Method of knitting fabric having three-dimensional silhouette shape

• US 5,692,399 A
• Filed: 07/29/1994
• Issued: 12/02/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 07/05/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Shima Seiki Manufacturing Limited
• Original Assignee: Shima Seiki Manufacturing Limited
• Inventors: Okuno, Masao, Takahashi, Nobuyasu
• Primary Examiner(s): Crowder, C. D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Worrell, Jr., Larry D.
• Application Number:
  US08/282,007
• Time in Patent Office: 1,222 Days
• Field of Search: 66/30, 66/32, 66/70, 66/73, 66/60, 66/64, 66/76, 66/75.1, 66/176, 66/170
• US Class Current: 66/70
• CPC Class Codes: D04B 1/22 specially adapted for knitting goods of particular configuration
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2403/0332 with gussets folding into three dimensional shape, e.g. seat covers

Abstract

The present invention provides a knitted fabric of three-dimensional silhouette shape which comprises a front half and a back half coupled at side edges to each other forming a tubular shape and in which the circumferential length of the tubular shape is varied by increasing and/or decreasing the number of wales of one of the two, front and back, halves and also, a method of knitting the same.

Claims

1. A method of knitting a tubular fabric with a flat knitting machine having an upper front needle bed, a lower front needle bed, an upper rear needle bed and a lower rear needle bed, each needle bed having a plurality of knitting needles, the tubular fabric consisting of a front part knitted with knitting needles of the lower front needle bed and a back part knitted with knitting needles on the lower rear needle bed, comprising:

feeding a yarn to the knitting needles of the lower front needle bed and forming loops of the front part, and succeedingly feeding the yarn to the knitting needles of the lower rear needle bed and forming loops of the back part;

selecting a number of knitting needles from the knitting needles of the lower front needle bed for knitting the front part, feeding yarn to the selected number of knitting needles and forming loops of the front part, the selected number is less than the number of knitting needles of the lower rear needle bed used for knitting the back part;

feeding the yarn to the knitting needles of the lower rear needle bed in a direction along a longitudinal length of the lower rear needle bed except to the knitting needle placed at an end in the knitting direction and forming loops of the back part;

feeding the yarn to the excepted knitting needle in an opposite direction along a longitudinal length of the lower rear needle bed and forming a loop of the back part;

feeding the yarn to the selected number of knitting needles of the lower front needle bed and forming loops; and

transferring the loop formed on the excepted knitting needle of the lower rear needle bed to a knitting needle of the lower front needle bed.

2. A method of knitting a tubular fabric with a flat knitting machine having an upper front needle bed, a lower front needle bed, an upper rear needle bed and a lower rear needle bed, each needle bed having a plurality of knitting needles, the tubular fabric consisting of a front part knitted with knitting needles of the lower front needle bed and a back part knitted with knitting needles of the lower rear needle bed, comprising:

feeding a yarn to the knitting needles of the lower front needle bed and forming loops of the front part, and succeedingly feeding the yarn to the knitting needles of the lower rear needle bed and forming loops of the back part;

selecting a number of knitting needles from the knitting needles of the lower front needle bed for knitting the front part, feeding yarn to the selected number of knitting needles and forming loops of the front part, the selected number is less than the number of knitting needles of the lower rear needle bed used for knitting the back part;

hooking the yarn by a knitting needle adjacent to the selected number of knitting needles;

feeding the yarn to the knitting needles of the lower rear needle bed in a direction along a longitudinal length of the lower rear needle bed except to a knitting needle placed at a start in the direction and forming loops of the back part;

transferring the hooked yarn to the excepted knitting needle of the lower rear needle bed by knocking over the loop on the excepted knitting needle of the lower rear needle bed, where the hooked yarn forms a loop of the back part; and

returning the loop back to the knitting needle of the lower front needle bed.

3. A method of knitting a tubular fabric with a flat knitting machine having an upper front needle bed, a lower front needle bed, an upper rear needle bed and a lower rear needle bed, each needle bed having a plurality of knitting needles, the tubular fabric consisting of a front part knitted with knitting needles of the lower rear needle bed and a back part knitted with knitting needles of the lower rear needle bed, comprising:

feeding a yarn to the knitting needles of the lower front needle bed and forming loops of the front part, and succeedingly feeding the yarn to the knitting needles of the lower rear needle bed and forming loops of the back part;

transferring the loops on the knitting needles (A to G) of the lower front needle bed to the knitting needles (a to g) of the upper rear needle bed, and transferring the loops on the knitting needles (N to T) of the lower front needle bed to the knitting needle (n to t) of the upper rear needle bed;

transferring the loops on the knitting needles (a to g) of the upper rear needle bed to the knitting needles (B to H) of the lower front needle bed so that the loop on the knitting needle (g) of the upper rear needle bed overlaps the loop on the knitting needle (H) of the lower front needle bed;

transferring the loops on the knitting needles (n to t) of the upper rear needle bed to the knitting needles (M to S) of the lower front needle bed so that the loop on the knitting needle (n) of the upper rear needle bed overlaps the loop on the knitting needle (M) of the lower front needle bed, decreasing the number of loops of the front part by two in which the number is less than the number of knitting needles of the lower rear needle bed used for knitting the back part;

feeding the yarn to the knitting needles (B to S) of the lower front needle bed and forming loops of the front part;

feeding the yarn to the knitting needles (T to B) of the lower needle bed in a direction along a longitudinal length of the lower rear needle bed except to the knitting needle (A) placed at an end in the feeding direction and forming loops of the back part;

feeding the yarn to the excepted knitting needle (A) in an opposite direction along a longitudinal length of the lower rear needle bed and forming a loop of the back part;

feeding the yarn to the knitting needles (B to S) of the lower front needle bed and forming loops;

transferring the loops formed on the knitting needles (B to G) of the lower front needle bed to the knitting needles (b to g) of the upper rear needle bed;

transferring the loops on the knitting needles (b to g) of the upper rear needle bed to the knitting needles (C to H) of the lower front needle bed so that the loop on the knitting needle (g) of the upper rear needle bed overlaps the loop on the knitting needle (H) of the lower front needle bed and transferring the loop formed on the excepted knitting needle (A) of the lower rear needle bed to a knitting needle (B) of the lower front needle bed.

4. A method of knitting a tubular fabric with a flat knitting machine having an upper front needle bed, a lower front needle bed, an upper rear needle bed and a lower rear needle bed, each needle bed having a plurality of knitting needles, the tubular fabric consisting of a front part knitted with knitting needles of the lower rear needle bed and a back part knitted with knitting needles of the lower rear needle bed, comprising:

feeding a yarn to the knitting needles of the lower front needle bed and forming loops of the front part, and succeedingly feeding the yarn to the knitting needles of the lower rear needle bed and forming loops of the back part;

transferring the loops on the knitting needles (A to G) of the lower front needle bed to the knitting needles (a to g) of the upper rear needle bed, and transferring the loops on the knitting needles (N to T) of the lower front needle bed to the knitting needle (n to t) of the upper rear needle bed;

transferring the loops on the knitting needles (a to g) of the upper rear needle bed to the knitting needles (B to H) of the lower front needle bed so that the loop on the knitting needle (g) of the upper rear needle bed overlaps the loop on the knitting needle (H) of the lower front needle bed;

transferring the loops on the knitting needles (n to t) of the upper rear needle bed to the knitting needles (M to S) of the lower front needle bed so that the loop on the knitting needle (n) of the upper rear needle bed overlaps the loop on the knitting needle (M) of the lower front needle bed, decreasing the number of loops of the front part by two in which the number is less than the number of knitting needles of the lower rear needle bed used for knitting the back part;

feeding the yarn to the knitting needles (B to S) of the lower front needle bed and forming loops of the front part, hooking the yarn by a knitting needle (T) adjacent to the knitting needles (B to S) of the lower front needle bed;

feeding the yarn to the knitting needles (S to B) of the lower rear needle bed in a direction along a longitudinal length of the lower rear needle bed except to the knitting needle (T) placed at a start in the direction and forming loops of the back part;

transferring the loops on the knitting needles (N to S) of the lower front needle bed to the knitting needles (n to s) of the upper rear needle bed and transferring the hooked yarn to the excepted knitting needle (T) of the lower rear needle bed by knocking over the loop on the excepted knitting needle (T) of the lower rear needle bed, where the hooked yarn forms a loop of the back part; and

transferring the loops on the knitting needles (n to s) of the upper rear needle bed to the knitting needles (M to R) of the lower front needle bed so that the loop on the knitting needle (n) of the upper rear needle bed overlaps the loop on the knitting needle (M) of the lower front needle bed and returning the loop on the knitting needle (T) of the lower rear needle bed back to the knitting needle (S) of the lower front needle bed.

5. A method of knitting a tubular fabric with a flat knitting machine having an upper front needle bed, a lower front needle bed, an upper rear needle bed and a lower rear needle bed, each needle bed having a plurality of knitting needles, the tubular fabric consisting of a front part knitted with knitting needles of the lower front needle bed and a back part knitted with knitting needles of the lower rear needle bed, comprising:

feeding a yarn to the knitting needles (C to R) of the lower front needle bed and forming loops of the front part,

splitting the loops on the knitting needles (H and M) of the lower front needle bed and transferring the loops to the knitting needles (h and m) of the upper rear needle bed, respectively;

transferring the loops on the knitting needles (C to G) of the lower front needle bed to the knitting needles (c to g) of the upper rear needle bed;

transferring the loops on the knitting needles (c to h) of the upper rear needle bed to the knitting needles (B to G) of the lower front needle bed, and transferring the loops on the knitting needles (M to R) of the lower front needle bed to the knitting needles (n to s) of the upper rear needle bed;

transferring the loops on the knitting needles (m to s) of the upper rear needle bed to the knitting needles (M to S) of the lower front needle bed, whereby the number of loops of the front part is increased by two in which the increased number is larger than the number of knitting needles of the lower rear needle bed used for knitting the back part;

feeding the yarn to the knitting needles (R to C) of the lower rear needle bed and forming loops of the back part;

feeding the yarn to the knitting needles (C to R) of the lower front needle bed in a direction along a longitudinal length of the lower front needle bed except to the knitting needles (B and S) placed at a start and an end in the feeding direction and forming loops of the front part;

feeding the yarn to the excepted knitting needle (s) in another direction along a longitudinal length of the lower front needle bed and forming a loop of the front part;

feeding the yarn to the knitting needles (R to B) of the lower rear needle bed and forming loops;

transferring the loops formed on the excepted knitting needle (S) of the lower front needle bed to the knitting needle (S) of the lower front needle bed to a knitting needle (S) of the lower rear needle bed;

feeding the yarn to the knitting needles (C to R) of the lower front needle bed and forming loops of the front part;

splitting the loops on the knitting needles (H and M) of the lower front needle bed and transferring the split loops to the knitting needles (h and m) of the upper rear needle bed, respectively;

transferring the loops on the knitting needles (C to G) of the lower front needle bed to the knitting needles (c to g) of the upper rear needle bed;

transferring the loops on the knitting needles (c to h) of the upper rear needle bed to the knitting needles (B to G) of the lower front needle bed, and transferring the loops on the knitting needles (M to R) of the lower front needle bed to the knitting needles (n to s) of the upper rear needle bed; and

transferring the loops on the knitting needles (m to s) of the upper rear needle bed to the knitting needles (M to S) of the lower front needle bed.

6. A method of knitting a tubular fabric with a flat knitting machine having an upper front needle bed, a lower front needle bed, an upper rear needle bed and a lower rear needle bed, each needle bed having a plurality of knitting needles, the tubular fabric consisting of a front part knitted with knitting needles of the lower front needle bed and a back part knitted with knitting needles of the lower rear needle bed, comprising:

feeding a yarn to the knitting needles (C to R) of the lower front needle bed and forming loops of the front part,

splitting the loops on the knitting needles (H and M) of the lower front needle bed and transferring the split loops to the knitting needles (h and m) of the upper rear needle bed, respectively;

transferring the loops on the knitting needles (C to G) of the lower front needle bed to the knitting needles (c to g) of the upper rear needle bed;

transferring the loops on the knitting needles (c to h) of the upper rear needle bed to the knitting needles (B to G) of the lower front needle bed, and transferring the loops on the knitting needles (M to R) of the lower front needle bed to the knitting needles (n to s) of the upper rear needle bed;

transferring the loops on the knitting needles (m to s) of the upper rear needle bed to the knitting needles (M to S) of the lower front needle bed, whereby the number of loops of the front part is increased by two in which the increased number is larger than the number of knitting needles of the lower rear needle bed used for knitting the back part;

feeding the yarn to the knitting needles (R to C) of the lower rear needle bed and forming loops of the rear part and hooking the yarn by a knitting needle (B) adjacent to the knitting needles (R to C) of the lower rear needle bed;

feeding the yarn to the knitting needles (C to R) of the lower front needle bed in a direction along a longitudinal length of the lower front needle bed except to the knitting needles (B and S) placed at a start and an end in the feeding direction and forming loops of the front part;

transferring the hooked yarn to the excepted knitting needle (B) of the lower front needle bed by knocking over the loop on the excepted knitting needle (B) of the lower front needle bed, where the hooked yarn forms a loop of the front part;

returning the loop back to the knitting needle (B) of the lower rear needle bed;

feeding the yarn to the knitting needles (R to B) of the lower rear needle bed and forming loops;

feeding the yarn to the knitting needles (C to R) of the lower front needle bed and forming loops of the front part;

splitting the loops on the knitting needles (H and M) of the lower front needle bed and transferring the split loops to the knitting needles (h and m) of the upper rear needle bed, respectively;

transferring the loops on the knitting needles (C to G) of the lower front needle bed to the knitting needles (c to g) of the upper rear needle bed;

transferring the loops on the knitting needles (c to h) of the upper rear needle bed to the knitting needles (B to G) of the lower front needle bed, and transferring the loops on the knitting needles (M to R) of the lower front needle bed to the knitting needles (n to s) of the upper rear needle bed; and

transferring the loops on the knitting needles (m to s) of the upper rear needle bed to the knitting needles (M to S) of the lower front needle bed.