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: An automatic sewing machine has two feeding devices, each having a workpiece holder, each of which, when in a sewing position, can be raised up into a position some distance above a carrier plate and, at this distance above the carrier plate, can be moved over the other workpiece holder situated on the carrier plate to a transfer position. The purpose of these measures is to minimize the cycle time with the lowest possible expense and to increase the output of the automatic sewing machine as much as possible while largely avoiding idling paths.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for stretching and folding a limp fabric piece (40) comprising transporting the fabric piece (40) in a stretched condition to foldable support (41), mechanically, sequentially gripping and stretching marginal portions (46) of the fabric piece (40) on each side of the fold line (51) of the foldable support (41) by means of selectively operable fingers (45), folding one section (50) of the foldable support (41) over the other, clamping overlapping marginal portions (46), unfolding the foldable support (41) while concurrently releasing fingers (45) from engagement with the fabric piece (40).

Abstract: An improved shirt to facilitate the wearing of a tie comprises first and second flaps attached to the respective front panels of a shirt. Upon a button/buttonhole engagement on the respective flaps, the overlapped flaps cooperate with the shirt panels to present a pocket for insertion of at least one end of the tie therein. The structure eliminates the dangling ends of the tie as well as allows the display portion of the tie to be bowed away from the shirt. As such both safety and aesthetic factors are addressed.

Abstract: An automatic sewing machine has a guiding device by means of which workpieces can be guided, on the one hand, from a taking over position to a sewing position under a sewing head and, on the other hand, under this sewing head in two coordinate directions. To enable the handling of large workpieces in the case of a particularly simple design, the whole guiding device is arranged above a workpiece receiving plate for the workpieces, a free space for large workpieces being provided on the side of the workpiece receiving plate lying opposite an operator's side.

Abstract: In a wet suit having a lower trunk portion, leg portions integral with said lower trunk portion, upper trunk and neck portions, and first and second arm portions integral with said upper trunk and neck portions, the improvement comprising:(a) said upper trunk and neck portions including a first section integral with the first arm portion and a second section integral with the second arm portion, the first section defining an opening to pass the second arm portion therethrough, the sections being relatively separable to provide access to space enabling user body entry relatively downwardly into the wet suit,(b) one section overlapping the other section when the suit is worn by the user to seal off between the sections.

Abstract: A pantyhose undergarment, particularly for men, which permits urination and defecation without the need of lowering the same. The undergarment preferably comprises a fabric torso section which extends about a portion of the torso of the user below the waist. A pair of tubular leg sections extend from the torso section and are adapted to receive the legs of a user. The region of connection of the leg sections and the torso section form a crotch region which connects the front and rear lower portions of the torso section. A first set of flaps are capable of being spread apart to form the first opening in the front portion of the torso section to allow urination without the lowering of the undergarment. A second pair of flaps on the rear portion of the torso section are also capable of being spread apart to form a second opening on the rear portion of the torso section to allow defecation without the lowering of the undergarment.

Abstract: A heat shield insert to be worn between inner clothing and outer garments of a person is disclosed including a flexible insulator removeably received in a flexible fabric covering. The insulator in its preferred form includes first and second reflective layers sandwiching sealed, multiple air cell material. The reflective layers reflect body heat back and cold away from the person. The air encapsulated in the air cells acts as insulation in reducing heat transfer and provides a resilient, cushion type support. The heat shield insert has a shape corresponding to the torso and upper leg portions of the person and includes a rectangular portion for substantially covering the torso and first and second leg portions extending from and integral with the rectangular portion for covering the legs to adjacent the knees. The lower edge of the rectangular portion is supported on the crotch of the outer garment.

Abstract: A pants garment having a pad retention member and liner sewn in place within the crotch and lower seat portion of the garment. Lines of stitching define rear and frontal pockets within which are retained resilient pads which cushion muscle and tissue of the anatomy subjacent the pelvis. Unstitched segments of the main member and liner provide openings for insertion and removal of the pads which may be of selected thicknesses to provide the desired amount of cushioning. Paired rear pads cushion the ischium of the pelvis while a forward pad cushions the pubic structure of the pelvis. Unfolding of the pads subsequent to pocket insertion contributes toward pad retention.

Abstract: A device for producing a heat and tension resistant, flexible connection between a thread layer of parallel threads and a web-shaped material. The device includes a sewing arrangement for sewing the thread layer and the web-shaped material together at the point of connection. In particular, the device includes clamping arrangements for sandwiching the thread layer between a continuous length of the web-shaped material and a relatively short length of the material. The sewing arrangement is then caused to traverse across the width of the thread layer and web-shaped material between the clamping arrangements thereby sewing a seam therethrough connecting the web-shaped materials to the thread layer.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming belt loops and transferring the formed loop to a sewing station where the loop may be stitched to the waistband of a pair of trousers. The invention is particularly useful in sewing belt loops onto the waistbands of trousers of the blue jeans type.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for attaching a zipper when a zipper is attached to a garment which provides a flap to cover the zipper attached thereto, conducted such that a "perfect stitch" line appears on the garment surface and a "hitch stitch" line is covered by the garment flap. Thereby, the quality of stitching work is not degraded.

Abstract: A costume includes a pair of arm pieces, a pair of leg pieces, and an optical hood, each of which is made from a compressible tubular conduit including a helically wound coil of resiliently flexible wire material and a covering material for encasing the wire material. The arm pieces are connected together by an adjustable strap which extends over the wearer's back. The leg pieces include hooks for securing over the wearer's pants. Both the arm and leg pieces include end caps with small diameter openings for closely encircling the wearer's wrists and shins, respectively, thus preventing the coil of flexible wire material in each piece from extending beyond the length of the wearer's arms of legs.

Abstract: A hemmer seamer assembly comprising an apparatus for positioning a chain of stitches for stitching onto fabric having a needle and a throat plate, including a device for positioning the chain of stitches forwardly of the needle, and a device for moving the fabric to the throat plate for sewing the chain onto the fabric.

Abstract: A method of sewing a length of elastic about a garment waist opening in which after the leading end is sewn initially below and then raised to the level of and sewn for most of its length about the garment waist opening, the unattached trailing end is shifted also below the garment waist opening and sewn to the garment, so that both elastic ends, which may exhibit fraying and otherwise be unsightly, are significantly out of sight in their location below the garment waist opening.

Abstract: A method of and an apparatus for feeding a cylindrical piece of fabric to a sewing portion of a sewing machine whereby a hem is set at the edge portion of the fabric as a twice-folded, three-layered band. The apparatus has parallel supports for the cylindrical fabric both secured to the sewing portion, and a plurality of pairs of clamp plates disposed to the left and right of the supports at forward and backward positions and movable to the left and right and back and forth. The cylindrical piece of fabric is supported around the supports and four pairs of clamp plates are moved in such a manner that the fabric portions are appropriately stretched and the fabric has a twice folded portion.

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 traversing carriage, a rotating mechanism for each of the nested rotating discs and a clamping apparatus for holding and positioning the assembled fly with respect to the jeans panel.

Abstract: The guide apparatus comprises: a fixed structure with perimetrical tracks for a beading machine; a frame for a template for the assembly of the cover components; orthogonally extending guide means for the displacement of said frame in its plane with a limited inclination with respect to said tracks. Thrust means can be activated and deactivated according to the position reached by the beading machine along the tracks, in order to move, in a predetermined fashion, the template close to particular zones of the track means are provided to secure the frame to the structure in alignment with to the curved trajectories of the beading machine, and to release the frame to set free the movements thereof during the beading of the same curves.

Abstract: A folding device for an automatic sewing machine has a vacuum holding device for a sword. This measure serves to ensure a perfect position of the sword relative to an outer frame of the folding device during creasing of a workpiece. A suction plate provided for this purpose is pivotable relative to the outer frame in a direction away from the sword. This serves to allow very precise creasing to take place.

Abstract: A health care personnel uniform of light-weight material including a jacket or blouse for the uniform having a conventional type of breast pocket. At the bottom across the full width of the blouse is a pocket panel with a vertical seam in the center to form two pouch pocket compartments. The bottom portion of the pocket panel has a separate piece of material for reinforcing the bottom of the pocket which is integral with the hemline along substantially the full width of the blouse. The pouch pocket openings are set at a convenient angle for entrance of the hand into the pocket and disallowing objects from falling out of the pockets.The outboard pant pockets have similar closures as the outside blouse pockets and like all pockets the bottoms are reinforced.