Abstract: An athletic garment with an outer shell which is lightweight, waterproof, and porous having a "piston and cylinder" cuff arrangement to insure unrestricted movement of the arms of the wearer. A resilient insert which serves as a return mechanism is sewn between the shell and a tubing wristlet. A non-resilient gusset serves as a cylinder cuff stop mechanism. The insert and gusset cooperate to furnish the wearer with an extra five to six inches of cuff extension without having the sleeve ride-up the arm of the wearer.

Abstract: A cuff construction having readily accessible coverings for hands, feet and head is provided. The cuff is generally integrally attached to an article of clothing, and folds in on itself for storing the coverings. The cuff is formed at an opening in a garment, such as a glove, sleeve, neck or leg and included a panel along about one half of the circumference of the opening with the two adjacent edges of the panel secured to the cuff. The panel is switchable between a first open position allowing the head, hand or foot to pass through and a second closed position forming a covering around the appendage. The covering may take the form of a glove or mitten, a sock or shoe, or a ski mask or the like. A pocket for ready storage may also be provided.

Abstract: A combined turnout pant and boot provide an effectively continuous moisture barrier. Each pant leg includes a moisture barrier liner and may include a first cuff. To fasten the boot to the liner, a second cuff, which may be attached to the top of the boot, is pulled up to the bottom of the moisture barrier liner and first and second corrugated connections are sealed together. The corrugated connections may be at one end of the second cuff and at the bottom of the first cuff; at the other end of the second cuff, with the second cuff being an extension of the liner and the first cuff, and at the top of the boot, or at both ends of the second cuff and at the first cuff and at the top of the boot. Excess material on the second cuff permits the second cuff to fold down, tending to fall over the boot with the liner extending down over the boot with it, thereby providing a substantially complete moisture barrier betwene the pant and the boots.

Abstract: In accordance with the invention, a sleeve-glove attachment assembly is provided for protective coveralls for use in protecting the wearer in a hazardous environment. The coveralls include torso, leg and sleeve portions with each sleeve having a forearm portion terminating at a wrist opening. The coveralls also include a glove with a cuff. The sleeve-glove attachment assembly includes an inner sleeve attached at an attachment location on the interior of the forearm of the sleeve which extends toward and terminates adjacent the wrist opening. Complementary hook and loop fastening tapes on the outside of the inner sleeve and the inside of the cuff serve to attach the glove to the inner sleeve. A slit-like opening in the sleeve of the coveralls extends into the sleeve from the wrist opening and terminates proximate the attachment location of the inner liner. A zipper is provided for closing the slit-like opening. A closable slit-like cuff opening is also provided in said cuff of said glove.

Abstract: A child's convertible pajama leg construction is provided which selectively serves either as a neat anklet hugging sleeve or as a sock-like enclosure for protecting the child's foot. The ankle sleeve is defined by two elongated panels joined along longitudinal seams and being circumferentially stretchable, with one panel having a manipulatable cuff formed thereon and arranged in one position to hug the sleeve and in another position to serve as a closure for the sock. Fastener elements for a hook-and-loop type of fastener assembly are positioned on the panels and the cuff in various locations to enable a preschool child to manipulate the panels and the cuff to expose the child's foot to the atmosphere or to confine the foot into the sock-like enclosure without the assistance of an older person.

Abstract: Protective apparel for covering various portions of an individual such as the head, arms, and feet. The protective apparel is made of a heat sealable material which is heat sealed along predetermined surfaces and glued along other surfaces. An elastic material is secured in the material to secure the finished apparel to either the head, arms or feet of the user.

Abstract: A pair of chaps for use in riding a saddled horse comprising a sheet of material made from neoprene between 1/8 and 1/4 inch in thickness in which VELCRO strips are used on the leg portions to wrap around each leg and VELCRO strips are employed on the waist band. Suede strips on the legs facing the saddle are employed to resist rubbing against the saddle. The waist band is also lined with suede.

Abstract: A closure system for a flexible tube, for example a sleeve, a leg or the waist of a garment. The tube has an outer surface and an inner surface. There is a cord to extend around the flexible tube, between the inner and the outer surfaces. An opening in the inner surface allows passage of a first end of the cord. A releasable anchor engages the first end of the cord. There is a fixed anchor for the other or second end of the cord. Pulling on the first end of the cord with the releasable anchor released contracts the inner surface of the tube to provide a closure or seal for the tube. The closure system provides an effective seal for a leg, sleeve or waist of a garment. The seal can be achieved simply by pulling with one hand on the first end of the cord.

Abstract: Generally there is provided a gown-like garment for covering the body, legs and arms of a person which has closable openings along the sides to define a front and back panel thereto. The rear panel is arranged to fold upwardly and attach along the wearer's back to secure the panel out of the way. The front panel lays across the wearer's lap to maintain a lap covering. In additional features the sleeves are provided with closable openings to allow access for intravenous apparatus and the extremity of the sleeve is provided with tabs for attaching it to the gown to store it out of the way when opened for access to the patient's arm and to selectively tighten the sleeve.

Abstract: The invention comprises a unitized system of garments that prevents particulate matter from passing from the body of the person wearing the garments into the surrounding atmosphere or vice versa. Water vapor or other gases such as air are free to pass through the garment fabric which is a laminate of expanded, porous and gas permeable polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) bonded to a porous and gas permeable backing material. Particulate matter is blocked by the very fine pores of the garment. The person is totally enclosed in the garments preferably presenting virtually a 100% external surface of nonlinting PTFE, and passage of water vapor or water vapor and air through the laminate is sufficient to allow breathability. In order to make practical putting the garment on and taking it off, and to eliminate gaps in the garment, separate pieces are required and particulate-proof barriers are required where the separate sections are joined.

Abstract: A circumferential suppression system is disclosed. It is designed for use wherever an adjustment requiring a loose fit up to and including a tight seal is to be made. It can be effective in reducing and preventing the entry of cold air, water, toxic gases and vapours and other harmful or undesirable fluids. It is adopted to be used with garments and articles made of suppled material. It is comprised of a drawline having one end attached to the article and a free end adapted to be led along the circumference of the article to a return anchor point and led back along itself to a pivoting anchor point attached near the attached end of the drawline. The return anchor point is attached to the article at a point along the circumference, opposite the attached end of the drawline.

Abstract: A firefighter's garment having a double wristlet sleeve and cuff structure. The garment has full length sleeves. The garment, including the sleeves, has a plurality of layers: an outer layer, which is a flame resistant layer, an intermediate layer, which is a moisture barrier layer, and an inner layer, which is a thermal barrier layer. A cuff member of moisture barrier material is positioned at the end portion of each sleeve and extends directly from at least one of the layers. A wristlet or seal member is encompassed by the cuff member and is adapted to snugly encompass the wrist of the firefighter who wears the garment. Another wristlet or seal member is positioned between the cuff member and the outer layer. The wristlets or seal members are preferably of thermal barrier material. Thus, the sleeve and cuff structure protects the firefighter against movement of fluids and hot embers and other debris to the wrist and arm of the firefighter.

Abstract: A disposable garment (10) having at least one opening (13) elasticized with two or three spaced elastic elements (30) having a cross-sectional shape with an aspect ratio of 0.25 to 1, its shortest axis about 0.8 to 3.2 mm long and a cross-sectional area of about 0.5 to 8 mm.sup.2. In particular, a disposable garment (10) having leg openings (13) elasticized with two or three such spaced elastic elements (30) and a waist opening (12) elasticized with a flat elastic ribbon (70).

Abstract: There is disclosed a novel sleeve attachment for a multilayered protective coat and comprised of a detachable wristlet assembly including a tubular wristlet and a flexible sleeve member circumferentially secured to the tubular wristlet. The flexible sleeve member is provided with a fastening means circumferentially secured thereto for cooperation with a fastening means circumferentially secured to an inner thermal layer sleeve of the multilayered protective coat for establishing a removable, circumferential attachment between the flexible sleeve member and the inner thermal layer sleeve.

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: The invention features a fashion/exercise garment for use by dancers, gymnasts and acrobats. The garment has built-in warming wraps disposed at extremity portions of the garment, such as the neck, wrists and ankles. The wraps comprise elongated bindings extending from, and affixedly winding about the garment.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a gastight seal for rubber suits. It incls rubber bladders containing viscid material and has annular rings attached to a pleated bellows-like section of a main body of the rubber suit. A strap is used to actuate the rubber bladders which interlock the annular rings which join two sections of the main body of the rubber suit. Thus, an integral gastight seal on the rubber suit section is achieved.

Abstract: A method for applying self-adhering elastic strips to a flexible base material includes adhering a tensioned first strip of the self-adhering elastic material to a flexible base material by sandwiching a less-or untensioned strip of the self-adhering elastic material between the tensioned strip and the base material. Tensioning the first strip in order to impart a sufficiently high degree of elasticization to the base material reduces the inherent strength of adhesion of the strip to the base material. Accordingly, the less-or untensioned intermediate strip insures good adhesion strength of the composite of the two (or more) strips to the base material. The resulting article comprises one having elasticized portions formed by adherence of the tensioned composite strip of self-adhering elastic material thereto.

Abstract: There is disclosed a novel sleeve attachment of a multilayered protective coat comprised of an outer shell and an inner thermal liner, the sleeve attachment including a detachable, innersleeve wristlet assembly comprised of a wristlet and a flexible innersleeve circumferentially secured to the wristlet. The flexible innersleeve is configured to form a plurality of telescoping annular layers, and has secured thereto a fastening means for cooperation with a fastening means circumferentially secured to the sleeve of the outer shell for establishing a removable, circumferential attachment between the flexible innersleeve and the sleeve of the outer shell. The novel attachment provides continuous thermal protection within the coaxial combination of outer shell sleeve, the inner thermal liner sleeve, the flexible innersleeve and the wristlet, notwithstanding relative axial movement between the wristlet and such sleeves.

Abstract: A nonwoven textile fabric laminate comprising at least one layer of nonwoven textile fabric secured by needle punching to an elastic layer such that the nonwoven fabric layer is permanently stretched when the elastic layer is drafted to a condition within its elastic limit and the nonwoven fabric layer exhibits increased bulk when the elastic layer is allowed to relax and return to substantially its condition prior to drafting. One form of the fabric laminate includes a nonwoven textile fabric layer needle punched to each side of the elastic layer. Various methods and apparatus for producing such laminates are also disclosed.

Abstract: A laminated structure having a marginal area with gathered and ungathered portions which provide an improved fit about a portion of the human body, said laminated structure comprising an elastic member disposed between first and second substrates of flexible gatherable material, said elastic member comprising a plurality of longitudinally extending elastic elements with the elements transversely connected over a portion of their length to define apertures and an end portion of the member comprising only longitudinally extending elements and the first and second substrates of said laminated structure being secured together through at least some of said apertures.

Abstract: The invention relates to a garment placket and the method of forming it in which two pieces of material are folded and attached to the garment in such a manner as to present finished edges for the slit in the garment and which pieces also overlie the placket opening to present a closed appearance thereto. The two pieces of material are attached to the garment in such a manner that both lie completely on one face of the garment.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for fixing a glove to a glove box and a glove suitable therefor are provided. A glove having an extended fin portion at its proximal end is fitted around a cylinder forming a handling hole of the glove box such that the fin portion of the glove envelops the cylinder, and a fixing ring is secured around the fin portion of the glove fitted on the cylinder. The fin portion of the glove is folded back outwardly so as to enclose the fixing ring at the fold to thereby forming the overlapping fin portions. These overlapping portions of the glove are then securely fastened to the cylinder by a clamping ring.