Abstract: A garment or accessory is provided having an elasticized portion, said elasticized portion being free of stitches or holes. The elasticized portion comprises a fabric portion of the accessory or garment to be elasticized; and a length of elastic element. The length of elastic element is applied to the fabric by a means selected from the group consisting of direct welding and indirect welding. A method is provided for elasticizing a fabric, said elasticized fabric being free of stitches or holes. The method involves providing a stack of fabric to be elasticized; stretching and positioning a length of elastic element against a first of the fabric in the stack; applying one or more ends of the elastic element to the fabric by a means selected from directly welding and indirectly welding; moving the first fabric to expose the next fabric in the stack to be elasticized; and repeating the steps for the next fabric.

Abstract: A face mask which has a fabric body of folded filter material that defines an expandable face pocket, an interior face, an exterior face, a top edge, a bottom edge and opposed side edges. A bendable strip of metal defines a nosepiece that is centrally positioned between the opposed side edges along the top edge. The nosepiece has a length that is not less than 3.50 cm and not more than 6.00 cm, and a width that is not less than 0.30 cm and not more than 2.00 cm. Straps are used to secure the fabric body to a person's head.

Abstract: A face mask which has a fabric body of folded filter material that defines an expandable face pocket, an interior face, an exterior face, a top edge, a bottom edge and opposed side edges. A bendable strip of metal defines a nosepiece that is centrally positioned between the opposed side edges along the top edge. The nosepiece has a length that is not less than 3.50 cm and not more than 6.00 cm, and a width that is not less than 0.30 cm and not more than 2.00 cm. Straps are used to secure the fabric body to a person's head.

Abstract: A method of securing ties to a medical gown including providing a medical gown and associated ties made from a material that is compatible with ultrasonic welding, folding the ties prior to welding to provide more than one layer of tie material and welding the ties by ultrasonic welding through the more than one layer of tie material.

Abstract: An air filtering soft face mask has a soft body formed of multiple layers of material, including at least one layer of air filtering material capable of filtering selected contaminants from air. The body has an arcuate or peaked nose engaging edge adapted to engage a nose of a wearer and terminating in remote ends that extend downwardly. The body has a chin underlying edge adapted to underlie a chin of a wearer and terminating in remote ends that extend upwardly. The remote ends of the chin underlying edge being secured to the remote ends of the nose engaging edge to form side edges. Jaw movement tensions the body, forcing the nose engaging edge into firmer engagement with the nose of the wearer, forcing the chin underlying edge into firmer engagement with the chin of the wearer and tensioning the side edges into firmer engagement with the cheeks of the wearer.

Abstract: An air filtering soft face mask has a soft body formed of multiple layers of material, including at least one layer of air filtering material capable of filtering selected contaminants from air. The body has an arcuate or peaked nose engaging edge adapted to engage a nose of a wearer and terminating in remote ends that extend downwardly. The body has a chin underlying edge adapted to underlie a chin of a wearer and terminating in remote ends that extend upwardly. The remote ends of the chin underlying edge being secured to the remote ends of the nose engaging edge to form side edges. Jaw movement tensions the body, forcing the nose engaging edge into firmer engagement with the nose of the wearer, forcing the chin underlying edge into firmer engagement with the chin of the wearer and tensioning the side edges into firmer engagement with the cheeks of the wearer.