A multi-component magnetic system for joining materials together or fastening materials to a person's body is disclosed. The system is particularly useful as a closure or joining mechanism in clothing, accessories and the like.

An adjustment device includes a housing supporting a rotatable spool that is operably coupled to a tension line. The spool is configured to rotate about a first axis in a first direction to wind the tension line around the spool and is configured to rotate about the first axis in a second direction opposite the first rotational direction to unwind the at least one tension line from the spool. The device includes a lever pivotally coupled to the housing and configured to rotate about a second axis. The lever is selectively coupled to the spool to drive rotation of the spool in the first direction. The device also includes a release mechanism that is configured to selectively release the spool such that the spool is free to rotate in either the first or second direction in response to manual forces applied to the release mechanism.

A face covering comprising a head attachment means, and a mouth and nose covering, wherein the mouth and nose covering includes a first internal face arranged in use to proximate the mouth and nose, and a second opposing external face arranged in use to be facing away from the mouth and nose, wherein the face covering is arranged to move from a first usage position to a second storage and transport position, characterised in that the head attachment means is arranged to secure onto the second face in the second position through a securement means.

An ultra-slim fastener for a garment includes male and female parts engagable by inclining the male part while inserting a foot into a cavity of the female part, and pivoting the parts to a co-planar orientation. The female has a roof thickness, and the foot may be offset by at least the roof thickness. The male and female may include flanges which have a symmetrical appearance when engaged. The male and female may include a plurality of protrusions distributed throughout a weld region for welding the parts to a garment piece. Features of the fastener improve tensile strength, increase flexibility, and improve comfort.

Designing garments that include brassiere cups can be challenging due to the natural fluctuation of a woman's breast size, as well as a possible disconnect between the size of her breasts and the size of the rest of her body. The high range of size variability places pressure on stores to stock inventories that include great ranges of sizes. This places an inventory risk to the store, since rarer sizes may never sell. The disclosed garment addresses these issues by including a fit-adjustable brassiere portion. The cups of the fit-adjustable brassiere portion include fit-modifying panels that increase their flexibility and elasticity. The rear side of the fit-adjustable brassiere portion includes a back adjuster with highly elastic regions that enables the brassiere portion to fit a broader range of chest sizes. Each of these features give the garment a more universal fit and enable stores to carry fewer sizes.

A buckle for tightening or loosening a band, including: a buckle body having a pair of hinge holes; a plate spring arranged in the buckle body with a leading part positioned in a sliding path of the band, the leading part being shaped to slope with a leading end contacting a back side of the band so as to be caught by a catch projection of the band; and a buckle switch having a pivot pressure piece with hinge projections, and an operation lever connected to a pivot pressure piece so as to be exposed to one side of the buckle body. The leading end of the plate spring is separated from the band so as to make the band slide in a loosening direction when the plate spring is pressed by the pivot pressure piece.

A trim piece assembly is provided herein comprising a first set of apertures providing access to a drawstring channel, and a second set of apertures that do not provide access to the drawstring channel. The trim piece assembly may be incorporated into various apparel items, such that the trim piece assembly allows for a drawstring to be positioned on an interior surface or exterior surface of the apparel item.

A closure system for a boot or other footwear includes a tension member that is disposed within the boot and routed or guided about a path within the boot via one or more guides. The closure system also includes an adjustment member that is disposed within the boot and operably coupled with the tension member. The closure system further includes a reel based closure device having a knob that is operable to tension the tension member and to release tension from the tension member. Tensioning of the tension member adjusts a fit of the adjustment member about a foot within the boot to secure the foot within the boot and loosening of the tension member adjusts the fit of the adjustment member about the foot to allow the foot to be more easily removed from the boot.

A clamping device including a first and second magnet is provided. The first magnet includes predetermined first and second side surface areas, and a first friction element on least one of the first and second side surface areas. The second magnet includes predetermined third and fourth side surface areas, and a second friction element on at least one of the third and fourth side surface areas. The first and second friction elements of the first and second magnets are arranged opposite to each other and define a clamping area between the first and second magnets.

A system and method for marking, tracking, and locating stains on a fabric item for application of a stain treatment prior to laundering is disclosed. The system and method uses an RFID tag to mark the stain or stains on a fabric item and uses a transponder to locate the RFID tag and the stained fabric item. The user is then able to precisely locate both the stained fabric item and the precise location of the stain or stains on the fabric item for a chemical pretreatment prior to laundering. Once the stained fabric item is located, the RFID tag is removed and once all RFID tags are removed, the transponder is placed in a standby or power saving mode.