DEVICE FOR SOCKS

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for holding together stockings (2, 2A) which require to be washed for the entire duration of the washing process. In accordance with the invention, a dispenser (3) that is so arranged as to consist of a magazine (5A, 5B) with stocking holders (4) arranged to permit the attachment of stockings (2, 2A) in pairs before the stocking are washed and until after the washing is complete, is so arranged as to function as a support in conjunction with the attachment.

Description: Device for socks The present invention relates to a device for holding together in pairs stockings which require to be washed for the entire duration of the washing process, comprising a dispenser that is so arranged as to consist of a magazine with stocking holders arranged for the attachment of stockings before the stockings are washed and until after the washing is complete. We are all familiar with the apparent ability of stockings to disappear without trace when they are washed by machine. Previously disclosed is the use of special net-like bags, in which stockings and similar small articles of clothing are placed before washing, so that they are washed separately from other larger items of washing and, among other things, are prevented from disappearing during washing. Nevertheless, the problem remains of having to pair together the right stockings after drying. US, A, 5 381 588 relates to a holding device combined with a dispenser for holders. The holders are discshaped with a central opening and with clamping tongues situated all around, and a suspension hook is present on the outside of the holder. The existing dispenser accommodates holders in stacks, and it does not permit a function as a stop when attaching stockings to holders in the dispenser. Only one finger can be inserted in the dispenser for the purpose of withdrawing the next holder plate to be discharged in turn ready for manual threading of the leg of the stocking through the central hole of the holder so that the tongues spring out of the way. DE 4 030 120 Al relates to holders that are of a complicated kind and do not contain a dispenser to permit the discharge of holder devices and, in conjunction with this, to function as a support when securing the stockings in the holders. The support that can be included consists of a holding plate with a number of slots, accommodated in which are clamping parts that are clamped together as the clamping parts are drawn up through the slots (see Fig. 8), in addition to which spring-assisted clamping fingers may be accommodated on a common bar (see Fig. 19), and pairs of comb-like clamping components are capable of connection in a position displaced from one another and with matching stockings clamped in place one by one (see Figs. 29-35) . The principal object of the present invention is, in the first instance, to solve the above problem by simple and effective means, so that the right stockings or other items of clothing can already be paired together when the clothes are put in the dirty linen basket after they have been worn. Said object is achieved by means of an arrangement in accordance with the present invention, which is characterized essentially in that the dispenser is so arranged as to function as a support in conjunction with attachment, in the sense that it comprises stocking holders held in rows in the form of clips with an opening situated at their one end and with spring-assisted tongues facing one another, which, in a space between the tongues, are intended during clamping to accommodate and clamp together pairs of stockings, in that the clips consist of a frame with spring- assisted pairs of tongues situated between one another, which together form an opening that converges in a direction towards the inside, and in that the clips are accommodated guided along guide tracks in the dispenser. It is possible, by means of the present invention, to hold your stockings together easily between the time when they are placed in the dirty linen basket until they are to be worn again. You now avoid all sorting and searching for the right stocking. The invention is described below as a preferred illustrative embodiment, in conjunction with which reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of an arrangement with an empty magazine; Fig. 2 shows the dispenser fully charged with clips; Fig. 3 shows a first illustrative embodiment of a clip viewed from the side; Fig. 3A shows a view of said clip from above; Fig. 4 shows a second illustrative embodiment of a clip viewed from the side; Fig. 4A shows said clip from above; Fig. 5 shows in detail pairs of clips stacked with one clip on top of the next; Fig. 6 shows the sequence for attaching the clip to a pair of stockings; and Fig. 7 shows the clip attached to a pair of stockings. An arrangement 1, which can be used for holding together stockings 2, 2A that require to be washed for the entire duration of the washing process, consists of a dispenser 3 and a stocking holder 4. More precisely, the dispenser 3 is so arranged as to comprise magazines 5A, 5B with a desired number of stocking holders 4 therein, which are so arranged as to permit the attachment of stockings 2, 2A in pairs prior to washing of the stockings and until after washing is complete, as well as drying of the stockings. The said dispenser 3 is so arranged as to be capable of functioning as a support for the stocking holders 4 during the actual attachment of the stockings 2, 2A to a stocking holder 4, which is positioned so that it is next in line for attachment to a pair of stockings in the dispenser 3. The dispenser 3 consists of a number of stocking holders 4, which are packed in line in the dispenser 3 (see Fig. 2), and the aforementioned stocking holders 4 are in the form preferably of clips that are provided with an accommodating opening 6 for stockings 2, 2A. The opening 6 is situated at one end 4A of the clip and exhibits two tongues 7, 8 spring-assisted in a direction towards one another. Pairs of stockings 2, 2A are intended to be accommodated under a clamping effect and clamped together therein in an inner space 9 formed in the clip 4 between the tongues 7, 8 after these have been bent apart. The clips 4 are preferably formed by a frame 10 with pairs of spring-assisted tongues 7, 8 situated inside the frame 10. An opening 6 is formed between the tongues 7, 8, which converge in a direction 11 towards their aforementioned inner stocking-accommodating space 9. The clips 4 are accommodated in such a way that they are guided along a guide track 12 in the dispenser 3, and, in the example illustrated here, the dispenser is formed from pairs of parallel guide tracks 12-12, 12A-12A, which exhibit an opening 13 at 'one end 12 1 and a stop 14 at the opposite end 12 2 . In this way a holder 15, which may consist of plastic, metal or some other suitable material, functions as a frame for the aforementioned dispenser 3. The aforementioned holder 15 exhibits a number of slotted recesses 16; 16A, the lateral edges of which form the aforementioned guide tracks 12, 12A and extend along their entire length L. The clips 4 are guided by the aforementioned guide tracks 12, 12A so that they can be displaced between an inner storage position I ready for attachment to stockings 2, 2A and an extended position II with stockings 2, 2A already attached, as shown in Fig. 6 and in Fig. 7. The holder 15 can be formed by an angled sheet provided with means in the form of a stable bottom part 17 enabling it to be stood on a base 18, or in the form of screw holes 19 or a hook 20 enabling it to be attached permanently to a wall 21 or hung loosely on a dirty linen basket, for example . Each recess 16, 16A, which is open in a direction towards an end 16 1 , 16A 1 intended for discharging clips, is designed to be capable of accommodating said clips 4 that are introduced into the recess one at a time or together in the form of a full, linear magazine, and the function is such that the pair of stockings 2, 2A in question is put together and is then pushed down into the magazine 5A, 5B . The clips 4, which are accommodated with their respective profiled, e.g. U-shaped, lateral edges 4 1 , 4 2 guided by the guide tracks 12, 12A in question, in the recesses 16, 16A, are pushed in a direction towards the bottom, i.e. the stop 14, of each recess 16, 16A, in conjunction with which the stockings 2, 2A are pushed securely into position in the outermost clip 4 in the magazine, which clip holds the stockings together for the duration of the washing and drying process without working loose. In conjunction with this, the flexible tongues 7, 8 spr'ing apart as the stockings 2, 2A are pushed in, but they endeavour, thanks to the elasticity of the material in the clip 4, which may be a plastic and/or a metallic material, to spring back again towards the stockings 2, 2A and, in so doing, to clamp them effectively. By avoiding barbs or other sharp parts on the clip 4, it is possible to reduce the risk of the stockings 2, 2A being damaged by it. The clips 4 can also be executed with a hook 22 for hanging the clips 4 on a washing line for drying the stockings 2, 2A. By designing the hook 22 to have round edges and to be laterally spring-assisted and displaced, it can be snapped securely into place around a drying line or allowed to be stacked in a magazine one on top of the other without problem and without the risk of becoming caught and damaging other washing during the washing process. The frame 10 for the clips 4 can be U-shaped, and the pairs of spring-assisted tongues 7, 8 in the clips 4 can extend in a curved fashion from the upper end of the frame downwards towards the inner base of the frame, and they can preferably engage with one another. The tongues preferably merge into an extended closed area at their respective ends, in conjunction with which the tongues and/or the closed space is/are attached to the inner base of the frame. After drying, the stockings 2, 2A are already sorted into pairs thanks to the clip 4, which is then removed when the stockings are placed in pairs in the stocking drawer, or when the stockings are worn directly after washing. The invention, which is described and illustrated as preferred illustrative embodiments, is not restricted to these, however, and can be modified within the scope of the Patent Claims without departing from the idea of invention. For example, the dispenser may exhibit internal guide tracks for the clips, which in ihis case can have a smooth peripheral form on the outside and can be guided internally in the guide track between its pairs of laterally situated guide edges. This is advantageous, in view of the endeavour to make the clips as smooth as possible in order to exclude the risk of their tearing apart other washing during the washing and drying process in the machine.

Claims: P a t e n t C l a i m s 1. Device (1) for holding together in pairs stockings (2, 2A) which require to be washed for the entire duration of the washing process, comprising a dispenser (3) that is so arranged as to consist of a magazine (5A, 5B) with stocking holders (4) arranged for the attachment of stockings (2, 2A) in pairs before the stockings are washed and until after the washing is complete, characterized in that the dispenser (3) is so arranged as to function as a support in conjunction with attachment in the sense that it comprises stocking holders (4) held in rows in the form of clips (4) with an opening (6) situated at their one end (4A) and with spring- assisted tongues (7, 8) facing one another, which, in a space (9) between the tongues (7, 8), are intended during clamping to accommodate and clamp together pairs of stockings (2, 2A) , in that the clips (4) consist of a frame (10) with spring- assisted pairs of tongues (7, 8) situated between one another, which together form an opening (6) that converges in a direction (11) towards the inside (9), and in that the clips (4) are accommodated guided along guide tracks (12, 12A) in the dispenser (3) . 2. Device as claimed in Patent Claim 1, characterized in that the dispenser (3) is formed from pairs of parallel guide tracks (12-12, 12A-12A) . 3. Device as claimed in Patent Claim 2, characterized in that a holder (15) exhibits a number of slotted recesses (16, 16A), the edges of which form the guide (12, 12A) enabling the clips (4) to be displaced between an inner storage position (I) and an extended position (II). 4. Device as claimed in Patent Claim 3, characterized in that each recess (16, 16A) is open in a direction towards an end (16 1 , 16A 1 ) intended for discharging the clips. 5. Device as claimed in one or other of Patent Claims 1-4, characterized in that the holder (15) has means (17, 19, 20) enabling it to be stood, hung or permanently attached in a desired position. 6. Device as claimed in one or other of Patent Claims 1-5, characterized in that the clips (4) exhibit a hook (22) adapted for hanging the clips (4) on a line. 7. Device as claimed in one or other of Patent Claims 1-6, characterized in that the frame (10) for the clips (4) is U-shaped. 8. Device as claimed in Patent Claim 7, characterized in that the pairs of spring-assisted tongues (7, 8) in the clips (4) extend in a curved fashion from the upper end of the frame downwards towards the inner base of the frame, and preferably engage with one another. 9. Device as claimed in Patent Claim 8, characterized in that the tongues merge into an extended closed area at their respective ends . 10. Device as claimed in Patent Claim 9, characterized in that the tongues and/or the closed space is/are attached to the inner base of the frame

Inventors: HANSEROT STEFAN, HANSEROT, STEFAN
Applicants: HANSEROT STEFAN, HANSEROT, STEFAN
Application year: 1998
Main classification: D06F95
IPC codes: D06F95