Method and apparatus for coordination of garments

• US 4,514,178 A
• Filed: 01/31/1984
• Issued: 04/30/1985
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/1982
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Garan Incorporated (Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Garan Incorporated (Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated)
• Inventors: Reid, Michael, Noto, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Application Number:
  US06/551,112
• Time in Patent Office: 455 Days
• Field of Search: 2/246, 434/98, 434/99, 434/100, 434/395, 434/396, 434/397, 434/398, 434/399, 434/400
• US Class Current: 434/395
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/0023 Colour matching, recognition, analysis, mixture or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 25/00 Models for purposes not provided for in G09B23/00, e.g. full-sized devices for demonstration purposes model vehicles, tracks therefor, models in the nature of toys A63H

Abstract

Garments of one generic type, e.g. bottoms, are each provided with a first type of hangtag having a single color thereon. In most instances, the color is selected from a predetermined universe of colors. Each garment of the second generic type, e.g. tops, is provided with a second type of hangtag with all of the colors in the universe thereon. One or more of the colors on the first type of hangtag are designated by punching the area thereon bearing that color. Any bottom having a tag with a color corresponding to one of the designated colors, coordinates with the top bearing the punched tag. The color of the tag of the first type is visible through the punch in the tag of the second type, when same are held in registration, one behind the other. Bottoms having tags with a color other than one selected from the universe, coordinate with all tops.

Claims

1. Apparatus for coordination of one or more members of a first set of garments with one or more members of a second set of garments by the visual characteristics thereof, each of the garment sets comprising a plurality of members, at least some of which have different visual characteristics from others, said apparatus comprising first and second sets of marking bearing devices, a different one of the devices in said first device set being associated with each member of the first garment set, a different one of the devices in said second device set being associated with each member of the second garment set, each of said devices in said first device set bearing a single marking from a set of markings comprising a plurality of different markings, all of said devices in said second device set bearing each of said markings in said marking set, and means, associated with each of said devices in said second device set, for designating one or more of said markings thereon, said designated markings corresponding to a subset of said devices in said second device set which bear the same marking as the designated marking, each of the members of the first garment set associated with a device in said subset of devices coordinating with the member in said second garment set associated with the device of said second device set bearing said designated marking.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said markings comprise color markings.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said devices are tags.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said tags are hangtags.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said designating means comprises a light transmissive portion.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said markings on said devices of said first device set can be observed through said light transmissive portion when said device of said first set is held in registration with the markings on said device in said second set of devices.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising devices of a third set of devices which bear a single marking not selected from said indicia set.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the members of the first set of garments associated with said devices of said third set of devices coordinate with any members of the second set of garments.

9. A method for coordination of one or more members of a first set of garments with one or more members of a second set of garments by the visual characteristics thereof, each of the garment sets comprising a plurality of members, at least some of which have diferent visual characteristics than others, including first and second sets of marking bearing devices, said method comprising the following steps:

(a) associating a different one of the devices in the first device set with each member of the first garment set;

(b) associating a different one of the devices in the second device set with each member of the second garment set;

(c) providing each of the devices in the first device set with a single marking selected from a set of markings comprising a plurality of different markings;

(d) providing all of the devices in the second device set with each marking in the marking set;

(e) designating one or more of the markings on each of the devices in the second set of devices;

(f) defining a subset of devices in the first device set which bear markings which are the same as the designated marking; and

(g) coordinating each of the members of the first garment set associated with a device in the second set of devices with the member in the second garment set associated with the device of the second device set bearing the designated marking.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the markings comprise color markings.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising devices of a third set of devices and wherein the method further comprises the step of associating a garment from the first garment set with a device of the third set of devices and coordinating the garment associated with the device of the third set of devices with any garment from the second set of garments.