Multiple-ply neck collar and method for making same

Abstract

A multiple-ply neck collar for attachment to a neck opening of a garment body is provided. The neck collar is constructed of a first strip, a second strip and at least one insert strip. The neck collar includes a first stitching to affix the top edge portion of the insert strip, the top edge portion of the first strip and the top edge portion of the second strip together to form a joined unit. The joined unit includes two side edge portions when the joined unit is opened flat with a stitched portion disposed extending longitudinally between the two side edge portions. The neck collar further includes a second stitching to affix the two side edge portions of the joined unit together to form a tubular unit such that the stitched portion extends along an outer face of the tubular unit. The multiple-ply neck collar is formed by turning at least a portion of the tubular unit over the stitched portion such that the at least one insert strip is disposed between the first strip and the second strip.

1 . A neck collar comprising: 
 a first strip of fabric material having a top edge portion, wherein the first strip is substantially rectangular in shape and has a first width;    a second strip of fabric material having a top edge portion, wherein the second strip is substantially rectangular in shape and has a second width that is different from the first width;    an insert strip of stretchable fabric material having a top edge portion, wherein the insert strip is substantially rectangular in shape and has a width that is different from at least one of the first width and the second width;    a first stitching to affix the top edge portion of the insert strip, the top edge portion of the first strip and the top edge portion of the second strip together to form a joined unit, wherein the joined unit includes two side edge portions when the joined unit is opened flat with a stitched portion disposed extending longitudinally between the two side edge portions; and    a second stitching to affix the two side edge portions of the joined unit together to form a tubular unit such that the stitched portion extends along an outer face of the tubular unit, wherein the neck collar is formed by turning at least a portion of the tubular unit over the stitched portion such that the insert strip is disposed between the first strip and the second strip.    
   
   
       2 . The neck collar of  claim 1 , wherein the first strip has the first width which is less than the second width of the second strip, wherein the width of the insert strip is substantially the same as the first width of the first strip, wherein the second strip forming an inner layer of the neck collar extends over the stitched portion such that a longitudinal line formed between the first strip and the second strip is disposed, along an outer layer of the neck collar, a defined distance from a top peripheral edge of the neck collar, and wherein the insert strip having substantially the same width as the width of the first strip is disposed between the first strip and the second strip of the neck collar.  
   
   
       3 . The neck collar of  claim 1 , wherein the first strip has the first width which is less than the second width of the second strip, wherein the width of the insert strip is substantially the same as the second width of the second strip, wherein the second strip forming an inner layer of the neck collar extends over the stitched portion such that a longitudinal line formed between the first strip and the second strip is disposed, along an outer layer of the neck collar, a defined distance from a top peripheral edge of the neck collar, and wherein the insert strip having substantially the same width as the width of the second strip is disposed between the first strip and the second strip of the neck collar.  
   
   
       4 . The neck collar of  claim 1 , wherein the neck collar is formed by turning at least a portion of the tubular unit over the stitched portion such that an outer edge of the stitched portion points towards the top peripheral edge of the neck collar.  
   
   
       5 . The neck collar of  claim 1 , wherein the neck collar is attached to a neck opening of a garment.  
   
   
       6 . The neck collar of  claim 5 , wherein each of the strips of fabric material has a length to encircle the neck opening of the garment.  
   
   
       7 . The neck collar of  claim 1 , wherein the insert strip is formed from a material different from both the first strip and the second strip.  
   
   
       8 . The neck collar of  claim 1 , wherein the insert strip is formed from same material as at least one of the first strip and the second strip.  
   
   
       9 . A garment comprising: 
 a garment body having a neck opening;    a first strip of fabric material having a length to encircle the neck opening of the garment body, wherein the first strip is substantially rectangular in shape and has a first width;    a second strip of fabric material having a length to encircle the neck opening of the garment, wherein the second strip is substantially rectangular in shape and has a second width that is different from the first width;    at least one insert strip of stretchable fabric material having a length to encircle the neck opening of the garment, wherein the insert strip is substantially rectangular in shape and has a width that is different from at least one of the first width and the second width;    a first stitching to affix a top edge portion of the insert strip, a top edge portion of the first strip and a top edge portion of the second strip together to form a joined unit, wherein the joined unit includes two side edge portions when the joined unit is opened flat with a stitched portion disposed extending longitudinally between the two side edge portions; and    a second stitching to affix the two side edge portions of the joined unit together to form a tubular unit such that the stitched portion extends along an outer face of the tubular unit, wherein the neck collar is formed by turning at least a portion of the tubular unit over the stitched portion such that the at least one insert strip is disposed between the first strip and the second strip; and    a third stitching for affixing the neck collar to the neck opening of the garment body.    
   
   
       10 . The garment of  claim 9 , wherein the first strip has the first width which is less than the second width of the second strip, wherein the width of the insert strip is substantially the same as the first width of the first strip, and wherein the second strip forming an inner layer of the neck collar extends over the stitched portion such that a longitudinal line formed between the first strip and the second strip is disposed, along an outer layer of the neck collar, a defined distance from a top peripheral edge of the neck collar.  
   
   
       11 . The garment of  claim 9 , wherein the first strip has the first width which is less than the second width of the second strip, wherein the width of insert strip is substantially the same as the second width of the second strip, and wherein the second strip forming an inner layer of the neck collar extends over the stitched portion such that a longitudinal line formed between the first strip and the second strip is disposed, along an outer layer of the neck collar, a defined distance from a top peripheral edge of the neck collar.  
   
   
       12 . The garment of  claim 9 , wherein the neck collar is formed by turning at least a portion of the tubular unit over the stitched portion such that an outer edge of the stitched portion points towards the top peripheral edge of the neck collar.  
   
   
       13 . The garment of  claim 9 , wherein the insert strip is formed from a material different from both the first strip and the second strip.  
   
   
       14 . The garment of  claim 9 , wherein the insert strip is formed from same material as at least one of the first strip and the second strip.  
   
   
       15 . A method comprising: 
 aligning a top edge portion of at least one insert strip of stretchable fabric material, a top edge portion of a first strip of fabric material and a top edge portion of a second strip of fabric material;    sewing the at least one insert strip, the first strip and the second strip together along the top edges thereof to form a joined unit having a stitched portion;    opening flat the joined unit after being sewn together such that the stitched portion of the joined unit is disposed extending longitudinally between two side edge portions of the joined unit;    folding the joined unit such that one of the side edge portions is aligned with the other side edge portion with the stitched portion of the joined unit facing outward; and    sewing the side edges of the joined unit together to form a tubular unit; and    turning at least a portion of the tubular unit over the stitched portion such that the insert strip is disposed between the first strip and the second strip to form a neck collar, wherein the first strip is substantially rectangular in shape and has a first width, wherein the second strip is substantially rectangular in shape and has a second width that is different from the first width, wherein the insert strip is substantially rectangular in shape and has a width that is different from at least one of the first width and the second width.    
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the first strip has the first width which is less than the second width of the second strip, wherein the width of the insert strip is substantially the same as the first width of the first strip, and wherein the second strip forming an inner layer of the neck collar extends over the stitched portion such that a longitudinal line formed between the first strip and the second strip is disposed, along an outer layer of the neck collar, a defined distance from a top peripheral edge of the neck collar.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the first strip has the first width which is less than the second width of the second strip, wherein the width of the insert strip is substantially the same as the second width of the second strip, and wherein the second strip forming an inner layer of the neck collar extends over the stitched portion such that a longitudinal line formed between the first strip and the second strip is disposed, along an outer layer of the neck collar, a defined distance from a top peripheral edge of the neck collar.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein turning at least a portion of the tubular unit comprises: 
 turning at least a portion of the tubular unit over the stitched portion such that an outer edge of the stitched portion points towards the top peripheral edge of the neck collar.    
   
   
       19 . The method  claim 15 , further comprising: 
 providing a garment body having a neck opening; and    affixing the neck collar to the neck opening of the garment body.    
   
   
       20 . The method  claim 15 , wherein the insert strip is formed from a material different from both the first strip and the second strip.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the insert strip is formed from same material as at least one of the first strip and the second strip.