Bendable shirt collar stay

Abstract

A collar stay and garment arrangement has an inner collar for laying around at least part of the neck of a wearer, and an outer fold-over collar with a point and for covering at least part of the inner collar, the collar stay having a first long portion for engagement an inner surface of the outer collar and for extending toward the point, and a second short portion for engaging an outer surface of the inner collar. A curved or connecting portion of the stay connects the first and second portions to each other and a bend in the first portion sets an angular position between the first and second portions that set an angular position between the inner collar and the outer collar point, as well as setting a relative position of the inner and outer collars with respect to each other.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A collar stay ( 10 ) for a garment ( 20 ) having an inner collar ( 24 ) for laying around at least part of the neck of a wearer, and an outer collar ( 22 ) connected to the inner collar at a seam, the outer collar having at least one point and being a fold-over collar for folding over and covering at least part of the inner collar, the collar stay comprising:
 a first relatively longer portion ( 12 ) for engaging an inner surface of the outer collar ( 22 ) and for extending toward the point of the outer collar;   a second relatively shorter portion ( 16 ) spaced from the first relatively longer portion, for engaging an outer surface of the inner collar ( 24 );   an connecting portion ( 14 ) connecting the first and second portions to each other; and   a bend ( 18 ) in one of the first relatively longer portion ( 12 ) and the connecting portion ( 14 ) for setting an angular position between the first and second portions of the stay, the angular position sets an angular position between the inner collar and the outer collar point, as well as setting a relative position of the inner and outer collars with respect to each other.   
     
     
         2 . The collar stay of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second portions of the stay are substantially parallel to each other. 
     
     
         3 . The collar stay of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second portions of the stay are at an angle of about zero to 170 degrees to each other. 
     
     
         4 . The collar stay of  claim 1 , wherein the bend (B) is at an acute angle. 
     
     
         5 . The collar stay of  claim 1 , wherein the bend (B) is at an angle of 10 to 80 degrees. 
     
     
         6 . The collar stay of  claim 1 , wherein the stay is made of material selected from the group consisting of bendable plastic and bendable metal. 
     
     
         7 . A collar stay and garment arrangement comprising:
 an inner collar for laying around at least part of the neck of a wearer;   an outer fold-over collar with at least one point, the outer collar covering at least part of the inner collar; and   a collar stay having a first longer portion for engaging an inner surface of the outer collar and for extending toward the point, a second shorter portion for engaging an outer surface of the inner collar, a connecting portion for connecting the first and second portions to each other, and a bend in the first portion;   the bend setting an angular position between the first and second portions that set an angular position between the inner collar and the outer collar point, as well as setting a relative position of the inner and outer collars with respect to each other.   
     
     
         8 . The collar stay and garment arrangement of  claim 7 , wherein the bend (B) is at an acute angle. 
     
     
         9 . The collar stay and garment arrangement of  claim 7 , wherein the bend (B) is at an angle of 10 to 80 degrees. 
     
     
         10 . The collar stay and garment arrangement of  claim 7 , including a pocket in the inner surface of the outer collar for the first portion of the stay and a pocket in the outer surface of the inner collar for the second portion of the stay. 
     
     
         11 . The collar stay and garment arrangement of  claim 7 , wherein the bend (B) is at an acute angle, the arrangement including a pocket in the inner surface of the outer collar for the first portion of the stay and a pocket in the outer surface of the inner collar for the second portion of the stay. 
     
     
         12 . The collar stay and garment arrangement of  claim 7 , including a pocket in the inner surface of the outer collar for the first portion of the stay and a pocket in the outer surface of the inner collar for the second portion of the stay, the pockets being substantially parallel to each other. 
     
     
         13 . The collar stay and garment arrangement of  claim 7 , including a first pocket in the inner surface of the outer collar for the first portion of the stay and a second pocket in the outer surface of the inner collar for the second portion of the stay, the second pocket comprising a fabric patch of the outer surface of the inner collar, and a pair of spaced apart seams along the patch and inner collar. 
     
     
         14 . The collar stay and garment arrangement of  claim 7 , wherein the first and second portions of the stay are substantially parallel to each other. 
     
     
         15 . The collar stay and garment arrangement of  claim 7 , wherein the stay is made of material selected from the group consisting of bendable plastic and bendable metal. 
     
     
         16 . The collar stay and garment arrangement of  claim 7 , including a pocket in the inner surface of the outer collar for the first portion of the stay and a pocket in the outer surface of the inner collar for the second portion of the stay, the pockets being substantially parallel to each other, the pockets and the first and second portions of the stay being substantially parallel to each other. 
     
     
         17 . The collar stay and garment arrangement of  claim 7 , including a first pocket in the inner surface of the outer collar for the first portion of the stay and a second pocket in the outer surface of the inner collar for the second portion of the stay, the second pocket being at an angle of about 20 to 60 degrees to a major axis of the inner collar. 
     
     
         18 . The collar stay and garment arrangement of  claim 7 , wherein the first and second portions of the stay are at an angle of about zero to 60 degrees to each other. 
     
     
         19 . A collar arrangement for a garment comprising:
 an inner collar for laying around at least part of the neck of a wearer;   an outer fold-over collar covering at least part of the inner collar; and   an elongated pocket in the outer surface of the inner collar stay, the pocket having an opening for receiving a stiffening stay.   
     
     
         20 . The collar arrangement of  claim 19 , wherein the pocket extends at an acute angle to a major axis of the inner collar and comprises a pair of spaced part seams, the pocket being closed at an end that is opposite the opening of the pocket.
 the bend setting an angular position between the first and second portions that set an angular position between the inner collar and the outer collar point, as well as setting a relative position of the inner and outer collars with respect to each other.