Organizing device for sorting and mating socks and garments which exist as a pair of members

An organizing device for sorting and mating members of a plurality of members, the mated members forming a matched set. A panel has a plurality of spaced-apart openings which are in a series of horizontal rows and staggered vertical columns. The inner surface of each opening is formed to receive and retain a member of the pair which is manually inserted into the opening. The panel is supported in a substantially upright position. A method of using the device is disclosed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to a device for sorting and mating members of 
a plurality of members, the mated members forming a matched set, and more 
particularly to a panel having a plurality of openings therein, in which 
the members can be inserted and retained. 
A persisting problem encountered by anyone doing laundry is the sorting and 
mating of members of pairs such as socks after the laundry has been dried. 
The most common, and time consuming, method is to lay out the clean socks 
on a flat surface and try to find the mates as rapidly as possible. This 
task is compounded by pairs of socks which are similar in color (e.g., 
navy blue and black) and texture. In addition, in a family of adults and 
children, there can be pairs having similar colors and patterns, but being 
of different sizes. Depending upon the size of the family, an average wash 
can contain ten (10) or twenty (20) pairs of socks. Also, there are other 
garments, in the laundry which are paired members and which also must be 
sorted and mated. The failure to find the mate frequently results in a 
"lost" member which in many instances, is discarded after a period in 
which a pair cannot be identified. This problem is even more acute in 
commercial applications where the numbers of such garments is 
significantly greater than in a residential or family application. 
There have been efforts directed to solving this long-existing problem. The 
applicant is aware of the following U.S. patents which disclose devices 
for drying, holding and/or pairing socks and other articles of clothing. 
______________________________________ 
U.S. Pat. No. Inventor(s) 
______________________________________ 
2,541,348 Gamache 
2,612,274 Earll 
2,793,762 Broussard 
2,920,765 Royer 
2,922,528 Carlson 
3,633,802 Webster 
3,972,094 Fuller 
D 281,469 Honerman 
D 311,458 La Croix 
D 323,748 La Croix 
______________________________________ 
None of the above references disclose a panel having a plurality of 
specifically shaped openings which permit simple insertion of the sock or 
garment so that the sock or garment is readily visible for mating with a 
second member of a pair. Further, none of the references disclose a means 
for securely supporting the panel in a substantially upright position so 
that a portion of one member of the pair may be easily inserted into one 
of the openings and the member is displayed for subsequent mating with the 
other member of the pair. 
The applicant is also aware of the following which disclose display 
devices: 
______________________________________ 
U.S. Pat. No. Inventor(s) 
______________________________________ 
2,614,701 Mapson 
2,102,977 Shoemaker et al 
3,281,102 Hobson 
______________________________________ 
None of these devices are used for articles of clothing nor for mating 
pairs of items. Also these devices do not have openings configured either 
to facilitate manual insertion of an article of clothing or to display a 
portion of the article of clothing to permit comparison for mating pairs 
of the articles of clothing. 
Thus, there remains a need for a simple, easy to use device to sort and 
mate socks and other garments which exist as a pair of members. 
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
It is an object of the present invention to provide a simple organizing 
device in which socks and garments which exist as a pair of members may 
have one member removably retained and displayed so that the other member 
can be mated thereto. 
In accordance with the teaching of the present invention there is disclosed 
herein an organizing device for sorting and mating members of a plurality 
of members, the mated members forming a matched set. The device includes a 
panel having a front surface, a back surface, and a plurality of 
spaced-apart openings formed therethrough. The openings are in a series of 
horizontal rows and staggered vertical columns. Each opening has a top, a 
bottom and a smooth inner surface thereabout. The top and the bottom each 
has a width, the width of the top being greater than the width of the 
bottom. The inner surface of each opening is inclined inwardly from one of 
the surfaces of the panel to an apex and is arcuate from the apex to the 
other of the surfaces of the panel. A portion of one member of the set is 
manually inserted from the front of the panel into the top of the 
respective opening and pushed into said opening downwardly toward the 
bottom of the opening. In this manner, the portion of said member is 
removably retained in the respective opening and another portion of said 
member of the set hangs downwardly from the bottom of the respective 
opening on the front of the panel, thereby displaying said member for 
mating with a second member of the set. A plurality of members of the sets 
are inserted and retained in the corresponding plurality of openings. 
Means are provided for securely supporting the panel in a substantially 
upright position.

DESCRIPTION 
Referring now to FIGS. 1-5, the organizing device 10 is a substantially 
flat panel 12 having a height, width and thickness. These dimensions are 
not critical but may be changed to meet the use requirement. The thickness 
of the panel 12 must be sufficient so that the panel 12 is rigid; however, 
a thickness of approximately 1/4 inch is preferred around the opening 14. 
Preferably, the panel 12, is thicker around the openings 14 and around the 
periphery of the panel 12. The panel 12 is thinner between the openings 14 
to reduce the weight of the panel 12 and to reduce the cost of material 
used to fabricate the panel 12. A plurality of spaced-apart openings 14 
are formed through the panel 12. The openings 14 are preferably in a 
series of horizontal rows and staggered vertical columns as will be 
described. 
Each opening 14 has a top 16, a bottom 18 and a smooth inner surface 20 
around the periphery of the opening 14. The top 16 and the bottom 18 each 
have a width. The width of the top 16 is greater than the width of the 
bottom 18. Preferably, the top 16 of the opening 14 is an arc having a 
diameter ranging between 15/8-2 inches. This corresponds to the maximum 
width of the opening 14. If the diameter is greater, the number of 
openings 14 which can be formed in the panel 14 is reduced which is 
wasteful of the available space. Further, an increased width offers no 
advantages in inserting the sock in the opening 14. If the width is 
reduced, it becomes difficult to insert a more bulky sock into the opening 
14. The bottom 18 of the opening 14 may be angular as a "V" or may be an 
arc having a diameter up to 1/2 inch. If the diameter (width of the bottom 
14) is greater than 1/2 inch, the opening 14 is not effective to retain 
the sock. A tear drop shape of the opening 14 is preferred although other 
shapes may be used as long as the overall configuration is wider at the 
top than at the bottom within the range as disclosed. The need for this 
configuration will be described. 
The inner surface 20 of each opening 14 is smooth and has no burrs or 
uneven portions to ensure that members of the set, such as socks 22, to be 
inserted in the opening 14 are not damaged and also to facilitate 
insertion, retention and removal of the sock 22. Although the present 
device 10 can be used to sort a plurality of members forming a matched 
set, the set of socks has been used for ease of description and not as a 
limitation. It is further preferred that a portion of the inner surface 20 
of each opening 14 be arcuate. The arcuate portion may be nearer to the 
front surface 24 or to the back surface 26 of the panel 12. It is further 
preferred that about the entire periphery of each opening 14, the inner 
surface be inclined toward the arcuate portion to an apex 28. Preferably, 
the apex 28 is nearer to the back surface 26 than to the front surface 24. 
Although the above structure is preferred, the inner surface 20 of each 
opening 14 may be completely arcuate. However, this configuration has been 
found to be less efficient in receiving and retaining the sock 22. Also, 
the apex 28 may be at an approximate midpoint between the front 24 and 
back 26 of the panel 12. These configurations have also been found to be 
less efficient than the preferred configuration in receiving and retaining 
the sock 22. 
The panel 12 is supported in a substantially upright position or in a 
position with the top slightly tilted backwardly with respect to the 
bottom. As shown in FIGS. 6-8, one sock 22, or other garment to be mated, 
is picked up by the fingers of a user and using a natural hand movement, a 
first portion of the sock 22 is inserted, from the front 24 of the panel 
12, into the top 16 of a selected one of the openings 14. The sock 22 is 
preferably folded in two with the fold being inserted into the opening 14. 
The sock 22 is pushed downwardly into the opening 14 toward the bottom 18 
of the opening 14 such that the first portion of the sock 22 is wedged in 
the opening 14, near the bottom 18 thereof. The first portion of the sock 
22 hangs out of the opening 14, extending over the back 26 of the panel 
12. The remaining (second) portion of the sock 22 hangs downwardly from 
the bottom 18 of the selected opening 14 on the front 24 of the panel 12. 
In this manner, the remaining portion of the sock 22 is displayed for the 
user to see at a glance so that the mate to the sock 22 can be rapidly and 
simply identified. The plurality of openings 14 enable the user to display 
a number of socks 22 simultaneously. 
The user sequentially picks up one of the socks from the laundry and mates 
the sock with a mate retained in one of the openings 14. If no mate is 
found, the user retains the non-mated sock in a separate retaining means 
(opening 14). This selection, mating and retaining is continued 
sequentially until all of the socks are mated or, if unmated, are 
displayed on the panel 12. Preferably, the rows and columns of openings 14 
are staggered so that the openings 14 in each row are offset from the 
openings 14 in the row immediately above the row immediately below. In 
this manner, increased display surface is available and socks 22 suspended 
from any one opening 14 do not overhang and obscure lower openings 14. In 
order to provide the maximum number of openings 14 per unit area and still 
permit sufficient display space under each opening 14, the following 
spacing has been found to be most efficient. Each opening 14 has a 
respective vertical center line and in any row, the spacing between center 
lines is approximately four (4) inches. Each opening 14 further has a 
horizontal line across the greatest width of the respective opening 14. 
The spacing between the horizontal lines is approximately five (5) inches 
between each row. Since alternate rows are offset from the row immediately 
above and below, the result is a ten (10) inch space between openings 14 
which are directly in a vertical column and approximately a two (2) inch 
space between the vertical center lines of openings 14 in each adjacent 
vertical column. When a mate is found for the displayed sock 22 the second 
portion of the displayed sock 22 is grasped by the fingers of the user and 
lifted to remove the sock 22 from the top 16 of the opening 14 to be 
placed with the mate. It is also possible to insert a portion of the mate 
into the opening 14 to have the complete pair displayed, stored and 
available for wear. 
By use of the organizing device 10, it is possible to significantly reduce 
the time required to sort and mate socks 22 and other garments or articles 
of clothing which exist as pairs. In typical uses, for an ordinary load of 
laundry, the time to sort and mate socks has been reduced from fifteen 
(15) minutes to five (5) minutes. When the one member is displayed on the 
device 10, the user can rapidly see the size, color, design and pattern of 
the sock and can feel the texture for definitive mating. Also, if a mate 
is not found, the one sock 22 can be left hanging from the device 10 until 
the next load of laundry is completed so that the "lost" sock can be mated 
at a later time. The device 10 can even be used as a storage device where 
mated pairs are displayed and can be selected for wear as desired. No 
auxiliary tools or equipment are required and only one hand of the user is 
necessary to place or remove the sock 22 from the device 10. The socks 22 
may be sorted and mated by placing the socks 22 of one family member in 
one segment of the panel 12 and the socks of another family member in a 
different segment. For example, the socks of the father may be placed in 
the upper right while those of the wife are in the upper left with one 
child's socks being in the lower left and another child's socks being in 
the lower right. The device 10 can be used to sort and mate socks of 
children as well as socks of adults. 
The panel 12 must have sufficient rigidity and strength to permit the user 
to push the socks 22 through the openings 24. The panel 12 should not be 
too thick, however, so that the weight of the device 10 may restrict its 
portability. To strengthen the panel 12, reduce weight and reduce cost by 
reducing the amount of material forming the panel 12, it is preferred to 
form a plurality of spaced-apart ribs 42 on the back 26 of the panel 12. 
The panel 12 is provided with secure support means to maintain the panel 12 
in a substantially upright position. In one embodiment, a foldable support 
means 30 such as legs 32 are connected to the back (FIGS. 1 and 2). A 
first pair of legs 32' are connected to the back 26 of the panel 12 or are 
formed as a part of the panel 12. A second pair of legs 32" are pivotably 
attached to the first pair of legs 32' at the top thereof so that the 
respective bottoms of the legs 32 may be spaced apart to provide a secure 
support for the panel 12. A hinged connecting member 34 is preferably 
disposed between the legs 32', 32" to enable said legs to be foldably 
disposed adjacent to one another and to be locked in an open position. The 
legs 32', 32" may have telescoping members 32'" so that the panel 12 may 
be elevated above a work surface to a height convenient to the user and 
also to permit display of socks 22 which are retained in the lowermost row 
of openings 14. The telescoping feature also provides for more convenient 
storage and transport of the device 10. To further assist in transport and 
use of the device 10, a handle 36 is formed on the top of the panel 12. 
An alternate secure support means is a surface mounting means formed on the 
back 26 of the panel 12. The surface mounting means may be slotted 
apertures 38 on the back of the panel 12, or on the legs 32, to permit the 
device 10 to be suspended from hooks 40 or protrusions mounted on a wall 
or vertical surface (FIG. 9). 
In another embodiment, a separate mounting board or boards, may be attached 
to the wall or vertical surface and the panel 12 may be connected to the 
mounting boards. It is preferred that the panel 12 be mounted on the wall 
or vertical surface such that the back 26 of the panel 12 is approximately 
two (2) inches from the wall or vertical surface. This distance provides 
sufficient space for the user to insert a garment and for the first 
portion to be retained in the opening 14. These, and other means known to 
persons skilled in the art, are useful for securely supporting the device 
10 in a substantially upright position. The device 10 can be mounted on 
the wall in a laundry room or in an area where the laundry is sorted. The 
device 10 may be of any height and width to be mounted in available space 
so as to improve the efficiency of sorting of the laundry. 
Alternately, instead of openings 14 the panel 12 may have a plurality of 
spaced-apart retaining means such as rods or hook-like protrusion 
extending outwardly from the front 24 of the panel 12. The retaining means 
may alternately be a clip or clamp to hold the member. 
Obviously, many modifications may be made without departing from the basic 
spirit of the present invention. Accordingly, it will be appreciated by 
those skilled in the art that within the scope of the appended claims, the 
invention may be practiced other than has been specifically described 
herein.