Process for making socks

• US 4,958,507 A
• Filed: 11/21/1988
• Issued: 09/25/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/1987
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Devanlay SA (Société Internationale de Production et de Diffusion Textile)
• Original Assignee: Devanlay SA (Société Internationale de Production et de Diffusion Textile)
• Inventors: Kozlowskyj, Wasil, Allaire, Jacky
• Primary Examiner(s): Reynolds, Wm. Carter
• Application Number:
  US07/273,804
• Time in Patent Office: 673 Days
• Field of Search: 66/22, 66/26, 66/95, 66/178 R, 66/182, 66/186, 66/187, 66/173, 66/185, 66/19
• US Class Current: 66/19
• CPC Class Codes: A41B 11/005 Hosiery made essentially of a multi-ply construction
• CPC Class Codes: D04B 1/126 with colour pattern, e.g. intarsia fabrics
• CPC Class Codes: D04B 1/265 Surgical stockings of unspecified knit construction and reinforced A41B11/02; of unspecified knit construction and elastic A61F13/08
• CPC Class Codes: D04B 9/54 welts, e.g. double or turned welts
• CPC Class Codes: D06H 1/00 Marking textile materials; Marking in combination with metering or inspecting
• 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

Abstract

Process for making a sock of the type with two layers. A first course knitted by the needles, and corresponding to the end of the tip of a first layer, is transferred onto the central transfer plate of the machine where it is maintained in standby. Knitting of the first layer is continued, from the tip to the mock-rib edges. Then knitting is continued from the mock-rib edges of the second layer up to the tip, the knitted tubular structure being constantly suspended, by one (circular) end, from the central transfer plate and, by the other circular end, from the needle cylinder in the course of work, thus shaping the two concentric layers engaged in one another. The initial course in standby on the plate is transferred to the needles of the cylinder to effect join of the two layers to form one sole terminal layer.

Claims

1. A process for making a sock having two layers on a monocylinder circular knitting machine having a central transfer plate, a needle cylinder disposed outside of and around said transfer plate, said needle cylinder comprising a plurality of knitting needles, said process comprising the following successive steps:

(a) knitting a first course of yarn corresponding to the end of the first layer of said sock;

(b) transferring said first course of yarn to said central transfer plate where said first course of yarn is maintained in standby;

(c) using said knitting needles to knit additional courses of yarn while said first course continues to be maintained in standby by said central transfer plate, said additional courses representing, successively, the foot, heel and top portions of the inner layer of said sock and thereafter, the top, heel and foot portions of the outer layer of said sock, whereby during said knitting, said additional courses of yarn will hang down from said central transfer plate and said needle cylinder;

(d) transferring said first course of yarn to said plurality of knitting needles and using said knitting needles to joint together said inner and outer layers, whereby the space between said inner and outer layers of said sock is closed off at a point corresponding to the tip of said sock;

(e) using said plurality of needles to knit additional courses of yarn, said additional courses of yarn providing a single cylindrical terminal layer extending said inner and outer layers, said terminal layer corresponding to the tip of said sock; and

(f) removing said piece of cylindrical knitted material from said monocylinder circular knitting machine and connecting together said terminal layer whereby the tip of said sock is closed.

2. A process for making a sock having two layers on a monocylinder circular knitting machine having a central transfer plate, a needle cylinder disposed outside of and around said transfer plate, said needle cylinder comprising a plurality of knitting needles, said process comprising the following successive steps:

(a) knitting a first course of yarn corresponding to the end of the first layer of said sock;

(b) transferring said first course of yarn to said central transfer plate where said first course of yarn is maintained in standby;

(c) using said knitting needles to knit additional courses of yarn while said first course continues to be maintained in standby by said central transfer plate, said additional courses representing, successively, the foot, heel and top portions of the inner layer of said sock and thereafter, the top, heel and foot portions of the outer layer of said sock.

wherein said plurality of knitting needles are used to form said inner layer having a uniform cylindrical tubular structure, but wherein said plurality of knitting needles are used to modify the pattern of said outer layer to include excess material in the area corresponding to the heel portion of said sock, whereby during said knitting, said additional courses of yarn will hang down from said central transfer plate and said needle cylinder;

(d) transferring said first course of yarn to said plurality of knitting needles and using said knitting needles to join together said inner and outer layers, whereby the space between said inner and outer layers of said sock is closed off at a point corresponding to the tip of said sock;

(e) using said plurality of needles to knit additional courses of yarn, said additional courses of yarn providing a single cylindrical terminal layer extending said inner and outer layers, said terminal layer corresponding to the tip of said sock; and

(f) removing said piece of cylindrical knitted material from said monocylinder circular knitting machine and connecting together said terminal layer whereby the tip of said sock is closed.