VARIABLE BOWTIE SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20180317581A1
• Filed: 07/11/2018
• Published: 11/08/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/2016
• Status: Active Application

• Current Assignee: Allen & Lee Design, LLC
• Original Assignee: Allen & Lee Design, LLC
• Inventors: Jacks, Richard A., Campbell, JR., Walter L.
• Granted Patent: US 10,278,439 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 2400/44 Donning facilities
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 25/005 made of different sections
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 25/025 Means for forming the knot or bow, e.g. combined with means for holding the tie
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 25/04 Bands; Fastening devices for the bands

Abstract

Variable bowtie system and method providing half-bows of different colors which can be chosen and combined, even layered, as desired by the user for one wearing, and with a different choice or combination of colors for another wearing. Chosen half-bow units of desired colors are placed on a mounting-stud pair affixed to a neckband, and are removably secured with a retaining collar, which may also be provided in a variety of colors, resulting in a bowtie having the desired color or color combination for a particular wearing, which can be changed upon another wearing.

Claims

1. A variable bowtie system, comprising:

(i) a neckband adapted to adjustably fit around a neck of a person, wherein said neck has a nominal forward portion, and said neckband has, in use, a forward-facing portion corresponding to a location that in turn corresponds to a position of a top front shirt button featured at the forward portion of the neck;

(ii) a mounting-stud pair affixed to said neckband at the forward-facing portion of the neckband and protruding forward;

(iii) at least two base-half-bow units, each having at least two layers of textile material comprising a front face and a back face, and each said layer having a together-facing edge which comes in closest proximity to another base-half-bow unit when in use, where the front face and the back face of each said base-half-bow unit, at the together-facing edge, are left partially detached, forming a pocket at the together-facing edge, and a base-unit tab extension affixed to the back face of the together-facing edge of each said base-half-bow unit, adapted to fit into the pocket at the together-facing edge of another said half-bow unit;

(iv) at least two mid-half-bow units each at a smaller size than said base-half-bow units and having a structure matching said base-half-bow units, wherein said matching structure comprises at least two layers of textile material comprising a front face and a back face, and each said layer having a together-facing edge which comes in closest proximity to another mid-half-bow unit when in use, where the front face and the back face of each said mid-half-bow unit, at the together-facing edge, are left partially detached, forming a pocket at the together-facing edge, and each said mid-half-bow unit adapted to be mounted in front of said base-half-bow units, and a mid-unit tab extension affixed to the back face of the together-facing edge of each said mid-half-bow unit, adapted to fit into the pocket at the together-face edge of another said mid-half-bow unit;

(v) at least two front-half-bow units each at a smaller size than said base-half-bow units and mid-half-bow units and having a structure matching said base-half-bow units and mid-half-bow units, wherein said matching structure comprises at least two layers of textile material comprising a front face and a back face, and each said layer having a together-facing edge which comes in closest proximity to another front-half-bow unit when in use, where the front face and the back face of each said front-half-bow unit, at the together-facing edge, are left partially detached, forming a pocket at the together-facing edge, and each said front-half-bow unit adapted to be mounted in front of said mid-half-bow units, and a front-unit tab extension affixed to the back face of the together-facing edge of each said front-half-bow unit, adapted to fit into the pocket at the together-face edge of another said front-half-bow unit;

(vi) one hole placed in each said half-bow unit near the together-facing edge and another hole placed in each said unit tab extension, such that the holes together are adapted to fit over said mounting-stud pair;

where, in use, said half-bow units are brought together at the together-facing edges in such a way that one of the unit tab extensions is positioned behind the back face of the other said half-bow unit, and the other unit tab extension is positioned inside the pocket of the other half-bow unit, where the forward-most unit tab extension is concealed behind the front face of the other half-bow unit; and

(vii) at least one retaining collar adapted to fit around, and hold together, the assembled together-facing edges of said half-bow units, said mounting-stud pair, and said neckband;

where said half-bow units and said retaining collars are provided in a variety of colors, allowing the person to choose specific colors and combinations and to change such colors and combinations as desired.

2. The variable bowtie system of claim 1, further comprising at least one decorative pin adapted to being removably placed into and upon said retaining collar.

3. The variable bowtie system of claim 1, further comprising a kit comprising at least one said neckband, at least two said base-half-bow units, at least two said mid-half-bow units, at least two said front-half-bow units, and at least one said retaining collar.

4. The variable bowtie system of claim 1, further comprising a kit comprising at least one said neckband, at least two said base-half-bow units, at least two said mid-half-bow units, at least two said front-half-bow units, at least one said retaining collar, and at least one decorative pin adapted to being removably placed into and upon said retaining collar.

5. The variable bowtie system of claim 1, where said half-bow units, said retaining collars, and said neckband are provided in a variety of colors suitable for the wearing of several different color combinations as desired by the user.

6. The variable bowtie system of claim 1, further comprising a kit comprising at least one said neckband, at least one said retaining collar, and several said half-bow units, where said half-bow units, said retaining collars, and said neckband are provided in a variety of colors suitable for the wearing of several different color combinations as desired by the user.

7. A variable bowtie method, comprising:

(i) providing a variable bowtie system, comprising;

(a) a neckband adapted to adjustably fit around a neck of a person, wherein said neck has a nominal forward portion, and said neckband has, in use, a forward-facing portion corresponding to a location that in turn corresponds to a position of a top front shirt button at the forward portion of the neck;

(b) a mounting-stud pair affixed to said neckband at the forward-facing portion of the neckband and protruding forward;

(c) at least two base-half-bow units, each having at least two layers of textile material comprising a front face and a back face, and each said layer having a together-facing edge which comes in closest proximity to another base-half-bow unit when in use, where the front face and the back face of each said base-half-bow unit, at the together-facing edge, are left partially detached, forming a pocket at the together-facing edge, and a base-unit tab extension affixed to the back face of the together-facing edge of each said base-half-bow unit, adapted to fit into the pocket at the together-facing edge of another said half-bow unit;

(d) at least two mid-half-bow units each at a smaller size than said base-half-bow units and having a structure matching said base-half-bow units, wherein said matching structure comprises at least two layers of textile material comprising a front face and a back face, and each said layer having a together-facing edge which comes in closest proximity to another mid-half-bow unit when in use, where the front face and the back face of each said mid-half-bow unit, at the together-facing edge, are left partially detached, forming a pocket at the together-facing edge, and a mid-unit tab extension affixed to the back face of the together-facing edge of each said mid-half-bow unit, adapted to fit into the pocket at the together-face edge of another said mid-half-bow unit;

(e) at least two front-half-bow units each at a smaller size than said base-half-bow units and mid-half-bow units and having a structure matching said base-half-bow units and mid-half-bow units, wherein said matching structure comprises at least two layers of textile material comprising a front face and a back face, and each said layer having a together-facing edge which comes in closest proximity to another front-half-bow unit when in use, where the front face and the back face of each said front-half-bow unit, at the together-facing edge, are left partially detached, forming a pocket at the together-facing edge, and a front-unit tab extension affixed to the back face of the together-facing edge of each said front-half-bow unit, adapted to fit into the pocket at the together-face edge of another said front-half-bow unit;

(f) one hole placed in each said half-bow unit near the together-facing edge and another hole placed in each said unit tab extension, such that the holes together are adapted to fit over said mounting-stud pair; and

(g) at least one retaining collar adapted to fit around, and hold together, the assembled together-facing edges of said half-bow units, said mounting-stud pair, and said neckband;

where said half-bow units and said retaining collars are provided in a variety of colors, allowing the person to choose specific colors and combinations and to change such colors and combinations as desired;

(ii) bringing two half-bow units together at the together-facing edges in such a way that one of the unit tab extensions is positioned behind the back face of the other said half-bow unit, and the other unit tab extension is positioned inside the pocket of the other half-bow unit, where the forward-most unit tab extension is concealed behind the front face of the other half-bow unit;

(iii) placing said brought-together half-bow units upon said mounting-stud pair;

placing said retaining collar over the together-facing edges of said half-bow units and over said mounting-stud pair; and

(iv) disassembling said variable bowtie after wearing, for re-assembly with different colors and color combinations in the future.

8. The variable bowtie method of claim 7, where said variable bowtie system further comprises at least one decorative pin adapted to being removably placed into and upon said retaining collar.

9. The variable bowtie method of claim 7, where said variable bowtie system further comprises a kit comprising at least one said neckband, at least two said base-half-bow units, at least two said mid-half-bow units, at least two said front-half-bow units, and at least one said retaining collar.

10. The variable bowtie method of claim 7, where said variable bowtie system further comprises a kit comprising at least one said neckband, at least two said base-half-bow units, at least two said mid-half-bow units, at least two said front-half-bow units, at least one said retaining collar, and at least one decorative pin adapted to being removably placed into and upon said retaining collar.

11. The variable bowtie method of claim 7, where said half-bow units, said retaining collars, and said neckband are provided in a variety of colors suitable for the wearing of several different color combinations as desired by the user.

12. The variable bowtie method of claim 7, where said variable bowtie system further comprises a kit comprising at least one said neckband, at least one said retaining collar, and several said half-bow units, where said half-bow units, said retaining collars, and said neckband are provided in a variety of colors suitable for the wearing of several different color combinations as desired by the user.