IE50356B1 - Filling effect designs on a stitch-through fabric - Google Patents

Abstract

A stitch-bonded fabric made on a stitch-through type machine involves the application of a textile pattern design element (e.g. a single yarn end) disposed along non-rectilinear pathways, with segments extending essentially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the fabric. A block pattern may be formed thereby. A single system of longitudinal knitting thread wales with loops on the rear surface of the fabric and laps on the front surface, binds and secures the design element into an integrated unitary textile structure. In addition the fabric may include a layer of non- woven fibrous batting and a layer of filling yarns. The textile element 107 is applied by a unitary mechanism 101 which moves transversely of the fabric wales and includes a feed tube 107 and rotary brushes 109a, 109b which place and hold down the element in the stitch-forming zone.

Description

This invention relate? to fabrics which are produced on stitch-through type machines such as a Malimo machine. More particularly, it relates to a novel improved Malimo-type fabric and to an apparatus and method used in making it wherein the improvement resides in the capability of forming heretofore unattainable pattern designs from a single textile element.

Malimo fabrics typically comprise a layer of substantially parallel warp yarn elements or ends on a flexible substrate such as a layer of substantially parallel selvage-to-selvage textile filling yarn elements, the two components being joined together into an integrated structure by means of relatively fine knitting threads. Where desired a more or less open mesh fabric can be obtained by controlling the spacing between the individual yarn elements. This and other stitch-through” type non-woven fabric construction can be obtained on machines of the Malimo type, using methods and equipment described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,890,579; 3,030,786; 3,253,426; 3,274,806; 3,279,221; 3,309,900; 3,389,583; 3,392,078; 3,440,840; 3,452,561; 3,457,733,- 3,460,599; 3,540,238; 3,541,812; 3,567,565; 3,592,025,- 3,672,187; 3,677,034,- 4,144,727; and U.S. Re. Pat. No. 25,749.

The ability to readily mass produce a basic fabric in a variety of patterns is extremely important to the commercial success of the fabric. While non-woven fabrics can be produced on Maiimo-type machines at relatively high speeds compared to the production of woven fabrics using looms, much attention has been given to augmenting this desirable feature with design flexibility, not only with respect to the density, gage, and color combinations of the textile components, the spacing between them, and the purposeful omission of one or more of such components, but also with respect to the spatial configuration of the textile components in the fabric.

In particular, there is a need for Malimo fabrics of still greater design flexibility, particularly with respect to the creation of unusual visual or decorative effects. The present invention makes possible for the first time an enhanced variety of designs in which a single textile element or end can be used to form patterns, including filling effect designs, heretofore unattainable on stitch-through machines. For example, the present invention permits the creation of figure patterns of any desired shape, including but not limited to block patterns, from a single yarn end, whereas heretofore, there has been no means or method by which such an effect could be achieved on Malimo machines at commercial production speeds.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide fabrics such as are produced on stitch-through type machines having enhanced design flexibility stemming from a single textile pattern design element, or from a plurality of such elements.

A further object is to provide an apparatus for producing fabrics on stitch-through type machines having enhanced design capabilities stemming from a single textile pattern design element, or from a plurality of such elements.

Yet another object is to provide a method for 5 producing fabrics on stitch-through type machines having enhanced design capabilities stemming from the use of a single textile pattern design element, or from a plurality of such elements.

These and other objects of the invention as 10 well as a fuller understanding of the advantages thereof can be had by reference to the following detailed description, drawings and claims.

The foregoing objects are achieved according to the present invention by a novel stitch—bonded type fabric and an apparatus and method for making same on a stitch-through type machine such as a Malimo machine wherein the fabric comprises one or more textile pattern design elements disposed along non-rectilinear pathways, said one or more elements having segments extending essentially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the fabric. A single system of longitudinal knitting thread wales, each wale comprising a multiplicity of looped stitch courses, engages the design element(s) with loops of knitting thread on the rear surface of the fabric and laps of the knitting thread courses on the front surface to bind and secure said design elements into an integrated unitary textile structure. The system of knitting thread wales can comprise a half-tricot stitch configuration by alternating two threads in a loop series, and/or a chain stitch configuration.

Thus the present Invention provides in a first aspect a fabric made in a stitch-through type machine which fabric comprises : (a) one or more textile pattern design elements each disposed along a non-rectilinear pathway having a plurality of turns, with a substantial number of segments between adjacent turns thereof extending substantially perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction of the fabric; and (b) a single system of longitudinal relatively fine knitting thread wales, each wale comprising a multiplicity of looped stitch courses which engage the design elements with loops of knitting thread on the rear surface of the fabric and laps of the knitting thread courses on the front surface to bind and secure said design elements into an integrated unitary textile structure, said knitting thread being substantially finer than said design element(s).

In a second aspect the present invention provides a fabric made on a stitch-through type machine comprising; (a) a layer of filling; (b) one or more textile pattern design elements each disposed upon the filling along a non-rectilinear pathway having a plurality of turns, with a substantial number of segments between adjacent turns thereof extending substantially perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction of the fabric; and (c) a single system of longitudinal relatively fine knitting thread wales, each wale comprising a multiplicity of looped stitch courses which engage and hold together the filling and the design elements with loops of knitting thread on the rear surface of the fabric and laps of the knitting thread courses on the front surface to bind and secure said filling and design elements into an integrated unitary textile structure, said knitting thread being substantially finer than said design element(s).

In a third aspect the present invention provides an integrally self-lined fabric made on a stifah-through type machine, said fabric having a front surface and a rear surface and comprising: (a) a backing material constituting the rear surface of the fabric: (b) a layer of filling disposed upon the backing material; (c) one or more textile pattern design elements each disposed upon the filling along a non-rectilinear pathway having a plurality of turns, with a substantial number of segments between adjacent turns thereof extending substantially perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction of the fabric; and (a) a single system of longitudinal relatively fine knitting thread wales, each wale comprising a multiplicity of warpwise looped stitch courses which engage and hold together the backing, filling and the design elements with loops of knitting thread on the rear surface of the fabric and laps of the knitting thread courses on the front surface to bind together into an integrated unitary textile structure the backing material, filling and design elements, said knitting thread being substantially finer than said design element(s).

In another aspect the present invention provides an apparatus for feeding a textile pattern design element into the elongated fabric-forming work zone of a stitch-through type machine, which apparatus comprises: conduit means for guiding the design element to and delivering said element at a point in proximity to the fabric-forming work zone; means unitary with the conduit means for placement of the design element exiting from the conduit means into the fab10 ric-forming work zone whereby a segment of the design element is disposed in a position substantially parallel to the elongated work zone during a stitching cycle of the stitch-through machine; and means for traversing the unitary conduit means and placement means along the elongated work zone during a stitching cycle of the stitch-through machine.

In a further aspect the present invention provides a method for forming a stitch-bonded type fabric on a stitch-through type machine having a comb-like sinker bar, a comb-like retai2° ner pin bar, the sinker bar and the retainer pin bar defining an elongated fabric-forming work zone for fabric formation between them, a row of pronged sharp-pointed needles parallel to and reciprocatingly movable through said zone and a row of knitting thread guides co-acting with the needles for forming a multiplicity of longitudinal knitting thread loop chains, which method comprises: (a) guiding one or more textile pattern design elements to and delivering said elements at a point in proximity to the fabric -forming work zone; (b) placing the design element delivered in step (a) into the work zone whereby a segment of the design element is disposed in a position substantially parallel to the stitching elements during a stitching cycle of the stitchthrough machine; and (c) forming a single system of longitudinal relatively fine knitting thread wales at the work zone of the stitchthrough machine, each wale comprising a multiplicity of looped stitch courses which engage the design elements by loops of knitting thread on the rear surface of the fabric anc by laps of the knitting thread courses on the front surface to bind and secure said design elements into an integrated unitary textile structure, said knitting thread being substantially finer than said design element(s).

In the stitch-bonded fabric of the present invention employing knitting thread to bind the aforesaid design element(s) and other optional textile yarn components into an integrated structure, the knitting thread pierces and/or laps the individual elements at a substantial number of random points to further secure such elements against relative displacement.

It is a feature of the present fabric that a pattern design having any desired shape can be formed from a single textile element having segments extending essentially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the fabric. In general, such pattern design can have any configuration which, by analogy, could be produced by a recording pen on a moving graph paper strip chart. Exemplary of such pattern designs are solid block patterns (wherein the blocks, when produced sequentially, can be disposed along an axis parallel to the lengthwise direction of the fabric or in a step-wise or side-step direction oblique to the lengthwise direction of the fabric) of any desired shape such as squares, rectangles, triangles, diamonds, circles, and the like; and linear or semi-solid patterns from which there could be formed numerals, letters, alphanumeric symbols and/or words.

Also, by using a plurality of textile design elements, it becomes possible according to the invention to produce arrays of pattern design sequences, such as a checkerboard pattern, wherein each sequence is produced independently of the others and is derived from a single textile design element. It is even possible to control the density of the textile element lay-down to achieve a degree of coverage corresponding to a solid fabric having one or more solid stripes extending either part way or entirely across the width of the fabric, each stripe capable of being derived from a single textile design 5035® element having segments perpendicular to the longitude of the fabric and extending across the width of the stripe.

In these respects the invention is a departure from the teachings of commonly assigned U.S. Pat. Ko. 3,672,187 wherein yarn design elements can be made to follow nonrectilinear pathways, but never in a direction perpendicular to the longitude of the fabric. This inherent limitation in the prior 187 patent permits only the formation of outline patterns from two or more yarn ends and precludes the creation of the aforementioned pattern designs made possible for. the first time in stitch-through type machines by the method and apparatus of the present invention.

As used herein, the term segments of a textile pattern design element is understood to mean portion of such elements perpendicular to the longitude of the fabric and having a length corresponding, as a minimum, to the distance between two knitting thread wales. A segment extending across a plurality of wales so as to create the appearance of a horizontal portion of the element is referred to herein as a portion of substantial length.

A more detailed description of the filling effect designs which can be produced on stitch—through fabrics according to the apparatus and method of the invention is provided in the following sections.

Further details of the present Invention and its preferred embodiments can be had by reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein corresponding elements are denoted by the same reference numeral: FIGS. 1 and 2 are a photographic plan view and an enlarged portion, respectively, of the front surface of a fabric embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 3 is a photographic plan view of the front surface of a selvage-to-selvage portion of another fabric embodiment of the invention; FIG. 4 is an enlarged photographic view of the front surface of a fabric of the type shown in FIG. 3; FIG. 5 is a photographic plan view of the front surface of a portion of another fabric according to the invention; FIG. 6 is a photographic plan view of the front surface of a larger portion of the fabric shown in FIG. 5;.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of the front surface of a portion of another fabric according to the invention; FIG. δ is a photographic plan view of the front surface of a portion of a fabric embodiment like that shown in FIG. 7 but with the incorporation of an integral self-liner constituting the rear surface of the fabric; FIGS. 9, 10 and 11 are a photographic plan view, an enlarged front portion, and a rear plan view, respectively, of another fabric embodiment according to the invention; FIGS. 12 and 13 are a photographic plan view and an enlarged front portion, respectively, of the front surface of another fabric according to the invention; Fig. 14 is a photographic plan view of the front eurface of a portion of another fabric embodiment of the invention; Figs. 15, 16 and 17 are a photographic front plan view, an enlarged front portion, and a rear plan view, respectively of another fabric embodiment according to the invention? and Fig. 18 is a partially schematic view of an embodiment of the pattern design element delivery mechanism of the apparatus according to the present invention.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, fabric 1 is composed of single pattern design yarn element 2 and warp yarn element 4 which are disposed on top of a filling layer in the form of a plurality of textile yarn elements £ which in turn is disposed on longitudinal strip 7 of nonwoven spun fibrous batting self-liner (e.g., Reemay or Sontara) constituting the rear surfaces of the fabric. Fabric components 3,4,5 and 7 are secured against relative displacement and are bound together to form the integrated unitary textile structure of fabric 1 by means of knitting thread network 9. having a half tricot stitch configururation. As can be seen in Fit;. 1 and 2o particularly in Fig. 2, substantial portions H of pattern design element 2 extend essentially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of fabric 1, in this case for a distance corresponding to roughly 14 adjacent knitting thread wales. As may be seen in the drawing the knitting thread is relatively fine as compared with the other fabric components and in particular the design elements.

Referring to Fig. 3, fabric 13 is composed of a plurality of pattern design elements disposed on layer 14 of filling yarn elements and each having consecutive portions of substantial length extending essentially horizontally or perpendicular to the longitudinal direction with proximate horizontal portions of adjacent elements being disposed in parallel configuration to one another. In this way there is created a simulated filling yarn effect having the appearance of a decorative continuous selvage-to-selvage zig-zag pattern design 15, even though, as shown in FIG. 4, the fine structure of each patern design element 17, 18 and 19 involves a step-wise pattern of horizontal portions (i.e., portions essentially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction) alternating with verical portions. Fabric 13 additionally contains several optional conventional warp yarn elements 20 disposed near the edge for added strength along the selvage and also to create an attractive border effect.

Referring to FIG. 5, fabric 21 comprises textile element filling layer 23 upon which is disposed a single pattern design element 25 from which there is created a longitudinal seguence of alternating sguare and diamond-shaped solid block figures which is made possible by the ability of the present method and apparatus to lay down a single yarn end substantial predetermined portions of which are disposed essentially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the fabric. FIG. 6 is a more distant view of the fabric 21 of FIG. 5 in which two adjacent longitudinal sequences of alternating square and diamond-shaped solid block figures are created from just two pattern design yarn elements 25a and 25b.

Referring to FIG. 7, fabric 27 is composed of three pattern design yarn elements 29, 31, and 33 which are disposed on top of a filling layer in the form of a plurality of textile yarn elements 35. Fabric components 29, 31, 33 and 35 are secured against relative displace50356 pent and bound together to form an integrated unitary textile structure of fabric 27 by means of a network of knitting threads 37 applied in a half-tricot stitch configuration. Of particular importance to understanding the concept of the present invention is the fact that pattern design yarn elements 29, 31 and 33 are simultaneously delivered to the fabric forming work zone of the machine by a single yarn feeding mechanism according to the invention wherein each design element 291 31, and 33 is fed by a separate tube, each tube being flanked on either side by a circular brush (four brushes in all).

In this way there is created a longitudinal sequence of solid block figures 39, ^1 and 43, each figure being characterized by interdigitation of substantial horizontal parallel portions of the three elements 29 , 31 and 33 to create an attractive overlapping effect as shown.

Referring to FIG. 8, fabric 45 is essentially the same as that depicted in FIG. 7 with the additional feature of longitudinal strip 47 of nonwoven spun fibrous batting constituting an integral portion of the rear surface of the fabric for the creation of an added relief effect.

Referring to FIGS. 9, 10 and 11, there is depicted a fabric 49 which is similar in general respects to the construction of the fabric of FIG. 8 except that there is created a less dense or more open filling effect in the block figure as a result of increased vertical spacing between the horizontal portions of interdigitated pattern design yarn elements 51, S3 and 55. With particular reference to FIG. 10 there is clearly shown how a stitching thread pierces a pattern design element, e.g., at 57, 59, and 61 and how at other points the pattern design elements are lapped by knitting thread courses to S0356 achieve securement of these elements and the filling to form an integral unitary textile fabric construction.

FIG. 11 illustrates the appearance of fabric 49 when viewed from the rear and shows the visual barrier effect created by the longitudinal strip 63 of nonwoven spun fibrous batting.

Referring to FIGS. 12 and 13, fabric 65 is similar in general respects to the construction of the fabric of FIG. 8 except that there is created a somewhat different effect by virtue of the fact that the longitudinal sequence of block pattern designs formed by design elements 67, 65 and 71 only partially overlaps one side of integral strip of self-liner 73.

Referring to FIG. 14, fabric 75 is composed of three pattern design yarn elements 77, 79 and 81 each of which is fed through a separate tube of the yarn feeding mechanism of the present apparatus to form a longitudinal sequence of overlapping laterally adjacent block pattern designs, each block of which is characterized by densely packed interdigitat ion of the horizontal portions of adjacent elements, and as such dramatically demonstrates the high degree of coverage (textile element density) which is possible according to the present invention.

Such coverage is enhanced still further in fabric 7_5 by the incorporation of integral self-liner 83 which constitutes the rear surface of the fabric.

With respect to FIGS. 15, 16 and 17, fabric 85 is composed of three pattern design yarn ends 87, 89 and 91 disposed on top of a filling layer consisting of a plurality of textile yarn elements 93 which in turn is symmetrically disposed on a longitudinal strip 95 of nonwoven spun fibrous batting integral self-liner, the latter constituting the rear surface of the fabric as can be seen in FIG. 17. Fabric components 87, 89, 91, 93 and 95 are secured against relative displacement and bound together to form the integrated unitary textile structure of fabric 85 by means of a network of knitting threads 97 in a half-tricot stitch configuration. Each of the three pattern design yarn ends 87, 89, and 91 is fed to the fabric-forming work zone of the stitch-through machine through a separate delivery tube of the yarn feeding mechanism of the apparatus of the invention, the latter being driven by the drive belt of a computer-governed stepping motor in such a way that a continuous longitudinally-extending block pattern design of constant width is obtained which is characterized by interdigitation of the substantial horizontal patterns of adjacent pattern design elements as can be more clearly seen in FIG. 16.

Referring to FIG. 18, there is depicted a partially schematic representation of an apparatus and its use according to the invention. Pattern design element feed mechanism 101 comprises a frame 102 upon which are disposed yarn conduit tube 105 and circular rotatable bristle brushes 109a and 109b flanking the exit end of the tube. In the general case, n conduit tubes for n design elements could be coupled alternatingly with n + 1 circular brushes. The mechanism 101 is disposed on the stitch-through type machine e.g., a Malimo machine, such that brushes 109a and 109b can extend into the elongated fabric-formation work zone 103, the bristles 111 of the brushes being sufficiently pliable to permit the stitching needles 104 in the work zone to pass through them during the textile design yarn element insertion operation thereby facilitating yarn lay-down without disrupting the operation of the stitching elements or damaging either the brushes or the needles. The bristles Γ11 can be fabricated of any material meeting the aforementioned criteria, e.g., synthetic fibers such as nylon, polyester or polyolefin; animal fibers such as horsehair; and fine metal wire.

During the stitch-through fabric-forming process textile pattern design element l_07 is fed through tube 105 from which it exits at a point 106 In proximity to work zone 103. Meanwhile, mechanism 101 is caused to traverse back and forth in the direction indicated by arrows £ and b through the action of a stepping motor 113 coupled to the mechanism by means of a drive belt (e.g., of a flexible material such as rubber for the sake of economy of space and ease of replacement) indicated by 114, said stepping motor being governed in its function by means of digital computer 115 which has been pre-programmed by means of an appropriate chip to cause the formation of a desired design pattern from textile element 107. In this connection, the stepping motor 113 governs the travel of mechanism 101 digitally so that the velocity of the latter across the work zone of the'machine is at least as great as, and preferably greater than, the speed with which the stitching elements of the work zone complete a full stitching cycle. In this way, the speed of the feed mechanism stepping motor/computer ensemble is conjoint with but generally independent of the speed of the stitchthrough machine. If desired, one or more stepping motors can be in conjunction with multiple design elements.

As mechanism 101 travels in the direction of arrow a, yarn element 107 exiting from the delivery tube 105 is taken under or run over” by the bristles ill of rotating brush 109a and are thereby laid into the work zone and held down therein until it is secured by knitting thread (not shown) into the fabric structure whereby a segment1· of the pattern design element becomes disposed in a direction essentially perpendicular to the longitude of the resulting fabric. When mechanism 101 completes its traverse in the direction of arrow s_, the stepping motor 313 pursuant to instruction from computer 115, and via drive belt 114 causes the mechanism to reverse direction at a pre-determined point in time and proceed back along the direction indicated b'y arrow b, whereupon the function of wheel 109a is assumed by wheel I09b. In this way IQ feeding mechanism 101 lays in single design element 107 horizontally to build up a block pattern design of predetermined shape. A feature of this operation resides in the timing of the stepping motor so that the lay-down motion begins as soon as the tips of the stitching needles penetrate the plane of the filling. The effect of such timing is to force the pattern yarn to pull on the needles rather than against the thread, and provide a maximum amount of time in which to complete the lay-down motion.

Claims (23)

1, A fabric mad· in a stitch—through type machine which fabric comprieeB» (a) ene or more textile pattern design elements each disp5 osed along a non-rectilinear pathway having a plurality of turns, with a substantial number of segments between adjacent turns thereof extending substantially perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction of the fabric? and (b) a single system of longitudinal relatively fine knitting 10 thread wales, each wale comprising a multiplicity of looped stitch courses which engage the design elements with loops of knitting thread or. the rear surface of the fabric and laps of the knitting thread courses on the front surface to bind and secure said design elements into an integrated unit15 ary textile structure, said knitting thread being substantially finer than said design element(e).

2. A fabric according to claim 1 wherein the system of knitting thread wales comprises a half-tricot stitch configuration by alternating two threads in a loop series. 20

3. A fabric according to claim 1 wherein the system of knitting thread wales comprises a chain stitch configuration.

4. A fabric made on a stitch-through type machine comprising: (a) a layer of filling? 25 (b) one or more textile pattern design elements each disposed upon the filling along a non-rectilinear pathway having a plurality of turns, with a substantial number of segments betwoen afijaoent turno thereof extending substantially perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction of the fabric? and (c) a single system of longitudinal relatively fine knitting thread wales, each wale comprising a multiplicity of looped stitch courses which engage and hold together the filling and the design elements with loops of knitting thread on the rear surface of the fabric and lapB of the knitting thread courses on the front BUrface to bind ana secure sold filling and design elements into an integrated unitary textile structure, said knitting thread being substantially finer than said design element(s).

5. A fabric according to claim 4 wherein the layer of filling comprises a plurality of textile yarn elements.

6. A fabric according to claim 4 or claim 5 wherein the system of knitting thread wales comprises a half-tricot stitch configuration by alternating two threads in a loop series.

7. A fabric according to claim 4 or claim 5 wherein the system of knitting thread wales comprises a chain stitch configuration . 6. An integrally self-lined fabric made on a stitch-through type machine, said fabric having a front surface and a rear surface and comprising: (a) a backing material constituting the rear surface of the fabric (b) a layer of filling dispoaed upon the backing material; (c) one or more textile pattern design elements each disposed upon the filling along a non-rectilinear pathway having a plurality of turns, with a substantial number of segments between adjacent turns thereof extending substantially perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction of the fabric;and (d) a single system of longitudinal relatively fine knitting tnread wales, eacn comprising a multiplicity or warpwj.be looped stitch courses which engage and hold together the backing, filling and the design elements with loops of knitting thread on the rear surface of the fabric and laps of the knitting thread courses on the front surface to bind together into an integrated unitary textile structure the backing material, filling and design elements, said knitting thread being substantially finer than said design element Is).

8. 9. A fabric according to claim 8 wherein: the backing material is composed of spun-bonded continuous filament; the layer of filling comprises a plurality of textile yarn elements; and the system of knitting thread wales comprises a chain stittch configuration or a half-tricot stitch configuration by alternating two threads In a loop series.

9. 10. A fabric according to claim 8 wherein: 0356 the backing material is composed of spun-laced staple filament; the layer of filling comprises a plurality of textile yam elements; and the system of knitting thread wales comprises a chain stitch configuration or a half-tricot stitch configuration by alternating two threads in a loop series.

10. 11. A fabric according to any one of claims 1 to 10 wherein said non-rectilinear pathway is formed and arranged to include design element segments of substantial length substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal fabric direction so as to form a design feature(s) having a visually substantial extent perpendicularly of the longitudinal fabric direction.

11. 12. A fabric according to any one of claims 1 to 11 wherein said non-rectilinear pathway is formed and arranged to include design element segments in sufficiently close proximity to one another to give a viewer the impression that said one or more design elements form(s) design feature(s) whose boundaries contain design element material in an amount sufficient to visually distinguish said areas from adjoining areas of the fabric outside said boundaries.

12. 13. A fabric according to claim 12 wherein a block pattern design feature is formed from a single design element having segments of substantial length disposed in parallel configuration perpendicular to the longitudinal direction so as to substantially fill the boundaries of said block pattern design feature.

13. 14. An apparatus for feeding a textile pattern design element into the elongated fabric-forming work zone of a stitch-through type machine, which apparatus comprises: conduit means for guiding the design element to and delivering said element at a point in proximity to the fabric-forming work zone; means unitary with the conduit means for placement of the design element exiting from the conduit means into the fabric-forming work zone whereby a segment of the design element is disposed in a position substantially parallel to the elongated work zone during a stitching cycle of the stitch-through machine; and means for traversing the unitary conduit means and placement means along the elongated work zone during a stitching cycle of the stitch-through machine.

14. 15. An apparatus according to claim 14 wherein: the conduit means is a tube of a diameter sufficient to permit the passage therethrough of said pattern design element; the placement means for the design element comprises a pair of circular brushes flanking the tube and adapted to rotate along the direction of the elongated work zone so that the pattern design element is disposed between a brush and the stitching elements of the elongated work zone during each traversal of the apparatus along the work zone, said brush being further characterized in having bristles adapted to permit the penetration therethrough of the stitching elements during fabric formation? and the traversing means comprises a stepping motor coupled to the unitary conduit and placement means through a drive belt, the action of said stepping motor being governed independently of the speed of the stitch-through machine by a computer pre-programmed according to the pattern desired to be formed by the design element.

15. 16. An apparatus according to claim 15 wherein the conduit means comprises a plurality of tubes, each of a diameter sufficient to permit the passage therethrough of a pattern design element and each tube being flanked on either side by a rotatable circular brush. 16. 17. A method for forming a stitch-bonded type fabric on a stitch-through type machine having a comb-like sinker bar, a comb-like retainer pin bar, the sinker bar and the retainer pin bar defining an elongated fabric-forming work zone for fabric formation between them, a row of pronged sharp-pointed needles parallel to and reciprocatingly movable through said zone and a row of knitting thread guides co-acting with the needles for forming a multiplicity of longitudinal knitting thread loop chains, which method comprises: (a) guiding one or more textile pattern design elements to and delivering said elements at a point in proximity to the fabric-forming work zone; (b) placing the design element delivered in step (a) into the work zone whereby a segment of the design element is disposed in a position substantially parallel to the stitching elements during a stitching cycle of the stitch-through machine; and (c) forming a single eystem of longitudinal relatively fine knitting thread wales at the work zone of the stitch5 through machine, each wale comprising a multiplicity of looped stitch courses which engage the design elements by loops of knitting thread on the rear surface of the fabric and by lapB of the knitting thread courses on the front surface to bind and secure said design elements into an 10 integrated unitary textile structure, said knitting thread being substantially finer than said design element(s).

16. A method according to claim 17 wherein the system of knitting thread wales is formed in a half-tricot stitch configuration by alternating two threads in a loop series. 15 19. A method according to claim 17 wherein the system of knitting thread wales ie formed in a chain stitch configuration.

17. 20. A method according to any one of claims 17 to 19 wherein a block pattern design is formed from a single design 20 element having segments of substantial length disposed in parallel configuration perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the fabric.

18. 21. A method according to any one of claims 17 to 19 wherein steps (a) and (b) are carried out using the apparatus of 25 claim 14.

19. 22. A method according to any one of claims 17 to 19 wherein steps (a) and (b) are carried out using the apparatus according to claim 15,

20. 23. A method according to any one of claims 17 to 19 wherein steps (a) and (b) are carried out using the apparatus according to claim 16.

21. 24» A fabric substantially as hereinbefore described 5 with reference to Figs. 1 and 2; Figs. 3 and 4; Figs. 5 and 6; Fig. 7; Fig. 8; Figs. 9 to 11; Figs. 12 and 13; Fig. 14; or Figs. 15 to 17 of the accompanying drawings.

22. 25. Apparatus for feeding a textile pattern design element 10 into the work zone of a stitch-through type machine substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Fig. 18 of the accompanying drawings.

23. 26. A method for forming a stitch-bonded fabric substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to 15 Figs. 1 and 2; Figs. 3 and 4; Figs. 5 and 6; Fig. 7; Fig. 8; Figs. 9 to 11; Figs. 12 and 13; Fig. 14; Figs. 15 to 17; or Fig. 18.of the accompanying drawings.