Apparatus for securing articles of clothing

Abstract

A clothing attachment device includes (a) a first portion defining an opening and having a locking tab at a distal end thereof; (b) a second portion including a longitudinal member extending from a proximal end of the first portion and having at least one slot for engaging the locking tab. The clothing attachment device of the invention is easily and inexpensively fabricated and simple to use.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/919,678 filed Mar. 23, 2007, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a device for securing articles of clothing together, especially to prevent pairs of clothing items from being separated.

2. Background of the Art

Various devices are known in the art for attaching articles of clothing together. Matching pairs of clothing items such as socks and gloves can easily become separated and, very often, one or both of the paired items becomes lost. Also, pairs of items such as socks are separated during laundering. Laundering is usually followed by a laborious process of trying to find the socks in a pile of laundered clothing and then trying to match the pairs. To simplify this common domestic chore various snaps and clips have been devised to keep the articles of clothing together during the laundering process.

For example, snap fasteners for socks are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,058,986. Velcro® type fasteners for socks are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,579,541. U.S. Pat. No. 5,440,791 discloses a clip for securing socks. Various types of fasteners for socks and other articles of clothing are also disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,058,853; 5,038,413; 5,357,660; 5,467,510; 5,499,431; 5,544,395; 5,944,236; 5,974,590; 6,092,241; 6,161,263; 6,185,751; 6,237,158; 6,374,420; and 6,389,657.

However, what is yet needed is a fastener for articles of clothing which is simple to use and easy to manufacture.

SUMMARY

A clothing attachment device is provided herein which comprises (a) a first portion defining an opening and having a locking tab at a distal end thereof; (b) a second portion including a longitudinal member extending from a proximal end of the first portion and having at least one slot for engaging the locking tab.

The clothing attachment device of the invention is easily and inexpensively fabricated and simple to use.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various embodiments are described below with reference to the drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the clothing attachment device of the invention in a fully open configuration;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the clothing attachment device of the invention in a locked configuration; and,

FIG. 3 is a side view illustrating the use of the invention for securing articles of clothing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)

The clothing attachment device of the invention can be used to secure various articles of clothing together and is especially useful in keeping pairs of items such as stockings, socks, gloves, and the like, together, for example, during the laundering process.

Referring now to FIG. 1, clothing attachment device 100 is fabricated from a flexible sheet of material capable of withstanding the laundering environment conditions (particularly temperature and water) during the washing and drying processes. Preferably, the attachment device 100 is stamped out or molded as a single piece from a flexible thermoset, thermoplastic, or elastomeric (or any combination thereof) polymeric film of suitable strength. By way of example, suitable polymers for use in the invention include, but are not limited to, polyolefins, polyesters, and the like. Optionally, the attachment device 100 can be fabricated from a colored material and may also optionally include various indicia, graphic designs or printed patterns to facilitate sorting. In one embodiment, the overall length L can preferably range from about 8 inches to about 15 inches, more preferably from about 10 inches to 12 inches. Alternatively, the overall length L can be less than 8 inches or more than 15 inches. That is, the attachment device 100 can be of any dimensions suitable for the use described herein.

Attachment device 100 includes a first portion 110 and a second portion 120.

In a preferred embodiment, first portion 110 is an annular body defining an interior open area 115 and including opposite parallel longitudinal sides 111 and 112, locking bar 113 and lateral side 114. Locking bar 113 includes cut out portions 116 which define a locking tab 117. Preferably, locking tab 117 includes flared sides 117a and 117b to facilitate secure locking as explained more fully below. While the first portion 110 is depicted in FIG. 1 as a rectangular structure, it can alternatively be fabricated in a circular or oval shape, triangle, or other suitable shape.

The second portion 120 extends longitudinally from lateral side 114 and can be delineated by means of a score line to facilitate bending at crease 125. Second portion 120 includes a strip 121 having a width W-2 which is less than the width W-1 of the opening 115. Strip 121 has at least one slot 123, and preferably two or more parallel and longitudinally spaced slots 123, in the vicinity of terminal end 124. Slots 123 are each dimensioned so as to receive tab 117 in the locked configuration of the attachment device 100. Preferably, strip 121 has a plurality of scalloped indentations which form projecting teeth 122 on at least one, and preferable each of two opposite longitudinal sides to grip a fabric. Teeth 122 help prevent an article of clothing locked in the attachment device 100 from being unintentionally separated during the laundering process.

Referring also now to FIGS. 2 and 3, strip 123 is folded at crease 125. End 124 is brought under locking bar 113 and up through cut out portion 116 where tab 117 is inserted into one of the slots 123. The flared sides 117a and 117b help insure that once the tab 117 is inserted it will not easily be pulled out under the conditions of agitation and tumbling encountered during the laundering process. The plurality of spaced slots 123 enable the attachment device 100 to be adjustable so that various thicknesses of clothing can be accommodated.

As can be seen from FIGS. 2 and 3, when the strip 121 of the second portion 120 is folded over first portion 110 and brought into locked engagement with tab 117, clothing 200 can be secured in a space 102 between the first and second portions. In a typical method of use a pair of stockings, for example, is laid on top of and across the first portion 110. Then, strip 121 is brought over the stockings 200 and under the locking bar 113. Depending upon the thickness of the stockings and how tightly they are intended to be secured, a respective one of the slots 123 is brought into locking engagement with tab 117. The secured socks can then be laundered without being separated until intentionally unlocked by the user.

While the above description contains many specifics, these specifics should not be construed as limitations of the invention, but merely as exemplifications of preferred embodiments thereof. Those skilled in the art will envision many other embodiments within the scope and spirit of the invention as defined by the features of the invention appended hereto.

Claims

1. A clothing attachment device comprising:

a) a first portion defining an opening and having a locking tab at a distal end thereof;

b) a second portion including a longitudinal member extending from a proximal end of the first portion and having at least one slot for engaging the locking tab.

2. The clothing attachment device of claim 1 wherein the first portion and second portion are fabricated of a single piece of polymeric sheet.

3. The clothing attachment device of claim 1 wherein the opening of the first portion has a width and the longitudinal member has a width which is less than the width of the opening.

4. The clothing attachment device of claim 1 wherein the longitudinal member has at least two longitudinally spaced parallel slots for engaging the locking tab.

5. The clothing attachment device of claim 1 wherein the locking tab has flared sides.

6. The clothing attachment device of claim 1 wherein the longitudinal member is attached to the proximal end of the first portion at a score line.

7. The clothing attachment device of claim 1 wherein the first portion has a rectangular shape.

8. The clothing attachment device of claim 1 wherein the longitudinal member includes a plurality of teeth-forming indentations on each of two opposite sides.

9. The clothing attachment device of claim 2 wherein the polymeric film is colored.

10. The clothing attachment device of claim 2 wherein the polymeric sheet includes indicia, graphic designs or printed patterns on a surface thereof.