Elastic shirt collar button

Abstract

A shirt having an expandable collar includes a shirt body having a front placket; a collar attached to the shirt body; and a plurality of buttons extending along the front placket including a top button that is positioned proximate the collar. The shirt body has a pocket formed proximate the collar and the top button is attached to a free first end of an expandable strip that is contained within the pocket and is fixedly attached at a second end to the shirt body within the pocket. The expandable strip is positionable between a fully retracted position in which the top button is proximate an opening of the pocket and a fully extended position in which the top button is spaced from the opening of the pocket.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A shirt having an expandable collar comprising:
 a shirt body having a front placket;   a collar attached to the shirt body; and   a plurality of buttons extending along the front placket including a top button that is positioned proximate the collar;   wherein the shirt body has a pocket formed proximate the collar and the top button is attached to a free first end of an expandable strip that is contained within the pocket and is fixedly attached at a second end to the shirt body within the pocket, the expandable strip being positionable between a fully retracted position in which the top button is proximate an opening of the pocket and a fully extended position in which the top button is spaced from the opening of the pocket.   
     
     
         2 . The shirt of  claim 1 , wherein the opening of the pocket is a slit formed in the shirt body. 
     
     
         3 . The shirt of  claim 1 , wherein the expandable strip comprises a first elastic section and a second fabric section. 
     
     
         4 . The shirt of  claim 3 , wherein the first elastic section is fixedly attached to the second fabric section. 
     
     
         5 . The shirt of  claim 3 , wherein the first elastic section terminates in the second end that is fixedly attached to the shirt body and the second fabric section terminates in the free first end. 
     
     
         6 . The shirt of  claim 3 , wherein the first elastic section is always contained in the pocket in both the fully retracted position and the fully extended position. 
     
     
         7 . The shirt of  claim 3 , wherein a length of the first elastic section is less than a length of the second fabric section. 
     
     
         8 . The shirt of  claim 7 , wherein the length of the second fabric section is at least twice the length of the first elastic section. 
     
     
         9 . The shirt of  claim 3 , wherein the second fabric section is formed of the same material as the shirt body. 
     
     
         10 . The shirt of  claim 3 , wherein the first elastic section comprises an elastic band. 
     
     
         11 . The shirt of  claim 3 , wherein a width of the first elastic section is at least substantially the same as a width of the second fabric section. 
     
     
         12 . The shirt of  claim 3 , wherein in the fully extended position, the second fabric section extends at least two inches from an opening of the pocket. 
     
     
         13 . The shirt of  claim 3 , wherein the first elastic section has a length of about 1 inch and the second fabric section has a length of about 2.5 inches. 
     
     
         14 . The shirt of  claim 3 , wherein in the fully extended position, at least ¼ inch of the second fabric section remains inside the pocket. 
     
     
         15 . A shirt comprising:
 a shirt body;   an elongated neckband;   a collar;   wherein the neckband is adapted to encircle a neck of a wearer and has upper and lower edges connected to the collar and to the shirt body, respectively, and a first end and an opposing second end;   wherein a first pocket is defined between the neckband and the shirt body at the first end of the neckband; and   an elastic collar button including an elastic band being attached to at least one of the neckband and the shirt body, the elastic band having a button disposed at a free end thereof.