Abstract: A liquid impervious seam is formed in laminate sheet comprising polyurethane and polyester laminates, the seam being formed with ultrasonic energy and being capable of withstanding repeated sterilizations by autoclaving.

Abstract: The present invention provides a garment which can have the waist size thereof adjusted quickly, and yet is a garment which can withstand (a) the strong washing and cleaning solutions and (b) the rigorous washing and cleaning procedures used by linen suppliers. That waist adjusting arrangement includes a masking band and a confining and guiding arrangement for a portion of that band. That confining and guiding arrangement is disposed at the inner face of one of the side panels of the garment; and that masking band is secured to the other of those side panels. That masking band will prevent unlimited separation of those side panels, and a portion of that masking band will overlie and conceal any fasteners which are not overlain and concealed by the one side panel whenever the garment is given its largest waist size.

Abstract: A garment has an automatically-adjustable-length drawstring with readily-flexible ends that can be tied to enable the garment to accommodate a large number of waist sizes; and that drawstring will automatically expand as the circumference of the wearer's waist increases during breathing in or movement of the wearer's body, and that drawstring will automatically contract as the circumference of the wearer's waist subsequently decreases during breathing out or movement of the wearer's body. In doing so, that drawstring will hold the waist of that garment against drooping relative to a user's waist. A resilient, extensible section between the readily-flexible ends of the drawstring will automatically and continuously maintain an effective, but lower-than-normal, value of frictional force between the waist of the garment and a wearer's waist.

Abstract: A garment for use in "clean rooms" is made from a tightly-woven, readily-cleanable, non-linting fabric with conductive filaments that provide anti-static properties. The conductive filaments are incorporated into the woven fabric of the garment so portions thereof constitute parts of the exterior of that garment to enable those conductive filaments to rapidly dissipate any charge of static electricity which may tend to develop on the surface of that garment. Those conductive filaments retain their ability to rapidly dissipate charges of static electricity despite repeated launderings of the garment in which they are incorporated.

Abstract: A hook-like end for a drawstring is formed by folding one end of the drawstring back on itself and then stitching that folded end so a hook-like portion of appreciable length is formed. If, through inadvertence or through deliberate intent, a force were to be applied to that drawstring which would tend to pull that end of that drawstring through a tubular passage on a garment, the hook-like portion would engage an outer surface of the tubular passage and halt movement of that drawstring inwardly relative to that passage.

Abstract: An article of wearing apparel has a panel of readily-expansible material in the front upper half thereof to enable that article of wearing apparel to be worn by persons of different sizes and configurations; and it has a panel of less-expansible material overlying and concealing the panel of readily-expansible material. The panel of less-expansible material permits free expansion and contraction of the panel of readily-expansible material while effectively concealing the latter panel.

Abstract: A pocket, for a garment, has a piece of material that serves as the outer part of that pocket and that has the upper portion thereof folded inwardly and downwardly to form a fold that serves as the upper portion of the inner surface of that part, and has a second piece of material that serves as the lining of that outer part and that has the upper end thereof connected to the fold which serves as the upper portion of the inner surface of that outer part and that has portions of the sides and bottom thereof connected to the sides and bottom of that outer part, and the connected sides and bottoms of that outer part and of that lining are connected to the garment as a patch pocket. The upper central area of the outer part of that pocket is wholly devoid of stitches, and hence is devoid of puckers.

Abstract: A woven fabric has cotton and polyester therein and has a total combined surface area of less than fifty-three thousand (53,000) microns per square inch and yet has, prior to the application thereto of any finish, a wetting time greater than one-half of a minute.

Abstract: A guiding, stitching and delivering system continuously constrains a piece of material while it guides that piece of material beneath the needle of a sewing machine during the stitching of that piece of material, while that piece of material is stationary during the period of time between the completion of the stitching of that piece of material and the start of the stitching of the next-succeeding piece of material, while the stitches between the trailing edge of that piece of material and the leading edge of that next-succeeding piece of material are being cut, and while that piece of material is being moved to a delivery area. That guiding, stitching and delivering system obviates the formation of needless stitches, places all stitches in the desired locations, and provides certain and easy cutting of the stitches between the trailing edge of that piece of material and the leading edge of that next-succeeding piece of material.

Abstract: A guiding, stitching and delivering system continuously constrains a piece of material while it guides that piece of material beneath the needle of a sewing machine during the stitching of that piece of material, while that piece of material is stationary during the period of time between the completion of the stitching of that piece of material and the start of the stitching of the next-succeeding piece of material, while the stitches between the trailing edge of that piece of material and the leading edge of that next-succeeding piece of material are being cut, and while that piece of material is being moved to a delivery area. That guiding, stitching and delivering system obviates the formation of needless stitches, places all stitches in the desired locations, and provides certain and easy cutting of the stitches between the trailing edge of that piece of material and the leading edge of that next-succeeding piece of material.