US2558974A

US2558974A - Method and apparatus for use in knitting

Info

Publication number: US2558974A
Application number: US96436A
Authority: US
Inventors: Josephine P Mecklenburger
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1949-06-01
Filing date: 1949-06-01
Publication date: 1951-07-03
Anticipated expiration: 1968-07-03

Description

July 3, 1951 J. P. MECKLENBURGER 2,558,974

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR USE IN KNITTING Filed June 1, 1949 l Arm Hole Patented July 3, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR USE IN KNITTING Josephine P. Mecklenburger, Highland Park, Ill. Application June 1', 1949, Serial No. 96,436 15 claims. (ci. 66-1) This invention relates to a method and apparatus for use in the production of knitted products. It is an object of this invention to provide an improved method and improved apparatus for measuring the completed portion of a knitted product during the knitting thereof or for indicating the proper points of progress in the knitting of a knitted product at which deviations should'be made in the knitting process. v

During the production of knitted garments or other; knitted products, it is commonly required that certain changes be made in the knitting process such as the increasing or decreasing of the number of stitches, the changing of the type of stitch, or the changing of the sequence of different types of stitches. Also it is necessary to make certain more signilicant changes as the knitting progresses such as the allowance for sleeve holes in a sweater or jacket and provision of heel portions in a sock or stocking. According to the present practice employed in hand knitting, the completed portion of the knitted product ismeasured frequently, usually by means of a ilexible measuring tape, as a point is approached at which some change is to be made. SuchA repeated measurements are troublesome and time consuming and are sometimes neglected with the result that knitting progresses beyond a point of change Without the prescribed changes being made. Furthermore, because of the -considerable elasticity of a knitted product, measurements made in this manner are inherently inaccurate and inconsistent. It is a common experience among knitters to nd that two measurements of the same completed portion of a knitted product will vary by five, ten or even iifteen per cent, even when made by the same person. The disadvantage of such inaccurate and inconsistent measurements is obvious and it will be apparent that an improved method and improved apparatus for measuring the completed portion of a knitted product Will serve a very useful function.

According to one embodiment of this invention, one end of a flexible measuring tape is secured to the starting edge of the knitted product by means of suitable fasteners as soon as a sufricient portion of the product has been completed to permit such attachment conveniently. As the knitting progresses further, additional fasteners are employed to connect the measuring tape detachably to the knitted product. Since the measuring tape need be applied to the knitted product only once as opposed to the repeated application of the tape to the product for ob-` Cil taining frequent measurements, the knitter can and will be disposed to fasten the tape to the garment with considerable care with the result that accurate indications are obtained of the progress achieved in the knitting of the knitted product, and since the tape is securedto the completed portion of the knitted product, consistent measurements or indications of progress are necessarily obtained. Furthermore, the knitter obtains a continuous indication of the progress achieved with the result that he is spared the necessity of repeated measurements as a point of change isapproached and is spared the inconvenience and annoyance resulting from knitting beyond a point of change without having made the prescribed change.

Accordingly, it is another object of this invention to provide a method and apparatus for obtaining accurate measurements of the completed portion of a knitted product. .l It is another object of this invention to provide a method and apparatus for obtaining consistent measurements of the completed portion of a knitted product. v l

It is another object of this invention to provide a method and apparatus for obtaining continuous measurement of the completed portion of a knitted product.

It is another object of this invention toy provide a method and apparatus for giving continuous and accurate indications of the progress achieved in the production of a knitted product. v

It is another object of this invention tov pro-A vide a simple and expedient method for obtaining continuous and accurate measurement of the completed portion of a knitted product.4

It is another object of this invention to provide simple, durable, and inexpensive apparatus for obtaining continuous and accurate measurement of the completed portion of a knitted product.

This invention, together with further objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, and its scope will be pointed out in the appended claims.

' In the drawing, in which like parts are indicated by like reference numerals,

Fig. 1 is a perspective View of a knittd product illustrating the method and apparatus in accordance with this invention to measure the completed portion of a knitted product;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged partial View of the ilexible tape appearing in Fis. l;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a flexible tape detachably secured to a knitted product by various suitable types of fasteners; and

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a flexible tape illustrating another embodiment of this invention.

The measuring apparatus illustrated in the figures and described below includes a flexible tape II and suitable fasteners I2, I3 and I4 for detachably securing the flexible tape to the completed portion I5 of a knitted product. The flexible tape may be of the conventional type having markings at each inch and various fractions of the inch as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. However, according to another embodiment of this invention, the flexible tape may be Specifically designed to a particular job whereby the markings on the tape indicate the points of progress in the knitting at which deviations should be made in the knitting process. The tape IIa in Fig. 4 is marked, for example, to indicate the points at which a different type of stitch is to be employed or an increase in the number of stitches is to be made or a change in the shape of the product is to be made to provide for an armhole. Tapes of the type shown in Fig. 4 must be specially marked for each individual size and design of product but have the advantage that they call the attention of the knitter specifically to the changes which are to be made at various points in the progress of the knitting. The flexible tape II or IIa preferably has a series of small openings I6 throughout the length thereof for receiving suitable fasteners, the holes preferably being protected by eyelets IIa as illustrated in Fig. 2. As can best be seen in Fig. 3, a fastener I2, I3 or I4 passes through the openings I6 and through the mesh of the knitted product and engages the lower surface of the knitted product in order to secure the tape thereto. It will be understood that the use of openings in the tape is in accordance with only one embodiment of this invention. Other means may be provided for detachably or permanently securing the tape to the fasteners employed.

The fasteners may be of any suitable type, three types being illustrated in Fig. 3. The fastener I2 is a conventional spread fastener. The fastener I3 is of a type commonly used to hold mens shirt studs and is referred to in the art as a pipe stem'fastener. The fastener I4 is a snap fastener commonly used on overalls and other coarse garments and is referred to in the trade as a bachelor-button. Conventional or specially designed pins or safety pins may also be used. One advantage of the fastener I4 is that one portion thereof is secured to the flexible tape, and, therefore, it is readily available for fastening the tape to the knitted product. This fastener includes a fixed head Illa., a semi-permanent head Mb, and a readily detachable button I4c. The two heads I4a, and Mb clamp against opposing faces of the flexible tape while the removable button I4c engages the lower side of the knitted product.

It is intended that the three types of detachable fasteners shown in Fig. 3 be merely illustrative of the type of fastener which may be used in accordance with this invention. Any fastener may be employed which has a shank portion long enough to pass through the tape and through` the knitted product and thin enough to avoid damage thereto, and which` has suitable means for engaging at least one surface ofthe flexible tape and of the knitted product. It is necessary, of course, that the fasteners be removable and preferably are of a type which will not readily become improperly entangled with the knitted product. It is also preferable that the heads of the fasteners or that portion of the fastener which engages the exposed surface of the tape be small relative to the Width of the tape, as shown in-Figs. 2 and 3, in order to avoid their concealing' the markings on the tape.

The knitter, by the simple expedient of fastening the flexible tape to the knitted product progressively during the knitting thereof, obtains a continuous measurement of the completed portion of the product. It is, therefore, unnecessary for the knitter to make repeated measurements of the completedv portion as he approaches a point at which some change is prescribed in the knitting and the danger of proceeding beyond a point of change without such change being made is substantially eliminated. Since the tape is fastened to the completed portion of a knittedV product, consistent measurements will necessarily result and since the knitter is not troubled with repeated measurements of the completed portion, he is more inclined to use care in the single application of the tape to the garment and thereby obtains more accurate as well as consistent measurements. By the selection of suitable fas'- teners, such as those illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawing, the tape can be fastened to and removed from the knitted product easily and rapidly, and the little time and energy expended thereby is much more than offset by the elimination of the necessity of making repeated measurements, while at the same time consistent and accurate measurements are obtained.

It is believed that the best method is to leave the tape attached to the knitted product over the measured length thereof during the entire period of knitting. However, after a substantial num? ber of fasteners have been applied, the fasteners first used may be removed and reapplied at a newly knitted portion of the product. This latter method has the advantage of requiringfewer fasteners and is best applied when the garment or productbeing knitted is of considerable length.

While particular embodiments of the invention have been shown, it will be understood, of course, that the invention is not limited thereto since many modifications may be made, and it is, therefore, contemplated to cover by the appended claims any such modificationsfas fall within the true'spirit and scope of the invention.

The invention having thus been described, what is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. The method of measuring progress in the production of a knitted product comprising the progressive attachment of a flexible tape at successive spaced points to the completed portion of such product as such product is being knitted.

2. The method of obtaining continuous measurement of the completed portion of a knitted product comprising the progressive connecting of a flexible tape at successive spaced points to the completed portion of such productas the knitting of such product progresses.

3. The method of obtaining consistent and accurate measurements of the completed portion of a knitted product during the knitting thereof comprising progressively connecting a flexible measuring tape at successive spaced points to the completed portion of such product as it is being knitted.

4. The rnethod of obtaining continuous and accurate indication of the progress achieved in the production of a' knitted product comprising the progressive attachment of a iiexible nieasuring tape at successive spaced points to the conipleted portion of such product as the knitting of such product progresses.

5. The method of determining progress in the production of a knitted product comprising the progressive attachment of a flexible tape at successive spaced points lto such product as such product is knitted.

6. The method of measuring progress in the production of a knitted product comprising the progressive detachable connecting of a flexible tape at successive spaced points to such product as such product is knitted.

7. The method of obtaining continuous measurement of the completed portion of a knitted product during the knitting thereof comprising detachably connecting a fiexible tape to the coinpleted portion of such garment with some stande ard measuring point on said tape being adjacent some base point on such completed portion, and detachably connecting successive spaced points on said tape progressively, as such product is knitted, to the newly knitted portion thereof.

8. Apparatus for obtaining consistentv and accurate measurement of the progress achieved. in the production of a knitted product comprising a fieXible tape and a plurality of fasteners, each of said fasteners having a shank portion, said tape having means for receiving said shank portions of said fasteners, and said fasteners being detachably connectable to the completed portion of such knitted product While said shank portions are in engagement with said tape.

9, Apparatus for obtaining continuous and accurate measurement of the completed portion of a knitted product during the knitting thereof comprising a flexible tape a plurality of snap fasteners adapted to detachably connect said tape to the completed portion of such knitted product, cach of said fasteners having first and second detachably connectable portions, said first portions being engageable with said tape and said second portions being engageable with the completed portion of such knitted product.

l0. Apparatus for obtaining continuous measurernent of the completed portion of a knitted product during the knitting thereof, said apparatus comprising a iiexible tape and a plurality of spread fasteners, said tape having a plurality of openings therethrough spaced along the length thereof, said fasteners being adapted to pass through said openings and to fasten said tape detachably to the completed portion of such knitted product.

11. Apparatus for obtaining continuous measurement of the completed portion of a knitted product during the knitting thereof, said apparatus comprising a iiexible tape and a plurality of pipe stein fasteners, said tape having a plurality of openings therethrough spaced along the length thereof, said fasteners being adapted to pass through said openings and to fasten said tape detachably to the completed portion of such knitted product.

l2. The method of producing a knitted product of a predetermined length comprising, knitting a portion of said product and temporarily securing one end of a iiexible tape thereto, continuing with the knitting and repeatedly securing progres* sively more advanced points on said tape to the completed portion of said product until the product is of said predetermined length as indicated by said tape.

13. Apparatus for obtaining continuous and. accurate measurement of the completed portion of a knitted product durinO` the knitting thereof comprising a iiexibie tape having a series of longitudinaliy spaced openings therein and a plun rality of fasteners secured to said tape and detachaoiy connectable to the completed portion of such knitted product, each of said fasteners having a xed head, a sterA extending therefrom and passing through one of said openings in said tape, a semi-permanent head engaging said stem and securing said tape between said fixed head and said senti-permanent head, and a button den tachably engageable with said stem for securing said fastener and said tape to the completed por tion of such knitted product.

i4, Apparatus for giving continuous indication of progress achieved in the production of a knitted product comprising a exible measuring device and a plurality of fasteners, each of said fasteners having a shank portion long enough to extend through said measuring device and through such knitted product and being adapted to connect said device to the completed portion of such knitted product.

15. Apparatus for obtaining consistent and accurate measurement of the progress achieved in the production of a knitted product comprising a flexible tape having a plurality of openings therethrough, and a plurality of fasteners, each of said fasteners having a head portion adapted to engage one surface of said tape and a shank portion for extending through one of said openings and through the completed portion of such knitted product, whereby said fasteners are adapted to detachably connect said iiexible tape to the completed portion of such knitted product, said heads of said fasteners being small relative to the width of said tape.

JOSEPHINE P. MECKLENBURGER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,020,556 Kirkpatrick Nov. 12, 1935 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 421,864 France Jan. 4, 1911