Clothing accessory

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention provide a clothing accessory for use with a clothing item having an elongated tail and a knot. The clothing accessory includes at least one flexible strip of material wrapped around at least a portion of the knot. Embodiments of the present invention also provide a method of securing a knot of a clothing item having an elongated tail and a knot. The method includes providing a flexible strip of material proximate the knot, and wrapping the flexible strip of material around at least a portion of the knot.

1 . A clothing accessory for use with a clothing item having an elongated tail and a knot, the clothing accessory comprising: 
 a flexible loop of material defining a central opening, wherein the knot is positioned within said central opening, and said loop covers at least a portion of said knot.    
   
   
       2 . The clothing accessory of  claim 1 , wherein said material is at least one of metal, wood, leather, plastic, cotton, polyester, acetate, and silk.  
   
   
       3 . The clothing accessory of  claim 1 , wherein said material is at least one of woven, braided, and meshed.  
   
   
       4 . The clothing accessory of  claim 1 , wherein said material includes a main body bounded by a lower edge integrally formed with angled lateral edges and downwardly inclined upper edges.  
   
   
       5 . The clothing accessory of  claim 1 , wherein said material is shaped as a polygon.  
   
   
       6 . The clothing accessory of  claim 1 , wherein said material is shaped as a trapezoid.  
   
   
       7 . The clothing accessory of  claim 1 , wherein lateral edges of said material are joined, thereby forming said loop.  
   
   
       8 . The clothing accessory of  claim 1 , wherein said loop of material covers all of the knot.  
   
   
       9 . The clothing accessory of  claim 1 , wherein a portion of the knot is exposed through said central opening.  
   
   
       10 . The clothing accessory of  claim 1 , further comprising a fastening device extending from a top portion of said loop, wherein said fastening device is configured to be passed through said central opening.  
   
   
       11 . The clothing accessory of  claim 10 , wherein said fastening device comprises an adjustment member that is configured to slide over said fastening device.  
   
   
       12 . The clothing accessory of  claim 10 , wherein the clothing item is a tie having a tail, a tag, and said knot, and wherein said fastening device is positioned between said tail and said tag.  
   
   
       13 . The clothing accessory of  claim 1 , wherein the clothing item is one of a tie, appliqué, scarf, belt, ascot, sash, and kerchief.  
   
   
       14 . The clothing accessory of  claim 1 , further comprising a flexible band connected to said loop and spanning said central opening.  
   
   
       15 . The clothing accessory of  claim 14 , wherein said flexible band exerts a compressive force on the elongated tail in order to maintain a dimple in the elongated tail.  
   
   
       16 . The clothing accessory of  claim 14 , wherein said flexible band includes a downwardly extending protrusion that extends into the elongated tail to form a dimple.  
   
   
       17 . The clothing accessory of  claim 1 , further comprising a decorative insert having a cover and fasteners, wherein said insert is positioned within said central opening to cover the knot, and said fasteners are secured to reciprocal structures of said loop.  
   
   
       18 . The clothing accessory of  claim 1 , wherein said loop of material includes multiple layers of material.  
   
   
       19 . The clothing accessory of  claim 1 , further comprising a dimpling spring clip having prongs configured to retain a portion of cloth therebetween, wherein said dimpling spring clip is positioned behind the elongated tail and retains a portion of the elongated tail between said prongs in order to accentuate a dimple in the elongated tail.  
   
   
       20 . A clothing accessory for use with a clothing item having an elongated tail and a knot, the clothing accessory comprising: 
 at least one flexible strip of material wrapped around at least a portion of the knot.    
   
   
       21 . The clothing accessory of  claim 20 , wherein said at least one flexible strip of material comprises a center portion that is positioned over the knot and two flexible wings integrally formed with, and extending outwardly from, said center portion.  
   
   
       22 . The clothing accessory of  claim 21 , wherein said two flexible wings are wrapped around the knot, and fastened behind the knot.  
   
   
       23 . The clothing accessory of  claim 20 , further comprising a holding bar, and wherein said at least one flexible strip comprises two flexible strips attached to said holding bar.  
   
   
       24 . The clothing accessory of  claim 23 , wherein said holding bar is secured relative to the knot, wherein the knot is positioned between said two flexible strips, and wherein said two flexible strips are wrapped around the knot, and fastened behind the knot.  
   
   
       25 . The clothing accessory of  claim 20 , wherein said material is at least one of metal, wood, leather, plastic, cotton, polyester, acetate and silk.  
   
   
       26 . The clothing accessory of  claim 20 , wherein said material is at least one of woven, braided, and meshed.  
   
   
       27 . The clothing accessory of  claim 20 , wherein said material includes a main body bounded by a lower edge integrally formed with angled lateral edges and downwardly inclined upper edges.  
   
   
       28 . The clothing accessory of  claim 20 , wherein said material is shaped as a polygon.  
   
   
       29 . The clothing accessory of  claim 20 , wherein said material is shaped as a trapezoid.  
   
   
       30 . The clothing accessory of  claim 20 , wherein said at least one flexible strip of material is wrapped over substantially all of the knot.  
   
   
       31 . The clothing accessory of  claim 26 , wherein said angled lateral edges are joined together to form a loop of said material having a central opening defined therein.  
   
   
       32 . The clothing accessory of  claim 31 , wherein a portion of the knot is exposed through said central opening.  
   
   
       33 . The clothing accessory of  claim 31 , further comprising a fastening device extending from a top portion of said loop, wherein said fastening device is configured to be passed through said central opening.  
   
   
       34 . The clothing accessory of  claim 33 , wherein said fastening device comprises an adjustment member that is configured to slide over said fastening device.  
   
   
       35 . The clothing accessory of  claim 33 , wherein the clothing item is a tie having a tail, a tag, and said knot, and wherein said fastening device is positioned between said tail and said tag.  
   
   
       36 . The clothing accessory of  claim 20 , wherein the clothing item is one of a tie, appliqué, scarf, belt, ascot, sash, and neckerchief.  
   
   
       37 . The clothing accessory of  claim 33 , further comprising a flexible band connected to said loop and spanning said central opening.  
   
   
       38 . The clothing accessory of  claim 37 , wherein said flexible band exerts a compressive force on the elongated tail in order to maintain a dimple in the elongated tail.  
   
   
       39 . The clothing accessory of  claim 37 , wherein said flexible band includes a downwardly extending protrusion that extends into the elongated tail to form a dimple.  
   
   
       40 . The clothing accessory of  claim 33 , further comprising a decorative insert having a cover and fasteners, wherein said insert is positioned within said central opening to cover the knot, and said fasteners are secured to reciprocal structures of said loop.  
   
   
       41 . The clothing accessory of  claim 20 , wherein said at least one flexible strip of material includes multiple layers of material.  
   
   
       42 . The clothing accessory of  claim 20 , further comprising a dimpling spring clip having prongs configured to retain a portion of cloth therebetween, wherein said dimpling spring clip is positioned behind the elongated tail and retains a portion of the elongated tail between said prongs in order to accentuate a dimple in the elongated tail.  
   
   
       43 . A method of securing a knot of a clothing item having an elongated tail and a knot, the method comprising: 
 providing at least one flexible strip of material proximate the knot; and    wrapping the at least one flexible strip of material around at least a portion of the knot.    
   
   
       44 . The method of  claim 43 , further comprising forming a loop of material from the flexible strip of material, wherein a central opening is defined by the loop.  
   
   
       45 . The method of  claim 44 , further comprising positioning the knot within the central opening.  
   
   
       46 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein said wrapping further comprises: 
 positioning a center portion of the at least one flexible strip over the knot;    wrapping flexible wings extending from the center portion around the knot; and    fastening the flexible wings behind the knot.    
   
   
       47 . The method of  claim 43 , further comprising: 
 providing a holding bar proximate the knot; and    providing the at least one flexible strip on the holding bar.    
   
   
       48 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein said material is at least one of metal, wood, leather, plastic, cotton, polyester, acetate, and silk.  
   
   
       49 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein said material is at least one of woven, braided, and meshed.  
   
   
       50 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein the material includes a main body bounded by a lower edge integrally formed with angled lateral edges and downwardly inclined upper edges.  
   
   
       51 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein the material is shaped as a polygon.  
   
   
       52 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein the material is shaped as a trapezoid.  
   
   
       53 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein said wrapping comprises wrapping the flexible strip of material around substantially all of the knot.  
   
   
       54 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein said wrapping comprises providing a central opening that exposes a portion of the knot.  
   
   
       55 . The method of  claim 54 , further comprising securing a flexible band to portions of the at least one flexible strip so that the flexible band spans the central opening.  
   
   
       56 . The method of  claim 55 , wherein said securing further comprises exerting a compressive force on the elongated tail in order to maintain a dimple in the elongated tail.  
   
   
       57 . The clothing accessory of  claim 55 , further comprising providing a protrusion on the flexible band, and positioning the protrusion into the elongated tail to form a dimple thereon.  
   
   
       58 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein the clothing item is one of a tie, appliqué, scarf, belt, ascot, sash, and neckerchief.  
   
   
       59 . The method of  claim 43 , further comprising providing a decorative insert over an exposed portion of the knot.  
   
   
       60 . The method of  claim 43 , further comprising providing a dimpling spring clip behind the elongated tail, and retaining a portion of the elongated tail between prongs of the dimpling spring clip in order to accentuate a dimple in the elongated tail.