FOOTWEAR, AND KNITTING METHOD FOR KNIT FABRIC

• US 20150107307A1
• Filed: 12/07/2012
• Published: 04/23/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Shima Seiki Manufacturing Limited
• Original Assignee: Shima Seiki Manufacturing Limited
• Inventors: Kosui, Tatsuya, Kino, Takashi, Hamada, Yohji
• Granted Patent: US 9,675,134 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 66/177
• CPC Class Codes: A41B 11/005 Hosiery made essentially of a multi-ply construction
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 1/04 braided, knotted, knitted or crocheted
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/04 Plastics, rubber or vulcanised fibre
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 17/003 characterised by the material made of wood A43B17/12, made of sponge, rubber or plastic materials A43B17/14
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/0205 characterised by the material material of the lining A43B23/07, material of toe stiffeners or heel stiffeners A43B23/08
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/042 Uppers made of one piece one piece slippers A43B3/106; one piece sandals A43B3/124
• CPC Class Codes: D04B 1/108 Gussets, e.g. pouches or heel or toe portions
• CPC Class Codes: D04B 1/22 specially adapted for knitting goods of particular configuration
• CPC Class Codes: D04B 1/26 stockings
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2401/04 Heat-responsive characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2403/023 Fabric with at least two, predominantly unlinked, knitted or woven plies interlaced with each other at spaced locations or linked to a common internal co-extensive yarn system
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2501/043 Footwear

Abstract

Provided is a footwear that excels in productivity and shape retaining property. Footwear 1 is knitted seamlessly with a flat knitting machine having at least a pair of a front and a back needle bed and includes a base knit fabric portion 2 having a mixed section 20 knitted using a first knitting yarn and a second knitting yarn interwoven along the first knitting yarn. The first knitting yarn configuring the mixed section 20 of the footwear 1 is a knitting yarn that is not a heat-fusible yarn, and the second knitting yarn is a heat-fusible yarn having thermal adhesiveness and heat-shrinkable properties. The second knitting yarn preferably has a configuration including a core made from a material that contracts by heat, and a sheath made from a material having a lower fusing point than the core.

Claims

1. A footwear knitted seamlessly with a flat knitting machine having at least a pair of a front and a back needle bed, comprising:

a base knit fabric portion including a mixed section and knitted using a first knitting yarn and a second knitting yarn interwoven along the first knitting yarn;

wherein

the first knitting yarn is a knitting yarn that is not a heat-fusible yarn; and

the second knitting yarn is a heat-fusible yarn having thermal adhesiveness and heat-shrinkable properties.

2. The footwear according to claim 1, wherein the heat-fusible yarn includes a core that contracts by heat and a sheath having a lower fusing point than the core.

3. The footwear according to claim 1, wherein the mixed section is knitted by plating knitting using the first knitting yarn and the second knitting yarn.

4. The footwear according to claim 1, further comprising:

an additional knit fabric portion arranged on an inner side or an outer side of the base knit fabric portion when wearing the footwear;

wherein

the base knit fabric portion and the additional knit fabric portion are connected seamlessly at a position of a foot-inserting part of the footwear.

5. The footwear according to claim 4, wherein

the mixed section of the base knit fabric portion is knitted by the plating knitting using the first knitting yarn and the second knitting yarn;

and

a surface on which the second knitting yarn is arranged in the mixed section is arranged to face the additional knit fabric portion.

6. The footwear according to claim 1, wherein

the footwear retained in a shape held to a shape corresponding to a last by being thermally processed while being placed over the last;

and

in the mixed section, the second knitting yarn fused by the thermal processing is integrated with the first knitting yarn.

7. A knitting method for a knit fabric for knitting a knit fabric seamlessly using a flat knitting machine having at least a pair of a front and a back needle bed facing each other;

wherein

the knit fabric is a footwear;

a first knitting yarn, which is not a heat-fusible yarn, and a second knitting yarn, which is a heat-fusible yarn having thermal adhesiveness and heat-shrinkable properties, are prepared; and

at least a part of the footwear is knitted with the first knitting yarn and the second knitting yarn interwoven along the first knitting yarn.