US2260650A - Hosiery and method of manufacture - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 28, 1941. J. M. ALLEN HOSIERY AND METHOD OF MANUFICTURE Filed Deo. 27, 1938 a l l l Patented Oct. 28, 1941 l John M. Auen, 'roi-nnen, oninrin, cnnnan, ns-

signor to Scott Williams. Incorporated,

Laconia, N. H.

Application December zr, 193s, serini un. 241,805 2z claims. (ci. ca -11s) This invention relates to knitted articles and more particularly to the manufacture of homers'. and the principal objects of the invention are to provide a sock or the like which will be of a distinctive type and which will be capable of economic manufacture under automatic control.

The principal feature of the invention resides` in the novel manner of fabricating a sock or the like with a series nf substantially diamondshaped areas inter-knit with substantially parallelogram-shaped areas extending in a zig-zag manner longitudinally of at least the ankle portion of a sock.

In the drawing Figure 1 is a needles b yfrom n u, B ouil of action in the sucl ceeding courses, while pvely bringing down into action a corresponding group of needles d from B to C, thereby knitting in a parallelogram-shaped area l. Thus the commencement of knitting of the section 4 takes place on the group of needles b, while the course isknitonthe group of needles d.

The group of needles d are then raised out of action while the group b are brought simultaneously into action to knit a course al:ng the side elevational view showing a sock fabricated in accordance with a preferred form ofthe present invention.

Figure 2 is a front elevational view of the sock shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a rear elevational view. Y

Figure 4 is a side elevational view of a sock incorporating a modification of the present invention.

Figure 5 is a diagrammatic view illustrating a preferred relation between the courses of the diamond-knit areas and intervening areas.

Figure 6 is -a view similar to Figure 5 illustrating a modiiied arrangement of the courses connecting the diamond-knit areas.

Figure 7 is a diagrammatic plan representative of a cylindrical knitting machine. A

In the application of the present invention to the knitting of the sock shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, the upper portion from the commencement to the point i may be knit in any desired or well known manner, and in the following deiinition of steps in the knitting it will be assumed that the article being knitted passes downwardly within the cylinder in inverted form to that in which it is shown. When the point I is reached substantially half of the full complement of needles, that is, from A to B representing the groups of needles c and d, are raised out of action,

Knitting then continues with the groups of needles a and b picking up one or more of the end needles during the successive courses until only one or more needles in the vicinity of D are in operation, thereby forming the triangular or semi-diamond area 2.

From the apex 3 a course is then knit along one tapering edge of the portion 2 to the point I, bringing into action. the group of needles b representing substantially one quarter of the full complement of needles and a suitable vyarn change may be made and knitting then proceeds by progressively picking up one or more of the tapered edge 5 -of the varea Iftothe point 3 and the group of needles a are dropped into action while the group b is again raised from action, and knitting is continued on the group a to knit courses parallel with the remaining tapered edge of the triangular portion'l and one or more needlesof group a are picked up between D and A, while a corresponding number of needles are brought down into action of the groupcfromAtoC,sothatthelxi'stcourseoi.'

theareal'isknitwithsubstantiallyallofthe needles c and a yarn change may be made in such course.

All of the needles are then raised out of action, with the exception of one or more .adjacent the p'oint C, and knitting proceeds with a reciprocating action and each successive course is lengthened by bringing down into action one or more needles of the groups c and d in a balanced manner until substantially one-half the full complement of .needles from A to B, including the groups c and d, are in action, and after which knitting continues by progressively removing from action the needles from A to C and B to C in the inverse order in which they ,were brought into action untilonly one or more needles in the zone C are in action, thereby forming the diamond-shaped area 8.

The 'group of needles d from dropped into action to knit a course 1 along the tapered edge of the zone 8 and the knitting continues by progressively picking up the needles d from C to B one or more for each course and progressively dropping the group of needles b from B to D into action one or more to the course, so that when the parallelogram-shaped area I is completed in interknit relation to the areas 4 and 6, only the group of needles b will be in action.

The group of needles d are then simultaneously brought into action to knit a course along the tapered edge 9 of the area 8 and the entire needles of both groups d and b are then lifted out of action, while 'the group c is brought down into ctoisthen' action from C to A to knit a course along the tapering edge 'I' of the diamond-shaped area 8.

Knitting then continues by progressively lifting one or more needles c out of action from C to A during the subsequent courses, while progressively returning to action the group of needles a one or more at a time from A to D, thereby knitting the parallelogram-shaped area 8'.

All the needles are then raised out of action with the exception of one or more in the zone D and knitting is then continued with a reciprocating action, progressively dropping needles oi.' the groups a and b at the ends o1' the respective courses one or more` at a time until both groups a and b are in action from A to B, and knitting then continues while the needles a and b are progressively raised out of action at the respective ends oi the courses in substantially the inverse order in which they were dropped into action until only one or more needles in the zone D remainv in action, thereby forming the diamond-'shaped area I0 which is interknit with the tapering edges of the areas 8 and l.

The cycles of knitting are then repeated to rst knit the parallelogram-shaped areas Il and II', then the diamond-shaped area I2, then the parallelogram-shaped areas I3 and -I3' and nally the diamond-shaped area Il and parallelogram-shaped areas I5 and I5.

The pattern may be repeated as often as desired and may optionally extend into the foot and yarn changes may bemade at any desired point so that-desired colour combinations may be presented. Y

With the particular sequence of knitting operations dened it will be noted that the commencement course of each of the parallelogralnshaped areas extends along the sloping or taperededge oi? a diamond or semi-diamond shaped area, and that the wales of the parallelogramshaped areas not only extend in inclined or diagonal relation to the wales ofthe diamondshaped areas, but are also in angular relation to the wales of the adjacent parallelogramshaped areas, so that not only do the parallelogram-shaped areas themselves extend in a distinctive zig-zag pattern effect, but also the wales thereof, producing the eiect of remarkable depth to the pattern, and providing enhanced resiliency and strain distribution.

While I have shown a more or less squared or diamond formation, this may be altered simply action one or more at a time for each course from C to A, while progressively returning the group of needles a into action from A to D in the respective courses until the point 3' is reached when only the group of needles a will be in action.

This group a is then raised out of action while the group b is brought down into action from D to B to knit a course along the other tapering edge of the portion 2', and the group of needles b are then raised from action and the group of needles d from B to C brought down into action. Knitting then continues by progressively raising from action the needles d from C to B one or more for each course, while the group of needles b are progressively returned to action one or more for each course from B to D.

There are thus formed mating parallelogramshaped areas or segments I6 and I6 on opposite sides of the tapered portion 2'.

The group of needles b are then raised from action and the group of needles d returned to I action from B to Cy to knit acourse along the Y tapering edge IS" of the area I6'- until the point I1 is reached where all needles, with the exception of one or more in the zone C, are raised out of action.

by reducing or increasing the number of needles brought into action or lifted from action at the ends oi' the respective courses, and it is desirable -that uniformity in this respect be maintained throughout the knitting of the various areas, that is to say, should only one needle be dropped into action or raised from action during the knitting of the rst area, the same procedure should be followed throughout the knitting of the various areas in order to obtain a balanced fabric.

In the modified form of the invention illustrated in Figures 4 and 6 the knitting of the zigzag areas is carried out on the straight.v This is accomplished by knitting a course from the point -3 or apex of the tapering or semi-diamond por- Knitting then proceeds in the manner defined in connection with the diamond-shaped area 6 of Figure 1 by progressively picking up one or more needles of thegroups c and d from C to A and C to B in the respective courses until vboth groups c and d are in action, after which the groups of needles c and d are progressively raised from action in substantially the inverse order in which they were dropped into'action, thereby/ knitting in the square or diamond-shaped area 6.

At the completion of knitting the area 6 one or more needles-in the zone C may remain in operation and the group of needles d from C to B v are then brought down into action to knit a course along the tapering edge I8 of the area 6',

'and the group of needles b are then brought land the group of needles a are dropped into action from D to A and thev group of needles b are raised out of action. l

Knitting then continues on the group a by progressively raising these from action from D to A one or more for each course, while the group of needles c are progressively returned to action one or more for each course from A ,to C, thereby knittilnsg in the mating parallelogram-sliaped area The group of needles c are then raised from action'from C to A and a course is knit on the needles a from A to D until the point 3' is reached and all needles, with the exception of one or two in the zone D, are raised from action, and knitting then continues with a reciprocating action in the manner defined in connection with the diamond-shaped area I0 of Figure 1.

These cycles of knitting may then be repeated as often as may be desired until the heel and foot portion is reached, after which knitting may proceed in a manneruwhich need not specincally referredto'herein.

cluding the zig-gagged parallelogram-shaped areas, will all be substantially parallel.

It is also importantto notethat yin connection with both of the illustrated forms of the invention the knitting of the various parallelogramshaped area is accomplished by retaining in action a substantially uniform number of needles for each ycourse and in the preferred form of theinvention this represents substantially one-quar- 4 ter of the full complement of needles.

I am aware that minor changes may be made either in the sequence or nature of the steps exe'mpliiled herein within the spirit of the present invention and in certain cases I may, if desired. alternate the nature of the respective zig-zag or paralilogram-shaped areas either as to colour, character or angular relation of the wales.

While I have shown and described the present invention in connection with hosiery, it is not to be restricted in this regard. The invention is also capable of beingf carried out by knitting ma-` china of other than the circular or cylinder type l and a very desirable product is produced. and it is to beparticularly noted in connection with the e. is' muur uncle-knit k'with squared' areas disposed in circinnferentially spaced rows in'diagonal progression longitudinally of the article,

the squared `areas oi onerow being odset'from the squared areas ofv an adjacent row inthe longitudinal direction of the article a distance substantially equal to one half the vdiagonal depth `of the squared areas. and a series oi` rhomboid areas interknit between the adjacent sides .of the rows of squared' areas in Isig-sagy progression longitudinally. of said tubular article, each of. said rhomboid-shaped areas having its wales disposedinobtuse angular relation tothe adjacent wale or wales and to the adjacent squared areas.

'1. A tubular article knit with squared areas disposed in spaced rows in diagonal progression longitudinally of .the article, the squared areas of one row being offset from the squared areasv of an adjacent row in the longitudinal direction of the articles distance substantially equal to onehalf the diagonal depth of the squared areas, and a'series ot rhomboid areas interknit between the adjacent sides of the rows of squared areas in zig-zag progression longitudinally of said tubular article, said rhomboidshaped areas being interknit with the said squared areasr with thewales of the alternate construction illustrated in Figure 1 that the anguiar disposition of the wales relative to the intervening areas will impart an enhanced resillency to the product and will serve to eiflectivelyv distribute strains.

What I claim as my invention is:

l. Hosiery having substantially squared areas"y and rhomboid shaped areas knit therebetweenin zig-zag relation in separating relation to the squared areas. v

2. A tubular article knit with square areas disposed in circumferentialiy spaced rows in diagonal progression, and connected solely by rhomboid areas knit therebetween.

3. A tubular article knit with squared areas disposed in circumferentially spaced rows in diagonal progression longitudinally of the article, the squared areas of onerow being onset from the squared areas of an adjacent row in the longitudinal 'direction-of the article a distancesubstantially equal to one half the diagonal depth of the squared areas. and a series of rhomboid areas interknit between the adjacent sides of the' rows of squared areas.

4. A tubular article knit with squared areas disposed in circumferentially spaced rows in diagonal Aprogression longitudinally o! the article, the squared areas of one row being otlsetfrom the squared areas of an adjacent row in the lon- Igitudinal direction of the article a distance substantially equal to one half the diagonal depth of the squared areas, and a series of rhomboid areas interknit between the adjacent sides of the rows of squared areas in zig-zag progression longitudinally of said tubular article and having the rhomboid-shaped areas only parallel with each lotherand angularly related to the wales of the intermediate rhomboid-shaped areas in thev zigzag series. i v

8. A knitted article having spaced squared areas and rhomboid-shaped areas interposed q therebetween with the nrst course ofthe rhomboid area knit .to one squared area and the last course knitto another of said spaced squared areas.

9. A knitted hose having a series of rhomboidn shaped areas arranged in zig-zag progression at opposite sides of atleast the lowerl tubular leg portion and denning therebetween rows of diamond-shaped areas disposed in longitudinal diareas interknit with parallelogram-shaped areas comprising rst knitting a tapered area', then knitting a course along a tapered edge of the tapered area of a predetermined number of loops, then knitting to said course a series of successive courses having substantially the same number of loops for each successive course while progressively eliminating and adding one or more loops at the ends of each successive course respectively to form a parallelogram-shaped area with wales angularly related to the wales of the adjacent tapered area, continuing the last course of knitting to extend along the free tapered edge of the parallelogram-shaped area, then knitting a course along the mating tapered edge of the rst mentioned tapered area. then knitting to the lastmentioned course and following the progressive sequences used in the knitting of the first-mentioned parallelogram-.shaped area to form a mating similarly knit area.'

12. A method of knittingr hosiery with tapered areas interknit with parallelogram-shaped areas comprising rst knittinga tapered area, then knitting a course along a tapered edge of the tapered area of a predetermined number of wales angularly. to the wales of said loops, then knitting to sala course a series of I successive courses having substantially the same 'first-mentioned parallelogram-shaped area to form a mating similarly knit area, continuing the last course of knitting oi' the last-mentioned parallelogram-shaped area to extend along the last knit edge thereof, then.` commencing with one or more loops in a zone intermediately between the inclined edges of the respective parallelogram-shaped areas, knitting in a diamondshaped area betweenthe said parallelogramshaped areas to connect with the last knit courses thereof.

13. A method of knitting hosiery with rhombold-shaped areas comprising knitting the lllllst course of a predetermined number oi' loops and knitting a series of successive courses thereto each ci' substantially the same number of loops at the end of one course and adding one or more loops at the other end of a succeeding course to thereby taper the respectively opposite ends o! each rhomboid-shaped area in substantially-uniform parallel relation.

14. A method of knitting hoisery with tapered areas interknit with rhomboid-shaped areas comprising ilrst knitting a tapered area, then knitting a course along a tapered edge of the tapered area of a predetermined number oi.' loops, then knitting to said course a series of successive cours each of substantially the same number of loops by successively eliminating and adding one or more loops at the end of each successive course respectively to uniformly taper opposite ends of each area and bring same into substantially parallel relation in theform o1 a 'rhomboid-shaped area with wales angularly ilrst knitting in a progressively tapered portion,

then knitting to one tapered edge thereof a parallelogram-shaped area formed of a plurality of successive courses each ot a substantially similar number oi loops and each oiiset from the preceding course adistance equivalent to one or more loops, then at a spaced sone knitting a second mating parallelogram-sbaped area to the other tapered edge of said tapered portion, then knitting in a tapering portion between the adjacent edge portions ot said parallelogram-shaped areas. A

16.Atubularknitarticleembodyingaserles o! parallelogram-shaped areas knit together in planes disposed perpendicular to the longitudinal axis oi the article.

17. A knitted hose having a series of parallelogram-shaped areas interknit together in planes disposed perpendicular to the longitudinal dimension of the hose and having Opposite parallel sides Ainterknlt with substantially squared areas.

18. A knitted hose having a series o! parallelogram-shaped areas knit into at least the lower leg portion and knit together in parallel planes disposed perpendicularly o f the longitudinal axis of the hose to extend in a zig-zag path longitudinally oi at least one side of the said leg portion.

19. Hosiery having a series oi tour rhomboidshaped areas interknit with a single substantially squared area.

20. Hosiery having parallelogram shaped areas interknit with substantially squared areas, the combined width of two of the parallelogramshaped areas in the longitudinal direction o! the hose being equal to the diagonal depth of the squared area, the squared areas being onset from each other a distance equal to substantially one half of their diagonal depth and knitted to and separated by said parallelogram-shaped areas.

21. Hosiery having a series of four rhomboidshaped areas interknit with a single substantially squared area, each of said series of rhombold-shaped areas being knit with their wales in angular relation to the wales of the squared area.

22. Hosiery having a series oi i'our rhomboidshaped areas interknit with a single substantially squared area, each' of said series of four rhomboid-shaped areas being knit with their wales in parallel relation to the wales of the squared area.

JOHN M, ALLEN.

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