US2963206A - Forms and inserts for socks - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 6, 1960 Filed June 2, 1955 A- E. VAUGHAN, JR., ET AL FORMS AND INSERTS FOR SOCKS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec. 6, 1960 E. VAUGHAN, JR.. ET AL 2,963,206 FORMS AND INSERTS FOR socxs 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 2, 1955 Dec. 6, 1960 A. E. VAUGHAN, JR.. ET AL 2,963,206

FORMS AND INSERTS FOR SOCKS 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 2, 1955 'and the insert in alignment.

United FORMS AND INSERTS FOR SOCKS Andrew E. Vaughan, Jr., and John C. Fleeman, Wytheville, Va., assignors to Wytheville Machine Works, Inc., Wytheville, Va., a corporation of Virginia Filed June 2, 1955, Ser. No. 512,689

12 Claims. (Cl. 223-1) related to socks of the stretch type such as those made from yarn having a high degree of elasticity such as Helanca yarn. Because of the elasticity of the Helanca yarn, socks displayed without an insert appear rather unattractive, particularly if there is a pattern or design in the ankle or leg portion of the sock, as the yarn is then in its unstretched condition. Placing a cardboard insert into a sock is both diflicult and time-consuming for the reason that the insert tends to catch in the weave. Various devices have been proposed heretofore to aid in placing an insert in a sock. However, such devices have left something to be desired in regard to simplicity of operation and ready adaptability to place diiferent length inserts in the socks depending upon whether the socks are of the ankle, slack or knee-high sock variety.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a form suited for use in placing an insert in a sock with a minimum amount of effort and without danger of damaging the sock.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a sock insert having a configuration or profile closely conforming with a normal foot to give the sock a pleas.- ing appearance after it has been placed on the insert. The insert is so constructed that when the sock and insert are folded for packaging, the foot portion thereof will not protrude beyond the adjacent ankle portion. This is particularly advantageous when used in connection with socks having a pattern or design as the attention of the observer will be directed to the pattern in the body or ankle portion of the sock and the pattern in the foot portion will not detract therefrom as would be the case if the foot protruded from either or both sides.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a form for placing in a sock the aforesaid insert having a shape or profile corresponding closely to a normal foot. The form is of layer-like construction and includes a first plate member and a second plate member supported in overlying spaced relation with the first plate member. Both of the plate members have a shape corresponding to a foot for receiving therebetween a sheet material insert of corresponding shape, and means is provided for supporting the sheet material insert between the plate members with the foot portions of the plate members At least one of the plate members has a shape permitting the insert to extend therebeyond whereby a sock may be stretched over the form and the insert gripped where the insert protrudes from the plate member for ease in withdrawing the sock with the insert therein from the form. In one form of the invention at least one of the plate members has a.

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section cut away below the heel portion of the foot, and at least one of the plate members has a section cut away above the heel portion of the foot whereby a sock may be stretched over the form and the insert and sock gripped at the cut-away sections for ease in withdrawing the sock with the insert therein from the form.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a method of placing a sock on an insert comprising the steps of placing an insert within a form, pulling a sock over the form with the insert therein and removing the sock with the insert therein from the form by gripping the sock and the insert at locations above and below the heel portion concurrently to withdraw the sock and the insert from the form while guiding the sock over the heel portion by pulling the insert and the sock away from the form concurrently in transverse and longitudinal directions with respect to the form.

It is also contemplated that the novel forms may be utilized in drying socks.

For more detailed disclosure of the invention and for further objects and advantages thereof, reference is to be had to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of one embodiment of the novel form;

Fig. 1A is a fractional view of a modification of the form shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view along lines 2-2 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the rear plate member of the assembled form shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the front plate member of the form shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4A is a fractional sectional view along the lines 4A4A in Fig. 4;

Fig. 5 is a modification of the front plate member shown in Fig. 4;

Fig. 5A is a fractional sectional View along the lines 5ASA in Fig. 5;

Fig. 6 is a further modification of the front plate member shown in Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of an insert for use in the form shown in Fig. 1 for receiving anklet type socks;

Fig. 8 is a side elevation of an insert for use with the novel form including the front plate member of Fig. 5 in connection with slack type socks; V

Fig. 9 is a side elevation of an insert for use with the novel form including the front plate member of Fig. 6 in connection with knee-high socks;

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the novel form with the insert of Fig. 8 placed therein;

Fig. 11 is a perspective view similar to Fig. 10 with a sock partially drawn over the form;

Fig. 12 is a perspective view of the form shown in Figs. 10 and 11 with a sock placed thereon in stretched condition;

Fig. 13 is a perspective view of the form shown in Figs. 10-12 with the sock and insert partially removed as by an operator;

Fig. 14 is a view of the sock and insert after removal from the form as shown in Fig. 13; i

Fig. 15. is a view of the sock and insert in Fig. 14. in folded condition; y

Fig. 16 is an inverted rear and insert shown in Fig. 15 V Fig. 17 is a perspectivej view. of another modification of the form shown in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 18 is a perspective view of the form shown in Fig. 17 with a sock placed thereon and the top of the sock turned down to form a cuff.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 4A, there is shown one embodiment of the invention for placing an insert,

view of the folded sock such as the insert shown in Fig. 7, within a sock. The form comprises a pair of plate members 11 and 12 adapted to be placed one on top of the other as shown in Fig. 1 and spaced apart in substantially parallel relation by spacer means 13 as shown in Fig. 2. The plate members may be secured together by any suitable means and preferably by removable members 14 adapted to be inserted through openings in the spacer means '13 and countersunk with respect to the plate members '11 and 12 in order that the securing means will not catch or pull the yarn of the sock as it is pulled over the form. The insert 15, Fig. 7, is adapted to be placed between the plate members 11 and 12 with the foot portion thereof in alignment with the foot portions of plate'meinbers "11 and 12 and with the leg end of the insert 15 adaptedto be supported by a supporting structure 17 as shown in Figs. 1, 4 and 4A. It will be apparent that the support 17 also functions as a spacer for the plates and that if 'desired the upper spacer 13 and support 17 may be combined. The upper surface of support 17 to be engaged by the lower end of the insert 15 may be flat or it may be shaped to receive the end of the insert. Preferably, support 17 is shaped to receive the end of the insert and is provided with a shoulder 17a which aids in maintaining the toe end of the insert in alignment with the toe end of the form. The plate members 11 and 12 at the toe end thereof are provided with cut-away sections 18 that are adapted to be in alignment when the plate members 11 and 12 are assembled as shown in Fig. 1. Similarly, the plate members 11 and 12 are provided with cutaway sections 19 between the heel portion of the form and the leg end thereof. When the insert 15 is placed in the assembled form 10, the insert will be completely within the form except at locations 18 and 19 where it is intended that the insert 15 shall protrude. The sock is placed over the toe end of the form and pulled over the heel until the sock is in a stretched condition with the ankle portion thereof extending over the cut-away sec tion 19. To remove the sock from the form with the insert 15 disposed therein, the toe end of the sock is gripped at cut-away section 18, thus permitting the insert 15 to be gripped directly through the sock. The sock is also gripped adjacent the cut-away section 19, and by pulling the sock and the insert to the right or rear of the leg profile as viewed in Fig. l and then upwardly, the sock may be guided over the heel of the form 10 and both the sock and the insert 15 removed from the form with the result that the insert 15 will be disposed within the sock and will hold the sock in a slightly stretched condition after its removal from the form.

The second sock of a pair may be placed on a separate insert 15 by repeating the foregoing method, or if desired the second sock of the pair may be placed over the first sock on the same insert 15. To perform this latter assembly, the insert 15 with the first sock thereon is placed between the plate members 11 and 12 on the supporting means 17 in the same manner as was previously done with the insert 15 alone. The second sock is then pulled over the form 10 until it is stretched to its normal position, and then the second sock is gripped at locations 18 and 19 and by pulling the sock and the insert 15 outwardly and upwardly as viewed in Fig. 1, the second sock may be guided over the heel of the form in the manner above described. Thus, both socks of a pair Will be placed on a single insert one on top of'the other.

While the above description has been concerned primarily with the placing of inserts in anklet socks, the present invention is also applicable to longer socks sometimes called slack socks. The insert for a slack sock is illustrated in Fig. 8 as insert 20. As the slack sock has a longer leg portion than the anklet sock, it is preferable to grip the sock and insert at a location farther from the heel than the location 19 previously described in connection with Figs. l-4A. Accordingly, the top or front plate member 21, Fig. 5, is provided with a section 22 cut portions of the plate members.

away on the leg portion of the plate member 21 approximately midway between the heel portion of the plate member and the leg end of the plate member. The plate member 21 is provided with a supporting structure 23, Figs. 5 and 5A, similar to supporting structure 17 on plate member 12 and serving the same function, namely, supporting the insert between the plate members and with the foot portion thereof in alignment with the foot The rear plate member of the form for the slack sock preferably is provided with a cut-away section 22 corresponding to the cut-away section 22 in the front plate member 21. In order that the same rear plate member 11 may be used to place inserts in anklet socks as well as in slack socks, the plate member 11 preferably is provided with a notch 22 in addition to the notch 19 previously described. With this arrangement the form 10 may be readily adapted for placing inserts either in anklet socks or in slack socks merely by changing from top plate member 12 to top plate mem ber 21 or vice versa. This may readily be accomplished as the plate members are preferably held together by removable securing means 14.

The present invention is also applicable to placing inserts in longer socks of the knee-high type. The insert for this type of sock is illustrated as insert 25 in Fig. 9. To adapt the form for applying inserts 25 to knee-high socks, there is provided a top plate member 26 having a section 18 cut away at the toe end thereof and having another cut-away section 27 disposed adjacent the leg end of the plate member and farther from the heel of the plate member than either cut-away sections 19 or 22, previously described in connection with anklet socks and slack socks. To enable the same rear plate member 11 to be used with front plate member 26 for placing inserts 25 in knee-high socks, the plate member 11 preferably is provided with a cut-away section 27 corresponding to the cut-away section 27 in front plate member 26. The insert 25 is placed between the front and rear plate members 26 and 11 of the form in manner previously described, and the leg end thereof is adapted to rest on the lower spacer or supporting member 28, Fig. 3.

While the cut-away sections 18'at the toe end of the plate members have been illustrated as notches in Figs. 1, 3, 4, 5 and 6, it is to be understood that the toe end of one or both plate members may be cut off, thus permitting the toe end of the insert to extend therethrough to be gripped by the operator in removing a sock and insert from the form.

Referring to Figs. 10-13, there is illustrated the method in which an insert is placed in a sock in accordance with the present invention. While these figures illustrate the invention as applied to an insert 20 for a slack sock, it is to be'understood that the method of placing an insert in any of the anklet socks, slack socks or kneelength hose is substantially the same. In manner similar to that described above in connection with the anklet sock, the insert 20 is placed between the plate members 22 and 11 of the form and supported at its leg end on supporting structure 23, Fig. 10. The front plate mem ber 21 has been secured to the rear plate member 11 along the edge of the form opposite the heel edge by suitable securing means 14 extending through the spacers 13. The upper surface of support 23 to be engaged by the lower end of the insert 20 may be flat, as shown by member 17' in Fig. 17, or it may be shaped to receive the end of the insert, as previously described in connection with support 17. When the suport 23 is provided with a shoulder 23a as indicated in Figs. 10-12, the shoulder 23a in cooperation with the lower spacer member 13 will prevent the insert 20 from tipping and will maintain the toe or foot portion of the insert in alignment with the corresponding portions of the plates making up the form. Thus, if desired when using a shaped support such as 23, the upper spacer 13 at the ankle area of the form may be eliminated. By elimiabsence hating the upper spacer member 13, the plates of the form may be made more nearly the same size as the insert to be received therebetween. The form a preferably is supported at the end opposite the foot as by a base or supporting member 30. It will be noted that the insert 20 extends through both the cut-away sections 18 and 22. As may be seen in Fig. 11, the sock S is pulled over the toe end of the form 10a until it assumes the stretched position as shown in Fig. 12 with the sock extending over both cut-away sections 18 and 22. To remove the sock and the insert from the form concurrently, the operator may grip the insert and the sock at locations 18 and 22 and by pulling the area of the sock gripped at 22 first upwardly until the end of the insert clears shoulder 23a, then rearwardly of the leg profile and upwardly, as viewed in Fig. 13, while concurrently pulling the area gripped at 18 upwardly, the sock and insert are removed from the form 10a with the insert 20 assembled within the sock S.

It has heretofore been proposed to use inserts for socks where the front or leading edge was straight with the insert being formed from strip material. This configuration of insert lacks the attractive and graceful form of the human foot and leg and stretches the sock to an abnormal shape, thereby distorting the sock pattern from its intended appearance as originally knit. Furthermore, in view of the abnormal shape of such strip type inserts, they are only suitable for fabrics having a high degree of elasticity, for example, fabrics made of Helanca type yarn, and they are not suitable for fabrics having normal elasticity such as hosiery made of cotton, rayon or other synthetic type yarns. Accordingly, in accordance with the present invention the inserts for the socks have the foot portion thereof disposed angularly with respect to the adjacent angle and leg portion and in order that the socks may form an attractive package when folded, the ankle or leg portion of the form has a profile or shape such that the toe and foot portion may be folded behind the ankle portion diagonally across the heel area, Figs. 14 and 15, whereby the toe and foot portion will be covered by the ankle and adjacent the leg portion, Fig. 16. As shown in Fig. 14, the sock S and insert 20 have been removed from the form 10a in the fiat position. In Fig. 15 the toe end of the sock and insert has been folded upwardly out of the plane of the paper and along the dotted line a extending dia gonally across the heel where the toe end of the sock may be inserted beneath a tab 31 struck out of the leg end of the insert 20. In Fig. 16 the sock and insert have been inverted and turned over from the position illustrated in Fig. 15, and it will be noted that the toe end of the sock does not protrude around the edges of the ankle portion, thus providing an attractive package and preventing the foot portion of the sock from detracting from the appearance of the design in the body of the sock.

The invention is also applicable to turning cuffs on socks while they are on the form. The form 40 shown in Figs. 17 and 18 is particularly suited for placing inserts in anklet socks and turning the cuff thereon. The form 40 comprises spaced plate members 41 and 42 including the cut-away sections 18 and 19 and having spacers 13 and a flat suport 17' for the insert. The plate members 41 and 42 additionally are provided along their edges with a ribbed section 44 over which the upper end of the sock is adapted to be pulled. The corrugations or ribs in the section 44 will prevent the sock from sliding toward the toe end of the form, and thus the top end of the sock may be folded back over the sock as shown in Fig. 18 while the area of the sock body in engagement with the ribs or ridges in section 44 holds the sock in stretched condition on the form. The ridges in the section 44 have smooth ends and are not sharp sothat they will not pull the threads in the socks. The sock with the turned top or cuff as shown in Fig. 18

may be removed from the form 40 by gripping the sock through the cut-away section 19 and also at the cutaway section 18 and sliding the sock and insert from the form in the manner similar to that previously described. A second sock may be placed over the first sock on the insert by placing the insert with one sock thereon between the plate members 41 and 42 and repeating the process of pulling another sock over the form 40 and turning the cuff. When the insert and the two socks are removed from the form, both cuffs will have been turned.

In some applications it may be preferable to turn both of the cuffs simultaneously, and this may be accomplished in the following manner; As may be seen in Fig. 1, the plate member 12 of form 10 is provided with a cut-out 55 of sufficient area to receive the top end of a sock before it is turned to form a cuff. This cut-out area 55 preferably is formed adjacent the cutout section 19 in plate member 12. An insert is placed in the form 10 and a sock pulled thereon in the manner previously described. The top or cuff portion of the sock is not folded back, but instead the sock and insert are removed from the from with the top in the extended position. The sock and insert are then placed between the plate members 11 and 12 with the insert resting on the supporting structure 17 and with the top of the sock extending through the support 17 and into the cut-out area 55. A second sock is then pulled onto the form, and thereafter the insert and both socks are concurrently removed from the form 10. The tops of the socks may then be folded over concurrently by an operator.

While the insert 15, Fig. 7, for the anklet type sock has been illustrated as having a length adapted to extend beyond the top end of the sock, it is to be understood that such insert may be shortened to permit the inseitto be even with the cuff end of the sock or to be shorter than the cuff end of the sock as desired.

The foregoing forms may be constructed from any suitable material and preferably from a metal such, for example, as aluminum, stainless steel or the like. In some processes of knitting hosiery, it is desirable to treat the socks whereby they become damp or wet. When the forms are constructed from a material which will withstand heat, such as aluminum or stainless steel, the forms may additionally be utilized for drying the socks in the hosiery mills. For example, the socks maybe pulled on the forms and drying heat applied thereto by any suitable external means such, for example, as by infrared lamps. Alternatively, the plate members of the forms may be provided with built-in heater means, such as strip heaters or the like, disposed between the plate members so that the plate members will be heated and in turn Will dry the socks thereon. For example, as diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 3, the surface of plate 11 that is adapted to be disposed on the inside of form 10 may be provided with a heater element or coil 60 having terminals 61 and 62 to which a suitable source of power is applied. The heater element 60 is adapted to be electrically insulated from the metal plates of the form but at the same time be in good heat transfer relation therewith. After the drying operation has been completed, the sock is stripped from the form, the insert placed thereon, and the sock again placed over the form in the same manner as described above in detail.

Alternatively, the insert may be placed in the form initially before the damp sock is pulled over the form and then after the drying operation has been completed, both the sock and the insert may be removed from the form. together in the above-described manner. lnwthis latter method it is preferable to form the insert from material that will not be damaged either by the moisture in the sock or the heat applied thereto during the drying operation.

While it is preferable that both plate members of the form have corresponding cut-away portions as at 1,8 and 19 for anklet socks, at 18 and 22 for slack socks, and at 18 and 27 for knee-high socks, it is, of course, understood that only one of the two plate members need have such cut-away portions in order to permit the operator to grip the insert through the sock. However, the operation may be performed more readily if both plates have corresponding cut-away sections as previously described and illustrated.

In some applications the cut-away portion at the toe end of the forms may be omitted and the sock and insert concurrently removed from the form by gripping the insert where it protrudes along the leg portion of the form as illustrated in Fig. 1A for anklet socks. 'For longer socks the insert may protrude at locations farther from the heel area so that the insert may be gripped adjacent the leg end thereof. This will prevent the leg portion of the sock from being unduly stretched during removal of the sock and insert from the form.

For'brevity in the appended claims, the terms above" and below with respect to the heel portion of the form and insert will be employed with regard to the foot and leg being in the normal standing position, ie with the toe portion of the foot considered to be below the heel portion and the ankle or leg portion considered to be above the heel portion. Also the terms rear and back are employed to designate the portion of the form and insert that corresponds to the rear or back of a normal leg.

It is further understood that the novel forms may be disposed vertically as illustrated in the various figures of the drawing or they may be disposed with the form positioned horizontally. In this latter position the spacer members 13 would then serve as the horizontal supporting structure for the inserts rather than the supports 17, 23 and 28 previously described above as supporting the various inserts.

The inserts may be formed from any suitable sheet material having an adequate stifiness to hold the sock in fiat extended position. Examples of such material are pasteboard, cardboard, heavy weight paper or the like.

While the invention has been described as being particularly applicable to stretch socks made from yarn having a high degree of elasticity such as Helanca yarn, it is to be understood that invention is not limited thereto and that it is also applicable to socks made from yarn having a lower degree of elasticity including socks formed from such materials as cotton, Wool, nylon and similar materials as long as such materials will permit the sock to be placed on the novel forms and removed therefrom in the above-described manner. the phrase stretch socks or the like is intended generically to refer to any socks of the foregoing types.

While there have been described preferred embodiments of the invention, it will be understood that further modifications may be made without detracting from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A form suited for use in inserting sheet material inserts into stretch socks or the like to provide a sock display assembly, said form comprising a first plate member, a second plate member rigidly supported in fixed spaced relation with said first plate member, both of said plate members having a shape including foot and heel portions corresponding to a normal foot for receiving therebetween a sheet material insert of corresponding shape, means for engaging the leg end of the sheet material insert to support the sheet material insert between said plates with the foot portions of said plates and the insert in alignment, at least one of said plate members having a section cut away below the heel portion, and at least one of said plate members having a section cut away above the heel portion whereby a sock may be stretched over said form and the insert. and sock gripped In the claims at said cut-away sections for ease in withdrawing the sock with the insert therein from said form,

2. A form according to claim 1 wherein both of .said plate members have a section cut away below the heel portion and another section cut away above the heel portion and said corresponding cut-away sections on each of said plate members being in alignment for projection therethrough of portions of the insert.

3. A form suited for use in inserting sheet material inserts into stretch socks or the like comprising a first plate member adapted to be carried by a support for projection substantially vertically thereabove, a second plate member rigidly connected to said first plate member along one edge thereof and spaced therefrom a fixed distance at least as great as the thickness of the sheet material to be inserted therebetween, both of said plate members having a configuration corresponding to a normal foot and including a foot portion and adjacent leg portion for receiving between said plate members a sheet material insert of corresponding configuration, and structure for engaging the edge of the sheet material insert for supporting the sheet material insert between and in alignment with said plate members, both of said plate members having a section of the leg portion cut away at the end near the foot portion to permit the sheet material insert to extend therebeyond whereby a sock may be placed over said form and an operator may grip the insert and the sock without engaging either of said plate members for ease in withdrawing the sock with the insert therein from said form.

4. A form suited for use in inserting sheet material inserts into stretch socks or the like comprising a first plate member adapted to be carried by a support for projection substantially vertically thereabove, a second plate member rigidly connected to said first plate member along one edge thereof and spaced therefrom a fixed distance at least as great as the thickness of the sheet material to be inserted therebetween, both of said plate members having a configuration corresponding to 2. normal foot and including a foot portion and adjacent leg portion for receiving between said plate members a sheet material insert of corresponding configuration, and structure for engaging the edge of the sheet material insert for supporting the sheet material insert between and in alignment with said plate members, at least one of said plate members having a section of the leg portion shaped to permit the sheet material insert to extend therebeyond whereby a sock may be placed over said form and an operator may grip the insert and the sock for ease in withdrawing a sock with the insert therein from said form, and at least one of said plate members is cut away adjacent the toe of the foot portion thereof to permit a corresponding section of the sheet material insert to be gripped through the sock to aid in withdrawal of the sock and insert from said form.

5. A form suited for use in inserting sheet material inserts into stretch socks or the like to provide 'a sock display assembly, said form comprising a first plate memher, a second plate member rigidly supported in fixed parallel spaced relation with said first plate member, each of said plate members having a configuration corresponding to a normal foot and including a foot portion and adjacent leg portion for receiving a sheet material insert of corresponding configuration, means disposed between said plate members to support the sheet material insert on its edge between said plate members with the foot portions of said plate members and the insert in alignment, and at least one of said plate members having a section cut away adjacent the toe end thereof to permit the sheet material insert to extend therebeyond whereby a sock may be placed over said form and an operator may grip the toe end of the insert directly through the sock for ease in withdrawing the sock with the insert therein from said form.

6. An insert for a sock display assembly comprising a flat relatively stilt sheet material member having portions corresponding to the profile of a foot and adjacent leg member, said member being foldable across the heel area of said foot portion, the width of said leg portion being at least as great as the Width of said foot portion to obscure the latter from view when said member is in folded condition with said foot portion folded behind said leg portion, and a tab struck out of said member adjacent the leg end thereof to be disposed over the toe end of said foot portion and hold said member in folded condition.

7. A form suited for use in inserting sheet material inserts into stretch socks or the like to provide a sock display assembly, said form comprising a first fiat plate member, a second fiat plate member rigidly supported substantially vertically in fixed parallel spaced relation with said first plate. member, both of said plate members having a shape including foot portions with a heel area corresponding to a normal foot for receiving therebetween a sheet material insert of corresponding shape, said plate members being joined together along the front edge of said foot and spaced apart along the rear edge of the foot to permit the sheet material insert to be inserted therebetween, and means for supporting the sheet material insert at the lower end thereof between said plate members with the foot portions of said plate members and the insert in alignment, at least one of said plate members having a section cut away adjacent the heel area thereof whereby a sock may be stretched over said form and the insert and sock gripped at said cutaway section for ease in withdrawing the sock with the insert therein from said form.

8. A form suited for use in inserting sheet material inserts into stretch socks or the like having cufis to provide a sock display assembly, said form comprising a first plate member, a second plate member supported in spaced relation with said first plate member, both of said plate members having a configuration including a foot portion and adjacent leg portion for receiving therebetween a sheet material insert having a sock thereon, said plate members being joined together along the front edge of said foot portion and spaced apart along the rear edge of the foot portion to permit the sheet material insert and sock to be inserted therebetween, means for supporting the sheet material insert and sock between said plate members with the foot portions of said plate members and the insert in alignment, at least one of said plate members having a section cut away at the leg portion thereof adjacent said supporting means to receive the top of the sock on the insert while supported on said supporting means, and at least one of said plate members having a section cut away whereby a second sock may be stretched over said form and the insert and both socks gripped at said last-named cut-away section for ease in withdrawing both socks with the insert therein from said form.

9. A form suited for use in inserting a sheet material insert into stretch socks or the like having cuffs to provide a sock display assembly, said form comprising a first plate member, a second plate member supported in spaced relation with said first plate member, both of said plate members having a shape including foot portions and an ankle end corresponding to a foot for receiving therebetween a sheet material insert of corresponding shape, said plate members being spaced apart along the rear edge of the foot to permit the sheet material insert to be inserted therebetween, means for supporting the sheet material insert between said plate members with the foot portions of said plate members and the insert in align- 10 ment, and means on said form disposed toward the ankle end of the foot for holding a sock on the form while turning the end thereof whereby the sock may be withdrawn from the form with the insert therein and with the top end of the sock turned to form a cufif.

it). A form according to claim 9 wherein said means for holding the sock on the form while the top is being turned comprises a ribbed section extending along the edge of one of said plate members at a location corresponding to an ankle area.

11. A method of forming a sock display assembly comprising placing an insert in a form, pulling a first sock over the form and the insert until the sock is in slightly stretched condition with the foot portion of the sock disposed below the heel area of the form and the leg portion of the sock disposed above the heel area of the form, gripping the sock and insert at locations above and below the heel area while maintaining the form in its original position, concurrently pulling the sock and insert away from the form in longitudinal and transverse directions to guide the leg portion of the sock over the heel area of the form while concurrently removing the sock and insert from the form with the insert disposed within the sock, placing the combined insert and first sock in the form, pulling a second sock over the form until the insert and first sock are disposed therewithin, gripping the first sock and insert through the second sock at locations above and below the heel area while maintaining the form in its original position, and concurrently pulling both socks and the insert away from the form in longitudinal and transverse directions to guide the leg portion of the second sock over the heel area of the form while concurrently removing both socks and the insert from the form as a sock and insert display assembly comprising a pair of socks disposed on a single insert.

12. A method of forming a sock display assembly with cuffs comprising placing an insert in a form, pulling a sock over the form and the insert until the sock is in slightly stretched condition with the foot portion of the sock disposed below the heel area of the form and the leg portion of the sock disposed above the heel area of the form, turning the top of the leg portion of the sock to form a cufi, gripping the sock and insert at locations above and below the heel area of the form to guide the leg portion of the sock over the heel area of the form while concurrently removing the sock and insert from the form with a cuff on the sock, placing the combined sock and insert on the form, pulling a second sock over the form and the combined sock and insert therein, turning the top of the leg portion of the second sock to form a cult thereon, and gripping both socks and the insert at locations above and below the heel area of the form to guide the leg portion of the second sock over the heel area of the form while concurrently removing both socks and the insert from the form as a sock and insert display assembly with both socks disposed on the same insert and cutfs on each of the socks.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,931,301 Struve Oct. 17, 1933 1,943,741 Pecker Jan. 16, 1934 1,992,666 Hemmerich Feb. 26, 1935 2,230,559 Cartier Feb. 4, 1941 2,433,470 Mann Dec. 30, 1947 2,586,994 Richter Feb. 26, 1952 2,622,730 Sharp Dec. 23, 1952 2,696,295 Berry Dec. 7, 1954

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