SOCK WITH LABEL

Abstract: A sock (10) has a portion (26) which is adapted to function as a label. Indicia (28) are able to be inscribed on the portion (26). The portion (26) is formed either from the material from which the sock (10) is fabricated, or formed from another material. The portion (26) is either woven from the material or interwoven with it, or otherwise secured to the sock (10) by printing, bonding or adhering the other material to the material of the sock (10). One or more pairs of socks (10) may be sold in a package which also includes a writing implement, capable of inscribing indicia on the portion (26).

Description: 1 SOCK WITH LABEL This invention relates to hose, and in particular relates to socks. To identify items of children's clothing, including children's socks, parents often attach labels bearing the name of the child, or on which the name of the child may subsequently be placed, to those items of clothing. Such identifying labels are useful not only in locations outside the home, such as at school, but are also useful within the home, when there is more than one child. It is not overly onerous for identifying labels to be attached to clothing items such as pants, dresses, jackets, jumpers or the like, because there are not many such items in total. However, when such labels have to be sewn on to socks, the situation is different. Even with one pair a day for a school week, a parent, usually a mother, is faced with sewing labels onto ten socks for each child. US-A-5,725,725 discloses an automatic sock labelling machine, which mechanises the sewing-on of labels onto socks. Such a machine is the second part of a process which firstly sees the socks being manufactured, and them sees those socks being passed through the labelling machine for labels to be sewn thereon. It is clear that such a two-stage process would add expense to the production of socks bearing a label. It is an object of this invention to provide a means of providing identifying labels on articles of hose, which is more convenient for the person responsible for locating those articles. The invention provides an article of hose, characterised by a portion thereof which is adapted to function as a label, said portion being adapted to have indicia inscribed thereon. Throughout this description and claims, the term "indicia" is intended to include letters, numbers, and words. Preferably, said portion is substantially integral with said article of hose. More preferably, said portion is integral with said article of hose. Preferably, said portion is formed from the material from which said article of hose is fabricated. Alternatively, said portion is formed from a second material which is secured to the material from which said article is fabricated. Said portion may be formed by being woven from said material from which said article of hose is fabricated. Alternatively, said portion is interwoven with said material from which said article of hose is fabricated. Alternatively, said portion is formed from said second material being secured to said article by being printed thereon. Preferably, said printed label is screen-printed. Alternatively, said portion is formed from said second material being secured to said article by being adhered thereto. Alternatively, said portion is formed from said second material being secured to said article by being bonded thereto. Preferably, said article of hose is fabricated and said portion is formed during a single process. Said article of hose may be a sock. Preferably, said portion is located on the sole of said sock. The invention may also provide a package, characterised in that said package includes at least one article of hose according to any one of the preceding 14 paragraphs, and a writing implement adapted to co-operate with said portion such that said writing implement is able to be used to inscribe said indicia onto said portion. Preferably, said package includes at least one pair of articles of hose according to any one of the said 14 paragraphs. Preferably, said writing implement is a felt pen. The invention further provides a method of providing on an article of hose a portion adapted to function as a label, said label being adapted to have indicia inscribed thereon, characterised by the step of: forming said portion from the material from which said article of hose is fabricated; or securing said portion to said article of hose. Preferably, said article of hose is a woven article and said integral portion is woven into said article. Alternatively, said article of hose has said portion printed. Preferably, said article of hose has said portion screen-printed thereon. Preferably, said article of hose is fabricated and said portion is formed in a single process. Embodiments of the invention, which may be preferred, will be described in detail hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a one embodiment of a sock with a label, in accordance with the present invention; and Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a the embodiment of Fig. 2, showing indicia inscribed on the label. In Fig. 1 there is shown a sock 10, which apart from that part thereof relating to the present invention, may in general be a conventional sock, produced using conventional techniques and using conventional yarns for its manufacture. Sock 10 includes a first portion 12 which is adapted to surround, in use, the foot of the wearer, and a second portion 14 which is adapted to surround, in use, the lower part of the wearer's leg, including the ankle. The first portion includes a toe 16, a sole 18 and a heel 20. The second portion may include a logo 22, such as that of a school or other educational institution, which is normally woven into the material of the sock 10. The name 24 of the school or other educational institution may also be provided on second portion 14, and again is normally woven into the sock material. A label portion 26 is provided on the sole 18 of the sock 10. It is to be understood that the label portion 26 could be located, in accordance with the present invention, anywhere on sock 10, but it is felt that a position somewhere on the sole 18 is the most desirable. In addition, while the label portion 26 may preferably be of a conventional rectangular shape, it may have any shape. There may be reasons connected with the manufacturing process for the sock 10 which suggest that a particular shape for the label portion 26 may be desirable. The label portion 26 is preferably integral or substantially integral with the material from which the sock 10 is fabricated, and more preferably is intended to be woven into the sock 10 as part of the normal sock manufacturing process. The material (yarn) chosen for the portion 26 is desirably one on which it will subsequently be easy to inscribe indicia, using a writing implement such as a felt tip pen, marker pen, ball-point pen or the like (not shown), or some form of printing or equivalent apparatus (also not shown). It may well be, for example, that a white cotton yarn may be used for the integral portion 26. However, any suitable material could be used. It is understood that conventional sock manufacturing machines are able to be "programmed" to weave logos and the like (such as logo 22 and/or name 24) into or onto socks, and it is felt that a portion 26 could be formed on socks 10 by suitable programming. An alternative embodiment has a substantially integral label portion 26 formed on the sock 10 by means of printing, glueing, adhering, heat-bonding (for example of plastics material onto and into the material from which the sock 10 is fabricated), or by any other suitable means or manner. By way of preference, a label portion 26 could be provided by screen-printing the sock 10 to provide a label on which a name 28 (Fig. 2) may be written. The particular type and colour of ink would desirably be chosen to provide the best surface for visibility and longevity of a name 28 written on label 26. It is intended that socks 10 produced in accordance with these embodiments of the invention be identified with the name of the child who is to wear the socks, by writing or otherwise placing the name 28 of the child on the label portion 26 of each sock 10. In Fig. 2, the name "Mathilda" (28) is seen to have been written on the label portion 26. Preferably, a marker pen of the type having a broad felt tip, an example of which is the Artline (Registered Trade Mark) 70 permanent marker, is used to write the name 28 of the child on the portion 26, although any suitable means could be used. Clearly, it is desirable that the combination of the material (or ink) of the label portion 26 and the writing means provides a permanent mark which will survive washing, and normal wear and tear. It is believed that one form of marketing for socks in accordance with this invention is to market a week's worth of socks of the type described in relation to sock 10 of Fig. 1, that is, five pairs of socks 10, each sock 10 containing a label portion 26, in a pack with a marker pen of the general type described hereinbefore. The sock and writing implement package could be marketed to schools, with a particular school's logo (such as logo 22) on each sock 10. The marker pen may also have the logo of the school on it, and/or promotional lettering relating to the socks and/or to their manufacturer. It can be seen that this invention provides a novel and effective way of enabling a parent to identify a sock, because the name of the wearer is inscribed thereon. The article of hose may be any other item of clothing. The entire contents of the specification and drawings of Australian provisional patent applications nos. PQ0004, filed 28 April 1999, and PQ0804, filed 7 June 1999, are hereby incorporated into the disclosure of this specification. The claims form part of the disclosure of this specification.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. An article of hose, characterised by a portion thereof which is adapted to function as a label, said portion being adapted to have indicia inscribed thereon. 2. An article of hose according to claim 1 , characterised in that said portion is substantially Integral with said article of hose. 3. An article of hose according to claim 2, characterised in that said portion is integral with said article of hose. 4. An article of hose according to any preceding claim, characterised in that said portion is formed from the material from which said article of hose is fabricated. 5. An article of hose according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that said portion is formed from a second material which is secured to the material from which said article is fabricated. 6. An article of hose according to claim 4, characterised in that said portion is formed by being woven from said material from which said article of hose is fabricated. 7. An article of hose according to claim 5, characterised in that said portion is interwoven with said material from which said article of hose is fabricated. 8. An article of hose according to claim 5, characterised in that said portion is formed from said second material being secured to said article by being printed thereon. 9. An article of hose according to claim 8, characterised in that said printed label is screen-printed. 10. An article of hose according to claim 5, characterised in that said portion is formed from said second material being secured to said article by being adhered thereto. 11. An article of hose according to claim 5, characterised in that said portion is formed from said second material being secured to said article by being bonded thereto. 12. An article of hose according to any preceding claim, characterised in that said article of hose is fabricated and said portion is formed during a single process. 13. An article of hose according to any preceding claim, characterised in that said article of hose is a sock. 14. An article of hose according to claim 13, characterised in that said portion is located on the sole of said sock. 15. A package, characterised in that said package includes at least one article of hose according to any one of claims 1 to 13, and a writing implement adapted to co-operate with said portion such that said writing implement is able to be used to inscribe said indicia onto said portion. 16. A package according to claim 15, characterised in that said package includes at least one pair of articles of hose according to any one of claims 1 to 14. 17. A package according to claim 15 or claim 16, characterised in that said writing implement is a felt pen. 18. A method of providing on an article of hose a portion adapted to function as a label, said label being adapted to have indicia inscribed thereon, characterised by the step of: forming said portion from the material from which said article of hose is fabricated; or securing said portion to said article of hose. 19. A method according to claim 18, characterised in that said article of hose is a woven article and said integral portion is woven into said article. 20. A method according to claim 18, characterised in that said article of hose has said portion printed. 21. A method according to claim 19, characterised in that said article of hose has said portion screen-printed thereon. 22. A method according to any one of claims 18 to 21 , characterised in that said article of hose is fabricated and said portion is formed in a single process.

Inventors: CALDER-POULSEN LAUREN LOUISE, CALDER-POULSEN, LAUREN, LOUISE
Applicants: CALDER POULSEN LAUREN LOUISE, CALDER-POULSEN, LAUREN, LOUISE
Application year: 2000
Main classification: A41B11
IPC codes: A41B11, A41D27