Abstract: An apparatus including a first surface configured to attach the apparatus to a second surface of another object, and a plurality of elongated nanofibers. Each nanofiber has one end connected to the first surface and an opposite end extending away from the first surface. The plurality of elongated nanofibers is configured to adhere to the second surface by nanoadhesion when brought into contact with the second surface.

Abstract: A stretchable shirt collar includes an inner collar band and an outer collar band. The inner collar band includes an exposed layer and a hidden layer. A stretchable inner collar interlining is disposed intermediate the exposed layer and the hidden layer of the inner collar band, and is fused to the exposed layer. The outer collar band includes an exposed layer and a hidden layer. A stretchable outer collar interlining is disposed intermediate the exposed layer and the hidden layer of the outer collar band, and is fused to the exposed layer. The stretchable inner collar interlining and the stretchable outer collar interlining comprise a layer of knit interlock fabric laminated to a layer of stretchable film adhesive. The elements of the stretchable shirt collars are sewn together with stretchable thread.

Abstract: A wetsuit has a trunk portion having a pair of arm openings and a neck opening that fits about the torso of a wearer. The neck opening includes an area of reduced thickness that is folded to form a soft flexible edge. The neck opening is made by forming a channel of reduced thickness in a piece of material to surround the neck opening in the wetsuit, and folding the material along a centerline of the channel to form the soft flexible edge.

Abstract: A collar stay perforating device for perforating a portion of a collar stay and a collar stay storage device for storing the perforated collar stay are provided. The collar stay perforating device comprises a base member having a punch hole and a guide to receive an end of a collar stay. A first lever member pivotally attached to the base member has a punch member that cooperates with the punch hole. A second lever member pivotally attached to the base member bears on the first lever member to bring the punch member into cooperation with the punch hole thereby perforating the collar stay. The perforated collar stay may then be stored on a collar stay storage device comprising an openable ring member having releaseably engageable arms for forming a closed loop. The ring is openable permitting one of the arms to be inserted through the perforated collar stay thereby providing ordered and compact storage of collar stays.

Abstract: A shirt collar in which the material forming at least the neckband, but alternatively both the neckband and the collar, is made of a stretchable material that yields in a circumferential direction when a circumferential tensile force is applied thereto, and which shrinks only negligibly in a circumferential direction in the event of shrinkage of the neckband. In a preferred embodiment, the neckband is made of a woven fabric comprised of warp and weft threads, with at least some of the threads arranged on a bias so that in the event the length of the threads shrinks there is only a negligible reduction in the circumferential size of the collar, and the collar is stretchable in a direction parallel to the circumferential direction. In another form of the invention, the neckband is made of a non-elastomeric material that has a plurality of holes in it which elongate when a tensile force is applied circumferentially to the neckband, resulting in elongation of the neckband.

Abstract: A shirt collar in which the material forming at least the neckband, but alternatively both the neckband and the collar, is arranged with the weave thereof on a bias so that in the event the length of the threads shrinks there is only a negligible reduction in the circumferential size of the collar, and the collar is stretchable in a direction parallel to the circumferential direction. The stitching that forms the seams attaching the collar to the neckband, and the neckband to the body of the shirt, may be applied in a pattern, e.g., zig-zag or skip stitching, that enables the seams to stretch in the circumferential direction of the collar.

Abstract: The invention intends to provides an optical waveguide device having a structure that satisfies the low drive voltage characteristic and the low propagation loss characteristic at the same time. The optical waveguide device contains a conductive or semiconductive lower electrode, an epitaxial or single orientational buffer layer provided on the lower electrode, an epitaxial or single orientational optical waveguide provided on the buffer layer, and an upper electrode of a conductive thin film or a semiconductive thin film, provided on the optical waveguide. The optical waveguide device is able to modulate, switch, or deflect incident light beams guided into the optical waveguide by applying a voltage between the upper electrode and the lower electrode.

Abstract: A pair of concealed, vertically spaced snaps underneath each side of a shirt collar to cooperate with snap fasteners concealed on the shirt, to make the collar looked pressed and attractive at all times.

Abstract: An edge construction for a garment. The construction includes a garment body provided with a finished lower edge and sleeves suitably attached opposite side of the upper end of the garment body. The body is cut away in the usual manner at its upper extremity to form a neck opening. The upper edge portion of the body portion is folded inwardly to form a first fold. A strip of collarette fabric material is formed into a longitudinally extending second fold therein to form inner and outer layers. The inner and outer layers are disposed on the inner face of the body portion so as to have the second fold lie substantially parallel to the folded edge of the body portion. The lower edge portion of the outer layer is folded inwardly upon itself so as to form a third fold extending substantially parallel to the first and second folds. At least two rows of substantially parallel stitching fix the strip of fabric material to the fabric body portion.

Abstract: An adjustable shirt collar has an integral tab extension on the stand element of the collar. The extension has a length to it to span the distance across the necktie space on the front of the shirt from underneath one end of the shirt collar element to a termination area underneath the other end of the collar element. An adjustable fastening apparatus is secured to the collar stand in the termination area to be connected to a connector element on the extension to permit the adjustment position to be effected. The tab extension is curved slightly upwardly above the upper edge of the stand element and the collar element to permit the collar element, the stand element and the tab extension to adjust to the curvature of the wearers neck and to dwell in substantially a common plane around the wearers neck.

Abstract: A unitary carrier vest for shoulder-supported carrying of packages and other articles. The vest includes two L-shaped carrier bags integrally formed with a flexible vest back portion formed by an array of flexible cross-hatching. The carrier bags are disposed to each side of the wearer's torso. The carrier vest further includes a padded, double-layered collar that permits the vest to be worn as a collared or collarless garment.

Abstract: In shirt collars having neckbands, an improved shirt collar comprises more than one soft layer disposed on the inside of the neckband, each soft layer being arcuately smaller than the neckband and a space exists between a pair of soft layers. Thereby, the soft layer reduces pressure on the neck of the wearer and gives the neckband durability. A tendency for the soft layer to bunch up and wrinkle is substantially reduced by the presence of the space between layers.

Abstract: A collar protector for a shirt is provided that will cover both the neck band and outside flap portion of the collar and be removably attached thereto, so that the protector will prevent salt and moisture from damaging the complete collar of the shirt.

Abstract: A shirt construction includes an adjustable collar for accommodating different neck sizes, and an adaptor is operable in combination with a conventional shirt for adapting the collar thereof for adjustability. The shirt construction includes an extension tab which extends from a first front edge portion of the shirt adjacent the collar thereof, a reinforcing panel for reinforcing the first front edge portion and hook-and-pile-type fastening elements for adjustably securing the first front edge portion to an opposite second front edge portion adjacent the shirt collar. The adaptor includes an extension tab and a reinforcing panel which are securable to buttons on a first front edge portion of a shirt adjacent the collar thereof, a fastening tab which is securable in a collar buttonhole of a second front edge portion of the shirt, and a hook-and-pile-type fastening element for adjustably securing the extension tab to the fastening tab.

Abstract: A turn-over area having two folds is formed in a part constituted by a collar outside and an insert and is held together by seams. Fold formation is facilitated by making the insert in the turn-over area in which the strip, which is usually adhered to the collar outside has unstiffened strips in the area of the folds and another strip for the turn-over area. The first-mentioned strips can be replaced by cuts or perforations. The portion formed in this way can be pre-sewn, turned and stitched to the collar underside, in the same way as a one-piece collar. Despite the fact that the working and material expenditure is only a little greater than in a one-piece collar, the appearance is that of a two-piece collar, which is taken as an indication of the quality of the article of clothing.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for constructing a garment collar which includes upper and lower facing strips of a predetermined shape each having a finished and unfinished surface and a lining of the same predetermined shape which has one fusible surface. The facing strips and lining are stacked in alignment so that the lower facing strip is on the bottom with its finished surface facing upward, the upper facing strip is in the middle with its finished surface facing downward, and the fusible lining is on top with its fusible surface facing upward. Next, this stack is stitched around three peripheral edges and is turned inside out so that the lining is disposed between the two facing strips with the finished surfaces of the facing strips directed outward and the fusible surface of the lining facing the unfinished (inner) surface of the lower facing strip. The reversed collar is then again sewn about its periphery and is compressed in a press which provides heat to at least the lower facing strip.