Abstract: A hand glove has a palm panel which extends over the palm of a hand and is made of two webs which envelope a heat softening slow recovery medium density polyurethane foam pad.

Abstract: A hand glove has ridge contours on its interior surface which cradle the base portions of the proximal phalanges of the fingers. A dome may also be formed on the interior surface which fits into the metacarpal arch of the palm. The glove may be molded to fit the contours of a hand, thereby reducing sewing operations.

Abstract: A sports glove for wrapping around a human user's hand has finger loops for the little and ring fingers and an inverted tear drop shaped thumb hole. In one form, an angled wrist wrap panel is provided, which can be helically wrapped over a wrist tab to resist back bending of the hand. Four fastening patches are provided in the wrist wrap version, with two patches securing a back panel and a little finger side tab and the other two patches securing the wrist wrap. A palm pad is provided which extends from the palm past the crotch between the thumb and forefinger, and two palm pads can be provided.

Abstract: A convertible abdominal support belt for securing around the waist of a user has an insulator insert panel for adding warmth to the user which may be removed when coolness is desired.

Abstract: A two piece reversible support belt has a body and a strap. The body is longitudinally curved so that when it is wrapped around a human waist it forms a tapered shape, and may be worn so that the tapered shape either opens up or opens down. The strap encircles the body and is detachably removable from the body so that the free end of the strap may always be held in the right hand by a man or in the left hand by a woman, regardless of which orientation the body is worn in. In one form, lateral slits are cut in the body to retain the strap laterally, and the strap may be worn against either side of the body in this embodiment. Detachable fastener material may be provided on the inside surface of the strap in this embodiment and an accessory such as a lumbar pad may be secured thereby, between the belt body and the wearer. The body may also be made articulated with elastic hip sections or with molded foam accordion fold hip sections.

Abstract: A support belt has a core layer made of a three dimensional fabric in which a cushion layer has a serpentine undulating cross-sectional shape in at least one dimension so as to define peaks and valleys which space inner and outer surfaces of the core such that the thickness of the core at a given location is greater than the sum of the thicknesses of threads of the fabric at that location. The core may have multiple cushion layers and may be covered with a closed weave fabric on one or both sides thereof. Preferably, a strap encircles the core and a buckle is provided for adjustably securing the strap around a body with the core between the strap and the body.

Abstract: A support belt has a cinching system which incorporates two or more rings and results in a reduction of the force required to secure the belt around a user's waist. An elastomeric material may be deposited on the interior surface of the belt so as to increase the resistance of the belt to turning around the waist when the belt is being tightened.

Abstract: A support belt has a core layer made of a three dimensional fabric in which a cushion layer has a serpentine undulating cross-sectional shape in at least one dimension so as to define peaks and valleys which space inner and outer surfaces of the core such that the thickness of the core at a given location is greater than the sum of the thicknesses of threads of the fabric at that location. The core may have multiple cushion layers and may be covered with a closed weave fabric on one or both sides thereof. Preferably, a strap encircles the core and a buckle is provided for adjustably securing the strap around a body with the core between the strap and the body.

Abstract: A cam type buckle pinches a strap between a transverse blade of a pivotable tongue of the buckle and a laterally and transversely extending surface of a base of the buckle to pinch the strap in the longitudinal direction (the direction the strap extends through the buckle from end-to-end) and so that the frictional force exerted by the strap on the blade where the strap is pinched by the blade against the surface tends to rotate the tongue into a closed position.

Abstract: A support belt has an intermediate perforated foam layer with confronting unperforated fabric layers laminated on the inner and outer surfaces of the foam layer. Through-holes in the foam layer are trapezoid shaped and arranged and oriented in a circumferential grid pattern to provide ventilation, perspiration drainage, strength and stiffness. A high strength strap with a buckle encircles the lamination to secure the belt around a user's waist.

Abstract: A resistance apparatus for use in performing squat exercises, in which a belt-type device is worn by a person for providing a resistance connection between the person's legs. The resistance apparatus includes a chain, which is connectable at one end to a connection arrangement associated with the belt-type device. The other end of the chain is connected to a stack of weights or any other satisfactory resistance-providing device, with the chain being trained around a series of pulleys. A tracking arrangement provides front-to-rear movement of the chain at a point below the connection of the chain to the belt-type device for maintaining the resistance directly below the person's center of gravity as the person moves in a front-to-rear direction during performance of a squat exercise.

Abstract: A belt with a cinching device including a torque ring surrounding a tightening strap. The torque ring loosely receives a free end of the strap, the opposite end being fastened to a retaining buckle. The free end of the strap may be pulled in a reverse direction against the retention forces of the torque ring, in contrast to conventional tensile forces being applied. This permits minimal movement of the strap in a reverse direction while being clamped in place or otherwise retained by cooperating elements of the buckle. The torque ring is further adapted to releasably, retain a buckle tongue member in clamping engagement with the strap to prevent accidental opening of the buckle.

Abstract: A belt is disclosed which may be used for support, comfort and/or decoration, and has particular application in weight lifting, kidney support or other protection and which is of a construction utilizing a plurality of layers, one of which is of an elastically yieldingly compressible and shape-restoring material.