Abstract: A stocking positioning device (10) for use with a panti-hose manufacturing machine having a number of arm assemblies (12), each of which consists of upper and lower pairs of support arms (16, 18) for supporting respective first and second stockings (14) to be cut and seamed together to form a pair of panti-hose, the positioning device comprising upper and lower pairs of endless belts (20, 22, 24, 26), each belt being driven by its own pair of pulleys (28-42), the belts of each pair being horizontally spaced apart with the left hand belts (20, 24) rotating in the opposite direction to the right hand belts (22, 26), the pulleys being movable in unison vertically to move the belts, in use, between an upper rest position, above the arms (16, 18) of an arm assembly (12) moving from a loading station (A), to a lower operative position, in which the belts of each pair lie alongside the arms. Each pulley (28-42) is also independently movable laterally of the belt towards and away from the arm assembly.

Abstract: A baseball or softball glove comprising a shell having a concave, frontal, ball-receiving surface and a rear surface to which a handpiece is attached. The handpiece may be removably or permanently attached and may comprise finger receiving loops formed on the rear surface of the shell. The handpiece is preferably a tight fitting, leather or fabric glove. The preferred shell comprises a sheet-like, flexible skin of a selected flexibility attached to a structural skeleton having a lower flexibility than the skin.A plurality of raised bumps are formed on the ball-receiving surface of the shell near a palm region and around the outer perimeter. Elongated slots are formed through the shell, extending generally parallel to and between finger regions, and in a web region. Preferred lines of flexure are formed at at least one end of each slot, and are localized, thinned regions, along which the shell preferably flexes.

Abstract: A honeycomb tabletop, including a honeycomb core positioned between a top and bottom structural layer, wherein a number of cups are positioned between the bottom layer and the top layer, and at least some of the number of cups are sized and shaped to cooperate with the lower face of the top layer to form a cavity surrounding at least two of the plurality of holes in the top layer so that contaminants will be unable to pass through the surrounded holes into the honeycomb core. Preferably, these cups form a sealing engagement with the lower face of the top layer to facilitate rapid and thorough cleaning of contaminants from the cups.

Abstract: A size adjustable cap utilizing a new and improved size adjustment strap is disclosed. The size adjustable cap has an opening in the back of the cap between the cap and the size adjustment strap which extends across the opening. The size adjustment strap has one end secured to the cap in the vicinity of a sweatband that is internally attached to the cap proximate its lower margin. The size adjustment strap has a free end that extends through a complementary shaped slot provided in the sweatband on an opposite side of the cap opening to allow the size adjustment strap to pass through the complementary shaped slot for positionment between the sweatband and the cap. The complementary shaped slot is defined by a laterally outwardly directed opening in the sweatband for receiving the size adjustment strap. Cooperating adjustment fasteners are associated with the size adjustment strap and the sweatband for engagement with one another when the size adjustment strap is positioned between the sweatband and the cap.

Abstract: In a nonwoven laying device having at least two reciprocating carriages to be accelerated at the reversal points of their moving path, namely an upper carriage and a laying carriage, and having at least two circulating conveyor belts to be guided by guide rollers of the carriages, namely a main conveyor belt and a guiding conveyor belt, the upper carriage having at least two guide rollers. The guide rollers are laterally displaced and are set at different elevations so as to form a descending path for at least one of the conveyor belts. The path having an acute angle to the horizontal. Both belts facing each other forming an opening angle from 20.degree. to over 90.degree.. The angle is adjustable through adjustable rollers in the carriage.

Abstract: A garment with a convertible collar includes a garment, a collar secured to the garment and defining a pouch with an open-top end, and a fleece-like sheet secured to the garment. The sheet is movable between a storage orientation, wherein substantially all of the sheet extends through the open-top end of the pouch and lies flat within the pouch, and a use orientation, wherein the sheet is substantially disposed outside of the pouch and overlies substantially all of the upper surface of the collar. Fasteners on the collar and the sheet releasably maintain the sheet in the use orientation, and fasteners on the pouch and the sheet releasably maintain the open-top end substantially closed when the sheet is in the storage orientation.

Abstract: A unitary, portable, foldable and adjustable therapy chair on which a patient is seated. The chair includes a frame having two pivotal members which move in a scissor-like manner. Attached to the frame are a seat, a chest support, an arm support, a face support and a pair of leg supports. The chair is adjustable from a collapsed position to a plurality of erect positions. The frame may be secured in a desired use position. When the chair is adjusted, the seat, the chest support, the arm support and the leg supports move with respect to one another.

Abstract: Apparatus and process for the manufacture of imitation Jacquard fabric by passing a flocked fabric through a printing station whereat a selected drawing or design is printed on the fabric by pressurized air. The flocked fabric is moved on a table beneath a rotatable drawing cylinder extending transversely to the table and spaced from the table only by a distance to allow the passage of the fabric therebetween. A stationary tube is placed within the drawing cylinder and the tube is supplied with pressurized air which passes into the drawing cylinder. The pressurized air passes through apertures in the drawing cylinder correlated with the design to be printed onto the fabric. The fabric is advanced under tension by rollers and a driving assembly rotates the drawing cylinder and at least one of the rollers.

Abstract: A sewing device (13) consists of a basic unit (13) comprising the main motor, the needle bar (27), and the take-up lever (31), and a shuttle block (24) detachably mounted thereto which comprises the shuttle (35) with the thread bobbin (36) for the lower thread. For changing an empty thread bobbin, the sewing machine mounted to a robot arm is inserted into a reception unit (21) in which the shuttle block (24) remains, whereas the basic unit (23) is moved to another shuttle block with full thread bobbin (36a) and receives it. The sewing machine does not require a time-consuming manual change of the thread bobbin for the lower thread.

Abstract: A method of making a brassiere wire for a particular underwire brassiere cup utilizing a set of brassiere wires having rectilinear markings where excess of the wire can be cut away with rounding of the resulting end portions to form the brassiere wire.

Abstract: A flat flexible fabric sheet has opposite side edges attached to an elastic band to form a hood-like fabric shield for a person's ears and neck. The fabric sheet and elastic band form an expansible annulus for attaching the sheet to a person's cap, such that when the cap is worn the fabric sheet hangs down from the cap's lower edge to cover the person's ears and neck. The lower corners of the fabric sheet are curved to minimize interference between the sheet and the person's collar, as might interfere with desired gravitational positionment of the fabric. The elastic band has a narrow width so that the band is easily stretched to enable the apparel item to fit a range of different size caps.

Abstract: A sewing unit with a feed device for a fabric holder with support elements that can be moved along a guide and are connected to a drive each for feed means acting on the fabric holder. A fabric being sewn can be transported to or removed from the sewing machine by the feed device over any desired distance and the feed movement of the fabric being sewn can be brought about without problems during passage through the stitch formation site of the sewing machine even at very high stitch frequency because of the favorable dynamic properties. The guides are arranged in the same direction, and the support elements can be driven synchronously for a movement of the fabric holder in parallel to the guides, and at mutually different velocities for a movement in a direction deviating from the direction.

Abstract: A sewing apparatus combines an elastic band with a non-elastic draw cord to form a composite band. The apparatus includes a sewing machine for sewing the draw cord to one surface of the elastic band. The sewing machine forms a plurality of stitches that collectively define a longitudinally extending channel encasing the draw cord. The elastic band is fed through the sewing machine by a set of feed rollers disposed upstream from the sewing machine and a set of draw rollers disposed downstream of the sewing machine. The draw rollers are operated at a higher feed rate than the feed rollers to stretch a segment of the elastic band as it passes through the sewing machine. The draw cord is fed through the sewing machine in side-by-side relationship with the elastic band and is secured to the band while the band is in a stretched condition.

Abstract: A clip for a garment hanger H having a fixed jaw (1) and a movable jaw (2) connected by a membrane hinge (3), the movable jaw having an actuator arm (5) extending therefrom, and moulded plastics spring member (13) attached to the fixed jaw by attaching lugs (10,11) engaging openings (8,9) in the fixed jaw (1), said spring member (13) having a spring portion (14) extending angularly from an attaching portion (12) towards the actuating portion (5) of the movable jaw (2) to bias the movable jaw towards the closed position, said hanger H having a hood member (20) which surrounds the actuating portion (5) of the clip to deter inadvertent actuation.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming a blended yarn from a plurality of yarn strands is disclosed, and wherein the yarns are advanced to contact the surface of a feed roll in a side by side arrangement. A guide roll for each of the yarn strands is positioned upstream of the feed roll, and one or more of the guide rolls has a circumferential configuration which serves to repeatedly move the advancing yarn strands relative to each other so that the strands laterally cross each other on the surface of the feed roll in a predetermined pattern.

Abstract: Symmetrical, modular blocks each having a plurality of fixed, equally spaced, gauging elements, namely loopers, needles, and reeds protruding therefrom, the blocks are positioned on the sides of the guide bars of a tufting machine, each guide bar having transverse channels at equally spaced intervals. These channels respectively receive guide bars of the blocks when the blocks are removably positioned on the sides of the guide bar. Bolts or screws secure the blocks in place on their guide bars so that their needles, loopers, and reeds are appropriately gauged and positioned for tufting action, protruding toward the tufting zone.

Abstract: A yarn lap preventor for mounting in an open end spinning machine to deflect a parted yarn end away from an enlarged diameter area of a rotating take-up shaft of the open end spinning machine. The yarn lap preventor is preferably integrally molded plastic including a body portion connected to a base mounting portion. The body portion of the yarn lap preventor includes a tapered edge which is positioned adjacent the enlarged diameter area of the take-up shaft. The body portion also includes a shield portion which extends along an arcuate portion of the enlarged diameter area. The base mounting portion includes a slotted opening to facilitate mounting with an existing fastener, such as the fastening screw which secures a yarn guide eyelet mounting plate to a traverse bar. A method for preventing the accumulation of yarn laps is also disclosed which includes deflecting a parted yarn and shielding the enlarged diameter area of the take-up shaft from the parted yarn end.

Abstract: A combination banner and poncho is shown consisting of a flexible plastic envelope with a staff attached to one edge, the envelope having an emblazed logo or the like, for waving over one's head at a sporting event, rally or the like. The device can be worn as a poncho if desired during inclement weather.

Abstract: A shoulder pad assembly for contact sports such as hockey is described. Two separate shoulder assemblies, in the form of generally U-shaped shoulder bands, are each pivotally connected fore and aft to chest and back pieces. Preferably the pivotal connections are co-axial, so that there are just two pivot points, namely fore and aft pivot points centrally located on the chest and back pieces, thus generally defining a V-shape for the shoulder portions of the pad. Preferably, the flexibility is limited by the use of a pivot clip at each pivot point, the pivot clip having at least one post disposed from the pivot axis and projecting from the clip through an arcuate slot in each shoulder band, the arcuate slots being of finite length such that further pivoting is prevented once the post reaches an end of the slot.

Abstract: A baseball glove for protecting a hand and for enabling the wearer to catch a ball. The glove includes a front panel having inner and outer plies and a back panel joined to the front panel. A pad of open cell foam material is disposed between the inner and outer plies. The pad, which includes first and second opposed surfaces and an edge surface, has the major portion of the pad surfaces rendered impervious to the flow of air. One or more vents in at least one of the pad surfaces provides for the passage of air therethrough at a rate allowing the pad to substantially absorb the force of impact of a ball.