Apparatus and method for matching socks

Abstract

An apparatus for educating children includes a first symbol for application to a first article of clothing and a second symbol for application to a second article of clothing. The first article of clothing is worn by a user at a same time as the second article of clothing and the first article of clothing and the second article of clothing are both part of a clothing set. The second symbol is non-identical to the first symbol and the first symbol corresponds to and matches the second symbol based on a relationship of an educational topic.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for educating children, the apparatus consisting of:
 a plurality of pairs of socks, each pair of socks of the plurality of pairs of socks comprising a first sock and a second sock, wherein each sock is a garment for wearing on a foot and the first and second socks in a pair of socks are interchangeable for wearing on a left or a right foot;   a plurality of first symbols each permanently applied to a first sock of the pairs of socks in the set of socks; and   a plurality of second symbols each permanently applied to a second sock of the pairs of socks in the set of socks, wherein each sock with the first symbol of a symbol pair matches to a second sock with the second symbol of the symbol pair, the second symbol in a symbol pair non-identical to the first symbol in a symbol pair, each symbol pair in the symbol set different from other symbol pairs of the symbol set,   wherein the first symbol in a symbol pair corresponds to and matches the second symbol in the symbol pair based on a relationship of an educational topic and wherein the first symbol in the symbol pair and the second symbol of the symbol pair each consist of a printed image, the second symbol without a printed image that is a reverse image of the printed image in the first symbol, the first symbol in the symbol set without an image in addition to the printed image that is included on the first symbol as an identical match to a corresponding identical additional image on the second symbol of the symbol set and in addition to the printed image on the second symbol.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein one of:
 the first symbol of a symbol set consists of a expression in a first form and the second symbol of the symbol set consists of a matching expression in a different form, the expressions being an expression of time;   the first symbol of a symbol set consists of a word and the second symbol of the symbol set consists of a graphical expression of the word;   the first symbol of a symbol set consists of a quotation and the second symbol of the symbol set consists of a citation of the quotation;   the first symbol of a symbol set consists of a word or phrase in a first language and the second symbol of the symbol set consists of the word or phrase in a second language;   the first symbol of a symbol set consists of a letter in the alphabet in one or more of an upper case form and a lower case form and the second symbol of the symbol set consists of a graphical image of an object that begins with the letter;   the first symbol of a symbol set consists of a first part of a word and the second symbol of the symbol set consists of a second part of the word, the first part of the word and the second part of the word combined form the word;   the first symbol comprises a first geographical feature and the second symbol comprises a second geographical feature encompassing the first geographical feature; and   the first symbol comprises text and the second symbol indicates the source of the text.   
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each pair of socks in the plurality of pairs of socks comprises a symbol pair and wherein each symbol pair differs from other symbol pairs of pairs of socks in the plurality of pairs of socks, and wherein the plurality of pairs of socks comprises a matching game, the matching game comprising selecting a first sock with a first symbol of a symbol pair and selecting a second sock with the second symbol of a symbol pair. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the first and second symbols of each symbol pair comprise a set of iron-on transfers applied to the plurality of pairs of socks. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the first and second symbols of each symbol pair comprise a set of clothing patches applied to the plurality of pairs of socks. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the first and second symbols of each symbol pair comprise a set of buttons applied to the plurality of pairs of socks. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the plurality of pairs of socks with the symbol sets applied to the plurality of pairs of socks comprises a matching game for educating children. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first symbol and the second symbol each comprise one or more of a letter, a number, a symbol, a shape, a diagram, and a picture. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus  claim 1 , wherein each symbol is disposed near the toe of its respective sock, with the top of each symbol oriented toward the toe of its respective sock and the bottom of each symbol oriented toward the heel of its respective sock.