GB2178073A - Trim having scalloped fringe - Google Patents

Abstract

A trim includes an elastic header 12 and a separate fringe construction 14 which is secured to the header at discrete locations (15) spaced along the header, the length of the edge of the header when in a relaxed condition between a pair of said locations being smaller than the length of the adjacent edge of the fringe construction so that the latter adopts a scalloped appearance. This is achieved by forming the header and fringe construction simultaneously on a warp knitting machine under tension, the connection between the two being effected by a laid in weft thread which may contrast in appearance with the thread of the fringe construction so as to form false tassles. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Trim having scalloped fringe The present invention relates to a trim having a scalloped fringe and to a method of producing such a trim.

Trims having scalloped fringes are known and are used in furnishings to provide an attractive edging.

Heretofore such trims have usually been produced on a crochet knitting machine and include a header from one side of which a fringe depends. To form the terminal edge of the fringe into a scalloped edge two alternative methods have been previously proposed; viz (1) laying-in theweft threads so asto define the scalloped edge, or (2) cuttingtheweftthreadsto definethescalloped edge.

Fringes having a cut scalloped edge have a diffe rentappearanceto a scalloped edge formed by laying-in the weftthreads and are currently in greater demand.

Cutting of the fringe is usually achieved by cutting the fringe along a sinusoidal path in order to define the scalloped edge. Such a cutting operation involves elaborate cutters which require constant maintenance and also slowthe production rate ofthetrim eminatingfrom the knitting machine.

A general aim of the present invention is to provide a trim having a scalloped fringe which is simpleto produce.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a trim including an elastic header and a separate fringe construction which is secured to the header at discrete locations spaced along the header, the length ofthe edge ofthe headerwhen in a relaxed condition and when measured between a pair of said locations being smallerthanthe length ofthe adjacent edge of the fringe construction.

The difference in length between the respective adjacent edges ofthe header and fringe construction may be varied as desired; the greaterthe difference the deeperthe scallop produced in the edge ofthe fringe construction remote from the header.

Conveniently, the fring construction is formed from a series of loops ofweftthreads, which may take the form of a chainette construction, and the fringe construction is connected to the header by selected weft threads being laid into both the header and fringe construction. Advantageously, the weft threads joining the headerand fringe construction definefalse tassles in the completed trim.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of producing a trim having a header and a fringe depending therefrom having a scalloped edge, the method including simultaneously producing side by side an elastic header and a fringe construction and connecting the header and fringe construction at selected discrete locations, the elastic header being formed under a stretched condition so that on relaxation of the header the length ofthe header between adjacent locations is less than the length ofthe fringe construction between said locations. Preferably, whilst the trim is held in a stretched condition on the knitting machine, the fringe is cut in a straight line to define the terminal edge of the fringe construction.

Various aspects of the present invention are hereinafter described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figure lisa side view of a portion of a length of finished trim according to the present invention shown in a relaxed condition; Figure2 is a side view of a portion of a length oftrim according to the present invention shown in a stretched condition and as produced on the knitting machine immediately priorto cutting; and Figure 3 is a schematic perspective view of a lamp shade having trim according to the present invention attached thereto.

Referring initiallyto Figure 1 there is shown atrim 10foruse in furnishings and which is knitted on a crochet knitting machine such as a COMEZ OTTO machine. Thetrim 10 includes a header 12 and depending therefrom a fringe construction 14. The header 12 is knitted so as to be elastic and is shown in Figure 1 in its contracted relaxed condition.

The fringe construction 14 is separate from the header 12 and is connected thereto at discrete locations 1 to be suspended at those locations from the header 12.

The header 12 may be knitted so asto be of any desired design but is knitted so asto be elastic. In Figure 1,the header 12 is shown in its relaxed condition and it will be noted that the length dofthe header 12 between adjacent locations 15 is less than the length lofthe fringe construction 14 between the same locations 15. The greaterthe difference between lengths dand ithen the greater the curvature of the upper and lower edges 18, 19 ofthe fringe construction 14 i.e. the deeper the scallop created along edge 19. The length dofthe header 12 is conveniently adjusted by laying-in more orfewerweftyarns.

The header 12 is conveniently made elastic byjoining the laid-in weft yarns by a plurality of rows 21 of warp knitted chain stitches formed from elastomeric yarns.

As seen in Figure 2, during knitting, the header 12 and fringe construction 14 are in a stretched condition as it emerges from the knitting needles and travels toward the take down rollers of the knitting machine.

The fringe construction 14 is formed from loops 23 of weftthread,which which are connected adjacent the up- per edge 18 of the fringe construction by stitch structure 24 preferably defined by a single row of warp knitted chain stitches. The weftthread used may be of any desired type, for instance simply a bundle of yarns or possibly a chainette construction. The stitch structure 24 is chosen so that the weft loops 23 forming the fringe hang freely from locations 15 i.e. the stitch structure 24 is chosen so as not to distort hanging of the fringe from the header.

In the illustrated embodiment, three rows 30,31, and 32 of warp knitted stitches are formed adjacent the lower edge 19 ofthefringe construction. A cutter (notshown) is positioned on the knitting machine so asto cutthrough thefringe in a straight line ata location between rows of stitches 30 and 31. After emergence from the knitting machine, the row of stitches 30 is removed to leave free weft ends and the header 12 contracts and in so doing creates a scal loped lower edge 19.

Preferably the attachment ofthefringe 14, to the header 12 at locations 15 is achieved using weft thread 35 which is fed via a separate feed (not shown) which lays in weftthread 35 at selected courses and at othertimes resides to one side of the fringe construc tion 1 4to 14to create floats 36. Advantageously, weft thread 35 is chosen to be of a contrasting appearance totheweftyarn forming loops 23 so as to define a false tassle in the finished trim. Thefalse tassles are necessarily positioned at the base ofthe scalloped edge 19. In view ofthe cutting operating to cut in a straight line, the present invention enables fringes having a cut scalloped edge to be produced quickly and simply on a standard crochet knitting machine.

As illustrated in Figure 3,the finished trim may be used to decorate a lamp shade 60. The lamp shade 60 has vertical struts 61 at spaced locations about its circumference and when setting up knitting of the trim, the spacing between locations 15 when the header 12 is relaxed is chosen to be equal to orslightly less than the spacing between the struts 61.

Accordingly it is possible to accurately locate the trim on the shade so that the false tassles (or the locations 15 when false tassles are not provided) overlie the struts 61; such positioning may involve stretching of the elastic header 12.

Claims (9)

1. Atrim including an elastic headerandasepa- rate fringe construction which is secured to the header at discrete locations spaced along the header, the length ofthe edge ofthe header when in a relaxed condition and when measured between a pair of said locations being smallerthan the length ofthe adjacent edge of the fringe construction.

2. Atrim according to Claim 1 wherein the fringe construction comprises a series of loops of weft threads and is connected to the header by selected weft threads being laid into both the header and fringe construction.

3. Atrim according to Claim 2 wherein the weft threads selected forjoining the header and fringe construction define false tassles in the completed trim.

4. Atrim substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in anyoftheaccom- panying drawings.

5. A method of producing a trim having a header and a fringe depending therefrom having a scalloped edge, the method including simultaneously producing side by side an elastic header and a fringe construction and connecting the header and fringe construction at selected discrete locations, the elastic header being formed under a stretched condition so that on relaxation ofthe headerthe length ofthe header between adjacent locations is less than the length of the fringe construction between said locations.

6. A method according to Claim 5 wherein whilst the trim is held in a stretched condition on the knitting machine, the fringe is cut in a straight line to define the terminal edge of the fringe construction.

7. A method according to Claim 6 wherein fringe construction is formed by laying-in a weftthreadto create loops of thread and at selected courses layingin the weft th read into both the header and fringe construction so as to join the header and fringe con structiontogether at said discrete locations.

8. A method according to Claim 7 wherein a separate weft thread is laid-in at said selected courses in order to join the header and fringe construction.

9. A method of producing a trim substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.