Abstract: A sock pair retention apparatus includes a resilient membrane which includes a plurality of resilient flap members formed within the membrane. The resilient flap members are oriented in a common plane when in a relaxed mode and are deformed out of the plane when in a sock-retention mode. When one or more socks is pushed between the resilient flap members, the resilient flap members are pushed out of the plane and are in a sock-retention mode. The resiliency of the resilient flap members serves to lock the socks in the sock pair retention apparatus of the invention. The socks can be removed from the sock pair retention apparatus by simply pulling the socks completely through the membrane. The sock pair retention apparatus enables pairs of socks to remain together through washing and drying. When the socks are removed from the membrane, the resilient flap members can return to their relaxed mode. A frame member can be connected to a periphery of the membrane. The frame member defines a frame-enclosed region.

Abstract: This invention relates to socks, and, more particularly, to socks having a complementary mate, which enable a pair of socks to be fastened together when not being worn or during laundering and drying.

Abstract: A laundry holder having a length of nylon webbing, with its ends joined with a side release buckle fastener. A sock snare, comprising a loop of nylon cording, is secured to the nylon webbing in depending relation thereto. The nylon cording is threaded through a releasable cordlock fastener. The cordlock fastener is used to adjust the size of the sock snare loop.

Abstract: A pair of shoes fastener for releasably coupling at least one pair of shoes together. The pair of shoes fastener includes a male portion and a female portion that are releasably coupleable together. The male portion has a neck member outwardly extending from the front face thereof and a bulbous end portion extending from the neck member. The female portion has an aperture extending through its top and bottom faces and a pair of axial breaks providing an opening through the front face of the female portion into the aperture. The aperture and the axial breaks define a groove of the female portion. The end and neck members of the male portion are slidably insertable in the groove of the female portion. The male portion is coupled to an inner side of a shoe. The female portion is coupled to an inner side of another shoe.

Abstract: A buckle guard that includes a flexible buckle guard member with a fastening button opening, a first hook and pile fastener section adjacent to the fastening button opening, and a second companionate hook and pile fastener section provided along an opposed side edge of the flexible guard member; and a garment laundering method includes the steps of (1) providing one buckle guard for each buckle assembly on the garment that includes a fastening button member stitched to a first strap section and a clip fastener member pivotally secured to a second strap member, the clip fastener member including a fastening button passage portion in connection with a semi-circular retaining ring portion; (2) installing each of the buckle guards over a buckle assembly by positioning the fastening button member through the fastening button opening of the flexible buckle guard member and into the semi-circular retaining ring of the clip fastener member and then folding the flexible buckle guard member over until the first and sec

Abstract: A pair of socks 10 wherein each sock comprises a connector 16 operably attached thereto wherein each connector comprises locking means 42, 38 for co-operative locking with the other connector. Each connector 16 comprises a first and second member 22, 24, 26, 28 attachable to one another on opposite sides of a region of sock fabric wherein the first member 24, 26 of the first and second connectors respectively comprise said first and second locking means 42, 38 and the second members 22, 28 of the first and second connectors comprise a surface 54 for a design. The first member 24, 26 of each connector 16 is positioned on the inside of the sock and the second member 22, 28 of each connector 16 is positioned on the outside of the sock in the socks usual configuration for wear.

Abstract: A magnetic fastening device comprises a magnetic attraction member (11, 12) including a permanent magnet (16, 17) and an elongate tubular sheath (13) which is made of nonmagnetic material and tightly encloses the magnetic attraction member (12, 13). Two magnetic attraction members may be interconnected by a flexible hinge member which is integral with the sheaths of the members and formed from a length (13) of shrink tubing.

Abstract: A pair of socks 11, each sock 11 having a tab 12 attached to it along one edge 13 of the tab 12 with the tab 12 acting as a flap is disclosed. The tab 12 and sock 11 have on their adjacent surfaces, a fastening means comprising a complementary arrangement of hook and pile patches 15a and 15b which are mateable so that the tab 12 is fastened to the sock 11 when the sock is being worn, and wherein the complementary arrangement of hook and pile patches 15a and 15b on each tab 12 and sock 11 is also mateable with the complementary arrangement of hook and pile patches 15a and 15b on the other tab 12 and sock 11.

Abstract: A strap for holding laundry can hold clothing having a sleeve or a leg and can also have a sock holding device as an integral part thereof.

Abstract: A shaft, having a slot formed therein offset from the shaft axis, receives the terminal end of a limb within the slot. The limb end has a pointed termination, and a bight. The slot has an arcuately formed portion, in which to nest the bight, and a depression in which to receive the pointed termination. More, the shaft has threading formed thereon, adjacent the slot, with the slot traversing the threads and a shaft-end head. An internally-threaded sleeve is slidably engaged with the shaft, and overlies the slot-nested end of the limb, and threadedly fastens onto the shaft threads, to prevent the limb from removing from the shaft.

Abstract: This invention pertains to spring clip garment holders for holding garments, especially small garments such as pairs of socks, while the garments are being processed. In the rest position, the clip generally has a "U-shaped" configuration, including a bight and a pair of legs extending from the bight. The legs have upper sections extending toward each other, and lower sections extending away from each other, and the legs reside in surfaces which preferably intersect at an angle of no more than about 20 degrees. At least one of the legs includes a lock, such as a lock slot, for locking the legs together. In use, the spring clip garment holder is compressed, creating an opening for receiving a garment, and providing clearance for one leg to pass the other, thereby crossing one leg over the other. The compression is released after the garment is inserted into the opening, with the legs still crossed.

Abstract: The present invention is a fastener assembly that is readily attached to fabric material and the like, without need of sewing. One embodiment of the fastener assembly includes a pair of interlocking male and female members, each for placement upon an opposite side of the fabric material. A coupling, such as a button, cufflink, or snap fastener element, is affixed to one of the members, and a locking device permanently secures the male and female members on opposing sides of the fabric material. Another embodiment of the invention includes two pairs of interlocking male and female members, each having mating couplings configured to removably attach the pairs of members together.

Abstract: A sock tagging device and associated method for tagging socks to facilitate their mating, sorting and selection. The preferred embodiment of the device comprises four color-coded components including a tack (1), so named for its resemblance to a common thumbtack, a washer (19), a cap core (14), and a cap ring (17), the core and ring together constituting a dome-shaped cap (18). When the device is attached to the upper portion of a sock, held securely in place by internal friction alone, cap (18) protrudes on the outer side of the sock fabric while the circular base of the tack, called the tack disc (3), appears on the inner side. Immediately surrounding the circumference of the tack disc can be seen the peripheral portion of the larger diameter washer (19) underlying it. The dual component, dome-shaped cap (18) displays a concentrically sequenced color pair matched by the cap color pair of another such device attached to an appropriate sock mate.

Abstract: An apparatus for reversibly securing a pair of socks together during handling and laundering. The apparatus comprises a combination of detachably interconnectable housing members, wherein each housing member is attached to a respective one of a pair of socks. By contacting the housing members to one another, a magnetic attraction and a non-sliding, interlocking engagement is created that holds the pair of socks together.

Abstract: A clip preferably monolithically formed of a single piece of resilient and pliable material (e.g., plastic), provides for the securing together of individual units of stocking, socks, and hose and the like, into their proper pairs for ease of sorting for laundry and storage. The clip provides a gripping force biasing the jaws shut, by means of a spring action in the handle portion or by alternative latching means between the two handle portions, while the jaws are relatively wide to distribute the clamping or gripping forces so as to preclude crushing of the fabric or other pliable material gripped therein. The clip may be provided in a variety of colors, in order that they and any articles gripped therein may be recognized readily, and a storage container which is easily attachable in the laundry area (e.g., to the side of a laundry hamper) may be provided for the storage of the clips when they are not in use.

Abstract: Disclosed is a device designed to retain a pair of sock or other paired items of clothing together during the washing or drying thereof. The retaining device is also adapted to be used to display a pair of socks or other paired items of clothing on display racks in stores selling such items of clothing. Also, disclosed is a holder dispenser for storing a number of the retaining devices in the laundry and which allows the retaining devices to be removed one at a time, as needed.

Abstract: An identifying device for affixation to laundry items and to further identify an owner of the laundry items. The identifying device is a one piece unit which has a first end and an opposite second end. The first end has a male member formed thereon and the second end has a female member formed thereon. The one piece unit is hinged between the first end and the second end so that the one piece unit may be folded over the laundry item. The male member of the device is irremovably connected to the laundry item by pushing the male member through the laundry item and joining the male member with the female member. Indicia means are formed on the device to permit identification and matching of pairs of laundry items.

Abstract: A new and improved sock pairing apparatus includes a pair of similar sock clamp assemblies which include similar indicia. Each respective sock clamp assembly is used with one sock of a pair of socks. Each respective sock clamp assembly includes a pair of first and second clamping elements for clamping the respective sock clamp assembly onto a respective sock of the pair of socks. Each respective first clamping element is placed on a respective sock against a first side of a sock wall. Each respective second clamping element is placed against a second side of the respective sock wall in registration with the respective first clamping element and clamped thereto. In this way, a portion of the sock wall is permanently clamped between the respective first clamping element and the respective second clamping element. The first clamping element may be a rigid member that includes a locking assembly for locking the second clamping element thereto.

Abstract: An improved hook and loop reusable and reclosable fastening system for pairing socks, hosiery and gloves. The fastening system is permanently attached to the socks and hosiery. A preferred embodiment includes an elastic or other stretchable backing material attached to each hook and loop panel preferably made up of thin separable strips which can move with the expansion and contraction of the sock and attachment material. Another preferred embodiment includes several thin strips of the hook and loop panels attached directly to each sock, so that the sock itself can serve as a stretchable backing material. Another preferred embodiment is that each hook and loop panel, respectively, is attached to a logo or decorative pattern on the sock to camouflage the particular hook and loop panel. The products, such as socks, hosiery, gloves and the like can be attached by the hook and loop attachment means for washing, drying and storage.

Abstract: A rigid, penetrating fabric marker consisting of a piercing element and a locking cap. The piercing element consists of a barbed piercing post (14) and three short stabilizing posts (12A,12B,12C), all protruding at right angles from the plane of a flat, smooth, circular base (10). The locking cap consists of a pair of parallel locking elements (22A,22B) that span the concave interior of the hollow cap at the cap's center. The distance between the locking elements is equal to the diameter of the piercing post at its base. The space between the locking elements is penetrated by the piercing post and temporarily widened by the barbs (16A,16B) on the piercing post.

Abstract: A padding assembly including a first pad member which is placed between the garment and the accessory to be protected, and a second pad member that extends over the first pad member in engagement therewith, with the accessory being sandwiched between the pad members. After dry cleaning and/or laundering, the pad members can easily be detached and removed from the accessory and the garment.

Abstract: A multi-piece garment connector is provided for interconnecting related garments or the like so as to prevent accidental separation of one from the other, as during laundering. The connector comprises male and female elements connectible temporarily to related garments such as a pair of hose, each element being provided with a simple attachment device, and the two elements are interconnected by fitting a tongue-like part on one element into a cavity in the other element. Cooperative parts of the elements provide a detent function operative normally to prevent withdrawal of the tongue from the cavity but yieldable to manual force to separate the cooperative detent portions as to enable such withdrawal.

Abstract: A clothing ring is provided for storing articles of clothing, such as socks, during laundering, so that the articles are not separated during laundering. The ring has a loop with a sharply pointed end for insertion through the articles of clothing, and another end having a locking member. The pointed end of the loop slides into a U-shaped channel in the locking member for locking the two ends together, to thus prevent separation of the articles of clothing. The ring may also be used as a key ring.

Abstract: A clasping device for releasably securing small articles of clothing such as socks is disclosed. In the clasping device of this invention, a device consisting of one or two small, flat, resilient members are utilized to pair socks or the like for washing and storage. The garments are secured by inserting them through a divisionary cut extending from an edge of the clasping device to an eliptical aperture.In one embodiment, two members are used, each intended to secure one sock and the members are held together by slipping an H-shaped arm of the H into a circular aperture of the second member by twisting and slipping the two together through a divisionary cut in the second member.An alternate embodiment contemplates one member having two or more divisionary cuts and apertures through which garments may be slipped and caught and later released for use.

Abstract: Clothes peg having a body of conical shape and a set of openings in the body is disclosed. The openings are necked and decrease in size as they pass upwardly of the peg. The openings are used to secure a garment to a clothes line. The body of the peg may have a locking means for locking the pegs together to form a stack.

Abstract: A pair of flexible pile patches and flexible hook patches that are hinged together are formed by cutting transversely a strip of flexible material having parallel strips of pile and hooks. An area between the pile and hook strips acts as a hinge, and the outer edges of the strip are clear of hook and pile to serve as tabs for separating the hooks and pile by manually grasping the tabs between thumb and forefinger of each hand. The rear surface of the strip may have an adhesive (preferably, a thermoplastic dry material) for adhering each pair to an article of clothing such as socks, so that the pile and hooks of one sock may be joined to the hook and pile of another sock. This attachment of socks is useful during laundering to avoid later sorting of socks into pairs.

Abstract: A pair of socks is held together from the time it is removed for laundering, during washing, and, later, by means of a flexible patch secured to each sock, the patches of a pair adhering to each other when pressed together. A manual pull will separate the socks for use. Flexible hook-and-pile patches are presently preferred inasmuch as their flexibility avoids stretching and tearing the socks during washing. The hook patches are prevented from catching on the trousers or other clothes of the wearer by closing an integral or attached patch of pile to cover these hook patches, and the patches are opened up for additional bonding area with matching hook-and-pile patches on the other sock.

Abstract: A device is disclosed for securing a matched pair of socks, particularly during laundering, and for storing them after the laundering is completed. The socks are secured by a clip having three lips forming an integral part thereof. A compartmentalized box is provided for storing the secured socks. The box is adapted to engage the lips on the clip.