Inverted ribbon binding rubber feature of American uniform (7)
I believe the answer is:
epaulet
'american uniform' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both man-made objects as well as being singular nouns.
Maybe you can see a link between them that I don't see?
'inverted ribbon binding rubber feature' is the wordplay.
'inverted' says the letters should be written in reverse.
'ribbon' becomes 'tape' (I've seen this before).
'binding' is an insertion indicator.
'rubber feature' becomes 'ule' (I can't justify this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'tape' back-to-front is 'epat'.
'epat' placed around 'ule' is 'EPAULET'.
'of' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for epaulet that I've seen before include "symbol of American rank" , "Uniform shoulder-piece" , "military decoration" , "Ornamental pad on the shoulder" , "Shoulder ornament" .)