Socks having match indicators

Abstract

Each garment in a set of garment includes a garment match indicator. The garment match indicators comprise a word describing an identifiable characteristic common to the garments in the set and have a color different than the color of the set of garments. Each of the garments in the set is thereby matchable to the other garments by the garment match indicators. Embodiments of the present invention are particularly useful for matching socks in a pair of socks with respect to color, size, ownership, original pairing, and other characteristics.

1 . A set of garments, each of the garments in the set comprising: 
 a garment match indicator comprising a word describing an identifiable characteristic common to the garments in the set, the garment match indicator having a color different than the color of the garment,    wherein each of the garments is matchable to the other garments by the garment match indicator.    
     
     
         2 . The set of garments of  claim 1 , wherein the garment match indicator comprises the name of the color of the garments.  
     
     
         3 . The set of garments of  claim 1 , wherein the garment match indicator comprises the name of the size of the garments.  
     
     
         4 . The set of garments of  claim 3 , further comprising a plurality of sets of garments, each set of garments having a different size, wherein the name of the size of the garments for each set of garments comprises a unique color.  
     
     
         5 . The set of garments of  claim 1 , wherein the garment match indicator comprises a numeric indicator.  
     
     
         6 . The set of garments of  claim 5 , further comprising a plurality of sets of garments, wherein each set of garments comprises a numeric indicator unique to that set.  
     
     
         7 . The set of garments of  claim 4 , wherein each set of garments comprises a numeric indicator unique to that set.  
     
     
         8 . The set of garments of  claim 1 , wherein the garment match indicator comprises an indication of left or right.  
     
     
         9 . The set of garments of  claim 1 , wherein the garment match indicator comprises a day of the week.  
     
     
         10 . The set of garments of  claim 1 , wherein the garment match indicator comprises an indication of when the garment is intended to be worn.  
     
     
         11 . The set of garments of  claim 1 , further comprising a brand identifier.  
     
     
         12 . The set of garments of  claim 1 , wherein the garment match indicator is integrally formed in the garment.  
     
     
         13 . The set of garments of  claim 12 , wherein the garment match indicator is knit in the garment.  
     
     
         14 . The set of garments of  claim 1 , wherein the garment match indicator comprises a separate material attached to the garment.  
     
     
         15 . The set of garments of  claim 14 , wherein the garment match indicator is attached to the garment by a heat transfer mechanism.  
     
     
         16 . A pair of socks, each sock comprising: 
 a toe, a heel, a foot portion between and including the toe and the heel, a medial side, and a lateral side, the foot portion further comprising a bottom below the midline on each of the medial and lateral sides of the foot portion; and    a sock match indicator disposed on the bottom of the foot portion comprising a word describing an identifiable characteristic common to each of the socks of the pair, the color of the sock match indicator being different than the color of the sock,    wherein each of the socks of the pair is matchable to the other by the sock match indicator.    
     
     
         17 . The pair of socks of  claim 16 , wherein the sock match indicator comprises the name of the color of the socks.  
     
     
         18 . The pair of socks of  claim 16 , wherein the sock match indicator comprises the name of the size of the socks.  
     
     
         19 . The pair of socks of  claim 18 , further comprising a plurality of pairs of socks, each pair of socks having a different size, wherein the name of the size of the socks for each pair of socks comprises a unique color.  
     
     
         20 . The pair of socks of  claim 16 , wherein the sock match indicator comprises a numeric indicator.  
     
     
         21 . The pair of socks of  claim 20 , further comprising a plurality of pairs of socks, wherein each pair of socks comprises a numeric indicator unique to that pair.  
     
     
         22 . The pair of socks of  claim 19 , wherein each pair of socks comprises a numeric indicator unique to that pair.  
     
     
         23 . The pair of socks of  claim 16 , wherein the sock match indicator comprises an indication of left or right.  
     
     
         24 . The pair of socks of  claim 16 , wherein the sock match indicator comprises a day of the week.  
     
     
         25 . The pair of socks of  claim 16 , wherein the sock match indicator comprises an indication of when the sock is intended to be worn.  
     
     
         26 . The pair of socks of  claim 16 , further comprising a brand identifier.  
     
     
         27 . The pair of socks of  claim 16 , wherein the sock match indicator is integrally formed in the sock.  
     
     
         28 . The pair of socks of  claim 27 , wherein the sock match indicator is knit in the sock.  
     
     
         29 . The pair of socks of  claim 16 , wherein the sock match indicator comprises a separate material attached to the sock.  
     
     
         30 . The pair of socks of  claim 29 , wherein the sock match indicator is attached to the sock by a heat transfer mechanism.  
     
     
         31 . A method of making a pair of matchable socks, each sock having a toe, a heel, a foot portion between and including the toe and the heel, a medial side, and a lateral side, the foot portion further comprising a bottom below the midline on each of the medial and lateral sides of the foot portion, the method comprising: 
 programming a circular knitting machine to knit a sock match indicator on the bottom of the foot portion of each sock, the sock match indicator comprising a word describing an identifiable characteristic common to each of the socks of the pair, the color of the sock match indicator being different than the color of the socks;    beginning to knit a first of the socks in the pair on the knitting machine;    knitting the sock match indicator on the bottom of the foot portion of the first sock as programmed;    completing the knitting of the remainder of the first sock; and    repeating the beginning, knitting, and completing steps for a second of the socks in the pair.    
     
     
         32 . The method of making a pair of socks in  claim 31 , wherein the sock match indicator comprises the name of the color of the socks.  
     
     
         33 . The method of making a pair of socks in  claim 31 , wherein the sock match indicator comprises the name of the size of the socks.  
     
     
         34 . A method of making a pair of matchable socks, each sock having a toe, a heel, a foot portion between and including the toe and the heel, a medial side, and a lateral side, the foot portion further comprising a bottom below the midline on each of the medial and lateral sides of the foot portion, the method comprising: 
 providing a transfer label comprising a sock match indicator comprising a word describing an identifiable characteristic common to each of the socks of the pair, the color of the sock match indicator being different than the color of the sock;    aligning the transfer label with the bottom of the foot portion of a first sock of the pair of socks;    subjecting the transfer label to conditions sufficient to transfer the label to the bottom of the foot portion of the first sock; and    repeating the preceding steps for a second sock of the pair of socks.    
     
     
         35 . The method of making a pair of socks in  claim 34 , wherein the sock match indicator comprises the name of the color of the socks.  
     
     
         36 . The method of making a pair of socks in  claim 34 , wherein the sock match indicator comprises the name of the size of the socks.