Abstract: An apparatus for making a nonwoven web comprises a carding drum and a continuously movable, air-permeable collecting surface member, which is arranged to collect the fibers which have been discharged from the carding drum and are entrained by an entraining air stream, through a suction duct, which extends between the carding drum and the collecting surface member. Passages for supplying air to the suction duct are provided throughout a predetermined working width of the drum and disposed adjacent to the duct at leading and trailing boundaries thereof with respect to the direction of rotation of the carding drum.

Abstract: A card screen and a lickerin screen are provided for a forty inch carding machine having the usual side ribs and end blanks. The grid bars in both the card screen and the lickerin screen are of triangular configuration in cross-section and are structured to provide increased air flow for the removal of trash. One side of each grid bar extends downwardly in use at an angle of about 50.degree. to the radii of the main cylinder, or lickerin roll, another side extends radially from the main cylinder, and the third side extends between the first two sides in closely spaced substantially parallel relation to the main screen. There is no center rib and the grid bars extend the entire distance between the side ribs.

Abstract: A garment is clamped against a frame-like feed plate of a computer controlled sewing machine by a clamping frame defining a set of openings of different sizes, and corresponding different size emblems or other patches are held against the garment within the openings by a corresponding set of clamping pads. Stitching gaps are defined within the openings around the pads, and the pads are supported within the openings by corresponding laterally projecting U-shaped inversion arms. The arms carry corresponding pinions which engage a rack operated by a fluid cylinder to provide for simultaneously rotating the inversion arms in opposite directions through 180.degree. to provide for automatically and successively stitching the patches to the garment completely around each clamping pad.

Abstract: The invention provides apparatus for producing multi-axial non-woven fabric comprising an endless series of yarn guides (3) having upper and lower reaches which extend widthwise of the apparatus and which are driven in opposite directions, rotatable creel means (2) for supplying yarns (1) to the yarn guides (3), the creel means (2) being driven in the same direction and at substantially the same speed as the endless series of yarn guides (3), and stitching means (5) for stitching the yarns (1) laid by the endless series of yarn guides (3).

Abstract: The flexible shaft suitable for technical and surgical endoscopes consists at least partly of circular braiding of webs interwoven with one another. A particularly stable and torsion-resistant shaft also having low wall thickness is produced in that weaving of the webs formed by the flat wires is single-braided, and in that the circular braiding is machined by hammering, particularly in the region of the crisscrosses of the flat wires.

Abstract: An emblem bearing cap attachment has a substantially planar, relatively stiff body defining a forward surface and a rearward surface. A primary crease or folding line extends centrally across the planar body defining an upper facing panel and a lower backing panel. The folding line facilitates folding of the body about and capturing the adjustable straps of a baseball style cap to position the rearward surface of the facing panel in confronting relationship with the rearward surface of the backing panel whereat are fastening means to secure the panels together. The facing panel completely closes the semicircular opening at the rear of the cap and allows the display of emblems or other indicia thereon.

Abstract: A sewing machine is comprised of a bed, an arm having a vertical portion set upright on the bed, and a horizontal portion horizontally extending from the upper end of the vertical portion, an arm shaft extended within and journaled on the arm, a sewing head detachably joined to the extremity of the arm, a needle bar incorporated into the sewing head, supported so as to be driven for vertical reciprocation on the sewing head by the arm shaft, and capable of being removed from the arm together with the sewing head, a motion converting means detachably connected with the needle bar to convert the rotation of the arm shaft into the reciprocation of the needle bar, a needle thread feed device disposed on the sewing head to feed a needle thread to a needle attached to the lower end of the needle bar, and a thread takeup device disposed on the arm and capable of operating in synchronism with the vertical reciprocation of the needle bar to draw up the slack needle thread and of releasing the needle thread.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for loading, transferring, and spreading a sheet of laundry onto a conveyor. One aspect of the invention is to provide a clamp which has a pivot arm adapted to releasably grip a top corner portion of the sheet. The pivot arm is movable between a forwardly extending first position in which the corner portion of the sheet is gripped and a second position closer to the conveyor than the first position. A spreader mechanism spreads apart the top corner portion of the sheet and an opposite top corner portion of the sheet. Another aspect of the invention is to provide a pair of such clamps each having a pivot arm adapted to releasably grip a corresponding top corner portion of the sheet. The clamps are moved laterally apart to spread the sheet and returned to the receiving position after the pivot arms release the sheet.

Abstract: A moisture managing brassiere for sports wear and general wear includes a front portion, a back portion connected to the front portion, and a pair of shoulder straps connected respectively at one end to the front portion and at respective opposite ends to the back portion. The brassiere is constructed of a composite stretch fabric including an inner fabric layer, and intermediate fabric layer, and an outer shell fabric layer. The inner fabric layer is constructed of hydrophobic moisture wicking fibers for residing in skin contact during garment wear. The intermediate fabric layer resides adjacent to the inner fabric layer for receiving, dispersing, and transporting moisture outwardly away from the inner fabric layer. The outer fabric layer resides adjacent to the intermediate fabric layer for receiving and dispersing moisture wicked outwardly from the inner and intermediate fabric layers.

Abstract: A hem former (75) for folding the margin of a sheet of material in preparation for sewing is mounted to the sewing bed (71) of a sewing machine (70). The hem former has a mounting block (76), a guide plate (83) having a guide edge (93) and channels (94) extending therethrough, a top folder plate (80) pivotally mounted to the mounting block, and a lower folder assembly (85). The lower folder assembly has a lower folder plate (97) mounted for reciprocal movement over the guide plate and a hem edge detector (100). The mounting block has air nozzles (95) coupled to a supply of compressed air so as to generate an airstream directed beneath the lower folder plate and into the channels of the guide plate. The movement of the top folder plate over the lower folder plate creates an inward fold IF and an outward fold OF in the material.

Abstract: A fur strip 6 is wound on each of warp yarns 2 and weft yarns 3 of a net 4 to have a hair side 6a of the fur strip 6 disposed outside the net 4 so as to form a hairy textile fabric element 7, the net 4 being woven by interlacing the warp yarns 2 with the weft yarns 3 and having end portions of the yarns 2, 3 trimmed with an edge member 5 to form a part fabric base 1. The hairy textile fabric element 7 is treated with water by spraying water thereon or by immersion in water. The part fabric base 1 is temporarily fixed to a predetermined template to permit the fur strips 6 to be dried and hardened. In the method, adjacent ones of the fur strips 6 wound on the warp yarns 2 or on the weft yarns 3 are opposed in winding direction to each other.

Abstract: A sewing station is disclosed including a workpiece clamp shuttle for loading and shuttling a bulky workpiece to be sewn to a sewing location of a sewing machine. The workpiece clasp shuttle includes a support surface for supporting a bulky workpiece and a clamp for clamping the bulky workpiece to the support surface at a loading station wherein the bulky workpiece may be easily loaded onto the support surface. The sewing machine includes apparatus for driving the clamp and the support surface from the loading station to the sewing location where the bulky workpiece can be sewn. In addition, a method for sewing a bulky workpiece in a sewing station is disclosed including the steps of preclamping the bulky workpiece at a loading location, and transferring the preclamped bulky workpiece from the loading location to a sewing location where the workpiece may be clamped and sewn.

Abstract: The disposable face shield (10) protects the wearer against airborne particles and droplets possibly containing pathogens. The disposable face shield (10) includes a transparent plastic shield (12) and a cord (50) attached to the transparent plastic shield (12) for securing the shield about the wearer's face. A crescent-shaped foam member (20) is affixed to the transparent plastic shield (12) at an upper-central spot. The foam member further defines at least one gap between the foam member and the transparent plastic shield to provide ventilation. When not in use, the disposable face shield has a generally flat profile for ease of storage and packaging.

Abstract: An embroidery machine having horizontally parallel fabric shafts for the vertically arranged embroidery fabric. A plurality of upper and lower horizontal guides are distributed over the length of the machine. One upper and one lower horizontal guide are each connected to a horizontal guide element by vertical connection elements, the horizontal guide elements and the fabric shafts each being vertically adjustable by a positioning drive in guides mounted on the machine.

Abstract: A modified elastomeric glove is disclosed having a lubricous coating made up of polyvinyl alcohol and a thickening agent. The thickening agent is initially added in order to increase the processability of the polyvinyl alcohol coating in order to prevent runbacks and drips during the manufacturing process. A hydroscopic thickener may be used. The polyvinyl alcohol coating becomes lubricous when wetted in a water bath and therefore becomes particularly useful in applying a water-activated resin casting material for forming orthopaedic casting bandages.

Abstract: The present invention provides a body cooling garment to easily and effectively cool the human body. By pressurizing air or other compressible gases to a minimum pressure rating of 70 psi and channeling it by means of a tubing network that is incorporated into body garments such as a vest, head covers, and pants, the pressurized air can be transported and dispensed on the individual. Thus a two fold cooling effect is accomplished. First, initial cooling is achieved by the cooling of the pressurized gas itself as it rapidly depressurizes and expands through openings in the tubing resulting in a very cold gas. This effect combined with the flow of air and gases that is created by this expansion of pressurized gas in the vicinity of the body of an individual a wearing such a garment will evaporatively cool the body and compliment the cooling caused by the rapid expansion of the compressed gas.

Abstract: A guard device for sewing machine disposed on a table composed of a first or fixed covering for covering over a lower portion of a belt, and a second or movable covering adapted to shield the belt other than that covered by the first covering. The first covering is provided with an open space or opening defined by its side walls and a lid hingedly mounted on a finger or engageable portion of a wall member of the first covering as to be self-opening or self-closing when a head of the sewing machine is in a collapsed position or in an upright position.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for manually collecting, containing and disposing of waste material, such as animal excrement. The device of the present invention provides an ambidextrous glove having individual compartments for receiving the fingers and thumb of the hand. The glove has a sleeve portion with a pair of handles which are used to secure the sleeve portion on the forearm of the user. The handles are also used for turning the glove inside out to contain the collected material, and for sealing the device. The glove is provided with an absorbent, non-absorbent or abrasive contact means on the palm portion for contacting and removing the material to be collected from the surface upon which it is found.

Abstract: A thermal nose protector for use in subfreezing climates, e.g. by an alpine skier with ski goggles. The thermal nose protector consists of a flexible shield sheet material sized to conformingly fit over the skier's nose and having at least a first and a second layer. The first layer is made from a soft, thermally insulating material for direct engagement with the skin of the skier's nose. The second layer is of the multiple-hook type for separable gripping engagement with a corresponding portion of the foam-like, peripheral, interior strip of the ski goggles. The flexible shield sheet extends beyond the tip of the skier's nose whereby a substantially open air pocket is defined by the nose-covering the shield sheet beneath the skier's nose and ahead of the skier's mouth, wherein an air breathing channel is formed coextensively of the open air pocket for promoting air breathing from the nose of the skier.

Abstract: A machine for ironing and stacking men's socks comprising:--a circular plate 1 with a central horizontal shaft 12;--an electric motor 2;--a plurality of socks-supporting flat shapes 10 equally spaced apart along a circumference of the plate 1, projecting from the same face thereof 1, oriented almost tangentially thereto, and having a horizontal shaft 13;--a curvilinear cam 3 located opposite to the shapes 10 with respect to the plate 1 to operate the rotation of each shape 10, in cooperation with a corresponding feeler 15 provided with a return spring 16;--a chamber 4 for steaming and pressing the socks;--a chamber 5 for pressing and drying the socks;--a clamp 6 for withdrawing the thus ironed sock, with the leg and foot thereof in horizontal position, by acting in correspondence of the foot 14 region, and placing the sock onto an underlying horizontal belt conveyer 7;--a plurality of suction nozzles 9 borne by a horizontal arm 90 for the vertical removal and lifting of the thus withdrawn and faultless sock,