Garment sorting device and assembly

Abstract

An assembly includes a first garment and a second garment. A first garment sorting device is secured to the first garment. The first garment sorting device includes first and second jaws closed onto the first garment and a female outer member. A second garment sorting device is secured to the second garment. The second garment sorting device includes first and second jaws closed onto the second garment and a male outer member. The male outer member is retained by the female outer member to attach the first garment sorting device to the second garment sorting device. The assembly can be processed through washing and drying operations of a laundry cycle. When the laundry cycle is complete, the devices can be separated from each other but can remain attached to the garments and worn.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An assembly of garment sorting devices comprising: 
 a first garment sorting device having a first jaw connected to a second jaw, wherein the first jaw includes a female outer snap member; and    a second garment sorting device having a first jaw connected to a second jaw, wherein the first jaw includes a male outer snap member, wherein the male outer snap member is retained by the female outer snap member so that the first and second garment sorting devices are attached.    
     
     
         2 . The assembly specified in  claim 1  wherein the female outer snap member includes a lip that retains a ring formed on the male outer snap member.  
     
     
         3 . The assembly specified in  claim 2  wherein the lip of the female outer snap member is formed as a radially inwardly projecting lip on an annular wall formed on the first jaw of the first garment sorting device.  
     
     
         4 . The assembly specified in  claim 2  wherein the ring of the male outer snap member is located at the terminus of a post formed on the first jaw of the second garment sorting device.  
     
     
         5 . The assembly specified in  claim 1  wherein the first jaw of the first garment sorting device includes an inner face having a female inner snap member and the second jaw of the first garment sorting device includes an inner face having a male inner snap member that cooperates with the female inner snap member to close the first and second jaws.  
     
     
         6 . The assembly specified in  claim 5  wherein the inner face of the first jaw of the first garment sorting device includes teeth and the inner face of the second jaw of the second garment sorting device includes teeth that cooperate with the teeth of the first jaw when the first and second jaws are closed.  
     
     
         7 . The assembly specified in  claim 5  wherein the female outer snap member is formed on an outer face of the first jaw of the first garment sorting device and the male outer snap member is formed on an outer face of the first jaw of the second garment sorting device.  
     
     
         8 . The assembly specified in  claim 1  wherein the first and second jaws of the first garment sorting device are connected by a living hinge.  
     
     
         9 . A garment and garment sorting device assembly comprising: 
 a garment; and    a garment sorting device having first and second elongated jaws, each jaw including a inner surface and an outer surface, wherein the inner surface of the first jaw includes a female member, wherein the inner surface of the second jaw includes a male member, wherein the male member is retained by the female member to close the jaws and secure the garment between the jaws.    
     
     
         10 . The garment and garment sorting device assembly specified in  claim 9  wherein the inner surface of the first and second jaws include teeth that cooperate to retain the garment.  
     
     
         11 . The garment and garment sorting device assembly specified in  claim 9  wherein the female member includes an annular wall terminating in a radially inwardly projecting lip.  
     
     
         12 . The garment and garment sorting device assembly specified in  claim 9  wherein the male member includes a post terminating in a ring.  
     
     
         13 . An assembly of garment and garment sorting devices comprising: 
 a first garment;    a second garment;    a first garment sorting device secured to the first garment, the first garment sorting device including first and second jaws closed onto the first garment, and a female outer member;    a second garment sorting device secured to the second garment, the second garment sorting device including first and second jaws closed onto the second garment, and a male outer member,    wherein the male outer member is retained by the female outer member to attach the first garment sorting device to the second garment sorting device.    
     
     
         14 . The assembly specified in  claim 13  wherein the first jaw of the first garment sorting device includes an inner face having a female inner snap member and an outer face having the female outer member.  
     
     
         15 . The assembly specified in  claim 14  wherein the second jaw of the first garment sorting device includes an inner face having a male inner snap member that cooperates with the female inner snap member to close the jaws on the first garment.  
     
     
         16 . The assembly specified in  claim 15  wherein the first jaw of the second garment sorting device includes an inner face having a female inner snap member and an outer face having the male outer member.  
     
     
         17 . The assembly specified in  claim 16  wherein the second jaw of the second garment sorting device includes an inner face having a male inner snap member that cooperates with the female inner snap member to close the jaws on the second garment.  
     
     
         18 . The assembly specified in  claim 13  wherein the female outer member includes a lip that retains a ring on the male outer member.  
     
     
         19 . The assembly specified in  claim 13  wherein the male outer member includes a hook that passes though a ring of the female outer member.  
     
     
         20 . The assembly specified in  claim 13  wherein a pin is provided in one of the jaws of the first garment sorting device.