Aspects herein are directed to a strap system having an adjustable stretch that is suitable for upper body garments, lower body garment, and articles such as bags and articles of footwear. The strap system includes a pair of straps that are coupled together in a face sharing relationship by a coupling mechanism. One of the straps in the pair of straps has greater stretch properties than the other strap. A total stretch of the strap system is adjustable by moving the coupling mechanism along a length of the strap system.

A piece of apparel comprises a hooded garment, a cap having a front, and a securing system associated with the hood of the hooded garment. The securing system comprises a band that contacts the front of the cap and secures the cap to a wearer's head when the hood is up and that secures the cap within the hood with the hood is down. The band extends from one side of the interior of the hood, across the front of the cap and to the other side of the interior of the hood. The band can comprise an elastic portion so that the band compresses the front of the cap when in use.

A nursing cover for covering a mother's body and a nursing infant. The nursing cover includes a substantially cylindrical main body having an upper edge defining a top opening and lower edge defining a bottom opening and a means for adjusting the size of the top opening. The nursing cover further includes a viewing window having an upper edge positioned adjacent to the upper edge of the main body and a lower edge positioned along the main body towards the lower edge of the main body and boning positioned adjacent to the lower edge of the viewing window with the boning configured to maintain the lower edge of the viewing window away from the mother's chest such that the viewing window is disposed to cross the mother's line of sight from her eyes to the nursing infant.

A waistband for an article of apparel is provided. The waistband may comprise at least one tunnel structure through which one or more cords may extend to allow tensioning of the waistband through pulling of the cord(s), while additionally providing comfort, stretchability, breathability, and adjustability for the wearer through integration of one or more elastic or elastically resilient portions into the waistband.

Apparatus and associated methods relate to a garment having adjustable closure modules to reduce unwanted exposure. In an illustrative example, a continuous one-piece swimsuit may include at least one distributed tension closure system (DTCS) at each side of the swimsuit. The DTCS, for example, may include an elastic layer disposed underneath a longitudinally adjustable tension member coupled to opposing lateral edges of the DTCS. For example, when the swimsuit is donned by a wearer and lengths of the adjustable tension members are individually adjusted to a corresponding desired tension, each adjustable tension members urges the opposing lateral edges together by the corresponding desired tension such that an aperture of the hip openings is adjusted to reduce unwanted exposure of a body of the wearer. Various embodiments may advantageously provide modest fittings while maintaining a substantially smooth layer fitting comfortably to the wearer.

Headgear includes a body having an interior fabric panel defining an inwardly facing interior surface and an exterior fabric panel defining an outwardly facing exterior surface. Opposite ends of the exterior fabric panel are located in a rear region of the headgear and opposite ends of the interior fabric panel overlapping to an extent are located in a front region of the headgear. The interior and exterior panels are secured together such that the body surrounds a head-receiving area and is configured for donning on a person's head. A grommet is attached to the body and defines an opening extending through the exterior fabric panel into a space located between the exterior fabric panel and the interior fabric panel. The overlapping ends of the interior fabric panel define a passage accommodating the passing of a light apparatus therethrough for frictional fit in the grommet. Preferably, the body defines a headband.

A thumb brace comprising a glove having a thumb portion disposed between a palm side and a back side and comprising a first attachment region positioned adjacent a base of the thumb portion and a second attachment region positioned on the back side of the glove; a first elastic strap having a first end, a mid-portion, and a second end, wherein the mid-portion is disposed within a cradle of the glove between the thumb portion and an index finger portion of the glove, the first end is releasably attached to the first attachment region, and the second end is releasably attached to the first attachment region, whereby the first strap extends a distal end of a thumb metacarpal bone of a user of the brace; and a second elastic strap having a first end, a mid-portion, and a second end, wherein the first end is attached to the palm side of the glove and the second end is releasably attached to the second attachment region, whereby the second strap reduces a proximal end of a thumb metacarpal bone of a user of the brace.

A self-closing surgical gown including an anterior panel; a posterior left panel connected to the anterior panel; a posterior right panel connected to the anterior panel; a left sleeve connected to the anterior panel and the posterior left panel; a right sleeve connected to the anterior panel and the posterior right panel; and a closure brace including at least one horizontal bar, the closure brace connected to the anterior panel, the posterior left panel and the posterior right panel, wherein the at least one horizontal bar is configured preloaded to transform from a substantially straight longitudinal configuration where the at least one horizontal bar has a cambered cross section perpendicular to a longitudinal direction into a curved longitudinal configuration where the at least one horizontal bar has a substantially straight cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction by pressing on a convex portion of the cambered cross section.

A womens one-piece bathing suit garment includes a bodice panel and an underwear portion. The bodice panel has a vertically placed connection mechanism which forms the torso of the garment. The underwear portion includes a plurality of waistband panels, a front panel, and a primary panel. The front of the bodice panel extends below waist-level to form the plurality of waistband panels. The primary panel forms the rear of the underwear portion of the garment. The primary panel is connected to the plurality of waistband panels via continuous pieces of material forming the leg openings of the garment. The primary panel is connected to the front panel to form a crotch of the garment. The front panel connects to the plurality of waistband panels via a connection mechanism, which upon connecting, the front panel forms the front for the underwear portion of the bathing suit garment.

This invention is directed toward a garment that is comfortable to wear and can safely, with easy accessibility, securely and inconspicuously store a cell phone and other important items. A preferred embodiment of the invention is a pair of shorts, with an elasticized waistband that can be tightened by a non-elasticized drawstring cord. There is a seamless, knitted inner layer similar to “boy short” style underwear. This seamless, knitted “boy short” style underwear inner layer provides comfort to the user. Two vertical side hip interior pockets are sewn onto the inner liner of the seamless, knitted “boy short” underwear at the hips of the user, making it comfortable for a user to carry a cell phone and/or other items. The shorts have a thin line of reflective fabric sewn into the hip seams and on the hem of the shorts, providing safety for the user during times of low visibility.