April 15,1969“
`
`%
`
`M
`
`L. A. LINSTEAD
`
`‘STITCH HOLDER
`
`3,438,223 %
`
`Filed Aug. 22, 1957 ‘
`
`LORRAINE A. LINSTEAD
`BY
`
`Tristar Ex. 1010, pg. 1
`
`

`
`United States Patent Office
`
`3,438,223
`Patented Apr. 15, 1969
`
`1
`
`3,438,223
`STITCH HOLDER
`Lorraine A. Linstearl, Rockford, Ill., assignor to The
`Boye Needle Company, Chicago, III., a corpora-
`tion of Illinois
`Filed Aug. 22, 1967, Ser. No. 662,375
`Int. Cl. D04b 35/02
`US. Cl. 66~—1
`
`7 Claims
`
`ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
`A two—way stitch holder which permits stitches to be
`knitted olf both ends of the holder. The stitch holder
`includes a generally loop-shaped needle providing a pair of
`needle ends and means providing a releasable engagement
`between each of the needle ends. When the needle ends
`are released, the stitches may then be knitted off of either
`end as desired.
`
`Background of the invention
`This invention relates to stitch holders for use in knit-
`ting. Stitch holders are commonly used in knitting an arti-
`cle to hold stitches in one part of the piece while another
`part is being knitted. Stitch holders are also useful in sav-
`ing stitches when the knitting is interrupted before the
`article can be finished. When it is desired to continue knit-
`ting the stitches which are on the stitch holder,
`these
`stitches may be knitted off the holder, and for this purpose
`the stitch holder is usually provided with a needle-like end.
`The difficulty with prior stitch holders is that the stitches
`can usually be knitted off only one end of the stitch holder.
`It is frequently desirable to remove the stitches from a
`different end of the holder than the end on which the
`stitches were inserted. For this reason, it is desirable to
`provide a two-way stitch holder so that the stitches may be
`removed from either end of the holder.
`Other two—way stitch holders have been provided, but
`these holders generally include rather cumbersome end
`protecting means which interfere with the facility with
`which the stitches may be removed from the holder. It is
`also desirable that the end protecting means may be re-
`moved from the desired holder end with one hand so that
`the other hand may be utilized to hold a similar holder or
`knitting needle.
`
`Summary of the invention
`The inventive stitch holder permits the stitches to be
`removed from either end of the holder. The needle ends
`can be disengaged from the end protecting means with one
`hand, and the protecting means will not interfere with the
`removal of the stitches.
`
`Description of the drawing
`1 is a perspective View of the inventive stitch
`
`FIG.
`holder;
`FIG. '2 is an end view of the stitch holder of FIG. 1;
`FIG. 3 is a fragmentary elevational view of the stitch
`holder of FIG. 1;
`t
`FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 2 showing one end of
`the needle of the stitch holder disengaged from the end
`protecting means;
`FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of another embodiment
`of the end protecting means;
`FIG. 6 is a fragmentary elevational view of the stitch
`holder with the end protecting means of FIG. 5;
`FIG. 7 is an elevational view of an alternative embodi-
`ment of a two-way stitch holder;
`FIG. 8 is atop plan view of the stitch holder of FIG. 7;
`FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 8 showing the stitch
`holder engaged;
`
`2
`FIG. 10 is an elevational view of still another embodi-
`ment of the stitch holder;
`.
`FIG. 11 is a top plan view of the stitch holder of FIG.
`10; and
`FIG. 12 is a view similar to FIG. 11 showing the stitch
`holder engaged.
`Description of preferred embodiments
`
`Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, the numeral 10 des-
`ignates generally a two-way stitch holder. The stitch
`holder 10 includes a generally loop-shaped or U-shaped
`needle 11 having a pair of needle ends 12 and a curved
`intermediate portion 13. Needle 11 is advantageously
`made of relatively resilient metal which may be perma-
`nently bent into the shape illustrated in FIG. 1. Needle
`ends 12 are preferably tapered to facilitate insertion of a
`row of stitches 14 on the needle holder and its removal
`therefrom.
`The stitches 14 are retained on the stitch holder by end
`protecting means or end connector 15. End connector 15
`is seen to be generally S-shaped and includes a relatively
`straight body portion 16 and a pair of hooked portions 17
`extending from each end of the body portion 16, but in
`opposite directions. Each hooked portion is so shaped to
`provide a slot 18 with a generally round throat portion 19
`and a restricted mouth portion 20 (FIG. 4). The slots 18
`are relatively straight and extend generally parallel to
`each other but in opposite directions from the body por-
`tion 16.
`The hooked portion is relatively resilient and the mouth
`portion 20 is somewhat narrower than the diameter of
`the needle 11 so that as the needle is forced through the
`mouth portion into the throat portion of the slot,
`the
`hooked portion is resiliently deformed outwardly and then
`returns to clampingly retain the needle within the slot 18.
`The diameter of the generally round throat portion 19 is
`slightly less than that of the ‘needle 11 so that the throat
`portion frictionally engages the needle. This frictional
`engagement permits the end connector 15 to be selec-
`tively positioned radially outwardly of one of the needle
`ends 12 as illustrated in FIG. 4. With the end connector
`so positioned, the other needle end may readily be used
`for knitting without interference from the connector.
`One of the needle ends 12 may be disengaged from the
`connector 15 by grasping both needle ends by the fingers
`of one hand with the slot engaging the desired needle end
`extending toward the thumb of the hand. By pressing the
`thumb downwardly against the body portion 16 of the
`connector, the desired end may be removed from the slot.
`Similarly, the end connector may be repositioned on the
`free needle end by one hand by pressing the needle end
`into the slot 18.
`Once the desired needle end has been disengaged from
`the end connector, the stitches 14 may be knitted from
`that end. The stitches may be removed from either end
`regardless of the end on which they were inserted merely
`by pushing the stitches around the curved intermediate
`portion 13 toward the desired needle end.
`The end connector 15’
`illustrated in FIG. 5 is also
`seen to be generally S—shaped and includes a body por-
`tion 16’ and hooked portions 17’. Each of the hooked
`portions 17’ is essentially a reverse bend and provides a
`slot 18’ having a generally round throat portion 19’ and
`a restricted mouth portion 20’. The slots 18’ extend gen-
`erally parallel with each other but in opposite directions.
`Again, both the mouth portion 20’ and the throat portion
`19’ are preferably narrower than the diameter of the
`needle 11.
`One of the needle ends may be disengaged from the
`connector merely by grasping the other needle end in the
`fingers of one hand and pushing the first end downwardly
`
`Tristar Ex. 1010, pg. 2
`
`

`
`3,438,223
`
`,
`
`3
`by the thumb past the mouth portion 20’ of the slot 18’.
`As the needle end emerges from the slot 18’,
`the end
`connector is automatically forced away from that needle
`end by virtue of the downward force exerted against
`the body portion 16 of the connection, which bisects a
`line between the two needle ends.
`The stitch holder 15’ may also be closed by one hand
`after stitches have been inserted thereon by squeezing
`the needle ends together to bring the free end adjacent
`to the mouth portion of the slot and then allowing the
`resilience of the needle to force the needle end into the
`slot. For this purpose,
`the end of the hooked portion
`may advantageously be flared outwardly as at 21’
`to
`facilitate insertion.
`Both of the end connectors 15 and 15’ may advan-
`tageously be molded from plastic. Any plastic with suit-
`able resilience to permit the needle to pass the mouth
`portion of the slot may be used. Alternatively, the end
`connectors may be formed from spring metal. When both
`ends of the needle are engaged by the connector, a closed
`stitch-holding loop is
`formed -by the needle and the
`connector.
`Other embodiments of the needle holder are illustrated
`in FIGS. 7~12. FIG. 7 illustratess a generally loop-shaped
`or circular stitch holder 21 having a pair of needle ends
`22. The stitch holder 21 is preferably made of a relatively
`resilient metal and is bent so that in the unflexed state
`the needle ends are separated as illustrated in FIG. 8,
`which is a top View of FIG. 7. In this position, stitches
`14 may readily be inserted on either of the needle ends 22,
`after which the needle ends 22 may be brought together
`and crossed over each other as in FIG. 9. The resilience
`of the stitch holder 21 causes the needle ends 22 to press
`against each other in an effort to return to the unflexed
`state, thereby maintaining the stitches on the holder and
`providing a releasable engagement between the ends.
`Similarly, FIG. 10 illustrates stitch holder 23 having a
`generally looped shape in the form of a triangle and in-
`cluding a pair of needle ends 24. In the unflexed position
`illustrated in FIG. 11, the needle ends 24 are separated,
`and after stitches 14 are inserted on the stitch holder, the
`needle ends may be crossed and brought into releasable
`engagement as in FIG. 12.
`While in the foregoing specification, detailed descrip-
`tions of specific embodiments of my invention were set
`forth for the purpose of illustration, it is to be understood
`that many of the details herein given may be varied con-
`siderably by those skilled in the art without departing
`from the spirit and scope of the invention.
`I claim:
`1. A two-way stitch holder comprising a generally U-
`shaped needle having a curved intermediate portion and
`a pair of end portions terminating in tapered ends, and an
`end connector, said connector being releasably engaged
`with each of said end portions and including an elongated
`body portion extending generally transversely between
`said end portions and a pair of hook portions, each of
`said hook portions being provided with a slot extending
`
`4
`generally transversely of said body portion, each slot
`opening in a direction generally opposite to that of the
`other slot and receiving one of said end portions between
`the associated tapered end and said needle curved por-
`tion.
`2. The stitch holder of claim 1 in which said connector
`is generally S-shaped, said slots lying on opposite sides
`of said body portion.
`3. The stitch holder of claim 2 in which said slots are
`provided by a reverse bend in said connector at each end
`of said body portion.
`4. A two—way stitch holder comprising a generally U-
`shaped needle providing a pair of needle ends, and an end
`connector, said connector being releasably engaged with
`each of said needle ends, said connector including an
`elongated body portion and a pair of hooked portions ex-
`tending from opposite ends of said body portion, each of
`said hooked portions being provided with a slot, each of
`said slots being provided with a mouth portion and a
`throat portion, said mouth portions being narrower than
`the diameter of said needle ends and being resiliently de-
`formable to permit said needle ends to pass into and out
`of said throat portions, each of said throat portions be-
`ing adapted to frictionally engage a needle end to position
`said connector radially outwardly of said needle end.
`5. The stitch holder of claim 4 in which said slots ex-
`tend generally parallel
`to each other but in opposite
`directions.
`6. The stitch holder of claim 4 in which said connector
`is generally S-shaped, said slots lying on opposite sides
`of said body portion.
`7. The stitch holder of claim 6 in which said slots ex-
`tend generally parallel to each other but in opposite direc-
`tions.
`
`References Cited
`UNITED STATES PATENTS
`7/1914 Denner ___________ __ 66—118
`11/1928 Sakurai et al. ___________ 66_1
`7/1931 Fowler _________
`____ 66——1
`1/1936 Webber ___________ __ 66—1 17
`11/1948 Upstill ______________ __ 66__1
`1/1951 Robertson _____ __ 66-117 XR
`4/1952 Landon
`66—1 17
`7/1953 Spencer ___________ __ 66.-117
`11/1953 Scott _______________ __ 66.._1
`2/ 1954 Barsky ____________ __ 66-117
`4/1960 Sorlie ________________ 66__1
`
`FOREIGN PATENTS
`1/-1957 France.
`4/ 1959 France.
`8/ 1961 Great Britain.
`
`1,104,640
`1,691,527
`1,816,081
`2,029,005
`2,454,493
`2,539,479
`2,591,s3 6
`2,644,324
`2,655,017
`2,668,429
`2,930,213
`
`1,128,684
`1,176,266
`874,763
`
`RONALD FELDBAUM, Primary Examiner.
`U.S. C1. X.R.
`
`66—116, 117
`
`Tristar Ex. 1010, pg. 3