Pairing device for clothing

Abstract

A pairing device for clothing that includes a base with at least one substantially flat surface base having a central axis perpendicular to a plane. The pairing device also includes two shafts attached to the substantially flat surface and parallel to the central axis at the point of attachment. The two shaft each having pointed ends, and the shafts are sized so as to be able to penetrate the clothing material without damaging it. The two shafts are flexible, resilient, and normally curved outwardly such that the pointed ends extend parallel to the substantially flat surface and in opposite directions with respect to each other.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A pairing device for clothing comprising:
 a base with at least one substantially flat surface base having a central axis perpendicular to a plane; and   two shafts attached to the substantially flat surface and parallel to the central axis at the point of attachment, the two shaft each having pointed ends, the shafts sized so as to be able to penetrate the clothing material without damaging it;   wherein the two shafts are resilient, flexible and curved outwardly such that the pointed ends extend parallel to the substantially flat surface and in opposite directions with respect to each other.   
     
     
         2 . The pairing device of  claim 1 , wherein the two shafts are flexible such that a user can bend the outwardly curved shafts into a straight position to facilitate insertion into the clothing material. 
     
     
         3 . The pairing device of  claim 1 , wherein the two shafts are flexible such that a user can bend the outwardly curved shafts into a straight position to facilitate insertion of the shafts into the clothing material, wherein, upon release of the shafts by the user, the shafts return to their respective outwardly curved position. 
     
     
         4 . The pairing device of  claim 1 , wherein the device is made from one of nylon, polypropylene, Delrin®, and polyurethane. 
     
     
         5 . A method of pairing clothing, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing a pairing device having a base and two resilient shafts attached to a flat portion of the base;   bringing together two resilient shafts, the resilient shafts having pointed ends and normally being curved outwardly from a central portion of the base such that the pointed ends extend in opposite directions with respect to each other, wherein bringing together two resilient shafts comprises aligning the pointed ends such that the two resilient shafts are parallel and abutting;   inserting the pointed ends into a pair of clothing items such the individual parts of the pair of clothing items are securely held together when the pointed ends are allowed to return to their normally outwardly-curved positions.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claims 5 , further comprising bringing together two resilient shafts, wherein bringing together two resilient shafts comprises aligning the pointed ends such that the two resilient shafts are parallel and abutting, to remove one of the individual parts of the pair of clothing items from the pairing device before allowing the pointed ends to return to their normally outwardly-curved positions. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the pair of clothing items is a pair of socks. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the pair of clothing items is a pair of gloves or mittens.