Abstract: An adjustable dress is disclosed which includes an adjustable crinoline or slip, an adjustable overskirt and an adjustable blouse. The slip is upwardly formed with a plurality of vertically spaced casings and is provided with a drawstring which is insertable into a casing to thereby provide the desired vertical dress length adjustment. The slip terminates downwardly in a fabric ruffle to form the finished bottom of the dress. An overskirt overfits the slip and is provided with a waist construction that is widely adjustable to fit substantially all sizes. The length of the overskirt is less than the length of the slip to thereby assure that the ruffle will bottomly extend below the overskirt. An adjustable blouse is fabricated of the same fabric as the slip ruffle and the overskirt and includes suitable drawstrings about the blouse top and sleeves to comfortably fit the shoulders, neckline and back of the wearer.

Abstract: An elongated interlining material for facings, for example waistbands, having slits on at least one and possibly both of its elongated edges. The slits permit the sewing of the facing to a curved edge of a garment in the normal fashion. In particular, the material will follow curves in the garment without utilizing any special guides, sewing techniques, or equipment. The facing incorporates the interlining, at least partially enclosed in a stretchable, elongated fabric, or outerlining. The facing, in turn, is sewn to the garment's edge, with the exposed surface of the interlining, if any, adjacent to the garment. The slits, directed away from the edge of the garment, permit the interlining to adapt to a concave curve by opening and allowing the portions of material on either side of the slit to slightly separate from each other. Around a convex curve, portions of interlining material adjacent to a slit may overlap.

Abstract: An article of wearing apparel designed and suited for women in their child bearing years. The apparel is uniquely designed to provide a proper and fashionable fit prior to pregnancy, during the term of pregnancy and after delivery through utilization of interchangeable elements. A coordinating panel constructed with mating and aligned fastening elements is added to the main body of the garment to increase the girth by proportionate increments in the desired areas to create the proper fit for a pregnant woman's increased volume.

Abstract: A waist band adjustment means including a first flexible strip which is attached to the inside of the waist band of a garment and includes VELCRO on the inner face thereof. A second flexible strip is provided and includes VELCRO on one face thereof in order that the second flexible strip may be removably attached to the first strip as needed to accommodate increases and decreases in waist size due to weight gain or loss.

Abstract: Alterable garments are formed of front and back fabric parts joined by side seams. Each fabric part includes inwardly folded material about the side seams to allow alteration of the garment.

Abstract: An adjustable fastening means is provided, preferably for incorporation into a garment, which includes a circumferential band fabricated of three different band means including in at least one of said band means an elastic portion to form a novel adjustable fastening means, which when incorporated into a garment may provide for adjustment without causing wrinkles in the garment.

Abstract: A bulked web composite comprises a differentially tensioned reticulated web of elastic material bonded to at least one gatherable web whereby, upon release of the tensioning forces, the gatherable web or webs are gathered by the reticulated web with different degrees of bulking in different areas due to the different tension levels of the reticulated web. Also disclosed is a method of making a bulked web composite by the steps of: forming a reticulated web of elastic material and elongating at least portions of the web by differentially tensioning it, and bonding the differentially tensioned web to at least one gatherable web to form a composite. The composite is then relaxed whereby portions of the gatherable web are gathered by the contracted reticulated web with different degrees of bulking in different areas. Bulked web composites of such type may be employed to form disposable swim wear, towels, wash cloths, and the like.

Abstract: A device for gathering and retaining a portion of a fabric article such as an article of clothing, includes a first, elastic ribbon- or cord-shaped element fastened at one end to the article to be gathered within a seating or sleeve provided on the fabric article. The first element is also attached at at least two points to a second ribbon- or cord-shaped element such that the overlapping portion of one of the elements is longer than that of the other element. A rigid lamina is provided attached to the larger overlapping portion to engage the front edge of the fabric sleeve, thereby securing the fabric in the gathered position.

Abstract: A garment fastening arrangement comprising a plurality of lengthwise adjustable waistbands, belts, straps, cords or ties arranged in co-operative sets of interengageable belt portions, with at least a pair of associated interengageable rear belt portions with respective interengageable fastening means and a front set of at least 3 interengageable belt portions with respective interengageable fastening means, one of said set of 3 being attached to a garment front edge and another to the same one side of the garment, with the third being attached to the opposite side of the garment, whereby adjustable interengagement of the three belts of the front set draws and tensions the front of the garment, with overlapping garment edges and panels, while the rear pair of belt portions independently adjustably fastens the rear panel or panels of the garment, for permanent adjustable setting of the garment shape according to the wearer, while the front pair enables fastening and unfastening and slackening of the overall be

Abstract: A waistband adjusting element for garments such as trousers, which provides for greater flexibility in the adjustable connection of overlapping waistband sections, is disclosed. A detent rail is attached to the inner waistband member and has a movable slider mounted on it, coupled to a hinged locking tab provided with a central window, through which a cover strip passes to conceal the detent rail from view. The other end of the locking tab is pivotably coupled to the outer waistband section by flexible fabric loop which is capable of rotating from a flat position against the outer waistband section to a folded back overlapping position through an arc of approximately 180.degree.. The flexibility of the fabric loop through its pivoting range allows the locking tab to also pivot through a corresponding 180.degree. range between engaged and disengaged positions with respect to the detent rail.

Abstract: A maternity garment is disclosed, which comprises an expandable waistband portion of elastically shirred material which completely encircles the garment and a body portion depending from the expandable portion. The expandable portion has a narrower vertical extent at the rear portion of the garment, and a wider vertical extent which swoops down at the front portion of the garment to form a pouch which supports the lower portion of a woman's stomach. The expandable portion is constructed to be width-wise expandable and contractable, but not vertically expandable. The degree of width-wise expansion is controlled by the type of stitching and elastic shirring employed so as not to be too tight or too loose, at any stage of pregnancy. The stitching of the elastically shirred waistband portion is arranged to prevent fold-over or ruffling of the upper edge of the garment.

Abstract: A garment made from garment portions detachably attached together and inserts selectively added thereto for enlarging the garment as needed.

Abstract: An elastic band with an embedded nonelastic pull cord. When used as a waistband for clothing, it provides both an elastic and drawstring function. The cord's extra length results in a string pulled by the wearer to tighten the article. For an elastic band in the form of cloth, the cord may constitute one of the intertwined threads. Woven, knitted or braided elastic may include the cord as part of its fabric. The band with the cord may find use in swimsuits, pants, shirts, and sportswear.

Abstract: A garment has an automatically-adjustable-length drawstring with readily-flexible ends that can be tied to enable the garment to accommodate a large number of waist sizes; and that drawstring will automatically expand as the circumference of the wearer's waist increases during breathing in or movement of the wearer's body, and that drawstring will automatically contract as the circumference of the wearer's waist subsequently decreases during breathing out or movement of the wearer's body. In doing so, that drawstring will hold the waist of that garment against drooping relative to a user's waist. A resilient, extensible section between the readily-flexible ends of the drawstring will automatically and continuously maintain an effective, but lower-than-normal, value of frictional force between the waist of the garment and a wearer's waist.

Abstract: A trousers waistband structure employing a two-part elastic band, an elastic reinforcement strip attached to the two-part elastic band such that the lower linear edge of the reinforcement strip depends freely from the band, and a linearly extensible waistband fabric web which is attached to the upper inside edge of the two-part elastic band, looped over the elastic band and reinforcement strip and attached, along its second linear edge, to the trousers body. The lower linear edge of the reinforcement strip is attached, by means of blind stitching proximate the seam between the trousers body and the waistband fabric web, to pockets previously inset in the trousers body.

Abstract: A maternity clothing garment having a body portion comprising leg or skirt regions and a waist portion having a relatively vertically larger panel of elastically expansible and conformable ribbed knitted material extending circumferentially along the waist portion at the front of the garment, and a relatively vertically smaller panel of elastically expansible and conformable ribbed knitted material extending circumferentially along the waist portion at the rear of the garment, whereby the panels will conform to the shape of the wearer.

Abstract: A fastener means for fabrics and clothing and which includes a magnetic tape material which is sewn into or otherwise applied to next adjacent edges of cloth material intended to be overlapped. Such magnetic material being relatively thin and light weight, pliable and flexible, capable of being cut to desired lengths and having the general characteristics of a narrow strip of fabric or cloth material itself.

Abstract: An undergarment for athletic activities such as bicycling, horseback riding, jogging, or the like which provides a thin padded area for protecting the crotch from discomfort, uplift support for the buttocks, and firming of the skin of the lower torso area. The undergarment is comprised of a flexible, stretchable fabric wall that conforms to the lower torso of a human being having elastic waist and leg bands joined together at the waist by adjustable fasteners, a thin ventilated, resilient pad disposed in the crotch area, and a "Y"-shaped support band extending in the rear panel of the garment from the back waistband vertically to the resilient pad. The stretchable material firms the skin in the area covered. The thin pad protects the crotch area from discomfort when sitting, without encumbering movement. The "Y"-shaped support band provides uplift support to the buttocks.

Abstract: A mini-support belt for a garment includes first and second sections of non-elastic flexible material. The belt sections are adapted adjacent one end of each for cooperable releasable interconnection. The first and second belt sections, when interconnected, are of sufficient length to extend across the front only of a person's torso below the waist from a location proximate one hip to a corresponding location of the garment relative to the other hip. The invention also includes the combination of a mini-support belt of the character described and a garment adapted to be worn so as to cover at least that portion of the torso extending from the waist downwardly.

Abstract: A device for tightening the waist of a garment comprising a sheath provided around the waist of a garment which has an opening near each end thereof and a pair of strings, each of which is secured to one end of said sheath and is passed through the sheath and drawn out of the opening at the other end thereof is disclosed.

Abstract: The invention relates to extensible maternity slacks having a front flap adapted to be joined to the edge of a rear flap by a button-hole co-operating with a plurality of buttons, the front flap further comprising on its upper edge a waist-band containing a reinforcing elastic which comprises, in known manner, a succession of regularly spaced apart median button-holes, so that one of the button-holes, located at the side edges, is adapted to co-operate with a button located on the side of the said front flap, substantially where the said waist-band opens out, the judicious choice of the button-hole, fitted on the button, enabling the tension of said flap to be adjusted at its upper edge.

Abstract: A belt assembly comprising, a housing having an elongated tunnel, and an elongated belt passing through the housing tunnel. The housing and belt have cooperating surface restraining means interengaging in the housing tunnel and providing substantial restraint against movement of the belt through the housing tunnel, with the surface means permitting movement of the belt through the housing tunnel responsive to relatively large forces applied against the belt.

Abstract: Textile fabric, a part of which has its coefficient of friction increased by application to said part of an inert, non-slump, room temperature vulcanizing silicone rubber, which rubber is thereafter vulcanized.