Abstract: A rectangular, flexible, impervious body is provided, on its inside, with unwoven fibrous lining. The body is formed of a vinyl sheet and has a shin protector pad along the central longitudinal portion of the body. This shin protector is retained in a pocket formed by an overlay which cooperates with the body for confining the pad in a pocket. Velcro.RTM. straps cooperate with each other and are secured to the edge portions of the rectangular body so that, when the legging is wrapped around the leg of a person, portions of the straps will overlap and removably join together.

Abstract: An in-line needle bar arrangement for tufting machines (10) for tufting a selected fabric. A pair of needle bars (12A,B) are provided with registered faces (20) configured to engage one another such that the needles (14) carried thereby are positioned to define a single row of needles (14). Each one of the needles (14) is substantially similar to each of the others such that only one configuration of needle (14) is required. A plurality of filaments (16) are provided, one each for one each of the plurality of needles (14). Each filament (16) is engaged by one of at least two feed control rollers (18). Each of the rollers (18) is controlled independently from the other in order to accomplish different feed rates by each. By varying the feed rate of the yarn (16), the pile height is proportionately varied, thus varying the pile height of the respective tufts.

Abstract: A tufting machine includes a pattern attachment mounted between a yarn feeding device and the needles, the yarn feeding device feeding yarn to the needles at a constant rate in an amount sufficient to accommodate the yarn requirements of the needle and looper system. The pattern attachment includes a series of slats rotatable about an axis in timed relationship to the reciprocation of the needles. Each slat includes a yarn receiving groove corresponding to each needle, certain of the grooves being shallower than others. A first yarn guide directs yarn from the feeding device to the pattern attachment while a second yarn guide directs yarn from the pattern attachment toward the needles. The slats are mounted on chains fastened to sprockets mounted on a driven shaft.

Abstract: A shield for protecting a back of a human hand. The inventive device includes a cover web sized to extend over and beyond the back and digits of a human hand. A plurality of finger loops extend from a lower surface of the cover web for engaging the fingers of the hand to couple the device thereto. A plurality of slits can extend through the web to permit individual articulation of the digits of the hand, and a wrist strap can be provided for securing an inner portion of the cover web relative to the hand.

Abstract: A shock-absorbing wrist guard includes a soft piece including two ear portions, a loop pile area connected on a portion of the soft piece, an envelope connected to another portion of the soft piece and defining a plurality of slots therein, a mediate portion between the loop pile area and the envelope, an opening defined in the space portion allowing a thumb of a user to pass therethrough, and a soft strip extended from one side of the loop pile area, and a shock absorbing device received in the envelope for protecting the user's wrist.

Abstract: A rotatable presser foot for use in a sewing machine having a sewing station. The rotatable presser foot comprises a foot member and a coupler for detachably and adjustably coupling the foot member to a needle bar in the sewing machine so that the foot member can be rotatably adjusted about a center axis of the needle bar. The coupler comprises a bracket which is adjustably fastened to the needle bar and a foot support on which the foot member can be adjustably secured. The coupler also comprises a resilient coupling located between the foot support and bracket so as to permit the foot member to be resiliently biased towards a sewing surface at the sewing station. The rotatable presser foot can be rotated to any predetermined location about the axis of the needle bar, thereby facilitating sewing workpieces of different shapes and configurations.

Abstract: The goaltender's blocker has an angled upper area, with the inside edge of the blocker being raised more than the outside edge. The angled upper area thus angles outwardly away from the plane of the rest of the blocking pad, and also towards the outside edge. One result of this configuration is that when the goaltender is in the usual upright position with the blocker oriented generally upright, a puck which hits the angled portion of the blocker will be deflected outwardly, i.e. toward the corner of the hockey rink, instead of rebounding in front of the net where a goal may be scored by an offensive player.

Abstract: A tufting machine has a bedrail which is raised and lowered by a motor controlled by a computer. The computer also controls the yarn feed motor and the backing material motor. A sensor detects the height of the bedrail and provides a feedback to the computer. In a process of raising the bedrail alternately a prescribed excess of yarns are fed to the needles as the machine is operated and then the bedrail is raised by an increment of the total amount by which the bedrail is raised. Brakes automatically operate to arrest movement of the bedrail when its motor is not operating.

Abstract: The shin pad, for use in ice hockey and possibly other sports, includes a lower brace element positionable along the front of the player's shin and securable to the player's lower leg, and an upper brace element positionable along the front of the player's lower thigh and securable thereto. A shin shield is secured outside the lower brace element. The lower and upper brace elements are pivotally connected to each other by pivotal connections on lateral and medial sides thereof, the pivotal connections being positionable on lateral and medial sides of the player's knee, in general alignment with the axis of the player's knee joint. To restrict or prevent hyperextension of the knee, the shin pad includes a stop arranged to prevent rotation of the upper and lower brace elements beyond a selected maximum permissible extension angle.

Abstract: A waist band (18) is placed in straddling relationship about spindles (11-14). The waist edge (24) of the garment body (19) is telescoped about the waist band (18), also in straddling relationship about the spindles (11-14). The garment parts are advanced by the rotation of the spindles (11-14) past a sewing needle (17) that forms a line of stitching at the aligned edges of the shirt body and waist band. In the meantime, the end spindles (11 and 13 and 14) move longitudinally along the sewing path to adjust the position of the waist band in response to the position of the folded edges (22, 23) of the waist band (18) as detected by band sensor 128, and the star wheels (119) engage and urge the waist band (18) and the garment body (19) toward or away from the sewing path (16) as controlled by band and body edge sensors (112, 129).

Abstract: A removable ruffler for a sewing machine is removably mounted on the sewing machine by way of an exclusive removable holder of the sewing machine. A body of the ruffler for carrying out ruffling of a cloth has a ruffling member, a holder guide rail, and a presser foot guide rail, each extending in a transverse direction. A presser foot is mounted on the presser foot guide rail for sliding movement thereby pressing the cloth downward. A presser foot holder adjusts relative position of the presser foot and the body of the removable ruffler. The presser foot holder has longitudinal position adjustment portion abutting on the presser foot. The longitudinal position adjustment portion has an opening vertically formed therein and having a large longitudinal width. The presser foot holder also has a transverse position adjustment portion fitted on the holder guide rail.

Abstract: A single or multiple needle bar tufting machine provided with loop forming fingers above the substrate or base fabric is used to form variable gauge fabrics by laterally shifting the needles during tufting. In this manner 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. A variety of novel fabrics and fabrics simulating patterns heretofore only made on looms and knitting machines can be manufactured by utilizing such a tufting machine in connection with yarn feed pattern control devices, pattern control needle bar positioners, and a controllable fabric feed. 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: An equestrian knee pad for gripping, allowing added contact at the knee with the saddle for better leg control, as well as protecting an equestrian's knees from tissue injury. A generally flattened pillow-like pad is affixed to two pair of flexible and elastic straps, each strap having an end proximate to the pad and an end distal to the pad. Each strap extends generally parallel outwardly from the long edge of the oval pad. The oval pad comprises two oval layers of a web fabric, creating an inwardly facing surface (being the surface to be worn against the knee) and an outwardly facing surface (being the surface to be worn against the saddle). The inwardly facing surface is preferably made of leather to minimize friction and provide a natural cushioning effect. The outwardly facing surface is preferably suede, a textured surface which naturally provides a gripping effect upon the leather of a saddle. A cushioned fill material lies between each of the layers and causes the pad to appear pillow-like.

Abstract: A shock absorbent protective GLOVE (24) to be used as an underglove in conjunction with a baseball/softball mitt, which extends above the wrist and up the lower forearm. The hand section (22) of the GLOVE (24) contains thin quasi-liquid, shock absorbent, flexible material with shape memory properties covering the fingers, the base of the fingers and the palm or the metacarpal bones of the hand. The wrist section (18) of the GLOVE (24) contains shock absorbent material of closed cell and shape memory properties covering the carpal bones and thus the ulna nerve where it enters the hand at the wrist. The forearm section (12,14) of the GLOVE (24) contains at least one layer of shock absorbent material patterned to optimize flexibility and protection of the lower ulna and radius bones as well as the front surface of the lower forearm.

Abstract: A protective pad assembly is used to protect upper body parts of contact sport athletes such as hockey players. The pad assembly has a relatively rigid first shield and a relatively rigid second shield pivotally connected to the first shield. An inner air entrained cushion is releasably attached to the first shield and closely conforms to the upper body part to be protected. The cushion includes a flexible case that surrounds a plurality of chambers accommodating flexible shock absorbent pads. The case has a pair of sheet members having adjacent outer peripheral edges and adjacent intermediate sections connected together to enclose the pad between the sheet members within the chambers and provide increased flexibility to the cushion. Releasable straps extend through the cushion and the first shield to releasably hold the cushion and first shield together.

Abstract: A cuff seal for sealing the cuffs of anti-contamination protective clothing having cuffs at the distal ends of arms and legs comprises an elongated band that is removably attached to the cuff at an inner end and wraps around the cuff and is attached to the cuff where it overlaps the band at an outer end of the band. The band is fastened to the cuff and to the band itself by spaced pairs of snap fasteners. The band is formed of a stretchable woven fabric which includes an elastomeric yarn in addition to non-elastomeric yarn in order to provide at least a limited stretch capability for the fabric. The band is about two inches wide and covers the arm cuff completely and extends distally beyond the arm cuff so as to provide a snug seal between the band and the wearer's glove at a position distally separated from the cuff. The band similarly encircles the limb of the wearer at the cuff of the coverall legs.

Abstract: A festooning machine has at least one transport element for a forward transportation and transverse transportation of a sewing product, two vertically movable needles arranged at a distance near the transport element and parallel to a direction of the transverse movement with an adjustable distance therebetween, a needle drive for vertically moving the needles, and a independent drive unit which supports the transport element and provides movements of the transport element.

Abstract: A hand-held mending gun for tufting stitches into a backing material has a hollow needle reciprocably driven axially and oscillated laterally so as to form stitches in a backing material laterally offset from other stitches. Zig-zag backstitches may thus be formed as may other laterally offset stitches. A crank drives a needle carrier in a reciprocating path extending longitudinally along the axis of the needle. The elongated path is defined by constraining the needle carrier to move within a slot in a pivotally mounted yoke member having a pair of spaced apart tines disposed about a cam so that rotation of the cam oscillates the yoke member about the pivot. The cam is driven by gears such that it may make one cycle For each two cycles of reciprocation of the needle to form alternate laterally offset stitches. Cams of various configurations may be utilized so that more than one stitch may be provided at each lateral side.

Abstract: A double-needle chuck assembly for a sewing machine is provided with a knife that is moveable from a position on one side of the needles to a position on the other side. This enables a closed slit, as might be required for a pocket of a garment, to be produced with stitching on both sides and at the ends thereof without reversing the direction of movement of the fabric or using a separate step in a production line. The knife is mounted on a rod which engages a slot extending between the needles, with the rod being securable in either of the two positions by a detent mechanism. Movement of the rod to change positions of the knife may be performed manually or by a pneumatic actuator.

Abstract: A device for protecting a person's neck comprises an arcuate, resilient body formed of cushioning material terminating at its opposite ends in arms which are movable toward and away from one another. A flexible, U-shaped mounting strap is joined to free ends of the arms so that the arcuate body and the mounting strap together form an endless loop. An anchor strap extends transversely of the loop and is joined at its opposite ends to the mounting strap. The anchor strap is adjustable in length so as to position the opposite ends of the arcuate body a selected distance from one another and to inhibit movement of such arms in directions away from one another.