Abstract: A needling installation includes a rotary support on which a fiber texture is wound to form a fiber preform, the rotary support being mounted on a frame that is movable along a second axis Y perpendicular to the first axis X; a stripper including one plate including perforations; a needling module having a needle board carrying needles; a contact force application system connected to the stripper; a contact force sensor for providing information representative of the contact force with which the outside face of the plate of the stripper makes contact against the fiber preform, and a controller to control the contact force application system to apply a force to the plate of the stripper that is predetermined as a function of information provided by each contact force sensor and as a function of a target value for a predetermined contact force.

Abstract: A garment, preferably a protective vest, which is adjustable in its size is provided. According to one approach, at least one outer zipper having two rows of teeth is provided, wherein the garment has a first size in a closed state of the outer zipper and a second size in an opened state of the outer zipper, wherein the first size is smaller than the second size, and wherein, in the opened state of the outer zipper, the rows of teeth are held together at a distance by material covered by the outer zipper in the closed state of the outer zipper. Other embodiments include a zipper arrangement.

Abstract: The half shoe accessory for a foot brace boot is configured for use with a controlled motion boot. The controlled motion boot is further defined with an upper, a sole, a vamp a quarter, and a toe guard. The toe guard is a perimeter structure that: 1) protects the interior of the vamp section of the half shoe accessory for a foot brace boot from impact injuries; and, 2) follows the perimeter of the sole. The half shoe accessory for a foot brace boot comprises a sleeve, an impact cushion, and a plurality of hook and loop fasteners. The sleeve is a covering placed over the toe guard. The impact cushion is a pad that attaches to the superior side of the sleeve. The plurality of hook and loop fasteners: 1) attach the sleeve to the toe guard; and, 2) attach the impact cushion to the sleeve.

Abstract: A male undergarment assembly includes a pair of briefs including a front wall, a rear wall, a first side wall and a second side wall. The pair of briefs has an upper edge that is open and defines a waistband. The pair of briefs has a bottom wall has a pair of leg openings therein. A pouch is attached to an inner surface of the front wall. The pouch has an inner wall and an outer wall joined together along their respective bottom edges. The outer wall is positioned between the front wall and the inner wall. The inner wall has an aperture extending therethrough and for receiving a penis. A sling is attached to the inner wall and extends downwardly therefrom. The sling is attached to the briefs between the leg openings and is utilized to receive a person's testicles.

Abstract: A water entanglement system having a first rotatable surface comprises a first water jet which may be configured to water-entangle a preform in situ. The water-entanglement system may comprise a second rotatable surface disposed proximate the first rotatable surface. The second rotatable surface may comprise a second water jet configured to water-entangle the preform in situ. The first rotatable surface may be oriented substantially parallel to the second rotatable surface.

Abstract: Swimsuits are provided which include an outer shell made of a flexible stretchable fabric, a thoracic reinforced region arranged in an anterior thoracic region of a trunk portion of the swimsuit and having an anterior-downward converging shape, and an abdominal reinforced region arranged in a lower abdominal and hip region of the trunk portion and having an anterior-upward converging shape, two non-reinforced waist regions arranged in opposite lateral waist regions of the trunk portion and having both a medially converging shape, wherein the thoracic reinforced region, the abdominal reinforced region and the non-reinforced regions border in an X pattern in an anterior region of the trunk portion. Methods of making such swimsuits are also provided.

Abstract: A golf garment for reinforcing a connection between a body and an arm has a shoulder joint support which fills a gap between the upper arm and the body at a golf posture, thereby enhancing a swing mechanism and reducing a possible injury. The shoulder joint support also mitigates the concentration of shock on the shoulder and thus the risk of injury is further reduced. Although designed specifically for golf, the present invention can be also effective for sports requiring a firm, yet tensionless connection of the arm to the body, such as tennis, hockey and baseball.

Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for supporting a person's head. Generally, a face mask is provided having an eye piece sized to fit a human face and having left and right side straps. The eye piece has a left side portion and right side portion that each have a concavity formed therein that is configured to be positioned around a user's eye. The left and right side straps each have a first end that is attached to the left and right side portions of the eye piece, respectively. A reusable adhesive can be coated onto at least a portion of each of the left and right side straps, which can allow the side straps to each be repeatedly and removably attached to a support structure.

Abstract: Woven products using combined materials are provided. An intermittent weaving splicer terminates and combines materials having different functional and/or aesthetic properties to create woven products that reflect the different properties of the combined material. Further, a dynamic tensioner variably adjusts tension on the combined materials based on the different properties of the combined material.

Abstract: A gown (100) includes a body covering (101) disposed between a first sleeve (102) and a second sleeve (103). The body covering portion includes a first layer (106) coupled to a second layer (107) by an adhesive (108) comprising a unactivated colorant, such as an unactivated dye (109). The unactivated colorant transitions to an activated colorant (201) when wet, and the second layer absorbs the activated colorant.

Abstract: A garment portion made primarily from a material with low-stretch characteristics, having defined stretch zones with greater flexibility is provided herein. The stretch zones have slits through the garment portion. An interior layer having higher stretch characteristics than the garment body portion is affixed to the internal surface of the garment body portion in the area of the stretch zone. The result is a garment portion that is primarily constructed with a low-stretch material that has stretch zones allowing greater flexibility.

Abstract: A method of matching/combining distinct fabrics into a single article of clothing comprises obtaining a first fabric defining a color pattern, obtaining a second fabric that is distinct from the first fabric, the second fabric being a plain or solid color fabric, using a digital fabric printer to print the color pattern of the first fabric onto the second fabric to obtain a modified second fabric that also defines the color pattern, and combining the first fabric and the modified second fabric into the single article of clothing. The digital fabric printer can also be used to print the color pattern onto the first fabric. The first and/or second fabrics can also be formed using a yarn-dye process. A system for matching/combining distinct fabrics into a single article of clothing includes a yarn weaving/knitting system and/or a digital fabric printer, a fabric combining system, and an optional color pattern analyzer.

Abstract: A bath cover for comforting a child during a bathing process is disclosed. The bath cover includes a body portion at least partially formed of an absorbent material and configured to cover at least a portion of the torso of the child. The body portion has an upper end with a contour corresponding to the neck of the child. The bath cover also includes first and second support portions extending outwardly at the upper end of the body and positionable over the shoulders of the child. The relatively absorbent material is configured to be wetted and positioned adjacent to the child to warm the child during the bathing process.

Abstract: A glove device configured for one-handed engagement of a plurality of fingers of a user. The glove has a body having a plurality of covering sections extending from a first end to distal ends of the covering sections. Each covering section is configured for insertion of a finger of a user therein. The plurality of covering sections define members which elevate the first end of the glove above a support surface for distal ends of the covering sections. The glove device can be formed in stacks of adjacent glove device bodies where each has covering sections engaged within the axial cavities of another of the stack.

Abstract: A method for making tubular fabrics is provided. The method includes using metallized yarns including at least one ribbon which is less than 0.7 mm thick, the ribbon being preferably spiral-wound with at least one support thread. The method also includes using non-metallized main yarns, as well as making a warp beam including the metallized yarns and said main yarns, the warp beam having a linear thread density preferably higher than 40 threads/cm. The method may also include a step of weaving in which a tubular fabric is made by means of the beam warp with the metallic yarns arranged exclusively on the warp.

Abstract: The present invention provides a protective glove which improves protection and wearability by integrating protective members using features of thermosetting material and thermoplastic material. The protective glove comprises: a body 10 into which a back of hand, a palm and fingers of a wearer are inserted; a first protective member 20 made from thermosetting material, which is formed to protect a predetermined portion of the wearer's hand and exposed to outside and which is integrally attached to an outer surface of the body 10; and a second protective member 30 made from thermoplastic material, which is formed to protect a predetermined portion of the wearer's hand and is integrated with the first protective member 20, and which is attached to the outer surface of the body 10.

Abstract: A suit wearable by a human user includes a torso section, two arm sections extending from an upper portion of the torso section, and two leg sections extending from a lower portion of the torso section. The suit further includes at least one seam that connects portions of the suit together and extends across a leg section, where the seam is asymmetrical in relation to a lengthwise dimension of the suit.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an extender belt for clothing is disclosed including a belt strap, a belt buckle coupled to the belt strap, and an extender button coupled to the belt strap. The belt strap is configured to be wrapped around the waist of a user and form a loop. The belt strap has a series of a plurality of openings near a first end configured to receive a protrusion or prong of the belt buckle. The belt strap further has one or more buttonholes near a second end configured to receive a button of the pants or trousers. The belt buckle is pivotally coupled to the belt strap near the second end. The belt buckle has the pivotal protrusion or prong configured to extend into the plurality of openings near the first end. The extender button is coupled to an inner surface of the belt strap near the first end. The extender button is configured to extend into a pant hole of pants that typically receive the pant button.

Abstract: A cycling helmet capable of switching a sound production guidance mode based on a bone conduction earphone includes: a helmet body and the bone conduction earphone disposed on the helmet body. The bone conduction earphone includes a magnet, a coil and a bone conduction oscillator, and the bone conduction oscillator can contact the helmet body, so as to cause the helmet body to oscillate to form a sound cavity.

Abstract: An adjustable hat has a first attachment member and a strap connection member that cooperate to allow a strap to be easily connected and removed from the adjustable hat. The two elements may also be reversed with regard to construction and attachment to parts of the hat. The two members can be disengaged from one another without having to access them in the space formed by the hat and the band.