Washing socks

Abstract

A combination and a method for keeping the individual members of a pair of socks together during repeated laundering or storage employing a button on a locally reinforced portion of one sock of a pair of socks and a locally reinforced elasticized opening in the other sock in the pair of socks, the opening adapted to receive and secure the button.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A combination for keeping a pair of socks intact during repeated laundering or storage, each pair having a first member with a top edge and a second member with a top edge, the device comprising
 a. a locally reinforced and elasticized opening near the top edge of the first member and   b. a button attached near the top edge of the second member   
       wherein the locally reinforced and elasticized opening when relaxed is substantially smaller than the button but large enough when expanded to allow the button to pass through the opening and small enough when relaxed to secure the button in the opening. 
     
     
         2 . The combination of  claim 1  further comprising the button is attached to locally reinforced elastic portion of the second member. 
     
     
         3 . The combination of  claim 1  further comprising the locally reinforced and elasticized opening is
 a. centrally located in a piece of elastic material sown just below the top edge of the first member and 
 b. possesses elasticity about equal to that possessed by elastic belting material. 
 
     
     
         4 . The combination of  claim 3  further comprising the first and second members have an inside surface and an outside surface and the piece of elastic material is sewn on the outside surface just below the top edge of the first member. 
     
     
         5 . The combination of  claim 3  further comprising the first and second members have an inside surface and an outside surface and the piece of elastic material is sewn on the inside surface just below the edge of the first member. 
     
     
         6 . The combination of  claim 1  further comprising the first and second members have cuffs and the locally reinforced and elasticized opening is woven into the cuff of the first member during production of the first member. 
     
     
         7 . The combination of  claim 1  further comprising the button on the cuff of the second member is made of flexible material attached to a reinforced elastic portion of the cuff of the second member during production of the second member. 
     
     
         8 . The combination of  claim 7  further comprising the button is made of elasticized rubber or plastic. 
     
     
         9 . A method for making a pair of socks having a first member and a second member, each member having a top edge, the method comprising the step of programming manufacturing machinery for making a pair of socks to
 a. produce an elastic button hole near the top edge of the first member and   b. attach a button near the top edge of the second member opposite the button hole   
       wherein the button is sized to be press fitted into the button hole and a portion of the members where the button hole and the button are located has greater elasticity than the remainder of the pair of socks.