US3135104A - Stretch fabric and method of making the same - Google Patents

Description

June 2, 1964 A. BuRLEsoN 3,135,104

STRETCH FABRIC AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME Filed April 10, 1961 F/G.1. re

FIG.3. I8 20 g A T ATTORNEYS I FIG-2. BYMQ/MyMWM i l l l United States Patent 3,135,104 STRETCH FABRIC AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME Aaron Burleson, Burlington, N.C., assignor to Burlington Industries, Inc., Greensboro, N.C., a corporation of Delaware Filed Apr. 10, 1961, Ser. No. 101,879 4 Claims. (Cl. 66-469) This invention relates to tubular stretch fabrics, and in particular to stockings or the like knitted in novel manner, whereby they exhibit unusual and outstanding stretch properties, particularly in the coursewise direction. The invention is adapted for use in nylon stretch stockings, of a support or heavy sport type, being inherently narrow in the ankle aside from the elfect of tight knitting in this area. The invention relates also to the method of knitting the fabric.

A principal object of the invention is to provide a novel tubular stretch fabric highly stretchable in the coursewise direction.

Another object is to provide a novel method for knitting tubular stretch fabrics, readily adaptable to standard single or plural feed knitting machines. Further objects will be in part evident and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention and the novel features thereof may best be made clear from the following description and the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 represents a womans seamless stretch stocking manufactured in accordance with the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a diagrammatic view of the outer face of a fragment of fabric constructed in accordance with the invention. In this figure, the loops of the yarns are enlarged and separated for the purpose of illustration, the respective yarns being straightened out, for the purpose of clarity, as if they had no tendency to draw up or twist, and

FIGURE 3 is a diagram illustrating the knitting of the fabric.

In the drawings, FIGURES l, represents a womans stretch stocking in accordance with the invention, in flat form, as may be effected by boarding or pulling over a cardboard form. The stocking 10 includes the usual welt 12, leg portion 14, ankle portion 16, heel 18 and toe 20. The stocking is unusually narrow, particularly in the ankle portion 16, and highly stretchable in the coursewise direction, as indicated by the double headed arrow 22.

The method of knitting the stocking is illustrated in FIGURE 2, wherein 24 represents the conventional latch needles of a standard single feed circular knitting machine. The needles, as will be understood, move from right to left as shown, in the direction of arrow 26, past the feed station 28 and then the knitting station. The needles approaching the feed station 28 are elevated to conventional yarn taking level, but in accordance with the present invention alternate needles 24', or alternate groups of needles, are elevated to a higher level so that the bottom of each needle 24 latch is higher than the hook of the adjoining intervening needles 24". The needles 24' attain this higher elevation at the feed station 28, at which different yarns are fed to the separated series of needles.

As shown, feed finger 32 feeds nylon yarn Z to the elevated needles 24' and yarn finger 34 feeds nylon yarn S to the intervening needles 24". The feed fingers 32 and 34 may be linked and/ or actuated together to operate in unison, or a single feed finger supplying the two yarns at dilferent levels may readily be provided and utilized.

When the needles have taken the respective yarns, the elevated needles 24 are drawn down substantially to the level of the intervening needles 24", and then all the needles are drawn down in passage past the knitting station to draw sititches. At the knitting station every needle knits, but the yarns are knit alternately. That is, one needle draws a loop in yarn S, across which yarn Z floats, and the next needle draws a loop in yarn Z, across which yarn S floats. As shown, yarn S remains in front of all needles until the stitches are shed, but is not taken by the alternate needles 24', forming floats thereacross, while yarn Z is taken by the needles 24' and drawn down in back of the needles 24", similarly forming floats across the needles 24-". The resultant fabric exhibits the unique appearance illustrated in FIGURE 3.

The respective yarns, as previously indicated, are oppositely torqued in conventional manner to produce stretch fabric. Yarns may be torqued, for example, as described in our prior Patent No. 2,771,757, issued November 27, 1956. Each yarn may be composed of one, two, three, four or more ends, and the degree of torque and total denier per yarn may vary within wide limits, to produce fabrics of different weight, appearance, resistance to stretching, etc. The yarns may be differently dyed or colored, for special effects.

In FIGURE 3, yarn S with S torque is shaded, and yarn Z with Z torque is unshaded, and it will be seen that both yarns extend through each course, although not plied together, the respective yarns being drawn into stitches in alternation. That is, yarn S is floated across each loop drawn in yarn Z, and then itself drawn into a loop across which yarn Z floats. As shown, all the floats are on the inside of the fabric. While in this illustration the yarns are drawn into stitches in alternation, that is in accordance with a 1 x 1 sequence, it will be apparent that each yarn may be drawn into two or more successive loops, with the other yarn floated across, the pattern thus being 2 x 2 or 3 x 3.

While the method is readily adaptable to standard single feed machines, it may be performed with plural feed machines as well. In utilizing a plural feed machine, the needles may be separated at each feed station in the manner described above, and oppositely torqued yarns fed to the respective series of needles, whereby multiple courses would be knit during each revolution of the machine. Alternatively, a two feed machine may be utilized in distinctive manner, by elevating alternate needles at one station and feeding a torque yarn thereto, and elevating the intervening needles at the other station and feeding a yarn of opposite torque to the intervening needles. By thus knitting on alternate needles at one station and on the intervening needles at the other the same fabric is produced, although only one course may be knit for each revolution of the machine.

Tubular stretch stockings commonly exhibit their stretch characteristic primarily in direction longitudinal of the fabric, that is at right angles to the courses. Fabric in accordance with this invention, distinctively, exhibits more stretch in the coursewise direction than in the longitudinal direction. Coursewise stretch has many advantages, a primary advantage being inherent narrowness and tightness in the ankle portion, which makes it less critical to increase the yarn tension or otherwise tighten up the knitting through the ankle. Stockings in accordance with the invention exhibit superior fit, particularly at the ankle, and unique feel.

It will thus be seen that there has been provided by this invention a fabric and method in which the various objects hereinbefore set forth, together with many practical advantages, are successfully achieved. As various possible embodiments may be made of the novel features of the above invention, all without departing from the scope thereof, it is to be understood that all matter hereinbefore set forth is to be interpreted as illustrative, and not in a limiting sense.

We claim:

1. Tubular stretch fabric, each course of said fabric being knit of two yarns of opposite torque, the respective yarns being drawn into alternately spaced stitches, each of said yarns being floated across the stitches of the other.

2. Tubular stretch fabric, each course of said fabric being knit of two yarns of opposite torque, the respective yarns being drawn into stitches in alternation, each of said yarns being floated across the stitches of the other.

3. Knitted fabric highly stretchable in the coursewise direction, each course of said fabric being knit of two yarns of opposite torque, the respective yarns being drawn into alternately spaced stitches, each of said yarns being floated across the stitches of the other.

4. Knitted fabric highly stretchable in the coursewise direction, each course of said fabric being knit of two yarns of opposite torque, the respective yarns being drawn into stitches in alternation, each of said yarns being floated across the stitches of the other.

References (Iited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,819,958 Lochhead Aug. 18, 1931 4 Lawson June 5, 1934 Nebel Sept. 10, 1935 Holt June 30, 1936 Leath et al. Aug. 9, 1955 Hill Aug. 9, 1955 Burleson Mar. 6, 1956 Weller July 24, 1956 Burleson et a1 Nov. 27, 1956 Weller Nov. 27, 1956 Leath et al Nov. 27, 1956 Burleson Nov. 27, 1956 Knohl Apr. 29, 1958 Bird et a1. July 8, 1958 Sommers Nov. 4, 1958 Attenborough Aug. 18, 1959 Wood et a1. Aug. 1, 1961 Mahler Mar. 6, 1962 Bobo et a1 Feb. 19, 1963 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain Aug. 24, 1928 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent N0 3 155 104 June 2 1964 Aaron Burleson It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column I line 3,1 for "FIGURE 2" read FIGURE 3 line 38 for FIGURE 8" read FIGURE 2 Signed and sealed this 27th day of April 1965 (SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER EDWARD J. BRENNER A-ttesting Officer Commissioner of Patents

Claims (2)

1. TUBULAR STRETCH FABRIC, EACH COURSE OF SAID FABRIC BEING KNIT OF TWO YARNS OF OPPOSITE TORQUE, THE RESPECTIVE YARNS BEING DRAWN INTO ALTERNATELY SPACED STICHES, EACH OF SAID YARNS BEING FLOATED ACROSS THE STITCHES OF THE OTHER.

4. KNITTED GABRIC HIGHLY STRETCHABLE I THE COURSEWISE DIRECTION, EACH COURSE OF SAID FABRIC BEING KNIT OF TWO YARNS OF OPPOSITE TORQUE, THE RESPECTIVE YARNS BEING DRAWN INTO STITHEDS IN ALTERNATION, EACH OF SAID YARNS BEING FLOATED ACROSS THE STITCHES OF THE OTHER.

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