Patent Application
20190133201
The present disclosure generally relates to clothing or apparel and, more specifically, methods for matching pairs of garments based on a particular color scheme and interwoven tags.
Socks (and other garments) often come in pairs, such that a pair of socks will include a left sock and a right sock. Different pairs of socks may have one or more different characteristics, such that a given left sock pairs with only one right sock. Over the course of time and through typical use of the socks, especially through laundry, one or more socks may become mismatched or uncoupled from its matching pair.
The appended claims define this application. The present disclosure summarizes aspects of the embodiments and should not be used to limit the claims. Other implementations are contemplated in accordance with the techniques described herein, as will be apparent to one having ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the following drawings and detailed description, and these implementations are intended to be within the scope of this application.
Example embodiments are shown describing methods and systems for matching pairs of garments, particularly socks. An example method of marking garments to provide a plurality of garment pairs includes affixing a first tag into a first garment of a plurality of garments, the first tag having a corresponding first color. The method also includes weaving a first circumferential thread into a second garment of the plurality of garments, wherein the first circumferential thread is the first color. Further, the method includes wherein each garment comprises an open end and a closed end separated by a garment body, and wherein the first tag and the first circumferential thread are affixed and woven into the respective first garment and second garment proximate the respective open ends.
For a better understanding of the invention, reference may be made to embodiments shown in the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale and related elements may be omitted, or in some instances proportions may have been exaggerated, so as to emphasize and clearly illustrate the novel features described herein. In addition, system components can be variously arranged, as known in the art. Further, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.
While the invention may be embodied in various forms, there are shown in the drawings, and will hereinafter be described, some exemplary and non-limiting embodiments, with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered an exemplification of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments illustrated.
As noted above, pairs of garments (particularly socks) may become mismatched through normal use. As such, it may be beneficial to provide garments having particular markings or interwoven segments that may provide a person with an easier way to match a pair of garments when selecting from a plurality of garments. This is particularly beneficial where the plurality of socks are similar in style, size, or color, but vary slightly and are difficult to differentiate.
Embodiments disclosed herein may be described with reference to socks and pairs of socks, however it should be noted that the same principals can be applied to other types of garments, including gloves, mittens, or any other garment that comes in a pair.
With these issues in mind, example embodiments of the present disclosure may provide a method of marking socks or other garments in order to provide a plurality of distinct pairs that can be more easily identified. A first sock may include a tag, which may be sewn, woven, or otherwise affixed to a top portion of the sock. A second sock that completes the pair, may include a circumferentially woven thread that is woven around the top portion of the second sock. The color of the tag and the thread may match, such that a given plurality of socks may include a red pair (having a red tag and a red thread respectively), a green pair, a white pair, a black pair, etc. A person selecting a pair of socks may more readily select the pair of socks from a plurality of unpaired socks by looking for the matching color scheme. Further, the fact that one sock includes a tag and the other sock includes a thread allows the person to more easily identify the left sock vs. the right sock.
In some examples, a tag 110 may be sewn or woven into the first sock 100A. Alternatively, the tag 110 may be attached to sock 100A using a pin and clasp, as describe with respect to
In some examples, the first tag 110 may be woven or affixed onto the first sock 100A on a first end, but uncoupled from the first sock on one or more other ends. For instance, where the tag 110 is a rectangle, a first side may be woven into the sock, while the other three sides are uncoupled. Alternatively, the tag 110 may be woven into sock 100A on two or more sides. Further, tag 110 may be any shape including a rectangle (shown in
Tag 110 may also have a corresponding color. The color may correspond to a circumferential thread woven into a second sock 100B of the pair of socks, described in further detail below.
In some examples, the circumferential thread may be woven into the second sock 100B at an area proximate the open end 104B of the sock. In particular, the circumferential thread may be woven into the second sock offset from the open end 104B by less than one inch.
In some examples the color of the tag and the color of the circumferential thread may be different from a color of the sock body 106A and 106B. This may provide additional visibility and ease in differentiating one or more sock pairs from a plurality of socks.
In some examples, the tag from a first sock and circumferential thread from a second sock in a pair of socks may include a pattern.
But as seen in
The pattern shown in
In some examples, two or more pairs of socks may include different patterns or colors. For instance, a first pair of socks may include a red tag and a red circumferential thread respectively, while a second pair of socks includes a greed tag and a green circumferential thread. Other combinations are possible as well.
Method may start begin at block 302. At block 304, method 300 may include weaving or affixing a first tag onto a first sock of a plurality of socks, the first tag having a corresponding first color. At block 306, method 300 may include weaving a first circumferential thread into a second sock of the plurality of socks, wherein the first circumferential thread is the first color. Further, each sock may comprise an open end and a closed end separated by a sock body, and wherein the first tag and the first circumferential thread are affixed or woven into the respective first sock and second sock proximate the respective open ends.
At block 308, method 300 may include selecting a first sock having a first tag. And at block 310, method 300 may include selecting a second sock from the plurality of socks, wherein the second sock has a circumferential thread that matches the tag of the first sock. Method 300 may then end at block 312.
In some examples, rather than being woven into the sock, a tag may include a clasp configured to affix the tag to the sock.
In this application, the use of the disjunctive is intended to include the conjunctive. The use of definite or indefinite articles is not intended to indicate cardinality. In particular, a reference to “the” object or “a” and “an” object is intended to denote also one of a possible plurality of such objects. Further, the conjunction “or” may be used to convey features that are simultaneously present instead of mutually exclusive alternatives. In other words, the conjunction “or” should be understood to include “and/or”. The terms “includes,” “including,” and “include” are inclusive and have the same scope as “comprises,” “comprising,” and “comprise” respectively.
The above-described embodiments, and particularly any “preferred” embodiments, are possible examples of implementations and merely set forth for a clear understanding of the principles of the invention. Many variations and modifications may be made to the above-described embodiment(s) without substantially departing from the spirit and principles of the techniques described herein. All modifications are intended to be included herein within the scope of this disclosure and protected by the following claims.
