Abstract: There is provided a brassiere strap made of a rigid fabric. The strap has a first surface with two or more rows of silicone gel. Preferably, the rows are in a straight axial line. The first surface preferably has an indicia thereon. The first surface positioned for contacting the shoulder of the wearer to prevent the brassiere strap from sliding off the shoulder of the wearer.

Abstract: A hybrid brassiere is provided. The brassiere has a brassiere body having a pair of side wings/back panels made of circular knit fabric and an integrally knitted band. The brassiere also has a pair of breast cups made from one or more fabrics, namely woven, non-woven, warp knitted, and weft knitted fabrics, and an attachment for connecting the pair of breast cups to the brassiere body.

Abstract: A foldable garment display package for displaying garments such as intimate apparel comprises a back panel, a bottom panel, and a front panel. The back panel includes a top, two sides, a bottom, a securing flap integrally formed as part of the back panel, a hanging tab integrally formed at the top of the back panel, and a closing slot formed proximate one side of the back panel. The bottom panel is foldably connected to the bottom of the back panel and upwardly foldable into juxtaposed relationship with the back panel. The front panel comprises an innermost edge foldably connected to the side of the back panel opposite the side on which the closing slot is located. The front panel also includes an outermost edge having a closing tab corresponding to the closing slot foldably connected to the outermost edge. At least one garment to be displayed is wrapped around the bottom panel.

Abstract: A circular knit bra is provided. The bra has a pair of breast cups, a central gore disposed between the breast cups, and a pair of side panels. Each of the breast cups has at least two different areas of stretchability. Each different area of stretchability has a different stitch density.

Abstract: There is provided a circular knit brassiere having a body portion with a pair of breast cups and a pair of side panels. Each side panel is connected to a different breast cup. The brassiere has different degrees of stretchability in each breast cup and side panel as compared to the center region of the brassiere. Tighter stitches with shorter stitch lengths than in the center region are used in the breast cups, thereby providing support for the breasts. Looser stitches, with longer stitch lengths than in the center region, are used in each side to provide improved flexibility and comfort to the wearer.

Abstract: A package for housing and protecting a folded garment has a back and two front foldable flaps. Each front foldable flap has two foldable sections, and each section has a partial side. A top covers the upper edge of the folded garment and is formed into a downwardly extending tab positioned between the folded garment and the front foldable flaps. A pressure-sensitive hanging element is adhesively attached to the back and extends through an opening in the top garment covering portion to accommodate repeated removal and hanging on a display support member.

Abstract: In a first embodiment, a first fabric layer has gelatinous strips, thereby separating the first fabric layer into sections. A second fabric layer is positioned upon the first fabric layer, and an underwire is positioned on the second fabric layer opposite the first fabric layer. The first fabric layer is then folded onto itself to enclose the second fabric layer and the underwire. In a second embodiment, a third, or intermediate, fabric layer is positioned between the first and second fabric layers. In a third embodiment, an underwire is surrounded by a first, non-woven fabric layer. A second, rigid-type fabric having a bladder with a gelatinous material is positioned on the first fabric. The first fabric is wrapped around the underwire, and the bladder is positioned against the body of the wearer.

Abstract: A knitted fabric comprising a plurality of knitted stitches which are interconnected to define a plurality of courses and wales, the knitted stitches being formed from a heat fusible yarn, with at least some of said stitches being formed from said heat fusible yarn plated with a ground yarn, the heat fusible yarn being fused together at adjacent points of contact on stitches in order to give the fabric a desired dimensional stability and shape.

Abstract: A method of producing a seasoned precooked meat product, such as bacon, wherein the meat product is sized or sliced into individual unconnected units and thereafter heated to cook the individual units and thereby generate hot grease. A seasoning from a familiar grouping is then applied to the cooked meat product units so that it commingles with the hot grease and binds to the meat product units to provide an intense unique flavor commensurate with the meat seasoning with little negative visual impact. The flavored meat product units are then packaged, preferably in separated layers, within bags containing inert gases and thereafter rapidly frozen and stored.

Abstract: There is provided a brassiere made of a stretchable material for comfort. Each breast cup has a breast receiving portion with an inner layer and an outer layer, and a support panel portion with the inner and outer layers and a breast supporting panel between the inner and outer layers. The breast supporting panel is substantially inelastic in all directions and, preferably, forms an arcuate edge for supporting the breast. Thus, the entire brassiere stretches and moves with the wearer, while each non-elastic breast supporting panel provides the desired breast support. The bottom edge of the breast supporting panel is spaced from the bottom edge of the brassiere. Decreasing the length of the breast supporting panel so that its bottom edge does not contact the bottom edge of the brassiere allows the bottom periphery of the brassiere to have additional flex that improves the overall comfort of the brassiere. Preferably, the bottom edge of the brassiere is turned to form the waistband of the brassiere.

Abstract: There is provided a brassiere made of a stretchable material for comfort. Each breast cup has a breast receiving portion with an inner layer and an outer layer, and a support panel portion with the inner and outer layers and a breast supporting panel between the inner and outer layers. The breast supporting panel is substantially inelastic in all directions and, preferably, forms an arcuate edge for supporting the breast. Thus, the entire brassiere stretches and moves with the wearer, while each non-elastic breast supporting panel provides the desired breast support. The bottom edge of the breast supporting panel is spaced from the bottom edge of the brassiere. Decreasing the length of the breast supporting panel so that its bottom edge does not contact the bottom edge of the brassiere allows the bottom periphery of the brassiere to have additional flex that improves the overall comfort of the brassiere. Preferably, the bottom edge of the brassiere is turned to form the waistband of the brassiere.

Abstract: An underwear construction having a trunk panel, an inner panel with an open edge for providing access through the inner panel, an outer panel having openings along opposed side edges, the outer panel overlying the inner panel, wherein the trunk panel, inner panel, and outer panel are joined to provide a wearer of said underwear selective unencumbered access to the penis through either of the openings in said outer panel and through the open edge of said inner panel.

Abstract: An adjustable circular knit bra is provided. The bra has a pair of breast cups, a central gore disposed between the breast cups, and a pair of side panels. Each side panel is adjacent to a different one of the pair of breast cups. The central gore also has a stabilizing area knitted therein. The breast cups also have a stabilizing area knitted into the bottom edge of each breast cup. The bra preferably also has a pair of adjustable shoulder straps. The bra preferably also has adjustable fasteners at the bra back.

Abstract: There is provided lower torso garments that have an integral panty or brief, circularly knit garment blanks for such lower torso garments, and methods of producing lower torso garments that have an integral panty or brief from circularly knit garment blanks. Lower torso garments according to the present invention have an outer layer and an inner layer. The inner layer has an integral panty. The garment is formed from a blank that is circularly knitted with a welt band seamlessly joined to a first fabric segment forming the outer layer and a second fabric segment forming the inner layer with the integral panty.

Abstract: A brassiere shoulder strap is provided that is shaped so that it conforms to the shape of the shoulder of the wearer. By conforming to the shape of the shoulder, the strap provides and maintains a cushioning effect. The shoulder strap has a curvilinear shaped area that is wider than a conventional brassiere strap in order to increase the size of the load bearing region of the wearer's shoulder. This curvilinear shaped area has an outer cover that surrounds an interior hollow portion. This interior hollow portion is filled with a cushioning material. In a preferred embodiment, the cushioning material is a silicone gel.

Abstract: A programmable system and method for dewrinkling, or removing wrinkles from, a hosiery article in a circular knitting machine comprise a dial head movable between a down position and an up position, a means for moving the dial head downward and upward, and a dial head locking mechanism for locking and unlocking the dial head. When the dial head is unlocked and moved to the up position, wrinkles are removed from the hosiery article. A dewrinkling system and method of the present invention are particularly well-suited for removing wrinkles from hosiery articles having thick cuffs, such as quarter socks.

Abstract: There is provided lower torso garments that have an integral panty or brief, circularly knit garment blanks for such lower torso garments, and methods of producing lower torso garments that have an integral panty or brief from circularly knit garment blanks. Lower torso garments according to the present invention have an outer layer and an inner layer. The inner layer has an integral panty. The garment is formed from a blank that is circularly knitted with a welt band seamlessly joined to a first fabric segment forming the outer layer and a second fabric segment forming the inner layer with the integral panty.

Abstract: A fold package formed of a shell has closing members connected to the shell. One of the closing members and the shell have a slot cut in a portion between the one closing member and the shell. A pressure-sensitive hanging element adapted to be adhesively attached to the shell is provided. When the hanging element is adhesively attached to the shell and the one of the closing members is folded against the shell, the hanging element extends through the slot to facilitate hanging the package.

Abstract: Continuously knit hosiery and underwear garments provide variably graduated diameters. In a blank having panty, thigh, knee, ankle, and foot portions are separated from each other by outwardly and inwardly graduated diameter portions while maintaining a constant number of wales throughout. The blank is thereby configured to conform to the natural shape of a female lower torso and leg with gradually increasing and decreasing diameters to avoid abrupt diameter changes and maintain the integrity of the fabric's appearance in the blank and garment.