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.