Abstract: A fabric feed mechanism that includes a forward feed roller located forward of the stitch forming area and a rear feed roller located to the rear of the stitch forming area. The drive to the forward and rear feed rollers is synchronized such that the fabric is fed to the stitch forming instruments in a relaxed and unstretched condition. There is a independently applied downward pressure to forward and rear feed rollers and the forward feed roller is raised along with the presser foot. The front feed roller has sections that are located on opposite sides of the presser foot toe to thus ensure that the top layer of fabric is fed under the presser foot rather than riding up the front roller.

Abstract: A clamping device for use in a sewing machine. The clamping device includes a clamping plate having a downwardly facing clamping surface for clamping a first workpiece to a sewing surface of a sewing machine wherein the clamping plate is supported for vertical movement beneath a sewing head for the sewing machine. The clamping plate is provided with a vacuum aperture which is in fluid connection with a vacuum source wherein the vacuum source draws a second workpiece into engagement with the clamping plate. A support plate is provided for supporting the second workpiece beneath the clamping plate and a feed mechanism is provided for feeding the second workpiece onto the support plate.

Abstract: The wrist guard can be secured to the hand and wrist by a single strap, to provide protection to the hand and wrist. A rigid palm pad, removably attached to the guard over the palm, protects against impact and abrasion. A relatively stiff or substantially rigid support member is removably attached to the guard on the back of the hand and wrist to prevent backward flexion of the hand while permitting forward flexion. The hand and back of the wrist remain exposed for breathability. A flexible strap across the back of the forearm cushions the arm from the support during a fall. The support member includes a flexible rim across the top, across the back of the hand, to cushion the hand from the support during a fall. The guard is modular in nature such that the guard can be used without the support member when less protection is required or when less bulk and weight is desired. The palm pad and support member can be removed to facilitate cleaning of the guard.

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 clamp 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: A hand covering in the form of a glove which is water proof and provides protection against cutting, puncturing and lacerations as well as thermal insulation for protection against burning of the user's hand when grasping hot objects. A raised silicone pattern is formed on the palm portion of the glove to enhance the heat insulating and gripping abilities of the hand covering.

Abstract: A sound-emitting knee pad apparatus includes a pad assembly which emits a sound when located between a knee of an infant person and a floor surface when the person is crawling on the floor surface. A pad connector assembly connects the pad assembly to a knee of the person or to an outside surface of a knee-juxtaposed region of a garment worn by the person. The pad connector assembly includes a first connector assembly attached to an outside surface of a knee-juxtaposed region of a garment. A second connector assembly is attached to an outside surface of the pad assembly. The first connector assembly is a quantity of hook-or-loop connector material. The second connector assembly is a quantity of complementary loop-or-hook connector material. The pad assembly may be comprised of a rubber material. Alternatively, the pad assembly may include an air chamber assembly which includes a plurality of resilient exterior walls which define an interior air chamber.

Abstract: A machine and process for producing bags from roll stock of bag material are disclosed. The machine includes four subassemblies, a folding and cutting subassembly, a transport and first sewing subassembly and a second transport and sewing subassembly and a stacking subassembly. The folding and cutting subassembly, preferably includes a drum or reel with a plurality of peripheral clamps which are successively opened to receive the bag material and a blade positioned to force the bag material into an open clamp to define a fold. The adjacent closed clamp holding folded bag material tensions the bag material. A cutter severs adjacent folds between the adjacent clamps. Transfer and transport means are present to advance the folded cut bag blank past two sewing machines and then to the stacker subassembly.

Abstract: An apparatus for tufting yarn in a backing comprising a yarn applicator for penetrating the backing and implanting the yarn therein and an electric motor for supplying a predetermined length of the yarn to the yarn applicator. The electric motor is operable to selectively advance the predetermined length of yarn to the yarn applicator, and alternatively, hold the yarn or retract the yarn from the applicator. Desirably, the electric motor is a stepper motor, and more desirably, the apparatus comprises a plurality of stepper motors for selectively feeding yarns to a row of reciprocable hollow tufting needles for producing a patterned tufted product. According to one aspect, the tufting apparatus composes a modular supply system and a corresponding modular control system. Pattern information and timing signals are sent to modular yarn control units by a remote process control computer system.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing an improved back pocket blank for pants is disclosed. The method includes the forming of an elongated generally rectangular shaped back pocket blank to provide a flattened longitudinally side edge folded over section on each side of the back pocket blank with a transverse fold of the entire back pocket blank positioning flattened longitudinal side edge folded over sections of transversely folded over and non-folded over areas in superimposed relationship to one another, the transverse fold being creased in order to maintain the transversely folded over area in proximity to the non-folded area of the back pocket blank. A small area of each of the superimposed flattened longitudinal side edge sections on each side of the back pocket blank can be at least temporarily secured to one another to assist in maintaining the respected folded position. This may be accomplished by an adhesive, fusing, sonic or sewing attachment, as may be desired.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for the assembly of pillow-top mattress covers. In the method of this invention, the gussets for a pillow-top mattress cover are prepared in a single step in which the gusset material is folded longitudinally, and the flange material is attached thereto and the gusset material is sewn together in one stitch. Thereafter, a gusset is attached to each of the top and bottom panels of the cover along its outer edge. Each gusset is secured to the underside of its associated top or bottom panel at the folded edge using a blind stitch which is not visible externally of the panel. No gluing is required. During the step of attaching the gusset to its associated mattress cover panel, precisely positioned mitered corners are formed on the gusset where the gusset is to be attached to the corner of its associated panel.

Abstract: A hip protector using a matching pair of hip protector holsters interconnectable to form a waist encircling belt from which a pair of protective pad pockets are pivotally suspended over the patent's hips and secured in place by leg encircling straps. The hip protector is light weight and flexible for use under clothing and does not interfere with restroom activities. Each holster is identical and has a wide waist size adjustment range to minimize costs and inventory problems. The pads include impact absorbing base pads on which are positioned semi-rigid shells to distribute impact energy across the pad. The waist and leg encircling belts are secured by hook and loop fastening fabric for convenience and adjustability, and may be provided with an alternative hook and loop fastening fabric to service a substantially different range of leg sizes. The waist encircling belt may be locked with cable ties, a locking strap, or a locking buckle to ensure compliance.

Abstract: A protective body pad (10) for lessening injury to knees, elbows and other body parts as a result of exposure to either repetitive or sudden impact forces. The protective body pad of this invention includes a shell (14) with straps (16, 18) that is secured to the body part to be protected. A cushion sub-assembly (12) is disposed inside the shell. The cushion-sub assembly includes a first, outer cushion (22) formed of relatively incompressible material and a second, inner cushion (24) formed of more compressible material that is attached to the outer cushion and positioned to be located adjacent the body surface. Metal caps (20) are attached to the outer surface of the shell to absorb and deflect impact forces.

Abstract: A protective glove is formed of the type having a back portion, a palmar portion and a plurality of digital sheaths distally projecting from between the back and palmar portions for use on the hand of a wearer. The human hand has a proximal transverse palmar crease, a distal transverse palmar crease and a longitudinal thenar crease all positioned on the palmar surface of said hand. The improvement disclosed comprises the provision of a plurality of flexible resilient pads for absorbing shock positioned on the palmer portion of the glove in spaced, non-overlapping relation to each other and in adjacent substantially non-overlapping relation to the proximal digital crease, the distal transverse palmar crease and the longitudinal thenar crease, such that the plurality of flexible resilient pads abut one-another in edge-contacting relation upon flexion of the hand to form a substantially continuous, non-creased shock absorbing layer covering the metacarpal region of the hand.

Abstract: A shoulder pad having a pair of impact absorbing accessory pads disposed adjacent the armpits of a user. The shoulder pad includes a left body arch member and a right body arch member. A left chest portion and a left back portion depend from the left arch member. Two left strap members extends from the left back portion to the left chest portion. A right chest portion and a right back portion depend from the right arch member. Two right strap members extend from the right back portion to the right chest portion. The left and right straps secure the shoulder pad to the body of the user. A left accessory pad and a right accessory pad are attached to the left and right strap members. The accessory pads are disposed adjacent the armpits of the user and between the users arms and ribs. Each pad includes a wedge shaped cushion having a concave side and a opposing convex side. A plastic plate is disposed within the wedge shaped cushion.

Abstract: A finger sleeve comprising a finger sleeve of a varying length as a function to correspond to the length of a user's finger and positionable upon the user's finger, the finger sleeve having an external surface with a proximal end having a finger-receiving opening, a distal end having a closed spherical extent and a long intermediate extent therebetween with a conical extent, and a short cylindrical extent at the end of the conical extent; the finger sleeve having a hollow internal surface with a proximal end having a finger-receiving opening, a distal end with a closed spherical extent and a long intermediate extent therebetween with a conical surface, and a short cylindrical extent adjacent to the internal end; the finger sleeve having a solid region between the conical surfaces and between the exterior surface at the distal end; and the finger sleeve as set forth in claim 1 wherein the finger sleeve is fabricated of an elastomeric material selected from the class of elastomeric materials including plastic a

Abstract: An assembly performing for performing both material removal and sewing operations on stitchable material. In one embodiment, the assembly includes sewing and material removal units which are interconnected in a manner such that the sewing unit's sewing area is isolated from the material removal unit. Preferably, the material removal unit is separable from the sewing unit. In another embodiment, the assembly includes sewing and material removal units, the material removal unit including a material removal device, a receiving table with an aperture aligned with the material removal device, and an alignment device which is movable through the aperture to align stitchable material relative to the material removal device.

Abstract: A single or multiple needle bar tufting machine is provided with loop forming fingers above the substrate or base fabric and by laterally shifting the needles during tufting, rows of loop stitches are formed over the loop forming fingers on the face of the substrate and rows of pile loops are formed on the back side. Methods are disclosed for utilizing this machine in connection with yarn feed pattern control devices, pattern control needle bar positioners, a controllable fabric feed, to create a variety of novel fabrics and fabrics simulating patterns heretofore only made on looms and knitting machines. The resulting fabrics offer many advantages including lower stitch rates, better substrate coverage, less resistance to sliding traffic, increased abrasion resistance, and improved draping characteristics.

Abstract: Two-piece padded skating shorts include a padded core shell and an outside shell releasably fastened to the padded core by first and second pairs of complementarily-formed fastening members at leg portions thereof. The padded core shell includes ball joint, thigh, hip, tail bone, kidney and buttocks pads, some of which include curved reinforced padding. The outside shell includes at least one pocket to store items therein. Waist portions of the core shell and the outside shell each include a belt sewn therein to secure the core shell and the outside shell to a wearer thereof.

Abstract: A drive assembly for reciprocating connecting links includes a single, main drive shaft and alternating, counterrotating and direct individual drive assemblies. The drive assembly is particularly adapted for use in devices such as carpet tufting machines which require high speed reciprocation of connecting links and push rods. The drive assembly is designed to counterbalance undesirable multidirectional reciprocating forces generated by the drive assembly itself and other machine elements. The drive assembly, therefore, operates at high speeds while reducing overall machine vibration.

Abstract: An apparatus for protecting the hand from injuries resulting from contact with an object. An outer member and an inner member cooperate to protect the anatomical configurations of the hand by acting as a joint stabilizer to reduce excessive and deleterious joint motion and by acting as a shock absorber to diffuse axial compression, tension, rotational, and other detrimental forces transmitted to the unprotected anatomical configurations of the hand.