Abstract: An elongated circular knit tube having a central body and a self contained waistband at each end of said central body is flattened to form a double layer of fabric having two longitudinal folded edges. The body portion is severed to remove selected portions therefrom and to divide the tube into two brief blanks. Coursewise extending severed portions are aligned and subsequently sewn together to form the brief crotch and leg openings.

Abstract: A system for automatically producing pantyhose garments from elongated tubular fabric blanks, each having a toe end portion and a welt or band end portion. Randomly oriented blanks are sequentially removed from a supply reservoir, oriented in a predetermined manner, and conveyed to a positioning and transferring assembly which orients, removes creases and pleats and properly positions a pair of blanks on the clamping assemblies of a pantyhose seaming machine. The pair of clamped blanks have the welt end portions severed, and severed edges seamed by sewing instrumentalities to define the panty portion of a pantyhose garment. The pantyhose are transferred to a machine where the toe ends are closed by seaming.

Abstract: A circular knit one-piece garment blank, brief, and method of making the same has a seamless body section and a double ply crotch integrally intermitted therewith in the form of a turned welt. The depending portion of the two ply crotch is sewn to the body section.

Abstract: A hollow container or carton for an article formed of a single blank which has been suitably shaped and provided with selected fold lines. The carton is provided with a bottom structure which may readily snap open to provide access to the carton. The uppermost edges of both the carton front panel and the rear panel define parabolic curves and the carton side panels include tabs having curved outer edge portions conforming to the uppermost edges of the front and rear panels for alignment therewith and securement thereto.

Abstract: A system for handling flexible articles such as tubular hosiery blanks each having a toe portion and a welt or band portion and for subsequently closing the toe portions includes an assembly for retrieving randomly oriented blanks from a supply reservoir, a pneumatic feed assembly for displacing the blanks to a magazine, a mechanism for selectively displacing the blanks from the magazine such that the toe portion is always first, an assembly for opening the band portion and positioning the band portion on fingers which expand and convey the blank to a transport tube of a toe closing assembly. The blank is inverted on the transport tube and the toe portion subsequently sewn.

Abstract: A system of handling delicate articles such as hosiery wherein the articles are collected in an orderly fashion and maintained in an elongated, oriented manner during transport between work stations, and during various operations performed on the articles such as autoclaving, dyeing, etc. The system includes the use of a hosiery article receiving and transporting bag of open mesh construction having a slide fastener closure, fabric flaps for protecting the articles from the fastener, spaced ties for maintaining the article orientation, and handles for lifting and or transporting the filled bag.

Abstract: A system of printing information on opposite sides of paper board envelopes using heat sensitive films or foils fed between transfer die members and envelopes passing therebetween. The system includes a supply magazine or the like, a conveying system for conveying the envelopes from the supply source to and through the several printers. The printers are longitudinally spaced along the conveyor path and are so located such that information can be printed on both sides of the envelope. At the end or the last printing station a second conveyor or transfer device is provided to transfer the just printed envelopes to a work station wherein delicate articles, such as hosiery, panty hose, etc., are placed therein. The system includes common and well known automatic control means to intermittently feed the envelopes to the several printing stations and subsequently to the envelope filling station.

Abstract: A system for packaging articles within containers, each container being generally egg shaped and having an open end for receiving the articles and having a generally planar closure applied to the open end thereof to confine the articles therein. The system includes a multi-station intermittently rotatable generally circular turret or carousel carrier disk having a plurality of radial slots, each fixedly mounting a canister for receiving and temporarily confining articles therein fed into the top thereof during partial rotation or indexing of said turret or carousel and for receiving an open container fed into the bottom during the remainder of the rotation thereof. These canisters are open at both ends for systematically receiving the articles and containers in timed relation. Highly polished reciprocatable fingers are selectively positioned beneath the canisters when such are located at prescribed locations to confine the articles therein.

Abstract: A method of producing panties, briefs, or the like from seamless knit tubular blanks. First and second tubular blanks are slit longitudinally along the entire length thereof and when opened out flat define first and second panels. A third tubular blank substantially smaller in length and diameter than the first and second blanks is slit along one side to define a crotch panel. A crotch panel is secured to each of the first and second panels and the first and second panels are folded upon each other with selected overlying edges attached to each other thereby providing a panty or brief having front and back portions defined by the first and second panels.

Abstract: A lightweight, upright, top-loading vacuum cleaner wherein a seal between the disk of a filter bag and a duct for conveying dirt-laden air to the bag is provided adjacent the outer peripheral edges of the disk resulting in the disk becoming an integral part of the seal while eliminating pressure differential across opposite sides of the disk. A portion of the duct extending into the filter bag is capable of being displaced to an open position for filter bag loading and unloading and is normally closed to maintain the seal by a latch which cooperates with the handle vacuum cleaner handle. The vacuum cleaner handle includes electrical components having projections which are releasably received and supported within an electrical receptacle supported by the vacuum cleaner housing.

Abstract: A racer back style front-opening brassiere having front sections adapted to be releasably secured together and a pair of back band assemblies secured to each other and to the front sections and having upwardly projection portions secured to shoulder straps in a crossed manner. The front sections are releasably secured together by discrete, spaced, and first and second closure means.

Abstract: A system for forming substantially diamond-shaped gussets to be used in the production of panty hose garments wherein the gussets are formed by severing a circular knit tube along a bias angle of approximately 30.degree. subsequently to form strips having a width corresponding to the desired width of a gusset. The strip then is severed along a prescribed angle of approximately 30.degree. to define a gusset wherein the fabric wales extend parallel to a line extending from one point to the diagonally opposite point of the diamond-shaped gusset. The gusset is then transferred and oriented for subsequent sewing to hosiery blanks in the forming of panty hose.

Abstract: A skeleton-like supporting rack or frame for supporting a product display carton or the like having a substantially open front for exposing such product. The rack or frame defines a generally U-shaped section for engaging the back or rear and the sides of the carton; e. g., the bight portion engages the rear and the arms or legs of the U-shaped section engage the sides. Adjustably attached to the arms or legs of the U-shaped section are elongated brace members extending longitudinally forward of the arms or legs. These brace members terminate into generally U-shaped hook or cradle members embraceably engageable with the front edge of the side sections of the opened carton. Also, attached to the legs or arms are downwardly extending elongated L-shaped support members, the foot of the L being engageable with the bottom of the carton for supporting the same. Hooks are provided to attach the assembly to a generally vertically oriented existing support surface such as a wall.

Abstract: A device for placing articles such as coupons or the like in cartons being conveyed past a work station containing the device. The device includes an upright coupon or the like article supply hopper, a reciprocatory mechanism for inserting the articles into the cartons as they are conveyed past and momentarily stopped adjacent thereto and a reciprocating vacuum or suction mechanism for removing the coupons from the supply hopper and placing them in the path of the inserting mechanism for placement into cartons.

Abstract: A system for forming substantially diamond-shaped gussets to be used in the production of panty hose garments wherein the gussets are formed by severing a circular knit tube along a bias angle of approximately 30.degree. subsequently to form strips having a width corresponding to the desired width of a gusset. The strip then is severed along a prescribed angle of approximately 30.degree. to define a gusset wherein the fabric wales extend parallel to a line extending from one point to the diagonally opposite point of the diamond-shaped gusset. The gusset is then transferred and oriented for subsequent sewing to hosiery blanks in the forming of panty hose.

Abstract: A material handling system includes an assembly for feeding, directing and sewing fabric materials, an assembly for cutting fabric, and an assembly for stacking fabric. The feeding and sewing assembly folds a reinforcing binding web over the edge of a garment panel and sews the two together before they are advanced by the binding to the cutter assembly. The cutting assembly includes angularly disposed blades for simultaneously severing the binding web intermediate adjacent garment panels. The stacking assembly includes a conveyor for sequentially advancing severed garment panels to an elevator mechanism for receiving the panels.

Abstract: A system for automatically orienting hosiery blanks upon a conveyor, selectively transferring blanks from the conveyor to a turret assembly by means of a pick-up assembly, the turret assembly including a plurality of support units for sequentially conveying a plurality of blanks in an arcuate path to an automatic toe closing machine, everting the blanks and sewing closed the toe portions of the blanks.

Abstract: A system for automatically orienting hosiery blanks upon a conveyor, selectively transferring blanks from the conveyor to a turret assembly by means of a pick-up assembly, the turret assembly including a plurality of support units for sequentially conveying a plurality of blanks in an arcuate path to an automatic toe closing machine, everting the blanks and sewing closed the toe portions of the blanks.