Abstract: A flexible lighting array, comprising: a flexible substrate; a pair of first electrical connectors formed on the flexible substrate; a pair of second electrical connectors formed on the flexible substrate; an isolation element formed on the flexible substrate between the pair of first electrical connectors and the pair of second electrical connectors; a plurality of first light-emitting elements formed over the pair of first electrical connectors; one or more second light-emitting elements formed over the pair of second electrical connectors; and a transparent covering layer formed over the plurality of first light-emitting elements and the one or more second light-emitting elements, wherein, the plurality of first light-emitting elements are configured to emit visible light in a wavelength range of 200 nm to 800 nm, and the one or more second light-emitting elements are configured to emit infrared light in a wavelength range of 800 nm to 1200 nm.

Abstract: A frame assembly for displaying a shirt includes a blocking member, a frame, and a backing member. The blocking member can receive a shirt such that the shirt is positioned on the front surface of the blocking member and folded about the blocking member to position a neckline of the shirt onto the rear surface of the blocking member. The blocking member is inserted within the frame to display the shirt through the front surface of the frame. The backing member is coupled with the rear surface of the frame to releasably secure the blocking member within the frame.

Abstract: A garment holding device comprises a main sheet of material rollable in a rolling direction and at least one cloth attachment means attached to said main sheet, wherein the main sheet is provided with at least two elongated elevated zones on the front side of the main sheet, essentially mutually parallel arranged at or near the edges of said main sheet and parallel to said rolling direction. The main sheet maybe bendable at a plurality of bending lines, each bending line being arranged essentially perpendicular to said rolling direction, or it may be continuously bendable.

Abstract: A device for attaching a flexible clothing in the form of a clothing strip to a card flat bar of a revolving card flat. The card flat bar has a card flat foot with a clothing take-up surface and a web lying above the card flat foot. At least two clips are provided on the clothing strip. The device comprises means to accommodate and hold the card flat bar and the clothing strip. The device furthermore comprises press rams, which are guided in a moveable manner transversely to the longitudinal direction of the card flat bar and from both sides parallel to the clothing take-up surface of the card flat bar. By means of the movement of the press rams, an integral formation of the clips on the card flat foot is caused. The press rams have a drive with compression hoses.

Abstract: The present invention relates to mannequin systems that can be used for simulating motion for the performance testing of garments, including absorbent articles. The systems may include an assembled framework and a mannequin secured within the assembled framework. Motion of the mannequin is generated by an integrated system of pneumatic cylinders and a motor drive assembly. The mannequin may be made of a reinforced elastomeric composite material.

Abstract: A supplemental clothes treating apparatus is disclosed. A supplemental clothes treating apparatus includes a housing which defines an exterior appearance thereof, the housing having an accommodation space where clothes are accommodated; a tensile force supply unit which applies a tensile force to the clothes accommodated in the accommodation space of the housing; and a hot air supply device which supplies hot air to the clothes.

Abstract: A shirt finishing machine includes a torso 2 for putting on a shirt 1 and a pair of right and left supporting arms 3. The upper part of the supporting arm 3 is provided with a lower iron 9 for setting an extremity end 1b of a sleeve 1a, a fixing instrument 14 for fixing a cuff 1d of the sleeve 1a to the lower iron 9, and an upper iron 10 for pressing against an upper surface of the lower iron 9 and for press finishing the extremity end 1b of the sleeve 1a. A movable iron 9a presses a lower surface of the extremity end 1b of the sleeve 1a inserted into the lower iron 10 at the time of pressing with the upper iron 10.

Abstract: A body panel is fabricated of a generally rigid sheet with a periphery and with interior and exterior surfaces. A layer of coupling material is provided on the exterior surface. A locator panel has a periphery with interior and exterior surfaces. The interior surface of the locator panel includes a coupling material separably couplable to the coupling material of the body panel. The exterior surface of the locator panel has upstanding pins. An exterior ring and an interior locking ring with each ring having an interior and an exterior face. The lower exterior ring is removably positioned on the locator panel. The exterior face of the lower exterior ring is in contact with the pins of the locator panel. The upper interior locking ring is removably positioned within the lower exterior ring.

Abstract: A portable apparatus that allows users to block, steam, stretch, and/or dry ball caps, including a kit and methods. The ball cap is placed onto the steamer. The steamer has a hemispherical back portion that provides steam, and a front portion that moves to stretch the ball cap while excluding steam from the decorated front portion of the ball cap. The ball cap can be stretched, with or without steam, to adjust the size of the cap. The ball cap can be hot-air dried by the apparatus to block the ball cap to the correct shape. The front portions may be interchangeable with different front portions having different shapes.

Abstract: This method is applied in men stocking boarding units including an implement bearing several boarding shapes and suited to be led into a steam boarding chamber defined by two shells, movable with respect to each other into a mutual opening and closing position. The method provides for grasping the stocking inserted on a relevant boarding shape, in correspondence with the cuff of said stocking and on opposing sides of boarding shape itself, inside said boarding chamber, by means of opposing gripping means bound to shells of boarding chamber. Upon boarding unit shells closure, said gripping means are elastically deformed and stretch the stocking leg on the boarding shape to a preset length. The stocking leg is kept stretched during the boarding phase inside the boarding chamber.

Abstract: An improved garment finishing machine includes an exterior housing with an entrance and an exit. An interior garment processing chamber processes garments moving downstream from the entrance to the exit. A blower draws air through the processing chamber. An air intake is located between the blower and the processing chamber. The improvement is a continuous lint filtration system. The filtration system includes a filtration medium adapted for capturing lint entrained in air drawn through the garment processing chamber and into the intake. A roller assembly is provided for mechanically advancing the filtration medium across the intake, such that a lint-covered portion of the filtration medium is automatically replaced at the intake with a clean portion of the filtration medium.

Abstract: A garment clamp apparatus for stabilizing a shirt during pressing of the sleeves. The apparatus is for use on a shirt pressing machine of the type having a housing, a plurality of press platens supported by the housing, and a movable tray carrying sleeve supports or bucks. The garment clamp apparatus includes a clamp for securely mounting the apparatus to the support structure of the housing. A frame extends forwardly from the clamp between the press platens. A pneumatic cylinder connects the frame with an extendable foot, which is movable linearly against the bias of a pair of return springs between a retracted position and an extended position. In the extended position, the foot engages the shirt in the area between the sleeves and holds the sleeves taut on the sleeve supports for the pressing operation. Guide shaft assemblies are disposed between the frame and the foot. The pneumatic cylinder can be connected into the existing pneumatic control system without modification of the control algorithm.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for use in a system for handling a flaccid article, such as a sock or other hosiery item, having portions of differing stretch characteristics, by which the differentially stretchable portions may be distinguished from one another by applying a stretching force to one of the portions and then detecting the degree of stretch, resistance to stretch, or other reaction of the stretched portion in response to the stretching force, whereby an indication is derived as to which of the differentially stretchable portions was stretched.

Abstract: A device and method of shaping the visors of caps is disclosed. In the device, a visor shaping unit has a movable upper mold and a fixed lower mold. The upper mold, with a coil heater, is outwardly curved into a predetermined curvature at its lower surface and is operated by a hydraulic cylinder. The lower mold is inwardly curved into the same curvature as that of the upper mold at the top surface. The cooling unit has first to third chambers with a plurality of perforated sections being formed on the top wall of each of the chambers. Upper and lower panels are exteriorly attached to the top wall of each chamber at a position covering each perforated section. The two panels define a curved gap between them, thus holding a heated visor in the gap during a cooling process. The visors are heated at about 90.degree. C. to 150 .degree. C. for about 5-20 seconds in the visor shaping unit prior to being cooled in the cooling unit for about 10-30 seconds using cool air having a temperature of about 5-20 .degree. C.

Abstract: A device and method of shaping the visors of caps is disclosed. In the device, a visor shaping unit has a movable upper mold and a fixed lower mold. The upper mold, with a coil heater, is outwardly curved into a predetermined curvature at its lower surface and is operated by a hydraulic cylinder. The lower mold is inwardly curved into the same curvature as that of the upper mold at the top surface. The cooling unit has first to third chambers with a plurality of perforated sections being formed on the top wall of each of the chambers. Upper and lower panels are exteriorly attached to the top wall of each chamber at a position covering each perforated section. The two panels define a curved gap between them, thus holding a heated visor in the gap during a cooling process. The visors are heated at about 90.degree. C. to 150.degree. C. for about 5-20 seconds in the visor shaping unit prior to being cooled in the cooling unit for about 10-30 seconds using cool air having a temperature of about 5-20.degree. C.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved ironing machine, in particular for ironing cloth articles such as shirts and the like. The machine comprises a base structure which supports a first ironing station provided with a dummy for supporting from inside a cloth article to be ironed and with pressing elements which are turned to the outside of the dummy. The inside of the dummy is coupled to suction elements, and the pressing elements are provided with a device for delivering a hot fluid such as hot air or steam. The machine further comprises a second ironing station for ironing the neck and cuffs of the cloth article to be ironed. This second station comprises a bottom ironing panel for supporting thereon the cloth article to be ironed and a top ironing panel which can be driven toward the end away from the bottom ironing panel.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for pressing a shirt comprising a shirt buck having a front and a back and opposite lateral sides therebetween and adapted to hold at least the front and back of the shirt in an orientation for being pressed, drive means to laterally move the shire buck between a loading zone and a shirt finishing zone, and a pair of chests positioned adjacent to the shirt buck at the shirt finishing zone, the chests being movable in pressing contact with a shirt on the shirt buck.

Abstract: An abdominal binder stretcher comprising, in combination, a pair of rigid planar members having coplanar upper edges and coplanar lower edges with parallel exterior and interior edges. The planar members have front faces and rear faces. A pair of hinges couple together the interior edges of the planar members for pivoting about the axis of the hinges. A plurality of nails extend at right angles from the front surfaces of the planar members. The nail are in vertical lines adjacent to the exterior edges of the planar members. A pair of elongated support bars have a height essentially equal to the height of the planar members with exterior edges alignable with the exterior edges of the planar members and interior edges extending to an intermediate extent of the planar members and adapted to cover the nails. A pair of apertures extend through each elongated support bar and its associated planar member.

Abstract: A portable garment finishing machine (30) includes a hollow gripper (102) for gripping an edge portion of a suspended garment such that the gripper closes the edge portion upon itself in a spread condition. Treating fluid forced through the hollow gripper treats the gripper clamped garment portion while a longitudinally extendible conduit (32) conducts treating fluid interiorly of the garment. One of several embodiments of a fluid distributor (31, 316, 600), connected to the conduit, vertically traverses the garment interiorly and directs the fluid at interior garment surfaces. The treating fluid includes steam produced by vaporizing a water mist generated by ultrasonic means (450). A shoulder-shaped form (330) is provided to serve several functions including prevention of fluid escape through garment neck openings. The form is upwardly openable for receiving a garment hanger (344) such that the form can close over the hanger to avoid fluid loss.

Abstract: A method of pleating a garment, wherein an unfinished garment, prepared by sewing cloth parts together, is folded, rolled and twisted, and then attached to a holder. The holder holding the garment is placed in a heat-treatment apparatus, and the unfinished garment is heat-treated and pleated at the same time in the heat-treatment apparatus filled with saturated steam.

Abstract: A method of pleating an unfinished garment, wherein an unfinished garment prepared by sewing cloth parts together is folded around a core plate, the unfinished garment, thus folded, is placed in a case. The case containing the folded garment is inserted into a heat-treating apparatus, and the folded garment is simultaneously heat-treating and pleated.

Abstract: An adjustable elastic band inspecting apparatus comprising a supporting frame attached to a bench by a C-clamp, and an inspection holder connected to the support frame by a pivoting axle that enables the height and inclination of the inspection holder to be adjusted. The inspection holder further contains adjustable brackets symmetrically disposed and adaptable for elastic bands of various sizes. The brackets can be rotated by manipulating a locating bar to facilitate the inspection of two sides of elastic bands.

Abstract: The present invention provides apparatus and method for the creation of appliques for quilting. Employing a shape plate with an opening in the desired shape of the applique and a corresponding template adapted to be inserted into the opening, quilting material can be easily flattened through ironing or similar methods into uniform and readily applied appliques. The present invention permits the efficient and safe production of even intricate appliques and lends itself to many improvements.

Abstract: A condensing and alignment device for preparing cloth elements to be joined together. The device comprises a base and a support on the base for a row of needle blocks in side-by-side relationship. At least two fabric engaging needles extend vertically upwardly on each needle block. A resilient O-ring is mounted on each needle block facing and abutting an adjacent needle block in the row, the needle blocks of the row being spaced from each other by the O-rings. A condensing cylinder is located at one end of the needle block row and is operatively attached to at least that needle block at the opposite end of the row. The needle blocks of the row are shiftable by the condensing cylinder from their normal position determined by the O-rings to a condensed position against the action of the O-rings. A press is mounted above the needle block row and is shiftable between an upper retracted position above the needle block row and a lower extended position abutting the needle blocks of the row.

Abstract: An indexing mechanism for use in a garment pressing machine includes a support frame, a guide rail secured to the frame, a carriage supported by the guide rail for linear movement between dressing and pressing positions, and a fluid actuator for moving the carriage. The carriage carries a pressing buck or mannequin. The indexing mechanism includes an indexing bar having one end pivotally attached to the carriage for linear movement therewith and a second end slidably and pivotally mounted within a guide attached to the support frame. The actuator is connected between the support frame and a central portion of the indexing bar. Extension and retraction of the fluid cylinder causes the indexing bar to pivot and slide about one end within the guide space and to drive the carriage between its dressing and pressing positions at its other end.

Abstract: A hat size maintainer includes first and second arcuately shaped members configured to the shape of the interior surface of the headband of a hat or cap. First and second adjustable members, one end of each being attached to one of the first and second arcuately shaped members are adjustably joinable to enable the spacing between the first and second arcuately shaped members to be varied for different hat or cap sizes.

Abstract: A hat stretching device including a spaced apart pair of oppositely facing hat engaging arcuate bands which are interconnected by an adjustment block. One of the arcuate bands and the adjustment block cooperatively define a ratchet mechanism which allows the spacing between the hat engaging bands to be quickly, easily, and repeatable set to a coarsely adjusted size. The other arcuate band and the adjustment block cooperatively define a threaded adjustment mechanism which allows the spacing between the hat engaging bands to be finely adjusted to a precise hat engaging size.

Abstract: A cloth condensing unit is disclosed capable of forming a condensed portion of a piece of cloth, the condensed portion having a central area which is more condensed than the ends of the condensed portion, and a system for permanently maintaining the cloth in the condensed form. The cloth condensing unit can comprise different embodiments, for example, a plurality of spring loaded plates having a plurality of pins projecting vertically upward, wherein the plates are capable of being condensed in a vice. In another embodiment, the cloth condensing unit can consist of a rubber sponge having a gripping surface formed of embedded emery or a plurality of very small pins. When the surface is compressed into a specified area, the cloth positioned upon the surface of the semioval sponge is condensed. In another embodiment of the present invention, a semioval balloon-type device could be employed having an exterior gripping surface.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for removing wrinkles from a pantyhose portion surrounding a crotch area to which a gusset is applied, the pantyhose having a pair of leg portions and a panty portion, which comprises an edge stretcher for stretching the edge portion of the pantyhose surrounding the crotch area, a guide for receiving the pantyhose from a feeding mechanism and transferring the pantyhose to the edge stretcher which includes a receiver for receiving the pantyhose, a holder for holding the leg portions in a fixed position, then moving the receiver to move the panty portion towards a hollow head associated with a gusset sewing machine for moving the panty portion into the hollow head, and suction devices which cooperate with the holder for maintaining the pantyhose portion surrounding the crotch area stretched on the hollow head, the legs being held stretched by pincers, and then the legs are sucked by suction from the receiver into the hollow head.

Abstract: There is disclosed an apparatus which forms and folds a precut pocket patch and sets it in position on a garment panel, ready to be sewn by an adjacent sewing machine. The apparatus comprises a holding blade on which a precut pocket patch is manually positioned, and a pocket patch-forming and folding assembly located over the holding blade. The latter and the assembly are vertically movable one with respect to the other and to an underlying garment panel support table. The assembly includes a forming plate, having a flat underface and a downwardly-extending rim at its periphery creating a cavity to receive the pocket patch; the latter is clamped and its margin creased by the rim about the edge of the holding blade. The assembly further carries around its periphery folding blades which move inwardly underneath the holding blade to complete the folding of the pocket patch. The contour of the holding blade and of the plate cavity corresponds to the desired contour of the folded patch.

Abstract: An illuminated article of clothing including a garment material with a thin, supple, printed circuit sheet fastened to one side of the garment. The printed circuit sheet contains a pattern of electrical pads and interconnections, and supports light emitting devices connected to the pads, where the light emitting devices protrude through the garment. A circuit providing for continuous or intermittent operation of the light emitting devices is connected to the printed circuit sheet by electrical leads. The light emitting devices are illuminated by a source of energy, such as a battery. The circuit and the battery can be stored in a pocket formed in the garment.

Abstract: An apparatus for automatically crimping precut belt loops receives precut belt loops and directs them along a predetermined input path. A diverter member located in the input path separates the belt loops into two crimper/input paths. The belt loops in each crimper/input path are individually positioned for crimping by a gate assembly extending across each path below a crimper blade mounted for displacement. An aligning assembly between each gate and crimper blade properly aligns each belt loop relative to the crimper blade. A light/photosensor senses a positioned belt loop to activate the aligning assembly and the crimper blade, which extends to push the belt loop through an aperture. A pair of endless belts receives each crimper blade having a belt loop folded thereabout and compresses the folded belt loop to complete the crimping of the precut belt loop. Each gate assembly is mounted for selective movement out of the input path to clear the apparatus of positioned but unfolded belt loops.