US2656690A - Knitting device - Google Patents

Description

KNITTING DEVICE Filed March 8, 1952 INVENTORS. Mo E L EB ENSF'EL. 0. Mn c B UXBA UM.

I A TTORIVEYS.

Patented Oct. 27, l953 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE KNITTING DEVICE Mac Buxbaum and Moe Lebensfeld, Flushing, N. Y.

Application March 8, 1952, Serial No. 275,581

7 Claims.

This invention relates to a knitting device, and more particularly to a toy knitting device for producing a continuous tubular fabric from a single strand of yarn or the like.

Apparatus of this type heretofore proposed have had to be held manually in a substantially vertical position in order for the knitted tubular cord to be formed properly by the knitting device. This has proved unsatisfactory for a number of reasons among which is that it may be quite tiring and persons who desire to use the apparatus who are, for example, bedridden, are put to a distinct disadvantage.

Furthermore, apparatus of this character heretofore suggested has produced a knitted t bular cord of substantially uniform cross sec tion providing the strand from the source of supply is of a uniform cross section.

One of the objects of the present invention is to form a knitted tubular cord of varying cross sectional area from, for example, a yarn having a substantially uniform diameter.

A further object of the invention is to provide a knitting device which can be manually operated satisfactorily regardless of the attitude of the device.

Various, further and more specific objects. features and advantages of the invention will clearly appear from the. detailed description given below taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification and illustrate, by way of example, preferred arrangements of apparatus for carrying out the invention. The invention consists in such novel combinations of features as may be shown and described in connection with the device herein disclosed.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation, partly in section and with parts broken away, of a device embodying one form of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the device shown I in Figs. 1 and 2; and

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially along lines 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings in greater detail, the novel knitting device is constituted by a first member I0 in the form of a hollow cylindrical casing having a passageway Illa therethrough in which is positioned for rotation therein a second member II comprising a needle guide which is mounted coaxially thereof. The secand member or needle guide II is of hollow cylindrical form and has a passage Ila. therethrough and also is provided with suitable needle guide-means which are well shown in Fig. 3 at I2 and I3, such guide means comprising diametrically opposed channel forming members Iza, I21), and I3a, lab, respectively. extending longitudinally of the member II and. forming channels in which latch type knitting needles I4 and I5, respectively, are axially shiftable. The needles I4 and I5 are respectively provided with end hooks Ila, I5a and pivotable latches Mb, I51) which operate in a well known manner. The needles I4 and I5 also are respectively provided with radially outwardly extending fingers I40 and IEcwhich engage a cam groove I6 formed in the surface of the passage Illa. In order to effect reciprocative movement of the needles I4 and I5 the aforementioned groove IB is oblique to the axis of the members I0 and II whereby angular movement of member I0 relative to member II will produce such reciprocation. The groove I6 is so disposed in the passageway Illa that such reciprocation causes the heads of the needles I4 and I5 to rise above the upper edges Iflb and III) of the members In and I I, respectively, and thus into a yarn engaging position. Thereafter the needle heads descend to a position below such upper edges. Such upper and lower limits of motion of the needles are shown with respect to the hook I5a which is at its highest position, and hook I la at its lowest position.

As viewed in Fig. 3, the inner cylindrical casing or inner member II is of somewhat smaller outer diameter than the inner diameter of the passage Illa, such diameter being measured, for.-

However, the outer diameter of the member II as meas-. ured, for example, across members I'c and I312, is: only slightly less than the inner diameter of example, commencing at point He.

such passageway adjacent the groove I6 where-- by suitable clearance is effected therebetween. If desired, suitable longitudinally extending ribs: I Id and He may be provided preferably diametrically opposed and situated, for example, from the needles I4 and I5.

We have found it desirable, in order suitably to tension a strand of yarn I! as it is fed to the device, to provide a sinuous path therefor by means of an upstanding arm I8 preferably integral with the cylindrical member I0, the arm having passages I9 and 20 through which moves the yarn I'I. Below the arm IB there is formed a passage :2I through which the yarn I! initially is led from a source of supply and thence outwardly through the passage 20 and thence again inwardly through the passage l9 and thence to the needles. Of course, if desired, the passage 2| through the cylindrical member ID can be formed in a portion of member ID above the level of the upper edge lob (Fig. 2) if desired.

In order to facilitate easy manual operation of the knitting device and to vary the thickness of a knitted cord, novel means are provided for grasping and pulling outwardly upon such a tubular cord. The latter, of course, is formed by the crocheting-like action of the needles HI and I5. Such tubular cord is shown at 22. Such novel means, in the form shown, are constituted by: a base member 23 which preferably is of cylindrical conformation and which embraces and is secured to a lower or depending portion llc of the cylindrical member II. The periphery of the base member 23 extends radially outwardly beyond the periphery of the first-mentioned cylindrical member ID thereby facilitating the grasping of oneof the members 10 or H and the rotating of the other member. A pair of hollow tubular members 24 and 25 are provided in each or which is formed a longitudinally extending slot 24a and 25a and also in each of which is positioned acoil spring, such springs being respectively indicated at 26 and 21. A spring yoke cooperates jointly with both. of the springs 26 and 2! for urging the tubular cord. 22 outwardly and away from the member H, such spring yoke being indicated at 28 and havingv a suitable hook, as at 2 9, secured centrally thereof intermediate the springs 26 and 21.. Such book, of course, can engage the cord 22 and urge same outwardly under the influence of the springs. 26 and 21. The spring yoke- 28 is slidable within the aforedescribed slots 24a and 25a and preferably has secured on opposite extremities thereof cylindrical members 28a and 28b for moving within the-cylindrical passages within the tubular members 2t and 25.-

The'springs 26 and 21, in the form shown, are interposed between the base 23 and the spring yoke 28, such springsbeing of the so-called compression type which are distorted by compressing same. However, it is, of course, possible to interpose such springs between the spring yoke 28 and a cross piece 39 which is secured to the outer extremities of the tubular members. 24' and 25, such springs, of course, being extended. or expanded instead of compressed in order to distort same for the pulling of the cord 22.

In operation the strand of yarn H is led through the openings 2|, 20 and I9, as shown in Fig. 2, and isengaged with. one of the needles I! or l5. The cylindrical members I and H are rotated relative to one another whereby the yarn is formed by crocheting-like operation into the aforementioned tubular cord 22. The needle guide I i should be turned in a clockwise direction (Fig. 3) in order toform the cord 22. In order to facilitate theformation of the cord, a length of the: strand I! may, at the outset, be led through the passage Ha (Fig. 1) and a loop formed therein for engagement with the hook 29 and thereafter the strand H can been'gaged by the needles I4 and I15 in a well known manner. The springs 26. and. 211, of. course. are distorted to a desired degree before connecting the hook 29 with such loop. After a length of the cord 22 has been formed sufficiently long to extend below the base 23 (Fig. i), the hook 29 can, of course, be disengaged irom said loop and'engaged with the cord. As the thrust upon the cord 22 progressively diminishes as the springs 26 and 21 gradually lengthen, the tightness of the knitting will gradually diminish and the cross sectional area of the knitted cord will vary. That is, the cross sectional area of such cord will be relatively smaller when knitted under a high thrust existing when the springs are distorted (or compressed) to a high degree as compared to the cross sectional area of the cord formed when the springs 23 and 21 are distorted a lesser amount. Thus a desired artistic effect due to varying thickness can be obtained by so varying the thrust: upon the cord and articles such as rugs or mats made therefrom can have imparted thereto-a wider variety of shape and appearance.

If desired, the cross piece 30 may have a central aperture 30a therein through which the cord 22 may pass.

While the invention has been described with respect to a certain preferred example which has given satisfactory results it will be understood by those skilled in the art, after understanding the invention, that various changes. and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and it i intended, therefore, in the appended claims to cover allv such. changes and modifications.

What is claimed is:

l. A devicefor forming tubular cords. of varying cross section. from yarn or the like comprising in combination: a first member having a passage therethrough; a second member comprising a needle guide mounted in said first member for angular movement within the passage formed. therein, said second member having a passageway therethrough and diametrically opposed guide means positioned thereon, a pair of needles positioned one in each of said guide means, means for reciprocating said needles when one of saidmember is rotated relative to the other member; and spring. means operatively associated with said second member for urging axially away from said member a cord in response to the reciprocation of said needles, said sprin means comprising; a. pair of springs positioned on each side of said passageway, a spring yoke extending therebetween, andmeansforsecuring suchcordto said spring yoke.

2i A device for forming tubular cords of vary ing cross sectionifromyarn or the like having in combination: a first member having a passageway therethrough; a. second member. comprising a needle guide mounted in said first member for angular movement within the passage formed therein, said second. member having diametrically opposed guide means positioned thereon, a pair of needles positioned. one in each of said guide means, means for reciprocating said needles when one of. said members. is rotated relative to the other member; and spring means operatively associated with said second member for urging. axially away from said member a. cord in response to the reciprocation of said needles, said spring means comprising: a pair of slotted spring guide tubes, a pair of springs one in each tube, a spring yoke extending between said springs and drivably associated withboth, and means for securing the cord to said spring yoke.

23. In a device for knitting a cord from a, single strand, a first member having a cylindrical passage therethrough and having a camming groove formed in the surface of said cylindrical passage; a second member mounted within said passage, said second member having a passageway therethrough and also having a pair of diametrically opposed guide means on the outer surface thereof for guiding a pair of latch needles, one in each guide means, each of said needles having an outwardly radially extending protrusion thereupon for engaging said camming groove, said needles being reciprocable in response to relative angular movement of said members; a base secured to said second member; a spring tube secured to said base; and spring means within said spring tube, said spring means having a hook for grasping such cord knitted by the knitting device, such spring means being distortable in response to movement of said hook means near to said base for grasping the cord.

4. In a device for knitting a cord from a single strand, a first member having a cylindrical passage therethrough and having a camming groove formed in the surface of said cylindrical passage; a second member mounted within said passage, said second member having a passageway therethrough and also having diametrically opposed guide means on the outer surface thereof for guiding a pair of needles, one in each M guide means, each of said needles having an outwardly radially extending protrusion thereupon for engaging said camming groove, said needles being reciprocable in response to relative angular movement of said members; and spring means operatively associated with said second member, said spring means having a, base extremity fixed relative to said second member and having an opposite extremity provided with book means for engaging said cord, such spring means being distortable in response to movement of said hook means near to said second member for so engaging the cord.

5. In a device for knitting a tubular fabric, a first member having a cylindrical passage there through and having a camming groove formed in the surface of said cylindrical passage; a second member mounted within said passage; a pair of latch needles; said second member having a passageway therethrough and also having L diametrically opposed guide means on the outer surface thereof for guiding said pair of latch needles, one in each guide means, each of said needles having an outwardly radially extending protrusion thereupon for engaging said camming groove; a base secured to said second member, said base comprising a handle which may be grasped for effecting angular movement of one of such members relative to the other; an arm secured. to said base; and spring means operatively associated with said arm, said spring means having a base extremity fixed relative to said arm and having an opposite extremity provided with book means for grasping such tubular fabric knitted by the knitting device, such spring means being distortable in response to movement of said hook means to a position near to said base.

6. A device for knitting a tubular cord from a single strand, an outer casing; an inner casing coaxial with and journalled for rotation in the casing first mentioned and having (a pair of diametrically opposed longitudinal extending grooves therein; a pair of needles positioned one in each of said grooves, said needles having projections thereupon which extend outwardly of such grooves; said outer casing having a camming groove formed on the inner surface thereof; said projections on said needles engaging said groove, whereby said needles are reciprocable in response to angular motion of one casing relative to the other; arm means rigidly secured to said inner cylindrical member; and resilient meansassociated with said arm means and having a hook secured thereto for engaging such cord and pulling same, said resilient means being distortable by urging said hook to a position adjacent said inner casing whereby the hook can engage such cord.

7. A device for knitting a strand into a cord of substantially tubular form having in combination, an outer casing having a cylindrical passage therethrou-gh; an inner hollow cylindrical casing coaxial with and journalled for rotation in the casing first mentioned and having a pair of diametrically opposed longitudinally extending needle guides therein; a pair of needles positioned one in each of said guides, said needles having projections thereupon which extend outwardly of such guides; said outer casing having a camming groove formed in the surface of the passage thereof, said projections on said needles engaging said groove, whereby said needles are reciprocable in response to angular motion of one casing relative to the other; said outer casing having perforations formed therein through which yarn can pass prior to engagement by said needles; an arm rigidly secured to said inner casing; and spring means associated with said arm and having a hook secured thereto for engaging the tubular cord, said spring means having a base extremity thereof fixed and an opposite extremity thereof mounting said hook, said spring being distortable by urging said hook to a position adjacent said inner casing whereby the hook can engage the tubular cord.

MAC BUXBAUM. MOE LEBENSFELD.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Malis Nov. 13, 1950

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