Abstract: The adjustable clothes hanger has adjustable sleeve upper stays, sleeve lower stays, and torso side stays. These components adjust to spread the sleeves and torso of a shirt on the hanger to hold the fabric in a smooth, lightly stretched condition to optimize drying and preclude wrinkling. The hanger has opposed sleeve upper stays, which adjust along the underlying frame of the hanger. The outer portions of the sleeve upper stays extend to support the shirtsleeve upper edges. Torso side stays extend downwardly from the horizontal crossmember of the hanger, and adjust to hold the sides of the shirt apart and to hold the torso fabric in a smooth and unwrinkled condition during drying. Pivotal or fixed sleeve lower stays may extend from the upper portions of the torso side stays, or may extend adjustably from the outer ends of the adjustable sleeve upper stays.

Abstract: Embodiment of the invention provide a garment support system, which may include a garment hanger and a garment bar physically unconnected to the hanger that can attach to the bottom of a garment supported by the hanger. The garment bar may include one or more clips for attaching the supporting to a garment. The support also may be weighted to provide additional support to the garment and/or to maintain a garment in a desired configuration.

Abstract: An embroiderable sewing machine, including a plurality types of embroidery frames that hold a workpiece cloth to be embroidered; a carriage allowing selective attachment and detachment of the embroidery frames; a transfer mechanism that transfers the carriage independently in two orthogonal directions; a first detector that outputs a constant signal corresponding to the type of embroidery frame attached to the carriage; a second detector capable of outputting a detection signal based on presence and absence of a detection subject provided at the embroidery frame; and a signal converter that converts the constant signal outputted from the first detector into a periodic signal based on the detection signal outputted from the second detector.

Abstract: A belt extender for installation on a belt with a removable buckle comprising a main body with a first end and a second end, a metal tab fixedly attached to and extending from a first end of the main body of the belt extender, and a longitudinal slot roughly centrally disposed on the main body of the belt extender. The main body folds over itself at a fold line that extends through the center of the longitudinal slot and is secured in place with snap fasteners to create a folded end. A belt buckle comprising a tongue and a frame is installed on the folded end of the belt extender by sliding the frame of the belt buckle over the second end of the belt extender and inserting the tongue through the longitudinal slot prior to folding. The metal tab is inserted into a longitudinal slot on the buckle end of the belt strap and rotated so that the main body of the belt extender is aligned with the belt strap on the buckle end of the belt.

Abstract: A novel paint roller “cage” having improved tracking and ease of use is adapted for receiving different length axle shafts of various sizes of paint roller frames. An outer tubular support, upon which a paint roller cover or other paint absorbing material may be mounted, contains a pair of support bearings secured at either end of an inner tubular chassis, with one support bearing at a first end of the outer tubular support, and the other support bearing at approximately its mid point. The two support bearings are connected by an inner tubular chassis, which both maintains the two bearings at a desired axial spacing and also holds the walls and radial bearing surfaces of a bushing chamber that is integrally molded with each support bearing in proper position about a tubular bushing that is adapted to be frictionally secured to the axle shaft. In one embodiment, the outer tubular support has a diameter of about 1? and a length of about 9?, and can be used with both 6.5? and 9? roller frames.

Abstract: A sterile glove that includes a hand and finger portion, a cuff having an inside surface and an outside surface, and a cuff rim. The cuff is adapted to be folded over at a fold when the glove is packaged, and a portion of the inside surface of the cuff becomes an outer facing surface when it is folded over. The glove further includes a detachable tab that is coupled to the inside surface and includes a free end and a non-free end. The glove further includes a detachable shield covering at least a portion of the outer facing surface when the cuff is folded over at the fold.

Abstract: A data processor that processes embroidery data for sewing an embroidery pattern on a workpiece cloth held by an embroidery frame attached to an embroiderable sewing machine, and printing data for printing an image pattern with a printer to be transferred onto the workpiece cloth through a thermal transfer sheet, the data processor including a printing data processor that includes reference-mark printing data for printing a reference mark with the printer on a back side of the thermal transfer sheet, the reference mark being used for positioning the workpiece cloth relative to the embroidery frame, and a print position specifier that specifies printing position of the image pattern relative to the reference mark, the image pattern being printed on a front side of the thermal transfer sheet; and an embroidery data processor that includes a sew position specifier that specifies sew position of the embroidery pattern relative to the reference mark.

Abstract: A firefighter's coat including an outer shell and a liner. The outer shell has an inner surface, an outer surface, a front opening with a closure, and a downwardly extending rear tail. The liner has an outer surface facing the inner surface of the shell providing a barrier against the environment. The liner outer surface has a bottom edge loose from the outer shell inner surface to facilitate air circulation for drying when the coat is not in use, and a pocket is defined along the bottom of the outer shell tail and adapted to receive the rear of the liner bottom edge when the coat is in use. A releasable fastener is adapted to releasably secure the liner in the pocket.

Abstract: A sanitary ear covering includes at least a first body and alternately a second body formed from deformably resilient material. Each of the first and second bodies may have a circular shape when disposed at an equilibrium position. Each of the first and second bodies may be adapted to conform to the user ear and thereby remain at a substantially stable position during operating conditions. Each of the first and second bodies preferably include an ear-receiving section defining a cup-shaped cavity therein, an outer rim directly coupled to an outer perimeter of the cup-shaped cavity, an ear plug mated to the ear-receiving section and projecting orthogonally inward therefrom, and a strap removably connected to a bottom hemisphere of the outer rim.

Abstract: An apparatus, method and simulation program for performing a realistic loop simulation of a knitted fabric using empirical rules during a loop simulation while keeping the calculation load within a feasible range to express three-dimensional bulges, curls and so on of a knitted fabric.

Abstract: A garment includes a first side, possibly corresponding to a user's front. The first side includes left and right portions that each have a free mating edge. Fastener elements are attached to or formed in each of the right and left portions of the garment. One of the two portions includes a two layer placket. Some of the fastener elements include a portion on the outer layer of the two layer placket. At least one interstitial fastener element is positioned only on the inner layer and is between two other fastener elements that include a portion on the outer layer. The at least one interstitial fastener element may be positioned at a wearer's chest or waist region to minimize or eliminate gapping of the shirt in areas of larger girth.

Abstract: A sewing order is determined in embroidering at least one embroidery element on a sewing material in a sewing machine, which has access to a memory for stitch data for the embroidery element and a processor for reading the stitch data and for maneuvering the sewing machine to execute stitches according to the stitch data. An embroidery element is composed of basic elements, through a formation of clusters of basic elements having the same characteristics. A level for each cluster is determined. The clusters are sorted with regards to their respective characteristics and sorting of the clusters into a sewing order based on characteristics and levels of the clusters.

Abstract: A quick release garment such as a vest including a quick release system for easy removal by a wearer in an emergency situation wherein activation of the quick release system releases the vest from one side only disconnecting one shoulder strap, at least one belt end portion and at least one cummerbund end portion, if a cummerbund is present. Components of the vest remain attached together so that the wearer may easily retrieve the garment, once removed, and easily reposition and reconnect the garment for movement to another location. The present garment can also be configured such that the quick release system releases only one shoulder strap, a shoulder strap and one or both belt end portions, a shoulder strap and one or both cummerbund end portions, and other combinations.

Abstract: A sewing machine including an input unit that inputs a thread cut instruction; a thread cutting mechanism that cuts a needle thread and a bobbin thread based on the thread cut instruction; a feed dog vertically moving mechanism that vertically drives a feed dog for feeding a workpiece cloth; a feed dog activating switch unit that switches the feed dog between an active state in which the feed dog is vertically driven by the feed dog vertically moving mechanism and an inactive state in which an upper surface of the feed dog is positioned in a lowered position below an upper surface of a needle plate provided in a sewing machine bed; and a control unit that drives the thread cutting mechanism based on the thread cut instruction inputted from the input unit and that controls the feed dog activating switch unit to switch the feed dog to the inactive state in which the feed dog is positioned in the lowered position.

Abstract: Sewing data of multiple sewing targets stored in RAM of a sewing sequence determining apparatus is acquired. Permutations or combinations of the sewing targets are created as sewing sequence candidates. A number of needle bars N provided at a multi-needle sewing machine is acquired. An optimal thread replacement count is initialized. A thread replacement count is calculated for each of sewing sequence candidates, in the case where sewing operations are carried out by the multi-needle sewing machine equipped with N needle bars on the sewing targets in accordance with the sewing sequence candidates. A sewing sequence candidate of the fewest thread replacement count is determined to be an optimal sewing sequence candidate. The optimal sewing sequence candidate is displayed on a liquid crystal display and announced. Determination of sewing sequences at the time of carrying out sewing operations with respect to multiple sewing targets is easily achieved.

Abstract: A cloth-holder frame transfer apparatus for a sewing machine includes a carriage detachably attachable to a cloth-holder frame holding workpiece cloth, a carriage driving mechanism including an actuator moving the carriage in two directions intersecting each other on a horizontal plane, an external force detector which detects an external force applied by an operator to the cloth-holder frame attached to the carriage, an assisting force output device which produces force assisting the movement of the cloth-holder frame by the external force, and a control device controlling the assisting force output device based on the external force detected by the external force detector. The carriage driving mechanism includes first and second direction movement actuators provided with first and second direction displacement sensors respectively. The first and second direction movement actuators include respective stepping motors, and the first and second direction displacement sensors include respective rotary encoders.

Abstract: A data structure of branch-structured vector data that is created from line drawing information of an embroidery design and provides a basis for creating embroidery data by a computer that includes at least one data piece of a branch, which is an embroidery path connecting two endpoints. The branch data piece may include thread color information that indicates a color of a sewing thread to be used when each of the branches is embroidered, or loop information that indicates whether tracing a link destination of the endpoint of the branch results in generation of a loop that returns to the same endpoint. The thread color information may be used to determine whether to create embroidery data for a link destination branch and the loop information may be used to determine whether to create running stitch sewing data for the link destination branch. Thus, branch-structured vector data may have information of a plurality of thread colors and represent a loop in one data piece.

Abstract: A sewing machine includes a spool pin stand having spool pins to which thread spools are attachable and seats corresponding to the spool pins, respectively, thread passage defining members located on a thread passage, a sewing data storage unit storing sewing data including at least thread color information about colors of the needle threads, thread supply display units which are located on the spool pin stand so as to correspond to the spool pins respectively, the thread supply display units being configured to produce light which transmits through at least ones of the spool pins and the seats and displaying the thread colors in a color-variable manner, respectively, and a thread color information control unit controlling the thread supply display units based on the thread color information so that thread colors corresponding to the spool pins are displayed by the thread supply display units, respectively.

Abstract: A computer-based fibre production monitoring system includes at least one sensor, and a computer server in communication with the sensors. Each sensor is configured to provide data packets each being associated with a respective threadline and providing a measurement of at least one physical characteristic of a fibre as it is drawn past the sensor on the threadline and wound onto a bobbin. The computer server is configured to provide an analysis of the physical characteristics on a per-threadline basis and/or per-bobbin basis from the measurements. The sensor is configured as an electric field sensor, and includes an insulating substrate, non-contacting electrodes disposed on the substrate, and vias extending transversely through the substrate. The electrodes are interlaced with one another. One portion of the vias is coupled to one portion of the electrodes, and another portion of the vias is coupled to another portion of the electrodes.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to molded plastic garment hangers. Garment hangers of this type may be simply constructed as molded plastic structures incorporating a hook adapted to be suspended from a suitable support, such as a garment display rack or the like. The garment hanger has a plurality of elongated body members extending in opposite directions from the hook so as to facilitate a garment to be suspended therefrom. The opposite or distal ends of the elongated body members typically have vertical members attached thereto, and a first set of garment clips formed on the vertical members to enable the attachment of various kinds of garments thereto. The vertical members also have a second set of garment clips formed on the opposite side of the vertical member to permit the garment straps to be secured.