Method of manufacturing a knitted component
First Claim
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1. A method of knitting comprising:
- providing a knitting machine having a first feeder that dispenses a yarn, a second feeder that dispenses a strand, and a needle bed that includes a plurality of needles;
positioning a dispensing tip of the second feeder below an elevation of a dispensing tip of the first feeder;
moving the first feeder and the second feeder along the needle bed to (a) form a first portion of a course of the knitted component from the yarn and (b) inlay the strand into the first portion of the course;
positioning the dispensing tip of the second feeder at the elevation of the dispensing tip of the first feeder;
moving at least the second feeder along the needle bed to form a second portion of the course from the strand; and
wherein the first portion of the course and the second portion of the course form a continuous course of the knitted component.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An article of footwear and a variety of other products may incorporate a knitted component. An inlaid strand extends through the knitted component. A combination feeder may be utilized to inlay the strand within the knitted component. As an example, the combination feeder may include a feeder arm that reciprocates between a retracted position and an extended position. In manufacturing the knitted component, the feeder inlays the strand when the feeder arm is in the extended position, and the strand is absent from the knitted component when the feeder arm is in the retracted position.
142 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method of knitting comprising:
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providing a knitting machine having a first feeder that dispenses a yarn, a second feeder that dispenses a strand, and a needle bed that includes a plurality of needles; positioning a dispensing tip of the second feeder below an elevation of a dispensing tip of the first feeder; moving the first feeder and the second feeder along the needle bed to (a) form a first portion of a course of the knitted component from the yarn and (b) inlay the strand into the first portion of the course; positioning the dispensing tip of the second feeder at the elevation of the dispensing tip of the first feeder; moving at least the second feeder along the needle bed to form a second portion of the course from the strand; and wherein the first portion of the course and the second portion of the course form a continuous course of the knitted component. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of knitting comprising:
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providing a knitting machine having; (a) a needle bed that includes a plurality of needles, a first portion of the needles being located on a first plane, and a second portion of the needles being located on a second plane, the needles being movable from a first position to a second position, the needles being spaced from an intersection of the first plane and the second plane when in the first position, and the needles passing through the intersection of the first plane and the second plane when in the second position, (b) a first feeder that is movable along the needle bed, the first feeder including a first feeder arm with a first dispensing tip for supplying a first yarn, the first dispensing tip being located above the intersection of the first plane and the second plane, and (c) a second feeder that is movable along the needle bed, the second feeder including a second feeder arm with a second dispensing tip for supplying a second yarn, the second dispensing tip being movable from a retracted position that is located above the intersection of the first plane and the second plane to an extended position that is located below the intersection of the first plane and the second plane; forming a first portion of a first course of a knitted component by (a) moving the first feeder along the needle bed and in a direction that is parallel to the intersection of the first plane and the second plane, (b) manipulating the first yarn with the needles to form a plurality of first loops in the first yarn, (c) placing the second dispensing tip in the extended position, (d) moving the second feeder along the needle bed and in a direction that is parallel to the intersection of the first plane and the second plane, and (e) inlaying the second yarn within the plurality of first loops in the first yarn; and forming a second portion of the first course of the knitted component by (a) placing the second dispensing tip in the retracted position, (b) moving the second feeder along the needle bed and in the direction that is parallel to the intersection of the first plane and the second plane, and (c) manipulating the second yarn with the needles to form a plurality of second loops in the second yarn, the second loops being intermeshed with the first loops. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification