Support band apparatus to reinforce shirt collars and hems

Abstract

A support band apparatus for use in reinforcing neck and wrist portions of a shirt to prevent limpness and droopiness from normal use of the shirt includes an elastic band assembly having a first elastic band, a second elastic band and a third elastic band, each elastic band having a first end coupled to a second end to create a loop, the loops of the first, second and third elastic bands positioned such that each elastic band is intertwined with the other elastic bands, the elastic band assembly disposed within an inner pocket of a neck collar or wrist hems of the shirt, and a plurality of fasteners coupled to each elastic band assembly and positioned at predetermined locations throughout the first, second and third elastic bands.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A support band apparatus for use in reinforcing neck and wrist portions of a shirt to prevent limpness and droopiness of the neck and wrist portions from normal use of the shirt, the support band apparatus configured to prevent irregular deformations of the neck and wrist portions and minimize user discomfort, the support band apparatus comprising:
 an elastic band assembly comprising a first elastic band, a second elastic band and a third elastic band, each elastic band comprising a first end coupled to a second end to create a loop, the loops of the first, second and third elastic bands positioned such that each elastic band is intertwined with the other elastic bands, the elastic band assembly configured to be disposed within an inner pocket of a neck collar or wrist hems of the shirt, thereby providing support to the neck or wrist portions of the shirt; and   a plurality of fasteners coupled to the elastic band assembly and positioned at predetermined locations throughout the first, second and third elastic bands, each pair of adjacent fasteners separated by a distance sufficiently large to prevent a midpoint region of the first, second and third bands between the adjacent fasteners from unraveling, thereby preventing any irregular deformations of the neck collar or wrist hems and minimizing user discomfort.   
     
     
         2 . The support band apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first, second and third elastic bands are made from a rubberized material. 
     
     
         3 . The support band apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein each elastic band of the first, second and third elastic bands comprises a thickness of approximately 1/32 of an inch. 
     
     
         4 . The support band apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein each fastener of the plurality of fasteners comprises a thread tied around the first, second and third elastic bands. 
     
     
         5 . A shirt with reinforced neck and wrist portions to prevent limpness and droopiness of the neck and wrist portions from normal use of the shirt, the reinforced portions configured to prevent irregular deformations of the neck and wrist portions of the shirt and minimize user discomfort, the shirt comprising:
 a flexible garment assembly comprising a front portion, a rear portion, a neck collar, a first sleeve and a second sleeve, each sleeve of the first and second sleeves comprising a wrist portion, each of the neck collar and wrist portions comprising a hem with an inner pocket; and   an elastic band assembly disposed within the inner pocket of the hem of each of the neck collar, the first sleeve and the second sleeve, each elastic band assembly comprising a first elastic band, a second elastic band and a third elastic band, each elastic band comprising a first end coupled to a second end to create a loop, the loops of the first, second and third elastic bands positioned such that each elastic band is intertwined with the other elastic bands, the elastic band assemblies disposed within the hem inner pockets of the neck collar, the first wrist portion and the second wrist portion configured to provide support to the neck and wrist portions of the shirt; and   a plurality of fasteners coupled to each elastic band assembly and positioned at predetermined locations throughout the first, second and third elastic bands, each pair of adjacent fasteners separated by a distance sufficiently large to prevent a midpoint region of the first, second and third bands between the adjacent fasteners from unraveling, thereby preventing any irregular deformations of the neck collar or wrist portions of the shirt and minimizing user discomfort.   
     
     
         6 . The shirt of  claim 5 , wherein the first, second and third elastic bands of each elastic band assembly are made from a rubberized material. 
     
     
         7 . The shirt of  claim 6 , wherein each elastic band of the first, second and third elastic bands in each elastic band assembly comprises a thickness of approximately 1/32 of an inch. 
     
     
         8 . The shirt of  claim 6 , wherein each fastener of the plurality of fasteners in each elastic band assembly comprises a thread tied around the first, second and third elastic bands. 
     
     
         9 . The shirt of  claim 8 , wherein the distance separating each pair of adjacent fasteners in the elastic band assembly disposed in the neck collar is at least 3 inches.