Abstract: A shoe, in particular an athletic shoe, comprising a heel portion that includes an adaptive heel element arranged in the heel portion of the shoe, wherein the adaptive heel element comprises a stretch material. A heel counter is arranged in the heel portion, wherein the heel counter comprises a lateral portion and a medial portion for supporting the heel of a wearer's foot and a posterior gap therebetween wherein the posterior gap forms an essentially vertical split portion, wherein the split portion is adapted such that the adaptive heel element can move and deform within the split portion, and wherein the adaptive heel element within the split portion is adapted to contour to the anatomical shape of the heel of the wearer.

Abstract: An apparatus and system for facilitating breast milk pumping and breastfeeding in a discreet and comfortable manner. The apparatus including a bandeau provided within a covering shirt. The bandeau can include a pair of apertures corresponding in location to a wearer's nipples which provide access through the bandeau to the wearer's nipples for pumping purposes. Further, the bandeau and covering shirt being formed of a resilient material for exposing one or both breasts, or alternatively uncovering only the bandeau.

Abstract: A bulky, resilient, durable, dimensionally stable nonwoven fabric is prepared by (a) intermittently attaching contractible elements to a nonwoven fibrous layer, (b) contracting the elements to simultaneously gather the fibrous layer to 25-75% of its original area and form a series of waves or protuberances that project from the plane of the layer and then (c) stitchbonding the gathered fibrous layer with inextensible inelastic yarn. The fabrics are particularly useful for toweling, insulating layers, fire-resistant cloths, upholstery and the like.

Abstract: An adornment for affixing to fabric comprised of several ornaments in a series which are attached by elastic threads.

Abstract: An extensible composite fabric including a multiplicity of continuous fibers extending in one direction and distorted into aligned, locally parallel, curved paths for imparting extensibility to the fabric in that direction, and a method and apparatus for making such a composite fabric.

Abstract: A method for the production of decorative fabrics having flat narrow fabrics stitchingly secured in a longitudinally compressed convoluted condition to a substrate or devoid of a substrate. The narrow fabrics are such as lace, ribbon, braid or tape. The narrow fabric is guided into the path of a conventional reciprocating sewing needle whereby the needle on each downward stroke strikes the narrow fabric and advances it in a compressed convoluted condition toward the needle plate whereupon the fabric is attached in its compressed convoluted condition.

Abstract: A stitched assembly of a gathered fabric sandwiched between an overlying straight fabric and an underlying elastic strip. The stitch is a chain stitch with the loops of the looper thread directly applied against the elastic strip. The edges of the two fabrics may be joined by an overlock stitch effected in the same sewing operation.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for elasticizing the leg areas of a conformable garment is disclosed in which a continuous length of web material is continuously fed onto a moving support surface. As the web is fed onto the support surface, oscillating means moves the web in alternating directions in the direction of movement of and opposite to the direction of movement of the web as a whole to form spaced apart relatively flat folds in the web. Continuous, moving elastic ribbon is applied and adhered to the web in a tensioned condition across the folds, the folds are at least partially opened and the elastic is severed opposite the partially opened folds to provide discrete elastic strips attached at desired locations to the web.