314,459. Marks, E. C. R., (A.B.A. SpecialtiesCo., Inc.) March 26. 1928. Pants; stockings; stocking-suspenders. - A fastening device applicable to hose-supports, shoulderstrap supports for garments, supports for sanitary bandages, belts, bracelets, and like uses comprises a piece of fabric A having a stiffening coupling member enclosed and secured in the fabric. The stiffener is shown as a piece of channel section metal d, Fig. 3, enfolded in the fabric at D and secured by compressing the metal to grip the material A in the channel. The stiffened portion is passed endwise through an aperture C in a co-operating part and then lies across the aperture to prevent withdrawal, the fabric being constricted behind the stiffener as at e by the wall of the aperture. The device may be applied to a shoulder strap for supporting garments and Fig. 2 shows a shoulder strap A with additional stiffeners D<1> a distance from the ends, used for supporting an additional garment. Fig. 6 shows a hose support with an elastic insertion G<2> and made in two parts each provided with a series of eyelets and a stiffener G<4>, G<5>. The length is adjustable by passing the stiffener on each part through a selected eyelet on the other. As shown, the parts are double and stitched together between the eyelets to form pockets or loops in which the stiffeners G<4>, G<5> are hidden, but a single form is also described. Terminal stiffeners D are provided, passed through apertures 0 in tabs H, H<1> respectively secured to a garment I, and stocking J. Fig. 8 shows an adjustable suspender in which the lower portion of the upper part is double and stitched at intervals k to form loops through one or other of which the lower part K<2> is passed, as shown. A suspenderis also described in which a single tape secured to a garment by a fastener as described above has secured to its lower end three tapes each provided with a terminal stiffener, the top of the stocking being provided with three apertured tabs. The Specification also describes singletape suspenders with terminal stiffeners, the tape being plaited or shirred to make it elastic, and a suspender in two parts connected by buckle to allow length adjustment, the upper part having a stiffener for attaching to a garment, the lower having a hose grip of ordinary type. Fig. 23 shows a further form in which the upper and lower parts are adjustably connected by a friction-grip N. A tape &c. with terminal stiffeners is described as applied to securing a waistbelt, each end of which is provided with a series of apertures, and as a wrist-strap for a watch, the stiffeners engaging with metal loops on the watch. The application to neck-bands, bracelets &c. is also described. As applied to supporting sanitary bandages, a strip of elastic has one end secured to the bandage by safetypin &c. and the other end provided with one or two tapes with terminal stiffeners for securing to a garment. Fig. 16 shows a bifurcated garment with internal flaps s at back and front, the lower edges of the flaps being provided with eyelets &c. C for attachment thereto of the sanitary bandage supporter and also hose supports A.