Patent Publication Number: US-7587797-B2

Title: Sock keeper

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   Not Applicable 
   STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
   Not Applicable 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention relates to the field of clothing fasteners, and more particularly to a—fastener or keeper to hold a pair of socks together for laundering. 
   Sock pairs become separated in the laundry, and must be paired up after drying. Devices to keep socks together are known, and some prior art patents are as follows: 
   Klotz, U.S. Pat. No. 3,688,348; Marcum, U.S. Pat. No. 3,390,680; Wallach, U.S. Pat. No. 3,279,008; and Munz, U.S. Pat. No. 3,086,529; each disclose a strip of fabric with Velcro® on both sides. The strip is wrapped around the socks, and secured against a portion of loops facing outward. The hooks of Klotz face inward, engaging the socks. All of the references show exposed hook material that can catch on other items in the wash. None of the references shows a secondary latching structure to ensure that the keeper stays secured. 
   Jones, U.S. Pat. No. 5,918,318; Christy, U.S. Pat. No. 5,579,541; Ciuffo, U.S. Pat. No. 5,321,855; and Boxer, U.S. Pat. No. 4,058,853; each disclose a Velcro® fastener sewn permanently onto each sock. The fastener does not encircle the socks, but connects the ends. 
   Accordingly, there is a need to provide a sock keeper that has no exposed hooks, but has only loops exposed, so as not to catch on the socks or other laundry items, or pick up lint in the washer or dryer. 
   There is a further need to provide a sock keeper of the type described and that has a secondary fastening portion to ensure that the keeper does not loosen in the laundry. 
   There is a yet further need to provide a sock keeper of the type described and that does not require being sewn or attached permanently to the socks. 
   There is a still further need to provide a sock keeper of the type described and that can be manufactured cost-effectively in large quantities of high quality. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a sock keeper constructed in accordance with the invention. A base extends between opposite first and second edges. The base extends between opposite ends. One of the base ends has a first tab projecting outward adjacent the base first edge. The opposite base end has a second tab projecting outward adjacent the base second edge. The tabs are thereby spaced apart, allowing manual grasping of the tabs separately. The base is made from a flexible material. 
   A tail extends from a proximal end adjacent the base first edge to an opposite distal end. The tail has a surface. The tail is made from a flexible material. The tail surface is made from hook-and-loop material, and specifically the loop portion. This is to ensure that the tail surface does not catch on any clothing items in the wash. 
   At least one base panel is attached to the base upper surface. The base panel is made of hook-and-loop material, and specifically the hook portion, so as to engage the tail surface. The base panel has first and second edges juxtaposed with the base first and second edges, respectively. The base panel has ends juxtaposed with the base ends. 
   In practice, the tail will be moved in an arc downward, and will closely encircle the clothing items. The tail will then pass upward over the base second edge and over the base upper surface. The tail surface will releasably engage the base panel. This engagement will define a primary fastener. The base panel tabs will be grasped separately, and the base panel ends will be moved upward and toward one another. The base panel ends will releasably engage one another above the tail distal end. This engagement will define a secondary fastener. The secondary fastener will secure the primary fastener in place, ensuring that the clothing items will not separate in the agitation of washing and drying. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
     A more complete understanding of the present invention may be obtained from consideration of the following description in conjunction with the drawing, in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a sock keeper constructed in accordance with the invention, showing the keeper in the open position. 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the sock keeper of  FIG. 1 , showing the keeper in the primary secured position. 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the sock keeper of  FIG. 1 , showing the keeper in the primary and secondary secured position. 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of another sock keeper constructed in accordance with the invention, showing the keeper in the open position. 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the sock keeper of  FIG. 4 , showing the keeper in the primary secured position. 
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the sock keeper of  FIG. 4 , showing the keeper in the primary and secondary secured position. 
       FIG. 7  is a top plan view of the sock keeper of  FIG. 1 , showing the tabs in two alternate positions. 
       FIG. 8  is a top plan view of the sock keeper of  FIG. 4 , showing the tabs in two alternate positions. 
       FIG. 9  is a perspective view of yet another sock keeper constructed in accordance with the invention, showing the keeper in the open position. 
       FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the sock keeper of  FIG. 9 , showing the keeper in the primary secured position. 
       FIG. 11  is a perspective view of the sock keeper of  FIG. 9 , showing the keeper in the primary and secondary secured position. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Referring now to the drawing, and especially to  FIGS. 1 ,  2 , and  3  thereof, a sock keeper constructed in accordance with the invention is shown at  10 , and is used for holding a plurality of clothing items together in close juxtaposition in a washing machine and a dryer, thus obviating the need to pair the socks later. The sock keeper  10  comprises a base  12  extending between opposite first  14  and second  16  edges. The base  12  extends between opposite ends  18 . One of the base ends  18  has a first tab  20  projecting outward adjacent the base first edge  14 . The opposite base end  18  has a second tab  22  projecting outward adjacent the base second edge  16 . The first  20  and second  22  tabs are thereby spaced apart, allowing manual grasping of the tabs separately. The first  20  and second  22  tabs can be aligned with either of the base ends  18 , as shown in  FIG. 7 . The base  12  has opposite upper  24  and lower  26  surfaces. The base  12  is made from a flexible material. 
   A tail  28  extends from a proximal end  30  adjacent the base first edge  14  to an opposite distal end  32 . The tail  28  is generally flat in cross-section, and has a surface  38 . The tail  28  is made from a flexible material. The tail surface  38  is made from hook-and-loop material, and specifically the loop portion. This is to ensure that the tail surface  38  does not catch on any clothing items in the wash. 
   In general, at least one base panel  40  is attached to the base upper surface  24 . The base panel  40  is made of hook-and-loop material. The base panel  40  extends between opposite first  42  and second  44  edges. The base panel  40  extends between opposite ends  46 . The base panel first  42  and second  44  edges are juxtaposed with the base first  14  and second  16  edges, respectively. The base panel ends  46  are juxtaposed with the base ends  18 . 
   In practice, the tail  28  will be moved in an arc downward, and will closely encircle the clothing items  48 , as shown by arrow  49 . The tail  28  will then pass upward over the base second edge  16  and over the base upper surface  24 , as shown by arrow  51 . The tail surface  38  will releasably engage the base panel  40 . This engagement will define a primary fastener  50 . The base panel tabs  20  and  22  will be grasped separately, and the base panel ends  18  will be moved upward and toward one another, as shown by arrows  53 . The base panel ends  18  will releasably engage one another above the tail distal end  32 , as shown in  FIG. 3 . This engagement will define a secondary fastener  52 . The secondary fastener  52  will secure the primary fastener  50  in place, ensuring that the clothing items  48  will not separate in the agitation of washing and drying. 
   In particular, the base panel  40  is comprised of three parts. A central base panel  40   c  has hook material so as to engage the tail surface  38  and secure the primary fastener  50 , as shown in  FIG. 2 . A first end base panel  40   a  includes hook material. A second end base panel  40   b  has loop material so as to engage the first end base panel  40   a , and secure the secondary fastener  52 . The first  40   a  and second  40   b  end base panels straddle the central base panel  40   c . The first  40   a  and second  40   b  end base panels are disposed adjacent the base ends  18 . The central base panel  40   c , first end base panel  40   a , and second end base panel  40   b , all extend generally between the base first  14  and second  16  edges. 
   Turning now to FIGS,  4 ,  5 , and  6 , another sock keeper constructed in accordance with the invention is shown at  110 , and is similar to sock keeper  10  described above, in that the sock keeper  110  comprises a base  112  extending between opposite first  114  and second  116  edges. The base  112  extends between opposite ends  118 . One of the base ends  118  has a first tab  120  projecting outward adjacent the base first edge  114 . The opposite base end  118  has a second tab  122  projecting outward adjacent the base second edge  116 . The first  120  and second  122  tabs are thereby spaced apart, allowing manual grasping of the tabs separately. The first  120  and second  122  tabs can be aligned with either of the base ends  118 , as shown in  FIG. 8 . The base  112  has opposite upper  124  and lower  126  surfaces. The base  112  is made from a flexible material. 
   A tail  128  extends from a proximal end  130  adjacent the base first edge  114  to an opposite distal end  132 . The tail  128  is generally flat in cross-section, and has a surface  138 . The tail  128  is made from a flexible material. The tail surface  138  is made from hook-and-loop material, and specifically the loop portion. This is to ensure that the tail surface  138  does not catch on any clothing items in the wash. 
   Sock keeper  110  differs from sock keeper  10  described above, in that only one base panel  140  is attached to the base upper surface  124 . The base panel  140  is made of hook-and-loop material, and specifically the hook portion, so as to engage the tail surface  138 . The base panel  140  extends between opposite first  142  and second  144  edges. The base panel  140  extends between opposite ends  146 . The base panel first  142  and second  144  edges are juxtaposed with the base first  114  and second  116  edges, respectively. The base panel ends  146  are juxtaposed with the base ends  118 . 
   In practice, the tail  128  will be moved in an arc downward, and will closely encircle the clothing items  148 , as shown by arrow  149 . The tail  128  will then pass upward over the base second edge  116  and over the base upper surface  124 , as shown by arrow  151 . The tail surface  138  will releasably engage the base panel  140 . This engagement will define a primary fastener  150 . The base panel tabs  120  and  122  will be grasped separately, and the base panel ends  118  will be moved upward and toward one another, as shown by arrows  153 . The base panel ends  118  will releasably engage one another above and closely adjacent the tail distal end  132 . The base panel ends  118  will also releasably engage the tail surface  138 . These engagements will define a secondary fastener  152 . The secondary fastener  152  will secure the primary fastener  150  in place, ensuring that the clothing items  148  will not separate in the agitation of washing and drying. 
   Referring now to FIGS,  9 ,  10 , and  11 , yet another sock keeper constructed in accordance with the invention is shown at  210 , and is similar to sock keeper  110  described above, in that the sock keeper  210  comprises a base  212  extending between opposite first  214  and second  216  edges. The base  212  extends between opposite ends  218 . One of the base ends  218  has a first tab  220  projecting outward adjacent the base first edge  214 . The opposite base end  218  has a second tab  222  projecting outward adjacent the base second edge  216 . The first  220  and second  222  tabs are thereby spaced apart, allowing manual grasping of the tabs separately. The first  220  and second  222  tabs can be aligned with either of the base ends  218 . The base  212  has opposite upper  224  and lower  226  surfaces. The base  212  is made from a flexible material. 
   Sock keeper  210  differs from sock keeper  110  described above, in that a tail  228  extends from a proximal end  230  adjacent the base first edge  214  to an opposite distal end  232 . The tail  228  is generally round in cross-section, and has a surface  238 . The tail  228  cross-section has a periphery  234 , and the tail surface  238  includes loop material around the periphery  234 , so as to increase the area of contact of the primary fastener. The tail  228  is made from a flexible material. The tail surface  238  is made from hook-and-loop material, and specifically the loop portion. This is to ensure that the tail surface  238  does not catch on any clothing items in the wash. 
   At least one base panel  240  is attached to the base upper surface  224 . The base panel  240  is made of hook-and-loop material. The base panel  240  extends between opposite first  242  and second  244  edges. The base panel  240  extends between opposite ends  246 . The base panel first  242  and second  244  edges are juxtaposed with the base first  214  and second  216  edges, respectively. The base panel ends  246  are juxtaposed with the base ends  218 . 
   In practice, the tail  228  will be moved in an arc downward, and will closely encircle the clothing items  248 , as shown by arrow  249 . The tail  228  will then pass upward over the base second edge  216  and over the base upper surface  224 , as shown by arrow  251 . The tail surface  238  will releasably engage the base panel  240 . This engagement will define a primary fastener  250 . The base panel tabs  220  and  222  will be grasped separately, and the base panel ends  218  will be moved upward and toward one another, as shown by arrows  253 . The base panel ends  218  will releasably engage one another above the tail distal end  232 , as shown in  FIG. 11 . This engagement will define a secondary fastener  252 . The secondary fastener  252  will secure the primary fastener  250  in place, ensuring that the clothing items  248  will not separate in the agitation of washing and drying. 
   In all embodiments of the invention, the base portion of the sock keeper  10 ,  110 , and  210 , can be made from polymeric or natural materials. The hook-and-loop material is typically made from a polymeric material for required stiffness of the hooks. The sock keeper can be color-coded to aid in sorting laundry. Wall panels of hook-and-loop material (not shown) can be mounted on the walls of a closet for hanging laundry items in storage. 
   Numerous modifications and alternative embodiments of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art in view of the foregoing description. Accordingly, this description is to be construed as illustrative only and is for the purpose of teaching those skilled in the art the best mode of carrying out the invention. Details of the structure may be varied substantially without departing from the spirit of the invention and the exclusive use of all modifications that will come within the scope of the appended claims is reserved. 
   PARTS LIST 
   Sock Keeper 
   
       
       Part 
       No. Description 
         10  sock keeper 
         12  base 
         14  base first edge 
         16  base second edge 
         18  base ends 
         20  first tab 
         22  second tab 
         24  base upper surface 
         26  base lower surface 
         28  tail 
         30  tail proximal end 
         32  tail distal end 
         38  tail surface 
         40  base panel 
         40   a  first end base panel 
         40   b  second end base panel 
         40   c  central base panel 
         42  base panel first edge 
         44  base panel second edge 
         46  base panel ends 
         48  clothing items 
         49  tail down arrow 
         50  primary fastener 
         51  tail over arrow 
         52  secondary fastener 
         53  tabs up arrows 
         110  sock keeper 
         112  base 
         114  base first edge 
         116  base second edge 
         118  base ends 
         120  first tab 
         122  second tab 
         124  base upper surface 
         126  base lower surface 
         130  tail proximal end 
         128  tail 
         132  tail distal end 
         138  tail surface 
         140  base panel 
         142  base panel first edge 
         144  base panel second edge 
         146  base panel ends 
         148  clothing items 
         149  tail down arrow 
         150  primary fastener 
         151  tail over arrow 
         152  secondary fastener 
         153  tabs up arrows 
         210  sock keeper 
         212  base 
         214  base first edge 
         216  base second edge 
         218  base ends 
         220  first tab 
         222  second tab 
         224  base upper surface 
         226  base lower surface 
         228  tail 
         230  tail proximal end 
         232  tail distal end 
         234  tail periphery 
         238  tail surface 
         240  base panel 
         242  base panel first edge 
         244  base panel second edge 
         246  base panel ends 
         248  clothing items 
         249  tail down arrow 
         250  primary fastener 
         251  tail over arrow 
         252  secondary fastener 
         253  tabs up arrows