Textiles: knitting – Independent-needle machines – Circular
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-02
2001-01-30
Falik, Andy (Department: 3741)
Textiles: knitting
Independent-needle machines
Circular
C066S186000, C066S187000, C066S17800A, C066S04200R
Reexamination Certificate
active
06178781
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to rotary knitting on multi-feed circular knitting machines and more particularly to a process for knitting a tubular blank with a knitted pocket solely by rotary knitting on a multi-feed circular knitting machine where the pocket is formed by knitting partial courses on one side of the blank without any knitting on the other side of the blank.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Hosiery products, socks, panty hose, ladies fashion hosiery, tights and other tubular garments rotary knitted on circular knitting machines to fit the leg of the wearer traditionally have been made with heel, toe and other portions that are formed as pockets for extra fabric sections of the garment to accommodate that particular area of the lower extremity. With the advent of stretch yarns, it was not necessary in all cases to form pockets, since the stretchability of the knitted fabric would accommodate the heel or toes without undue wrinkles or other fabric deformities. However, when a precise fit is desired, the heel and toe portions on the hosiery blank are usually made by utilizing the technique of reciprocating the needle cylinder of the circular knitting machine as it knits so that it moves first in one direction and then reverses and moves in the opposite direction for the same distance. This reciprocating motion while knitting produces additional fabric on one side of the blank only that becomes an extra fabric heel or toe portion which terminates when reciprocation of the cylinder is terminated and rotary knitting is resumed to complete the blank.
Rotary knitting, particularly with panty hose and ladies fine denier fashion hosiery, can take place at much higher speeds than are possible in reciprocatory knitting. Such speeds are obtainable because the cylinder is constantly rotated in one direction smoothly and without having to accelerate and decelerate in order to change direction. Thus reciprocatory knitting of a heel and toe pocket requires a considerable amount of time when compared with the time required to knit the balance of the blank by rotary knitting and when compared to the time required to form rotary knit pockets in accordance with the present invention.
Various techniques have been utilized to attempt to rotary knit hosiery blanks with formed pockets for heels and toes. In substantially all cases, the attempt to provide additional fabric to the tubular member at a precise location to form a pocket portion solely by rotary knitting has failed because the additional fabric produced has been insufficient in quantity to effectively provide a suitably sized pocket because of the knitting technique used. Thus, there is a need for a more expeditious and reliable method of providing pockets (additional fabric) at specific locations on knitted tubes that form hosiery blanks or other products in order to reduce the time and cost of producing such blanks and to ultimately provide a garment with the needed quality, durability and fit. It is to this need that the present invention is directed.
OBJECTIVES AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A primary objective of the present invention is to provide a process for totally rotary knitting a tubular blank with a knitted pocket to form a heel or toe portion in the final hosiery garment on a multi-feed circular knitting machine which can have the appearance and effect of a conventionally reciprocated knitted heel or toe portion.
Another objective of the present invention is to provide a process of the type described that is capable of providing a pocket on a tubular blank by rotary knitting additional fabric on one side of the blank while not knitting on the other side of the blank.
Yet another objective of the present invention is to provide a process of the type described which will enable increased production of tubular blanks for making hosiery products having conventionally defined and effective heel and toe portions than previously possible.
Yet still another objective of the present invention is to provide a process for knitting a tubular blank with heel and toe pockets totally by rotary knitting that results in hosiery products having conventional gore line locations that are traditionally associated with women's fashion hosiery of the highest quality.
Still another objective of the present invention is to provide a process for knitting a tubular blank with heel and toe pockets totally by rotary knitting on a non-reciprocating knitting machine.
Thus, there has been outlined, rather broadly, and in summary form, the more important features of the invention in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are obviously additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. In this respect, before explaining several embodiments of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangement of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways.
It is also to be understood that the phraseology and terminology herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting in any respect. Those skilled in the art will appreciate the concept upon which this disclosure is based and that it may readily be utilized as a basis for designing other structures, methods, and systems for carrying out the several purposes of this development. It is also to be understood that the abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor to limit its scope in any way.
This summary and these objectives of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages, and the specific objects obtained by its use, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which like characters of reference designate like parts throughout the several views.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3159988 (1964-12-01), Reymes-cole
patent: 3310962 (1967-03-01), Mahler et al.
patent: 3603116 (1971-09-01), Turini
patent: 3802229 (1974-04-01), Fregeolle
patent: 3975929 (1976-08-01), Fregolle
patent: 4492099 (1985-01-01), Safrit et al.
Falik Andy
Lackey Charles Y.
Sara Lee Corporation
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