US3071950A

US3071950A - Method for producing run-resistant seamless hosiery and hosiery produced thereby

Info

Publication number: US3071950A
Application number: US193842A
Authority: US
Inventors: Clifford R Chaney
Original assignee: HARPER HOSIERY MILLS Inc
Current assignee: HARPER HOSIERY MILLS Inc
Priority date: 1962-05-10
Filing date: 1962-05-10
Publication date: 1963-01-08
Anticipated expiration: 1980-01-08

Description

Jan. 8, 1963 c. R. CHANEY 3,071,950

METHOD FOR PRODUCING RUN-RESISTANT SEAMLESS HOSIERY AND HOSIERY PRODUCED THEREBY Filed May 10, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 CLIFFORD R. CHANEY Jan. 8, 1963 c. R. CHANEY 3,071,950

METHOD FOR PRODUCING RUN-RESISTANT SEAMLESS HOSIERY AND HOSIERY PRODUCED THEREBY Filed May 10, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR.

CLIFFORD P. (HA/V5) Jan. 8, 1963 c. R. CHANEY 3,071,950

METHOD FOR PRODUCING RUN-RESISTANT SEAMLESS HOSIERY AND HOSIERY PRODUCED THEREBY Filed May 10, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. CLIFFORD A. (l/AME) 'BY cam/0m; 1.. awn/400s a 041. as" u. smerr:

ATT'OP/VEKS Jan. 8, 1963 c. R. CHANEY 3,071,950

METHOD FOR PRODUCING RUN-RESISTANT SEAMLESS HOSIERY AND HOSIERY PRODUCED THEREBY Filed May 10, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INV EN TOR.

CL IFF'ORD R. Cl/ANE Y CHIN/VINE L. RICHARD 8- DALBERT U. JHL'FTE ATTORNY5 United States Patent Ofifice 3,071,950 Patented Jan. 8, 1963 3,071,950 METHOD FOR PRODUCING RUN-RESISTANT SEAMLESS HGSIERY AND HOSIERY PRO- DUCED THEREBY The present invention relates to the production of seamless hosiery knit in a particular pattern of tucked and floated stitches and with a controlled depth of draw such that a run-resistant hosiery fabric is produced that, in addition to being run-resistant, is desirably sheer and inconspicuous and embodies compatible welt and leg portrons.

The desirable characteristics of run-resistance, sheerness, and compatible proportioning have not heretofore been obtainable in hosiery without sacrificing one or the other of these characteristics or using special yarns that produce an objectionable appearance and also undesirably increase the cost of production. This problem is amplified by the present day requirement for sheerness in hosiery, for in order to obtain acceptable Sheerness it is necessary to use fine yarns, which are delicate and therefore readily susceptible to runs, and yet run-resistance is more difficult to obtain with fine yarns and the run-resistant stitches that have been used are even more objectionable in these sheer fabrics than in prior heavier fabrics.

By the present invention desired Sheerness is retained while providing a run-resistant hosiery fabric by knitting the desirably sheer boot or leg portion using two ends of fine yarn knit in a combination of tucked and floated stitches while drawing the stitches substantially deeper than the drawing of stitches in the preceding plain knit welt portion. This deeper drawing is directly the reverse of conventional drawing, where the heavier yarn in the welt portion is drawn deeper according to the established principle that heavier yarns must be drawn deeper to provide compatible proportioning of stitches between adjacent portions of heavy and fine yarn.

This deeper drawing substantially enhances the runresistant characteristics of the particular tucked and floated stitch pattern as the deeper draw increases the amount of yarn in each tucked stitch, which yarn must be pulled out of the succeeding stitch to permit a run to continue beyond the tucked stitch. Further, the floated stitches, which are not drawn and therefore are not increased by the deeper draw, are arranged to extend across the tucked stitches and thereby prevent suflicient lateral spreading of the fabric to allow the yarn in the tucked stitches to pull through the succeeding stitches as is necessary for a run to advance.

In addition, the combination of the unconventional deep drawing and the tucked and floated stitch pattern of the present invention produces a leg portion proportioned cornpatibly with the welt portion. This is of particular importance in hosiery where proper sizing and appearance are essential and the welt portion and adjacent segment of the leg portion must be of similar proportions to be acceptable.

The particular tucked and floated stitch pattern, which is combined in the present invention with deep drawing, comprises two ends of yarn knit in a repeating pattern of two needle wales and six courses. In one course, both ends are knit in a plain stitch in the first needle wale and in the second needle wale both ends are knit in a tucked or held stitch extending across the next two courses and knit with the fourth course. In the second course, both ends are knit in a plain stitch in the first needle wale with one endfloated across the second needle wale and the other end tucked in the second needle wale across the third course and knit in the fourth course. In the third course, both ends are knit in a plain stitch in the first needle wale with one end floated across the second needle wale and the other end knit in the second needle wale in a plain stitch with the fourth course. Thus both ends of the first course and one end of each of the second and third courses are knit with the fourth course. The fourth, fifth and sixth courses are knit in the same pattern as the first three, but in opposite needle wales.

This pattern may be varied by increasing the number of courses having both tucked and floated ends, similar to the above described second course, which will increase the lengths of the tucked yarns accordingly, thereby reducing further the likelihood of the tucked stitches pulling out of the succeeding stitches when a run develops.

As mentioned above, this tucked and floated stitch pattern is knit with a substantially deeper draw than the precedingly knit plain stitch welt portion. The amount of this deeper draw may be, for example, approximately twice the depth of draw in the welt portion depending on the relative sizes of yarn in the welt and leg portions. This is in contrast to conventional knitting where, rather than drawing twice as deep in the leg portion, the draw is usually substantially shallower, particularly where the yarn size in the leg is less than the yarn size in the welt.

This unconventional deeper drawing in the leg portion may not be obtainable to an optimum depth with some conventional knitting machines, which are capable of a range of drawing depths by raising and lowering the cylinder, but are limited to a maximum depth less than that desired to obtain optimum results with the present invention. Also, it is preferred not to use the cylinder to accomplish the deep draw, but rather to allow the cylinder manipulation to perform its normal function of shift ing to change the shape of the various parts of the stock ing. Therefore, the present invention includes means that can be incorporated in a conventional knitting machine to accomplish drawing depths of the magnitude contemplated herein.

These means comprise a stitch cam assembly mounted for movement relative to the knitting needles in the direction in which loops are drawn so as to adjust the position of the needles for drawing loops and thus adjust the depth of draw. The stitch cam assembly is manipulated by control means, such as a rocker linkage driven from the pattern drum to shift the stitch cam assembly to draw the needles deeper when the knitting cycle changes from knitting the welt portion to knitting the leg portion. A particular embodiment of these means is described in detail hereinbelow.

Other and further features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a photographic reproduction of a seamless stocking made in accordance with the present invention and shown lying flat in a relaxed condition;

FIG. 2 is a magnified photographic reproduction of a segment of the stocking of FIG. 1 at the juncture of the welt and leg portion, such as indicated by the rectangle in FIG. 1, and showing the stitches in an extended condition, as when the stocking is worn;

FIG. 2a is a diagram of a theoretical stitch construction corresponding to the actual photographic stitch magnification of FIG. 2, but showing the yarn ends following a symmetrical regimentation to provide a clear illustration of the interlooping of the yarns, which is not readily apparent in photographic FIG. 2a;

PEG. 3 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a mechanism for controlling the depth of draw according to the present invention, shown in relationto the bed plate and pattern drum of a conventional circular knitting machine to which the mechanism is attached;

FIG. 4 is an elevational view of the mechanism of FIG. 3 looking radially outwardly from the center of the circular knitting machine; and

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 3.

The stocking illustrated in FIG. 1 is a typical example of a stocking made in accordance with the present invention. This stocking includes the usual welt portion 11, leg portion 12, heel pocket 13, foot portion 14, and toe pocket 15. The welt portion 11 includes the usual shadow or after welt 16, which is a single ply continuation of the double thickness fabric of the main body of the welt 11 knit of the same yarn and in the same plain knit stitch construction.

The leg portion 12 is knit in accordance with the present invention and embodies the special stitch construction and deeper drawing that combine to produce run-resistance, sheerness and compatible proportioning. As seen in FIG. 1, the leg portion is very sheer, being con'lparable in sheerness to conventional plain knit stockings. The stocking 1% of FIG. 1 also clearly illustrates the compatible proportioning between the welt portion !11 and the leg portion 12 obtained by the present invention, and which is important to provide an acceptable stocking of proper size and dimension. This compatible proportioning is obtained by the present invention notwithstanding the fact that the leg portion 12 is knit with difierent yarn and a different stitch than the welt portion 11 and is knit with a substantially deeper draw.

Another feature of the present invention, which is apparent in the stocking 1% of FIG. 1, is the enhanced shaping obtained in the leg portion 12 to conform to the desired contour of the leg of the wearer. This is particularly apparent at the narrow ankle portion 17, which is seen to be of greatly reduced diameter as desired to conform to the ankle of the wearer. This enhanced shaping is obtained by the present invention even though the leg portion stitches are drawn deeper, which would normally produce a looser fabric. This enhanced shaping is apparently due to the floated stitches of the present invention, which float laterally across the tucked stitches and thus when shrunk during boarding and finishing contract directly across the stitches and thereby reduce the lateral extent of the stitches and limit lateral extension of the loops that normally occur with fabrics that do not have floated stitches. The limited lateral extension is further restricted in the present invention by tensioning of the yarn supply for the floated stitch yarn during knitting, which further limits the amount of yarn in the floated stitches.

The stitch construction of the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 2 and FIG. 2a. FIG. 2 is a magnification of a small area of the stocking of FIG. 1 at the juncture of the welt portion 11 and the leg portion 12 in a location such as indicated by the rectangle in FIG. 1. FIG. 2a is a theoretical stitch diagram of the same area showing the same actual interlooping arrangement as FIG. 2, but modified in symmetrical loop configurations for reasons of clarity and understanding. As seen in FIGS. 2 and 2a the welt portion 11 is formed with a relatively heavy yarn knit in a plain stitch. Following the last course 18 of the welt portion 11 is a transition course 19 knit with the two ends of fine yarn used in the leg portion 12 and in a plain stitch. Near the end of the knitting of this transition course 19 and during the knitting of the subsequent courses of the leg portion 12 the stitches are knit with a substantially deeper draw than the stitches of the welt portion 11.

Following the transition course 19 the succeeding courses of the leg portion are knit in the special stitch construction of the present invention. This stitch construction is formed in a repeating pattern 20 that repeats every two needle wales and every six courses. In each of these repeating patterns 29 there are two large tucked stitches 21, each encompassing three different courses in different needle wales 22 and 23. In the first course 24 of the first group of three courses '25 the two ends of yarn 26 and 27 are knit together in a plain stitch in the first needle wale 22 and are knit together in a tucked stitch in the second needle wale 23 extending across the second and

third courses

28 and 29, respectively, and knit with the fourth course 30, which is the first course of the second group 31 of three courses of the repeating pattern 20.

In the second course '28 both ends are again knit in a plain stitch in the first needle wale 22, but in the second needle wale 23 one end 32 is floated and the other end 33 is held or tucked across the third course 29 and is knit with both ends 26 and 27 of the first course 24 in the fourth course 39.

In the third course 29 both ends 34 and 35 are again knit in a plain stitch in the first needle wale 22, and in the second needle wale 23 one end 34 is floated while the other end 35 is knit in a plain stitch with the fourth course 3 1 along with the two ends 26 and 27 of the first course, and the one end 33 of the second course, all of which ends combine to form one of the large tucked stitches 21.

The fourth, fifth and sixth courses, 30, 36 and 37, respectively, which comprise the second group 31 of three courses, are knit in the same sequence, but in opposite needle wales to the first, second and

third courses

24, 28 and 29. Thus the floated stitches occur in the first needle wale 22 and the plain stitches occur in the second needle wale 23 with the result that a large tucked stitch 21 is formed in the first needle Wale 22.

With the above described special stitch construction knit with a deep draw a run progressing downwardly, which would occur in a sinker wale, will be stopped by the yarns forming the tucked stitches as these yarns extend from a loop in one needle wale across the sinker wale to a loop spaced coursewise in an adjacent needle wale and thus the yarns of these stitches will remain looped over a pulled yarn in the sinker wale and can not themselves be pulled out to allow the run to progress downwardly. Runs progressing upwardly in needle wales are stopped by the large tucked stitches 21, which have suflicient yarn to extend across several courses and thus require substantial lateral spreading of the fabric to pull out of the preceding loop, but due to the floated stitches suflicient lateral spreading is prevented. The deep drawing of these tucked stitches 21 enhances the run resistance as this pulls more yarn into the loops without substantially increasing the yarn in the floated stitches, thereby requiring even greater lateral spreading, which is resisted by the floated stitches.

This particular stitch pattern may be varied by increasing the number of courses similar to the second course 28, thus providing tucked stitches 21 of increased length, which would further resist the progression of runs due to the additional amount of yarn that would have to be pulled out to allow a run to advance.

The above described special stitch construction can be knit on conventional circular knitting machines with a needle manipulation in which the needles form the transition course 19 in a plain stitch pattern with each needle drawing both yarns and casting off the loop of the last course 18 of the welt 11.

In the first course 24 of the first group 25 of three courses each needle again draws both ends 26 and 27 and casts off the loop of the transition course 19. In the second course 28 alternate needles draw both ends 32 and 33 and cast off the loops of the first course 24 while the other needles draw only one end 33 without casting off the loops of the first course, the needles allowing the other end 32 to float. In the third course 29 alternate needles again draw both ends 34 and 35 while casting off the loops of the second course 28, while the other needles draw only one end 35 without casting ofl the ends 26 and 27 of the first course 24 and the one end 33 of the second course 28, and while allowing the other end 34 to float. In the fourth course 39 all of the needles draw both ends of yarn and cast elf all the loops of the preceding courses, thereby completing the tucked stitches 21. The needles are then manipulated for the succeeding three courses in the same manner but in an alternate needle sequence to form the tucked stitches 21 in the needle wales between the alternate needle wales in which the tucked stitches were formed in the preceeding three courses. This alternating sequence every six courses is continued throughout the leg portion 12 and in the foot portion 14.

In the above described stitch formation the floated ends 32 and 34 in the second and third courses, 28 and 29, respectively, as well as one end, either 26 or 27, of the first course 24, and the corresponding ends in subsequent courses are' knit from the same yarn supply, which is tensioned, in any conventional manner, more than the otheryarn'supply. The difference in tensioning can be obtained by using adjustable tensioning devices of the type usually furnished with conventional knitting machines. For example, conventional Scott and Williams machines may be furnished with butterfly tensioning mechanisms, each having three eyelets through which a yarn is run and two tensioning rolls that are positioned between adjacent eyelets and spring urged out of alignment with the eyelets to impart a tensioning drag on the yarn as it runs through the eyelets and over the rolls, with the displacement of the rolls being adjustable so that a greater tensioning drag can be imparted to the yarn passing through one mechanism than to the yarn passing through another mechanism. Various other types of well-known tensioning devices can also be used to accomplish this purpose. This tensioning facilitates the laying of the yarn in a manner not to be picked up by the needles in forming the floats. In addition the tension reduces the amount of yarn in the floated stitches and thereby restricts lateral extension of the fabric so that the yarn of the tucked stitches will not be pulled out when a run develops, thus stopping the run.

During the above described needle manipulation to knit the leg portion 12 and foot portion 14 the needle control means are shifted to produce deeper drawing of the needles than in the welt portion 11. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention this deeper drawing is accomplished by incorporating the mechanism of FIGS. 3, 4 and in a conventional circular knitting machine to adjust the stitch cam position for lowering of the needles farther during drawing of loops.

This cam adjusting mechanism 50 is mounted on the annular bed plate 52 of a conventional knitting machine r and comprises a conventional cam bracket 54 modified as described presently. This cam bracket 54 has an upstanding flange 56 arranged flush with the inner periphery 58 of the annular bed plate 52. This flange 56 has a vertical slot 61) in which a cam assembly 62 is mounted for adjustable vertical positioning.

Adjustment of the cam assembly 62 is accomplished by a rocker shaft 64 rockably mounted in an upstanding bracket 66 secured to the annular bed plate 52 for generally radial extension of the shaft 64 from adjacent the cam assembly 62. The shaft 64 is axially positioned in the upstanding bracket 66 by collars 68 and 74) secured to the shaft 64 on both sides of the upstanding bracket 66.

The rocker shaft 64 carries a cam operating arm '72 fixed thereon adjacent the cam assembly 62. This cam operating arm 72 is slotted at 74 to straddle a pin '76 extending from the cam assembly 62 so as to transmit rocking movement of the shaft 6? into vertical movement of the cam assembly 62.

The pin 76 is also used to secure a plate 78 to the cam assembly 62, which plate 78 has a forked flange 80 extending outwardly at the bottom of the cam assembly for engagement with a stop screw 82 secured in the cam bracket 54 and adjustable to engage the forked flange 80 to limit upward movement of the cam assembly 62.

The degree of rocking movement of the rocker shaft 64 is adjustably controlled by a double armed stop mem- 'ber 84 fixed thereon. This member 84 has a downstroke limiting arm 86 carrying an adjustable screw 88 for contact with the annular bed plate 52 to stop movement of the shaft 64 in a direction to lower the cam assembly 62. Similarly an upward limiting arm 96 carrying an adjustable screw 92 limits rocking motion of the shaft 64 in a direction to limit the upward movement of the cam assembly 62. The upward limiting arm 96 also carries a control shaft 94 extending parallel to the rocker shaft 64 and spaced therefrom. This control shaft 94- carries a collar 96 for engagement by a shaft operating lever 98 mounted for free rotation on the rocker shaft 64. One

end 100 of the shaft operating lever 98 engages the collar 6 and the other end 162 extends outwardly from the rocker shaft 64 and has secured thereon one end of a control wire 104 extending downwardly through a guide coil 166.

The control wire 104 is connected to a pivoted 'bar 1% pivotally mounted by a pivot pin to a fixed bar 112 that is secured to the circular knitting machine. The pivoted bar 108 carries an operating finger 116 that extends across the fixed bar 112 on the opposite end of the pivoted bar 1% from the control Wire 1194 and a coil spring 114 connected to both the pivoted bar 168 and the fixed bar 112 normally urges the pivoted bar in a position wherein the control wire 164 is at an upper position and the operating finger 116 is in a lower position.

A thrust bar 118 extends vertically from a pattern drum 122 and is manipulated by a cam 12ft carried on the pattern drum 122. This thrust bar 118 engages the operating finger 116 of the pivoted bar 108 to pivot the bar in response to the pattern drum control. When the thrust bar 118 rises the pivoted bar 108 pivots to lower the control wire 10 4, thereby pulling the end 102 of the shaft operating lever 98 downwardly and raising the other end to rock the rocker shaft 64 in a cam lowering direc tion. When the thrust bar 118 moves downwardly the cam adjusting mechanism 50 operates in the opposite fashion to raise the cam assembly 62, with the coil spring 114 maintaining the pivoted bar 168 in following contact with the thrust bar 118.

The cam assembly 62 comprises a mounting block 124 slidably mounted in the slot 60 of the upstanding flange S6 of the cam bracket 54. A conventional stitch cam 128 and landing cam 126 are secured to the mounting block 124 in fixed relation for movement therewith as operated by the rocker shaft 64 and associated elements. The cam assembly 62. is maintained ina normally raised position similar to the position of cams on a conventional knitting machine by a coil spring 136 secured to the bed plate 52 and the bottom of the mounting block 124.

In knitting a stocking such as that shown in FIG. 1 the needles advance in the direction of the arrow at the bottom of FIG. 4 and are manipulated by the stitch cam 123 to draw stitches. The cam adjusting mechanism 50 is normally inoperative during the knitting of the welt portion 11, that is, the thrust bar 118 is in a lower position and the cam assembly 62. is in a normally raised position equivalent to the position of conventional fixed cams. When the knitting cycle changes to knit the special stitch of the leg portion 12 the pattern drum cam 12%) raises the thrust bar 118 to lower the cam assembly 62, which results in the needles being drawn deeper in the leg portion 12. The cam assembly 62 is raised during knitting of the heel pocket 13 to position the stitch cam 128 in a conventional position. The cam adjusting mechanism 50 again lowers the cam assembly 62 for knitting the foot portion 14, following which the cam assembly is raised for knitting the toe pocket 15.

By incorporating a cam adjusting mechanism, such as that herein disclosed, it is possible to control the depth of draw independently of the conventional stitch graduator mechanism of conventional knitting machines. Thus a stocking knit according to the present invention may not only be knit with a deeper draw in the leg portion but may also be shaped in a conventional manner. This shaping is shown in the stocking of PEG. 1, particularly at the ankle portion 17.

In one particular embodiment, the above described cam adjusting mechanism 59 is proportioned to raise and lower the cam assembly 62 a distance of approximately .055 on a conventional circular knitting machine wherein a stitch graduator is capable of raising and lowering the cylinder .055". With this construction the stitch graduator operates conventionally with the deeper drawing of the present invention being accomplished by the cam adjusting mechanism 50.

In knitting the particular stocking illustrated in FIG. 1 the welt 11 is knit with one end of denier multifilament nylon yarn and the leg portion 12 is knit with two ends of monofilament nylon yarn. The end that floats in the special stitch pattern is a 10 denier yarn and the other yarn is a 7 denier yarn. With this yarn relationship in the welt and leg portions and using the cam adjusting mechanism of the present invention the stitch cam assembly 62 is manipulated when the knitting cycle changes from knitting the welt portion to knitting the leg portion to increase the depth of draw to approximately twice the depth of the preceding draw in the welt portion, in direct contrast with conventional knitting wherein the stitch graduator operates to decrease the draw in the leg portion to about /3 the depth of the draw in the welt portion. It should be understood that these drawing relationships are rough estimates as it is difficult to determine precisely the actual depths of draw, although the amount of change can be determined by the amount of stitch cam manipulation.

The specific yarns mentioned above are set out for the purpose of example only as various sizes and relative sizes of yarns may be used satisfactorily with the present invention. However, in order to obtain a sheer stocking it is desirable to use a low total denier in the courses of the leg portions while using heavier denier yarn in the welt portion to obtain strength in that portion. Thus normally the leg portion yarns are of a total denier of about /2 or less the denier of the welt portion yarn. If the total denier in the leg portion is closer to the denier in the welt portion the cam adjusting mechanism 59 may be adjusted to draw even deeper than double the draw in the leg than in the welt to obtain results comparable to those obtained with the above set out yarn deniers.

The present invention has been described in detail above for purposes of illustration only and is not intended to be limited by this description or otherwise except as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Run-resistant, sheer, seamless hosiery comprising a welt portion formed of courses of knit stitches, and a leg portion having courses of run-resistant stitches of two ends of yarn including tucked stitches with one of said ends floated across said tucked stitches, said two ends of yarn being or" less total denier than the yarn in said welt portion and drawn at a substantially deeper relative draw than the welt portion stitches.

2. Run-resistant, sheer, seamless hosiery according to claim 1 and characterized further in that said run-resistant stitches include stitches in which the one of said two ends of yarn which is floated is more greatly tensioned than the other of said two ends.

3. Run-resistant, sheer, seamless hosiery comprising a welt portion formed of courses oi knitted stitches, and a leg portion having courses of run-resistant stitches of two ends of yarn of less total denier than the yarn in aid welt portion and drawn at a substantially deeper relative draw than said welt portion stitches in a repeating pattern of two needle wales and two groups of at least three courses with a tucked stitch in one of said two groups of courses in one of said two wales and another tucked stitch in the other group of courses in the other Wale, each said tucked stitch comprising both ends of a first course, one end of at least one intermediate course and one end or" a last course all knit together in the first course of the subsequent group of courses with the second end in the intermediate and last courses floating across said tucked stitch.

4. Run-resistant, sheer, seamless hosiery according to claim 3 and characterized further in that said second ends are more greatly tensioned than said one ends.

5. Run-resistant, sheer, seamless hosiery according to claim 3 and characterized further in that said relative draw of said leg portion stitches is at least twice that of said welt portion stitches.

6. Run-resistant, sheer, seamless hosiery comprising a welt portion having courses of plain knit stitches, and a leg portion having courses of run-resistant stitches of at least two ends of yarn of a total denier less than half the total denier of the yarn in said courses of plain knit stitches and drawn at a relative draw at least twice that of said courses of plain knit stitches in a repeating pattern of two needle wales and two groups of at least three courses with a. tucked stitch in one of said two groups of courses in one of said two wales and another tucked stitch in the other group of courses in the other wale, each said tucked stitch comprising both ends of a first course, one end of at least one intermediate course and one end of a last course all knit together in the first course of the subsequent group of courses with the second end in the intermediate and last courses floating across said tucked stitch.

7. Run-resistant, sheer, seamless hosiery according to claim 6 and characterized further in that said second ends are more greatly tensioned than said one ends.

8. A method of knitting run-resistant, sheer, seamless hosiery comprising knitting courses of plain stitches to form a welt portion, knitting a leg portion with courses of run-resistant stitches of two ends of yarn of less total denier than the yarn in the welt portion courses and knit with a substantially deeper draw than the knitting of the welt portion courses and in a run-resistant pattern having tucked stitches extending across more than one course with one of said two ends in at least one course of said tucked stitches floating across said tucked stitches in a manner to provide a run-resistant fabric.

9. A method of knitting run-resistant, sheer, seamless hosiery comprising knitting courses of plain stitches to form a welt portion, knitting a leg portion with courses of run-resistant stitches of two ends of yarn knit with a substantially deeper draw than the knitting of the welt portion courses and with one end under greater tension than the other, said run-resistant courses being knit in a pattern having tucked stitches extending across more than one course with said one end in at least one course of said tucked stitches floating across said tucked stitches in a manner to provide a run-resistant fabric.

10. A method of knitting run-resistant, sheer, seamless hosiery comprising knitting courses of plain stitches to form a welt portion, knitting a leg portion with courses of run-resistant stitches of two ends of yarn of a total denier of less than half the denier of the yarn in the welt portion courses and knit with a draw of at least twice the depth of the draw in knitting the welt portion courses and with one end under greater tension than the other, said run-resistant courses being knit in a pattern having tucked stitches extending across more than one course with said one end in at least one course of said tucked stitches floating across said tucked stitches in a manner to provide a run-resistant fabric.

11. A method of knitting run-resistant, sheer, seamless hosiery comprising knitting courses of plain stitches to form a welt portion, knitting a leg portion with courses of run-resistant stitches of two ends of yarn of less total denier than the yarn in the welt portion courses and knit with a substantially deeper draw than the knitting of the welt portion courses and in a repeating pattern of two needle wales and two groups of at least three courses, with both ends in one course of one group knit in a plain stitch in one needle wale and a draw loop for forming a tuck stitch extending across at least two courses in the other needle wale, both ends in the next at least one course knit in a plain stitch in said one needle wale with one end tucked across at least one course and the other end floated in said other needle wale, both ends in the subsequent course knit plain in said one needle Wale with one end tucked and .the other floated in said other needle wale, the other group of at least three courses being knit in the same sequence as the first group but in opposite needle wales.

12. A method of knitting run-resistant, sheer, seamless hosiery comprising knitting courses of plain stitches to form a welt portion, knitting a leg portion with courses of run-resistant stitches of two ends of yarn of less total denier than the yard in the welt portion courses and knit with a substantially deeper draw than the knitting of the welt portion courses and in a repeating pattern of six courses and two needle wales, with both ends in one course knit in a plain stitch in one needle wale and a draw loop for forming a tuck stitch extending across two courses in the other needle wale, both ends in the next course knit in a plain stitch in said one needle wale with one end tucked across one course and the other end floated in said other needle wale, both ends in the third course knit plain in said one needle wale with one end tucked and the other floated in said other needle wale, the next three courses being knit in the same sequence as the first three but in opposite needle wales.

13. A method of knitting runresistant, sheer, seamless hosiery comprising knitting courses of plain stitches to form a welt portion, knitting a leg portion with courses of run-resistant stitches of two ends of yarn of less total denier than the yarn in the welt portion courses and knit with a draw of at least twice the depth of the draw in knitting of the welt portion courses and in a repeating pattern of two needle wales and two groups of at least three courses, with both ends in one course of one group knit in a plain stitch in one needle wale and a draw loop for forming a tuck stitch extending across at least two courses in the other needle wale, both ends in the next at least one course knit in a plain stitch in said one needle wale with one end tucked across at least one course and the other end floated in said other needle wale, both ends in the subsequent course knit plain in said one needle wale with one end tucked and the other floated in said other needle wale, the other group of at least three courses being knit in the same sequence as the first group but in opposite needle wales.

14. A method of knitting run-resistant, sheer, seamless hosiery comprising knitting courses of plain stitches to form a welt portion, knitting a leg portion with courses of run'resistant stitches of two ends of yarn knit with a substantially deeper draw than the knitting of the welt portion courses and with one end under greater tension than the other, said run-resistant courses being knit in a repeating pattern of two needle wales and two groups of at least three courses, with both ends in one course of one group knit in a plain stitch in one needle wale and a draw loop for forming a tuck stitch extending across at least two courses in'the other needle wale, both ends in the next at least one course knit in a plain stitch in said one needle wale with said one end floated and said other end tucked across at least one course in said other needle Wale, both ends in the subsequent course knit plain in said one needle wale with said one end floated and said other end tucked in said other needle wale, the other group of at least three courses being knit in the same sequence as the first group but in opposite needle wales.

15. A method of knitting run-resistant, sheer, seamless hosiery comprising knitting courses of plain stitches to form a welt portion, knitting a leg portion with courses of run-resistant stitches of two ends of yarn of a total denier of less than half the denier of the yarn in the welt portion courses and knit with a draw of at least twice the depth of the draw in knitting the welt portion courses and with one end under greater tension than the other, said run-resistant courses being knit in a repeating pattern of two needle wales and two groups of at least three courses, with both ends in one course of one group knit in a plain stitch in one needle wale and a draw loop for forming a tuck stitch extending across at least two courses in the other needle wale, both ends in the next at least one course knit in a plain stitch in said one needle wale with said one end floated and said other end tucked across at least one course in said other needle wale, both ends in the subsequent course knit plain in said one needle wale with said one end floated and said other end tucked in said other needle wale, the other group of at least three courses being knit in the same sequence as the first group but in opposite needle Wales.

16. A method of knitting run-resistant, sheer, seamless hosiery by manipulating needles to draw loops and manipulating a stitch cam to vary the depth of draw, said method comprising manipulating said needles to knit courses of plain stitches in a welt portion with the stitch cam in a raised position to limit the depth of draw, lowering the stitch cam to substantially increase the depth of draw by the needles for knitting a leg portion while manipulating the needles and feeding two ends of yarn in a manner to knit courses of run-resistant stitches in a repeating pattern of two needle wales and two groups of at least three courses, with both ends in one course of one group knit in a plain stitch in one needle wale and a draw loop for forming a tuck stitch extending across at least two courses in the other needle wale, both ends in the next at least one course knit in a plain stitch in said one needle wale with one end tucked across at least one course and the other end floated in said other needle wale, both ends in the subsequent course knit plain in said one needle wale with one end tucked and the other floated in said other needle wale, the other group of at least three courses being knit in the same sequence as the first group but in opposite needle wales.

17. A method of knitting run-resistant, sheer, seamless hosiery by manipulating needles to draw loops and manipulating a stitch cam to vary the depth of draw, said method comprising manipulating said needles to knit courses of plain stitches in a welt portion with the stitch earn in a raised position to limit the depth of draw, lowering the stitch cam to substantially increase the depth of draw by the needles for knitting a leg portion while manipulating the needles and feeding two ends of yarn in a manner to knit courses of run-resistant stitches.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,1'00,86 1 Lochhead Nov. 30, 1937 2,163,557 Holmes June 20, 1939 2,887,860 Bellman May 26, 1959 3,027,737 Matthews et a1 Apr. 3, 1962

Claims

17. A METHOD OF KNITTING RUN-RESISTANT, SHEER, SEAMLESS HOSIERY BY MANIPULATING NEEDLES TO DRAW LOOPS AND MANIPULATING A STITCH CAM TO VARY THE DEPTH OF DRAW, SAID METHOD COMPRISING MANIPULATING SAID NEEDLES TO KNIT COURSES OF PLAIN STITCHES IN A WELT PORTION WITH THE STITCH CAM IN A RAISED POSITION TO LIMIT THE DEPTH OF DRAW, LOWERING THE STITCH CAM TO SUBSTANTIALLY INCREASE THE DEPTH OF DRAW BY THE NEEDLES FOR KNITTING A LEG PORTION WHILE MANIPULATING THE NEEDLES AND FEEDING TWO ENDS OF YARN IN A MANNER TO KNIT COURSES OF RUN-RESISTANT STITCHES.