BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a necktie, which simplifies forming of the knot by using a knot-forming core made of synthetic resin or other material, and w iich enables maintaining of the knot once it is formed, which facilitates putting on and taking off of the necktie by applying one of the attaching means suggested below, and which enables disassembling and reassembling of the knot when washing or ironing is needed.

Description of the Prior Art

As for the traditional necktie, the user must surround the narrow part of the necktie- panel around the neck under the collar of the shirt or blouse, each time he or she wants to put it on. Therefore the process of putting on and taking off the necktie is inconvenient and takes a significant amount of time. Moreover, the user has to tighten the necktie in order to exhibit a good appearance, which inevitably results in compression of the user's neck, and possibly causes impediments in blood circulation or breathing. In efforts to overcome the above problems of the traditional necktie, neckties with readymade knots have been proposed such as those Korean Utility Model Application os. 85-572, 86-13318, 87-606. 87- 13436. 88- 10198, and 88-14811. However, these neckties with readymade knots are not practical nor convenient to put on, and the readymade knots cannot be easily disassembled whereby washing and ironing of it becomes almost impossible.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to provide a necktie with a 'knot-for-ming core' (hereinafter referred to simply as a

'core'), in which all of the above-noted problems can be solved.

The necktie of the present invention is composed of a 'necktie -body ^* made of cloth and a 'knot -forming core' made of synthetic resin or other material. Merely by assembling the above two parts, the user can easily form the knot and thus form the

Y-shaped necktie which has a necktie- anel, a knot, and a pair of arms for attaching the necktie to a shirt or a blouse. As the knot is so made that the knot-shape can be maintained once it is made, the user can put on and take off the necktie very conveniently simply by applying some of the following attaching means. The knot is also so made that it can be easily disassembled and reassembled when washing and ironing is needed. Therefore, the method of forming the knot is the essential part of this invention. As for the attaching means of the present invention, there is provided three types of preferred embodiments as useful examples: a basic-type, a band-t pe, and a string- ype.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Brief Description of Each Figure

Various other objects, features and attendant advantages of the present invention will be more fully appreciated as the same becomes better understood from the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views and wherein:

<Fig.l> is a front view of the 'necktie -body'; <Fig.2> is a perspective view of the 'knot-forming core' made of synthetic resin or other material; <Fig. 3-A to 3-D)> are rear views of the 'necktie- body' , showing the process for forming the knot using the core; <Fig.4> is a front view of the completed 'Y-shaped necktie' , which has a necktie- panel, a knot, and a pair of arms for attaching;

<Fig.5> is a sectional view of the 'core ', as shown when the knot is formed. <Fig.6> is a sectional view of another type of the 'core' , which has a locking-slot in a projection thereof and a cover ⁽ i.e. projection-cover) with a locking- in hinged on an outer end of its projection; <Fig.7> is a sectional view of still another type of the 'core' w ^τ hich has a U-shaped pressstud: <Fig. 8-A to 8~E> are rear views of another type of the necktie- body which has an additional 'back- panel', showing the process for forming the knot;

<Fig. 9-A to 9-E> are rear views of still another type of the necktie-body which has an additional 'back-panel', showing the process for forming the knot; <Fig.lϋ> is a perspective view of the 'necktie- band' for the band-type;

<Fig.l l> is a partial front view of the completed necktie for the band- ype; <Fig.l2> is a partial rear view of the 'necktie-body' for the string- type; <Fig.l3> is a sectional view of the 'core' for the string-type;

<Fig.l4> is a sectional view of the 'core' for the string-type, taken along line I-I of the <Fig.l3>: <Fig.l5> is a sectional view of the core' for the string- ype. showing the state when the projection is pressed; <Fig.l6> is a sectional view of the 'core' for the string-type, showing the state when the projection is released:

Brief Description of the Parts of the Invention in the Drawings

1; necktie- panel la; combining hole lb; narrow part of the panel lc; wide part of the panel lr; back -panel

Ira; combining hole of the back- panel 2; knot-cloth 2a; combining hole

3; necktie-arm 3a; attaching tool

3b; connecting hole

3c; string -way

4; core- bod 4a; string- way

4b; inner cavity

4c; cover (cavity-cover)

5; combining projection 5a; inner part (having small diameter)

5b; outer part ⁽ having large diameter)

5c; cover (projection- cover)

10 5d; locking pin

5e; locking slot

5f; (HI-shaped pressstud

6: band-body 6a; length- adjusting buckle

6b; attaching tool 5 6c; connecting hook

7; spring 8; slider 8a; string-way

; necktie-body (basic-type) N' : necktie-body (band-type)

?0 N"; necktie-body (string- type ⁾

C: core (basic -type) C"; core (string-type) L; shirt -lapel L"; (-ϋ- shaped pressstud attached on shirt -lapel

S: string 5

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As described above, the Y-shaped necktie is formed merely by assembling the 'necktie-body' made of cloth and the 'knot-forming 0 core' made of synthetic resin or other material, the user may put on and take off the necktie simply by using one type of attaching means or another. Here, three types of preferred embodiments (basic-type, band-type, and string-type) classified according to the attaching means are suggested and will be separately described as follows.

1. Forming and Wearing of Basic-Type Necktie (1st Embodiment)

The basic type necktie composed of a necktie-body (N) and a core (C) is produced as follows.

As shown in <FIG.1>, the necktie-body (N) comprises three components; a necktie -panel (1), a knot- cloth (2). and a pair of necktie-arms (3).

The necktie-panel (1) has a shape such as results when one cuts off a traditional necktie at a position spaced about 3 cm above the desired knot-forming position. The necktie-panel has a combining hole (la) at its top (i.e. narrower part) for combining the necktie-body and the core.

The knot-cloth (2) is a rectangular piece of cloth having a predetermined length and width corresponding to the size of the desired knot. The knot-cloth has a pair of combining holes (2a.2a) in each of its lower comers. The knot-cloth (2) is to be sewed to the necktie-panel (1) at the desired knot-forming position, crossing with the necktie- panel at the right angle.

A pair of necktie- arms (3) is to be sewed to each of the upper corners of the knot-cloth (2). On the free end of each of the necktie-arms (3) is attached an attaching tool such as velcro-tape, hooks, pressstuds. or magnetic snap-fastener.

As shown in <FIG.2.5.6,7>, the knot-forming core (C) has two elements; the 'core-body' (4) having the same shape and size as the desired knot, and the 'projected part' on a back portion thereof for combining the necktie-body and the core ⁽ hereinafter the projected part is referred to as the 'combining projection' or simply the

'projection' ). Both elements are integrally made of synthetic resin or other hard material in one molding.

The combining projection is to be made, such that the inner part thereof (where it attaches the core- body) has a small diameter while the outer part thereof has a larger diameter or a larger diameter disc, in order to prevent the combining holes (la,2a,2a) of the necktie-body (N) from drifting away from the projection after they have been combined with the core, thereby achieving a more stable combination of the necktie-body and the core. After production of both the necktie-body (N) and the core (C), the combining process of the two is as shown in <FIG. 3-A to

3~D>, namely: φfirst the core is placed on the rear side of the necktie-body at the knot- forming position with the projection upside <FIG.3-A>, ©then the tw ^τ o combining holes (2a,2a) of the knot-cioth (2) are to be fitted around the projection of the core (5) <FIG. 3-B.3-0, ©and then the combining hole (la) of the necktie-panel (1) is to be fitted around the projection of the core (5) <FIG.3D>.

Having finished the above process of combining the three holes around the projection, the necktie-knot is completed, and the user can have a 'Y-shaped necktie' having a necktie-panel, a triangular knot (K), and a pair of necktie-arms ⁽ 3) at each of the tw ^* o top comers of the knot <Fig.4>.

If the combining projection has a locking slot (5e) and a cover (5c) (hereinafter referred to as 'projection-cover' ) which has a larger diameter than the projection and which has a counterpart locking- pin

(5d) to be snapped into the locking pin (5e) as shown in <FIG.6>, the user can reinforce the combining of the necktie-body and the core more firmly by snapping the pin (5d ⁾ and the slot (5e) together after fitting the combining holes (la,2a.2a) of the necktie-body around the the projection of the core (5).

On the other hand, if the rear end of the projection (5) of the core (C) is made of a U-shaped pressstud as shown in <FIG.7>, the user can put on the Y-shaped necktie simply by fastening the U-shaped pressstud to the counterpart inverted T-shaped pressstud (L') which is attached to the top button-hole place of the shirt- or blouse- lapel (L).

The Y-shaped necktie whose knot (K) is formed as described above is very easily put on or taken off. simply by attaching or unattaching the attaching tools at each of the necktie- arms such as velcro-tape, hook, pressstuds, or a magnetic snap-fastener to or from the counterpart attaching tools attached on the cloth under the collar of the shirt or blouse. The user can also tighten or loosen the necktie simply by choosing the attaching position of the above -noted attaching tools. For those who prefer to have a traditional style necktie which has an additional narrower back- panel when the knot is formed, the

Y-shaped necktie can also be furnished with such an additional back-panel (lr). The narrower back-panel (lr) can be attached to the rear side of the necktie-panel (1) as show ^? n in <FIG.8>, or it can be separately prepared as shown in <FIG.9>. When a separate back-panel is used, it must have a combi ig hole (Ira) at the top of it, and the user must position the hole (Ira) of the back-panel around the projection of the core before positioning the holes (2a,2a,la) of the knot- cloth and the necktie- panel as shown in <FIG. 9A to 9E>.

2. Forming and Wearing of Band-Type Necktie (2nd Embodiment)

This embodimeni is the one which enables the user to put on the above-mentioned Y-shaped necktie by using a band. Here, the process of forming the Y-shaped necktie by assembling the necktie-body (N') and the core (C) is the same as in the basic-type. The only difference in the necktie-body (N') of this embodiment is that at the free edge of one of the two necktie-arms (3) is located a hole (3b) for connecting the band (hereinafter the hole is referred to as a 'connecting hole' ) as shown in <Fig.l l>. As shown in <FIG.10>, the band is so made that at the middle of the band- body (6) is inserted a length -adjusting buckle (6a) Λvhich has two lings, and to which is fixed one end of the band-body (6). On the band-body between the length- adjusting buckle and the above-mentioned end of the band-body is inserted a connecting hook ⁽ 6c) which is to be connected detachably to the connecting hole (3b) located at the edge of one of the necktie- rms (3). At the other end of the band- body is attached attaching tools (6b) such as velcro-tape, hook, or pressstuds. The band is so made that the user can adjust the length thereof according to his or her neck size simply by changing the position of the length-adjusting buckle (6a) on the band-body, and can maintain the adjusted length once the length is adjusted.

The process of putting on the necktie with the band is as shown in <Fig.ll>. The user must φfirst adjust the length of the band by manuplating the position of the length- adjusting buckle (6a),

©then connect the connecting hook (6c) of the band to the

connecting hole (3b) in one of the necktie-arm (3), φand then surround the band arround the user's neck under the collar of the shirt or the blouse, ©followed by attaching the attaching tools attached at the other end of the band to the counterpart attaching tools attached at the other necktie-arm. The user can also tighten or loosen the necktie simply by changing the attaching position of the attaching tools.

3. Forming and Wearing of String-Type Necktie (3rd Embodiment)

This embodiment enables the user to put on the above-mentioned Y-shaped necktie by using a string instead of the above-mentioned attaching tools such as velchro-tapes.

Here, the process of forming the Y-shaped necktie by assembling the necktie-body (N") and the core (C") is almost the same as in the basic-type. The difference in the necktie- bod}" (N") of this embodiment is that each of the two necktie-arms here has a string-passageway (3c,3c) respectively, namely, the hole-shaped tube through which each end of the string is to penetrate from top to bottom of the respective necktie-arm as shown in <FIG.12>.

The knot-forming core (C") of this embodiment is much different from that in the basic-type as shown in <FIG.13 and 14>. The core, too, must have two string-passageways (4a,4a) which run from two places on the top to one common place at the bottom, in order for the two ends of the string to penetrate through and converge at the common bottom of the core. It must also have an inner cavity (4b) in the interior of the core-body where a slider (8) and a spring ⁽ 7) is to be installed.

The slider in the inner cavity, too. must have two string-passageways (8a.8a) which run from top to bottom, in order for the two ends of the string to penetrate therethrough. Here, the combining projection (5) at the rear side of the core is not molded at the back of the core-body as in the basic-type but is integrally molded at the rear side of the slider, and is separated from the back surface of the core-body by a slight interval in order for the projection to be movable forward and backward toghther with the

slider. A spring or other elastic material is to be installed in front of the slider, so that the slider can slide forward or backward in the inner cavity by means of the elasticity of the spring according as the combining projection is pressed or released. After the slider and the spring have been properly installed, the inner cavity must be shielded with a cover (4c) (hereinafter, the cover for inner cavity is referred to as the 'cavity-cover' ).

The core (C") of this embodiment described above operates as follows. When the user presses the projection (5) at the rear of the core (C"), the slider (8) moves forward compressing the spring (7). and the two string-ways (Sa.Sa) of the slider become aligned with the respective counterpart string-ways (4a,4a) of the core-bod ⁽ 4). thereby enabling the strings in the string-ways to move upward or downward. When the user releases the projection (5) at the rear of the core ⁽ C"). the slider (8) moves backward by the restoring force of the spring (7 ⁾ and the two string- ays (8a,8a) of the slider become misaligned with the respective string-ways (4a.4a) of the core- body <4). thereby fixing the strings at their present position. In this embodiment also the method of forming the Y-shaped necktie wirh the necktie-body (N") and the core (C") is almost the same as in the basic-type as shown in <FIG. 3A to 3D>. The oniy difference is that, before combining the necktie-body and the core, the user must insert each end of the string (S) into the respective string- ways (3c.3c ⁾ of the necktie-arms from top to bottom, then into the respective string-ways (4a,4a) of the upper part of the core-body ⁽ 4), then into the respective string-ways (8a,8a ⁾ of the slider (here the user needs to press the projection of the core to align the string-ways), and then into the respective string-ways (4a.4a) of the lower part of the core-body (4), until both ends of the string (S) penetrate out of the bottom of the core-body (4). When both ends of the string have been taken out of the bottom of the core, the string forms a tie-loop.

The procedure for putting on and taking off the above Y-shaped necktie is as follows. By pressing the projection (5) of the core (C"), the user can loosen the tie-loop, then the user can hang the string around the collar of the shirt or blouse. In this

state, the user can tighten or loosen the tie-loop simply by holding both ends of the string in one hand and pulling up and down of the core with the other hand w ⁷ hile pressing the projection of the core. In order to take off the necktie, the user can loosen the tie-loop and take it off from under the the collar of the shirt or blouse.

EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION

The main merit of the necktie of the present invention is that the user can form the knot very easily merely by assembling the necktie-body made of cloth and the core made of synthetic resin. Another merit is mat. as the knot- shape is maintainable once it is formed, the user can put on or take off the necktie very convenientl simply by using attaching tools (such as velchro-tape attached both at the necktie- arms and under the collar of the shirt or clothing) or a band or string. Still another merit is that the user can disassemble or reassemble the knot when washing and ironing is needed.

The necktie of the present invention exhibits nice appearance without compressing the user's neck, and therefore causes no discomforts arround the neck such as poor blood circulation or problems with breathing. In addition, the necktie of this invention is economical in that it uses about half the amount of fabric which is used in making a traditional necktie. Furthermore, contrary to the traditional neckties which are sometimes used in such criminal acts as strangling or tying of the wrists or ankles, the necktie of this invention is safe from such criminal actions.

Obviously, numerous modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefoι ^* e to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein.