CA2495786A1

CA2495786A1 - Sock peg

Info

Publication number: CA2495786A1
Application number: CA002495786A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Stanislaw John Wierzbicki; John Earnest Oretti
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: UNIPEG INTERNATIONAL Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2002-09-04
Filing date: 2003-09-04
Publication date: 2004-03-18
Also published as: RU2005104935A; US20060218759A1; EP1534887A1; ZA200501374B; EP1534887B1; CN1692197A; JP2005537100A; ATE440991T1; CN100404748C; RU2326195C2; WO2004022835A1; DE60328998D1; AU2002951196A0; EP1534887A4; WO2004022835A8

Abstract

An integrally formed clamp in the form of a sock peg including: 1. An oppose d pair of first (101) and second (102) elongate substantially rigid members, t he first elongate member (101) having a first handle portion (104) and a first clamping portion (106) and the second elongate member (102) having a second handle portion (105) and a second clamping portion (107); 2. A flexible join t (103) intermediate the lengths of the first (101) and second (102) elongate members configured to urge the first (106) and second (107) clamping portion s into abutment; and 3. A locking device (130) preferably in the form of a rig id bridge, wherein the locking device has a first end hinged (120) to the first handle portion and rotatable about the hinge (120) and a second free end (13 1) adapted to releasably cooperate with the second handle portion (105) such as by frictional or positive engagement, whereby to lock the first (104) and second (105) handle portions in spaced relationship at the first (106) and second (107) clamping portions in abutting relationship in order to clamp an article of clothing such as a pair of socks.

Description

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This inventio~x relates to a garment clamp for elar~xping pairs of garAxxents, such as sQCICS, 'tights or stoGlcings together for storabe or washing, drying or other processing.
L~ACk~'.~~.~1UND ART
'1"lxe following description of the prior art is not i~itez~ded to be, nor slzould it he intezpzeted as, an indication o:C the common general l~,n,owledl;~.
A perennial attd universal problenx zs the separation of txteanbers o,f pairs of garments during washing, dying and tl7.e like. Att~n~pts to address this problem by providing a suitable c.larnl~ing device have been described.
rn US 5,671,876 (Cxardiner} a sock or;ttniser in the fom~ of a tong=like.
moulded plastic clanxp is described. Tlxe device desczibed has a pair of gTippznb nxembers connected by an integral hinge. T.he device is adapted for leeeping together a plurality afi pairs of garments and the di.f~ctzlty in utilising This device lies in the sttx.2gbJe to align r~nultiple pairs of garments ira puce prior to olartxpinb the device togethEr.
'US x,944,236 (Giaaque} descubes a two-part device having hingeably connected .~a~.vs wlaiclx may be locked in tUe clanxpitxg position by the application Of a separate securing rn.ember. The described clamp cannot be nmde in one piece and operators would be likely to experience clzf~ZCt~lty in manipulatin; the pan components to successfully secure a pair of ~0 larztxents.
1tx US~ 5,357,6fip (Smith) there is described a two-hart lclb bearing a nuvx~rieal or other itidiCia to be attncl3ed to each menxber of a pair of garments to cnalale the socks to be matclxed according to the indieia- Tt can be seers that tlxis system still pernxits the separltirin o:f members of pairs of garzxzents arid still requires sorting and r~con~.bining of the members of.pairs subsequent to processing such as washing.
ltx ~S 5,3234,139 (ICorenstein) therE ~is~described a clamp for olan~tpinb together pairs of paired garxxzents such as socks and other textile ttz~;i.ales. The hook, desca-flied as optional, S is not fitily aclapted to securely eta.gage a than diameter clothes litre and conceivably may be dislodged in moderate to strong rx~inds. ll~oxeover, force is required to urge the opposed arms of the clamp 12,. 14 for i? pOSitive eAlgagen7ent vvzith tl~ze loclcing means 3~i, 36.
Accordingly, Cailure of the locking n~teans 3~, 35 will rESU.It in the failure of the Glan1p to clamp the ga.rnaent articles.
)a is an object o.f the present invention to' overcome one or i~nore of the abovementioned disadvantages of tht prior art or to at least provide a useful alternative thereto.
STA7(')~MENT tJF l(N'V'~l~fF'fUhl Accordingly, the .present invei~ttion provides an integrally :foxined clamp ineludin i;:
l S an opposed pair o~F :Fzrst and second elongate substantially algid members, the first elongate member 'hawing a first i~azadle~ potion and a first ciam~ pcariion and the second elot~zgate member having a second l~ttndle portion and a second cIampinb portion;
ft flexible joint intermediate the lengths of the fiixst and second elongate rrtcmbcrs configured ttz urge t'he first and second cla,znping portions into abutment;
and l.ocIcing device, wherein the locking device has a rzrst end hinged to the l:irst handle portion 1nd ratatable about the hi~~ge and a second free etid adapted to releasably cooperate with the second. handy portion vrhereby to lock the First and second handlE portions in spacr:d relationship and the first and second clarnpizy portions irz abutting relatiorashil~.

., 'floe clamp is suitable For Iceepiz~.g. rr~etnbers of a pair of. garrnents together durinb laundry processing, wherein:
in the passive slate the ~xst axtd second clamping portions are urged into abutt~ncnt and the first nncl seoand ltandle portions are held in spaced relationsltip by the t'Iexilale joint;, upon co.tnpression of the first and second handle portions, the first and second cllEnping pot'Gians .ate farted apt~trt such that the first and secox~d clamlaiiag portions are adapted to receive t:he pair of garments and to caau~.p tobether the garlr~ertt5 When the first az~.td second handle portions are released; atad the abutting clanzping portions see~ve the garments against dislodgment fi-am tJte clamp daring processing.
Tlae clamp ntay be rnade.f~rorn a variety of mai:erials suitable for the purpose. Far example, the clat-~ap rt~ay be taaade from moulded plastic anateeial.
bependiny on the type of process to whi.clt tlw gartnents are to be subjected, floe clamp material should be suitable far the particular applica i:on. 1~or example, wltexe the clamp is to be used i:o claanp pairs of gamnents during 'wa.skting cycles involving hot water atld detergents, the material will of r~a~essity 'be heat resistant and chemically resistant sttfl~iciently re$istant io detergents to avoid chenZical degradation during the washing cycle. ~It is pre:f~rred that the clamp material be xrxade Exam polypropylene or similar pla;;tzcs m~.YeriaIs.
The clanZp i5 preferably cotrtprised of a unitary structure integn~ally formed by, for eacample, moulding. Preferably, the moulding pracess~ is carried out using an injcction~
tnouldinb process. E1s the clamp is preferably. intEgrally formed whereby Each a~ .its cozaaponents comprise the same material, the properties of flexibility and rigidity are generally achieved by the sl.Wpe or eon'Fg~tr~,tion of the various eoniponents as detertnia'tecl 'by the die during tile zt~auldin g process. For ex~txzple, the elongate members tnay be reinforced aga.iz~st ~ilexible bending by ribs avd other reix~Foreing structures. The elongate xt~zetaaber5 t'nay 1,7e bow shaped. The elongate members may include reinforcing ribs on their rcspeotive concave sides whereby to resist further bowing. The.length of cure, teznparat~~re conditions, etc are moulding conditions which can lae used to modify tlxe cllmp'S properties.
S Accordingly, the joint poztio». z~xay be selectively heat tres,tecl or physically wealccned by, .for example, applying a notch to the joint. surface, to weaken the joint a:acl permit greater ~Iexirility subsequent to the moulding process. .
Preferably, the clarr~l5 does not ~ir~.chude naetal components and all components of the clamp are made ~ fr. azn non-p~netxating araatezials, bath in teens of ~
material hardness, 1(? consistency arid shape, wherelay to avoid garment damage associated with penetration and tearing.
The f rst and secants clampinb portions may include on their respective iili2er apFrased sup°Faces, gripping feaW res, such as staggered or mutually co-operating ribbetl, ripple or undulating surface featuras. Alternatively, the ola~npitlg portion may include oppnseci 15 intental tc~ath features. The featwes rnay be directly opposed rather than arranged in n~atin~;
relationship. The opposed internal surface feahires may be similar to tra,ditional,clothes peg ;~rippang surfaces ar znay be Sawtoathed to pxavide a strong friction grip, In all cases, however, the internal opposed surface features of the clamping portions should be sui=F~xcienfly nox~-penetrative to avail tearing ar damage to the garments during, the vvashin~
2p cycle ar other treatment process.
'fhe joint is preferahJy sprung wherelay a law loading is all that is reduircd to compress the first and second handles towards ono another whereby to achieve a spacing of the clamping portions relative to one another. Where the spring loading of the flexible joint is law and insufficient in its own right to secure the garments, the loelcing device prevents the ~rs2 and second handle portions tram. being co:cxrpressed towards one another. The locking device fiorcibly spaces the handle ,partiocrs apart whereby to achieve in the first acid seoond clamping portions a strong Clan ~piztg acti.o.n.
The foclcing device c'nay be i.n the farm o~ a bridge flexibly attached to one of the f crst 5 and seoond handles and releasably engageable to the other of the first ar~~'l seootrd handle portions. Alternatively, the locking device may be in the farnr o;~ d wedge or other bracing element integrally fornaecl rraith one or other of the first and SeCbrtcl~
htrndles at~c~ adapted to be inserted therebetrxreen 'in a f~rictional'or positively engaging bxacic~g relationshila whereby to prevent the first acrd seeoncl handle portions from being di~placec3 t:~iwlrds one another.
1 d ~ Ti he bridge rnay include a cam surface adapted to ride over a protxusion on the other of the first and: seCand handle portions and to fuxtlrex include a xeeess adal7ted to positively engage the pratrcasion. Of course, the persot'c skilled in the ai~t will appreciate that tire prat~~usian array be nn the bridge and the cam surface and recess may le on the other of the first and second handle portions. .
1S Ta excab.le the clamp of the invention to be utilised as a clothes geg, the clamp may further ~includa a, olotlres line attaclrcnent means intebrally formed on the external surface of one of the first and second elongate ~nox~abers. The clothes line attachment n~car~s niay include a hook or clip. 1?refera'bly tire hook is sufficiently sprto.g to perrrxit resilient deforrnaticsn ~urhereby to admit the clatlres tine iota a hank xecess defincci by the hook.
20 Preferably, the laoolc recess i.s srxC~ciexxtly spatially tight to resist rel7tive movement of the clamp relati.we to the clothes line Whereby to resist displacement in mc~r~ea°ate or hi~,h wind conditions.
The clamp may include indicia can one or more of its carnpotrc:nts to indicate ownership (such. as iz~ the case of a particular hotel) ar the nattcre of the garments to which the Clamp is to ba attached. 'flue indicia may be alpha and/or numeric or include sanm other symbol types or systems such as Braille, BRI~~' 17RSCRrf~'I~I'~F ~l~ T~~ I~'LtA'VVIN~S
'The invention will now be described with. reference to the following nazi-lizxxitit~g ~ examples in which:
riguxe 1 is a perspect~ivE view of a sock pct accard.in~ to otze embodiment Qf the first invention;
p'igLtre 2 is a reverse perspective view of the embatli.~.rcent shown in r~igu~-e 1~_-, Figure 3 is a side view of a l7ridge included in the first e~rihodiment;
1 a )Ffigure 4 is a part view of the bridge shown in Figure l 0;
1~igure 5 is a side view of 2 hinge connecting ~lte bridge o~f hi~,rure 10 t0 ale extension of the frost embod.in~snt; and tigure 6 is a side view of a decent included iz~ the first embodimEnt_ Figure 7 a,s a side vie'uv of a sock pe8 according to a second embodiment; and 15 Figure 8 is an upper perspective view of the sock peg accarciing, to a se;concl embodiment.
Referring to Figures 1 and 2, therE is shown a sock peg 1 having a clamping paztion 10, a lxartdla poxtioz~ '~0, a. :flexible faint 30, s..hook 4(? arid a JZiugedly corrected bridge portion ~0.
20 Tlie clazz~pi.z~g portion 10 ~n,d l~mdIe, portion 20 ecyinprise a pair of opposed first and sdca~~d elongate men,bet~s 60, 70. E~.oh, of the frst and second elongate members 60, 70 is A~,azgioally bow shaped, whereby dye SB~ttOnS Of the C1011~atC 111en'.tl7erS
G(~, 7t7 cor~-osponclinb to the clamping portion 10 are predominantly parallel, whereas the sections cormsponding to the handle partion 20 diverge From the flexible joint 30 to their respective Uirst and 5econGl ternt.inal ends G1, 71. In the section of the elongate merni~ers corresponding to the elarr,hiu~.
portion 10, tt~to inte~~~al facing sttrfaces ~tl~ereof GZ, 7~ include facing or contplementaty arranged teeth. Pra:E'erably the opposing teeth 73 are riot staggered, but 'Face each other. "Fhe teeth 73 are eottfigtn-eci to frictional.ly grip a pair of barments (not shown) such as a pair of socks Qn the,external surfaces of the elongate membErs G0, 70 axe a sories o:F
lon~:it«dinal and trattsv'erse ribs to provide reinforcement and added ~~idity to the elongate n~et~nhers 60, 70. The longitudinal ribs 74 extend :fiom a point intertnediafie the length o~
the clamping portion IO sectiotx of tire. elongate rnernbers 60, 70 down to their terminatinb ends G5, 75.
Along the renxainder oftlte Ien~ths o;Fthe elongate members 60, 70 are sp~tccd transverse ribs 76.
The arched conftbn,~ration of the tlexible .joint 30 ensures that the elongate mmrtbers 50, 70 are urged into a. clamping position when the soot: peg 1 is in the passive state.
Closr~ to the :first tot-~t~;ina,I end 61, is an extetxsion 41 from which extends the bridge 50. The bridge 50 is connected to the extension 41 by trteans of a narrow, hinge 42.
1S laxumediately adjacent the hinge 42 is an expanded portion 51 at one end of the laridbe 50.
When the bridge 50 is flipped over 1$0° and loc.Ecably ~.ngaged to the second terminal end 71, the expanded portion 51 rests on top o:('the extEnsion 41. '1~l7e first terminal end GI includes a :recess 43 which is adapted to receive a narrow portion 52 ertending i'ron~
the expanded portion 51. .
'ff~e bridge SO Fttrtlter includes a brace portion 53 adapted to extend between the gap separatiti.g the first atad second tenmf.~al ends G1, 7I. A first ~ud~ S4 includes an aL~uttit~t~
surface is adapted to abut abainst the mterna,l surFace.44 near the first terminal end G1. Tlre braeiog portion 53 extends to a catch 55. The Catch includes a cam or .ramp surface S(i aelapted to ride over a decent 77 located near the second torminal end 7l and to be pressed.

into ezxgagement witht the decent 77. The second tezznxx~al end 71 includes a guide 7& which stands proud at the top of the second terminal ex~d 71 and is adapted to be received within a slat 57 at the free end of 'klze bridge 50. AccordixAgly, the bridge 50 zxaay be positively engaged with the first and second terminal ends 61, 71 whereby to lock the handle portion 20 against cozzzgxessiv~ forces which would otherwise be operative to open the clamp portion and to release any garments secuxed therein.
Accordingly, the sock peg 1 i's effeaCir~e to secure a pair of barrnents in ~tk~e clamp portion 10 for the duration of tl~e pzocessing of the garments, suoh as in a clothes washing cycle and dzyirxg process, To assist in drying the gaetats, advantageously the sack peg 1 x0 includes the hook pc~rtiar~ 40 depending from the extension 4.1- Tl~e hook portiotl 4U is confxguzed fot marginal. deformability whereby to flex away from the first elongate mexnbex 60 to enable a wire, such ~s clothes mire, to be r.nserted into the slrace defined by the hook portion 40 and the first elongate member 60. The ltoolc portion 40 at its free end 45 is slightly outwardly bent to more easily admit wire into the space 46. The space 46 is wedge 1 S shaped whereby it is widest at the extension 41 end.
In Figures 3 thxough to 6 the sock peg of the first embodiment is shown in ~.~reater detail. It can be seen that the sock peg 1 is, capable of being injection moulded in ono piece using identical ;polymeric znateris..l for all components. This method of manufacture is sdvantageous in terms of cost of simplicity of supply of materials and xz~anufaeturir~g efficiency. The first embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 6 is integrally formed by injection znouldirig.
1'urning to Figure 7, there is sha~vn a sock peg 100 according to a second eznbadiment. The st~ok peg 10(? includes a pair of first and secozzd opposed substantially laarallel elongate merrifaers 101, 102 joined interrztediate their respective lengths by a flexible arch forming a joint 103. The first and second elongate members 10I, I02 znclude a pair of opposed first arid second l~anc~le portions 104, 105 at an upper end and. a pair of opposed first and second clatrping pat'tiorAs 106, 107.at a lower end. Attached to the terminal end of the first handle portion 104 is a clip 10$ having a flexible arm 109 de~nin~ a hook recess 110 S which is adapted to receive a clothes line. The clip 10$ can exigage with a clothes line by forcing the clothes line through the entrance I 11. of the recess 110, over a decent 712 located on the inside surface of the ,~e~,ible arm 109 whereby the clothes line comes to rest securely ~ the crook of the recess 110. The clamp 100 is thereby resistant to minor removal for4es such as wind gusts by the aperaCion of the detent 112 and the resiliezzt nature of the flexible arm 109.
A loclr~ng device is hingedly attached to the clip 10$ by a thin flat flexible portion of material forming a hinge 120. The looking device 130 is adapted to rotate about 'the hinge 120 whereby the terminal end 131 of the locking device 130 is adapted to loekably engage with the upper free end 113 of the second handle portion 105. ~ ' The underside of the locking device 130 itacludes a cam surface 13Z adapted to ride over a protrusion 114 at the free end 113. The cam surface 132 terminates in a shottldez~ 133 ~tkcich, fiogethez vvitlx the underside of the locking device 130, defines a lt~ckixxg reoess 133 itzta which the protrusion 114. is adapted to rest when the locking device 130 is ire the locking positioxx.
Tlte 1"ree ezzd ~ 13 ix~aludes an upstanding knob 11 5 extending normal to a platform 1 I6. The platfartn 116 lies in a plane generally transverse to the longitudinal axis of the secozzd elongate member 102. Corresponding to the knob 115 the textxzxr~al ez~d 131 includes a slot 134 (most clearly seen in pigure 9) which is adapted to cooperate with the knob 115.

IO
A Lower planar sur:Faae 135 adjacent the lacking recess 133 is adapted, to abut the. platform 116 vvk~en the locking device 130 is in the locked position_ T'he cam surface 132 tapers Dearly towards the hinge 120 in the form of a xax'np or resting surface 136. :Cn the locked position, tlxe resting surface 136 is adapted to abut a support surface 117 located on the inside of the first handle portion 7 i14.
1;'rQtrusioz~s 137 ox other surface features such as rides, grooves, bt~rnps or a roughened surface are provided on the surface of tire locking device 130.
'~k~e protrusions 137 enable an operator to grip the locking device 130 to enable the bridge or lOGkxn~; device 134 to be ripped open t4 release the socks clasped between clamping poztions 106, 107.
As clearly see~x in Fi~Tures 8 and 9, each o;f the first acrd second etatr,gate members 101, 1U2 includes a~n elongate xaxr~farcing ridge 140, 141 which each extends substantially the length of the respective rrst and second elongate mez~bers 101, 102_ 3'he ridges 140, 141 improve the rigidity of the elongate zneznbers 101, 102 so that substantial flexing occurs only in the upper sections of the first and secarxd handle portions 104, 105, due to the tapering ofthe ridges 140, 141 in the vicinity of those upper sections_ The opposed internal surfaces 142, 143 of the first and second clamping portions 106, 107 include complimentary sets of staggered teeth 144 which axe adapted to grip the garments in. use.
When used in this specircation and claizxa.s, the terms "coz~prises" and "coztapxising"
aaxd variations 'thereof mean that the specified features, steps ar integers are incI~zded. The terms are x~ot to be interpreted to a~clude the presence of oti~er features, steps or componen ts_ It will he appreciated by those skilled in the art that many modifications and vaxiatlox~s k~.ay tie fade to t~xe ez~bodirzzez~t described herein without departing from th,e spirzt and, soope ofithe invention.
Orientatiozral texxns used iu the speci~catiori and claims such as top, bottom, tt~sper arid lower are to ire interpreted as relational and are based oz~ the prezxAise that tl~ze peg will usually be considered with the loclcing devioe 130 upper most.

Claims

1. An integrally formed clamp for use as a clothes peg including:
an opposed pair of first and second elongate substantially rigid members, the first elongate member having a first handle portion and a first clamping portion and the second elongate member having a second handle portion and a second clamping portion;
a flexible joint intermediate the lengths of the first and second elongate members configured to urge the first and second clamping portions into a clamping position when said clamp is in a passive state; and a locking device, wherein the locking device has a first end hinged to the first handle portion and movable about the hinge and a second free end adapted to releasably cooperate with the second handle portion whereby to lock the first and second handle portions in spaced relationship preventing the first and second handle portions from being moved towards one another when said clamp is in a locked position.

2. A clamp according to claim 1 for keeping members of a pair of garments together during laundry processing, wherein:
in the passive state the first and second clamping portions are urged into a clamping position and the first and second handle portions are held in spaced relationship by the flexible joint;
upon compression of the first and second handle portions, the first and second clamping portions are forced apart such that the first and second clamping portions are adopted to receive the pair of garments and to clamp together the garments when the first and second handle portions are released; and the clamping portions secure tho garments against dislodgment from the clamp during processing.

3. A clamp according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a hook or clip for engaging with a clothes line or rod is provided on either or both of the first and second handle portions.

4. A clamp according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the locking device includes a ramp to guide the second handle portion into cooperative engagement with the locking device.

5. A clamp according to claim 4, wherein the ramp is a cam surface.

6. A clamp according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the locking device includes an inclined surface tapering from the ramp towards the hinge and the first arm includes a complementary support surface on which the inclined surface rests when the locking device is engaged to the second handle portion.

7. A clamp according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the locking device includes a shoulder and adjacent recess, and a protrusion of the second handle portion is adapted to ride over the shoulder and lockably rest in the recess, the protrusion held in the recess by the flexing force of the first and second arms.

8. A clamp according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the second handle portion includes a shoulder and adjacent recess, and a protrusion of the locking device is adapted to ride over the shoulder and lockably rest in the recess, the protrusion held in the recess by the flexing, compressive force of the first and second arms.

9. A clamp according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the second handle portion includes a guiding, longitudinally aligned slot configured to cooperate with a knob extending proud from the locking device.

10. A clamp according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the locking device includes a longitudinally aligned slot configured to cooperate with a guiding knob extending proud from the second handle portion.

11. A clamp according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the terminal end of the second handle portion includes a platform oriented transverse to the longitudinal axis thereof and the locking device includes a complementary flat surface adapted to abut the platform when the locking device and the second handle portion are cooperatively engaged.

12. A clamp according to claim 11 when dependent on claim 1, wherein the knob extends from, and in a direction normal to, the platform.

13. A clamp according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the hinge comprises a portion of material extending between the locking device and the first handle portion, the hinge configured to be flexible without failing when subjected to continuous use.

14. A clamp according to claim 11, wherein the hinge is a thin flat portion of material.

15. A clamp according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first and second elongate members each include an elongate reinforcing ridge which tapers towards the respective ends of the elongate member.

16. A clamp according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first and second clamping portions include gripping features.

17. A clamp according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the gripping features include opposed rows of teeth on each of the inner facing surfaces of the first and second clamping portions.

18. A clamp according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the gripping features of each of the first and second clamping portions are adapted to complementarily dove tail.

19. A clamping according to any one of claims 2 to 18, further including indicia on one or more of the clamp's components to indicate ownership or the nature of the garments to which the clamp is attached.