US3154933A

US3154933A - Sock having a bulky knit cuff

Info

Publication number: US3154933A
Application number: US190286A
Authority: US
Inventors: Otis W Holder
Original assignee: PATENT HOSE CORP
Current assignee: PATENT HOSE CORP
Priority date: 1962-04-26
Filing date: 1962-04-26
Publication date: 1964-11-03
Anticipated expiration: 1981-11-03

Description

O. W. HOLDER Nov. 3, 1964 L.. W n/1 g n @am www www Mm M.

EN R.

OTl W. HOLDER.

ATOF/VEYS Nov. 3, 1964 o. w. HQLDER 3,154,933

socx HAVING A BuLxY KNIT cuFF Filed April 2e, 1962 2 sn eeee snee*L 2 INVENTOR' one W. Homme ATTORNEYS United States Patent O "ice 3,154,933 SOCK HAVENG A BULKY KNlT @UFF Otis W. Holder, Mount Airy, NZ., assigner to Patent- Hose Corporation, Burlington, NE., a corporation of North Caroiina Filed Apr. 26, 1962, Ser. No. 3190,286 14 Ciairns. (Cl. 66-l72) This invention relates generally to an improved sock of the half-hose or anklet type having a bulky knit top or cuff and to the method of knitting the same. More particularly, the present invention relates to an improved seamless sock of the type described which includes a relatively heavy gauge, bulky knit Vtop or cuff having an attractive 4and ornamen-t mock rib appearance and an integrally knit relatively fine gauge foot.

In recent years there has been a steadily increasing demand for socks having a bulky or coarse knit cuff of the type commonly known as bobby socks. ln order to produce a bulky or coarse knit cuff, it is the usual practice to utilize a circular knitting machine having a relatively few spaced apart needles and means to feed to heavy yarn to the needles to knit elongated or loose stitches and form the bulky cuff. In most cases, an elastic yarn is inlaid in the fabric to give it a heavy ribbed appearance. Then, when the adjacent plain knit leg and foot portions are knit integral with the cuff, the size of the yarn is usually reduced and the knit stitches are of normal size. This produces a fabric which has an open mesh appearance and it is uncomfortable on the foot.

In attempting .to overcome the objections to open mesh fabric in the foot of this type sock, some hoisery manufacturers have knit socks having heavy or coarse gauge mock rib tops and a fine gauge foot by utilizing only selected ones of the needles during the knitting of the top and then bringing all of the needles into action during the knitting of the foot. ln all known instances, the bobby socks thus produced have been unsatisfactory in that they have eyelets or openings where the inactive needles are first brought into action to knit at the juncture of the heavy gauge cuit` and the fine gauge foot.

With the foregoing in mind, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a sock which has a coarse gauge or bulky knit top or cuff and an integrally knit fine gauge foot portion which is smoothly joined to the cuff with no objectional eyelets or openings along the juncture of the cuff with the foot portion.

it is a further object of the present invention to provide a sock of the ytype described in which the cuif portion has a stretchable yarn incorporated therein to provide .a distinctive ribbed appearance which may be varied by selectively knitting a relatively heavy body yarn and a relatively light stretchable yarn in certain courses and thereby vary the appearance of the vertically extending mock ribs.

It is a more specc object of the present invention to provide a sock of the type described wherein the top or cuff is knit by forming alternating single courses of a pair of relatively heavy body yarns which are knit in plated relationship while forming intervening single courses of a stretchable yarn and varying the wales in which these yarns are knit, then knitting a foot portion having a greater number of wales than the cud while separating the two body yarns of the cuff Ito knit only one of these yarns in the wales to be added in the knitting of the foot portion and prevent eyelets from being formed in these wales.

Some of the objects of the invention having been stated, other objects will appear as the description proceeds, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in whichld Patented Nov. 3, 1964 FIGURE l is a side elevation of one form of bobby sock kin't in accordance with the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a greatly enlarged fragmentary elevational view of that portion of the fabric enclosed by the dash-dot rectangle 2 in FIGURE l `and illustrating the appearance of the knit stitch loops with the fabric stretched;

FlGURE 3 is a view similar to FIGURE l except showing a bobby sock having a top or cuff of modified construction; and

FlGURE 4 is a greatly enlarged fragmentary elevation@ View of that portion of the fabric enclosed by the dash-dot rectangle 4 in FIGURE 3 with the fabric stretched.

Referring to FlGURE 1, it will be noted that the sock S includes a bulky knit, rnock rib top or cuff 36 and an integrally knit foot portion broadly indicated at 3l. The foot portion 3l includes circular leg courses 32, a heel pocket 33, a toe pocket 34, and an instep portion 35 connecting the heel pocket 3'3 and the toe pocket 34. As is evident in FIGURE l, the cuff 3@ has a plurality of vertical or walewise alternating large stitch ribs 36 and ya plurality of intervening medium stitch ribs 37. A stretchable yarn is incorporated in the knit fabric of the cuff Btl to draw together the

ribs

36 and 37, in a manner to be later described. The sock S can be worn with the cuff or top portion Sti straight up on the leg or it may be folded or rolled down, as desired. It is to be understood that the cuff portion Sil may lbe any desired length and the plain knit leg courses 32 may also be any desired length or they may be omitted and the cuff 30 would movable needles and a pair of knitting stations, however,l

it is to be understood that the sock could also be knit on other types of knitting machines which are normally adapted to knit plain fabric. As shown in FIGURE 2, this portion of the fabric of the cuff 30 includes courses C-lil through C-l and wales W-Zt) through W-@ and stitch loops are not formed in the wales W-23 and We27 of the cuff 3ft. A portion of the fabric of the leg courses 32 is shown in courses C-lS and C-19 in which stitch loops are formed in every wale.

In the cuff 30, the courses C-ltl and C-14 are formed of a pair of body yarns 40a and 40h which are knit in plated relationship with each other to form stitch loops in all of the wales except W-ZS and W-Z'l'. The course C-lZ is formed of both body yarns to form stitch loops in all of the wales except wales JV-23, W-ZS and W-27. In the formation of course C-ld, the yarns 49a and 46h are separated and a stitch loop is formed in Wales W-23 and W-2'7 of the yarn 40a and these stitch loops are joined to the stitch loops of the first course C-l of the leg courses 32. As the stitch loops are formed of 4the yarn 40a, the yarn 4011 oats across the wales W-23 and W-Z and this separation of the body yarns 40a and 40h prevents the formation of eyelets or openings in the fabric, in a manner to be later described. The intervening courses C-ll, C-l3, C45 and C-l7 of the cuff 30 are knit of a strand of stretchable or elastic yarn 4l.

As shown in FIGURE 2, the alternate ribs 36 are formed by hold or draw stitch loops, as shown in Wale W-Z which extend over four courses while the intervening ribs 37 are formed by hold or draw stitch loops, as shown in wales W-Zl and Vif-29, which extend over two courses. While the body yarn stitch loops in wales W-Ztl, W-22, W-Zi, W-Zo, W-ZS and W-Stl of the cuff 30 are shown as being of substantially the same size as the normal size stitch loops of the leg courses 32, it is preferred that they be somewhat larger in order to allow the cuff 30 to stretch and to give the cuff a more bulky knit appearance. The stretchable yarn stitch loops of the cud courses contract when the fabric is relaxed so that the body yarn stitch loops in alternate courses appear to be connected together. It will be noted that the stretchable yarn 41 forms stitch loops in wales W-Z, W-22, JV-24, 'lV-26, Vif-28 and W-Stl While it is floated behind the long draw stitch loops in Wale W-ZS and the medium draw stitch loops in wales W-Zl and 'yV-29 and it also oats across wales W-23 and W-Zl.

The body yarns 40a and 10b are floated behind the long draw stitch loops in wale W-ZS and in courses C-ll; and C-16. It is to be understood that the fragmentary portion of the fabric shown in FGURE 2 is repeated completely around the cuff 3d and may be repeated coursewise as many times as desired to form any desired length of cud 30. For example, one repeat of the fabric of the cuff 30 includes the stitch loops found in the six wales W-Zl, W41, W-ZZ and W-Zt, W-ZS, JV-26 of the four courses C40, C-ll, C-12 and C-l3.

When the fabric shown in FIGURE 2 is knit on a circular knitting machine, the long draw stitch loops of the ribs 36 are formed by holding the body yarn stitch loops on certain of the needles for a plurality of courses before again knitting on these needles. As shown in FIGURE 2, draw stitch loops are formed of the body yarns in courses C-lil and C-li of Wale JV-25 to thereby form long stitch loops in ribs 36 which extend over four courses. While the long body yarn draw stitches are formed on the needle which knits the Wale W-ZS, the needles which form the adjacent wales W-Zf and W-Zo, form normal body yarn stitch loops in alternate courses C40, C-12, (2-14 and C-ld and these needles form normal stretchable yarn stitch loops in intervening courses C-ll, C-lS, C45 and fl-17.

The medium draw stitch loops of the ribs 3'7 are formed in wales W-2l and W-Zi (FIGURE 2) by holding the body yarn stitch loops on these needles while the stretchable yarn courses are being knit. The needles vwhich form the body yarn stitch loops in the Wales adjacent the Wales W-2l and Vil-29 knit in each course and alternately form normal stitch loops of the body yarns and the stretchable yarns. Thus, in the fabric forming the cuhL 349, as illustrated in FIGURE 2, in certain spaced courses the pair of body yarns 40a and dtlb are knit by every active needle, such as in courses C-ll and C-ld, while in other courses, such as course C-lZ, the body yarns #lila and tb are knit by certain active needles and are not knit by other needles, such as the needle in wale ift/25. During the knitting of the cuff 30, the needles corresponding to the wales Vil-23 and W-27 are never active so that both yarns merely float across these wales. The stretchable yarn 41 is knit by certain active needles in every intervening course and is not knit by the active needles which form the wales W-Zl, W-ZS and JV-29.

Since no stitch loops are formed in the wales W-ZS and W-2'7 during the knitting of the cu portion 3l? and then stitch loops are formed in these wales during the knitting of the foot portion 3i, the cuff portion 3! has a lesser number of knit wales than the foot portion 3d.. In order to prevent the formation of openings or eyelets when the new wales are added in the foot portion 31, the yarns 40a and 40h are separated during the knitting of the penultimate course C-lo of the cud portion 30 and the yarn 40a forms a stitch loop in wales Vif-23 and V27-27 while the yarn lflb floats across these wales. In the knitting of the next or juncture course C-l, the stretchable yarn di forms stitch loops in the wales adjacent opposite sides of the Wales W-23 and W-27 and floats across these wales IV-23 and VV-2.7. The stitch loops formed of the body yarn 46a in wales W-Z and W-Z tie together the courses C-ld and C-lS While the floats of the stretchable yarn 4l in the wales W-25 and W-Z of course C-17 pull together the stitch loops of adjacent wales. Thus, the stitch loops of the body yarn 40a and the floats of the stretchable yarn 41 prevent eyelets or d openings from being formed/in the fabric at the juncture of the cuff 30 and the foot 31.

While the sock S may be knit on several different types of machines, it is preferred that the sock S be knit on a circular independent needle knitting machine having a pair of knitting stations and the method of knitting the fabric on this type of machine will be described. A satisfactory bobby sock has been knit on this type of circular machine having a total of 88 needles in the cylinder with 66 of the needles being active during the knitting of the cuff 39 and all 88 needles being active during the knitting of the foot portion 31. In the knitting of' the cuff portion 30, it is preferred that the needles be active in what may be termed a three-by-one arrangement wherein three consecutive needles are active and single needles between the groups of active needles remain inactive during the knitting of the cuff 30. It is preferred that the body yarns lilla and 4Gb be fed at what may be termed the main feeding and knitting station and the stretchable yarn 41 be fed at what may be termed the auxiliary feeding and knitting station. Also, the yarns da and Mib should be fed at different levels to facilitate separating the saine during the last course of the cuff and just prior to starting the knitting of the foot portion 3l on all of the needles.

The sock S is preferably knit from the top of the curi 3S to the toe pocket 3d and any desired type of make-up or selvage may be formed to start knitting of the cuff portion 3d. All of the courses of the upper portion of the cuff fail are repeats of courses C-lll through C-l and, therefore, the knitting of these four courses will be described.

in knitting the course C-lt), both body yarns 4de and are fed to all of the active needles at the main feeding station and then all of these needles immediately forni stitch loops of both yarns in plated relationship at the main knitting station. As the needle cylinder revolves, the needles in wales 2V-2d, W-ZZ, W-24, W-Zd, d -Ztl and lV-Sii are raised at the auxiliary knitting station to a sud ient level to clear the stitches below the latches thereof and take theptretchable yarn 41 in their hooks. Then, the needles are lowered to stitch drawing level to form normal stitch loops in wales W-Ztl, W-22, 7J-,'54, iN-26, W-2S and W-Eell of course C-ll. The needles in Wales W-Zl, iV-23, W-ES, W-Zl and W-29 are not raised high enough at the auxiliary knitting station to receive the stretchable yarn di and this yarn is floated across the Wales W-25 and W-27 and behind the body yarn draw stitch loops in wales W-21, W-' and t/ 29. The stretchable yarn di is knit in partially stretched condition and when vthe fabric is relaxed, it is drawn in both coursewise and walewise directions. This contraction of the fabric causes the znock ribs to appear on the outer face of the fabric.

With continued rotation of the needle cylinder, the needles form body yarn stitch loops at the main knitting station in wales W-Zti, W-21, W-ZZ, W-24, W-26, W-Zi, W-ZS? and .l/343 of course C-12. Then, the needles form stretchable yarn stitch loops at the auxiliary knitting station in wales W-Ztl, W-21, W-22, W- 24, W-26, W-Z, W-29 and W-30 of course C13.

The courses C id, C-i, C-16 and C-17 are formed in the same manner as the corresponding courses C-lll, C-ll, C-l?, and C-l, however, during the knitting of course 16, the needles in wales W-23 and W-27 are brought into action. The needles in wales W-23 and W-27 are rst brought into action at the main knitting station and they are raised high enough to take and knit only the body yarn 40a, the body yarn 4Gb being fed at a higher elevation than the yarn 40a. The body yarn All!) thus floats across the wales W-23 and W-27 in course C-l and the needles in these Wales W43 and W-2'7 do not knit at the auxiliary knitting station when the course C-l? is formed. Then, all of the needles are raised to take both body yarns 40a and 4011 at the rnain knitting station to form the course C-IS.

The courses C-IS and C-19 and the remaining courses of the foot portion 31 are formed at the main knitting station by feeding both of the body yarns 46a and 40h to all 88 neeedles, however, they may be formed by feeding a single strand of yarn to the needles, if desired. Also, it may be desirable to continue to feed the stretchable yarn to alternate needles at the auxiliary knitting station while feeding the body yarn to all of the needles` at the main knitting station for a few courses after completing the course C-17. Any desired type of stretchable or non-stretchable body yarn may be used and, if it is desirable to have the sock to t a wide range of foot sizes, the plain stitches in the foot courses may be formed of stretchable yarns or combinations of stretchable and non-stretchable yarns.

The modified form of sock shown in FIGURE 3 and the fabric shown in FIGURE 4 are very similar to the corresponding sock and fabric shown in FIGURES l and 2 and, therefore, the parts of the sock and fabric shown in FIGURES 3 and 4 which correspond to similar parts of the sock and fabric shown in FIGURES l and 2 will bear the same reference characters with the prime notation added. Comparing FIGURES l and 3, it will be noted that the cui 30 has vertically extending alternating mock ribs 36 which are formed of abnormally long draw stitches and intervening mock ribs 37 which are formed of medium length draw stitches While all of the mock ribs 36" of the cuff Sil are formed of abnormally long draw stitches. The difference in stitch structure is more apparent when comparing the fabrics shown in FIGURES 2 and 4. In these iigures, it is clear that the main difference lies in the fact that in FIGURE 4 the abnormally long draw stitch loops, which extend over four courses, are positioned in every mock rib 36', such as the Wales W-ZI, `W-LS and W-Z'. On the other hand, in FIGURE 2, mock ribs 36 which are formed of the abnormally long draw stitches, which extend over four courses, alternate with the mock ribs 37 which are formed of the medium length draw stitches, which extend over two courses. In both forms of socks and fabrics, a heavy gauge cui is knit integral with a ne gauge foot portion and any objectionable eyelets or openings are prevented at the iuncture of the cuit portions and the foot portions in the same manner. Referring particularly to FIGURE 4, it will be noted that the cuit fabric 30' includes spaced courses C-Itl and C-le which contain stitch loops formed or" body yarns 40a' and 49h knit in plated relationship in every active Wale and courses C-IZ and C-16 in which the body yarns are knit in selected wales, such as the wales W-Z), JV-22, W424i', W-Z, W-ZS and JV-36. The abnormally long draw stitches, which extend over four courses, to form the mock ribs 35' are positioned in wales W-Z, W-ZS and VV-29. It will also be noted that intervening courses C-II, C43, C-IS and C-I are formed of stretchable yarn 41 which is knit in selected wales, such as wales W-i?, W-ZZ, 7V-24, W-26, W-ZS and W-Sti. In the course C-14, the abnormally long draw stitches in wales W-Zl, W-25 and W-Z9 are connected to stitches in these wales of the lirst course C-ld of the foot portion 3l. Also, in the course C id, the two body yarns 40a' and 4Gb are separated in wales W-23 and W-27 and the yarn 40u' forms stitch loops which are connected to stitch loops in these wales of course C-IS.

The knitting of the sock and fabric shown in FIG- URES 3 and 4 will be described as it would be knit on a circular knitting machine having a total of 88 needles. Buring the knitting of the cuff portion 3G only 66 of the needles will be active and all 88 of the needles will be active during the knitting of the foot portion 3l. The circular knitting machine is provided with two spaced apart yarn feeding and knitting stations and the body yarns 40a' and 4Gb are fed at the main knitting station I are not raised high enough at the main knitting station to take and knit the body yarns.

During the knitting of course C-16, the body yarns 40a' and 4% are separated and the needles in wales W-23 and VV-27 are raised high enough to take and knit only the yarn 40a'. The single yarn stitch loops formed of the yarn 40a are connected to stitch loops formed of the body yarn in the course C-18, which is knit on all ot the needles at the main knitting station while the body yarn 40h is floated across ,the wales W42?, and JV-27. The courses C-ll, C-IS, C-IS and C-17 are formed or" the stretchable yarn 4I at the auxiliary knitting station by forming stitch loops on the needles in wales W-Ztl, W-22, W-24, W-26, W-Zt and W-30.

In both forms of socks shown, a relatively heavy gauge or coarse mock rib cuif is knit integrally with a line gauge plain foot portion and the cuit has an attractive ornamental and bulky appearance while the line gauge foot provides comfort to the wearer. Also, no objectionable holes or eyelets are formed when the additional wales are added at the beginning of the fine gauge fabric of the foot portion. Y

The socks shown in both forms of the invention have the elongated draw stitches in spaced apart wales in what may be termed a two-by-one arrangement of the active needles knitting the cuff, however, it is to be understood that the spacing between the wales containing elongated draw stitches may be varied in any suitable manner. It desired, the knitting of the stretchable yarn in every other course and in alternate wales may be continued for several courses below the course Clt). Also, any suitable type of make-up or selvage may be knit to start the knitting of the culf and, in the present instance, several courses, preferably four courses, are knit before knitting the courses of the cui which contain the elongated stitches.

In the drawings and specification, there have been set forth preferred embodiments of the invention and, although specic terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being defined in the claims.

I claim:

1. A plain knit article of hosiery comprising (a) a fine gauge foot portion having a plurality of courses each having a predetermined number of wales, and

(b) a heavy gauge mock rib cuif portion joined to said foot portion and including v (l) a plurality of courses having a lesser number of wales than the number of wales in the courses of said foot portion,

(2) the wales ot said cutf portion being alined with selected wales of said foot portion and the non-selected wales of said foot portion being out of alinement with the wales of said cuit portion,

(3) alternating single courses of said cuil portion being knit of body yarn,

(4) certain of said alternating single courses having normal stitch loops in certain wales and elongated draw stitch loops in other wales, and

(5) intervening single courses of said cuff portion being knit of a stretchable yarn and having normal stitch loops in said certain Wales and floats extending across said other wales. 2. A plain knit article of hosiery comprising (a) a ne gauge foot portion having a plurality of courses each having a predetermined number ot Wales, and (b) a heavy gauge rnock rib cuil portion joined to said foot portion and including (l) a plurality of courses having a lesser number of Wales than the number of Wales in the courses of said foot portion,

(2) the Wales of said culir portion being alined with selected Wales of said foot portion and the non-selected Wales of said foot portion being out of alinement with the wales of said cuff portion,

(3) alternating single courses of said cuff portion being knit of body yarn,

(4) certain of said alternating single courses having normal stitch loops in certain wales and elongated draw stitch loops in other wales,

(5) intervening single courses of said cuit portion eing lciit of a stretchable yarn and having normal stitch loops in said certain wales and` iloats extending across said other Wales,

(6) the normal stitch loops or" the last of said intervening courses being interknit with stitch loops in the corresponding Wales of the irst course of said foot portion, and

(7) the elongated draw stitch loops of the last of said certain alternating single courses being interknit with stitch loops in the corresponding Wales of the iirst course of said foot portion.

3. A plain knit article of hosiery comprising (a) a tine gauge foot portion having `a plurality of courses each having a predetermined number of Wales, and

(b) a heavy gauge mock rib cud portion joined to said foot portion and including (l) repeated groups of courses wherein each course of each group has a lesser number of wales than the number of wales in the course of said foot portion,

(2) the Wales of said cut portion being dined with selected wales of said foot portion and the non-selected Wales of said foot portion being out of alinernent with the Wales of said cuil portion,

(3) alternating single courses of said cuff portion being knit of body ya rn,

(4) intervening single courses of said cuit portion being knit of a stretchable yarn and having normal stitch loops in certain Wales and oats extending across other Wales,

(5) normal stitch loops of said body yarn being formed in said certain wales and elongated draw stitch loops of said body yarn being formed in said other Wales, and

(6) the last elongated draw stitch loops of the last repeat being interknit with stitch loops in the corresponding Wales of the first course of said foot portion` 4. A plain knit article of hosiery comprising (a) a tine gauge toot portion having a plurality of courses each having a predetermined number of Wales, and

(b) a heavy gauge mock rib cuil portion joined to said foot portion and including (l) repeated groups of courses wherein each course of each group has a` lesser number of Wales than the number of wales in the courses of said foot portion,

(2) the wales of said cuff portion being aiined with selected Wales of said foot portion and the nonselected Wales of said foot portion being out of alinement with the Wales of said cuff portion,

(3) alternating single courses of said cuil portion being knit of body yarn,

(4) intervening single courses of said cuff portion being knit of a stretchable yarn and having normal stitch loops in certain Wales and oats extending across other Wales,

(5) normal stitch loops of said body yarn being formed in said certain wales, a single elongated draw stitch loop of said body yarn being formed in alternate ones of said other wales in each repeat and a pair of elongated draw stitch loops of said body yarn being formed in intervening ones of said other Wales in each repeat, and

(6) the last elongated draw stitch loops of the last repeat being interknit with stitch loops in the corresponding Wales of the first course of said foot portion.

5 A plain knit article of hosiery comprising (a) a tine gauge foot portion having a plurality of courses each having a predetermined number of wales, and

(b) a heavy gauge mock rib cuff portion joined to said foot portion and including (l) repeated groups of courses wherein each course of each group has a lesser number of wales than the number of Wales in the courses of said foot portion,

(2) the Wales of said cuit portion being alined with selected Wales of said foot portion and the non-selected wales of said foot portion being out of alinernent with lthe Wales of said cuil portion, Y

(3) alternating single courses of said cuff portion being knit of body yarn,

(4) intervening single courses of said cuil portion being knit'of a stretchable yarn and having normal stitch loops in certain Wales and floats extending across other Wales,

(5) normal stitch loops of said body yarn being formed in said certain wales and a single elongated dravv stitch loop of said body yarn being formed in each of said other Wales in each repeat, and

(6) the last elongated draw stitch loops of the last repeat being interknit with stitch loops in the corresponding wales of the tirst course of said foot portion. 6. A plain knit article of hosiery comprising (a) a Iine gauge foot portion having a plurality of courses each having a predetermined number of wales, and Y t (b) a heavy gauge mock rib cufrp portion joined to said oot portion and including (1) repeated groups of four successive courses wherein each course of each group has a lesser number of Wales than the number of wales in the courses of said foot portion,

(2) the Wales of said cuff portion being alined with selected Wales of said foot portion and the non-selected Wales of said foot portion being out of -alinement With the Wales of said cuff portion,

(3) alternating single courses of said cuit portion being knit of body yarn,

' (4) intervening single courses of said cull portion being knit of a stretchable yarn and having normal stitch loops in certain Wales and oats extending across other Wales,

(6) the last elongated draw stitch loops of the last g repeat being interknit with stitch loops in the corresponding Wales of the rst course of said foot portion, 7. A plain knit article of hosiery comprising (a) a line gauge foot portion having a plurality of courses each having a predetermined number of wales, and (b) a heavy gauge mock rib culi: portion joined to said yfoot portion and including (l) repeated groups of four successive courses wherein each course of each group has a lesser number of wales than the number of wales in the courses of said foot portion,

(2) the wales of said cuil portion being alined with selected wales of said foot portion and the nonseleoted wales of said foot portion being out of alinement with the wales of said cui portion,

(3) alternating single courses being knit of body Yam,

(4) intervening single courses being knit of a stretchable yarn and having normal stitch loops in certain wales and floats extending across other wales,

(5) normal stitch loops of said body yarn being formed in said certain Wales, a single elongated draw stitch loop of said body yarn being `formed in alternate ones of said other wales in each repeat, and a pair of elongated draw stitch loops of said body yarn being formed in intervening ones of said other wales in each repeat, and

8. A plain knit article of hosiery comprising (a) a iine gauge foot portion having a plurality of courses each having a predetermined number of wales, and

(b) a heavy gauge mock rib cuft` portion joined to said foot portion and including (l) repeated groups of four successive courses wherein each course of each group has a lesser number of Wales than the number of wales in the courses of said foot portion,

(2) the wales of said culi portion being alined with selected wales of said foot portion and the nonselected Wales of said foot portion being out of alinement with the Wales of said cui portion,

(3) alternating single courses being knit of body yarn,

(4) interventing single courses being knit of a stretchable yarn and having normal stitch loops in certain Wales and iioats extending across other Wales,

(5) normal stitch loops of said body yarn being formed in said certain wales, a single elongated draw stitch loop of said body yarn being formed in each of said other wales in each repeat, and

(6) the last elongated draw stitch loops or the last repeat being interknit with stitch loops in the corresponding wales of the first course of said foot portion.

9. A seamless plain knit article of hosiery comprising (a) a ine gauge foot portion having a plurality of courses each having a predetermined number of wales, and

(b) a heavy gauge mock rib cutf portion joined to said foot portion and including (l) a plurality of courses having a lesser number of wales than the number of wales in the courses of said foot portion,

(2) the wales of said cuff portion being alined with selected wales of said foot portion and the non-selected wales of said foot portion being out of alinement with the wales of said cui portion,

(3) alternating single courses of said cuic portion being knit of body yarns,

(5) intervening single courses of said cutf portion being knit of a stretchable yarn and having normal stitch loops in said certain wales and oats extending across other Wales,

(6) the normal stitch loops of the last of said intervening courses being interknit with stitch loops in the corresponding Wales of the irst course of said foot portion,

(7) the stitch loops in at least the last of said alternating single courses being knit of a pair of body yarns knit in plated relationship, and

(8) said pair of body yarns of said last alternat? ing single courses being separated between certain adjacent Wales of said cutf portion and one of said body yarns being connected to the irst stitch loop in the non-selected wales of said foot portion, the other body yarn being oatedbe-' tween said certain adjacent Wales. l0. A seamless plain knit article Vof hosiery comprising (a) a fine gauge foot portion having a plurality of y courses each having a predetermined number of wales, and

(b) a heavy gauge mockrib cuff portion joined to said l out of alinement with the Wales of said cuit portion, (3) alternating single courses of said culi? portion being knit of a pair of body yarns knit in plated relationship,

(5) intervening single courses of said cuff portion being knit of a stretchable yarn and having normal stitch loops in said certain wales and iloats extending across said other wales,

(6) the normal stitch loops of the last of said intervening courses being interknit with stitch loops in the corresponding wales of the first course of said foot portion, and

(7) said pair of body yarns of the last of said alternating single courses being separated between certain adjacent wales of said cuff portion and one of said body yarns being connected to the first stitch loop in the non-selected wales Y of said foot portion, the other body yarn being floated between said certain adjacent wales. 11. A seamless plain knit article of hosiery comprising (o) a I'ine gauge foot portion having a plurality of courses each having a predetermined number of wales, and (b) a heavy gauge mock rib cutf portion joined to said foot portion and having a lesser number of wales than the number of Wales in the courses of said foot portion,

(l) the wales of said cuff portion being alined with selected wales of said foot portion and the non-selected wales of said foot portion being out of alinement with the wales of said cuff portion,

(2) said culi? portion having a stretchable yarn incorporated in spaced wales to draw the cul fabric together coursewise and form the mock ribs therein,

(3) a course of said cuir" portion adjacent said lt il foot portion being knit of apair of body yarns knit in plated relationship in the wales which are alined with the selected wales ot said foot portion, and

(4) said pair of body yarns of said adjacent course being separated between certain adjacent Waies and one of said body yarns being connected to the Jfirst stitch loop in the non-selected wales of said foot portion, the other body yarn being floated between said certain adjacent wales.

i2. A seamless plain knit article of hosiery comprising (n) 4a ne gauge foot portion having a plurality of courses each having a predetermined number of wales, and

(b) a heavy gauge mock rib enti portion joined to said foot portion and having a lesser number of wales than the number of wales in the courses of said foot portion,

(1) the wales of said sufi portion being alined with selected wales of said foot portion and the non-selected wales of said toot portion being out of alinement with the wales of said cuff portion,

(2) aiternating single Courses of said-culi portion being knit of a body yarn,

(3) intervening singie courses being formed ot" a stretchable yarn knit in spaced Wales to draw the culic fabric together' coursewise and form the i2 (cz) repeated groups of four successive courses wherein each course of each group has a predetermined number of Wales and including (l) alternating single courses knit of body yarn, (2) intervening single courses knit of stretchable yarn, (3) certain adjacent wales of each course being formed of normal stitch loops, and (4) single wales positioned between said certain adjacent Wales having a siugie elongated body yarn draw stitch therein with body yarn and stretchable yarn floats extending therebehind. 14. A stretchable mock` rib stocking cuit comprising (a) repeated groups of four successive courses each having a predetermined number of wales and including (1) alternating single courses knit of body yarn,

(2) intervening single courses knit of stretchable yarn,

(3) certain adjacent wales of each course being formed of normal stitch loops,

(4) certain single Wales positioned between said certain adjacent wales having a single elongated body yarn draw stitch therein with body yarn and stretchable yarn oats extending therebehind, and

(5) other single wales positioned between others of said certain adjacent wales having a pair of elongated body yarn draw stitches therein.

References Sited in the iileof this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 24,384 Elder et al. Oct. 29, 1957 9 264,349 Shelton Sept. 12, 1882 1,564,790 l-iinchliilLV Dec. 8, 1925 1,992,899 Lawson et al. Feb. 26, 1935 2,090,176 Katzenrnoyer May 7, 1935 2,357,506 Davis sept. 5, 1944 40 2,359,774 Cloutier Feb. 20, 1945 2,799,151 Elder et al. July 16, 1957

Claims

13. A STRETCHABLE MOCK RIB STOCKING CUFF COMPRISING (A) REPEATED GROUPS OF FOUR SUCCESSIVE COURSES WHEREIN EACH COURSE OF EACH GROUP HAS A PREDETERMINED NUMBER OF WALES AND INCLUDING (1) ALTERNATING SINGLE COURSES KNIT OF BODY YARN, (2) INTERVENING SINGLE COURSES KNIT OF STRETCHABLE YARN, (3) CERTAIN ADJACENT WALES OF EACH COURSE BEING FORMED OF NORMAL STITCH LOOPS, AND (4) SINGLE WALES POSITIONED BETWEEN SAID CERTAIN ADJACENT WALES HAVING A SINGLE ELONGATED BODY YARN DRAW STITCH THEREIN WITH BODY YARN AND STRETCHABLE YARN FLOATS EXTENDING THEREBEHIND.

14. A STRETCHABLE MOCK RIB STOCKING CUFF COMPRISING (A) REPEATED GROUPS OF FOUR SUCCESSIVE COURSES EACH HAVING A PREDETERMINED NUMBER OF WALES AND INCLUDING (1) ALTERNATING SINGLE COURSES KNIT OF BODY YARN, (2) INTERVENING SINGLE COURSES KNIT OF STRETCHABLE YARN, (3) CERTAIN ADJACENT WALES OF EACH COURSE BEING FORMED OF NORMAL STITCH LOOPS, (4) CERTAIN SINGLE WALES POSITIONED BETWEEN SAID CERTAIN ADJACENT WALES HAVING A SINGLE ELONGATED BODY YARN DRAW STITCH THEREIN WITH BODY YARN AND STRETCHABLE YARN FLOATS EXTENDING THEREBEHIND, AND (5) OTHER SINGLE WALES POSITIONED BETWEEN OTHERS OF SAID CERTAIN ADJACENT WALES HAVING A PAIR OF ELONGATED BODY YARN DRAW STICHES THEREIN.