Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02487963 2004-11-17
1 Patent Application
2
3 SOCKS HAVING MATCH INDICATORS
4
6 COPYRIGHT NOTIFICATION
7
8 A portion of the disclosure of this patent document and its attachments
contain material
9 which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no
objection to the facsimile
reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it
appears in the
11 Patent and Trademark Office patent files or records, but otherwise reserves
all copyrights
12 whatsoever.
13
14 FIELD OF THE INVENTION
16 The present invention relates to garments, and in particular, to socks
having match
17 indicators useful for identifying the color and/or other characteristics of
the socks and for
18 matching the socks.
19
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
21
22 The problem of sorting and matching garments such as socks is well known.
For
23 example, in a family having several people including children, a relatively
large number of socks
24 may be washed in a single load of laundry. Often, several loads of laundry
are washed and dried
before sorting the clothing for storing away. Sock sorting difficulty
increases because of the
26 need to establish ownership of the socks, especially when socks are
purchased as "one size fits
27 all." In addition, it is common practice for people, especially children,
to have a relatively large
28 number of pairs of socks kept in a single drawer, in unsorted fashion. As
noted above, it is often
29 difficult to sort out a matching pair of socks without spending an
excessive amount of time
CA 02487963 2004-11-17
1 searching. This problem is compounded where more than one person's socks are
kept in a single
2 drawer.
3 It is particularly difficult to distinguish socks when they are made from
similar fabric and
4 are of closely resembling colors. Some socks, for example, dress socks, are
often made in dark,
solid colors. As a result, when a week's laundry is done there are many single
dark socks which
6 are difficult and tedious to pair back together. A further disadvantage,
particularly with daxk-
7 colored socks, is that in poor lighting conditions, as during early morning
hours, it is difficult to
8 select a color-matched pair of socks for donning. A mismatched set of
garments, such as
9 differently colored socks, is often discovered when the wearer is in
situations that can cause
embarrassment. A still further disadvantage in sock-sorting is that when a
person ha.s more than
11 one pair of identical socks, bought at different times, it is difficult to
pair those socks based on
12 the age of the pairs.
13 Therefore, it is desirable, particularly when sorting laundry for multiple
persons, to be
14 able to match and sort socks into specific pairs. Unless means exists to
identify socks
constituting like pairs, the socks can be mismatched as to ownership, color,
or original pairing.
16 Accordingly, it is desirable to provide socks having some type of marking
indicia to facilitate the
17 sorting process, or otherwise aid the matching of mated pairs of socks.
18 Various devices and means have been used to address sock sorting and
matching. For
19 example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,785,413 to Kook avoids the identification problem
by fastening a
plurality of pairs of socks along a single strip so that they stay together as
pairs during
21 laundering. Socks thusly fastened can invariably break loose or, in the
alternative, get wrapped
22 about other laundry pieces, causing damage to delicate garments and
inconvenience to the
23 operator in separating the laundry items after a washing and/or drying
cycle. Means to fasten
2
CA 02487963 2004-11-17
1 pairs of socks to each other during laundering are generally not preferred
because of the potential
2 for entanglements and damage to the attached fabric. Furthermore, because of
the constricted
3 access, it becomes difficult for the socks to be cleaned in the regions
where the fastening means
4 are attached.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,096,655 discloses a tag device for attaching to a fabric with
which the
6 fabric or a garment can be identified. By placing a tag on each of a pair of
articles of clothing,
7 such as socks, the device can be used to match the paired articles. U.S.
Pat. No. 5,367,809 to
8 Ross discloses attaching single piece devices to socks by folding the
devices over the edges of
9 the socks. Portions of the sock walls are captured as the devices snap shut
with the male ends
penetrating the sock walls and fastening to their respective female ends.
These devices are
11 provided in pairs with similar indicia comprising color of the device,
letters, or numbers for
12 matching like pairs of socks. Such device colors may be used to establish
ownership. However,
13 the device is limited in that it can only be applied at or near the edge of
the sock fabric, thereby
14 allowing only a minimum of material to be captured and thus susceptible to
tearing and/or other
damage from any pull on the device. The disclosed indicia provide limited
identification ability,
16 being unable to identify or differentiate between socks of different
colors.
17 U.S. Pat. No. 6,067,659 to Reichle discloses tagging devices for attaching
to the two
18 socks comprising a mated pair, which can be used for sorting and mating the
socks by
19 ownership, color, or original match. The tagging devices are a color
similar to the sock color and
are stamped with permanent indicia, such as a spot of color that vividly
contrasts with the
21 primary color of the device and the socks. A disadvantage of using such
devices to identify
22 garments is that the devices must be separately manufactured and then
attached to garments at
23 some additional time and expense.
3
CA 02487963 2004-11-17
1 Socks have previously been marked in a variety of manners for numerous
reasons. For
2 example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,104,892 to Thorneburg discloses a cushioned-sole
tube sock which is
3 marked in order to show the proper wearing position of the sock on the foot.
That is, the
4 Thorneburg sock has a special cushioned sole formed of terry loops designed
to be worn under
S the ball and heel of the foot. The markings on the sock consist of colored
stripes which indicate
6 the location of the terry loops. Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 3,995,322 to
Chesebro discloses a
7 cushioned top sock having cushioning to protect the ankle during wear of a
ski boot. Color
8 bands are used to indicate the location of the specially cushioned areas of
the sock and ultimately
9 axe used for proper positioning of the sock on the foot during wear.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,958,388 to Madden discloses socks having size indicating
stripes at the
11 calf end of the stock. One stripe, for example, may indicate a short length
sock, two stripes may
12 indicate a medium length stock, and three stripes may indicate a full
length sock. Accordingly,
13 such size indicating stripes located near the calf end of a sock result in
indicia on the sock that
14 are visible when worn, at least when such socks are worn without long
pants. A disadvantage of
such size indicators is that it is often desirable to not have indicia (such
as colored stripes) that
16 are visible.
17 Various approaches have been used to identify the color of socks in
addition to the actual
18 color of the fabric from which the socks are made. For example, U.S. Pat.
No. 5,983,402 to
19 Fincher discloses a sock having a colored identifying portion (a band of
fabric) disposed between
the toe and heel. The color identifying portion is different in color than the
color of the
21 remaining foot portion of the sock, and may be disposed on the bottom, top,
or around the entire
22 foot portion.
4
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1 Alternatively, U.S. Pat. No. 5,708,984 to Shofner discloses that the
dominant color of a
2 sock is identified by a symbol, numeral, or the distinctive color of a
thread stitched or
3 embroidered into a portion of the sock, such as the toe seam, that is
covered by a shoe. In yet
4 another approach to sock identification, U.S. Pat. No. 4,734,938 to Anderson
discloses a sock
that combines a color identifying marking and a pair identifying marking near
the toe of the
6 sock. The color identifying marking may comprise a word, symbol, or other
description to
7 identify the color of the sock. For example, the word, such as blue or
green, describes the color
8 of the sock, and a geometric symbol, such as a square or triangle,
identifies the socks comprising
9 the original pair. The color identifying mark is knitted into the sock at a
location not visible
during wear. Such a sock identification system involves use of both a word and
a symbol to
11 match socks. In addition, these patents do not teach that such markings are
visible from the
12 bottom of a sock, as desired, for example, for ease of locating a match
indicator when sorting
13 large volumes of laundry or as an appearance enhancement to socks when worn
without shoes,
14 such as when children are playing.
Thus, there is a need to provide garments, and in particular socks, having
garment match
16 indicators that are visible from the bottom of the socks such that the
color of the socks can be
17 readily determined. This feature would be particularly advantageous for
matching like pairs of
18 socks during sorting after laundering.
19 There is also a need for socks having garment match indicators that are
visible from the
bottom of the socks such that the color of the socks can be determined under
most lighting
21 conditions without having to rely on carefully viewing the sock color.
5
CA 02487963 2004-11-17
1 There is also a need for socks having garment match indicators that are
visible from the
2 bottom of the socks such that color of the socks can be determined by
persons who are unable to
3 distinguish colors and shades, for example, a color blind person.
4 There is also a need for socks having garment match indicators that are
visible from the
bottom of the socks to readily determine whether two socks of the same color
were originally of
6 the same pair.
7
8 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
9
The present invention provides a set of garments in which each of the garments
in the set
11 includes a garment match indicator. The garment match indicators comprise a
word describing
12 an identifiable characteristic common to the garments in the set and have a
color different than
13 the color of the set of garments. Each of the garments in the set is
thereby matchable to the other
14 garments by the garment match indicators.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the garment match indicators
comprise the
16 name of the color of the garments, such as navy, black, or green. In
another embodiment, the
17 garment match indicators comprise the name of the size of the garments, for
example, small,
18 medium, or large. In a plurality of sets of garments, in which each set of
garments has a different
19 size, the name of the size of the garments for each set of garments can be
a unique color. For
example, small-sized, paired garments, such as socks or gloves, may have the
word "small"
21 displayed in green, medium-sized socks or gloves may have the word "medium"
displayed in
22 blue, and large-sized socks or gloves may have the word "large" displayed
in red, so as to readily
23 differentiate the garment sizes. Embodiments of the present invention
include sets) of garments
24 having garment match indicators that comprise both the name of the color of
the garments and
6
CA 02487963 2004-11-17
1 the name of the size of the garments in the set, in which the names of the
color and the size have
2 a color different than the color of the set of garments.
3 In another embodiment of the present invention, the garment match indicators
comprise a
4 numeric indicator. In a plurality of sets of garments, each set of garments
can have a numeric
indicator unique to that set, such that one garment of the set can be matched
with another
6 garment of the set by matching the unique numeric indicator.
7 Embodiments of the present invention include sets of garments having garment
match
8 indicators that serve a function in addition to providing a means for
matching garments in a set.
9 For example, in one embodiment, the garment match indicators comprise an
indication of left or
right, to identify, for example, which of a set of socks is to be worn on the
left foot and which of
11 the set of socks is to be worn on the right foot. In another embodiment,
the garment match
12 indicators comprise a day of the week, such that a group of seven pairs of
socks might include
13 one pair of socks identified for each day of the week. Each sock in the
pair of socks for a
14 particular day of the week may include the name of the color of the socks
and/or the name of the
size of the socks in the set, and each name would be a color different than
the color of the socks
16 in that particular pair. In yet another embodiment, the garment match
indicators comprise an
17 indication of when the garments are intended to be worn, for example, an
observance such as
18 "Christmas," "Birthday," and the like. In other embodiments, the garment
match indicators are
19 displayed in combination with a brand identifier, such as a trademarked
name or logo.
In the present invention, a set of garments having garment match indicators
can be
21 formed in a variety of ways. In some embodiments, the garment match
indicators are integrally
22 formed in the garments. In a preferred embodiment, the garment match
indicator is knit in the
23 garment during the garment knitting process. Alternatively, the garment
match indicators
7
CA 02487963 2004-11-17
1 comprise a separate material attached to the garment. In a preferred manner
of attaching a
2 separate garment match indicator, the garment match indicator is attached to
the garment by a
3 heat transfer mechanism.
4 In the present invention, a set of garments can be a pair of socks, and the
garment match
S indicators comprise sock match indicators. In an embodiment of such a pair
of socks, each of the
6 socks has a toe, a heel, a foot portion between and including the toe and
the heel, a medial side,
7 and a lateral side. The foot portion of each sock includes a bottom below
the midline on each of
8 the medial and lateral sides of the foot portion. Each sock of the pair
includes a sock match
9 indicator disposed on the bottom of the foot portion that comprises a word
describing an
identifiable characteristic common to each of the socks of the pair. The color
of the sock match
11 indicators are different than the color of the pair of socks. Accordingly,
each of the socks of the
12 pair is matchable to the other by the sock match indicator.
13 The present invention includes methods of making a pair of matchable socks.
In one
14 embodiment, each sock has a toe, a heel, a foot portion between and
including the toe and the
1 S heel, a medial side, and a lateral side. The foot portion includes a
bottom below the midline on
16 each of the medial and lateral sides of the foot portion. In such a method,
knitting of the sock is
17 begun on a circular knitting machine. The knitting machine is programmed to
knit a sock match
18 indicator on the bottom of the foot portion of the sock. The sock match
indicator comprises a
19 word that describes an identifiable characteristic common to each of the
socks of the pair and has
a color different than the primary color of the socks. The sock match
indicator is knit on the
21 bottom of the foot portion of the sock in the courses where programmed
during the process of
22 knitting the sock.
8
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1 In embodiments of such a method of knitting a pair of matchable socks, the
sock match
2 indicators comprise the name of the color of the socks. In other
embodiments, the sock match
3 indicators comprise the name of the size of the socks.
4 In another method of making a pair of matchable socks, each sock has a toe,
a heel, a foot
portion between and including the toe and the heel, a medial side, and a
lateral side. The foot
6 portion includes a bottom below the midline on each of the medial and
lateral sides of the foot
7 portion. The method includes providing a transfer label comprising a sock
match indicator to be
8 transferred to each pair of socks. The sock match indicator comprises a word
describing an
9 identifiable characteristic common to each of the socks of the pair, and the
color of the sock
match indicator is a color different than the color of the socks. The transfer
label is aligned with
11 the bottom of the foot portion of a first sock of the pair of socks. The
transfer label is then
12 subjected to conditions sufficient to transfer the label to the bottom of
the foot portion of the first
13 sock. This process is then repeated for a second sock of the pair of socks.
14 In embodiments of such a transfer label method of making a pair of
matchable socks, the
sock match indicators comprise the name of the color of the socks. In other
embodiments, the
16 sock match indicators comprise the name of the size of the socks.
17 Features of garments having match indicators of the present invention may
be
18 accomplished singularly, or in combination, in one or more of the
embodiments of the present
19 invention. As will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art,
the present invention has
wide utility in a number of applications as illustrated by the variety of
features and advantages
21 discussed below.
22 Garments having match indicators of the present invention provide numerous
advantages
23 over prior sock identification and/or sorting systems. For example, the
present invention
9
CA 02487963 2004-11-17
1 advantageously provides garments, and in particular socks, having garment
match indicators that
2 are visible from the bottom of the socks such that the color of the socks
can be readily
3 determined. This feature is particularly advantageous for matching like
pairs of socks during
4 sorting after laundering.
Another advantage is that the present invention provides socks having garment
match
6 indicators that are visible from the bottom of the socks such that the color
of the socks can be
7 determined under most lighting conditions without having to rely on
carefully viewing the color
8 of the sock fabric.
9 Another advantage is that the present invention provides socks having
garment match
indicators that are visible from the bottom of the socks such that color of
the socks can be
11 determined by persons who are unable to distinguish colors and shades, for
example, a color-
12 blind person.
13 Another advantage is that the present invention provides socks having
garment match
14 indicators that are visible from the bottom of the socks that allow a
laundry sorter to readily
determine whether two socks of the same color were originally of the same
pair. Multiple
16 original pairs of identical or similar socks can be kept separate by
sorting pairs of socks by
17 different match indicators, such as a unique number for each pair. This
allows a sorter to keep
18 pairs together based on the use, or wear, of each pair of socks.
19 Another advantage is that the present invention provides socks having
garment match
indicators that are visible from the bottom of the socks such that a sorter
can readily determine
21 ownership of a matched pair of socks.
22 Another advantage is that the present invention provides socks having
garment match
23 indicators that are visible from the bottom of the socks such that the size
of the socks can be
CA 02487963 2004-11-17
1 readily determined. This feature provides ease for sorting and matching
socks having the same
2 size.
3 Another advantage is that the present invention allows a laundry sorter to
identify and
4 sort laundered sock pairs without requiring the socks to be fastened to each
other during
laundering, thereby avoiding any entanglements or tear of the laundry items
and facilitating
6 proper cleaning of the socks.
7 Another advantage is that the present invention provides a garment match
indication
8 means that is provided in normal garment manufacturing processes and that
does not depend on
9 the consumer for implementation.
As will be realized by those of skill in the art, many different embodiments
of socks
11 having match indicators according to the present invention are possible.
Additional uses,
12 objects, advantages, and novel features of the invention are set forth in
the detailed description
13 that follows and will become more apparent to those skilled in the art upon
examination of the
14 following or by practice of the invention.
16 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
17
18 FIG. 1 is a side view of one sock of a pair of socks having a sock match
indicator in an
19 embodiment of the present invention. The other sock of the pair of socks is
identical to the sock
shown.
21 FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the sock in the embodiment of the present
invention shown in
22 Fig. 1.
23 FIG. 3 is a side view of one sock of a pair of socks having a sock match
indicator in
24 another embodiment of the present invention. The other sock of the pair of
socks is identical to
the sock shown.
11
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1 FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the sock in the embodiment of the present
invention shown in
2 Fig. 3.
3 FIG. 5 is a bottom view of one sock of a pair of socks having a sock match
indicator
4 applied as a transfer label in another embodiment of the present invention.
The other sock of the
pair of socks is identical to the sock shown.
6 FIG. 6 is a view of a transfer label of sock match indicators useful for
applying the sock
7 match indicators to socks.
8
9 DETAILED DESCRIPTION
11 The present invention provides a set of garments in which each of the
garments in the set
12 includes a garment match indicator. The garment match indicators comprise a
word describing
13 an identifiable characteristic common to the garments in the set and have a
color different than
14 the color of the set of garments. Each of the garments in the set is
thereby matchable to the other
garments by the garment match indicators.
16 Embodiments of the present invention include a set of garments comprising a
pair of
17 socks, and the garment match indicators comprise sock match indicators.
Figs. 1-6 show such
18 embodiments. Although only one sock is shown for illustration purposes,
embodiments of the
19 present invention include a matched pair of socks wherein each sock is
identical. In an
embodiment of such a pair of socks, as shown in Figs. 1-4, each of the socks
10 has a toe 1 l, a
21 heel 12, a foot portion 13 between and including the toe 11 and the heel
12, a medial side 14, and
22 a lateral side 15. The foot portion 13 of each sock 10 includes a bottom 16
below the midline 17
23 on the medial side 14 and the midline 18 on the lateral side 15 of the foot
portion 13. Each sock
24 10 of the pair includes a sock match indicator 20 disposed on the bottom 16
of the foot portion
13 that comprises a word 21 describing an identifiable characteristic common
to each of the
12
CA 02487963 2004-11-17
1 socks 10 of the pair. The color 23 of the sock match indicators 20 are
different than the color 24
2 of the pair of socks 10. Accordingly, each of the socks 10 of the pair is
matchable to the other by
3 the sock match indicator 20.
4 In the embodiments shown in Figs. 1-2, the sock match indicators 20 comprise
the name
30 of the color 24 of the socks 10, such as navy, black, or green. In the
embodiments shown in
6 Figs. 3-4, the sock match indicators 20 comprise the name 40 of the size of
the socks 10, for
7 example, small, medium, or large. In a plurality of pairs of socks 10, in
which each pair of socks
8 10 has a different size, the name 40 of the size of the socks 10 for each
pair of socks 10
9 comprises a unique color 23. For example, a small-sized pair of socks 10 may
have the word
"small" displayed in green, medium-sized socks 10, as shown in Figs. 3-4, have
the word 21
11 "medium" displayed in blue, and large-sized socks may have the word "large"
displayed in red,
12 so as to readily differentiate the sock sizes. Embodiments of the present
invention include pairs)
13 of socks 10 having sock match indicators 20 that comprise both the name 30
of the color 24 of
14 the socks 10 and the name 40 of the size of the pair of socks 10, in which
the names of the color
and the size, 30, 40, respectively, have a color different than the color 24
of the pair of socks 10.
16 In another embodiment (not shown), the size of a pair of socks is displayed
inside a
17 geometric figure, for example, a circle, on the bottom of the socks. In
such an embodiment, the
18 size of the sock is represented by the first letter in the word spelling
the size, and the letter for
19 each size is a different color. For example, a small-sized pair of socks
may have the letter "S"
displayed in green, medium-sized socks may have the letter "M" displayed in
blue, and large-
21 sized socks may have the letter "L" displayed in red, so as to readily
differentiate the sock sizes.
22 The color of the letters is different than the color of the socks so that
the size of the socks in the
23 pair can be easily determined.
13
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1 In another embodiment of the present invention, the sock match indicator
comprises a
2 numeric indicator (not shown). In a plurality of pairs of socks, each pair
of socks can include a
3 numeric indicator (not shown) unique to that pair, such that one sock of the
pair can be matched
4 with the other sock of the pair by matching the unique numeric indicator.
For example, in a
package having multiple pairs of socks, each pair of socks has a unique number
on each of the
6 socks in the pair so that the same two socks could be matched to the
original mate in the pair,
7 rather than mixing a sock from one pair with a sock from another pair. As an
illustration, in a
8 package of athletic socks containing six pairs of socks, the socks in a
first pair of socks has the
9 number "one" ("1") on each sock in the pair, the socks in a second pair of
socks has the number
"two" ("2") on each sock in that pair, the socks in a third pair of socks has
the number "three"
11 ("3") on each sock in the third pair, and so on. In this manner, the socks
in each original pairing
12 can be matched to each other, even though each pair of socks in the package
is otherwise
13 identical. Sock match indicators 20 that are visible from the bottom 16 of
the socks 10 allow
14 ready determination of whether two socks 10 of the same color 24 were
originally of the same
pair. This advantageously allows a sorter to keep pairs together based on the
use, or wear, of
16 each pair of socks.
17 Embodiments of the present invention include a pair, or multiple pairs, of
socks 10
18 having sock match indicators 20 that serve a function in addition to
providing a means for
19 matching socks 10 in a pair. For example, in one embodiment, the sock match
indicators 20
comprise an indication of left or right (not shown), o identify, for example,
which of a pair of
21 socks 10 is to be worn on the left foot and which of the pair of socks 10
is to be worn on the right
22 foot.
14
CA 02487963 2004-11-17
1 In another embodiment, the sock match indicators 20 comprise a day of the
week (not
2 shown), such that a set of seven pairs of socks 10 might include one pair of
socks 10 identified
3 for each day of the week. Each sock 10 in the pair of socks for a particular
day of the week may
4 include the name 30 of the color 24 of the socks 10 and/or the name 40 of
the size of the socks
10 in the pair, and each name would be a color different than the color 24 of
the socks 10 in that
6 particular pair.
7 In yet another embodiment, the sock match indicators 20 comprise an
indication of when
8 the socks 10 are intended to be worn (not shown), for example, an observance
such as
9 "Christmas," "Birthday," and the like. In other embodiments, as shown in
Figs. l-5, the sock
match indicators 20 are displayed in combination with a brand identifier 50,
such a.s a
11 trademarked name or logo.
12 In the present invention, a pair of socks 10 having sock match indicators
20 can be
13 formed in a variety of ways. In some embodiments, the sock match indicators
20 are integrally
14 formed in the socks 10. In a preferred embodiment, the sock match indicator
20 is knit in the
1 S sock 10 during the sock knitting process. In other embodiments, the sock
match indicator 20 can
16 be stitched into the sock 10 in a process separate from sock manufacture.
Alternatively, as
17 shown in Figs. 5-6, the sock match indicators 20 comprise a separate
material 70 attached to the
18 sock 10. In a preferred manner of attaching a separate sock match indicator
20, the sock match
19 indicator 20 is attached to the sock 10 by a heat transfer mechanism. Socks
10 formed in either
of these manners results in socks 10 that are comfortable to a wearer during
use. Knit-in sock
21 match indicators 20 may provide advantages in that the integrally knit
yarns of the sock match
22 indicators 20 are not separable from the sock 10. In addition, the yarns of
the match indicators
CA 02487963 2004-11-17
1 20 wear, or fade, at the same rate as the yarns of the surrounding sock 10,
and thus maintain
2 readability for the life of the sock 10.
3 Embodiments of the present invention can include socks 10 of all styles,
including
4 fashion hosiery and athletic socks, as well as socks made for women, men,
and children.
Materials utilized to make socks 10 of the present invention are the same or
similar to those
6 typically used in sock manufacture, for example, cotton, acrylic, and nylon.
Embodiments of the
7 present invention can include socks 10 of all sizes, for example, knee
length, mid-calf length,
8 above-ankle length, and below-ankle length.
9 The present invention includes methods of making a pair of matchable socks
10. In one
embodiment, each sock 10 has a toe 11, a heel 12, a foot portion 13 between
and including the
11 toe 11 and the heel 12, a medial side 14, and a lateral side 15. The foot
portion 13 includes a
12 bottom 16 below the midline 17 on the medial side 14 and the midline 18 on
the lateral side 15 of
13 the foot portion 13. In such a method, a circular knitting machine is
programmed to knit a sock
14 match indicator 20 on the bottom 16 of the foot portion 13 of each sock 10.
The sock match
indicator 20 comprises a word 21 describing an identifiable characteristic
common to each of the
16 socks 10 of the pair and has a color 23 different than the primary, or
basic, color 24 of the socks
17 10. Knitting of a first of the socks 10 in the pair is begun on the
knitting machine. The sock
18 match indicator 20 is knit on the bottom 16 of the foot portion 13 of the
first sock as
19 programmed. Then, knitting of the remainder of the first sock is completed.
Next, these steps
are completed for a second of the socks 10 in the pair.
21 In embodiments of such a method of knitting a pair of matchable socks, the
sock match
22 indicators 20 comprise the name 30 of the color of the socks. In other
embodiments, the sock
23 match indicators 20 comprise the name 40 of the size of the socks.
16
CA 02487963 2004-11-17
1 Embodiments of garments of the present invention can be made without
significant
2 changes to conventional manufacturing machinery. For example, a sock 10
according to the
3 present invention can be knit on a circular hosiery knitting machine with
minor modifications to
4 the programming to knit the name 30 of the color 24 of the sock 10 in a
contrasting color 23 on
the bottom 16 of the sock 10.
6 In another method of making a pair of matchable socks, each sock 10 has a
toe 1 l, a heel
7 12, a foot portion 13 between and including the toe 11 and the heel 12, a
medial side 14, and a
8 lateral side 15. The foot portion 13 includes a bottom 16 below the midline
17 on the medial
9 side 14 and the midline 18 on the lateral side 15 of the foot portion 13.
The method includes
providing a transfer label 71, as shown in Fig. 6, comprising a sock match
indicator 20 to be
11 transferred to each pair of socks 10. The sock match indicator 20 comprises
a word 21
12 describing an identifiable characteristic common to each of the socks 10 of
the pair, and the color
13 23 of the sock match indicator 20 is a color different than the color 24 of
the socks 10. The
14 transfer label 71 is aligned with the bottom 16 of the foot portion 13 of a
first sock 10 of the pair
of socks 10. The transfer label 71 is then subjected to conditions sufficient
to transfer the label
16 71 to the bottom 16 of the foot portion 13 of the first sock. This process
is then repeated for a
17 second sock of the pair of socks 10.
18 In embodiments of such a transfer label method of making a pair of
matchable socks, the
19 sock match indicators 20 comprise the name 30 of the color 24 of the socks
10. In other
embodiments, the sock match indicators 20 comprise the name 40 of the size of
the socks 10.
21 As shown in Fig. 6, in a label transfer process of the present invention, a
transfer label 71
22 comprises a continuous roll of paper 72 having sock match indicators 20
printed at points spaced
23 along the roll in reverse image on one side of the paper. The printed
surface of the sock match
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CA 02487963 2004-11-17
1 indicators 20 has a heat-activatable adhesive film secured to the surface.
In transferring the
2 match indicators 20 from the transfer paper 72 to the sock 10, the match
indicators 20 are fed
3 from the continuous roll of paper 72 with the printed surface of each
transfer label 71 being
4 placed against the outside surface of the sock 10. A hot iron, or other
heating means, is then
pressed against the unprinted surface of the paper, resulting in the match
indicator 20 being
6 imprinted or transferred to the outside surface of the sock 10. The heat and
pressure causes the
7 sock match indicators 20 to become permanently adhesively bonded to the sock
10. Thus,
8 embodiments of the present invention include socks 10 having sock match
indicators 20
9 adhesively bonded through a heat transfer means to the socks 10.
Alternatively, sock match
indicators 20 can be applied to a sock 10 by utilizing a solvent-activated
adhesive, such that the
11 solvent, rather heat and/or pressure, cause the match indicators 20 to
adhere to the sock 10.
12 Although the present invention has been described with reference to
particular
13 embodiments, it should be recognized that these embodiments are merely
illustrative of the
14 principles of the present invention. Those of ordinary skill in the art
will appreciate that
garments having match indicators of the present invention may be constructed
and implemented
16 in other ways and embodiments. Accordingly, the description herein should
not be read as
17 limiting the present invention, as other embodiments also fall within the
scope of the present
18 invention.
19
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