US3673639A - Laundering clasp - Google Patents

Laundering clasp Download PDF

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Publication number
US3673639A
US3673639A US102408A US3673639DA US3673639A US 3673639 A US3673639 A US 3673639A US 102408 A US102408 A US 102408A US 3673639D A US3673639D A US 3673639DA US 3673639 A US3673639 A US 3673639A
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Prior art keywords
head portion
neck
end portion
pair
neck portion
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Expired - Lifetime
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US102408A
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Rosemary F Driscoll
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Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A44—HABERDASHERY; JEWELLERY
    • A44B—BUTTONS, PINS, BUCKLES, SLIDE FASTENERS, OR THE LIKE
    • A44B99/00—Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D67/00—Kinds or types of packaging elements not otherwise provided for
    • B65D67/02—Clips or clamps for holding articles together for convenience of storage or transport
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
    • D06F95/00—Laundry systems or arrangements of apparatus or machines; Mobile laundries 
    • D06F95/008—Devices for keeping articles together during laundering, e.g. for keeping socks in pairs ; Devices for protecting or shielding certain parts of the articles during laundering, e.g. button protectors
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10S24/00—Buckles, buttons, clasps
    • Y10S24/29—Laundry device
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
    • Y10T24/00—Buckles, buttons, clasps, etc.
    • Y10T24/14—Bale and package ties, hose clamps
    • Y10T24/1498—Plastic band

Definitions

  • ABSTRACT [51] f "AMI, 865d 63/00 A clasping device for preventing a pair of clothing articles [58] Field of Search ..24/l6 PB, 245 FF, 30.5 PB, Such as stockings, socks mittens and the kc f becoming 9, 17 A, 73 245 separated during laundering.
  • a flat strip of flexible and resilient material having a head portion, a narrower neck por- [56] References Cited tion, a body portion connected to the head portion by the neck portion and having an opening sufi'lciently large to admit UNITED STATES PATENTS the head portion, and an end portion having a slot extending from the body opening large enough to receive the neck por- 824,332 6/1906 Barnum ..24/245 FF on but sma" enough to prevent passage therethrough ofthe 1,199,595 9/1916 Noble ..24/17 A head portion 3,114,184 12/1963 Bigaouette ..24/30.5 P 3,346,927 10/ 1967 Tompkins ..24/245 FF lClaim, 3 Drawing Figures P'A'TENTEnJuL "4 I972 3, s 73 6-3 9 INVENTOR.
  • This invention relates generally to devices for securing together articles of clothing. More particularly, it relates to a clasping device for securing together a pair of stockings, socks, mittens and the like during laundering operations.
  • a novel way to facilitate this sorting operation and thereby ease the housewifes burden is for the wearer to clasp each pair of soiled stockings or. socks together when he removes them.
  • these stockings. are subsequently placed in the washing machine along with the rest of the laundry they will remain matched throughout the laundering process. No further sorting will be necessary and the risk of losing a single stocking is eliminated.
  • U.S. Pat. No. 3,369,279 discloses a stocking gripper for fastening stockings or garters to an undergarment such as a girdle.
  • U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,119,163 and 3,462,809 each disclose a garment clip of generally U- shaped configuration with the legs of the clip joined in a spring loop.
  • U.S. Pat. No. 3,170,213 discloses a clasping device for securing the ends of a baby diaper. None of the aforementioned art discloses a device for adequately securing together a pair of stockings or the like during laundering.
  • my claspin device is shown generally at 10 in FIGS. 1-3.
  • the clasping device 10 comprises a flat strip of flexible and resilient plastic material such as polyethylene having an enlarged head portion 11, a neck portion 12, a body portion 13, and a U-shaped end portion 14.
  • the enlarged head portion 1 l is substantially wider than the neck portion 12, which connects the head portion 11 to the body portion 13.
  • the body portion 13 has an opening 16 of sufiicient width to permit the head portion 11 to be inserted therethrough.
  • the U-shaped end portion 14 has a reduced slot 15 extending from the body opening 16 which is sufficiently wide to receive the neck portion 12 and sufficiently narrow to prevent the head portion 11 from passing transversely therethrough.
  • the clasping device 10 in its closed position forms two loops l7 circumscribed by the sidewalls of the body portion 13.
  • the width of the loops 17 will therefore depend on the size of the opening 16 in the body portion 13. It is preferred that the opening 16 be made large so that the sidewalls forming the loops '17 will consist of narrow strips of material substantially set apart from each other. The pair of socks will tend to bulge between the loops 17 thereby prevent- 0 ing the socks from wriggling out of the clasping device 10.
  • My clasping device is made from a flat sheet of flexible and a resilient material and has a head portion, a neck portion, a body portion and an end portion. A pair of stockings or socks is laid across the body portion and the clasping device is folded around the stockings or socks. The head portion passes through an opening in the body portion and the neck portion is inserted within a slot in the end portion. The end portion engages the head portion and prevents the clasping device from returning to its flat position.
  • the clasping device will withstand repeated and prolonged contact with water and detergents without deterioration. It will also withstand the high temperatures used in modern driers without shriveling or catching fire. As a practical matter the clasping device is inexpensive to manufacture so that a sufficient number of them can be purchased by a family or a single person to cover their entire needs at a nominal cost. Also the clasping device is convenient to use as it not only reduces the physical burden of sorting the stockings but it saves time as well.
  • the clasping device 10 After the pair of socks has been washed, dried and separated from the remainder of the laundry they are easily released from the clasping device 10 by applying pressure on the head portion 11 to disengage the neck portion 12 from the slot 15 and by pushing the head portion I 1 back through the body opening 16. The socks can then be removed and the clasping device 10 can be flattened to its original open position ready for reuse.
  • a clasping device for securing together a pair of clothing.
  • a flat strip of flexible and resilient material having an enlarged head portion, a neck portion, a body portion and a U-shaped end portion,
  • said body portion having a pair of narrow strip sidewalls substantially set apart from each other to define an opening of substantially greater width than said sidewalls and of greater width than said enlarged head portion to permit said head portion to be inserted therethrough,
  • said U-shaped end portion defining a reduced slot extending from said body opening which is sufficiently wide to receive said neck portion and adequately narrow so that said U-shaped end portion engages said enlarged head portion and prevents said head portion from passing transversely through said reduced slot in said end portion.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Textile Engineering (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Socks And Pantyhose (AREA)

Abstract

A clasping device for preventing a pair of clothing articles such as stockings, socks, mittens and the like from becoming separated during laundering. A flat strip of flexible and resilient material having a head portion, a narrower neck portion, a body portion connected to the head portion by the neck portion and having an opening sufficiently large to admit the head portion, and an end portion having a slot extending from the body opening large enough to receive the neck portion but small enough to prevent passage therethrough of the head portion.

Description

O Unlted States Patent [15 1 3,673,639 Driscoll [451 July 4, 1972 541 LAUNDERING CLASP FOREIGN PATENTS 0R APPLICATIONS [72] Inventor: Rosemary F. Driscoll, New Richmond, 346,341 6/1931 Great Britain ..24/16 PB Wi 54017 $05,717 12/1954 Italy ..24/245 FF [22] Filed: 1970 Primary Examiner-Donald A. Griffin 21 Attorney-Joseph G. Werner, Theodore .1. Long, John M. 1 App] No 102 408 Winter and James A. Kemmeter [52] U.S.Cl ..24/l6 PB,24ID1G. 29 [57] ABSTRACT [51] f "AMI, 865d 63/00 A clasping device for preventing a pair of clothing articles [58] Field of Search ..24/l6 PB, 245 FF, 30.5 PB, Such as stockings, socks mittens and the kc f becoming 9, 17 A, 73 245 separated during laundering. A flat strip of flexible and resilient material having a head portion, a narrower neck por- [56] References Cited tion, a body portion connected to the head portion by the neck portion and having an opening sufi'lciently large to admit UNITED STATES PATENTS the head portion, and an end portion having a slot extending from the body opening large enough to receive the neck por- 824,332 6/1906 Barnum ..24/245 FF on but sma" enough to prevent passage therethrough ofthe 1,199,595 9/1916 Noble ..24/17 A head portion 3,114,184 12/1963 Bigaouette ..24/30.5 P 3,346,927 10/ 1967 Tompkins ..24/245 FF lClaim, 3 Drawing Figures P'A'TENTEnJuL "4 I972 3, s 73 6-3 9 INVENTOR. ROSEMARY F. DRISCOLL BY 7km BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention t 1 This invention relates generally to devices for securing together articles of clothing. More particularly, it relates to a clasping device for securing together a pair of stockings, socks, mittens and the like during laundering operations.
2. Description of the Prior Art When clothing is machine washed and dried the gannents are tossed, turned and tumbled together. As a result the various articles of clothing must be separated and sorted after each such washing and drying. This is an especially laborious chore for the housewife when the laundry contains many pairs of stockings or socks. It is, moreover, a frustrating experience for her to attempt to match such stockings when one stocking of a pair becomes lost leaving an odd stocking.
A novel way to facilitate this sorting operation and thereby ease the housewifes burden is for the wearer to clasp each pair of soiled stockings or. socks together when he removes them. Thus, when these stockings. are subsequently placed in the washing machine along with the rest of the laundry they will remain matched throughout the laundering process. No further sorting will be necessary and the risk of losing a single stocking is eliminated.
There are many devices known in the prior art for securing one article of clothing to another. U.S. Pat. No. 3,369,279 discloses a stocking gripper for fastening stockings or garters to an undergarment such as a girdle. U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,119,163 and 3,462,809 each disclose a garment clip of generally U- shaped configuration with the legs of the clip joined in a spring loop. U.S. Pat. No. 3,170,213 discloses a clasping device for securing the ends of a baby diaper. None of the aforementioned art discloses a device for adequately securing together a pair of stockings or the like during laundering.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views,
my claspin device is shown generally at 10 in FIGS. 1-3.
As seen t in FIG. 2, the clasping device 10 comprises a flat strip of flexible and resilient plastic material such as polyethylene having an enlarged head portion 11, a neck portion 12, a body portion 13, and a U-shaped end portion 14.
The enlarged head portion 1 l is substantially wider than the neck portion 12, which connects the head portion 11 to the body portion 13. The body portion 13 has an opening 16 of sufiicient width to permit the head portion 11 to be inserted therethrough. The U-shaped end portion 14 has a reduced slot 15 extending from the body opening 16 which is sufficiently wide to receive the neck portion 12 and sufficiently narrow to prevent the head portion 11 from passing transversely therethrough.
In use, a pair of socks is laid across the body portion 13, the clasping device 10 is folded around the pair of socks, the head portion 11 is inserted through the body opening 16, the neck portion 12 is inserted within the slot 15, and the end portion 14 engages the head portion 1] to maintain the clasping device 10 in the closed position shown in FIGS. 1 and 3.
'As'seen best in FIG. I the clasping device 10 in its closed position forms two loops l7 circumscribed by the sidewalls of the body portion 13. The width of the loops 17 will therefore depend on the size of the opening 16 in the body portion 13. It is preferred that the opening 16 be made large so that the sidewalls forming the loops '17 will consist of narrow strips of material substantially set apart from each other. The pair of socks will tend to bulge between the loops 17 thereby prevent- 0 ing the socks from wriggling out of the clasping device 10.
My clasping device is made from a flat sheet of flexible and a resilient material and has a head portion, a neck portion, a body portion and an end portion. A pair of stockings or socks is laid across the body portion and the clasping device is folded around the stockings or socks. The head portion passes through an opening in the body portion and the neck portion is inserted within a slot in the end portion. The end portion engages the head portion and prevents the clasping device from returning to its flat position.
The clasping device will withstand repeated and prolonged contact with water and detergents without deterioration. It will also withstand the high temperatures used in modern driers without shriveling or catching fire. As a practical matter the clasping device is inexpensive to manufacture so that a sufficient number of them can be purchased by a family or a single person to cover their entire needs at a nominal cost. Also the clasping device is convenient to use as it not only reduces the physical burden of sorting the stockings but it saves time as well.
Further objects, features and advantages of my invention will be apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings showing a preferred embodiment of the invention for exemplification.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now more particularly to the drawings wherein Bending the clasping device 10 to its closed position creates a spring-like force due to the resiliency of the material. This force tends to return the clasping device 10 to its flat open position. However, when the head portion 11 is secured by the end portion 14 in the closed position shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the force provides a spring action which keeps the head portion 11 firmly engaged behind the end portion 14 throughout the laundering operation. After the pair of socks has been washed, dried and separated from the remainder of the laundry they are easily released from the clasping device 10 by applying pressure on the head portion 11 to disengage the neck portion 12 from the slot 15 and by pushing the head portion I 1 back through the body opening 16. The socks can then be removed and the clasping device 10 can be flattened to its original open position ready for reuse.
It is understood that my invention is not confined to the particular construction and arrangement of parts herein illustrated and described, but embraces all such modified forms thereof as may come within the scope of the following claims.
I claim:
1. A clasping device for securing together a pair of clothing.
tions comprising:
a. a flat strip of flexible and resilient material having an enlarged head portion, a neck portion, a body portion and a U-shaped end portion,
b. said head portion being substantially wider than said neck portion,
c. said neck portion connecting said head portion and said body portion,
d. said body portion having a pair of narrow strip sidewalls substantially set apart from each other to define an opening of substantially greater width than said sidewalls and of greater width than said enlarged head portion to permit said head portion to be inserted therethrough,
c. said U-shaped end portion defining a reduced slot extending from said body opening which is sufficiently wide to receive said neck portion and suficiently narrow so that said U-shaped end portion engages said enlarged head portion and prevents said head portion from passing transversely through said reduced slot in said end portion.
i i i i i

Claims (1)

1. A clasping device for securing together a pair of clothing articles to prevent separation thereof during laundering operations comprising: a. a flat strip of flexible and resilient material having an enlarged head portion, a neck portion, a body portion and a Ushaped end portion, b. said head portion being substantially wider than said neck portion, c. said neck portion connecting said head portion and said body portion, d. said body portion having a pair of narrow strip sidewalls substantially set apart from each other to define an opening of substantially greater width than said sidewalls and of greater width than said enlarged head portion to permit said head portion to be inserted therethrough, e. said U-shaped end portion defining a reduced slot extending from said body opening which is sufficiently wide to receive said neck portion and sufficiently narrow so that said U-shaped end portion engages said enlarged head portion and prevents said head portion from passing transversely through said reduced slot in said end portion.
US102408A 1970-12-29 1970-12-29 Laundering clasp Expired - Lifetime US3673639A (en)

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Cited By (14)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3972469A (en) * 1975-02-28 1976-08-03 Wright Charles E Bag closure
WO1984004142A1 (en) * 1983-04-08 1984-10-25 Tie Tite Products Inc Reusable tying device
US4503591A (en) * 1983-05-23 1985-03-12 Adamska Koperska Joanna Ring for storing articles of clothing
US5234139A (en) * 1991-08-06 1993-08-10 Korenstein Michael W Apparatus for the management of paired garments
US5499431A (en) * 1994-12-09 1996-03-19 Mortensen; Erik D. Spring clip for holding garments
US5551128A (en) * 1995-03-27 1996-09-03 Adams Usa, Inc. Strap for holding laundry
US5893456A (en) * 1997-09-09 1999-04-13 Ghent Supply N.V. Typing and fastening device
FR2880927A1 (en) * 2005-01-18 2006-07-21 Ghent Supply Nv ELASTIC ELEMENT FOR FIXING AND COHERENT ASSEMBLY OF SUCH ELEMENTS
US20080244877A1 (en) * 2007-04-05 2008-10-09 Sell Timothy L Sock keeper
US7631753B1 (en) * 2005-06-13 2009-12-15 Temmel Thomas G Sock organizing apparatus
US20110056058A1 (en) * 2009-09-04 2011-03-10 Alison Simon Article of manufacture and method for detachably securing two or more garment items together
US9873977B2 (en) * 2016-03-14 2018-01-23 Carole Farnsworth Sock tie apparatus and method
US11066220B2 (en) * 2016-12-22 2021-07-20 Jeffrey L. DERSHEM Bungee device and method of use
US11982043B2 (en) 2019-05-06 2024-05-14 Brayniacs Llc Systems and methods for preventing laundry tangles

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US824332A (en) * 1903-12-30 1906-06-26 Henry H Barnum Garment-clasp.
US1199595A (en) * 1914-08-21 1916-09-26 Bion E G Noble Hoop.
GB346341A (en) * 1929-12-31 1931-03-31 Walter Reeves Improvements in band clip or like fasteners
US3114184A (en) * 1962-02-23 1963-12-17 Bigaouette Jean Robert Closure for bags and the like
US3346927A (en) * 1965-07-14 1967-10-17 Sally D Tompkins Detachable retainer for articles

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US824332A (en) * 1903-12-30 1906-06-26 Henry H Barnum Garment-clasp.
US1199595A (en) * 1914-08-21 1916-09-26 Bion E G Noble Hoop.
GB346341A (en) * 1929-12-31 1931-03-31 Walter Reeves Improvements in band clip or like fasteners
US3114184A (en) * 1962-02-23 1963-12-17 Bigaouette Jean Robert Closure for bags and the like
US3346927A (en) * 1965-07-14 1967-10-17 Sally D Tompkins Detachable retainer for articles

Cited By (18)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3972469A (en) * 1975-02-28 1976-08-03 Wright Charles E Bag closure
WO1984004142A1 (en) * 1983-04-08 1984-10-25 Tie Tite Products Inc Reusable tying device
US4503591A (en) * 1983-05-23 1985-03-12 Adamska Koperska Joanna Ring for storing articles of clothing
US5234139A (en) * 1991-08-06 1993-08-10 Korenstein Michael W Apparatus for the management of paired garments
US5499431A (en) * 1994-12-09 1996-03-19 Mortensen; Erik D. Spring clip for holding garments
US5551128A (en) * 1995-03-27 1996-09-03 Adams Usa, Inc. Strap for holding laundry
US5893456A (en) * 1997-09-09 1999-04-13 Ghent Supply N.V. Typing and fastening device
WO2006077011A1 (en) * 2005-01-18 2006-07-27 Ghent-Supply Elastic fixing element, and coherent arrangement of such elements
FR2880927A1 (en) * 2005-01-18 2006-07-21 Ghent Supply Nv ELASTIC ELEMENT FOR FIXING AND COHERENT ASSEMBLY OF SUCH ELEMENTS
US20080120816A1 (en) * 2005-01-18 2008-05-29 Ghent-Supply Elastic Fixing Element, and Coherent Arrangement of Such Elements
US8240467B2 (en) 2005-01-18 2012-08-14 Ghent-Supply Elastic fixing element, and coherent arrangement of such elements
US7631753B1 (en) * 2005-06-13 2009-12-15 Temmel Thomas G Sock organizing apparatus
US20080244877A1 (en) * 2007-04-05 2008-10-09 Sell Timothy L Sock keeper
US7587797B2 (en) 2007-04-05 2009-09-15 Sell Timothy L Sock keeper
US20110056058A1 (en) * 2009-09-04 2011-03-10 Alison Simon Article of manufacture and method for detachably securing two or more garment items together
US9873977B2 (en) * 2016-03-14 2018-01-23 Carole Farnsworth Sock tie apparatus and method
US11066220B2 (en) * 2016-12-22 2021-07-20 Jeffrey L. DERSHEM Bungee device and method of use
US11982043B2 (en) 2019-05-06 2024-05-14 Brayniacs Llc Systems and methods for preventing laundry tangles

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