Abstract: A reversible necktie having a knot assembly, a knot section, an apron section, and a strip assembly. The knot assembly has first and second faces, and a dividing wall; wherein the first face has a different appearance that the second face. The knot section has folding guides and bottom knot section edges. The knot section has upper knot section faces with a knot section slit and lower knot section faces. The strip assembly has a strip having first and second slit, a hook fastener and a loop fastener. The apron section has first and second aprons. The first apron has a first appearance that is different from a second appearance of the second apron. Either first or second face is positioned outwardly to coordinate with either first or second aprons to achieve four possible combinations to wear.

Abstract: A multi-needle sewing machine includes a plurality of needle bars, a needle bar case having a thread supply path along which threads are supplied to needles attached to lower ends of the needle bars respectively, the needle bar case supporting the needle bars, an arm on which the needle bar case is mounted, an embroidery frame located below the needle bar case and configured to hold a workpiece cloth, a projector configured to project an image onto the workpiece cloth from above the embroidery frame, and a support member supporting the projector and configured to be capable of switching the projector between a first position where the image is projectable onto the workpiece cloth and a second position differing from the first position.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reducing the severity of blows delivered to protective headgear hard outer shells. The method consists of applying cushions to the hard outer shell, forcing the cushions to conform to the contour of the hard outer shell by laying straps over the cushions, applying tension to the straps, and holding the cushions in place by anchoring the straps at the front and rear of the hard outer shell. The apparatus consists of rectangular-shaped cushions, straps that lay atop the cushions, and a rear anchor strap whose ends attach on opposites sides of the front of the hard outer shell, and whose middle extends backward to provide anchor points for other straps in the system. A crown cushion runs over the crown of the hard outer shell and a side cushion wraps around the side of the hard outer shell with overlapping ends that anchor to themselves.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a thermally-resistant woven fabric and/or multiple ply fabric sheet for use as single or outer layer of protective garments, of the type comprising an inside fabric layer and an outside fabric layer joined together by an array of connecting lines. The woven fabric and/or multiple ply fabric sheet comprise yarns, wherein said yarn comprises i) meta-aramid ii) from about 5 to 10 weight % of polyamide and iii) at least 2 weight % of antistatic fibers, the weight % being based on the total weight of the yarn.

Abstract: An ear repositioning and shielding clamp for protecting an ear from heat sources used in hair styling includes a pinch handle that is spring loaded. Each of a pair of jaws has a first edge coupled to the pinch handle. The jaws are substantially rigid. The jaws are biased to a closed position when the pinch handle is not pinched. Each of a pair of pads is coupled to a respective jaw. The pinch handle is configured to be pinched by the user, such that the jaws move in opposition to an open configuration to position the jaws around the ear. The pinch handle, upon release by the user, will motivate the jaws to resume a substantially closed position, inducing the user's ear to a safer position. The pads are configured to protect the user's ear from a nearby source of heat.

Abstract: Finger sheaths provide individual finger coverings. The individual finger coverings prevent the transfer of germs, dirt, and other residual and harmful elements onto the user's fingers when contacting exposed surfaces or items as well as their transfer from the user's fingers to the user's mouth while eating finger foods. The individual finger coverings further prevent the transfer of residual elements from the finger food onto the user's fingers. The finger sheaths have a non-permeable organic composition that does no impart undesired tastes. The finger sheaths can be incorporated with antimicrobial, antiviral, antibacterial, and antifungal properties about the outside surface and a sanitizing gel on the inside surface. The finger sheaths can be incorporated with custom flavorings and imprinted with digestible dyes to present custom patterns.

Abstract: Protective gear includes an outer shell layer connected to a middle shell layer through an outer energy and impact transformer layer. The middle shell layer is connected to an inner shell layer through an inner energy and impact transformer layer. The outer and inner energy and impact transformer layers flexibly connect the shell layers to absorb impact forces, rotational forces, shear forces, etc., and allow the various shell layers to move and slide relative to the other shell layers. The outer and inner energy and impact transformer layers may be constructed using gels, fluids, electro-rheological elements, magneto-rheological elements, etc. The protective gear may be formed as helmets or body protection for various activities and protect users from not only impact and penetrative forces, but rotational and shear forces as well.

Abstract: A knee protection device includes congruently joined outer and inner cover members having cooperatively disposed arcuate configured portions disposed to minimize engagement between strap portions of the outer and inner cover members with a back portion of a knee portion of a leg of a person using the device. The device further includes an outer pad member fabricated from relatively pliable material and disposed adjacent to the outer cover member, and an inner pad member fabricated from relatively more pliable material than the outer pad member and disposed between the outer pad member and the inner cover member. The positions of the outer and inner pad members, relative to the outer and inner cover members, are maintained by thread inserted through the outer and inner cover members and adjacent to the pad members after the pad members have been centrally disposed between the cover members.

Abstract: A two sock system, including an inner sock, and an outer sock surrounding the inner sock, wherein the inner sock and the outer sock include a support band system that prevents movement of the inner sock relative to the outer sock. A method of preventing movement between an inner sock and outer sock in a two sock system, by preventing movement of the inner sock on a user's foot, and preventing movement of the outer sock on the inner sock, wherein the inner sock and outer sock are unattached.

Abstract: A personal protection system for providing a sterile barrier around medical/surgical personnel. The system includes a helmet over which a hood or a toga suspended. A microphone, an amplifier and a speaker are mounted to the helmet. Speech of the individual wearing the personal protection system is picked up by the microphone and amplified speech is broadcast by the speaker. The speaker is outwardly directed so as to broadcast the speech out through the hood or toga covering the helmet.

Abstract: A headgear system with first and second helmets is provided. The first helmet has a frontal bone section that covers a frontal bone of a wearer of the first helmet, and a first magnet component that is located at the frontal bone section of the first helmet. The first magnet component extends at least 90 degrees around the central axis of the first helmet. The second helmet has a frontal bone section that covers a frontal bone of the wearer, and a second magnet component is located at the frontal bone section of the second helmet. The magnet forces of the first and second magnet components repel one another when the first and second magnet components are located proximate to one another to help reduce force onto the head from impact.

Abstract: A multi-purpose travel garment facilitates upright sleep and access to travel and sleep related items during travel. The garment is a poncho and is fabricated in a material composition that is warm and spacy. The garment includes body and neck cavities that retain neck and torso supports for optimal support of the torso and head while sleeping in an upright position. The garment also provides pouches that are easily accessible and contain travel related items. The garment also includes a head portion that cushions and supports the head, while also selectively covering the eyes to block light during sleep. A body and head adjustment mechanism, such as a drawstring, adjusts the size of the garment. A container compacts to stow in the pouches and expands for functionality. A pump generates a fluid for filling the supports. A channel carries and conceals circuitry form an external electronic device.

Abstract: Interchangeable component(s) can be paired with an existing garment to create the illusion of multiple fashion ensembles without bearing the prohibitive cost or discomfort of such clothing to the user. The interchangeable components can be lengths of garment coverings, collars, cuffs, or any combination thereof. These interchangeable components can be removably affixed to a garment via any number and type of fastening mechanisms. This enables a wearer to create many different styles of patterns and colors without the purchase of a completely new garment. Additionally, an illusion of a wearer wearing certain styles of clothing can be achieved while removing uncomfortable fabrics and items often necessitated by such styles.

Abstract: In an overlock sewing machine, a main shaft fixing operating shaft is provided with a differentiation ring that can be swung in a predetermined range such that, when the rotation of a main shaft is to be enabled, it is set to an enable state in a stationary state, and when the rotation of the main shaft is disabled, it is swung and shifted from the enable position. Furthermore, a looper cover open/closed detection configuration is configured by modifying a part of a typical known configuration. Such an arrangement provides an overlock sewing machine having a simple configuration that requires only a single micro switch to detect the switching between the threading mode and the sewing mode and to detect the open/closed state of the looper cover.

Abstract: A helmet includes the first pad in contact with an occipital region of a rider, and each of the second pads in contact with the cheeks of the rider. Since the first pad moves from the first occipital region-contact position to the second occipital region-contact position as well as the second pad moves from the first cheek-contact position to the second cheek-contact position, the helmet is moved relative to the rider's head by a predetermined distance.

Abstract: A face shield, such as a visor, mounts to a protective helmet using a mounting assembly. The mounting assembly has a base, a spacer assembly, and a pair of posts. The base is disposed on the interior of the helmet. The posts are connected to the base and extend outwardly through holes that are formed in the side of the helmet. The spacer assembly slides over the posts when the posts are inserted through the corresponding holes in the helmet, and frictionally engages the outer surfaces of the first and second posts such that the helmet is disposed between the base and the spacer assembly. The posts threadingly receive corresponding fasteners that attach the face shield to the helmet.

Abstract: This invention relates to a fastener assembly and garment comprising same having a first fastener tape and a second fastener tape, and a first edge and a second edge, the first edge having a row of cooperating fastener elements mounted thereon; wherein the second edge of each of the first and second fastener tapes is folded parallel to its row of cooperating fastener elements such that when the fastener is closed, and a meshed area of fastener elements from the first and second fastener tapes is formed, i) the second edges of each of the first and second fastener tapes overlap, ii) the second edge of the first fastener tape fully covers the meshed area of fastening elements, and iii) the overlap of the second edge of the first fastener tape by the second edge of the second fastener tape extends past the meshed area of fastening elements.

Abstract: A system and method for forming synthetic/artificial grass or turf products in which a series of tufts of artificial/synthetic grass filaments or yarns are formed in a backing material with various graphic pattern effects being formed therewith. The system generally will include at least one needle bar having at least one row of needles mounted along a tufting zone and reciprocated through the backing to a desired penetration depth, and will present a desired set or group of yarns to a series of pattern pixels or stitch areas. A series of level cut loop loopers or hooks will be aligned with and will engage the needles in order to form tufts of yarns in the backing material. Clips of the level cut loop loopers will be selectively controlled to control the retention of selected ones of the yarns presented at each pattern pixel. The remaining, non-selected yarns generally are not retained at the pattern pixels, and can be formed as lower pile tufts or removed from the backing material.

Abstract: A method for preventing seam ravel of multi-thread chain stitches is provided. After normal sewing is terminated with a looper set in a forward movement state, a state in which a needle thread loop caught by the looper is subjected to position-holding at a position closer to a forward movement end of the looper than a descent position of a needle is maintained until the needle descends through the needle thread loop caught by the looper. Thereafter, the position-holding of the needle thread loop is released to permit a sewing action for at least one stitch, thereby allowing the needle thread loop to be self-looped with a needle thread held by the needle. This surely strongly prevents the seam ravel of multi-thread chain stitches formed by the single needle, irrespective of the dimension of tension applied to the needle thread and the looper thread.

Abstract: Helmet systems and their methods of use are described. In one embodiment, an opaque, ballistic rated visor is attached to a helmet such that the visor covers a wearer's eyes.