(12) United States Patent
`Essig et al.
`
`I 1111111111111111 11111 111111111111111 lllll 111111111111111 1111111111 11111111
`US006216494Bl
`US 6,216,494 Bl
`Apr. 17, 2001
`
`(10) Patent No.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`(54) METHOD OF PRODUCING A KNITTED
`ARTICLE
`
`(75)
`
`Inventors: Horst Essig, Huelben; Oliver Vogt,
`Reutlingen, both of (DE)
`
`(73) Assignee: H. Stoll GmbH & Co., Reutlingen
`(DE)
`
`( *) Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by O days.
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 09/358,239
`
`(22) Filed:
`
`Jul. 21, 1999
`
`(30)
`
`Foreign Application Priority Data
`
`Jul. 24, 1998
`
`(DE) .............................................. 198 33 392
`
`Int. Cl.7 ........................................................ D04B 7/34
`(51)
`(52) U.S. Cl. ................................................... 66/65; 66/174
`(58) Field of Search .................................... 66/45, 64, 65,
`66/69, 169 R, 170, 171, 174, 173
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`3,916,647 * 11/1975 Yabuta ..................................... 66/65
`5,239,846 * 8/1993 Kitaura et al. ......................... 66/174
`5,444,995 * 8/1995 Benetton .................................. 66/64
`5,943,884 * 8/1999 Kobata et al. ......................... 66/176
`
`5,987,930 * 11/1999 Nakai ....................................... 66/69
`6,065,311 * 5/2000 Essig et al. .............................. 66/64
`6,085,553 * 7/2000 Schmidt et al.
`......................... 66/69
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`1 277 782
`6/1972 (GB) .
`2 183 264
`6/1987 (GB) .
`* cited by examiner
`Primary Examiner-Danny Worrell
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Michael J. Striker
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`A method for producing a knitted article with a spatial main
`knitted element and at least one spatial partial knitted
`element on a flat knitting machine with at least two opposite
`needle beds, a needle displacement device and a loop
`transfer device, the method has the steps of producing the
`main knitted element and the at least one partial knitted
`element parallel on the machine until at least the partial
`knitted element is finished and the main knitted element
`reaches a point of coupling with the at least one partial
`knitted element, connecting loops of the main knitted ele(cid:173)
`ment and the at least one partial knitted element by a transfer
`technique with one another, and then arranging loops of the
`at least one partial knitted element by the needle bed
`displacement device on one needle bed opposite to the loops
`of the main knitted element on the other needle bed, with
`which they must be connected.
`
`20 Claims, 7 Drawing Sheets
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`Skechers v Nike
`
`

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`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr. 17, 2001
`
`Sheet 1 of 7
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`US 6,216,494 Bl
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`
`Skechers EX1022-p.2
`Skechers v Nike
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr. 17, 2001
`
`Sheet 2 of 7
`
`US 6,216,494 Bl
`
`FIG.3/A
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`Skechers EX1022-p.3
`Skechers v Nike
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr.17, 2001
`
`Sheet 3 of 7
`
`US 6,216,494 Bl
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`r s tu vw x y
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`3.1
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`FIG. 32A
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`
`Skechers EX1022-p.4
`Skechers v Nike
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr.17, 2001
`
`Sheet 4 of 7
`
`US 6,216,494 Bl
`
`r s tu vw x y
`
`FIG. 3.3A
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`
`Skechers EX1022-p.5
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`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr. 17, 2001
`
`Sheet 5 of 7
`
`US 6,216,494 Bl
`
`ab cde fgh
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`
`Skechers EX1022-p.6
`Skechers v Nike
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr. 17, 2001
`
`Sheet 6 of 7
`
`US 6,216,494 Bl
`
`10d
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`Skechers EX1022-p.7
`Skechers v Nike
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr. 17, 2001
`
`Sheet 7 of 7
`
`US 6,216,494 Bl
`
`KNITT fNG DIRECTION
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`Skechers EX1022-p.8
`Skechers v Nike
`
`

`

`US 6,216,494 Bl
`
`1
`METHOD OF PRODUCING A KNITTED
`ARTICLE
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`The present invention relates to a method for producing a
`knitted article with a spatial main knitted element and at
`least one spacial partial knitted element, on a flat knitted
`machine with at least two oppositely located needle beds, a
`needle bed racking (displacing) device and a loop suspend(cid:173)
`ing device.
`It has been possible to connect flat partial knitted elements
`of any geometry on a flat knitting machine directly with one
`another. Spatial partial knitted elements which are knitted
`separately, such as for example the hand part and the thumb
`of a glove must be connected with one another by sewing or 15
`linking manually after removal of the parts from the knitting
`machine. These manual post-treatment steps are however
`time consuming and expensive.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`2
`knitted articles. The main knitted element and the at least
`one partial knitted element can be knitted both as open or as
`also close hollow bodies. In order to produce them, it is
`advantageous when the main knitted element and the at least
`5 one partial knitted element are knitted with separate thread
`guides.
`Further advantages are obtained when the main knitted
`element and the at least one partial knitted element are
`knitted closely to one another on the flat knitting machine,
`10 since then the required displacement movements of the
`needle beds for connecting the partial knitted element to the
`main knitted element are minimized. With several partial
`knitted elements, those partial knitted elements which must
`first be connected with the main knitted element are formed
`closer to the main knitted element than those partial knitted
`elements which can be connected later. During displacement
`of the inwardly located partial knitted article in direction of
`the main knitted element, the outer partial knitted element
`can be moved also further to the main knitted element, so
`20 that later during its connection to the main knitted element
`only small needle bed displacement movements are needed.
`For obtaining lowest possible knitting times, the main
`knitted element and the at least one partial knitted element
`are formed in the same sliding direction. Moreover, the main
`knitted element and the at least one knitted element can be
`formed with a knitting technique with shortest possible
`sliding block reverse times.
`The at least one partial knitting element can be connected
`at any vertical and peripheral position to the main knitted
`element. If at least one partial knitted element must be
`connected at the point located at the edge of the main knitted
`element and extending over both needle bed planes, the main
`knitted element can be turned by advancing loop transfer,
`until the connecting point is located only in one needle bed
`plane before the at least one partial knitted element is
`connected.
`The present invention also deals with a knitted article with
`is produced by the inventive method. The connection open-
`40 ing of the knitted article between the main knitted element
`and the at least one partial knitted element can have any
`shape and can be arranged at any angle to the knitting
`direction. Moreover, the at least one partial knitting element
`can form any angle with the outer surface of the main knitted
`45 element. The knitted article can be for example a glove with
`a knitted thumb or a technical knitted article.
`The novel features which are considered as characteristic
`for the present invention are set forth in particular in the
`appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to
`its construction and its method of operation, together with
`additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best
`understood from the following description of specific
`embodiments when read in connection with the accompa(cid:173)
`nying drawings.
`
`Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to
`provide a method for producing a knitted article which
`avoids the disadvantages of the prior art.
`In keeping with these objects and with others which will 25
`become apparent hereinafter, one feature of present inven(cid:173)
`tion resides, briefly stated in a method of producing a knitted
`article, in which the main knitted article and at least one
`partial knitted article are produced parallel on the machine
`until the at least one partial knitted article is finished and the 30
`main knitted article reaches a point of coupling with at least
`one partial knitted article, and then the loops of the main
`knitted element and the loops of the at least one partial
`knitted element are connected with one another by a
`suspension-linking technique after the loops of the at least 35
`one partial knitted element are arranged by the needle bed
`displacement device on one needle bed opposite to the loops
`of the main knitted element on the other needle bed, with
`which they must be connected.
`When the method is performed in accordance with the
`present invention, first of all it is possible to produce knitted
`articles which are composed of several, mutually connected
`spatial partial knitted elements, completely on a flat knitting
`machine. Manual post-treatment steps are required only for
`cleaning. Preferably, at least immediately before the
`connection, the at least one partial knitted element and the
`main knitted element are knitted with at most each second
`needle of one needle bed, and an empty needle of the other
`needle bed is located opposite to a knitting needle of the one
`needle bed. Then, sufficient empty needles are available for 50
`the loop suspension step.
`Depending on the type of the knitted article to be
`produced, the main knitted element and the at least one
`partial knitted element can be connected with one another so
`that the main knitted element at the connecting point with 55
`the at least one partial knitted element has an opening in its
`outer surface, whose cross-sectional area corresponds in
`shape and size to the connecting cross-sectional area of the
`at least one partial knitting element. When the knitted article
`however must have at the connecting point a draping or a
`pattern-like protruberance, this can be achieved by a devia(cid:173)
`tion of the cross-sectional area of the opening of the main
`knitted element in shape and size from the connecting
`cross-sectional area of the at least one partial knitted ele(cid:173)
`ment.
`The main knitted element and/or the at least one partial
`knitted element can be formed as single or double-layer
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`60
`
`FIG. 1 is a view showing a fist glove with a knitted thumb;
`FIG. 2 is a view showing a section along the line 11-11
`through the glove of FIG. 1;
`FIG. 3 is a view schematically showing a loop course of
`an inventive process for connecting a partial knitted element
`to a main knitted element;
`FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a further example of an
`65 inventive knitted article; and
`FIG. 5 is a partial inner view on a main knitted element
`with several connecting points to partial knitted elements.
`
`Skechers EX1022-p.9
`Skechers v Nike
`
`

`

`US 6,216,494 Bl
`
`3
`DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED
`EMBODIMENTS
`FIG. 1 shows a fist glove 1 with a main knitted element
`2 which surrounds the hand and a partial knitted element 3
`which surrounds a thumb and is knitted to the main knitted 5
`element 2. The glove 1 is also provided with a sleeve 4 as
`well as with a structure pattern 5 in the region of the hand
`back. As can be seen from FIG. 2, both the main knitted
`element 2 and the partial knitted element 3 are spatial knitted
`articles which are connected with one another so that their
`inner spaces communicate with one another.
`The connection of the thumb partial knitted element 3 to
`the main knitted element 2 can be performed for example in
`accordance with a method which is illustrated in FIG. 3. 15
`Row 1 of the loop course of FIG. 3 shows the loop
`arrangement of the main knitted element 2 and the partial
`knitted element 3, in accordance with which the last knitting
`row for these both elements 2 and 3 is formed. The main
`knitted element 2 is knitted with the thread guide FF2 and 20
`the partial knitted element 3 is knitted with the thread guide
`FFl. The loops of the both knitted elements 2 and 3 lay
`correspondingly only on each second needle of a needle bed
`V, H, while each empty needle (illustrated by a short line) of
`the other needle bed V, H, is located opposite to the 25
`loop-carrying needles (identified with long lines). In row 2,
`in a knitting direction from the right to left, with a first
`knitting system Cl, the loops of the partial knitted element
`3 located on the front needle bed V are transferred over to
`the rear needle bed H. With the next knitting system S2, the 30
`loops of the main knitted element 2 located on the rear
`needle bed H are transferred to the front needle bed V.
`Thereby now all loops of the partial knitted element 3 are
`located on the rear needle bed H, and all loops of the main
`knitted element 2 are located on the front needle bed V as 35
`shown in row 2.1. Then in row 3, by a needle bed displace(cid:173)
`ment it is obtained that all loops of the partial knitted
`element 3 are located opposite to the loops of the main
`knitted element 2. After this, in row 2, the loops transferred
`to the rear needle bed H are again transferred back to the 40
`front needle bed Von the same needles, which already carry
`the loops of the rear knitted plane of the main knitted article
`2. In row 3.1 the loop arrangement is shown in accordance
`with the transfer operation. The needles covered with two
`loops are identified by double crosses.
`The rows 4-6 show only the linking technique, with
`which the loops of the partial knitted element 3 are con(cid:173)
`nected with the loops of the main knitted element 2. In row
`4 in the knitting direction from right to left, the double loops
`are knitted with the first knitting system Sl onto the needle 50
`M. Then in the same knitting direction, in row 5 the new
`formed loops M are transferred with the next knitting system
`S2 to the rear needle bed on the needle x. After the
`displacement of the rear needle bed H by two pitches to the
`left, in row 6 the loop located on the needle x is transferred
`with the first knitting system Sl in the knitting direction
`from left to right to the loop which is located on the needle
`K. Subsequently with the linking technique, the rows 4-6
`are repeated until all double loops of the needles K, I and G
`are also linked. The thusly produced loop structure is shown
`in row 6.1.
`In row 7, in direction from right to left, the loops of the
`rear plane of the partial knitted element 3 are transferred
`with the first knitting system Sl in the needles which
`become empty by the linking process onto the front needle
`bed V. Row 7.1 shows the loop arrangement after the
`transfer process. Subsequently, the rear needle bed H is
`
`4
`again brought to its basic position, and in row 8 in the
`knitting direction from left to right, with the first knitting
`system Sl the loops of the rear plane of the main knitted
`element 2 are transferred back on the rear needle bed. Row
`8.1 shows the loop arrangement after the transfer process.
`Subsequently, for the main knitted element 2, further loop
`rows are formed and finished or further partial knitted
`elements are connected in the same manner.
`FIG. 4 shows the example of a knitted article 10 which
`10 illustrates a plurality of connecting possibilities implement(cid:173)
`able with the inventive method. The knitted article is com-
`posed in its lower region of a tube 10a of a medium diameter
`which is closed at its lower side. A further tubular part 15'
`is connected perpendicular to the tubular part 10a, and is in
`turn also connected with a tubular partial knitted element
`15". During a manufacture of the arrangement 15, the partial
`knitted element 15' is connected to the main knitted element,
`to which the partial knitted element 15" is connected. At its
`upper end the tubular part 10a merges into a tubular part 10b
`of a greater diameter, with which an open tubular partial
`knitted article 13 and a closed tubular partial knitted particle
`14 are connected. The tubular part 10b is closed by a conical
`part 10c, and a closed tubular part lla as well as a conical
`part 12 laterally extend from it, while an open tubular part
`10d is arranged on its tip.
`The cutout of a surface of a main knitted element 100
`from the inner side in accordance with FIG. 5 shows several
`connecting openings 50, 60, 70, 80 to not shown partial
`knitted elements. The openings 50, 60, 70, 80 are slot(cid:173)
`shaped and form different angles to the knitting direction.
`With the inventive method, connecting openings can be
`produced with different shapes and positions.
`It will be understood that each of the elements described
`above, or two or more together, may also find a useful
`application in other types of methods differing from the
`types described above.
`While the invention has been illustrated and described as
`embodied in method of producing a knitted article, it is not
`intended to be limited to the details shown, since various
`modifications and structural changes may be made without
`departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.
`Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal
`the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying
`45 current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications
`without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior
`art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or
`specific aspects of this invention.
`What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by
`Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims.
`What is claimed is:
`1. A method for producing a knitted article with a spatial
`main knitted element and at least one spatial partial knitted
`element on a flat knitting machine with at least two opposite
`55 needle beds, a needle displacement device and a loop
`transfer device, the method comprising the steps of produc(cid:173)
`ing the main knitted element and the at least one partial
`knitted element parallel on the machine until at least the
`partial knitted element is finished and the main knitted
`60 element reaches a point of coupling with the at least one
`partial knitted element; connecting loops of the main knitted
`element and the at least one partial knitted element by a
`transfer-linking technique with one another; then arranging
`loops of the at least one partial knitted element by the needle
`65 bed displacement device ono one needle bed opposite to the
`loops of the main knitted element on the other needle bed,
`with which they must be connected; knitting, immediately
`
`Skechers EX1022-p.10
`Skechers v Nike
`
`

`

`US 6,216,494 Bl
`
`5
`
`5
`before the connection of the at least partial knitted element,
`of the main knitting element with at most each second needle
`of one needle bed; and arranging an empty needle of the
`other needle bed opposite to a knitting needle of the one
`needle bed.
`2. A method as defined in claim 1; and further comprising
`the steps of connecting the main knitted element and the at
`least one partial knitted element with one another so that the
`main knitted element at a connecting point with the at least
`one partial knitted element has an opening in its outer 10
`surface, with an opening cross-section area having a shape
`and a size corresponding to a connection cross-sectional area
`of the at least one partial knitting element.
`3. A method as defined in claim 1; and further comprising
`forming the main knitted element as a knitted article selected 15
`from the group consisting of a single-surface knitted article
`and a double-surface knitted article.
`4. A method as defined in claim 1; and further comprising
`forming the at least one partial knitted element as a knitted
`article selected from the group consisting of a single-surface
`knitted article and a double-surface knitted article.
`5. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the main
`knitted element and the at least one partial knitted element
`are knitted as a body selected from the group consisting of
`an open body and a closed body.
`6. A method as defined in claim 1; and further comprising
`the step of knitting the main knitted element and the at least
`one partial knitted element with separate thread guides.
`7. A method as defined in claim 1; and further comprising
`knitting the main knitted element and the at least one partial 30
`knitted element closely to one another on the flat knitting
`machine.
`8. A method as defined in claim 1; and further comprising
`the step of forming the main knitted element and the at least
`one partial knitted element in a same knitting direction.
`9. A method as defined in claim 1; and further comprising
`the step of forming the main knitted element and the at least
`one partial knitted element with a knitting technique with a
`shortest possible slide reverse time.
`10. A method as defined in claim 1; and further compris- 40
`ing locating the at least one partial knitted element on an
`edge of the main knitted element and connecting via points
`extending through both needle bed planes, by turning the
`main knitting element by progressing loop transfer until a
`connecting point is located only in one needle bed plane 45
`before the at least one partial knitted element is connected.
`11. A method for producing a knitted article with a spatial
`main knitted element and at least one spatial partial knitted
`element on a flat knitting machine with at least two opposite
`needle beds, a needle displacement device and a loop 50
`transfer device, the method comprising the steps of produc(cid:173)
`ing the main knitted element and the at least one partial
`knitted element parallel on the machine until at least the
`partial knitted element is finished and the main knitted
`element reaches a point of coupling with the at least one 55
`partial knitted element; connecting loops of the main knitted
`
`6
`element and the at least one partial knitted element by a
`transfer-linking technique with one another; then arranging
`loops of the at least one partial knitted element by the needle
`bed displacement device ono one needle bed opposite to the
`loops of the main knitted element on the other needle bed,
`with which they must be connected; using several partial
`knitting elements; and forming those partial knitted elements
`which must be connected first with the main knitted element
`closer to the main knitted element, than those partial knitted
`element which must be connected later.
`12. A method as defined in claim 11; and further com(cid:173)
`prising the steps of connecting the main knitted element and
`the at least one partial knitted element with one another so
`that the main knitted element at a connecting point with the
`at least one partial knitted element has an opening in its outer
`surface, with an opening cross-section area having a shape
`and a size corresponding to a connection cross-sectional area
`of the at least one partial knitting element.
`13. A method as defined in claim 11; and further com-
`20 prising forming the main knitted element as a knitted article
`selected from the group consisting of a single-surface knit(cid:173)
`ted article and a double-surface knitted article.
`14. A method as defined in claim 11; and further com(cid:173)
`prising forming the at least one partial knitted element as a
`25 knitted article selected from the group consisting of a
`single-surface knitted article and a double-surface knitted
`article.
`15. A method as defined in claim 11, wherein the main
`knitted element and the at least one partial knitted element
`are knitted as a body selected from the group consisting of
`an open body and a closed body.
`16. A method as defined in claim 11; and further com(cid:173)
`prising the step of knitting the main knitted element and the
`at least one partial knitted element with separate thread
`35 guides.
`17. A method as defined in claim 11; and further com(cid:173)
`prising knitting the main knitted element and the at least one
`partial knitted element closesly to one another on the flat
`knitting machine.
`18. A method as defined in claim 11; and further com(cid:173)
`prising the step of forming the main knitted element and the
`at least one partial knitted element in a same knitting
`direction.
`19. A method as defined in claim 11; and further com(cid:173)
`prising the step of forming the main knitted element and the
`at least one partial knitted element with a knitting technique
`with a shortest possible slide reverse time.
`20. A method as defined in claim 11; and further com(cid:173)
`prising locating the at least one partial knitted element on an
`edge of the main knitted element and connecting via points
`extending through both needle bed planes, by turning the
`main knitting element by progressing loop transfer until a
`connecting point is located only in one needle bed plane
`before the at least one partial knitted element is connected.
`
`* * * * *
`
`Skechers EX1022-p.11
`Skechers v Nike
`
`