Abstract: Sheet material (30) is cut into rectangular segments (35). The segments are then moved in sequence parallel to their cut edges (26) rapidly away from the cutting station (34) into a slower operating first sewing station (40) where elastic bands (20, 21) are sewn to the cut head and foot edge portions (26, 27) of the segments. The rapidly moving trailing portion of each segment (35) of sheet material is temporarily accumulated at the accumulation station (39) and progressively fed at a lower rate from the accumulation station to the first sewing station (40). The head and foot edge portions (26, 27) of each segment are folded into overlying relationship with respect to the main body portion by passing the main body portion through a U-shaped turn (49) and at the same time passing the head and foot edge portions through a pair of reverse 90 degree turns (50 and 53).

Abstract: In a method and apparatus for constructing pillowcases, upper and lower layers of fabric are conveyed along separate paths with their obverse surfaces facing upwardly. Cuffs are formed along one longitudinal edge of each layer. The upper layer of fabric is then reversed to an obverse-side down orientation, and the upper and lower layers of fabric are superimposed with their obverse surfaces mutually facing and their cuffed lateral edges mutually corresponding. The superimposed upper and lower layers of fabric are then stitched together along the lateral edge opposite the cuffed lateral edge. Next, a length of the superimposed upper and lower layers of fabric is cut to a length equal to the desired width of a finished pillowcase. The resulting rectangular workpiece comprises upper and lower panels of fabric stitched together along one transverse edge and cuffed at their opposite transverse edge.

Abstract: An improved athletic sock for preventing lacerations and/or punctures to the legs, particularly of ice hockey players and other athletes. The sock is constructed from woven material which includes aramid and metallic fibers woven into the entire sock or into an insert portion thereof, which covers the unprotected back of the athlete's leg, thus protecting the gastrocnemius muscle and achilles tendon of the wearer.

Abstract: A micro-climate cooling vest of lightweight material of double wall construction, the body-proximate portion of which is comfortable and compatible with the clothing or skin of the wearer contains an internal liner portion comprised of a sealable insulative pocket that contains a heat transfer material that changes phase from solid to liquid within a practical range (e.g. 60.degree.-90.degree. F.) of desired body temperature cooling action, and operates to draw body heat away from the wearer in the course of its phase change form solid to liquid state. To augment the cooling action of the vest, an additional layer of ice may be used in conjunction with the primary phase change material, with the primary phase change material acting as a thermal diode.

Abstract: The present invention provides a seaman style preset necktie characterized mainly in that the portions of the necktie below the tie knot are bifurated into two branches, there are no inner and outer ties as those with conventional neckties, and that the tie knot is suspended before the wearer's chest instead of being tied adjacent to the neck opening. In the present invention, both ends of the necktie are provided with zippers on the same side and the tie knot is provided with a pair of zipper sliders which are disposed invertedly relative to each other, the upper slider causing the portions of the necktie body to be gathered while the lower one causing them to be separated again, such that the position of the tie knot can be adjusted by sliding the sliders. After proper adjustment, by means of the fastening means on the ends of the outer cover of the tie knot, it is only necessary to fold and press said outer cover of the tie knot to be securely set.

Abstract: Sheet material (30) is cut into rectangular segments (35). The segments are then moved parallel to their cut edges rapidly away from the cutting station into a slower operating first sewing station (40) where elastic bands are sewn to the cut head and foot edge portions of the segment. The rapidly moving trailing portion of the segment (35) of sheet material is temporarily accumulated at the accumulation station (39) and progressively fed at a lower rate from the accumulation station to the first sewing station. The head and foot edge portions are folded into overlying relationship with respect to the main body portion by passing the main body portion through a U-shaped turn and at the same time passing the head and foot edge portions though a pair of 90 degree turns. Sewing machines are moved first inwardly and then outwardly across the folded edge portions of the segment, thus forming the sewn line of chain stitching at the corners of the bedsheet.

Abstract: A swimming suit for infants and children which helps keep the child warm by reducing body heat loss to the water. The suit has a body portion extending from the shoulders to the tops of the legs and the body portion is fabricated from double-layered material. Right and left arms and right and left legs are attached to the body portion.

Abstract: In a method and apparatus for applying a protective strip by sewing to an end of a slide fastener, a continuous protective strip is fed downwardly toward a tape supply position on the base of a sewing machine with its one surface facing opposite to a direction of feed of a slide fastener until a leading end portion of the protective tape overlays the base by a predetermined length, then the leading end portion is bent in a direction opposite to the fastener feed direction by a stream of pressurized air issued from an air nozzle, thereafter, a slide fastener is advanced along the base until its leading end reaches to a sewing position located downstream of the tape supply position, thereby causing the leading end portion of the protective tape to bend into a U-shape extending from the back to the face of the slide fastener around the leading end thereof, then the U-shaped leading end portion is cut from the continuous protective tape, thereby forming a U-shaped protective strip which in turn is sewn to the lea

Abstract: A button sewing apparatus comprising a button supply device, a X-Y mover, a stay button chucking device, a surface button chucking device, a surface button turning device, a presser foot device, a thread guiding device and a thread holding device. Button neck wrapping is performed in a manner closely simulating "hand" sewing. After sewing both a stay button and a surface button to a workpiece, a sewing table makes a circular motion while keeping a needle entry as the center, and a thread is slidably clamped and guided to pass through a guide hole tentatively formed underneath a needle such that the thread wraps firmly around the button neck.

Abstract: This invention relates to an automatic sewing machine exclusively used for sewing a zipper on a workpiece and its related art. The automatic sewing machine exclusively used for sewing a zipper on a workpiece comprises a sewing machine (10,20) capable of at least sewing linearly, a drive device movable in two axes right angles to each other in a plane vertical to the movement direction of the needle (11, 21) of the sewing machine and a zipper setting device (12, 22) attached to said drive device for gripping said zipper (3) and workpiece (1) in a predetermined relationship.

Abstract: A device for tensioning material to be sewn includes a driven pull roller, a connecting plate for shifting the pull roller upwardly when the presser foot of a sewing machine is raised, and a cammed guide track and follower support for the pull roller that causes the pull roller to retract outwardly with respect to the presser foot when the pull roller is shifted upwardly. Also provided is a handle for retracting the pull roller assembly independent of the motion of the presser foot.

Abstract: A security pocket formed at the waistband of a woman's pantyhose or like undergarment for the secure storage of valuables, e.g. a credit card, currency, keys, or identification. The pocket includes an interior flap for retaining such stored items within the pocket. The flap may be knitted with an uncovered elastomer yarn partially exposed at a surface of the flap facing the body of the garment to provide frictional adhering contact therewith for added security.

Abstract: Piece of material for an article of clothing (2) and use of the piece of material for production of a garment. The article of clothing is intended to cover at least the upper body and is provided with a front and a back which are finished with a lower edge, a shoulder section with a neck opening (13) and arms. The piece of material (1) has a first edge (3) which is intended to form the lower edge, a second edge (4, 5) opposite this, two side edges (6, 10 and 7, 11) opposite each other and two cuts (8, 9) which extend inwards from the side edges and which are finished at a distance from each other which corresponds approximately to the size across the chest. The piece of material is symmetrical about a center axis (16) on which the neck opening is located, the cuts (8, 9) form an angle, to the center axis (16), which, measured in the direction of the first edge (3), is less than 90.degree..

Abstract: A system for folding and fusing limp strips of fabric to form a semi-finished placket and for assembly of the placket together with an unfinished shirt. The system comprises a folder apparatus, a fuser apparatus, and a sewer apparatus capable of applying the requisite reversed "L"-shaped pattern to the semi-finished placket-unfinished shirt combination.

Abstract: An embroidery machine equipped with plural sets of needles and take-up levers, one set of which is thrown into stitching operation, and with a plurality of spangle cases each equipped with a spangle feeding device respectively and in which is shiftably accommodated a blank consisting of series of unfinished spangles, one selected spangle case being shifted laterally and vertically to be thrown into a position whereat the blank is cut off by a cutting means of the spangle feeding device to produce a single spangle and the single spangle is sewn on fabric by means of two threads supplied through a needle and a bobbin case.

Abstract: The machine includes a fixed guide that defines two longitudinal work tops, first and second work tops, which support and guide the edges of leather articles to be sewn together. A curved needle, located next to the first work top, pierce the edge located on the first work top, pass through a slot in a guide, pierce the another edge, which is being pressed onto the second work top by a pressure foot, and, finally, operates in combination with a crochet hook to produce a stitch. The needle-pressure foot assembly serves to intermittently feed the two edges while a feed dog, acting in combination with a second pressure foot located downstream of the assembly, crimps the edge situated on the first work top.

Abstract: This invention relates to an automatic sewing machine exclusively used for sewing a zipper on a workpiece and its related art. The automatic sewing machine exclusively used for sewing a zipper on a workpiece comprises a sewing machine (10, 20) capable of at least sewing linearly, a drive device movable in two axes right angles to each other in a plane vertical to the movement direction of the needle (11, 21) of the sewing machine and a zipper setting device (12, 22) attached to said drive device for gripping said zipper (3) and workpiece (1) in a predetermined relationship.

Abstract: A protective garment for protecting the wearer against adverse effects of chemical, biological and like environmental contamination including a body garment defined by a pair of legs, a pair of arms, a body and a hood with the latter including a transparent window and at least two openings, a plurality of ultrasonic welds seaming the components of the garment together, the garment being formed of a laminate including an outer layer defined by an impermeable ply of synthetic polymeric/copolymeric plastic material and an inner ply formed as an admixture of synthetic polymeric/copolymeric plastic material fibers and an adhesive; the plies being fused to each other by the adhesive, the fibers defining a porosity sufficient to function as a filter for relatively large size contaminants in the event the impermeable ply becomes torn, punctured or the impermeable integrity thereof is otherwise damaged; a filter covering one of the openings for filtering contaminated air drawn therethrough as a wearer of the garment i

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for clamping and manipulating clothing components with respect to a double needle sewing machine so as to automatically attach and finish stitch a left fly to a front panel of a jeans style garment. The apparatus includes a work holding carriage which translates along a path generally perpendicular to a plane containing dual sewing machine needles. A pair of rotatable discs which are mounted on the carriage in nested fashion and rotate about spaced apart centers of rotation. The axes for the centers of rotation extend substantially perpendicular to the carriage and generally parallel to the dual sewing machine needles. The invention not only encompasses a method for carrying out the sewing operations, but also an apparatus including a drive mechanism for the trasversing carriage, a rotating mechanism for each of the nested rotating discs and a clamping apparatus for holding and positioning the aseembled fly with respect to the jeans panel.

Abstract: Cold weather riding pants are disclosed and are formed of a basic pants structure of a composite of an outer fabric, an intermediate layer of thermal insulation and an inner lining inside of the riding pants. A biaxially stretchable elastic insert is positioned along the outside side of each leg pant as well as in the upper portion of the seat of the pants. A frictional material insert is secured along the inside side of each leg pant together with an adjustable stirrup along the bottom of each leg pant. A pant leg zipper and/or an adjustable strap for gathering the lower portion of each leg pant is used to provide lower pant leg opening adjustment.