Patent Application
20080301856
1 Field of the Invention
This invention relates to matching apparatuses and methods, and more particularly to sock matching apparatuses and methods.
2 Description of the Related Art
The difficulty of pairing a set of matching socks is a problem that has been around at least as long as socks have been around. Various methods have been proposed for assisting in the pairing of matching socks, including marking an identical sign on each sock (e.g., “Tommy's black socks”) for matching purposes. Other methods include putting a set of identical decals on the socks or simply matching them the old-fashioned way, by size, shape, texture, pattern, and color. Other prior art apparatuses include marking the socks with their particular color (marking a blue sock with the word “blue,” for example) for teaching color to children or to assist people who are color-blind.
What prior art apparatuses and methods have failed to recognize is that the problem of matching socks brings with it a teaching opportunity, regarding both how to match socks as well as other types of knowledge, including telling time, languages, geography, reading, mathematics, and just about any other field of knowledge.
From the foregoing discussion, it should be apparent that a need exists for a matching apparatus and method that overcome the problems of the prior art.
The present invention has been developed in response to the present state of the art, and in particular, in response to the problems and needs in the art that have not yet been fully solved by currently available matching apparatuses and methods. Accordingly, the present invention has been developed to provide a matching apparatus and method that overcome many or all shortcomings in the art.
In one aspect of the invention, an apparatus for matching socks includes a first sock with a first symbol disposed on it, and a second sock with a second symbol disposed on it. The second symbol is non-identical to and associated with the first symbol. In one embodiment, the first symbol comprises a query, and the second symbol comprises a response to the query. In another embodiment, the second symbol comprises a representation of the first symbol in different form. In another embodiment, the first symbol comprises part of a whole and the second symbol comprises the other part of the whole. In another embodiment, the second symbol indicates the source of the first symbol.
In a further aspect of the invention, a sock-matching method includes matching a first sock having a first symbol with a second sock having a second symbol, the second symbol being non-identical to and associated with the first symbol. In one embodiment, matching the first sock with the second sock comprises choosing the second sock from a plurality of third socks.
In a further aspect of the invention, a matching apparatus comprises a first symbol placed on a first member of a pair of substantially identical objects, and a second symbol placed on a second member of a pair of substantially identical objects. The second symbol is non-identical to and associated with the first symbol. In one embodiment, the first member comprises a first sock and the second member comprises a second sock. In a further embodiment, each symbol is disposed near the toe of its respective sock, with the top of each symbol oriented toward the toe of its respective sock and the bottom of each symbol oriented toward the heel of its respective sock. A connective symbol may be disposed on one or both of the socks.
Reference throughout this specification to features, advantages, or similar language does not imply that all of the features and advantages that may be realized with the present invention should be or are in any single embodiment of the invention. Rather, language referring to the features and advantages is understood to mean that a specific feature, advantage, or characteristic described in connection with an embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Discussion of the features and advantages, and similar language, throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, refer to the same embodiment.
The described features, advantages, and characteristics of the invention may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize that the invention may be practiced without one or more of the specific features or advantages of a particular embodiment. In other instances, additional features and advantages may be recognized in certain embodiments that may not be present in all embodiments of the invention. These features and advantages of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, or may be learned by the practice of the invention as set forth hereinafter.
In order that the advantages of the invention will be readily understood, a more particular description of the invention will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments illustrated in the appended drawings, which depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are not to be considered limiting of its scope, in which:
Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” or similar language means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment,” “in an embodiment,” and similar language throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, all refer to the same embodiment.
The described features, structures, or characteristics of the invention may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. In the following description, numerous specific details are provided to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the invention. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, however, that the invention may be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components, materials, and so forth. In other instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations are not shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of the invention.
Referring first to
As will be further seen below, one type of relationship between the two symbols according to the invention is an explicit query and answer, such as the first symbol comprising the question “43rd U.S. president?” and the second symbol comprising the answer “George W. Bush.” Another relationship is an implicit query and answer, such as the question noted above without the question mark, a mathematical problem, or other implicit query, such as “blue and yellow,” with the answer being “green.” The order of the query and answer as viewed by the user may be reversed, with each symbol comprising an answer to the implicit query of the other.
Referring now to
Most socks are designed to be substantially identical, i.e., displaying the same basic pattern, color, size, etc. Nevertheless, some of these substantially identical socks are designed such that one should be worn on the user's right foot while the other should be worn on the left. Examples include child's socks with bows, ribbons, or other decorations disposed on one side of the sock, the decorations being configured for display on the outside surface of the leg. Other examples include socks cut to fit around individual toes of the foot.
If the socks 202 and 204 of the pair 200 are each designed for wear on a particular foot, the symbols 206 and 208 may be located on the socks such that they are symmetrical around a center line. For example, if the sock 202 is designed to be worn on the right foot and the sock 204 is designed to be worn on the left foot, the symbol 206 may be located on the sock 202 such that it is located on the right side of the sock, i.e., on the outside of the user's foot when the socks are placed on the correct feet. Similarly, the symbol 208 may be disposed on the left side of the sock 204.
Referring now to
The symbols 306 and 308 are oriented with the top of the symbol toward the toe of the sock and the bottom of the symbol toward the heel or top of the sock such that the user can see them in their proper orientation, i.e., right side up, while the sock pair 300 is being worn.
The association between the symbols 306 and 308 is one of mathematical inequality; the symbol 306 (2+2) is less than the symbol 308 (5), as indicated by the connective symbol 307 (<). The connective symbol 307 or other mathematical connective symbols including =,-, /,>,*,≡,≠,√,≈, and others may be used in conjunction with a set of socks according to the invention that have disposed thereon symbols that have a mathematical relationship.
Other connective symbols may be used for symbols that are associated with each other, but not necessarily mathematically. These symbols may comprise, for example, -, →,?, or letters and words such as “is the same as,” “is the capitol of,” “is from,” “uses,” “is within,” or other connective language or other symbology, according to the particular embodiment. The connective symbol may be disposed on either sock, or spread between both socks (such as splitting the connective symbol “is within” between the left and right socks such that “is” is on the left sock and “within” is on the right sock). If used, the connective symbol serves as further guidance for the user to associate the symbols, as well as to indicate which sock is configured to be placed on the left foot, and which on the right.
If a connective symbol is not used, generally it will make no difference which sock is placed on the left foot and which on the right, as symbols placed on them according to the invention will generally associate with each other whatever order they are placed in.
Referring now to
Table 1, below, illustrates examples of associated symbols that maybe placed on sock pairs according to the present invention. It also illustrates examples of connective symbols that may be used with the associated symbols, if desired. As will be apparent to those skilled in the art in light of this disclosure, the connective symbols are optional. If they are used, in certain embodiments they may be placed either on the left sock (at the right of the first symbol) or on the right sock (at the left of the second symbol). As will also be apparent, the first and second symbols may be reversed in order if the connective symbols are not used. If the connective symbols are used, the order of the first and second symbols often may still be reversed, though the nature of some connective symbols makes the order of their associated first and second symbols unchangeable.
The symbols in Table 1 are only examples of almost innumerable symbols and combinations of symbols possible according to the present invention, as long as they are associated in some way.
The schematic flow chart and method schematic diagrams that follow are generally set forth as logical flow chart diagrams. As such, the depicted order and labeled steps are indicative of one embodiment of the presented method. Other steps and methods may be conceived that are equivalent in function, logic, or effect to one or more steps, or portions thereof, of the illustrated method. Additionally, the format and symbols employed are provided to explain the logical steps of the method and are understood not to limit the scope of the method. Although various arrow types and line types may be employed in the flow chart diagrams, they are understood not to limit the scope of the corresponding method. Some arrows or other connectors may be used to indicate only the logical flow of the method. For instance, an arrow may indicate a waiting or monitoring period of unspecified duration between enumerated steps of the depicted method. Additionally, the order in which a particular method occurs may or may not strictly adhere to the order of the corresponding steps shown.
Referring now to
It can be seen that in the present invention, socks are more readily paired together by providing symbols on the socks, each symbol being associated with a symbol disposed on the matching sock, with or without a connective symbol clarifying the nature of the association. In addition to easing sock matching, the invention provides for education of youngsters and others who may be learning to read, learning arithmetic, other mathematical functions, geography, different languages, textual citations, shapes, or any of a multitude of other principles.
The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.
