US2286325A - Heel knitting machine for single unit stockings - Google Patents

Description

June 16, 1942 K. WICKARDT ETAL HEEL KNITTING MACHINE FOR SINGLE UNIT STOCKINGS Filed April 7, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 lilfl R Y 0 z m M m k m ||...|...I w H w I 1 mm A M PMW m; Ill... n7 H MEM 6 W M t June 16, K WICKARDT ET L HEEL KNITTING MACHINE FOR SINGLE UNIT STOCKINGS Filed April 7, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 lllllllllll ul HHJIHIIHL T i! -i A I H WW% IH L'wli g' ooooocooo 53333333000483338830000000000 Erin/z Ez'asner flriz old 757:6 eel ATTORNEY.

Patented June 16, 1942 UNlT-ED STATES P QFFIQE HEEL KNITTING MACHINE FOR SINGLE UNIT STOCKINGS Kurt Wickardt,

Oberlungwitz, Erich Eissner,

Application April 7, 1938, Serial No. 200,728 In Germany June 23, 1937 26 Claims.

The present invention relates to fiat knitting machines of the type constructed and operated to knit heel tabs onto a combination leg and foot single unit stocking blank by forming the courses of said heel tabs as a continuation of the high heel sections of the blank and, during the formation of said courses, successively transferring the loops of the sole sections of the blank for interknit connection with the adjacent selvedges of the heel tabs, particularly in the manner shown and described in copending application, Serial Number 99,830, filed September 8, 1936.

In manufacturing stockings in accordance with the invention to which the copending application aforesaid refers, it is sometimes found desirable or necessary to form one or more courses extending over the combined width of a heel tab and the adjoining sole sections in order, for instance, to give to the fabric sufficient amplitude to properly shape the foot or to effect a better interknit connection between the sole sections and the heel tabs. However, with the machine originally devised for the production of such stockings, the formation of an extended course is impossible because the needles, intended to support the loops of the first course of each sole section for their transfer, are incapable of knitting since said needles are so constructed or are arranged in such a manner that the presser edge of the knitting machine fails to act thereon.

The; {present invention, therefore, primarily contemplates the provision of a mechanism making the formation of extended courses feasible whenever desired and yet capable of effectively retaining loops for their transfer without danger of accidental press off.

It is an important object of the invention to provide a mechanism automatically operated through the normal working of the kniting machine for controlling the needles in engagement with the sole sections of the combination leg and foot blank so that said needles may knit or be prevented from knitting as desired, and also adapted for cooperation with the loop transfer mechanism of the knitting machine in order that the loops held by said needles may be transferred for interknit connection with the selvedges of the heel tabs as the knitting thereof progresses.

A specific object of the invention resides in the provision of a divided needle bar having an intermediate section movable in relation to the end sections so that said intermediate section may be selectively displaced to move the needles carried thereby out of alignment with the fixed render the movable needles inactive and assure the retention of the loops, or to bring the movable needles in alignment with the fixed needles for the purpose of knitting in conjunction therewith or of transferring the loops thereon.

The invention is moreover characterized by the provision of a divided needle bar combined with mechanisms operatively associated with the knitting machine and automatically controlled thereby to perform three distinct functions: first, that of knitting; second, that of retaining loops without danger of press off; and third, that of cooperating with the transfer mechanism of the knitting machine for transferring operations.

Other important objects and advantages of the invention will be in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

In order that the invention and its mode of operation may be readily understood by those skilled in the art, we have, in the accompanying drawings and in the detailed description based thereupon, set out a possible embodiment of the invention.

In these drawings:

Figure 1 diagrammatically illustrates a portion of a knitted single unit heeler stocking blank of the type shown and described in the copending application hereinbefore identified.

Figure 2 diagrammatically illustrates the portion of the blank shown in Figure 1 having the knitted heel added thereto to form the stocking.

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic representation, on an enlarged scale, of a portion of the blank arranged on the needles of a flat knitting machine and of parts of the latter cooperating for the formation of the heel tabs.

Figure 4 is a detail of the needle bar and its controlling mechanism devised in accordance with this invention, with its central portion unlocked.

Figures 5, 6, and 7, are illustrations of the various positions of the control cam and associated elements of the needle bar controlling mechanism.

Figures 8, 9', and 10 are diagrammatic representations of the different positions of the needles of the needle bar corresponding to the various positions of the control means shown in Figures 5, 6, and 7 respectively, and illustrating the method of knitting the heel sections to a combination leg and foot blank in accordance with this invention.

Figure 11 is a diagrammatic illustration of the knitted fabric structure resulting from the practice of the method of this invention.

In those figures illustrating the mechanical features of the mechanism, we have shown only those parts of a full-fashioned fiat knitting ma chine which are essential to the clear comprehension of the invention, as it is believed that the basic construction and operation of the knitting machine and its various motions are matters well known by those skilled in the art. It may be pointed out that the type of full-fashioned knitting machine with which the invention is concerned is that now in common use, such type of knitting machine being capable of performing loop knitting and loop transferring cycles.

Having more particular reference to the drawings, wherein like characters of reference will designate corresponding parts throughout, We have shown in Figure 1 a portion of aheelless full-fashioned knitted single unit stocking blank I including the leg fabric 2, instep fabric 3, high heel sections 6, and sole sections 5, all of which are continuously knitted on one and the same machine.

In accordance with the usual practice of knitting full-fashioned stocking blanks of the character above stated, a reinforced yarn is introduced in the knitting of the high heel sections :3 and sole sections 5, and in order to provide a line of demarcation between the adjacent high heel .1

sections and sole sections, which are later to be separated for the addition of heel tabs, a plurality of short non-reinforced courses 6 are knitted to extend for a width substantially equal to the width of the heel tabs to be added.

When preparing the blank I for the addition of the heel tabs, the loops of the last reinforced course 8 of each high heel section 4, and the loops of the first reinforced course 9 of each sole section are topped onto the points of a hinged topping bar, in the manner described in the copending application aforesaid.

The non-reinforced courses are then severed to separate the high heel sections 4 and sole sections 5 so that said last course of loops of each high heel section and said first course of loops of each sole section may be transferred to the needles of a straight needle bar of a fiat knitting machine, as indicated in Figure 3, said needle bar consisting of a series of knitting needles and a series of non-knitting needles.

According to the disclosure of the copending application, the last courses 8 of the high heel sections 4 are placed on the series of knitting needles, while the first courses 9 of the sole sections 5 are placed on the series of non-knitting needles, so that the heel tabs intended to form the heel I (Figure 2) are knitted as a continuation of said last courses of the high heel sections, no knitting being produced on the first courses of the sole sections, the non-knitting needles merely serving to retain the loops of the latter for their successive transfer to the adjacent selvedge knitting needles for interknit connection with the heel tabs, as the knitting thereof progresses.

Since, in machines constructed in the manner described in the copending application aforesaid, the needles engaging the marginal loops of the sole sections are incapable of knitting, it will be understood that during the formation of the heel tabs, the knitting is limited to those needles disposed for engagement with the marginal loops, that is, with the loops of the last course of each high heel section. In other words, the length of the course formed by the operation of the heel tab knitting machine cannot exceed the width of the heel sections. However, at times, it is found desirable or necessary to form one or more courses of loops extending over the combined width of the adjoining heel and sole sections for the purpose of providing a sufficient amount of fabric to properly shape the stocking and its heel, or to assure more adequate connection between the heel tabs and the sole sections.

For that purpose, the present invention proposes to use an improved mechanism comprising a divided needle bar, for instance, of the type shown and described in the patent to Karl Willi Lieberknecht, No. 1,982,818, dated December 4, 1934, and reproduced in Figure 4 herein.

As shown in Figure l, the needle bar It in cludes a rigid main section i2 provided with end sets of spring beard knitting needles M, and a movable central section It carrying an intermediate set of spring beard knitting needles i8, said central section 15 being adapted to swing in any suitable manner, such as upon the shaft 28 supported in suitable bearings 22 upon the main section H2. The central section it; of the needle bar is so constructed that when placed into its extreme backward position, the needles 18 thereof will be in alignment with and locked in relation to the other needles It. of the main section l2, and when swung forwardly, the needles l8 will be unlocked and lay out of alignment to an extent depending upon the amount of swing. According to the present invention, the amount of swing need not be great, but must be enough to assure the displacement of the spring beard needles i 3 to a point sufliciently away from the usual presser edge (not shown) of the knitting machine to avoid press off as and for the purpose to be stated hereinafter.

The central section it of the needle bar I0 may be locked in aligned position by means of a spring pressed bolt 23 carried by the rigid main section [2 of the needle bar and engageable with a cam surface 24 on the movable central section 16, whereby to exert a pressure upon the latter to urge and lock the same inwardly and downwardly, as described in Patent No. 1,982,818.

In order to prevent the loops retained on the needles l3 when in their unlocked position, from repeatedly coming into contact with the knockover bits, the bearings 25 of the central section It are preferably constructed to allow upward movement of the latter, and means in the form of springs 25 connected to the main section I2 and to the central section H3 are provided to lift said central section when the bolt 28 is drawn back against the action of the spring 28, which is sufiiciently strong to overcome the spring 26 so that when said bolt engages the movable section, the same will automatically be forced downwardly, bringing the needles is into vertical and horizontal alignment with the other needles l4 and so looking them.

The bolt 23 may be drawn back against the action of its spring 28 by means of any suitable mechanism, for instance, through the medium of a bar 39 connected by arms 32 to a shaft 34 and having a depression 3-? which is adapted to receive a pin 33 on said bolt 23 when the same is in locked position. By sliding the bar 36, the pin 38 can be raised out of the depression 36 and assume the position represented in Figure 4, the bolt 23 thereby assuming its unlocking position, freeing the movable needle bar section, which is immediately raised by the springs 26 into that position wherein the heads of the needles l8 are somewhat above those of the needles I4.

In accordance with the present invention, the rod 34 is operated automatically by means of a bell crank lever 40 pivotally supported upon a suitable portion of the knitting machine, as shown at 42, and having one end M coupled with said rod, as at 45. The other end 41 of the bell crank lever 40 is connected to a link 48, the lower extremity 49 of which engages a stud 50 carried by a lever 52 pivoted by means of a pin 54 to a convenient portion of the knitting machine frame, as indicated at 55.

Freely and rotatably received upon the stud 50 and mounted for sliding movement thereon, is an idling roller 56 disposed for cooperation with an operating cam 58 fastened to and rotating with the main cam shaft 60 of the knitting machine. The roller 55 receives its sliding motion through actuation of a connecting forked arm 62 rigid with a rod 64 adapted to be selectively shifted by means of a second bell crank lever 66 coupled thereto, as at 61, and pivoted to the machine frame, as indicated at 6B.

The bell crank lever 66 is actuated by a pattern wheel 19 mounted on a rotatable pattern shaft H and having a series of buttons '12 arranged to come in contact with said bell crank lever to actuate the same at the desired time. Proper operative engagement between the bell crank lever 66 and the pattern wheel 10 is assured by means of a spring 13 disposed to nor mally urge the rod 50 in the direction indicated by the arrow A.

Intended for cooperation with the needle bar, as shown in Figure 3, are yarn carriers 14 operable through actuation of the well known yarn laying mechanism (not shown) to feed yarns to the knitting needles during the loop knitting cycles of the machine. Also arranged for cooperation with the needle bar are a pair of relatively narrow transfer combs f carrying transfer points 76, and a pair of relatively wide transfer combs H carrying transfer points 18, said combs l5 and H being individually mounted on separate selectively shiftable rods 19, 80, 8!, and 82 respectively, adapted, with the operation of the usual well known narrowing mechanism (not shown) to shift in predetermined directions, as indicated by arrows B, C, D, and E, during the function of the machine to perform. a loop transferring cycle.

In the operation of the mechanism, it will be understood from the foregoing that whenever the roller 55 rides on the circular neutral portion 58a of the control cam 58 (Figures 4, 5, 6, and '7), the various parts will have the position particularly shown in Figure 4 so that the central section l6 of the needle bar H3 will be uncoupled from the main section l2 thereof, the needles 18 of said central section It being thus raised (Figure 4) and slightly tilted forwardly (Figure 8), thereby rendering said needles I 8 inactive.

When the mechanism is in the position just described, it will be appreciated that although the knitting needles l8 are incapable of knitting, the operation of the needles I4 is not disrupted. Therefore, as the machine performs a loop knitting cycle the carriers M may be transversed over said needles M, as indicated by the arrow Fin Figure 8.

Whenever, at the beginning of a loop transfer cycle, that is, when the machine passes from a loop knitting cycle to a loop transferring cycle, the main cam shaft Bl is shifted in the direction of the arrow G (Figure i), through the normal operation of the usual pattern chain mechanism (not shown), the active portion 58b of the cam 58 comes in contact with the roller 56 (Figure 6) so that the link 48 is raised, causing the pivotal movement of the bell crank lever 45, thereby sliding the rod 34 together with the arms 32 and bar 35 in the direction of arrow H (Figure 4) and, accordingly, bringing the depression 36 in registration with the pin 38 to lower the bolt 23 for the coupling of the needle bar sections and the vertical and horizontal alignment of the needles on said sections. In this manner, and as shown in Figure 9, the transfer points 18 may register with the needles [8 and M to effect the transfer of the loops.

When a button 12 on the pattern wheel 10 is brought, by actuation of the pattern shaft H, into position for engagement with the bell crank lever 56, the latter is pivoted in the direction of arrow I (Figure 4), thus moving the rod 64 against the action of the spring 73, causing the roller 56, by means of the connecting forked arm 52, to slide on the stud 50 in the direction of arrow J so that said roller again is brought in contact with the active portion 58b of the control cam 58 (Figure 7). Accordingly although themachine in this particular instance does not pass from a loop knitting cycle to a loop transferring cycle, the needle bar controlling mechanism is operated in the manner already stated to effect the aligning and coupling of the needle bar sections, whereby the carriers 14 during the continued loop knitting cycle of the machine may travel freely over the fixed and movable needles M and 18 respectively, as indicated by the arrows K (Figure 10).

In using our improved mechanism, the combination leg and foot blank I is placed on the needles of the needle bar ID in the manner hereinabove stated, that is, with the loops of the last course of the high heel sections 4 in engagement with the end sets of needles I i-of the fixed bar section, and the loops of the first courses 9 of the sole sections 5 in engagement with the sets of needles 18 of the central movable bar section 16 so that a heel tab course may be knitted as a continuation of said loops of each of the high heel sections 4 and so that edge loops of each of the sole sections 5 may be transferred for interknit connection with the selvedges of the heel tab courses during successive loop knitting and loop transferring cycles of the machine.

During the formation of the heel tabs, the needle bar control mechanism of the invention timely functions in the various ways previously explained to effect the transfer of loops or per mit the knitting of one or more extended courses.

According to the method of the present invention, and as more clearly shown in Figure 11, heel tab courses Ia, that is, courses of a length corresponding to the width of the heel tabs 1, are knitted into and as continuations cf the high heel sections 4; the loops of the sole sections are transferred so that certain loops thereof overlap certain loops at the selvedge portion of the heel tab courses la and become interknitted therewith as indicated at lb; and, extended courses 10, that is, courses of a length corresponding to the length of the combined heel tab and sole courses, are knitted thereonto.

After the knitting of extended courses, it will be understood that the loops of said first courses 9 of the sole sections 5 no longer engage the needles I8 in the central movable bar section 16, butlthatloopslofthe extended ,couise'sfth'en en- ,gage'said. needles l8, because said [loops lfof the extended courses have becomeinterknitted with said loops ofthe sole sections, 'and' said loopsof .the ,'sole sections have been knocked over in the usual manner. Therefore, in the .knitting of the subsequent heel tabco'urses, that. is, Courses of a length corresponding .to the width of the heel tabs only, itwillfbe ,lunde'rstood that they loops 1 of said subsequent .heel Itab courses are knitted onto a portionoffthe .extended courses,

andftliat following the knittingfofsuch heel tab courses, loops'of the remaining portion of the ,extended courses faretransferred for interknit connection with the selvedges of .the heel tab courses.

The adjustments of .the carriers 14 and their mode of operation through the usual yarn feeding mechanism, well known in the art but not shown, in order that said carriers may travel only overthe end sets of needles M for the knitting of the regularlheel tab courses, or may travel over the aligned needles Hand l8 for the knitting of extended courses, are .Well known in A the art and, therefore," a detailed explanation thereof is dispensed with herein.

Likewise, since the adjustments of thetransfer combs and their mode of operation through the knowledge, their explanation is also dispensed with.

However, it is pointed out that in accordance with the showing made herein, the gradual transfer of the edge loops of the sole fabric sections coming within the scope of the subjoined claims are to be considered Within the spirit of the invention.

What we claim is:

1. In a knitting machine of the character described capable of performing loop knitting and loop transferring cycles, a needle bar having relatively movable needle sections, and a control mechanism for said needle bar operatively associated with the knitting machine to automatically couple said sections when .the machine passes docking means When-the machine passes; from .a loop knitting cycle to a loop transferring cycle.

4. In a knitting machine of the characterdescribed capable of performing loop knitting and Iloop transferring cycles, a needle bar having a rigid needle section andamovable needle section pivoted to the rigid-section for swinging movement in relation thereto, locking means carried by one section and engageable with the other 100p knitting cycle to a loop transferring cycle.

'usual narrowing mechanisms are of common from a loop knitting cycle to a loop transferring cycle.

2. In a knitting machine of the character described capable of performing loop knitting and loop transferring cycles, a needle bar having a fixed needle section and a movable needle section, and a control mechanism acting on the movable section and operatively associated with the knitting machine to automatically lock said movable section to the fixed section when the machine passes from a loop knitting cycle to a loop transferring cycle.

3. In a knitting machine of the character described capable of performing loop knitting and loop transferring cycles, a needle bar having a rigid section and a movable section for swinging movement in relation thereto, locking means for effecting a rigid coupling connection between the sections, and means operatively associated with the knitting machine for actuation of said 5. Ina knittingmachine of the character described capable of performing loop knitting and loop transferring cycles, a needle bar comprising a rigidrsection and a. movable section-each section having knitting needles arrangedthereon, said movable .sectionbeing adapted for placejment intoan ,in position and into an out position, whereby .the needles thereof-may lay in and out of vertical, and horizontal alignment with :respect to the needles of the rigid .section,,anda control mechanism operativelyassociated with the. knitting, machine for the automatic place- .ment ofthemovable section into its in position when the machine passes from a loop-knitting cycle to a loop transferring cycle, and for .placement of said movable section into its out position when the machine passes from a loop transferring cycleto a loop knitting cycle.

,6. In a knitting machine of the character described capable of performing loopknitting and loop transferring cycles, a needle bar, comprising :a rigidsection and .a movable section, each sec- "tion havingknitting needles .arranged thereon, said movable section being adapted forv placement in different positions whereby the needles there of may lay in verticaland horizontal alignment with respect to the needles of the rigid section during a loop transferring cycle and out of said alignment during a loop forming cycle of the needles of one of said sections; meansbetween said sections for effecting the placementof the movable section in either of its different positions; and means operatively-associated with the knitting machine for the actuation of the first mentioned meanswiththe, change-from one cycle to another.

7. In a knitting machine capable of performing loop knitting and loop transferring cycles, the .combinationwith a needle bar having relatively movable needle sections of a controlmechanism operatively associated with the knitting machine for the automatic coupling of said-sections during a loop transferring cycle, andtheir automatic uncoupling during a loop knitting cyole, with the change of the machine from one cycle to another.

,8. In a knitting machine capable of performing loop knitting and loop transferring cycles, the combination with a needle bar having a fixed needle section and a ,movable needle section of: a control mechanism acting on the movable section of the needle bar and operatively associated with the knitting machine to automatically lock said movable section to the fixed section when the machine passes from a loop knitting cycle to a loop transferring cycle.

9. In combination with the movable needle section of a divided needle bar and with the shiftable main cam shaft of a fiat knitting machine of the character described: a mechanism operable to control the movement of said sec.-

tion, means carried by the main cam shaft and movable therewith in the shifting thereof for engagement with said mechanism to operate the same, and means operable to effect the engagement of said mechanism, for its operation, with the means carried by said cam shaft independently of the shifting thereof.

10. In combination with the relatively movable needle sections of a divided needle bar and with the shiftable main cam shaft of a fiat knitting machine of the character described: means for coupling and uncoupling said sections, means carried by the main cam shaft and movable therewith in the shifting thereof for operative engagement with said first mentioned means to operate the same, and means operable to effect the engagement of said first mentionedmeans for its operation with the means carried by said cam shaft independently of the shifting thereof.

11. In combination with the coupling device of the relatively movable needle sections of a divided needle bar and with the shiftable main cam shaft of a flat knitting machine of the character described: means carried by the main cam shaft and movable therewith in the shifting thereof for engaging said coupling device for the actuation thereof, and means operable to effect the engagement of said coupling device for its operation with the means on the cam shaft independently of the shifting thereof.

12. In a knitting machine of the character described capable of performing 100p knitting and loop transferring cycles, a needle bar having a rigid needle section and a movable needle section for swinging movement in relation thereto, locking means for effecting a rigid coupling connection between the sections, means operatively associated with the knitting machine for actuation of said locking means when the machine passes from a loop knitting cycle to a loop transferring cycle, and means cofunctioning with said actuation means to selectively maintain said sections in coupled relationship for one or more knitting cycles.

13. In a knitting machine of the character described capable of performing loop knitting and loop transferring cycles, a needle bar having a rigid needle section and a movable needle section for swinging movement in relation thereto, locking means for effecting a rigid coupling connection between the sections, means operatively associated with the knitting machine for actuation of said locking means when the machine passes from a loop knitting cycle to a loop transferring cycle, and a pattern mechanism cofunctioning with said actuation means to selectively maintain said sections in coupled relationship for one or more of said cycles.

14. In combination with the relatively movable needle sections of a divided needle bar and with the shiftable main cam shaft of a flat knitting machine of the character described capable of performing loop knitting and loop transferrin cycles: means for coupling said sections; a main mechanism operable through the shifting of the main cam shaft for the actuation of said coupling means with the change of the machine from a loop knitting to a loop transferring cycle, and means cofunctioning with the coupling means actuation mechanism to selectively maintain said mechanism in operation to actuate the couplin means for one or more knitting cycles.

15. In combination with the coupling device of the relatively movable sections of a divided needle bar and with the shiftable main cam shaft of a flat knitting machine of the character described capable of performing loop knitting and loop transferring cycles, a mechanism operable through the shifting of the main cam shaft for the actuation of said coupling device with the change of the machine from a loop knitting cycle to a loop transferring cycle, and means cofunctioning with the coupling device actuation mechanism to selectively maintain said mechanism in operation to actuate the coupling device for one or more knitting cycles.

16. In a flat knitting machine having a rotating shiftable cam shaft and a needle bar provided with needle series relatively movable in relation to each other, a control mechanism for said needle bar to align and disalign certain of the needles in relation to other needles, a cam carried by the main cam shaft and movable therewith for operating said control mechanism when the cam shaft is shifted to one position, and means operable selectively to effect the engagement of said control mechanism for its operation with said cam carried by the main cam shaft when shifted to another position.

17. In a flat knitting machine having the combination with a rotating shiftable cam shaft, a needle bar having needle series relatively movable in relation to each other and a control mechanism for said needle bar to align and disalign certain of the needles in relation to other needles; of means carried by the main cam shaft and movable therewith for operating said control mechanism when the cam shaft is shifted to one position, and means operable selectively to effect the engagement of said control mechanism for its operation with said means carried by the main cam shaft when shifted to another position.

18. In a flat knitting machine the combination of a rotating shiftable cam shaft, a needle bar having needle series relatively movable in relation to each other and a control mechanism for needle bar to align and disalign certain of the needles in relation to other needles; of a ,cam carried by the main cam shaft and movable therewith for operating said control mechanism when the cam shaft is shifted to one position, and a pattern mechanism operable to effect the engagement of said control mechanism for its operation with said cam carried by the .main cam shaft when shifted to another position.

19. In the method of knitting on a bank of needles of a knitting machine, heel tabs into a knitted stocking blank having interknitted leg and foot fabrics provided with adjacent separated sections: associating loops in one of said sections with a group of needles in said bank; associating loops in the other of said sections with another group of needles in said bank; knitting loops on one of said groups of needles as a continuation of the loops engaged thereon; and knitting loops on both of said groups of needles as a continuation of the loops thereon at spaced intervals with respect to the knitting of loops on one of said groups of needles.

20. In the method of knitting on a bank of needles of a knitting machine, heel tabs into a knitted stocking blank having interknitted leg and foot fabrics provided with adjacent separated sections: associating loops in the separated leg section with a group of needles in said bank; associating loops in the separated foot section with another group of needles in said bank; knitting loops on the group of needles associated with the loops of the separated leg section as a continuation thereof; and knitting loops on both of said groups of needles as a continuation of the loops thereon at spaced intervals With respect to the knitting of loops on the group of needles associated with the separated leg section.

21. In the method of knitting on a bank of needles of a knitting machine, heel tabs into a knitted stocking blank having interknitted leg and foot fabrics provided with adjacent separated high heel and sole sections: associating loops in the separated high heel section with a group of needles in said bank; associating loops in the separated sole section with another group of needles in said bank; knitting loops on the group of needles associated With the loops of the separated high heel section as a continuation thereof and knitting loops on both of said groups of needles as a continuation of the loops thereon at spaced intervals with respect to the knitting of loops on the group of needles associated with the separated high heel section.

22. In the method of knitting on a bank of needles of a knitting machine, heel tabs into a knitted stocking blank having interknitted leg and foot fabrics provided with adjacent separated sections: associating loops in one of said sections With a group of needles in said bank; associating loops in the other of said sections with another group of needles in said bank; knitting loops on one of said groups of needles as a continuation of the loops engaged thereon; transferring loops from certain of the needles of one of said groups to certain of the needles of the other of said groups, thereby overlapping certain of the loops on one group of needles with certain of the loops on the other group of needles; and knitting loops on both of said groups of needles as a continuation of the loc-ps thereon.

23. In the method of knitting on a bank of needles of a knitting machine heel tabs into a knitted stocking blank having interknitted le and foot fabrics provided With adjacent separated sections: associating loops in the separated leg section with a group of needles in said bank; associating loops in the separated foot section with another group of needles in said bank; knitting loops on the group of needles associated With the loops of the separated leg section as a continuation thereof; transferring loop-s from certain of the needles of the group associated with the loops of the separated foot section to certain of the needles of the other of said groups, thereby overlapping certain of the loops of said separated foot section With certain of the loops knitted on the other group of needles; and knitting loops on both of said groups of needles as a continuation of the loops thereon.

24. In the method of knitting on a bank of needles of a knitting machine heel tabs into a knitted stocking blank having interknltted leg and foot fabrics provided with adjacent separated high heel and sole sections: associating loops in the separated high heel section with a group of needles in said bank; associating loops in the separated sole section with another group of needles in said bank; knitting loops on the groups of needles associated With the loops of the separated high heel section as a continuation thereof; transferring'loops from certain of the needles of the group associated with the loops of the separated sole section to certain of the needles of the other of said groups thereby over lapping certain of the loops of said separated sole section With certain of the loops knitted on the other group of needles; and knitting loops on both of said groups of needles as a continuation of the loop-s thereon.

25. In the method of knitting on a bank of needles of a knitting machine heel tabs into a knitted stocking blank having interknitted leg and foot fabrics provided with adjacent separated sections: associating loops in one of said sections with a group of needles in said bank; associating loops in the other of said sections with another group of needles in said bank; laying yarn on one group of needles for the knitting thereby of heel tab courses as a continuation of the loops associated with said one group of needles; and, at spaced intervals, laying yarn on both groups of needles for the knitting thereby of extended heel tab courses as continuations of the loops associated With said groups of needles.

26. In the method of knitting on a bank of needles of a knitting machine heel tabs into a knitted stocking blank having interknitted leg and foot fabrics provided with adjacent separated sections: associating loops in one of said sections With a group of needles in said bank; associating loops in the other of said sections with another group of needles in said bank; laying yarn on one group of needles for the knitting thereby of heel tab courses as a continuation of the loops associated with said one group of needles; at spaced intervals, laying yarn on both groups of needles for the knitting thereby of extended heel tab courses as continuations of the loops associated with said groups of needles; and transferring loops from certain needles of one group to certain needles of the other group as the knitting of the heel tabs progresses.

KURT WICKARDT. ERICH EISSNER. ARNOLD VERBEEK.

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