Sock linking system and methods of manufacture

Abstract

A sock linking system comprising a first sock, a second sock, and a fastener is made by obtaining the first sock and the second sock, forming a fastener opening in each sock, and providing the fastener. The socks comprise material that forms a cylindrical body having a top edge defining a circular opening into an interior of the body and a fastener opening adjacent to the top edge extending through the material. The fastener comprises a center portion extending between a first end and a second end, and is configured to pass through the fastener opening of each sock. The fastener forms a closed loop when the first end is removably coupled with the second end to link the first sock to the second sock after being passed partially through each fastener opening.

1 . A sock linking system, comprising:
 a first sock;   a second sock; and   a fastener comprising a first end, a second end, and a center portion extending between the first end and the second end, wherein:
 the first sock and the second sock each comprise cloth material that forms a cylindrical body having a top edge defining a circular opening into an interior of the cylindrical body and a heel portion at an end of the cylindrical body opposite the top edge; 
 the cloth material forms a loop adjacent to the top edge at a point on a line that extends perpendicularly along the cloth material from the top edge and bisects the heel portion; 
 the loop forms a fastener opening that extends through the cloth material that forms the loop; 
 the fastener is characterized by a length extending from the first end to the second end and a cross-sectional area perpendicular to the length that is smaller in size than the fastener opening; 
 the second end comprises one or more walls that form a cavity having a first width perpendicular to the length and extending through a depth of the fastener from a first surface of the fastener to a second surface of the fastener opposite the first surface; 
 the center portion is characterized by a second width parallel with the first width and being less than or equal to the first width;
 the first end is characterized by a third width parallel with the first width and being greater than the first width; and 
 the fastener is configured to form a closed loop by bending the fastener along the length and inserting the first end through the cavity of the second end. 
 
   
     
     
         2 . A sock linking system, comprising:
 a first sock;   a second sock; and   a fastener comprising a first end, a second end, and a center portion extending between the first end and the second end, wherein:
 the first sock and the second sock each comprise material that forms a cylindrical body having a top edge defining a circular opening into an interior of the cylindrical body; 
 the material forms a first fastener opening adjacent to the top edge and extending through the material;
 the fastener is configured to pass through the first fastener opening of the first sock and the first fastener opening of the second sock; 
 the first end is removably couplable to the second end; and 
 the fastener forms a closed loop when the first end is removably coupled with the second end. 
 
   
     
     
         3 . The sock linking system of  claim 2 , wherein the material forms a second fastener opening adjacent to the top edge and extending through the material. 
     
     
         4 . The sock linking system of  claim 3 , wherein the first fastener opening and the second fastener opening are formed at antipodal points around the circular opening. 
     
     
         5 . The sock linking system of  claim 4 , wherein the material forms a heel portion and the antipodal points are equidistant from a line that extends perpendicularly along the material from the top edge and bisects the heel portion. 
     
     
         6 . The sock linking system of  claim 2 , wherein the material forms a heel portion and the first fastener opening is formed at a point on a line that extends perpendicularly along the material from the top edge and bisects the heel portion. 
     
     
         7 . The sock linking system of  claim 2 , wherein the material that forms the first fastener opening includes a loop of material extending outward from the cylindrical body. 
     
     
         8 . The sock linking system of  claim 7 , wherein the first fastener opening extends through the loop of material perpendicular to the top edge. 
     
     
         9 . The sock linking system of  claim 7 , wherein the first fastener opening extends through the loop of material parallel with the top edge. 
     
     
         10 . The sock linking system of  claim 2 , wherein the first fastener opening extends parallel to the top edge and perpendicularly through the cylindrical body. 
     
     
         11 . The sock linking system of  claim 2 , wherein the material comprises a first piece that forms the cylindrical body and a second piece that forms the first fastener opening, and wherein the first piece and the second piece are joined at the top edge. 
     
     
         12 . The sock linking system of  claim 2 , wherein the material comprises a single piece of material that forms the cylindrical body and the first fastener opening, the cylindrical body is formed by a first manufacturing process, and the first fastener opening is formed during the first manufacturing process. 
     
     
         13 . The sock linking system of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the fastener is characterized by a length extending from the first end to the second end;   the second end comprises one or more walls that form a cavity having a first width perpendicular with the length and extending through a depth of the fastener from a first surface of the fastener to a second surface of the fastener opposite the first surface;   the center portion is characterized by a second width parallel with the first width and being less than or equal to the first width; and   the first end is characterized by a third width parallel with the first width and being greater than the first width.   
     
     
         14 . A method of making a sock linking system, the method comprising:
 obtaining a first sock and a second sock, wherein the first sock and the second sock each comprise material that forms a cylindrical body having a top edge defining a circular opening into an interior of the cylindrical body;   forming, using the material, a first fastener opening adjacent to the top edge and extending through the material; and   providing a fastener comprising a first end, a second end, and a center portion extending between the first end and the second end, wherein the fastener is configured to pass through the first fastener opening of the first sock and the first fastener opening of the second sock, the first end is removably couplable to the second end, and the fastener forms a closed loop when the first end is removably coupled with the second end.   
     
     
         15 . The method of making a sock linking system of  claim 14 , further comprising forming, using the material, a second fastener opening adjacent to the top edge and extending through the material at an opposite point around the circular opening from the first fastener opening. 
     
     
         16 . The method of making a sock linking system of  claim 14 , wherein forming the first fastener opening comprises cutting through the material that forms the cylindrical body parallel to the top edge. 
     
     
         17 . The method of making a sock linking system of  claim 14 , wherein forming the first fastener opening comprises creating a loop of the material extending outward from the cylindrical body. 
     
     
         18 . The method of making a sock linking system of  claim 14 , wherein the material comprises a first piece that forms the cylindrical body and a second piece that forms the first fastener opening and forming the first fastener opening comprises joining the first piece and the second piece at the top edge. 
     
     
         19 . The method of making a sock linking system of  claim 14 , wherein the first fastener opening extends through the material parallel to the top edge. 
     
     
         20 . The method of making a sock linking system of  claim 14 , wherein the cylindrical body is formed by a first manufacturing process and the first manufacturing process comprises forming the first fastener opening.