Apparel – Nether garments – Stockings
Reexamination Certificate
1998-09-04
2001-04-17
Calvert, John J. (Department: 3741)
Apparel
Nether garments
Stockings
C024SDIG009
Reexamination Certificate
active
06216279
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND
1. The Field of the Invention
This invention relates to articles of clothing and, more particularly, to novel systems and methods for adorning socks with ornaments.
2. The Background Art
Socks with ornamental elements are available in the marketplace today. Many of these socks have small bows and/or ribbons sewn to them and are often worn by children, particularly young girls. These ornamental elements are often a color different than the color of the sock. Typically the color of the ornament is chosen to match the clothing of the child. Such matching often improves the overall appearance of a child's clothing by giving a more coordinated look.
Because the aforesaid ornamental elements are sewn to the socks, and are therefore permanently affixed to the socks, these ornamental elements need to be washable. Requiring that the ornaments be washable greatly reduces the possible materials and/or items that could be placed on socks as ornamental elements. In addition, the permanency of typical ornaments on socks limits a pair of socks to the permanently attached ornament. As a result, if one wishes to have many different ornaments to wear with socks, one typically needs to buy many different pairs of socks that have the desired ornaments.
After being washed and dried several times, and sometimes even after only one washing and drying, the ornamental elements lose some of their color and ability to maintain the same form or stiffness. Thus, over time the ornaments deteriorate in appearance to the point where they may actually detract, rather than enhance, the appearance of one's attire.
Some users of these socks with ornamental items may attempt to improve the state of the item. For example, a parent may attempt to iron a bow on a particular sock to enhance its appearance. Because these ornamental items are often rather small, it is very difficult to effectively iron them. A great deal of time could be spent trying to improve the appearance of these ornamental items, and because of their form and/or size, very little improvement in appearance may be realized.
BRIEF SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
In view of the foregoing, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide an assembly for removably attaching an ornament to a sock.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an ornament capable of enhancing the appearance of a sock.
It is also an object to increase the number of possible materials and/or substances that can be used in constructing the ornaments.
Another object is to enable ornaments to be constructed of materials that are not readily washable.
A further object of the present invention is to increase the useful life of an ornament by enabling the item to maintain a new and sharp appearance over a longer period of time.
A still further object is to increase the versatility of a particular sock ornament.
Consistent with the foregoing objects, and in accordance with the invention as embodied and broadly described herein, an assembly for removably attaching an ornament to a sock is disclosed in one embodiment of the present invention as including first means for attaching, the first attaching means being affixed to the sock, an ornament, and second means for attaching the ornament to the sock. The second attaching means is affixed to the ornament, and the second attaching means is configured so as to cooperate with and removably attach to the first attaching means to removably attach the ornament to the sock. As broadly described herein, the first and second attaching means may include a variety of attaching means including snap fasteners, buttons and corresponding buttonholes, hook and loop fasteners, hook-and-eye fasteners, and the like.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2569398 (1951-09-01), Burd et al.
patent: 4106126 (1978-08-01), Traenkle
patent: 4296533 (1981-10-01), Doerter
patent: 4975986 (1990-12-01), Strongwater
patent: 5038413 (1991-08-01), Ursino
patent: 5308671 (1994-05-01), Wells
patent: 5325542 (1994-07-01), Lenerville
patent: 5535448 (1996-07-01), Williamson et al.
patent: 5974590 (1999-11-01), Stubbs
Broadbent Berne S.
Calvert John J.
Hargrove Keith
Kirton & McConkie
Moran Katherine
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