US3084794A - Hosiery package and method for producing the same - Google Patents

Description

April 9, 1963 E. w. PARKER, JR 3,034,794

HOSIERY PACKAGE AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING THE SAME Fiied Feb. 17, 1960 2 Sheets-Shut 1 INVENTOR EDGAR W PARKER, JR.

2 ATTORNEY p 1963 E. w. PARKER, JR 3,084,794

HOSIERY PACKAGE AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING THE SAME Filed Feb. 17, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet. 2

A INVENT OR ATTORNEY United States Patent Ofiice 3,084,794 Patented Apr. 9, 1963 3,084,794 HGSIERY PACKAGE AND METHGD FUR PRQDUCING THE AME Edgar W. Parker, In, Marion, N.(J., assignor to A. Yates Dewell and A. Yates Dowell, In, Washington, D.C. Filed Feb. 17, 1969, Ser. No. 9,272 4 Claims. ((31. 206-79) This invention relates to novel hosiery packages and also to novel methods for packaging one or more pairs of articles in a single package.

One field wherein the invention has particular utility is in connection with the packaging of so-called stretch hosiery where, by reason of the unusual nature of the material from which such hosiery is produced, permanent characteristics of elasticity are obtained and such hosiery may be stressed to unusual limits and will return to normal predetermined size and shape. However, the invention is not limited to this particular field and may be employed with equal facility in connection with other articles of Wearing apparel or the like where, by reason of the inherent characteristics of the item, packaging in a flat state, whether folded or unfolded, is desirable.

Hosiery, generally, is packaged in a fiat state. With respect to stretc hosiery, it has been found desirable to package such items in a flat and slightly stressed condition. Modern merchandising methods include several forms of such packaging which may be said to be in relatively wide-spread use. Each of these forms contemplates the use of comparatively rigid inserts of a size slightly larger than that of the hosiery whereby a fiat package in slightly stressed condition is produced.

In one of these forms, each sock or stocking is stressed upon a separate insert and pairs are then secured together. In another form the first sock is stressed upon a single insert and the second sock is then separately stressed to a slightly greater degree so as to envelop the first sock and insert contained therein, Thus, both socks are packaged in stressed condition upon a single insert, In still another form, one sock is retained in flat and unstressed condition in superposed relationship with respect to a rigid insert and the second sock is stressed upon said insert in surrounding or enveloping relationship with respect to both the insert and the unstressed sock. In all of these forms of packaging, which, as stated hereabove, are typical of present day commercial practices, the stressed socks with inserts may be folded along a median line so as to reduce the length of the completed package.

An objectionable characteristic with respect to the first form of packaging to which reference is made is the bulk and weight created by the use of two boards. With respect to the second and third forms discussed, possible inadequacy may exist by reason of the fact that it is not readily determinable that two socks are present in each package.

The commercial advantages where a single insert is employed, reference being had to space and weight considerations, are too obvious to require discussion. Suificient rigidity in the insert, accompanied by inherent weight and thickness, is required to insure that the insert and package will not become unsightly through deformation. Applicant has discovered that a multiple board sock package can be produced, in accordance with the novel methods to be discussed more fully hereinafter, wherein a pair of inserts may be utilized, the combined weight of such pair of inserts being comparable to that of but a single insert presently employed in commercial packaging. Further, applicant has discovered that, using a minimum of two inserts, one pair or multiple pairs of socks may be produced in a single compact package with equal facility.

Accordingly, it is a major purpose of the present invention to provide a novel hosiery package wherein multiple boards are utilized, said package including one board or insert with at least one sock thereon and one insert without any sock thereon, both of said inserts being enveloped by a single sock in stressed condition whereby a unitary package is provided.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a novel multiple sock package employing multiple boards wherein all of the socks are retained in stressed relationship, one of said socks enveloping the remaining socks and inserts employed.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a novel multiple sock package employing multiple boards or inserts wherein all of the socks are retained in stressed relationship, one of said socks enveloping the remaining socks and inserts employed, and one pair of said socks may be removed from the interior of said package without affecting adversely the packaging of the remaining part.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a multiple sock package wherein all of the socks are retained in stressed relationship, one of said socks enveloping the remaining socks and inserts employed, whereby upon removal of the enveloping sock the mate thereof will be freed while the remaining pair of socks will be retained in undisturbed packaged condition.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a novel sock package wherein a plurality of socks are retained in stressed relationship upon a single insert, a second insert is located in superposed relationship with respect to said plurality of stressed socks with an additional sock enveloping said plurality of socks and said second insert.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide novel methods of packaging whereby the foregoing and other novel and advantageous results may be carried into practice.

Additional objects of the invention will be apparent from the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a novel multiple board sock package produced in accordance with the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view illustrating the sock package of FIGURE 1 immediately prior to the final folding operation, parts being broken away to disclose the number of socks packaged and the location of boards or inserts employed;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 33 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view taken on the line 44 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view illustrating a form of board or insert employed;

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view, similar to FIGURE 2, of a modified form of the invention, parts being broken away to disclose the number of socks packaged and the location of boards or inserts employed;

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 7-7 of FIGURE 6;

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary transverse sectional View taken on the line 38 of FIGURE 6;

FIGURE 9 is a perspective view, similar to FIGURE 6, illustrating a further modified form or" multiple sock package, parts being broken away to disclose the number of socks packaged and location of inserts employed;

FIGURE 10 is a fragmnentary longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 10ld of FIGURE 9; and

FIGURE 11 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view taken on the line 1111 of FIGURE 9.

Briefly stated, the novel-multiple sock packages and methods of the present invention contemplates he use of two semi-rigid inserts each of which, desirably, is of lesser weight than comparable inserts presently employed. in one embodiment of the invention one sock is mounted upon a board or insert, a second board or insert is retained in superposed relationship with respect to said mounted sock, and a second sock envelops the mounted sock and second insert. in another embodiment of the invention a plurality of socks, desirably three, are mounted upon one insertin enveloping relation with respect thereto and each other, a second insert is retained in superposed relationship with respect to said mounted socks, and one additional sock envelops the mounted socks and second insert. In still another embodiment of the invention illustrated, a pair of socks are mounted upon one insert, one sock is mounted upon a second insert, and one additional sock envelops said mountedpair of socks and said single sock. It will be understood all of said socks are retained in slightly stressed condition whereby an optimum appearance in the finished package is obtained and multiple sock packages are produced wherein the weight of inserts employed is comparable to that required for a single package under prior art teachlugs.

With continued reference to the drawings, as more particularly illustrated in FIGURE 5, the insert may be formed from relatively Stiff but thin and light-weight cardboard, or the like, and possesses a configuration resembling that of an extended foot, as iswell known in this art. Where this insert is provided with a rounded extension intended to accommodate the heel of the sock, care is exercised in placing the sock upon the insert to provide for proper relationship. However, such an extension is not essential and hosiery may be packaged satisfactorily in accordance with the present method by locating the sock heel centrally of the longitudinal edges of the insert.

Desirably, the insert lit is providedwith a transverse and centrally located score line 11 to assist in the ready folding of the sock package to provide reduced length in the finished package. Further, the outer longitudinal edges of the insert may be serrated as indicated at 12 for engagement with the cult portion of a sock mounted thereon whereby said sock, in extended or stressed condition, is retained upon said insert against'inadvertent and undesired longitudinal movement.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG- URES 1 through 4 of the drawings, a first sock 13 is mounted upon a board or insert 10 in slightly stressed condition and a second insert 10 is retained in juxtaposed position with respect to the mounted sock 13. A second sock 14 in slightly stressed condition envelops the sock and inserts referred hereabove, thus providing a neat fiat multiple board package of pleasing appearance. Consideration being given to the open end 15 of the sock package, see FIGURE 2, it is readily apparent that the package contains two socks.

If desired, the package thus described may be folded along a transverse median line coinciding with the score lines 11 of the inserts It whereby the toe portion is brought into proximity with the open upper extremity and the usual paper rider R or the like may be employed to retain the hosiery package in the folded condition illustrated in FIGURE 1 of the drawing. If desired, an additional paper enclosure, bearing suitable advertising matter, may be employed as indicated at T to embrace the folded heel portion and thereby provide a more attractive finished package.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG- URES 6 through 8 of the drawing, a first sock 16 is mounted upon an insert 10 in slightly stressed condition and a second sock 17 is mounted upon the first sock 16 thus providing a packaged pair of socks with a single insert. A third sock 18 is now mounted upon a second insert 10, also in slightly stressed condition, and a fourth sock 19 in slightly stressed condition envelops the three socks referred to hereabove and inserts, thus providing a neat flat multiple sock package of p easing appearance.

It will be obvious that upon removal of the sock 19 from the multiple sock package described hereabove, the sock 18 which forms a pair therewith will be free for removal from its insert it The socks in and 17, however, will remain upon their insert lit in neatly packaged condition. Alternatively, under conditions where two pairs of difierently patterned or colored socks are packed together in the multiple sock package under consideration, socks l6 and 17 on their insert it} may be removed initially by the consumer, this leaving socks l8 and 19 in neatly packaged condition.

In the form of the invention illustrated in FIGURES 9 through 11 of the drawing, a first sock 2th is mounted upon an insert in in slightly stressed condition, a second sock 21 is mounted upon said sock 2i and a third sock 22 is mounted upon sock 21 thus providing three socks upon a single insert. A second insert it is then retained in juxtaposed position with respect to the mounted sock and a fourth sock 23 in slightly stressed condition envelops the three mounted socks referred to hereabove and the juxtaposed insert thus providing a neat flat multiple sock package of pleasing appearance. In use, removal of the enveloping sock 23 renders the three mounted socks available for progressive use as desired.

Apparatus for mounting the socks to produce the novel multiple sock packages described hereabove is illustrated and described in applicants pending application Serial No. 618,112 filed October 24, 1956, and no discussion thereof at this time is believed to be required.

It has been found in practice that where two inserts are provided in each multiple sock package, the inherent stability provided by inclusion of an additional pair (or more) of socks permits use of inserts of lesser weight than required in a comparable single sock package where but one insert has been employed heretofore. Thus, considering that each package can contain a minimum of two pairs of socks, a substantial saving in weight and resultant shipping costs is achieved and, additionally, each multiple sock package requires less space than if the same quantity of socks were packaged separately, thereby providing further economy in packing cartons and shipping space required.

While the present invention has been described in detail for use in connection with the packaging of hosiery, the invention is by no means limited to .this particular field but maybe used with equal facility in connection with other types of items produced from'flexible materials. In this connection, reference is had to gloves, undershirts, etc.

There has thus been described novel multiple sock packages, and novel methods for the production thereof, which may be produced with greater economy and ease than heretofore has been known in related arts. Further, skilled labor is required neither for the production of the packages nor for the operation of the apparatus contemplated.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made in the invention, both as to the packages per se and as to the methods involved, without departing from the spirit and scope thereof and therefore the invention is not limited by that which is shown in the drawing and described in the specification but only as indicated in the appended claims.

It should be understood that, if desired, a third insert with one or more socks mounted thereupon, may be included with equal facility in the multiple sock packages described; thus, suitable packages can he produced containing three or more pairs of hosiery.

What is claimed is:

l. A multiple hosiery package comprising an insert of relatively stiff material of a configuration corresponding to that of an extended sock, a first sock in extended stressed condition surrounding said insert, a second sock in extended stressed condition surrounding said first sock and insert, a second insert of relatively stiff material of a configuration corresponding to that of an extended sock, a third sock in extended condition surrounding said second insert only, said third sock and its insert being superposed upon said second sock, and a fourth sock in extended stressed condition enveloping said inserts and the socks mounted thereupon.

2. A multiple hosiery package comprising an insert of relatively stiff material of a configuration corresponding to that of an extended sock, a first sock in extended stressed condition surrounding said insert, a second sock in extended stressed condition surrounding said first sock and insert, a third sock in extended stressed condition surrounding said second sock and insert, a second insert of relatively stiff material of a configuration corresponding to that of an extended sock superposed upon said third sock, and a fourth sock in extended stressed condition enveloping said second insert and the socks mounted upon said first insert.

3. The method of packaging a pair of articles formed from flexible material Which includes the steps of providing a pair of inserts of substantially identical predetermined configuration, stressing one of said articles upon 6 one of said inserts in surrounding relationship with respect thereto, superposing said stressed article upon the other of said inserts, and stressing the remaining article of said pair in enveloping relationship with respect to said first atticle and the superposed insert.

4. The method of packaging multiple pairs of articles formed from flexible material which includes the steps of providing a pair of inserts of substantially identical predetermined configuration, stressing one of said articles upon the first of said inserts in surrounding relationship with respect thereto, stressing a plurality of additional articles upon said first insert, superposing said plurality of stressed articles upon the other of said inserts, and stressing another of said articles in enveloping relationship With respect to said plurality of stressed articles and the superposed insert.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,742,149 Berry Apr. 17, 1956 2,748,930 Power June 5, 1956 2,965,227 Caulfield Dec. 20, 1960

Claims (1)

1. A MULTIPLE HOSIERY PACKAGE COMPRISING AN INSERT OF RELATIVELY STIFF MATERIAL OF A CONFIGURATION CORRESPONDING TO THAT OF AN EXTENDED SOCK, A FIRST SOCK IN EXTENDED STRESSED CONDITION SURROUNDING SAID INSERT, A SECOND SOCK IN EXTENDED STRESSED CONDITION SURROUNDING SAID FIRST SOCK AND INSERT, A SECOND INSERT OF RELATIVELY STIFF MATERIAL OF A CONFIGURATION CORRESPONDING TO THAT OF AN EXTENDED SOCK, A THIRD SOCK IN EXTENDED CONDITION SURROUNDING SAID SECOND INSERT ONLY, SAID THIRD SOCK AND ITS INSERT BEING SUPERPOSED UPON SAID SECOND SOCK, AND A FOURTH SOCK IN EXTENDED STRESSED CONDITION ENVELOPING SAID INSERTS AND THE SOCKS MOUNTED THEREUPON.

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