This application claims the benefits of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No.

62/896,695 filed on September 6, 2019 which is incorporated herein by reference.

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to shirts that employ a design and structure allowing stabilization of the shirt’s placket and collar. The stabilization design and structure of the shirt collar can be employed in any type of shirt such as a dress shirt, blouse, polo shirt, and active/athletic wear. The stabilization design and structure is particularly useful for dress shirts and blouses, especially when worn without a tie and with the upper fastening means near the wearer’s neck and collar region unfastened and in particular under a coat or jacket.

Description of the Related Art

Over the year, men’s suit and shirt styling has become more casual. This casual apparel trend has resulted in the upper fastening means near the wearer’ s neck or collar region, such as one or more of the top buttons of a shirt, remaining unfastened and a reduction in the wearing of ties which is associated with the top buttons remaining unfastened. Without a tie and/or the fastening of all the top buttons of a shirt, the sharp lines normally created by a shirt collar and shirt placket may become twisted or broken leading to a rumpled or unkempt appearance. Moreover, if an additional outer garment such as a coat, suit coat, sport jacket or sweater is worn with a shirt without a tie or with the upper fastening means near the wearer’ s neck or collar region, such as one or more of the top buttons of the shirt, unfastened, the collar and/or placket may be drawn or trapped under the outer garment due to normal movements of the wearer leading again to the shirt collar and shirt placket becoming twisted or broken and an unsightly appearance for the wearer.

Attempts to overcome the twisted or broken collar and placket appearance when a shirt is worn without a tie or with the upper fastening means near the wearer’ s neck or collar region, such as one or more of the top buttons of the shirt unfastened have been proposed in the art. For example, Japanese Patent Application Publication Nos. 2007092208; 2009024266 and 2018188778 describe reinforcing inserts that may be placed into a shirt placket and/or collar region to prevent the twisting. Similarly, U.S. Patent Nos. 9,204,671 and 9,622,512 describe reinforcing inserts, i.e., stiffeners and stays that may be incorporated into a shirt placket and/or collar. See also https://milliondollarcollar.com. The reinforcing structures described in these prior art references are typically made of rigid flat or planar plastic material that is incorporated into the shirt by the wearer. These rigid planar plastic inserts may be permanently incorporated into the shirt such as by sewing or it may be removably incorporated into the shirt such as by insertion of the rigid planar plastic inserts into a preformed pocket or receptacle in the placket and/or collar.

Although the prior art rigid planar inserts may help eliminate the twisting and breaking of the collar and placket, they are not without problems. For example, the rigid planar inserts can create an inflexible and often uncomfortable shirt. In addition, the rigid planar inserts may break after repeated washing and ironing of the shirt and thereby reduce or eliminate the effectiveness. Still further the rigid planar inserts may be cumbersome, difficult to insert and remove and may be lost or misplaced.

Hence, a need exists in the art to provide a shirt or blouse that is comfortable to wear and can be worn without a tie, without upper fastening means near the wearer’s neck or collar region, or with the upper fastening means near the wearer’s neck or collar region, such as one or more of the top buttons, unfastened and that reduces or eliminates the unwanted twisting or breaking of the collar and/or placket. Moreover, a need exits in the art to provide a shirt or blouse that is comfortable to wear and can be worn without a tie, without upper fastening means near the wearer’s neck or collar region, or with the upper fastening means near the wearer’s neck or collar region, such as one or more of the top buttons, unfastened, that reduces or eliminates the unwanted twisting or breaking of the collar and/or placket and that does not employ rigid planar reinforcing inserts in the placket.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a shirt or blouse that is comfortable to wear, that can be worn without a tie, without upper fastening means near the wearer’s neck or collar region, or with the upper fastening means near the wearer’s neck or collar region, such as one or more of the top buttons, unfastened and that reduces or eliminates the unwanted twisting or breaking of the collar and/or placket. It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a shirt or blouse that is comfortable to wear, that can be worn without a tie, without upper fastening means near the wearer’s neck or collar region, or with the upper fastening means near the wearer’s neck or collar region, such as one or more of the top buttons, unfastened, that reduces or eliminates the unwanted twisting or breaking of the collar and/or placket and that does not employ rigid planar reinforcing inserts in the placket.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a shirt or blouse that is comfortable to wear, that can be worn without a tie, without upper fastening means near the wearer’s neck or collar region, or with the upper fastening means near the wearer’ s neck or collar region, such as one or more of the top buttons, unfastened, that reduces or eliminates the unwanted twisting or breaking of the collar and/or placket and that is easy to manufacture.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a shirt or blouse that is comfortable to wear, that can be worn without a tie, without upper fastening means near the wearer’s neck or collar region, or with the upper fastening means near the wearer’ s neck or collar region, such as one or more of the top buttons, unfastened, that reduces or eliminates the unwanted twisting or breaking of the collar and/or placket and that can be repeatedly laundered, i.e., washed and/or ironed, without affecting the integrity of the placket and collar structure.

Summary of the Invention

The above objectives and others are obtained by the present invention, which is a shirt or blouse wherein the placket and/or collar comprise a reinforced structure comprising: (i) one or more filaments, wires, cords, cables or strings; (ii) higher density material; or (iii) a combination of the forgoing.

In certain embodiments the reinforced structure is part of the shirt placket, preferably both the left and right shirt placket. The reinforced structure may be affixed to the placket or the reinforced structure may incorporated into the placket. In some embodiments, the reinforced structure may also extend from the placket into the collar and be affixed or incorporated into the collar as well as the placket. In some additional embodiments, the reinforced structure may also extend from the placket to the shirt yolk and be affixed or incorporated into the shirt yolk as well as the shirt placket. In yet further embodiments, the reinforced structure may extend from the placket to the back, front and/or side panels of the shirt and be affixed or incorporated into the back, front and/or side shirt panels and well as the shirt placket. In still further embodiments the reinforced structure may extend from the placket to the shirt sleeves and be affixed or incorporated into the shirt sleeves as well as the placket. In certain embodiments the reinforcing structure is may be part of the shirt placket, collar, yolk, back panel, front panel, side panel, shirt sleeves or a combination of the foregoing.

In certain embodiments, the filament, wire, cord, cable or string is a metal or plastic filament, wire, cord, cable or string that is affixed or incorporated in the shirt placket and extends to or into the shirt collar and optionally to or into the shirt yolk. The reinforced structure may employ one of more filaments, wires, cords, cables or strings to provide the desired strength and rigidity to the shirt collar and shirt placket but should not make the shirt uncomfortable and inflexible.

In certain embodiments, the higher density material is a padding, wadding, lining, filling, fabric or patch of material that is adhered to, formed into or incorporated into the placket and/or collar of the shirt or blouse. The higher density material may also optionally extend from the shirt placket to or into the shirt collar and optionally to and into the shirt yolk. The higher density material of the present invention will have a density that is at least 25%, 30%, 35%, 40%, 45%, 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, or 95% greater than the density of fabric employed in the front, back or side panels of the shirt or the shirt sleeves. The higher density material can be obtained by any method, such a creating a fabric that has additional or tighter weaving per unit area, denser threads, combination of multiple layers of padding, wadding, filling, fabric or any combination of the forgoing. The higher density material may also be prepared by spinning, weaving or carding fibers to create a higher density material. The higher density material should exhibit a rigidity that is greater than the rigidity of the fabric employed in the front, back or side panels of the shirt or the shirt sleeves but should not make the shirt uncomfortable and inflexible.

In certain embodiments the higher density material may be formed from the same material as the shirt fabric such as cotton only with a higher density than the shirt fabric such as created by a tighter weave or higher thread count. Alternatively, the higher density material may comprise a material that is different from the shirt fabric such as a synthetic material or the higher density material may comprise a combination of the material used to form the shirt fabric, i.e., cotton and a different material from that used to form the shirt fabric such as a synthetic material.

The objectives of the present invention may also be obtained by preparing a shirt with or without the above described reinforced structure wherein the shirt engages (i) a garment worn over the shirt such as a suit jacket, sport coat or vest; (ii) a garment worn under the shirt such as a tee shirt or under shirt; or (iii) a combination of (i) and (ii) wherein the shirts engagement with the over and/or under garment reduces or eliminates the unwanted twisting or breaking of the shirt collar and/or placket when the shirt is worn without a tie, without upper fastening means near the wearer’s neck or collar region, or with the upper fastening means near the wearer’s neck or collar region, such as one or more of the top buttons, unfastened. In certain embodiments, the engagement between the shirt and the over and/or under garment produces or creates an enhanced interaction such as an increase friction that will prevent the shirt collar and/or placket from being drawn under or into the over garment.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Figure 1 is a representative partial front elevation view of a shirt of the present invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged partial front elevation view of the shirt of Figure 1 with the adjacent front panels unbuttoned and showing one embodiment of a reinforced structure of the present invention.

Figure 3 is a partial section view taken along lines 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a partial section view taken along lines 4-4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is an enlarged partial front elevation view of the shirt of Figure 1 with the adjacent front panels unbuttoned and showing one embodiment of a reinforced structure of the present invention.

Fig. 6 is a partial section view taken along lines 6-6 of Figure 5.

Fig. 7 is a partial section view taken along lines 7-7 of Figure 5. Detailed Description of the Invention

The following is a detailed description of exemplary embodiments of the present invention with reference to Figures 1-7. Figures 1-7 are for illustration purposes only and are not to scale. The shirt illustrated in Figure 1-7 is a typical men’s dress shirt with a left 37 and right 35 placket. It is understood that the same structure and design can be applied to women’s blouses as well as other types of collared shirts including but not limited to shirts with button down collars, a single placket or shirts with covered or concealed plackets, polo shirts, zippered shirts, and active/athletic tops. It is also understood that the present invention is not limited to collared shirts and blouses that employ buttons as fastening means but is also applicable to collared shirts and blouses that employs zippers, snaps, clips, hooks, studs or other fastening means as well as collared shirts that do not employ a fastening means in the collar or neck region.

As used herein the term “button” unless specifically stated includes conventional fastening means such as buttons as well as other known fastening means such as snaps, clips, hooks, studs etc.

As used herein the meaning of "a", "an", and "the" includes plural reference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Also, as used herein the meaning of "in" includes "in" and "on" unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

In certain embodiments, the shirt or blouse of the present invention is designed to be worn on the upper torso and may be tucked into another garment worn on the lower torso, such as pants, shorts, skirts, kilts, knickers or trousers. The shirt or blouse of the present invention may be worn under other garments such as a coat, vest, sweater, suit coat, sport coat or jacket. The shirt or blouse of the present invention may also be worn over other garments such as tee shirts, undershirts, bra etc. The shirt or blouse of the present invention may be worn with or without a tie. If worn without a tie, the shirt or blouse of the present invention may also be worn with one, two, three, four, or five of the top buttons unfastened or when the fastening means is a zipper, with the zipper, unzipped 2 to 12 or more inches from the wearer’s neck or collar region. When the shirt or blouse of the present invention is worn without a tie and/or with one, two, three, four, or five of the top buttons unfastened or zipper unzipper, or if the shirt or blouse does not have upper fastening means, the collar and placket should remain in a straight, substantially straight, untwisted or substantially untwisted orientation as the wearer engages in normal activities and movements such as walking, sitting or standing and especially when the shirt or blouse is worn under coat, vest, sweater, suit coat, sport coat or jacket. As used herein the terms straight, substantially straight, untwisted or substantially untwisted may be used interchangeably unless expressly indicated and refers a theoretical line defined by the outer lateral edge of the shirt placket, 37a, 35a and terminating at the collar beginning of the collar 31. This theoretical line should linear or relatively linear, i.e., lacking a twist, bend or a complex curve such as an “S” or “C” shaped curve.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2 the present invention is a shirt 20 that comprises a pair of front or body panels 22, 24 and respective sleeves 26, 28 and yolk 50. Shirt 20 also includes a collar 30, in a manner as is known, as well as a series of fastening means, preferably in the form of buttons 32 that can be inserted through button holes 34 in order to selectively join body panels 22, 24 together. Buttons 32 may be secured to shirt 20 at a placket such as a right or rear placket 35, which typically extends from the top to the bottom of body panel 22, in a manner as is known. Similarly, button holes 34 may formed in shirt 20 at a placket such as a left or front placket 37, which typically extends from the top to the bottom of body panel 24, again in a manner as is known.

Figure 1 also shows a shirt 20 wherein the outer lateral edge of the plackets, 35a and 37a are in a substantially straight (no twists or complex curve) from the third and fourth button from the top of the shirt to the point 31 where the plackets 35 and 37 terminate and collar 30 begins.

Figure 2 illustrates the upper, central area of shirt 20, and specifically shows a reinforced structure of the present invention wherein the reinforced structure comprises a plurality, i.e. two filaments, wires, cords, cables or strings 36 and 38 in the each right and left placket 35 and 37. Alternatively, the reinforced structure may comprise 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 or more filaments, wires, cords, cables or strings. The filaments, wires, cords, cables or strings 36 and 38 are depicted in Figure 2 in broken lines because the filaments, wires, cords, cables or strings 36 and 38 are covered, i.e. incorporated into the right and left placket and would not be visible when the shirt or blouse is worn. It should be understood that filaments, wires, cords, cables or strings 36 and 38 are continuous or unbroken. The number of filaments, wires, cords, cables or strings employed in the present invention will depending on the size, shape and rigidity of the filament, wire, cord, cable or string employed in the reinforced structure. The filament, wire, cord, cable or string may be a formed from a metal or plastic material. In certain embodiments the filament, wire, cord, cable or string should exhibit a rigidity or longitudinal strength such that when a 15 cm length of the filament, wire, cord, cable or string is held perpendicular to table or desk top by the fingers of an individual, the free end of the filament, wire, cord, cable or string (the end opposite the desk or table top) will not deviate or bend more than 5°, 10°, 15° 20°, or 30° from the 90° perpendicular.

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view of left placket 37 taken along line 3-3 of Figure 2 and depicts one embodiment wherein left placket 37 is formed by folding the shirt fabric and sewing the edges of the fabric SI and S2. Figure 3 also shows the filaments, wires, cords, cables or strings 38 incorporated into the placket 37. In an alternative embodiment the filaments, wires, cords, cables or strings of the reinforced structure may be affixed to the placket surface, preferably a surface that is not visible when the shirt is worn.

The filaments, wires, cords, cables or strings 36 and 38 may extended from the bottom of the shirt plackets or any point in the shirt placket from the bottom of the placket to area of the third or fourth button or button hole from the top to the shirt up to the collar 30, i.e., about 1-40 cm, preferably about 1-35 cm and most preferably about 1-30 cm from the top of the shirt or collar 30. The filaments, wires, cords, cables or strings 36 and 38 may also extend into collar 30 and be part of the collar 30 as shown in Figure 4. In an alternative embodiment one or more of the filaments, wires, cords, cables or strings may extend from the bottom of the right shirt placket 35 or any point in the right shirt placket 35 from the bottom of the right shirt placket 35 to area of the third or fourth button from the top to the shirt up to the collar 30, around the collar 30 and down the left shirt placket 37 to the bottom of the left shirt placket 37 or any point in the left shirt placket 37 from the bottom of the placket to area of the third or fourth button hole from the top to the shirt, i.e., about 5-30 cm from the top of the shirt or collar 30. In another embodiment one or more of the filaments, wires, cords, cables or strings may extend from the bottom of the shirt plackets 35 and 37 or any point in the shirt placket from the bottom of the placket to area of the third or fourth button or button hole from the top to the shirt up to the collar 30 and into the yolk 50. In another embodiment one or more of the filaments, wires, cords, cables or strings may extend from the bottom of the shirt plackets 35 and 37 or any point in the shirt placket from the bottom of the placket to area of the third or fourth button or button hole from the top to the shirt up to the collar 30 and into the back panels (not shown), front panels 22 and 24 and/or side panels (not shown) of the shirt and/or the shirt sleeves 26 and 28. If the shirt or blouse does not have buttons but uses other fastening means, such as a zipper or no upper fastening means the one or more filaments, wires, cords, cables or strings may extend from the bottom of the shirt plackets 35 and 37 or any point in the shirt placket from the bottom of the placket to an area near the top to the shirt, such as lcm, 2 cm, 3cm, 4 cm, 5 cm, 6 cm, 7 cm, 8cm, 9 cm, 10 cm, 11 cm, 12 cm, 13 cm, 14 cm, 15 cm, 16 cm, 17 cm, 18 cm, 19 cm, 20 cm, 21 cm, 22 cm, 23 cm, 24 cm, 25 cm, 26 cm, 27 cm, 28 cm, 29 cm, or 30 cm from the collar 30 or up to the collar 30.

Figure 5 illustrates the upper, central area of shirt 20, and shows a reinforced structure of the present invention wherein the reinforced structure comprises a higher density material 80 and 82 that is adhered to, formed into or incorporated into the placket. In one embodiment the higher density material is attached to the inner (surface closest to wearer skin) or outer surface (surface opposite the inner and visible to third parties) of the right and left plackets 35 and 37 by conventional means such as sewing or adhesive. The higher density material 80 and 82 may also be incorporated into the right or left placket 35 and 37 by folding the shirt fabric around the higher density material as shown in Figure 6. Figure 6 is a cross sectional view of left placket 37 wherein left placket 37 is formed by folding the shirt fabric and sewing the edges of the fabric SI and S2 around the higher density material 82. The higher density material 80 and 82 may also optionally extend from the plackets to or into the collar 30 as shown in Figure 7. The higher density material 80 and 82 may also optionally extend from the placket and/or collar to the shirt yolk 50, back panels (not shown), front panels 22 and 24 and/or side panels (not shown) of the shirt and/or shirt sleeves 26 and 28 .

The higher density material of the present invention will have a density that is at least 25%, 30%, 35%, 40%, 45%, 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, or 95% greater than the density of fabric employed in the front, back or side panels of the shirt or the shirt sleeves. The higher density material can be obtained by any method, such a creating a fabric that has additional or tighter weaving per unit area, denser threads, combination of multiple layers of padding, wadding, filling, fabric or any combination of the forgoing. The higher density material may also be prepared by spinning, weaving or carding fibers to create a higher density material. The higher density material should exhibit a rigidity that is greater than the rigidity of the fabric employed in the front, back or side panels of the shirt or the shirt sleeves but should not make the shirt uncomfortable and inflexible.

In certain embodiments the higher density material may be formed from the same material as the shirt fabric such as cotton only in a higher density than the shirt fabric. Alternatively, the higher density material may comprise a material that is different from the shirt fabric such as a synthetic material or the higher density material may comprise a combination of the material used to form the shirt fabric, i.e., cotton and a different material from that used to form the shirt fabric such as a synthetic material. Synthetic materials that may be used to form the higher density material include but are not limited to polyethylene, polypropylene, nylon, polyester and combinations thereof. Natural materials that maybe used to form the higher density material include but are not limited to cotton, wool, cellulosic material and plant materials such as bamboo.

If the higher density material is attached to the outer or inner surface of the right and/or left placket, the higher density material may have the same color, design or pattern as the shirt fabric so the high density material matches the shirt fabric design. Alternatively the higher density material may have a different color, design or pattern from the shirt fabric so the high density material contrasts, compliments or coordinates with the shirt fabric design.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the reinforced structure will comprise a combination of the filaments, wires, cords, cables or strings described previously and the higher density material.

The placket of the present invention that comprise the reinforced structure comprising: (i) one or more filaments, wires, cords, cables or strings; (ii) higher density material; or (iii) a combination of the forgoing should exhibit a rigidity or longitudinal strength such that when a 15 cm length of the placket comprising the reinforced structure is held perpendicular to table or desk top by the fingers of an individual, the free end of the placket (the end opposite the desk or table top) will not deviate or bend more than 1°, 2°, 3°, 4°, 5°, 6°, 7°, 8°, 9°, 10°, 11°, 12°, 13°, 14°, 15°, 16°, 17°, 18°, 19°, 20°, 21°, 22°, 23°, 24°, 25°, 26°, 27°, 28°, 29°, or 30° from the 90° perpendicular. The shirt and blouses of the present invention may further comprise the planar stiffeners described in the prior art such Japanese Patent Application Publication Nos. 2007092208; 2009024266 and 2018188778, U.S. Patent Nos. 9,204,671, 9,622,512 and 8,001,619 which are incorporated herein by reference.

The present invention also includes a shirt with or without the above described reinforced structures wherein the shirt engages (i) a garment worn over the shirt such as a suit jacket, sport coat or vest; (ii) a garment worn under the shirt such as a tee shirt or under shirt; or (iii) a combination of (i) and (ii) wherein the shirt’s engagement with the over and/or under garment reduces or eliminates the unwanted twisting or breaking of the shirt collar and/or placket when the shirt is worn without a tie or with the upper fastening means near the wearer’ s neck or collar region, such as one or more of the top buttons, unfastened.

In certain embodiments of this aspect of the present invention, the engagement between the shirt and the over and/or under garment produces or creates an enhanced interaction or increase friction that will prevent the shirt collar and/or placket from being drawn under or into the over garment. The enhanced interaction may be created by application of an adhesive or tacking substance to the inner surface of the garment worn over the shirt or the outer surface of the garment worn under the shirt. The enhanced interaction may also be created by incorporating a resistance or friction creating substance or material to the inner surface of the garment worn over the shirt or the outer surface of the garment worn under the shirt. Examples of a resistance or friction creating substance or material that may be used include but are not limited to natural and synthetic rubber, or a rough or course weave fabric which may be in the form of one or more patches, tabs or strips that permanently or removably applied to the inner surface of the garment worn over the shirt or the outer surface of the garment worn under the shirt. Alternatively the resistance or friction creating substance or material is in the form of a thread or yarn that is woven into the inner fabric lining of the garment worn over the shirt or into the outer fabric lining of the garment worn under the shirt.

The adhesive substance, tacking substance, resistance substance or friction substance is preferably added or incorporated into the inner surface of the garment worn over the shirt or the outer surface of the garment worn under the shirt in the areas that contact the front panels and/or sleeves of shirt and should not be seen or visible to a person viewing the individual wearing the embodiments of the present invention. The adhesive substance, tacking substance, resistance substance or friction substance may also be incorporated into the front panel, side panel and/or back panel of the shirt.

The enhanced interaction created by the adhesive substance, tacking substance, resistance substance or friction substance should allow the wearer of the embodiments of the present invention to move freely and easily remove the garment worn over the shirt and the shirt. In addition, the adhesive substance, tacking substance, resistance substance or friction substance should not create or produce any stains or marks on the shirt.

The invention illustratively described herein suitably may be practiced in the absence of any element or elements, limitation or limitations which is not specifically disclosed herein. Thus, for example, in each instance herein any of the terms "comprising," "consisting essentially of and "consisting of may be replaced with either of the other two terms. The terms and expressions which have been employed are used as terms of description and not of limitation, and there is no intention in the use of such terms and expressions of excluding any equivalents of the features shown and described or portions thereof, but it is recognized that various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention claimed. Thus, it should be understood that although the present invention has been specifically disclosed by preferred embodiments and optional features, modification and variation of the concepts herein disclosed may be resorted to by those skilled in the art, and that such modifications and variations are considered to be within the scope of this invention as defined by the appended claims.