(12, UK Patent Application MGB m) 2 147 918 A
`
`(43) Application published 22 May 1985
`
`
`(21) Application No 8425544
` (51) INT cu
`
`D04B 3/00
`
`(22) Date of filing 10 Oct 1984
`
`(30) Priority data
`
`(31) 8327004
`(32) 10 Oct 1983
`(33) GB
`
`
`
`
`(52) Domestic classification
`D1 C 5B
`
`(56) Documents cited
`None
`
`
`
`(71) Applicant
`University of Technology (United Kingdom),
`Loughborough, Leicestershire LE11 3TU
`
`(58) Field of search
`D1C
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`(72) Inventor
`Stuart Pugh
`
`(74) Agent and/or Address for Service
`Hughes Clark Byrne Er Parker,
`63 Lincoln’s Inn Fields, London WCZA 3JU
`
`
`
`
`(54) Knitting apparatus
`
`(57) Apparatus for hand knitting comprises hooked pins 5 arranged in two spaced parallel rows on a
`frame 1 with a slot 3 between the rows for the passage of knitted material. The pins 5 are formed with
`grooves 7 to receive a knitting hook and to facilitate the entry of the latter into the grooves sloping
`surfaces 1 1 of the frame are formed with lead-in grooves 3. In an alternative embodiment the pins
`which comprise base members forming the lead-in grooves are independently and detachably clipped
`onto longitudinal bars of the frame. The frame may have selectable detent positions round pivots 15.
`
`
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`V8L6£17LZ89
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`The drawing originally filed was informal and the print here reproduced is taken from a later filed formal copy.
`LaRose Exh. 1015, p. 1
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`LaRose Exh. 1015, p. 1
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`LaRose Exh. 1015, p. 2
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`LaRose Exh. 1015, p. 2
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`LaRose Exh. 1015, p. 3
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`LaRose Exh. 1015, p. 3
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`

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`SPECIFICATION
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`Knitting apparatus
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`5 This invention is concerned with knitting
`apparatus particularly apparatus for knitting
`by hand.
`It is known to provide a knitting apparatus
`(particularly for use by children) comprising an
`elongate frame member, conveniently made of
`plastics material, having a slot extending
`lengthwise of the frame member (the slot
`extending completely through the frame mem-
`ber) and the latter being provided with two
`rows of pins arranged to extend upwardly
`from the frame member at evenly spaced
`localities along the opposite sides of the slot.
`The pins each have a groove extending along
`the pin at a locality opposite to the slot and
`the pins have a hooked formation, each hook
`being formed by a small plate-like member
`which caps the grooved portion of each pin.
`In using the known apparatus the wool (or
`other cord-like material) to be used in the
`knitting operation is first passed around the
`required number of upstanding pins in the
`two rows thereof twice (the free end of the
`wool being anchored eg. to one of the pins)
`and, by means of a suitable hand-held hook,
`the second strand is raised over the hooked
`portion of each pin in turn to form a stitch
`loop around each pin. The wool is then laid
`around the pins again and the loops are lifted
`over the newly laid strand and the process is
`repeated to form a knitted fabric which passes
`downwardly through the slot as the operation
`proceeds. Conveniently the upstanding pins
`are spaced from each other by spaces approxi-
`mately equal to the width of the pins.
`Attempts have been made to utilise appara-
`tus as just described as an aid to enable
`handicapped people to knit. However, the
`known apparatus is flimsy and the frame is
`likely to bend when gripped. Furthermore,
`particularly with certain types of disability, the
`knitter finds it difficult to locate the hook
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`correctly in the groove of each pin in order to
`engage the stitch loop surrounding that pin.
`For example a person having poor co-ordina-
`tion of hand movement is likely to insert the
`hook through the gap between the adjacent
`pins instead of into the groove in the pin, so
`that, when the hook is raised, the stitch loops
`are pulled off the pins and the stitches are
`'dropped’.
`With a View to overcoming or minimising
`the above-mentioned difficulties,
`it is pro-
`posed to provide a substantially rigid frame
`member, preferably of die-cast aluminium,
`with sloping upper faces so formed that the
`thickness (depth) of the frame member in-
`creases from the outside edge to the slot
`which is surrounded by the upstanding pins.
`The sloping faces are provided with grooves
`65 which lead into the grooves in the correspond-
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`60
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`GBZ147918A
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`1
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`ing pins thus providing lead-in guides to help
`the user locate the hook in the grooves in the
`pins and thus facilitate the formation of the
`stitches.
`,
`
`With a View to providing further improve-
`ments in the aforesaid knitting apparatus it is
`proposed to provide an apparatus in which
`what are described previously as upstanding
`(hooked) pins (which pins are integrally
`formed with a slotted frame-member) are re-
`placed by a plurality of separately formed
`hooked teeth, which are conveniently manu-
`factured, by an injection moulding technique,
`from a plastics material, preferably Nylon 6.
`The teeth are assembled in the apparatus by
`being clipped over a pair of tooth supporting
`bars which are arranged to lie parallel to each
`other and provide, between them, a slot
`through which the knitting passes. The tooth
`supporting bars are conveniently made from
`an extruded aluminium hollow profile of
`generally rectangular cross-section cut to ap-
`propriate length, opposite end portions of the
`bars being secured in rectangular housings in
`the form of depressions formed in a pair of
`end plates, thus providing a rigid tooth-sup-
`porting structure of good torsional rigidity and
`which is unlikely to distort under hand pres-
`sure during the knitting operation. The end
`plates just referred to may conveniently be
`formed by zinc die-castings.
`The tooth-supporting structure is conveni-
`ently pivotally supported in a support frame in
`a manner generally similar to that described
`above. However, with a view to providing for
`ease of assembly, cheapness of manufacture,
`and robustness, the support frame preferably
`comprises a pair of support end plates, again
`made by a zinc die-casting process and
`shaped to receive opposite end portions of a
`wooden base-plate to which the end plates are
`secured. The end plates are also provided,
`during the die-casting process, with pivot pins
`for the tooth-supporting structure and with a
`locating member for locating the same in one
`of three different positions of tilt relatively to
`the support frame.
`Thus an apparatus in accordance with the
`present invention may be assembled from a
`very few cheaply produced, but strong and
`light, components. Sets of teeth of different
`pitch may be provided to provide for different
`sized stitches in knitted articles made on the
`
`apparatus. The teeth may be clipped on to the
`two supporting bars either in staggered or
`opposed relationship. Gaps may be left be-
`tween adjacent teeth if required to provide
`readily for different stitch patterns.
`There will now be given, with reference to
`the accompanying drawings, a more detailed
`description of an apparatus, illustrative of the
`invention. It is to be clearly understood that
`this apparatus is selected for description by
`way of exemplification, and not by way of
`limitation, of the invention.
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`LaRose Exh. 1015, p. 4
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`LaRose Exh. 1015, p. 4
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`

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`GB2147918A
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`2
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`In the accompanying drawings:
`Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first
`embodiment of apparatus according to the
`invention having a die-cast aluminium frame:
`Figure 2 is a cross-sectional View of a
`second embodiment of the appratus having
`replaceable knitting teeth; and
`Figure 3 is a view, chiefly in longitudinal
`cross section on the line lll-lll in Figure 2, of
`one end portion of the illustrative apparatus.
`As will be seen in Figure 1, the apparatus
`comprises an elongate frame member 1, pre-
`ferably of die-cast aluminium, having a slot 3
`extending lengthwise of the frame member,
`the groove extending completely through the
`frame member. Upstanding from the frame
`member, at opposite sides of the slot 3, are
`two rows of spaced pins 5 having grooves 7
`extending lengthwise of the pins (ie.
`heightwise) at outwardly facing sides thereof.
`The pins are hooked as shown in the drawing,
`the hooked formation being provided by small
`plate-like portions 9 which cap the upper ends
`of the grooves 7. The frame member 1
`is
`provided with sloping upper surfaces 1 1 (ie.
`the depth, or thickness, of the frame member
`increases from its outside edges to the slot 3)
`in which are formed grooves 13 leading into
`the corresponding grooves 7 in the pins 5.
`The frame member 1
`is pivotally supported
`on pins 15 extending inwardly from upstand—
`ing end portions 17 of a support frame having
`a slot 21 in its base through which the knitted
`material can pass, and may be locked in one
`of three positions (either a central position as
`shown, or inclined somewhat towards one
`side or the other) for convenience in handling.
`The locking means comprises a fixed pin (not
`shown) which extends from one of the up-
`standing end portions 17 with one of the
`three locating holes formed in the frame mem-
`ber 1. To release the frame member from the
`
`locating pin, the frame member can be dis-
`placed lengthwise of its pivot pins 15 against
`the action of a spring (not shown).
`It will be appreciated that the grooves 13
`leading into the grooves 7 in the pins are
`likely to facilitate the correct engagement of
`the knitting hook with the grooves in the pins
`and the sloping surfaces 1 1 tend to act as
`barriers barring unwanted entry of the hook
`into the spaces between the pins.
`The apparatus shown in Figures 2 and 3
`comprises a plurality of upstanding pins (in
`the form teeth 5’ hereinafter described) which
`correspond to the pins 5 referred to previously
`and are arranged in two spaced parallel rows
`to provide a slot 3 between the rows through
`which slot the knitted material passes during a
`knitting operation.
`In the illustrative apparatus the teeth 5‘ are
`detachably supported on a pair of spaced bars
`1’. The bars 1' are cut from an extruded
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`aluminium hollow profile having a generally
`rectangular cross-section as shown in Figure 2
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`to provide a rigid but light construction. Op-
`posite end portions of the bars 1' are received
`in rectangular recesses or housings 2 (com-
`mensurate with the cross-sectional dimensions
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`of the bar so as to provide a tight fit therefor)
`formed in end plates 4, to which the bars are
`firmly secured by self-tapping screws 6 ex-
`tending through bores in the end plates into a
`split-cylindrical bead 8 provided within each
`bar 1’. lnwardly directed flanges 10 provide
`strength to the bar profile. The arrangement
`described provides a light but strong structure
`for supporting the teeth 5’ which is unlikely to
`twist or distort during use of the apparatus.
`The end-plates 4 are pivotally supported on
`pivots 15 extending from a pair of support
`end plates 17, these plates being secured to
`opposite end portions of a wooden base-plate
`19 which end portions are received within
`housings 20 formed in the support end plates
`17 and secured by screws 22.
`The tooth-supporting frame, comprising the
`bars 1' and the end-plates 4, may be located
`in a selected one of three possible positions of
`tilt about the pivots 15, by means of a poppet
`24 (Figure 3) extending from one support and
`plate 17 into one of three detents 26, 28, 30
`formed in the adjacent end plate 4 (Figure 2).
`The spacing between the support end plates
`17 and the end plates 4 of the tooth-support-
`ing frame is arranged to be such as to allow
`slight endwise movement of the frame rela—
`tively to the pivots 15 to allow disengagement
`of the poppet 24 for the detents 26, 28, 30.
`a compression spring (not shown) being pro-
`vided around the pivot 15 between the end
`plates 4 and 17 at the opposite end of the
`apparatus to that shown in Figure 3 to hold
`the poppet 24 and selected detent in engage-
`ment.
`
`The support end plates 17 are also conveni-
`ently formed by a zinc die-casting process
`whereby the pivot 15 and detent 24 may be
`formed integrally with the plates 17 (only
`50% of which will be provided with the
`poppets 24, since they are not required on
`the plate 17 at the opposite end of the
`apparatus).
`As will be clear from Figures 2 and 3 each
`hook 5’ comprises an upwardly extending
`portion 39 terminating in an upper plate-like
`overhanging portion 32 providing the hook
`proper for retaining the wool on the hooks
`until lifted thereoff during the knitting oper-
`ation by manipulation of a hand-held knitting
`hook (not shown). For guiding the latter each
`hook 5’ is provided with a groove 7 extending
`along the upstanding portion 39, while a base
`portion 34 of each hook has a lead-in guide
`groove 13 which leads into the groove 7 for
`the purpose described above in relation to
`Figure 1. Each base portion 34 is provided
`with two depending legs 36 having inturned
`portions 38 arranged to clip around the sup-
`port bars 1’ as shown in Figure 2, and to hold
`
`LaRose Exh. 1015, p. 5
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`LaRose Exh. 1015, p. 5
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`

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`GBZl47918A
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`Printed in the United Kingdom for
`Her Majesty's Stationery Office, Dd 8818935. 1985, 4235.
`Published at The Patent Office, 25 Southampton Buildings,
`,
`A ,f
`'
`'
`'
`d.
`London WC2A1 Y rom which copies may be obtame
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`the teeth firmly in place thereon. By springing
`'
`ape,” the legs 36 Sllghtly a 109th may be
`.
`easrly detached from its bar, either for reposi-
`.
`.
`.
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`thl’llng TO provrde gaps as above-mentioned,
`5 or when it is desired to replace the teeth with
`teeth of a different pitch. Each groove 13 is
`formed between wall portions of the base
`portion 34 of each tooth 5’ provided with
`sloping upper surfaces 1 1 providing barriers
`10 between the grooves 13 in adjacent teeth
`tending to bar unwanted entry of the knitting
`hook into spaces between the hooks 5’ for the
`purpose described previously.
`
`15 CLAIMS
`
`1. Knitting apparatus comprising an elon-
`gate frame member having a slot extending
`lengthwise of the frame member and com- '
`pletely through the frame member and knitt-
`20 ing pins disposed on the frame member at
`evenly spaced locations in two rows along
`opposite sides of the slot, the pins extending
`upwardly from the frame member and being
`of hooked formation and grooves extending
`25 along the pins at locations opposite to the slot
`for guiding a knitting hook, wherein the frame
`member is substantially rigid and is formed
`with sloping upper faces so formed that the
`depth of the frame member increases from the
`30 outside edge to the slot which is surrounded
`by the upstanding pins, the sloping faces
`being provided with grooves that lead into
`grooves in the corresponding pins thus provid-
`ing lead-in guides that help the user locate the
`35 knitting hook in the grooves in. the pins and
`thus facilitate the formation of stitches.
`2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein
`the frame comprises longitudinal members
`and end plates and the end plates are pivoted
`40 in a stand, releaseable locking means holding
`the frame in one of a number of predeter-
`mined attitudes relative to the stand.
`3. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein
`the longitudinal members are defined by bars
`45 of non-circular section on which clip remova-
`ble knitting pins.
`4. Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein
`each knitting pin is moulded in a plastics
`material and comprises a body, legs depend-
`50 ing from ends of the body to clip onto a
`longitudinal bar and an upstanding hook por-
`tion.
`
`5. Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein
`there are also mounted on the bars dummy
`55 pins devoid of hooks.
`6. Apparatus according to claim 3, 4 or 5,
`wherein the releaseable locking means com-
`prises a poppet and detents.
`7. Knitting apparatus substantially as here-
`60 inbefore described with reference to and as
`illustrated in Figure 1 or Figures 2 and 3 of
`the accompanying drawings.
`
`LaRose Exh. 1015, p. 6
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`LaRose Exh. 1015, p. 6
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`