Abstract: An expandable headband includes an elongated, pleated-fabric cover having two opposing ends, a front edge and a rear edge. The two opposing ends are interconnected with an elastomeric strap for securing the cover over the head as with a conventional headband. To form a sun visor, a wearer pulls an extendable support rod at the front edge to expand the cover beyond the forehead.

Abstract: Visor assembly (1) comprising an outer shield (2) and an inner shield (6) which is arranged at a distance therefrom and lies within the periphery of the outer shield, wherein a spacer (7) extending along the periphery of the inner shield is provided in order to hold the inner shield at a predetermined distance from the outer shield, wherein mechanical fixing means (10, 12) are arranged between the two shields for mutual fixation thereof, wherein the inner shield is formed at the position of its periphery such that a protrusion (7) from the inner shield is obtained, this protrusion forming the spacer.

Abstract: A protective football helmet is provided having a one-piece molded shell with an impact attenuation system. This system includes an impact attenuation member formed in an extent of the front shell portion by removing material from the front portion. The impact attenuation member changes how a portion of the shell having the impact attenuation member responds to an impact force having a component applied substantially normal to the impact attenuation member as compared to how the left and right side portions respond to the impact force.

Abstract: A sports helmet for protecting a head of a wearer, that comprises: an outer shell comprising an external surface of the sports helmet; inner padding disposed between the outer shell and the wearer's head; an adjustment mechanism operable by the wearer to vary an internal volume of the cavity to adjust a fit of the sports helmet on the wearer's head; and a rotational impact protection device disposed between the external surface of the sports helmet and the wearer's head when the sports helmet is worn, the rotational impact protection device comprising a surface movable relative to the external surface of the sports helmet in response to a rotational impact on the outer shell to absorb rotational energy from the rotational impact, the surface of the rotational impact protection device undergoing displacement when the adjustment mechanism is operated by the wearer to vary the internal volume of the cavity.

Abstract: A spinning preparation machine has consolidating means for producing a roving from a fiber bundle and a drafting system for drafting the fiber bundle. The drafting system is arranged upstream of the consolidating means in a transport direction of the drafting system. A guide is arranged upstream of the drafting system for guiding the fiber bundle between a container providing the fiber bundle and the drafting system. The guide has a feed segment opposite from the drafting system and a delivery segment facing the drafting system. The spinning preparation machine has a winding device for winding the roving onto a tube, and a tube transport device for providing empty tubes and/or for removing tubes loaded with roving by the winding device. The tube transport device has a conveyor for transporting empty tubes and/or tubes loaded with roving, wherein the conveyors are arranged at least in part between the feed segment of the guide and the drafting system.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an elongated pelt board for accommodating an animal pelt. The pelt board comprises a first wall element, a second wall element being spaced apart from the first wall element in the first radial direction, a third wall element and a fourth wall element being spaced apart from the third wall element in a second radial direction. The wall elements together define a cavity along a longitudinal direction. The wall elements defining a contracted state in which the first and second radial distances are reduced, and an expanded state in which the first and second radial distances are increased. The pelt board further comprising an elongated core element being movable in relation to each of the wall elements. The elongated core element allows the wall elements to selectively define the contracted state or the expanded state by moving the elongated core element in the longitudinal direction.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a one-piece woven air bag includes weaving yarns into a one-piece woven fabric air bag structure having single layer portions and two layer portions in which an inflatable volume is defined between the two layer portions and in which the single layer portions are non-inflatable portions that help define the shape and configuration of the inflatable volume. The step of weaving yarns is performed using a water-jet loom.

Abstract: A method for weaving a fabric (F), with warp yarns (412, 414, 422, 424) and inwoven weft yarns (61, 62, W1-W5), on a loom (2) which comprises a warp delivery unit (8); heddles (14) for moving warp yarns in order to form a shed; a mechanism (12) for moving (F1) each heddle vertically along a vertical path; weft insertion means (21, 22) for inserting each weft yarn in a shed (S1, S2) and for releasing the weft yarn at a given location along a weft axis (Y1, Y2); and weft delivery means (28) for delivering weft yarns (61, 62, W1-W5) to the weft insertion means, this method comprising, for at least two consecutive picks, at least the following steps consisting in a) opening the shed (S1, S2); b) picking, by the weft insertion means (21, 22), of a first end (612, 622) of a weft yarn (61, 62, W1-W5) presented by the weft delivery means (28); c) drawing (A3) the weft yarn into the shed, along the weft axis (Y1, Y2); d) releasing the weft yarn at the predetermined position along the weft axis; e) withdrawing the inse

Abstract: A football helmet comprising a one-piece shell and an energy absorbing layer includes a crown portion, a front portion, a left side portion, a right side portion, and a rear portion. The shell has a non-linear channel spaced in its entirety from an edge of the shell that partially surrounds and defines a shell section within the front portion such that the shell section is moveable relative to the remainder of the shell upon the shell section receiving an impact energy to dampen the impact energy.

Abstract: A fan module and a hat with a fan module are disclosed. The fan module includes a case, a fan, and an air guide tube. The case includes a connecting portion, wherein the case is detachably engaged with a visor of a hat. The case has a receiving space and an air outlet, wherein the air outlet communicates with the receiving space. The fan is rotatably provided in the receiving space of the case. An airflow is generated when the fan rotates, wherein the airflow is exhausted out of the case through the air outlet. The air guide tube is connected to the case, and guides the airflow to a space between the head of a wearer and the main body. Whereby, the hat with the fan module could provide not only sunscreen protection, but also a cooling effect.

Abstract: To provide a method for manufacturing a woven fabric for which neither the appearance nor a function provided by flat threads of the woven fabric are impaired, and to provide the woven fabric. The woven fabric further includes flat threads 3 each wider than a fiber warp thread 10, and the flat threads 3 are caused to pass through healds 102 intermittently with respect to a plurality of the fiber warp threads 10. A hole 102a of each heald is long in a heald moving direction. By causing the flat thread 3 to pass through the hole, the longitudinal direction in transverse plane of the flat thread 3 is oriented along a heald moving direction M. By interweaving fiber weft threads with the fiber warp threads 10, a plurality of woven fabric placement sections is formed so as to be arranged in a weft direction W, each woven fabric placement section being formed as a woven fabric structure and having the flat thread corresponding thereto placed on the woven fabric structure.

Abstract: A method for weaving a multi-image graphical fabric including the step of assigned groups, each group having first, second and third yarns, wherein a first group has the first yarn being for a valley position in a most suppressed position and the second and third yarns being a first pair for a slope position in relatively raised positions, a second group has a first yarn for a ridge position with the second and third yarn forming a second pair for a slope in a descending position resulting in a combination of six fill yarns across twelve warp ends to form a weave unit so that three separate and distinct image fields are created in a face of the fabric and viewing angle determines which image field is seen.

Abstract: A long hair protector apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a headwear and at least one hair sheath for protecting long hair in either a pigtail or ponytail configuration. The headwear is dimensioned and adapted to be worn on the head of a human wearer, wherein the headwear has a tail portion and a band portion, each providing detachable first fasteners. The tail portion is near the rear neck of the wearer, while the band portion extends around the front of the head, providing the detachable first fasteners near each ear of the wearer, and wherein the band portion provides distal portions for tying together so as to further secure the headwear to the wearer. The hair sheath(s) may be removably attached to the tail portion in the ponytail configuration or to the band portions providing the pigtail configuration.

Abstract: A caddy for sewing items includes a hollow housing, and first/second elongated permanent magnets contained in the housing. The second magnet is arranged in parallel to and spaced from the first magnet. The housing includes first/second attracting surfaces and an elongated groove between the first and second attracting surfaces. The first magnet has an upper surface S-pole corresponding to the first attracting surface, and the second magnet has an upper surface N-pole corresponding to the second attracting surface. The groove extends in parallel to the first/second magnets and has a first longitudinal edge connected to the first attracting surface and a second longitudinal edge connected to the second attracting surface. The first and second longitudinal edges are curved so that their center portion is higher than other portions as viewed in the direction in which the first/second magnets are spaced apart from each other.

Abstract: A helmet having a chin bar fastened at two points on each side of the shell. The shell is molded with recessed portions designed to receive the two branches of the chin bar on each side where they will be fastened to the shell so that the outer surfaces of the chin guard are flush with the shell at the locations of attachment to provide a smooth transition and reduce weight. An adjustment device to adjust the fit of the helmet to the user includes a star wheel on each side of the helmet attached to an arcuate flexible strip extending rearwardly around the occipital area of the skull. A sliding mechanism attached to the strip allows the strip to be moved forward and backward to allow it to be tightened or loosened, respectively, with respect to the player's head. A ratcheting lateral adjustment device is also disclosed.