A seat heater includes a substrate. A formed heating wire is disposed on the substrate. A sewing thread attaches the formed heating wire to the substrate. A method of fabricating the seat heater includes forming a straight heating wire into a formed heating wire having miniature wave shape, feeding the formed heating wire onto a substrate, and attaching the formed heating wire onto the substrate by sewing a thread.

A seat heater includes a substrate. A formed heating wire is disposed on the substrate. A sewing thread attaches the formed heating wire to the substrate. A method of fabricating the seat heater includes forming a straight heating wire into a formed heating wire having miniature wave shape, feeding the formed heating wire onto a substrate, and attaching the formed heating wire onto the substrate by sewing a thread.

Various examples are provided related to attachment of bands about a garment opening. In one example, among others, a sleeve band can be attached to a garment by loading the sleeve band on a band guide, aligning an opening of a garment over the sleeve band, and attaching the band to the garment along the edge of the opening. Alignment of the edges of the opening and the sleeve band can be maintained by ply aligners during attachment. In another example, a garment holding system includes a garment holder that can receive a garment and a band positioning system includes a band guide that can receive a band. Edges of the opening of the garment and the band can be controlled and maintained with ply aligners of the band positioning system.

Various examples are provided related to attachment of bands about a garment opening. In one example, among others, a sleeve band can be attached to a garment by loading the sleeve band on a band guide, aligning an opening of a garment over the sleeve band, and attaching the band to the garment along the edge of the opening. Alignment of the edges of the opening and the sleeve band can be maintained by ply aligners during attachment. In another example, a garment holding system includes a garment holder that can receive a garment and a band positioning system includes a band guide that can receive a band. Edges of the opening of the garment and the band can be controlled and maintained with ply aligners of the band positioning system.

An apparatus for feeding plate-shaped functional elements to a sewing or stitching machine comprises a first guide rail which extends in a longitudinal direction between a first end and a second end and which has a first delimiting surface and a first guide surface extending transversely with respect to the first delimiting surface, a second guide rail which extends in the longitudinal direction between a first end and a second end and which has a second delimiting surface, facing the first delimiting surface and extending parallel to the first delimiting surface, and a second guide surface extending transversely with respect to the second delimiting surface in the direction of the first guide rail; and a transporting device configured to move a functional element resting on the first and the second guide surface from the first end of the guide rails in the direction of the second end of the guide rails.

An apparatus for feeding plate-shaped functional elements to a sewing or stitching machine comprises a first guide rail which extends in a longitudinal direction between a first end and a second end and which has a first delimiting surface and a first guide surface extending transversely with respect to the first delimiting surface, a second guide rail which extends in the longitudinal direction between a first end and a second end and which has a second delimiting surface, facing the first delimiting surface and extending parallel to the first delimiting surface, and a second guide surface extending transversely with respect to the second delimiting surface in the direction of the first guide rail; and a transporting device configured to move a functional element resting on the first and the second guide surface from the first end of the guide rails in the direction of the second end of the guide rails.

This invention is directed to an improved contact surface for manipulating articles wherein the microstructure included on the contact surface having a plurality of pillars spaced apart in the range of 200 m and 600 m, having a height in the range of 50 m and 1200 m, a width of in the range of 70 m and 300 m, a wall draft angle between 0 and 15, a density of in the range of 5,000 to 20,000 pillars per square inch, and a friction rating greater than 7. The contact surface can be included on a sewing machine feed dog, a glove, sporting equipment, firearm grip, hand rail, tool grip, tool handle, and a strap such as for a satchel or backpack.

This invention is directed to an improved contact surface for manipulating articles wherein the microstructure included on the contact surface having a plurality of pillars spaced apart in the range of 200 m and 600 m, having a height in the range of 50 m and 1200 m, a width of in the range of 70 m and 300 m, a wall draft angle between 0 and 15, a density of in the range of 5,000 to 20,000 pillars per square inch, and a friction rating greater than 7. The contact surface can be included on a sewing machine feed dog, a glove, sporting equipment, firearm grip, hand rail, tool grip, tool handle, and a strap such as for a satchel or backpack.

A sewing machine includes a contact area for two superimposed material webs, which have edges and which are to be sewn together by the sewing machine, wherein, in order to align the edges of the material webs to each other, there is a bottom guide element under the contact area for the bottom material web and a top guide element for the top material web above the contact area, wherein the guide elements are each rotatably mounted about a rotation axis. The rotation axes of the guide elements are arranged extending perpendicular to the contact area.

A sewing machine includes a contact area for two superimposed material webs, which have edges and which are to be sewn together by the sewing machine, wherein, in order to align the edges of the material webs to each other, there is a bottom guide element under the contact area for the bottom material web and a top guide element for the top material web above the contact area, wherein the guide elements are each rotatably mounted about a rotation axis. The rotation axes of the guide elements are arranged extending perpendicular to the contact area.