WO2000058177A1

WO2000058177A1 - Collar protector

Info

Publication number: WO2000058177A1
Application number: PCT/AU2000/000245
Authority: WO
Inventors: Paolo Alvera
Original assignee: Paolo Alvera
Priority date: 1999-03-25
Filing date: 2000-03-24
Publication date: 2000-10-05
Also published as: AUPP943099A0

Abstract

A collar protector to prevent crushing of the collar of an item of clothing when packed in a bag or suitcase. The protector comprises an inverted channel (5) to accommodate the collar and created by an inner wall (3), upper wall (5) and outer wall (4). A flange (8) extends around the perimeter of the lower edge of the outer wall (4). In use, the protector is placed over the collar of a shirt such that the lower surface of the base member (6) rests on a portion of the shirt inside the collar and the flange (8) rests on a portion of the shirt around the collar. Optionally the protector may be incorporated in a container to hold the item of clothing.

Description

TITLE: COLLAR PROTECTOR

THIS INVENTION is concerned with the protection of an item of clothing. In particular, it is directed to a device to prevent crushing of the collar of an item of clothing when packed in a traveling bag, suitcase or the like.

Shirts are usually sold in rectangular boxes of cardboard or celluloid to prevent crushing of the raised collar portion in storage or during transportation.

Such protective boxes, and improvements thereon, have been the subject of a number of prior patents and patent applications. Representative examples of this prior art are DE 2625988, FR 2704528 and WO 97/28069 which are all variations on box-like containers which are principally designed to protect the whole shirt by encasing it in a rigid or semi-rigid protector. Similarly, US

5316139 describes a package for the shipping, storage and display of shirts comprising a large molded plastic box comprising two halves each adapted to accommodate a shirt in opposed juxtaposition, the two halves being joined by an integral hinge along one edge. The upper and iower halves of the package each have a molded inwardly directed projection to locate within the hollow recess formed by the upright coliar of a shirt. Two shirts are accommodated in the package in back to back position and in opposite orientation to each other.

None of these prior art devices are designed specifically to protect the collar of an item of clothing from being crushed and simply rely on the bulk and strength of the surrounding packaging to protect the whole item.

For shirts which are not sold in protective boxes, a cardboard or plastic stiffeneris usually inserted under the collar to provide some resistance against crushing during transportation or storage. However, the exterior of the collar is still exposed and unprotected and the iimited strength of the material from which the stiffener is manufactured only provides minimal resistance to crushing.

While the aforementioned devices are generally suitable for their intended purpose for transportation, storage and presentation of new items of clothing, such devices are unsuitable for a traveler wishing to pack shirts and/or jackets into a suitcase or the like due to their unreasonable bulk and/or lack of protection for the exterior of the collar.

There thus remains a need to provide a traveler with an inexpensive, easy to use but effective means of preventing crushing of a collar of an item of clothing when packed in a traveling bag, suitcase or the like.

According to the present invention, there is provided a device to prevent crushing of a collar of an item of clothing, said device including:

an inverted channel member shaped to accommodate said collar, said channel member, in use, being adapted (a) to rest on a first body portion of said item of clothing located within interior of said collar, (b) to rest on a second body portion of said item of clothing exterior of said collar, and (c) to resist crushing of said collar when subjected to compressive forces.

Preferably, said channel member includes a base member extending between the lower edges of the inner wall of said channel member to form a central recess suitable to locate small items such as jewelry and the like.

Preferably, said device is adapted for compact nesting with one or more like devices. Although not limiting, the device of the present invention is conveniently fabricated from a molded polymeric material. In such an embodiment, the polymeric material could be a plastic material and the device formed by injection moulding, vacuum forming or the like. A preferred plastic material is a stiff thermoplastic mesh.

An optional feature of the present invention is that its upper surface may include a coating for decorative and/or protective purposes. A suitable coating for such purposes could be provided by affixing a layer of laminated fabric to the upper surface.

A further optional feature of the present invention is to incorporate the device with a soft bag- or box-like container to retain the remainder of the item of clothing.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross section along A-B of the device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross section along C-D of the device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the present invention. With reference to FIGS. 1 to 4, the device (1) comprises an inverted channel (2) created by an inner wall (3) joined at its upper edge to the corresponding upper edge of an outer wall (4) by a substantially flat web (5). The inner wall (3), outer wall (4) and web (5) are of a shape so that the channel (2) is of a dimension and shape sufficient to accommodate the collar of a shirt, jacket or similar item of clothing. In this regard, the outer wall (4) is inclined outwardly to reflect the disposition of a collar when attached to a shirt, etc. A flange (8) extends around the perimeter of the lower edge of the outer wall (4). A base member (6) extends between the lower edges of the inner wall (3) of the channel (2) to form a central recess (7) suitable to locate small items such as jewelry and the like.

In FIG. 5, the device (1) is essentially as described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4 with the additional feature of being secured to a soft bag-like container (9) which is zipped on three sides (10a,b,c).

In use, the device (1) is placed over the collar of a shirt, jacket or like item of clothing such that the lower surface of the base member (6) rests on a portion of the item clothing which would usually be the inner side of a back portion of the clothing and such that the lower surface of the flange (8) rests on another portion of the clothing which would usually be the outer side of a front portion of the clothing. Any compressive forces applied to the device (1) are essentially received by the web (5) whereupon they are dissipated over the web (5), the walls (3,4) and thus through the body of the item of clothing thus protecting the collar from crushing.

The device of the present invention could be sold with new items of clothing thus dispensing with the need for the traditional large outer rectangular box. The relatively small size of the device would enable its easy storage for later use when traveling. Alternatively, the device of the present invention could be supplied as a separate item independent of a clothing purchase.

The present invention thus provides a compact lightweight device which bridges the collar of an item of clothing to resist crushing of the collar when subjected to the compressive forces that occur when such an item is packed in a traveling bag, suitcase or the like.

It will be appreciated that the above described embodiments are only exemplification of the various aspects of the present invention and that modifications and alterations can be made thereto without departing from the inventive concept as defined in the following claims.

Claims

1. A device to prevent crushing of a collar of an item of clothing, suitcase or the like, said device including:

2. A device as defined in Claim 1 , wherein said channel member includes a base member extending between the lower edges of the inner wall of said channel member to form a central recess.

3. A device as defined in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein said device is adapted for compact nesting with one or more of like said device.

4. A device as defined in any one of Claims 1 to 3 which is fabricated from a molded polymeric material.

5. A device as defined in Claim 4, wherein said polymeric material is a plastic material.

6. A device as defined in Claim 5, wherein said plastic material is a stiff thermoplastic mesh.

7. A device as defined in Claim 5 or Claim 6 which is formed by injection moulding, vacuum forming or the like.

8. A device as defined in any one of Claims 1 to 7, wherein its upper surface includes a coating for decorative and/or protective purposes.

9. A device as defined in Claim 8, wherein said coating is provided by affixing a layer of laminated fabric to said upper surface.

10. A device as defined in any one of Claims 1 to 9 which is incorporated with a soft bag- or box-like container to retain the remainder of said item of clothing.