Exemplary embodiments are directed to a garment locking device appliance. The garment locking device includes a first component including an extension and a base element at one end of the extension. The first component is configured to be secured to a first garment material. The garment locking device includes a second component including a body with a channel formed therein. The channel is dimensioned to accommodate passage of the base element therethrough. The second component is configured to be secured to a second garment material. Passage of the base element of the first component into the channel of the second component detachably couples the first component to the second component, and detachably couples the first garment material to the second garment material. The first and second components include complementary magnetic or ferromagnetic components to assist in detachably coupling the first and second components to each other.

A releasable closure having a first structure that encapsulates a magnetic composition based on magnetic particles, such as a smart fluid of the group electrorheological fluid, magnetorheological fluid, ferrofluid, or that is formed of a printable composition with dispersed magnetic particles. The first structure is magnetically attracted and thereby joinable to an opposing, second structure, with the first and second structures forming the releasable closure.

A shirt includes a magnetic whistle holder that holds an official's whistle, a metal lanyard whistle clip, or a metal anchor carried near the whistle against the official's shirt. The magnetic holder maintains the whistle in a predictable location for ready grasping and prevents the whistle from swinging randomly from the lanyard and bouncing into the referee's body while the official is running.

To provide a fastening tool that can solve problems that are raised upon locking the opening portion of clothing, baggage or the like, and can also positively lock the portion to be locked at a desired position without the necessity of any processing jobs, such as caulking, sewing and the like, so as to be freely detachably locked. The fastening tool is provided with at least a pair of fastening members a and b which have detachably attaching portions that are freely detachably attached to each other, and each of the fastening members a and b has a substrate with a piercing needle formed on one of the surfaces, a bottom plate that is penetrated by the piercing needle, a pierce catch made of a cap-shaped member to cover the tip of the penetrated piercing needle, and detachably attaching portions that are freely detachably engaged with each other.

Magnetic textile fasteners are disclosed. In one embodiment, the textile fastener may include a spherical member and two receiving members. Each of the receiving members may include a surface portion and an opening within the flat surface portion, wherein the opening is configured to receive the spherical member. In an embodiment, textiles are placed between each receiving portion and the spherical member while the spherical member is inserted at least partially into the openings. The spherical member thereby applies a force between each textile and its respective receiving member. Magnetic interaction between the spherical member and the receiving members may maintain the force between the textile and the receiving members.

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.

A need for a flexible bra that can be worn with multiple different necklines has been identified. Thus there is provided a garment including: a band arranged in use to extend around the torso and two cups attached to the band via a releasable attachment means.

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.

New forms of fasteners are disclosed. Some such fasteners include a new form of zipper with magnetic actuation, initiated by bringing one end of a linear array of magnets into closer proximity with another end of a linear array of magnets. Some such fasteners include structural locking, driven by magnetic force. Some such fasteners include elastic subunits incorporated in a common semi-flexible substrate. The techniques set forth are applicable to a wide variety of applications, incorporating many different materials. For example, in some contexts, some fastening techniques allow rapid closing of articles, such as gym bags or sports apparel, with minimum effort, leading to an extraordinary custom-fit to a user's preferences.

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.