap attached to the front shirt panel directly above the pocket body. The flap includes an under side and an outer side. When the flap and necktie are tucked into the pocket and disposed between the front shirt panel and the pocket body, the tie is held in place within the pocket

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The field of endeavor involves the clothing and apparel industry; specifically, ties worn in the work place and within environments where the protection of the tie and the safety of a user is a focal point. One of the factors that limits the ability to keep a tie from freely swinging around and looking sloppy when walking or working, is the lack of being able to secure the end of the tie to the garment that the user is wearing. A fastened tie will remove the danger resulting from a tie becoming caught in machines and the like. In addition, a fastened tie will remove the possibility of the tie coming in contact with food while dining.
Users may use the shirt itself to retain the free end of tie in a secure position rather than employing an anchor, such as inserting the ends of the tie between buttons on a shirt. However, a twisted tie tucked between the buttons may be considered sloppy dressing and may look bulky behind a fine dress shirt or sweater vest.
Therefore, a product that facilitates easy and convenient securing of free ends of a neck accessory, such as a necktie, when working, dining out or the like, is desired. Specifically, a necktie securing member is desired having a convenient construction on a shirt and allowing fashionable and secure attachment of ends of the necktie to the shirt.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An exemplary embodiment provides a tie-pocket shirt including a front shirt panel and a pocket disposed on the front shirt panel. The pocket is disposed on the front shirt panel and includes a pocket body attached to the front shirt panel and a flap attached to the front shirt panel directly above the pocket body. The flap includes an under side and an outer side. When the flap and necktie are tucked into the pocket and disposed between the front shirt panel and the pocket body, the tie is held in place within the pocket

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts an exemplary embodiment of a pocket including a flap and a chain assembly anchored into the flap of the pocket;

FIG. 2 depicts an exemplary embodiment of a pocket including a flap of the pocket, as well as a chain assembly tucked into the pocket;

FIG. 3 depicts an exemplary embodiment of a pocket including a flap positioned flipped up and a chain assembly anchored to the flap;

FIG. 4 depicts an exemplary embodiment of a shirt including a tie tucked into the pocket and a clip of the chain assembly visibly exposed in a front of the tie while still attached to the chain assembly;

FIG. 5 depicts another exemplary embodiment of a shirt including the tie exposed outside of the pocket while affixed by the chain assembly to the shirt; and the chain assembly attached to the pocket flap that is tucked in to the pocket;

FIG. 6 depicts another exemplary embodiment of a shirt with the pocket flap exposed and the chain of the chain assembly hanging outside of the pocket and visible at a front of the pocket; and

FIG. 7 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a shirt including a pocket without a securing means and a tie being secured by the pocket.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention is described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the exemplary embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.
It will be understood that, although the terms first, second, third, etc., may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections, these elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer or section from another region, layer or section. Thus, a first element, component, region, layer or section discussed below could be termed a second element, component, region, layer or section without departing from the teachings of the present invention.
Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Designing a shirt with a pocket intended to secure the loose end of a neck tie should be both stylish and have a purpose for safety. The positioning of this pocket, such as in the lower mid section of a shirt (e.g., belly button region), provides the wearer with both uses. In order to enhance each use, a well designed flap and pocket set can be both decorative and purposeful.
Whereas long neck ties can create hazardous conditions next to certain machinery and equipment, a chain assembly can provide greater protection, as well as fashion, especially in a manufacturing work environment. The chain assembly may include a combination of a pin assembly and/or a chain. Rather then relying on a tie-tack to keep the loose ends of a tie from freely dangling from the wearer's neck, it would be advantageous to provide the wearer with a shirt that does not necessarily limit him or her to a simple inexpensive tie-tack that maintains no fashion statement. Alternatively, a shirt pocket and flap combination can be useful without the need of a chain or pin clip combination.
An exemplary embodiment includes a Tie-Pocket Shirt for securing a free end of a necktie that has a stylish pocket naturally found in the central lower (e.g., belly-button) section of a shirt where the end of the necktie is worn, such as two thirds of the way down from the center of the front-collar of the shirt. The pocket's flap can be tucked into or hung over the pocket as needed or desired by the user. A chain including a pin-clip assembly on one end and an opposite end of the chain being anchored to the inside of the pockets flap can be utilized to secure the necktie to the shirt. Although not limited thereto, the shape of the pocket member may be substantially rectangular, V-shaped, cowl-like. The pocket is disposed on the outside of the shirt. While without securing the free end of the tie, the free end of the tie may uncontrollably swing loosely such as in windy conditions or risk get caught in machinery equipment while a user is working, a pocket according to the exemplary embodiment would allow the user to tuck the flap end of the necktie into the centered pocket, and clip it with a chain pin-clip for its secure fit.
FIG. 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of a pocket 100 including a pocket body 10, a flap 20 and a securing member 30, such as a chain assembly. Pocket 100 may be constructed similar to a standard dress shirt pocket that is placed on the upper left chest area of the shirt. However, the pocket 100 illustrated in FIG. 1 includes flap 20 that is configured and designed in such a way that the flap 20 could be tucked into the pocket body 10 or be pulled out and exposed from the pocket body 10 for any of a number of uses. The pocket body 10 and flap 20 are directly affixed to a shirt 90, such as a dress shirt. That is, the pocket 100 may be considered a separate element that is added to a shirt. In an exemplary embodiment, the pocket 100 may be attached such as by using regular thread stitching by the original manufacturer.
The pocket body 10 may be substantially rectilinear shaped, such as square shaped. The pocket body 10 includes edges 12, 14, 16 and 18. Edges 12, 14 and 16 are substantially attached to the shirt 90. A portion or an entire of edge 18 is not attached to the shirt 90 and provides access to an inner face of the pocket body 10. The edge 18 includes an opening into which the flap 20 may be accommodated when the flap 20 is folded down and tucked into the pocket body 10.
The flap 20 is attached at an upper edge 28 to a front of the shirt panel 96 (See, FIGS. 4-6). The flap includes edges 26, such as disposed at an angle, that may be exposed outside of the pocket body 10.
Chain assembly 30 may include a clip 32, pin 34, extension 36 and anchor 38 (FIG. 3). The chain assembly 30 is anchored to the flap 20 of the pocket 100, such as at a central portion of the flap 20. The extension 36 and pin 34 protrude from an outer side 24 of the flap 20. The clip 32 and the pin 34 are configured for removable connection to each other. In an exemplary embodiment, the extension 36 may be a chain. Hereinafter, extension 36 may be referred to as a chain. The chain 36 is connected at a first end to the pin 34 and at a second end to the flap 20.
FIG. 2 shows an exemplary embodiment of the pocket 100 with the flap 20 tucked into the pocket body 10. The flap 20 is configured such that edges 26 may be accommodated by the pocket body 10. The attachment edge 28 of the flap 20 may be a substantially same length or shorter than the upper edge 18 (e.g., the opening) of the pocket body 10. The flap 20 is accommodated in the pocket body 10 such that the flap 20 is disposed substantially flat against the shirt panel 96. As illustrated, the flap 20 and the pocket body 10 may be separate parts of the pocket 100, each being individually attached to a shirt 90 (FIG. 4).
The pin 34 is combined with the clip 32 and the clip 32 is exposed on an outside of the pocket body 10. A protruding portion of the pin 34 may penetrate the pocket body 10 and be inserted into the clip 32 such that the pin 34 and the clip 32 are combined. In the illustrated embodiment, the chain 36 and the pin 34 are positioned inside of the pocket body 10 (e.g., between an inner face of the pocket body 10 and the outer side 24 of the flap 20) when the flap 20 is tucked into the pocket body 10. In exemplary embodiments, a tie 80 (FIG. 4) may be tucked into the pocket 100 with or without being anchored to the chain assembly 30.
FIG. 2 also demonstrates an exemplary embodiment of a location where the clip 32 of the chain assembly 30 could be affixed should the chain assembly 30 be used to anchor an object that is disposed on the shirt, such as a tie 80 (FIG. 4). Alternatively, the flap 20 and an entire of the chain assembly 30 may be tucked into the pocket body 10 without the chain assembly 30 being attached to the pocket body 10, such that the chain 36, pin 34 and clip 32 would not be visible on the outside of the pocket 100.
FIG. 3 is an exemplary embodiment of a front perspective view of the pocket 100 including the flap 20 being flipped up, such as pivoting at the upper edge 28 of the flap 20, while the flap 20 is attached to the shirt 90. The anchor 38 of the chain assembly 30 can be viewed from the underside 22 of the flap 20. The anchor 38 underneath the flap 20 of the pocket 100 secures the chain 36 and pin 34 such that the chain assembly 30 extends from the underside 22 of the flap 20 to the outer side 24. The chain 36 is connected at the first end to the pin 34 and at the second end to the anchor 38.
FIG. 4 is an exemplary embodiment of a shirt 90 including a collar 92, neck opening 94 and front panel 96. The pocket 100 is disposed on the front panel 96, such as at a lower middle portion thereof. A tie 80 is illustrated tucked into the pocket body 10. The tie 80 is disposed on and contacts the outerside 24 of the flap 20 while the flap 20 is also tucked into the pocket body 10.
The chain assembly 30 including the chain 36, pin 34 and clip 32 are anchored from the pocket 100 to the tie 80. In an exemplary embodiment, since the chain 36 and pin 34 protrude from the outerside 24 of the flap 20, the chain 36 and pin 34 are positioned between the outerside 24 of the flap 20 and the tie 80. A part of the pin 34 may penetrate the tie 80 in a direction from the flap 20 to a front (e.g., visible) side of the tie 80 such that the part of the pin 34 can be combined with the clip 32. The clip 32 is combined with the pin 34 and is exposed to the outside of the tie 80, as illustrated in FIG. 4. Advantageously, the tie 80 is attached via the chain assembly to the pocket 100 and to the shirt 90, and a free end of the tie 80 is safely secured in the pocket body 10.
FIG. 5 is another exemplary embodiment of a shirt 90 including a pocket 100 and a tie 80 secured to the shirt 90. The tie 80 is shown as hanging on an outside of and over a portion of the pocket body 10, but still with the chain 36 and pin 34 clipped to the tie 80 for a secure fit.
The chain assembly 30 including the chain 36, pin 34 and clip 32 are anchored from the pocket 100 to the tie 80. The chain 36 and pin 34 protrude from the outerside 24 of the flap 20 and the chain 36 extends from the flap 20 to the tie 80. In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 5, a portion of the chain 36 is disposed between the outerside 24 of the flap 20 (e.g., tucked into the pocket 100) and an inner face of the pocket body 10 . A remaining portion of the chain 36 would extend out of the open part of edge 18 of the pocket body 10 to be connected to the tie 80 via the pin 34 and the clip 32. This remaining portion of the chain 36 would remain covered and not visible by tie 80.
The pin 34 may penetrate the tie 80 in a direction from the flap 20 to a front (e.g., visible) side of the tie 80 such that a portion of the pin 34 can be combined with the clip 32. The clip 32 is combined with the pin 34 and is exposed to the outside of the tie 80, as illustrated in FIG. 5. Advantageously, the tie 80 is attached via the chain assembly to the pocket 100 and to the shirt 90, and a free end of the tie 80 is safely secured in the pocket body 10.
FIG. 6 is another exemplary embodiment of a shirt 90 including a pocket 100 but without a tie being attached. The pocket 100 is illustrated in a closed arrangement including the flap 20 folded at the attachment edge 28 and disposed over a portion of the pocket body 10. The chain 36 is visible at a front of the shirt 90 and clipped to a middle of the pocket body 10.
The chain 36 and pin 34 protrude from the outerside 24 of the flap 20 and the chain 36 extends from the flap 20 to an outer face of the pocket body 10. The pin 34 as illustrated in FIG. 6, penetrates the pocket body 10 in a direction from the outer face of the pocket body 10 towards an inner face (e.g., a non visible inside of the pocket) such that the pin 34 can be combined with the clip 32. The clip 32 is combined with the pin 34 and is not visible to the outside of the shirt 90, while the pin 34 is exposed at a front side of the pocket 100.
In an exemplary embodiment, a shirt pocket and flap combination can be useful without the need of a chain or pin clip combination. FIG. 7 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a shirt 90 including the pocket 100 disposed on a lower middle portion of a front panel 96, whereby an additional securing means is omitted.
Similar to the embodiment of FIG. 4, the shirt pocket and flap combination illustrated in FIG. 7 include flap 20 located above the pocket body 10 and tucked into the pocket body 10, whereby a free end of a tie 80 may also be tucked into the pocket body 10. The tie 80 is disposed on and contacts the outerside 24 of the flap 20 while the flap 20 is tucked into the pocket body 10.
Without the tie 80, a thickness of the flap 20 fills a space between the pocket body 10 and the shirt panel 26 when the flap 20 is tucked into the pocket 100. However, when the tie 80 is also tucked in the pocket 100 and disposed between the flap 20 and an inner surface of the pocket body 10 as shown in FIG. 7, the inner space of the pocket 100 is further occupied with a thickness of the tie 80. The flap 20 and tie 80 are essentially pressed or held contacting with each other by the pocket body 10 and the shirt panel 96 because of an increased thickness occupying the inside of the pocket 100. The flap 20 when tucked in, presses the back of the tie 80 forward (or up), while the pocket body 10 presses the front of the tie 80 back (or down), thereby sandwiching the tie 80 between the flap 20 and the pocket body 10 (e.g., causing a friction force between the flap 20 and the tie 80) and securing the end of the tie 80 in the pocket 100 without requiring an additional securing means.
As illustrated in FIGS. 4, 5 and 7, dimensions of the flap 20 are configured such that the flap 20 can be hidden or covered by the free end of the tie 80 when the tie 80 is tucked into or hanging over the pocket 100.
While the invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A Tie-Pocket Shirt for securing a necktie, comprising:

a front shirt panel,

a pocket disposed on the front shirt panel and including:

a pocket body attached to the front shirt panel; and

a flap attached to the front shirt panel directly above the pocket body and including an under side and an outer side;

wherein when the flap and necktie are tucked into the pocket and disposed between the front shirt panel and the pocket body, the tie is held in place within the pocket.

2. The Tie-Pocket Shirt of claim 1, further comprising a securing member including:

a first end attached to the under side of the flap;

a second end disposed at the outer side of the flap, the second end being attached to an object disposed on the shirt;

an anchoring member disposed at the first end and visible at the underside of the flap;

a pin member and a clip member disposed at the second end, configured to be combined with each other and attach to the object disposed on the shirt, and

an extended member connecting the first end and the second end of the securing member.

3. The Tie-Pocket Shirt of claim 2, wherein when the flap and necktie, along with the pin/clip and extended member are tucked into the pocket and disposed between the front shirt panel and the pocket body, should a user choose not expose the securing member and secure the tie, the tie is held in place within the pocket.

4. The Tie-Pocket Shirt of claim 1, wherein when the flap is tucked into the pocket the necktie can rest over the pocket, such that the flap is not exposed.

5. The Tie-Pocket Shirt of claim 2, wherein the pocket body includes a first edge, a second edge and a third edge attached to the front shirt panel, and a fourth edge disposed at an upper portion of the pocket and including an open portion; and

wherein the flap includes a fifth edge attached to the front shirt panel, and a sixth edge and a seventh edge free to bend along the fifth edge of the flap.

6. The Tie-Pocket Shirt of claim 5, wherein the fourth edge of the pocket body is configured to accommodate a portion of the sixth and seventh edges of the flap, and when the flap is bent along the fifth edge of the flap, the flap is disposed between the pocket body and the front shirt panel.

7. The Tie-Pocket Shirt of claim 6, wherein when the flap is accommodated in the pocket body, the second end of the securing member is visible at a front side of the shirt.

8. The Tie-Pocket Shirt of claim 6, wherein when the flap is accommodated in the pocket body, the object disposed on the shirt is held between a first member and a second member of the second end of the securing member and the second end of the securing member is visible at a front side of the object.

9. The Tie-Pocket Shirt of claim 5, wherein when the sixth and seventh edges of the flap are bent along the fifth edge of the flap, and the flap overlaps a portion of a front side of the pocket body, the second end of the securing member is attached to the pocket body and visible at the front side of the pocket body.

10. The Tie-Pocket Shirt of claim 2, wherein the object disposed on the shirt is the necktie.

11. The Tie-Pocket Shirt of claim 2, wherein the object disposed on the shirt is the pocket body.