Abstract: A structured material for impact protection includes a plurality of tubular members formed from a thermoplastic elastomer material. The plurality of tubular members are arranged in a bundle such that the central axes of the plurality of tubular members are substantially parallel, and adjacent tubular members are secured to one another along their length. A method of forming a structured impact protection material includes arranging a plurality of tubes formed from a thermoplastic elastomer material into a selected shape. The tubes are arranged in a layer with central axes of the plurality of tubes aligned to be parallel to each other. Heat is applied to adjacent first end portions of tubes of plurality of tubes and the adjacent first end portions are secured to each other via thermal bond. Heat is applied to adjacent second end portions of the tubes and the adjacent second end portions are secured to each other via thermal bond.

Abstract: In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, an integrated fit and retention system is provided. In a particular embodiment of the present invention, the integrated fit and retention system includes a first rigid strap and a second rigid strap, each having a first end and a second end. The first end of each rigid strap is coupled to a helmet body proximate a front of the helmet body, and the second end of each rigid strap is coupled to the helmet body proximate a rear of the helmet body. The integrated fit and retention system also includes a chin strap operable to couple the first and second rigid straps beneath a chin of a wearer. In particular embodiments, the integrated fit and retention system may further include a fit strap coupling the first and second rigid straps, that may be configured to sit below an occipital lobe of the wearer.

Abstract: A work or sports protective helmet, with a structure having a substantially convex outer surface; a substantially concave inner surface adapted to receive a user's head in engagement is provided. The helmet also has two coupling and decoupling elements for engagement an accessory, such as a visor, a mask, a net or a similar accessory, each of which can be engaged on a lateral portion of the outer surface of structure. Each coupling and decoupling element can be removed from the helmet and has a body having a coupling mechanism which allows the engagement and the disengagement of the accessory to/from the helmet when the coupling and decoupling elements are engaged on the latter.

Abstract: A plate carrier for carrying body armor has a front panel having a front connector panel, a rear panel behind the front panel, and a pair of side panels connected to the rear panel. The pair of side panels includes a right side panel and a left side panel. The right panel includes a right inside connector panel that connects to the front connector panel. The left panel includes a left inside connector panel that connects to the front connector panel. An outside flap panel extends from a lower edge of the front panel. The outside flap panel includes an inside connector panel mounted on an inside surface of the outside flap panel. The inside connector panel overlies the pair of side panels.

Abstract: A device for cutting off weft yarn (27) during successive weaving cycles, comprising a cutting element (1) and a rotatable detaining element (2c), (13) which is forced to a detaining position by a spring force in order to detain the yarn and can rotate, under the influence of a tensile force exerted by a rapier on the detained yarn, counter to the spring force to a non-detaining position in which the yarn can be moved further towards the cutting element (1) in order to be cut. Such a device is efficient and can be made to be more reliable and more compact than existing devices. The invention also relates to a weaving loom provided with such a device.

Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing a disposable glove and applying it to the hand of a user in which a stream of air drawn into an enclosed glove applying chamber through a constricted opening aligned with the heel of the glove inflates the topmost glove in a stack of gloves in the chamber so that a user can readily insert his hand into the glove. After the user has donned the glove on the hand, a wall of the chamber is opened to permit the user to readily withdraw his hand from the glove applying chamber while the air flow which originally inflated the top-most glove is disrupted. Upon closures of the chamber wall, the re-established air flow automatically inflates the next lower glove in the glove stack to prepare the next glove for receipt of another hand.

Abstract: A cooling headgear is disclosed. Absorbent material within the headgear retains cold water. When worn by a user, the headgear holds the cold water to the head of the user, cooling the user.

Abstract: An ear warmer comprises a frame and a fabric member. The frame has an ear portion and a band portion. The ear portion of the frame includes a first side and a second side opposite the first side. The first side of the ear portion defines an interior portion of an opening. The second side of the ear portion defines an exterior portion of the opening. The fabric member includes at least its own ear portion coupled to the ear portion of the frame. The ear portion of the fabric member covers the interior portion of the opening in substantially its entirety and covers less than an entirety of the exterior portion of the opening.

Abstract: The technology described herein relates to breathable, vented, and insulating garments. More particularly, the technology described herein relates to garments with chambers to retain an insulating fill material. Openings along seams between the insulating chambers may achieve evaporative moisture or air transfer from the inside (proximal to the body of a wearer) of the garment to the outside environment. In an aspect, the openings along the seams are offset with interior openings, wherein the interior openings are connected to the exterior openings by a passage between garment layers.

Abstract: A sliver guide for guiding a plurality of textile slivers in an entry region of a drawing frame, includes a first guide portion for guiding a first group of textile slivers, and a second guide portion for separately guiding a second group of textile slivers. In a side view of the sliver guide, the first guide portion and the second guide portion are spaced apart from one another. The sliver guide has a third guide portion spaced apart from the first guide portion and from the second guide portion. To at least one of the guide portions, lateral guide elements for laterally guiding textile slivers are assigned, wherein the mutual distance of the guide elements can be adjusted.

Abstract: A swimwear apparatus is provided. The swimwear apparatus may include an upper portion having an upper base layer and an upper bikini layer, and a lower portion having a lower base layer and a lower bikini layer. The upper bikini layer may be configured to be removably attached to the upper base layer, and the lower bikini layer may be configured to be removably attached to the lower base layer.

Abstract: Described are systems, devices, and methods for stripping a formed thin film elastomeric article such as a latex or synthetic polymer medical or surgical glove from a mold, inverting the article, and transferring and securing the inverted article to a mandrel for further on-line processing, integrating dip forming and off-line surface treatment processes into a single, continuous on-line process. The system can include a stripping apparatus including an actuation device for peeling the article from the mold and inverting the article, and a donning device to receive the inverted article. The system may position the article about a mandrel of the donning device. The mandrel may expand or separate to engage the interior of the inverted article to securely hold the article on the mandrel. The donning device may be coupled to a continuous loop conveyor chain to carry the donning device and the mounted article through on-line secondary processing.

Abstract: A compartmentalized hand warmer including one or more of a first flexible panel joined in face contacting relation to a second flexible panel and configured to have a compartment adapted to receive a warming element, a first annular element coupled to the first flexible panel, and a second annular element coupled to the first flexible panel in opposed relation to the first annular element.

Abstract: Garments are provided with an integral athletic jersey (e.g., of a variety having shoulder straps) formed of one fabric material and a hooded portion joined to the jersey at a neckline seam thereof which is formed of a different fabric material. According to certain embodiments, the fabric material forming the jersey portion is a woven fabric of synthetic yarns or blends of synthetic and natural yarns which provide a visual sheen to the jersey, whereas the fabric material forming the hooded portion may be a knit jersey fabric (e.g., a knit fleece of natural cotton yarns and/or yarns of cotton blended with synthetic fibers).

Abstract: An embodiment of an aid to help disabled persons use the bathroom independently. It includes a cord, attachable to a person's pants at its first end, and a loop which is affixed to the waistband of his or her underpants. The person inserts a clip which is at the second end of the cord through the loop, finally attaching the clip to a place where it may easily be reached, such as his shirt. When using the toilet, he may allow his pants and underpants to drop toward the floor, they being tethered to the cord and attached by the clip to his shirt. His hands may thereby remain free for necessary business. He may easily conclude by grasping the cord and pulling upward, retrieving his pants and underpants simultaneously, without having to bend over.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an inflatable object including a main body, a first bulge extending from the main body and a second bulge extending from the main body. The inflatable object is receivable within a pair of pants such that the first and second bulges are each configured to expand within a thigh portion of the pair of pants and the main body is configured to expand within a hip portion of the pair of pants. Further, the inflatable object is made of an impermeable, elastic material that is capable of enduring a pressure that will stretch the pair of pants such that the pair of pants retains its stretched dimensions after deflation of the inflatable object. Furthermore, a method for expanding pants is disclosed that includes inserting an inflatable object within a garment, inflating the inflatable object, retaining the inflatable object within the garment, and stretching the garment with the inflatable object such that the garment retains its stretched dimensions after deflation of the inflatable object.

Abstract: An eye protector includes a lens configured to protect the wearer from projectiles, and an optically clear stack attached to the lens. The stack can have one or more removable layers. The eye protector also includes an optically clear dry mount adhesive layer attaching the stack to the lens. The dry mount adhesive may be self-wetting to attach the stack to the lens so that air between the stack and the lens can be removed after the stack is attached and/or adhered to the lens, for example, by applying pressure across the surface of the stack. The refractive indices of the lens, the dry mount adhesive, and each removable layer are matched to within about 0.2.

Abstract: Garments made from a composite, protective fabric are disclosed. The composite fabric has textile layers placed in proximity to metallic mesh layers of woven stainless steel mesh. The metal mesh layers formed from any metal which forms suitable fibers. The textile layers are fabric formed with well-known fabric fibers selected from those including para-aramid fibers, meta-aramid fibers, ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene fibers, polyethylene terephthalate fibers, cellulose fibers, polyamide fibers, a mixture of para-aramid fibers and meta-aramid fibers, and a mixture of para-aramid fibers and carbon fibers. Forming the non-metal textile layers is by any suitable method for interlacing yarns including weaving, knitting, crocheting, knotting, or felting, or combinations thereof. The garments made using the fabric include gloves, bullet proof vests and chain-saw resistant trousers.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and the production of natural leathers from pieces of natural leather torn into different-sized fibers which are sorted and placed, once they have been mixed with a binder, in successive layers (6, 7 and 8) on a support sheet (9) provided with filaments crossing the different layers. The support sheet (9) and filaments (10) are extracted once the binder substance has cured.

Abstract: A roller apparatus integrated with one or more inner side protective landings of a roller hockey goalie's leg protective member. The apparatus may include a first planar layer having a first plurality of openings arranged in a planar array, a second planar layer having a second plurality of openings aligned with the first plurality of openings of the first layer; and a plurality of roller bearings shaped and sized for positioning in the aligned first plurality of openings and second plurality of openings, with outer surfaces of the roller bearings projecting outwardly from the first plurality of openings of the first planar layer of the roller assembly to enable rolling movement of the roller assembly when engaged in contact with a dry surface. Also described are methods of configuring a roller assembly, such as the aforementioned roller apparatus.