EP3347514B1 - Improved knitting needle and method for producing a circular knitting needle - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to an improved knitting needle and a method for producing a circular needle according to the invention.

Knitting needles have long been known and available in many ways. So describe the DE 1 686 720 U and the US Pat. No. 7,874,181 B1 each knitting needles, which are configured out of round in the region of the shaft or the grip area or have elevations and depressions to make even longer knitting ergonomically pleasant for the fingers. The knitting process as such, however, is not facilitated or influenced.

The DE 1 609 910 U as well as the DE 825 299 each describe a knitting needle, which is to facilitate the knitting itself to an operator, even if this person is a bit awkward. For this purpose, the needle tip on a yarn return completely or partially inhibiting deformation, for example, a constriction, a one-sided thickening or a two- to all-round thickening. A disadvantage of this design of the needle tip, however, is that the knitting yarn can get caught in the constriction or behind the thickening, so that further knitting with this specially shaped needle tip is difficult. In addition, in most needles, only one side is provided with a corresponding tip, while the other side has a normal knitting needle point. Knitting with two needle tips that are deformed accordingly is also difficult. The knitting needles are also made very sharp in the area of the needle tips, which can lead to injuries. In addition, there is a risk that one knits in the yarn - especially when using stronger yarn - in the yarn. If the operator notices this, he must retract the needle tip again, which delays the knitting process. Noticed If this is not the case, this leads to an irregular stitch pattern, which should also be avoided.

The US 2,133,431 also describes a knitting needle, here a circular needle, with deformations on the heads. The heads have the shape of a truncated cone with curved sides, wherein the radius of the truncated cone in the direction of the tip is greater than the radius of the truncated cone, which points in the direction of the needle. This head is intended to provide resistance to the stitches picked up on the needle to allow firm knitting and prevent loose stitches. The disadvantage here, however, that the needle tips are designed very sharp, which can lead to injury. Also, as already explained above, this can lead to a passage of the yarn. An ergonomic and fatigue-free knitting is also not possible with these needles and also the knitting person can not make loosely knitted knitwear, as the deformations on the needle points constitute a resistance and prevent this.

In the JP S62 182986 U describes a circular needle having a notch or constriction in the area of its tips, so that the yarn can be better grasped by the needle during knitting. Nevertheless, in this circular needle still the risk that a person can injure the needle tips or that when knitting, especially with a thicker yarn, the yarn is pierced by the needle point.

The object of the invention is therefore to improve a known knitting needle and thereby reduce the risk of injury and the risk of piercing the yarn, as well as to allow ergonomic knitting with small amplitude in the movement behavior of the wrist of the operator. It is another object of the invention to develop a cost-effective improved manufacturing method to produce a circular needle according to the invention. These tasks are performed by the characterizing features of claims 1 and 12, which have the following special significance.

The needle tip of the knitting needle is strongly rounded and has a thickened towards the top thickening, which can be described as a drop or pompom-shaped, namely a retrieving drops. This has a smaller diameter than the shaft. Between the shaft and the return drop, the knitting needle tapers. The transition between the shaft and the taper and between the taper and the retrieving drop is formed without edges and with low frictional resistance. Due to the formation of the Rückholenropfens and the taper with low frictional resistance and without edges, the knitting yarn can still slide well over the needle point during knitting and the retrieving drops forms no obstacle in the knitting, so that the knitting yarn can not get caught. Due to the fact that the return drop has a smaller diameter than the shaft, the needle is still handy enough to achieve good knitting results even with thin knitting yarn. Nevertheless, the return drop helps to take the next stitch when knitting from the yarn. Due to the strongly rounded shape of the Rückholenropfens the risk of injury is significantly reduced, as well as the risk that the yarn is pierced by the needle tip of the knitting needle during the knitting process. So good knitting results can be achieved even with thicker yarn. The combination of shaft, grip area and return drops allows a particularly ergonomic and fatigue-free knitting, since the amplitude that must be performed by the wrist of the operator during the knitting process, is significantly lower than in conventional knitting needles.

Especially the ratio of the diameter of the shaft of the knitting needle to the diameter of the Rückholenropfens is coordinated and - matched to the strength of the knitting needle - so dimensioned that a very fatigue-poor knitting is possible. Here, the ratio of the diameter is about 25% to 75%, preferably 30% to 60%. Depending on the strength of the knitting needle, the ratio can vary to the best possible ergonomic To allow knitting process. As a rule, the ratio of the diameters decreases as the knitting needle increases in strength, eg at approx. 55% with a needle thickness of 2.5, 3 or 3.5 up to approx. 31% with a needle thickness of 12. These are explicitly only individual examples. The ratios of the diameters may also be different in the context of the disclosure.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the shaft has a shape transition along its length as viewed from the needle point. This shape transition takes place behind the grip area and has approximately the shape of a triangle in cross section. The resulting triangular area ensures that very little friction between the stitches of the knit and the knitting needle arises because the knit touches the needle only in the corners of the triangle. As a result, the knit slides better on the knitting needle, which makes the knitting itself more ergonomic, so that the knitting person less fatigued. Especially with a wider knit this does not have to be pushed constantly on the knitting needle to the rear. The shape transition also happens without edges and with low frictional resistance. The best results regarding the low frictional resistance as well as the feel result from the fact that the triangular area in cross section has rounded corners or convex sides. These two features are also combinable to obtain a knitting needle, in which the shape transition from the handle area to the triangle area is very gentle and with low frictional resistance and wherein the triangular area is designed so that it does not damage the knitting yarn or knitting and also a pleasant Has haptic.

The shaft of the knitting needle as well as the needle tip and the return drops can at least partially consist of a hard plastic. As a result, the knitting needle is light and fits well in the hand.

In a preferred embodiment, the knitting needle is formed as a circular needle. Circular knitting needles are versatile in the production of different knitwear. A preferred Embodiment of the circular needle is narrower behind the handle area in the direction of the rope. This also reduces the frictional resistance between the knitting needle and the knitted fabric, and the knitted fabric is better able to slide in the direction of the rope.

It is particularly advantageous if the transition to the rope at the end region of the shaft is flexible and flexible. As a result, the knit can slide particularly easy on the rope without the knitting person would have to push the knit extra in this direction. Also, the knit can not get caught at the transition to the rope. Mechanical damage to the rope is also avoided.

One way to make the end of the shaft flexible at the transition to the rope, is to make this end of a softer flexible plastic. This also results in the flexible and flexible transition to the rope. However, depending on the thickness of the needles, the material of the end region can also be designed with such a small wall thickness that the elastic properties of the material of the shaft are exploited, thus creating a flexible and flexible transition in the end region to the rope. In this case, the end portion of the shaft may be made of the same material as the whole knitting needle, for example of a hard plastic.

A further preferred embodiment provides that the knitting needle is designed as a jacket knitting needle. At its end facing away from the needle tip, the jacket knitting needle then has a ball head. This ball head prevents the knitted fabric from being pushed beyond the end of the knitting needles, thus losing stitches. Furthermore, the ball head may also have a groove-shaped recess which has approximately the same diameter as the shaft or the grip region of the knitting needle itself. The second knitting needle can then be inserted with its shaft or grip region in this recess in a clamping manner. Particularly preferred are both knitting needles with their respective shaft or their respective Gripping area clamped in the groove-shaped recess of the ball head of the other knitting needles. So the knitting needles can be kept well. Knitted goods, which is located on one of the knitting needles, can not be lost from this, since the largest part of the shaft is limited by the two ball heads. If the knitting needles are not in use, they can likewise each intervene in the groove-shaped recess of the ball head of the other needle, so that always both knitting needles can be found together when they are needed. The ball head can be formed differently, for example in the manner of a ball, a prism, a cube, a cuboid, a cone, a pyramid, etc. Here are all possible shapes conceivable.

Furthermore, the invention comprises a method for producing a circular needle. In order to connect the shaft with the rope, while the rope is encapsulated by the shaft material. The material of the shank is preferably a plastic that can be processed by a conventional injection molding process. If, in the case of the circular knitting needle, an area consists of a hard plastic and a region of a soft plastic, it makes sense first to at least partially overmold the rope by the harder plastic of the shaft and then by the soft plastic. In this way, a secure retention of the rope in the plastic can be achieved. It is particularly preferred in this case to form an outer contour from the hardened material, in particular a fir tree grid. When this Christmas tree grid or another contour by the soft plastic, then a particularly good cohesion between the two different plastics is then given.

In order to achieve a secure encapsulation of the rope, it is advantageous to hold the rope during the injection process of one or more, in particular three holding cores. If only one material is provided for the shaft, the retaining cores are withdrawn during the injection process, so that a smooth surface without breakthroughs in the end region is formed. In the two-stage injection process can in the first step, the Retaining cores hold the rope and only then retired. If the rope is then encapsulated by the soft component, the openings, which are formed by the holding cores, are covered by the soft plastic.

Fig. 1:

eine Ausführungsform der erfindungsgemäßen Stricknadel als Sockenstricknadel,

Fig. 2:

ein vergrößerter Ausschnitt aus Fig. 1,

Fig. 3:

eine Ausführungsform der erfindungsgemäßen Stricknadel als Rundstricknadel,

Fig. 4:

die Rundstricknadel aus Fig. 3 in vergrößerter Darstellung,

Fig. 5:

der Endbereich der Rundstricknadel aus Fig. 3 und 4,

Fig. 6:

schematische Darstellung der Anbringung des Seilchens im Endbereich bei der Rundstricknadel gemäß Fig. 3 bis 5,

Fig. 7a:

Darstellung der Halterung des Seilchens durch Haltekerne vor dem Spitzvorgang zur Herstellung einer Rundstricknadel gemäß Fig. 3 bis 6,

Fig. 7b:

Darstellung gemäß Fig. 7a nach dem Spritzvorgang,

Fig. 8:

eine weitere Ausführungsform einer erfindungsgemäßen Rundstricknadel,

Fig. 9:

Darstellung des Endbereiches aus Fig. 8,

Fig. 10:

schematische Darstellung des Verlaufs des Seilchens im Endbereich der Rundtricknadel aus Fig. 8 und 9,

Fig. 11:

das Seilchen mit der Rundstricknadel aus Fig. 8 bis 10 nach dem Spritzgussvorgang mit dem härteren Kunststoff,

Fig. 12:

schematische Darstellung der Umhüllung eines Teilbereiches aus Fig. 11 mit einem Weichkunststoff,

Fig. 13a:

Halterung des Seilchens durch Haltekerne direkt nach dem ersten Spritzgussvorgang mit hartem Kunststoff zur Herstellung einer Rundstricknadel gemäß Fig. 8 bis 12,

Fig. 13b:

fertig hergestellte aus zwei Komponenten bestehende Rundstricknadel gemäß Fig. 13a ohne Haltekerne,

Fig. 14:

Vergrößerung des Formübergangs zum Dreiecksbereich,

Fig. 15:

Schnitt durch die Darstellung von Fig. 14 an der Stelle XV-XV,

Fig. 16:

Darstellung einer erfindungsgemäßen Jackenstricknadel,

Fig. 17:

vergrößerte Darstellung des Kugelkopfes,

Fig. 18:

Darstellung des Einklemmens der Stricknadel in der Ausnehmung am Kugelkopf der anderen Stricknadel, perspektivisch,

Fig. 19

Das Stricknadelpaar aus Fig. 18 in Vorderansicht.

Further advantages and embodiments will become apparent from the following description, the dependent claims and the drawings. In the figures, the invention is shown in several embodiments. Show it:

Fig. 1:

an embodiment of the knitting needle according to the invention as a sock knitting needle,

Fig. 2:

an enlarged section Fig. 1 .

3:

an embodiment of the knitting needle according to the invention as a circular needle,

4:

the circular needle from Fig. 3 in an enlarged view,

Fig. 5:

the end of the circular needle 3 and 4 .

Fig. 6:

schematic representation of the attachment of the rope in the end of the circular needle according to Fig. 3 to 5 .

Fig. 7a:

Representation of the holder of the rope by holding cores prior to the sharpening process for producing a circular needle according to Fig. 3 to 6 .

Fig. 7b:

Representation according to Fig. 7a after the injection process,

Fig. 8:

a further embodiment of a circular needle according to the invention,

Fig. 9:

Representation of the end area Fig. 8 .

Fig. 10:

schematic representation of the course of the rope in the end of the Rundtricknadel off 8 and 9 .

Fig. 11:

the rope with the circular needle out Fig. 8 to 10 after the injection molding process with the harder plastic,

Fig. 12:

schematic representation of the enclosure of a partial area Fig. 11 with a soft plastic,

Fig. 13a:

Holding the rope by retaining cores directly after the first injection molding with hard plastic for the production of a circular needle according to 8 to 12 .

Fig. 13b:

ready made two-component circular needle according to Fig. 13a without holding cores,

Fig. 14:

Enlargement of the shape transition to the triangular area,

Fig. 15:

Section through the representation of Fig. 14 in place XV-XV,

Fig. 16:

Representation of a knitting needle according to the invention,

Fig. 17:

enlarged view of the ball head,

Fig. 18:

Representation of the clamping of the knitting needle in the recess on the ball head of the other knitting needle, in perspective,

Fig. 19

The knitting needle pair out Fig. 18 in front view.

Out Fig. 1 is a knitting needle 10 according to the invention can be seen, which is designed here as a sock knitting needle. This is symmetrical and has two needle tips 11. At the needle tips 11 each have a strongly rounded back drop 20 is attached and the needle tips 11 are connected to each other by means of the shaft 12. In the region of the shaft 12 facing the respective needle tip 11, a grip region 13 is provided in each case, which can be gripped by an operator during the knitting process. A respective taper 14 is provided between the respective grip region 13 and the return drop 20. The transition between the retrieving drop 20 of the taper 14 and the handle portion 13 is very fluent and has a low frictional resistance.

Furthermore, one still recognizes the triangular region 30, wherein a shape transition 16 takes place between the grip region 13 and the triangular region 30. This shape transition is also designed so that it is designed with the least possible frictional resistance. This allows the knit to slide easier on the knitting needle and the knitting person does not constantly push the knit manually further back. This makes knitting more comfortable and faster.

An enlargement of the needle tip 11 shows Fig. 2 , It can be seen here, the dripping or drip-shaped retrieval drops 20, which are rounded off to a great extent, and the taper 14. The smooth transition between retrieving drops 20 and grip region 13 of the shank 12, on which no edges are provided and which has a low frictional resistance, is also noticeable. so that the stitches can slide well over the knitting needle. The retrieving drop 20 is intended to assist the operator to grasp the yarn more easily to make a new stitch. The retrieving drop 20, the shaft 12 and the grip area 13 are matched to one another in such a way that a particularly ergonomic and fatigue-free knitting is made possible for the operating person.

The handle portion 13 is slightly tapered to have a pleasant feel when gripped by an operator. Also between the handle portion 13 and the rest of the shaft 12 are no edges and the transition is also designed here so that the knitting needle 10 has a low overall friction resistance and can be easily grasped by the operator.

In the 3 and 4 the knitting needle 10 is designed as a circular needle 40. It can also be seen here again the retrieval drops 20 on the needle tip 11. Also, the taper 14 between handle portion 13 and needle tip 11 can be seen. Both shafts 12 of the circular needle 40 are connected by a rope 41. Here only a needle or a shaft 12 is shown.

In this particular circular needle 40 shown here is a knitting needle 10 with very little strength. Therefore, no shape transition 16 and thus no triangular region 30 are provided. From the dot-dashed representation in Fig. 4 , which is quasi the outer contours of the shaft 12 including the end portion 42 and the rope 41 is shown widened, it can be seen that the entire shaft 12 is narrower in the direction of the rope 41. As a result, this circular needle 40 also has a low frictional resistance, which is otherwise achieved by a triangular region 30. The production of such thin round needles 40 is also inexpensive, while the introduction of a triangular region 30 in such thin needles is more difficult and possibly more expensive.

The rope 41 is introduced into the end region 41 of the circular needle 40, wherein the circular needle 40 is made here of a hard plastic material. In this case, the rope 41 has been overmolded by this material in the manufacturing process, as will be shown later. Due to the small wall thickness of the end portion 42 of the circular needle 40 is flexible and elastic, although it consists of the same hard plastic material as the rest of the shaft 12. Fig. 6 shows how the rope 41 is inserted into the end portion 42 of the shaft 12, wherein the Part of the rope 41, which is located in the end region 42, indicated here by dashed lines.

Parts of the manufacturing process in the Fig. 3 to 6 shown circular needle 40 show the Fig. 7a and 7b , In Fig. 7a the rope 41 is positioned by three retaining cores 60. Thereafter, the plastic injection molding process takes place, in which the rope 41 is overmolded by the material of the end region 42, here a hard plastic. After the injection process, the holding cores 60 lie flush on the surface of the end region 42. As a result, no breakthroughs in the end region 42 of the circular needle 40 can be seen and it shows a pleasing overall visual image.

An alternative of a circular needle 40 shows the Fig. 8 , This circular needle 40 has a greater thickness than that in the Fig. 3 to 7b shown. Here the thickness is 5 mm. Of course, this is only an example. The invention comprises circular needles 40 of different diameters and thicknesses.

Again, a retrieval drop 20 is provided on the needle tip 11, wherein a taper 14 to the handle portion 13 of the shaft 12 is present. However, this circular needle 40 has a shape transition 16 to a triangular region 30. This results again in the already known advantages of the low frictional resistance of the circular needle 40. The triangular region 30 is here provided with a pattern which causes a beautiful overall visual impression.

As well as from the enlargement in Fig. 9 can be seen, the end portion 42 is tapered and has the rope 41 on. This end region 42 consists of a soft plastic 44 in order to provide a flexible and elastic end region 42 even with larger thicknesses of the circular needle 40. The inner structure of the end portion 42 of this circular needle 40 differs from that of the circular needle 40, which in the Fig. 3 to 7b was shown. The shaft 12 of the circular needle 40 is also made of a hard plastic. However, a part of the end portion 42 is made of a soft plastic 44. Again, the rope 41 is overmolded by the material of the end portion 42 during the manufacturing process. However, to ensure that the soft plastic 44 adheres well to the hard plastic, the hard plastic is made with an outer contour during the injection process. Particularly advantageous is the fir tree grid 43 shown here, which from the FIGS. 11 and 12 is clearly visible. In the second production step, namely the encapsulation with the soft plastic 44, this fir tree grid 43 is covered. In this case, the two plastics can be chosen so that the hard plastic melts slightly when encapsulating with the soft plastic 44 on the surface and thus better bonds with the soft plastic 44. The soft plastic 44 still extends in the direction of the rope 41 over the Christmas tree grid 43 addition. By this Christmas tree grid 43, the soft plastic 44 is additionally held in position and can not slip in the direction of the rope 41. This results in a flexible and elastic end region 42 of the circular needle 40, which has good flexibility even with large diameters of the circular needle 40.

In the Fig. 13a and 13b Parts of the manufacturing process of this circular needle 40 are shown. The rope 41 is again held in position over three retaining cores 60 and first encapsulated with the hard plastic. Thereafter, the holding cores 60 are removed and there is a second injection molding process with the soft plastic 44. Thus, the areas in which the holding cores 60 attached to the rope 41, filled by the soft plastic 44 and there is an optically consistent overall appearance of the circular needle 40th ,

The FIGS. 14 and 15 now show the shape transition 16 from the round shaft 12 to the triangular region 30th Fig. 15 This shows that the corners 31 of the triangular region 30 are rounded, while the sides 32 are convex are. As a result, a particularly good shape transition 16 with low frictional resistance is possible and the knitted fabric virtually glides in the triangular region 30 only over the rounded corners 31. As a result, the frictional resistance in the triangular region 30 is further reduced, so that the knit material is easily removed over the length 15 of the knitting needle 10 can slide.

The Fig. 16 to 19 show a knitting needle 10 according to the invention, which is formed as a jacket knitting needle 50. Again, a Rückhohltropfen 20 is provided on the needle tip 11 and a triangular region 30 on the shaft 12. At the needle tip 11 facing away from the end 17 of the knitting needle 10, a ball head 51 is provided. The ball head 51 has a groove-shaped recess 52, which has approximately the same width as the shaft 12 of the jacket needle 50. In this groove-shaped recess 52 then the shaft 12 of the second jacket needle 50 can be introduced by clamping two knitting needles 10 of a pair of Jacket Knitting Needles 50 to connect with each other. Here, both jacket knitting needles 50 can be introduced with their shank 12 in the channel-shaped recess 52 of the respective other knitting needle 50 by clamping. The knit is then between the two clamping areas of the ball heads 51 and so can not accidentally slip from the knitting needle 50. In addition, so are always the two jacket needles 50 of a pair of knitting needles 50 together and an annoying search for the second matching knitting needles 50 deleted.

Finally, it should be pointed out that the embodiments shown here are only exemplary realizations of the invention. The invention is applicable to all kinds of knitting needles, such as knitting needles, circular knitting needles and sock knitting needles, in a so-called double-needle play. Also, the knitting needles can be made of a variety of materials and have different colors - for example, to differentiate the different strengths - in whole or in part.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10

knitting needle

11

pinpoint

12

shaft

13

grip area

14

rejuvenation

15

Length of 10

16

Shape transition

17

11 opposite end of 10

20

Rückholtropfen

30

triangle area

31

Corner of 30

32

Page of 30

40

Rundstricknadel

41

Seilchen

42

end

43

Tannenbaum grid

50

Cardigan Needle

51

ball head

52

Channel-shaped recess

60

retaining core

Claims (15)

1. Knitting needle (10), with a minimum of one point (11) and a shaft (12), on which the knitwear can at least be arranged in a zone
   with a grip zone (13), arranged on the shaft (12) near the point of the needle (11) and has a circular cross-section, whereby, the grip zone (13), situated between the shaft (12) and point of the needle (11), is formed ergonomically so that it can be gripped by an operator whilst knitting
   whereby, the point of the needle (11) itself merges into a drop-shaped or bobble-shaped bulge along the length towards the point, the return drop (20), which features a significantly reduced diameter than the shaft (12) and, whereby, the knitting needle (10) is tapered along its length (15) from the shaft (12) towards the point of the needle (11),
   characterized in that,
   the point of the needle (11) itself is designed as very rounded,
   the grip zone (13) is tapered (14) towards the point of the needle (11) and that the transition between the shaft (12) and this taper (14) and between the taper (14) of the shaft (12) and the return drop (20) is formed without edges and with a low frictional resistance.
2. Knitting needle (10) in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that, the relationship of the return drop (20) to the diameter of the shaft (12) of the knitting needle (10) is dependent of the thickness of the shaft (12) of the knitting needle (10) and is 25% to 75%,
3. Knitting needle (10) in accordance with one of the claims 1 or 2, characterized in that, the shaft (12) features a transition in shape (16) along its length (15), from the point of the needle (11), behind the grip zone (13) and has a cross-section there similar to a triangle (triangular area 30).
4. Knitting needle (10) in accordance with claim 3, characterized in that, the triangular area (30) of the shaft (12) features rounded corners in the cross-section (31) and/or convex formed sides (32).
5. Knitting needle (10) in accordance with one of the claims 3 or 4, characterized in that, the transition in shape (16) between the circular shaft (12) and the triangular area (30) is gradual and has a low frictional resistance.
6. Knitting needle (10) in accordance with one of the claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, at least an area of the shaft (12) comprises of a hard synthetic material.
7. Knitting needle (10) in accordance with one of the claims 1 to 6, characterized in that, the knitting needle (10) is formed as a circular knitting needle (40), whereby, the shaft (12) is connected to a thin rope (41) and, in the longitudinal direction (15) of the thin rope (41), becomes thinner behind the grip zone (13).
8. Knitting needle (10) in accordance with one of the claims 1 to 7, characterized in that, the knitting needle (10) is formed as a circular knitting needle (40), whereby, the end area (42) of the shaft (12) is formed to be flexible and supple at the transition to the thin rope (41).
9. Knitting needle (10) in accordance with claim 8, characterized in that, the knitting needle (10) is formed as a circular knitting needle (40), whereby, the shaft (12), at the end area (42), comprises of a soft and/or flexible synthetic material at the transition to the thin rope (41).
10. Knitting needle (10) in accordance with one of the claims 1 to 6, characterized in that, the knitting needle (10) is formed as a cardigan knitting needle (50) and, at the end remote (17) to the point of the needle (11), features a spherical head (51).
11. Knitting needle (10) in accordance with claim 10, characterized in that, the spherical head (51) features a trough-shaped recess (52), which is of a similar diameter to the shaft (12) or the grip zone (13) of the knitting needle (10) and into which can be inserted the second knitting needle (10) with its shaft (12) or its grip zone (13) and clamped.
12. Method to produce a knitting needle (10) in accordance with one of the claims 7-9 with a minimum of one point on the needle (11) and a shaft (12), onto which the knitwear can at least be arranged in areas with a grip zone (13), arranged on the shaft (12) near the point of the needle (11) and has a circular cross-section, whereby, the grip zone (13), situated between the shaft (12) and point of the needle (11), is formed ergonomically so that it can be gripped by an operator whilst knitting
    whereby, the point of the needle (11) itself merges into a drop-shaped or bobble-shaped thickening, the return drop (20),
    which features a significantly reduced diameter than the shaft (12) and, whereby, the knitting needle (10) is tapered along its length (15) from the shaft (12) towards the point of the needle (11),
    characterized in that,
    the point of the needle (11) itself is designed as very rounded,
    the grip zone (13) is tapered (14) towards the point of the needle (11),
    that the transition between the shaft (12) and this taper (14) and between the taper (14) of the shaft (12) and the return drop (20) is formed without edges and with a low frictional resistance
    that the knitting needle (10) is formed as a circular knitting needle (40), whereby, the shaft (12) is connected by a thin rope (41)
    and, whereby, during the production of the circular knitting needle (40), the thin rope (41) is encapsulated in the material of the shaft (12).
13. Method in accordance with claim 12, characterized in that, the thin rope (41) is initially partially enclosed by a hard synthetic material of the shaft (12) and then by a soft synthetic material.
14. Method in accordance with claim 13, characterized in that, when encapsulating the thin rope (41) with the harder material, an external contour is formed, in particular a pine tree grid (43).
15. Method in accordance with one of the claims 12 to 14, characterized in that, during the spraying process, the thin rope (41) is retained by one or more supporting cores (60).

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