Abstract: A composite sheet material for garments and the like is disclosed. The composite sheet material comprises a substantially continuous internal layer of porous material having low heat conductivity and high resilience. The internal layer is of a substantially uniform thickness and consistency, and its composition and thickness is such that it is supple and drapable. A flexible sheet of liquid impermeable material is adhered to the internal layer, and the flexible sheet having a plurality of capillary openings extended therethrough. The capillary openings each have a base open to one surface of the flexible surface and lying substantially in the plane of the flexible sheet, an apex extending away from the opposite surface of the flexible sheet and remote from the plane of the flexible sheet, and are of a character so as to inhibit the flow of fluids therethrough.

Abstract: An apparatus for gathering a running fiber web into a sliver, includes a web guide element having edge portions defining an outlet opening through which the web passes; a trumpet arranged downstream of the outlet opening of the web guide element as viewed in a direction of web advance, and an arrangement for guiding air, flowing against the direction of web advance and generated by web compression downstream of the web guide element, away from a zone extending between the outlet opening of the web guide element and the outlet opening of the trumpet.

Abstract: A drafting roller arrangement for spinning machines is disclosed having at least three pairs of rollers forming successive drafting zones in the conveying direction of the sliver and having a sliver stopping device assigned to the first pair of rollers that can be triggered by a disturbance. In front of the last drafting zone, a sliver condenser having guide surfaces narrowingly tapering in the conveying direction of the sliver is arranged. The sliver condenser is provided with a threading slot extending in the conveying direction of the sliver and is held by means of a holding device in such a way that it can be moved out of the drafting zone transversely to the conveying direction toward the side facing away from the threading slot. This arrangement accommodates restarting of the drafting arrangement without the sliver condenser interfering with the sliver supplied to the last drafting zone.