(19)
`
`(12)
`
`(cid:6)(cid:27)&(cid:11)(cid:11) (cid:12)(cid:15)(cid:20)(cid:17) (cid:20)(cid:23)(cid:12)(cid:6)
`EP 2 149 629 A1
`
`(11)
`
`(43) Date of publication:
`03.02.2010 Bulletin 2010/05
`
`(21) Application number: 08752871.7
`
`EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION
`published in accordance with Art. 153(cid:3)(4) EPC
`(51) Int Cl.:(cid:3)
`D04B1/00(2006.01)
`A41D19/00(2006.01)
`D04B1/28(2006.01)
`
`A41B11/00(2006.01)
`D04B1/26(2006.01)
`D04B7/32(2006.01)
`
`(22) Date of filing: 16.05.2008
`
`(84) Designated Contracting States:
`AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR
`HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MT NL NO PL PT
`RO SE SI SK TR
`Designated Extension States:
`AL BA MK RS
`
`(86) International application number:
`PCT/JP2008/059029
`
`(87) International publication number:
`WO 2008/143172 (27.11.2008 Gazette 2008/48)(cid:3)
`
`(72) Inventor: OKAMOTO, Kazuyoshi
`Wakayama-(cid:3)shi
`Wakayama 641-0003 (JP)(cid:3)
`
`(74) Representative: Emde, Eric
`Wagner & Geyer
`Gewürzmühlstrasse 5
`80538 München (DE)(cid:3)
`
`(30) Priority: 18.05.2007 JP 2007132643
`(71) Applicant: Shima Seiki Manufacturing., Ltd.(cid:3)
`Wakayama-(cid:3)shi,(cid:3)
`Wakayama 6410003 (JP)(cid:3)
`THREE-(cid:3)DIMENSIONAL KNITTING METHOD, AND THREE-(cid:3)DIMENSIONAL ARTICLE KNITTED
`BY THE METHOD
`
`(54)
`
`(57)
`A bottom face 8 is knitted, starting from a rib
`course 6, and meanwhile sides 10, 12 are moved rela-
`tively horizontally to form sides 14, 16 which are consti-
`tuted by hook stitches. Four side faces of a three-(cid:3)dimen-
`sional article 40 are knitted by the sides 10, 12 and wales
`connected to the sides 14, 16 which are constituted by
`the hook stitches. Then, an upper face 30 is knitted and
`joined to stitches of sides 34, 35, and stitches of a side
`32 is subjected to bind-(cid:3)off, whereby the three-(cid:3)dimension-
`al article 40 is obtained. A three-(cid:3)dimensional knitted fab-
`ric having a bottom face can be seamlessly knitted.
`
`FIG. 1
`
`..a. : New stitch
`
`v : Hook stitch
`N : Stitch transfer
`
`~: ~~v:~~}a~!rection
`
`b
`
`d
`
`j
`
`A C E G
`
`I K
`
`I I ! : : : : :
`
`back bed
`
`: : : :
`front bed
`
`M
`
`Sl--+
`
`S2-<--
`
`S3--+
`
`S4 -<--
`
`S5->-
`
`·~ 6 1 6 6 6 6 1 6 1
`I
`I
`I
`I
`
`S6 -<--
`
`S7 --+
`
`+ + +
`I
`I
`I
`I
`I
`I
`
`I
`
`I
`
`I
`
`SB -<--
`
`S9 --+
`
`S9
`
`I
`d
`h
`~ I ~ I, ' 0 '
`? I ? I ? I ? ?
`E G
`A C
`
`j
`I,
`I
`
`Printed by Jouve, 75001 PARIS (FR)
`
`I A I A I A'
`I
`I
`I
`I
`I
`I
`n
`I I, ' 0 ' 0
`? I Y, Y,
`K M
`
`0
`
`p
`
`I
`
`I
`
`I
`
`I
`
`I
`I
`I
`I
`back bed
`I
`I
`I
`I
`
`I
`I
`I
`I
`front bed
`
`EP2 149 629A1
`
`Skechers EX1015
`Skechers v Nike
`
`

`

`1
`
`EP 2 149 629 A1
`
`2
`
`Description
`(cid:3)[0001] The present invention relates to knitting of a
`three-(cid:3)dimensional article having a bottom face and side
`face, and particularly to knitting of the bottom face of the
`three-(cid:3)dimensional article.
`(cid:3)[0002] Patent Document 1 (Japanese Patent Applica-
`tion Laid-(cid:3)open No. 2007-16351) proposes a method of
`seamlessly knitting a three-(cid:3)dimensional article having
`four side faces and an upper face. According to Patent
`Document 1, first, the four side faces of the three-(cid:3)dimen-
`sional article are knitted into a cylinder, and then one of
`the sides of the upper face is knitted and joined with both
`sides thereof during knitting. Finally, the side of the upper
`face that has been knitted and a side opposite to the
`upper face are subjected to bind-(cid:3)off, to complete a three-
`dimensional article. In this case, two opposing sides of
`the upper face may be knitted first and then subjected to
`bind-(cid:3)off at the central part of the upper face.
`(cid:3)[0003] Patent Document 2 (WO2004/020719) disclos-
`es a method of knitting a glove, where five finger pouches
`for a thumb to a little finger are joined together with gus-
`sets. The glove is completed by, for example, joining a
`finger pouch for the little finger with three cylinders for
`three fingers of an index finger to an annular finger that
`are joined with gussets, to obtain a cylinder for the four
`fingers, and then joining a finger pouch for the thumb to
`these cylinders to obtain a cylinder for the five fingers.
`The last cylinder is continuously knitted to obtain a rib
`part of a wrist, whereby the glove is completed.
`(cid:3)[0004] A variety of knitted fabrics can be obtained
`when a bottom face of the three-(cid:3)dimensional article de-
`scribed in Patent Document 1 can be knitted seamlessly.
`For example, a seamless cube or square pyramid can
`be obtained. Moreover, a cylindrical knitted fabric with a
`closed bottom face can be knitted, which can be formed
`into, for example, a finger pouch for a glove or a sock. A
`three-(cid:3)dimensional article with a bottom face can be uti-
`lized not only in such a finger pouch, but also in various
`commodities, such as footwear, a slipper, and small
`pouches such as a bag, a wallet, and a spectacle case.(cid:3)
`
`Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application
`Laid-(cid:3)open No. 2007-16351
`Patent Document 2: WO2004/020719
`(cid:3)[0005] An object of the present invention is to allow
`seamless knitting to be performed on a bottom face of a
`three-(cid:3)dimensional article, and to provide a glove, a sock,
`a bag or other article obtained by seamlessly knitting the
`bottom face.
`(cid:3)[0006]
`In a method of the present invention for knitting
`a three-(cid:3)dimensional article in use of a flat-(cid:3)knitting ma-
`chine having a first needle bed and a second needle bed
`facing each other in a longitudinal direction, the method
`of the present invention is characterized in having:(cid:3)
`
`a: a step of providing the first needle bed with a first
`
`stitch row and providing the second needle bed with
`a second stitch row, in a manner that the first stitch
`row and the second stitch row face each other;
`b: a step of knitting a plurality of stitch rows, each
`having the first stitch row and a wale formed contin-
`uously therein, up to a third stitch row, in order to knit
`a knitted fabric of a bottom face of a three-(cid:3)dimen-
`sional article, and providing a fifth stitch row and a
`sixth stitch row between the third stitch row and the
`second stitch row or a fourth stitch row having the
`second stitch row and a wale formed continuously
`therein; and
`c: a step of knitting a side face of the three-(cid:3)dimen-
`sional article into a cylinder, with the second and
`third stitch rows, the fifth and sixth stitch rows, or the
`third to sixth stitch rows being used as a bottom side
`of the three-(cid:3)dimensional article.
`(cid:3)[0007]
`In the step b, it is preferred that each stitch row
`having the first stitch row and wale formed continuously
`therein be moved to the right or left on the first needle
`bed so as to be away from the second stitch row, that an
`empty needle, which is generated on the first needle bed
`by moving each stitch row, be provided with a first hook
`stitch row so as to face the second stitch row, thereby
`obtaining the fifth stitch row, and that a second hook stitch
`row be provided to a needle on the second needle bed
`facing the third stitch row as a result of moving each stitch
`row, to obtain the sixth stitch row. Note that "a hook stitch"
`in this specification is a stitch made by hooking with an
`empty needle.
`(cid:3)[0008]
`In the step b, it is preferred that the stitch row,
`which has the second stitch row and wale formed con-
`tinuously therein, be knitted up to the fourth stitch row,
`that the stitch row, which has the second stitch row and
`wale formed continuously therein, be moved to the other
`side of the right and left on the second needle bed, so
`as to be away from the third stitch row, that a row of hook
`stitches be provided to an empty needle generated on
`the second needle bed as a result of the movement so
`that the row of hook stitches faces the third stitch row,
`thereby obtaining a part of the sixth stitch row, and that
`a row of hook stitches be provided to a needle on the first
`needle bed facing the fourth stitch row as a result of the
`movement, thereby obtaining a part of the fifth stitch row.
`Note that a stitch row subsequent to the second stitch
`row may be the fourth stitch row.
`(cid:3)[0009] Preferably, in the step c, as the bottom sides of
`the three-(cid:3)dimensional article, the second and third stitch
`rows and the fifth and sixth stitch rows are obtained, with-
`out knitting the fourth stitch row in the step b described
`above.
`(cid:3)[0010] The present invention also aims to provide a
`three-(cid:3)dimensional article that has a pouch constituted by
`a bottom face knitted fabric, and a cylindrical side face
`knitted fabric constituted by a stitch of a side of the bottom
`face and a stitch having continuous wales.
`(cid:3)[0011] Preferably, the pouch has five pouches of a
`
`5
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`2
`
`Skechers EX1015
`Skechers v Nike
`
`

`

`3
`
`EP 2 149 629 A1
`
`4
`
`thumb pouch, index finger pouch, middle finger pouch,
`annular finger pouch, and little finger pouch, wherein a
`wale of the thumb pouch, a wale of the index finger pouch,
`a wale of the middle finger pouch, and a wale of the an-
`nular finger pouch are connected respectively to the wale
`of the index finger pouch, the wale of the middle finger
`pouch, the wale of the annular finger pouch, and a wale
`of the little finger pouch at web parts between fingers, to
`form a cylindrical knitted fabric.(cid:3)
`More preferably, each of the wales is configured by a
`plurality of wales, and the wale of the thumb pouch, the
`wale of the index finger pouch, the wale of the middle
`finger pouch, and the wale of the annular finger pouch
`are connected respectively to the wale of the index finger
`pouch, the wale of the middle finger pouch, the wale of
`the annular finger pouch, and the wale of the little finger
`pouch, by the respective gussets at the web parts be-
`tween fingers.
`(cid:3)[0012]
`It is more preferred that the pouch configure
`footwear.(cid:3)
`It is more preferred that the pouch configure a bag.
`(cid:3)[0013] The followings can be exemplified by showing
`the associations with embodiments. Note that stitches
`simply described as "stitches" in this specification may
`include "hook stitches," and a bottom face means a sur-
`face that is knitted first when knitting a three-(cid:3)dimensional
`
`First needle bed
`Second needle bed
`First stitch row
`Second stitch row
`Third stitch row
`Fifth stitch row
`Sixth stitch row
`
`Rear needle bed
`Front needle bed
`Stitches b to 1
`Stitches A to K
`Stitches j to t
`Hook stitches b to h
`Hook stitches M to S
`
`article from the bottom to the top.(cid:3)(cid:3)[0014]
`
`In the present invention, a three-(cid:3)dimensional
`article with a closed bottom face can be seamlessly knit-
`ted easily. This three-(cid:3)dimensional article can be utilized
`as a glove, a sock with toes and the like since the bottom
`face fits the fingertips. Moreover, this three-(cid:3)dimensional
`article can be utilized as a bag or footwear.
`(cid:3)[0015]
`
`Fig. 1 is a diagram showing a knitting procedure for
`knitting a bottom face of a three-(cid:3)dimensional article
`in an embodiment;
`Fig. 2 is a diagram showing a knitting procedure fol-
`lowing the procedure shown in Fig. 1;
`Fig. 3 is a modification in which the bottom face is
`knitted starting from a central part thereof to each
`side, showing a procedure following the procedure
`shown in Fig. 1;
`Fig. 4 is a diagram schematically showing how four
`side faces and an upper face are knitted after knitting
`the bottom face of the three-(cid:3)dimensional article in
`
`the embodiment;
`Fig. 5 is a diagram showing a modification in which
`the central part of the bottom face is knitted bi-(cid:3)direc-
`tionally;
`Fig. 6 is a diagram showing a modification in which
`the upper face is knitted bi-(cid:3)directionally and bound-
`off at the central part;
`Fig. 7 is a diagram showing a modification of a square
`pyramid;
`Fig. 8 is a perspective view schematically showing
`footwear to be knitted in the embodiment;
`Fig. 9 is a diagram schematically showing a slipper
`to be knitted in the embodiment;
`Fig. 10 is a diagram schematically showing a process
`of producing a bag in the embodiment;
`Fig. 11 is a diagram schematically showing a proce-
`dure for knitting a glove in the embodiment; and
`Fig. 12 is a diagram in which the glove knitted in the
`embodiment is viewed from the finger side.
`(cid:3)[0016]
`
`2
`4
`6
`8
`10, 12
`14, 16
`18 to 24
`26 to 29
`30
`32
`33 to 35
`36
`37,38
`40
`42
`44
`70
`71 to 74
`80
`81
`82
`83 to 86
`87
`88
`90
`91
`92
`93 to 96
`100
`101
`102
`103
`104 to 107
`108
`109
`111 to 115
`
`Front needle bed
`Rear needle bed
`Rib course
`Bottom face knitted fabric
`Side configured by stitches
`Side configured by hook stitches
`Side obtained during knitting
`Side faces
`Upper face
`Stitch row
`Sides of upper face
`Stitch row
`Rows of unjointed stitches
`Three-(cid:3)dimensional article
`Stitch start line
`Bind-(cid:3)off line
`Square pyramid article
`Side faces
`Footwear
`Stitch start line
`Bottom face
`Side faces
`Surface
`Heel
`Slipper
`Stitch start line
`Bottom face
`Side faces
`Bag
`Stitch start line
`Cylindrical knitted fabric
`Bottom face
`Side faces
`Upper face
`Bind-(cid:3)off line
`Bottom faces
`
`5
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`3
`
`Skechers EX1015
`Skechers v Nike
`
`

`

`5
`
`EP 2 149 629 A1
`
`6
`
`116 to 123
`Sides
`131 to 135
`Finger pouches
`141 to 144
`Gussets
`146 to 148
`Cylinders
`150
`Glove
`(cid:3)[0017] The best mode for carrying out the present in-
`vention is described hereinafter, but the present invention
`is not limited thereto.
`(cid:3)[0018] Figs. 1 to 14 show an embodiment and its mod-
`ification. Figs. 1 and 2 schematically show a procedure
`for knitting a bottom face of a three-(cid:3)dimensional article.
`In the embodiment, a flat-(cid:3)knitting machine with two beds
`is used, wherein one of the needle beds is capable of
`racking freely in a horizontal direction with respect to the
`other needle bed so as to allow stitch transfer to be per-
`formed freely between the needle beds. Instead of the
`flat-(cid:3)knitting machine with two beds, a flat-(cid:3)knitting ma-
`chine with four beds or a flat-(cid:3)knitting machine having two
`needle beds and two transfer jack beds may be used.
`(cid:3)[0019] Step 1 of Fig. 1 shows a state in which knitting
`is started, wherein a stitch row of a rib to be started is
`supported by A to 1 needles. Next, in Step 2, a carriage,
`not shown, is moved from, for example, the right to the
`left of a needle bed to form a hook stitch on a needle M
`and knit one course on the rear needle bed side. The
`stitch row on the rear needle bed side is shifted by two
`pitches to the right by means of racking in Step 3 and
`Step 4, and then one course is knitted by the rear needle
`bed in Step 5 to form a hook stitch at a needle b which
`becomes an empty needle.
`(cid:3)[0020]
`In Step 6, a hook stitch is formed at a needle O
`of the front needle bed, and one course of stitch row is
`knitted on the rear needle bed. In Step 7 and Step 8 the
`stitch row of the rear needle bed is shifted by two pitches
`to the right. In Step 9, a hook stitch is formed in an empty
`needle d formed on the rear needle bed, to knit one
`course. As shown in the lowest part of Fig. 1, the stitch
`row supported by the needles A to K of the front needle
`bed at the beginning of knitting is not moved, and four
`courses are knitted on the rear needle bed side, hence
`the stitch row is moved by four pitches from b to 1 to f to
`p. On the front needle bed, two hook stitches are formed
`in the needles M, O so as to face the stitches of the nee-
`dles n, p formed on the rear needle bed, and two hook
`stitches are formed in the two empty needles b, d that
`are generated on the rear needle bed.
`(cid:3)[0021] Fig. 2 shows a knitting procedure subsequent
`to Step 9. This knitting procedure is a repetition of the
`knitting procedures carried out in Steps 2 to 9, wherein
`one hook stitch is formed on the front needle bed side in
`Step 10, and one course of knitted fabric is knitted on the
`bottom face. In Step 11 and Step 12 the stitch row on the
`rear needle bed side is moved by two pitches to the right.
`In Step 13 a hook stitch is formed in an empty needle f
`formed as a result of stitch transfer, and one course of
`knitted fabric is knitted in the rear needle bed. In Steps
`14 to 17, knitting performed in Steps 10 to 13 is repeated
`
`one more times.
`(cid:3)[0022]
`In Step 17 the stitch row A to K on the front
`needle bed is not moved, but the stitch row on the rear
`needle bed is moved from j to t, and a row of hook stitches
`is formed in b to j of the rear needle bed and M to S of
`the front needle bed. The stitch row of A to K on the front
`needle bed, the stitch row of j to t on the rear needle bed,
`the row of hook stitches b to h on the rear needle bed,
`and the row of hook stitches M to S on the front needle
`bed constitute four sides of the bottom face knitted fabric
`of the three-(cid:3)dimensional article. Here, the bottom face
`knitted fabric is a rectangular having a stitch ratio be-
`tween the long side and the short side is 3:(cid:3)2. A square
`bottom face or a bottom face having a hook stitch row
`longer than a stitch row of a knit can be configured by
`the number of times that the knitting step of Steps 10 to
`13 is repeated.
`(cid:3)[0023]
`In Step 17, the row of stitches A to K is a second
`stitch row, the row of stitches j to t a third stitch row, the
`row of hook stitches b to h a fifth stitch row, and the row
`of hook stitches M to S a sixth stitch row. The third stitch
`row j to t is moved from the original position (b to 1) to
`the right on the rear needle bed, while the fifth stitch row
`is positioned to face the second stitch row, and the sixth
`stitch row is positioned to face the third stitch row.
`(cid:3)[0024]
`In knitting shown in Figs. 1 to 2, the stitch rows
`are not formed on the front needle bed but on the rear
`needle bed only. However, from the state of Step 1 shown
`in Fig. 1, the stitch rows can be formed on both the front
`needle bed and the rear needle bed, and a position to
`start knitting can be disposed in a central part of the bot-
`tom face by moving the stitch row on the front needle bed
`side and the stitch row on the rear needle bed side to the
`opposite side in the horizontal direction.
`(cid:3)[0025] Such an example is shown in Fig. 3. Before car-
`rying out each step shown in Fig. 3, the stitch row on the
`rear needle bed is moved to the right-(cid:3)hand side of the
`diagram by means of Steps 1 to 9 shown in Fig. 1. In
`Steps 31 to 39 shown in Fig. 3, the stitch row A to K on
`the front needle bed side is moved to the left-(cid:3)hand side
`of the diagram. The detail of each step is obtained by
`changing the knitting procedures shown in Figs. 1 and
`2. For example, one course of stitch row is knitted on the
`front needle bed side in Step 31, then one hook stitch is
`formed on the rear needle bed side in Step 32, and one
`course is knitted on the front needle bed side. Next, in
`Steps 33 and 34, the stitch row on the front needle bed
`is moved by two pitches to the left, and in Step 35 one
`hook stitch is formed in an empty needle generated as a
`result of the movement, to knit one course on the front
`needle bed side. By repeating the procedure described
`above (Steps 36 to 39), the stitch row on the front needle
`bed side can be moved to the left-(cid:3)hand side of the dia-
`gram while knitting the bottom face.
`(cid:3)[0026] Fig. 4 schematically shows how a three-(cid:3)dimen-
`sional article 40 is knitted. Reference numeral 2 repre-
`sents the front needle bed and 4 the rear needle bed. In
`response to Step 1 shown in Fig. 1, one course of rib
`
`5
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`4
`
`Skechers EX1015
`Skechers v Nike
`
`

`

`7
`
`5
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`course 6 is knitted, and knitting of a stitch row on the rear
`needle bed 4 is repeated as shown in Steps 2 to 17 of
`Figs. 1 and 2. As a result, a knitted fabric 8 of the bottom
`face is formed, a side 10 configured by a plurality of stitch-
`es is formed on the front needle bed 2, and a side 12
`configured by a plurality of stitches is similarly formed on
`the rear needle bed. The side 10 is a remaining stitch
`row of the rib course 6, while the side 12 is a new stitch
`row that is knitted in a step of knitting the knitted fabric
`8. In relation to the side 10, the side 12 is moved on the
`rear needle bed 4 to the right-(cid:3)hand side of the diagram.
`A side 16 configured by hook stitches is formed in an
`empty needle resulted from the movement, and a side
`14 configured by hook stitches is formed so as to face
`the side 12. The number of stitches of the side 14 matches
`that of the side 16.
`(cid:3)[0027] Four side faces of the three-(cid:3)dimensional article
`40 are knitted on the sides 10, 14, 12 and 16 respectively.
`Note that a hatching or other line in each diagram indi-
`cates a connection between stitches. Reference numer-
`als 18 to 24 represent sides obtained during knitting.
`Once knitting of an appropriate number of courses of the
`four side faces is finished, a three-(cid:3)dimensional article
`with an opened upper face (the face surrounded by the
`four sides 18, 22, 20 and 24) is obtained as shown in the
`lower left part of Fig. 4. Reference numerals 26 to 29
`represent four side faces of the three-(cid:3)dimensional article.
`After knitting the four side faces of the three-(cid:3)dimensional
`article, for example, an upper face 30 is knitted on the
`front needle bed 2, and stitches of the sides 34, 35 on
`the upper face are joined one by one, each time when
`knitting two courses of the upper face 30. As a result, the
`widths of unjointed stitch rows 37, 38 are reduced grad-
`ually. When joining the sides 34, 35, the stitch row 37 is
`joined to the stitch row 36 side, and the stitch row 38 is
`joined to the stitch row 36 side. As a result, the stitch row
`36 and the stitch row 32 face each other, and once the
`formation of the stitches on the upper face 30 is complet-
`ed, the stitch row 36 and the stitch row 32 are overlapped
`and subjected to bind-(cid:3)off to compete the three-(cid:3)dimen-
`sional article 40.
`In the three-(cid:3)dimensional article 40 shown in Fig.
`(cid:3)[0028]
`4, the knitted fabric of the bottom face is knitted on the
`rear needle bed side as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, but the
`knitted fabric of the bottom face may be knitted in both
`the front and rear needle beds as shown in Fig. 3. Such
`an example is shown in Fig. 5. Reference numeral 42
`represents a stitch start line that is located in, for example,
`a central part of the bottom face, from which knitting of
`the knitted fabric of the bottom face is started in both front
`and rear directions, as shown by the arrow. Subsequent-
`ly, the four side faces are knitted as with the manner
`shown in Fig. 4, to knit and bind-(cid:3)off the upper face 30.
`(cid:3)[0029] Various methods according to Patent Docu-
`ment 1 are known for bind-(cid:3)off the upper face. For exam-
`ple, as shown in Fig. 6, a bind-(cid:3)off line 44 may be provided
`in the central part of the upper face, and knitting may be
`started from both the front and rear directions in the di-
`
`EP 2 149 629 A1
`8
`agram of the upper face to perform bind-(cid:3)off on the central
`part of the upper face.
`(cid:3)[0030]
`In Figs. 4 to 6, a cubical or rectangular solid
`article is knitted, but an article in the shape of a square
`pyramid can be knitted. Such an example is shown in
`Fig. 7. Reference numeral 70 represents a square pyra-
`mid article, and a square or rectangular bottom face 8 is
`knitted. When engaged with the needle beds 2, 4, the
`bottom face 8 is in the shape of a diamond or parallelo-
`gram. Next, four side faces 71 to 74 are knitted into cyl-
`inders, the width of each cylinder is gradually reduced
`during the knitting step, and the apex of the square pyr-
`amid is subjected to bind-(cid:3)off, whereby the article 70
`shown on the right-(cid:3)hand side of Fig. 7 is obtained.
`(cid:3)[0031] Figs. 8 to 12 show a specific application exam-
`ple of the three-(cid:3)dimensional article, wherein the white
`arrow in each diagram indicates the direction of knitting.
`Fig. 8 shows seamlessly knitted footwear 80. Reference
`numeral 81 represents a stitch start line. For example, a
`bottom face 82 is knitted on the toe side, and then side
`faces 83 to 86 are knitted into cylinders. A surface 87
`and other three surfaces are knitted individually in the
`middle of the cylinders. A surface 85 is knitted to have
`more stitch courses than surfaces 84, 86, to knit a heel
`88, and then the surface 85 is joined with the surfaces
`84, 86, whereby the footwear 80 is obtained. In Fig. 8,
`the toe side is provided with the stitch start line 81 and
`the bottom face 82, but the surface 85, for example, may
`be knitted as the bottom face.
`(cid:3)[0032] Fig. 9 shows a seamlessly knitted slipper 90,
`which has a simplified structure of the footwear 80 shown
`in Fig. 8. Here, for example, a bottom face 92 is knitted
`starting from a stitch start line 91, and side faces 93 to
`96 are knitted into cylinders.(cid:3) Along the way, knitting of
`the side faces 93, 94, 96 is ended, and only the side face
`95 is continuously knitted, whereby the slipper 90 is ob-
`tained.
`(cid:3)[0033] Fig. 10 shows an example of knitting a two-
`tiered bag 100. For example, a stitch start line 101 is
`knitted, and a cylindrical knitted fabric 102 is obtained.
`Next, a bottom face 103 is knitted. Here, both the front
`and rear needle beds are used to start knitting a central
`part of the bottom face 103. Subsequently, four side faces
`104 to 107 are knitted to obtain an upper face 108, which
`is subjected to bind-(cid:3)off at a bind-(cid:3)off line 109 in the central
`part. Next, for example, the structure shown on the right-
`hand side of Fig. 10 is obtained by folding the knitted
`fabric 102 such that the side face 107 is brought inside
`the bag, whereby the cylindrical knitted fabric 102 be-
`comes a bag cover. The process up to this point can be
`carried out seamlessly. The doubly overlapped knitted
`fabrics are adhered together according to need, and but-
`tons and the like are attached by stitching, adhering, or
`performing other processing. Note that knitting can be
`carried out in an opposite direction from the position of
`the bind-(cid:3)off line 109 in the middle to the position of the
`bind-(cid:3)off line 101.
`(cid:3)[0034] Obtaining the bag 100 as an article having a
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`5
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`Skechers EX1015
`Skechers v Nike
`
`

`

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`EP 2 149 629 A1
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`two-(cid:3)tiered structure allows a natural three-(cid:3)dimensional
`shape. When knitting the bag 100 in Fig. 10 and obtaining
`the state shown in the upper left part of Fig. 10 before
`folding the knitted fabric in half, the vertical side faces
`104 to 107 falls over, and the shape shown in the diagram
`deforms easily. Here, when folding the knitted fabric in
`half as shown on the right-(cid:3)hand side of Fig. 10, great
`pressure is added to the knitted fabric as the shape de-
`forms. Therefore, the bag 100 can keep a natural three-
`dimensional shape. Next, the material or the like of the
`knitted fabric can be changed using the inner layers such
`as the bottom face 107 and the surrounding four surfaces
`of the two-(cid:3)tiered bag 100, as well as the outer layers such
`as the bottom face 105 and the surrounding four surfaces
`of the same. For example, the inner layers are knitted
`with a smooth-(cid:3)textured material such as silk, or an or-
`ganic material such as cotton, and the outer layers are
`knitted with a strong material such as normal cotton, or
`a highly decorative material.
`(cid:3)[0035] Such things apply to the footwear 80 shown in
`Fig. 8, the slipper 90 shown in Fig. 9, and the glove shown
`in Figs. 11. and 12. For example, as with the bag 100
`shown in Fig. 10, the footwear 80 is configured into a
`two-(cid:3)tiered structure. In order to do so, the design of the
`footwear 80 is changed by, for example, providing an
`ankle part shown by a chain line 89 in Fig. 8 to surround
`an ankle of a person from four directions in the same
`height. Then, the footwear 80 with a changed design is
`doubly knitted vertically symmetrically about the ankle,
`then knitting is started from the stitch start line 81 of, for
`example, the lower side of the footwear, and the position
`of the stitch start line 81 of the upper side of the footwear
`is subjected to bind-(cid:3)off to finish knitting. The two-(cid:3)tiered
`structured footwear can be obtained by folding one of the
`vertically symmetric sides of the footwear into the other
`side. Here, the inner layer is made from silk, organic cot-
`ton, or wool, and the outer layer is made from a strong
`material or a highly decorative material. Moreover, an
`outdoor shoe can be obtained by providing the bottom
`face 85 of the outer layer with a rubber shoe sole. In the
`case of the glove shown in Figs. 11 and 12, the glove
`can be knitted vertically symmetrically about a wrist by
`using a different material: a smooth-(cid:3)textured material or
`moisture rich material for the inner layer of the glove, and
`a strong and waterproof material for the outer layer of
`the glove.
`(cid:3)[0036] Figs. 11 and 12 show how a glove 150 is knitted.
`As shown in an upper part of Fig. 11, five bottom faces
`111 to 115 are knitted, wherein sides 116 to 123 are for
`creating wales for forming gussets. The sides 116 to 123
`are configured by a plurality of wales. Cylindrical knitted
`fabrics are formed on four side faces of the bottom faces
`111 to 115 to obtain finger pouches 131 to 135. Here,
`the finger pouch 131 corresponds to a thumb, the finger
`pouch 132 to an index finger, the finger pouch 133 to a
`middle finger, the finger pouch 134 to an annular finger,
`and the finger pouch 135 to a little finger. The finger
`pouches 132 to 134 are joined together by gussets 142,
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`5
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`20
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`25
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`143 to obtain a cylinder 146 for three fingers, which is
`joined with the finger pouch 135 for the little finger by
`using a gusset 144, to obtain a cylinder 147 for the four
`fingers. A cylinder 148 for the five fingers is obtained by
`joining the finger pouch 131 for the thumb to the cylinder
`147 using a gusset 141. The glove 150 is obtained by
`further knitting the cylinder 148 and a rib structure of the
`wrist. The web parts between fingers are provided with
`the gussets 141 to 144.
`(cid:3)[0037] Fig. 12 shows the glove 150 from the fingertip
`side. Because the bottom faces 111 to 115 are formed
`in the finger pouches 131 to 135, the fingertips of a user
`fit the bottom faces 111 to 115. Then, the gussets 141
`to 144 are formed using a plurality of wales on the sur-
`faces of each finger pouch 131 to 135 that face each
`other. The gussets 141 to 144 reduce the knitting width
`of the cylinder 148, compared to the total number of wales
`of the finger pouches 131 to 135. This is because the
`number of wales of the gussets 141 to 144 is reduced,
`and therefore the cylinder 148 does not become loose
`on a human hand even with the loose finger pouches 131
`to 135.
`(cid:3)[0038] The glove 150 with five fingers is described
`herein, but a sock with five fingers can be knitted similarly
`by starting to knit the finger pouches of a foot and joining
`the web parts between fingers using gussets. In addition,
`a mitten can be similarly knitted by joining a pouch for
`four fingers and a thumb pouch at web parts. When knit-
`ting a glove or a sock, knitting may be ended on the back
`of a hand or an instep, without knitting up to the wrist or
`ankle.
`
`Claims
`1. A method of knitting a three-(cid:3)dimensional article 40
`in use of a flat-(cid:3)knitting machine having a first needle
`bed and a second needle bed facing each other in
`a longitudinal direction,(cid:3)
`the method being characterized in comprising:(cid:3)
`
`a: a step of providing the first needle bed with a
`first stitch row and providing the second needle
`bed with a second stitch row, in a manner that
`the first stitch row and the second stitch row face
`each other;
`b: a step of knitting a plurality of stitch rows, each
`having the first stitch row and a wale formed con-
`tinuously therein, up to a third stitch row, in order
`to knit a knitted fabric of a bottom face of a three-
`dimensional article 40, and providing a fifth stitch
`row and a sixth stitch row between the third stitch
`row and the second stitch row or a fourth stitch
`row having the second stitch row and a wale
`formed continuously therein; and
`c: a step of knitting a side face of the three-(cid:3)di-
`mensional article 40 into a cylinder, with the sec-
`ond and third stitch rows, the fifth and sixth stitch
`
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`
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`

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`EP 2 149 629 A1
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`face that is configured by stitches of a side of the
`bottom face and stitches having continuous wales.
`6. The three-(cid:3)dimensional article 40 according to claim
`5, characterized in that
`as the pouch, five pouches of a thumb pouch, index
`finger pouch, middle finger pouch, annular finger
`pouch, and little finger pouch are provided, and
`a wale of the thumb pouch, a wale of the index finger
`pouch