US3208241A - Run-stop for hosiery - Google Patents

Description

p 1965 M. M. FREDERICK RUN-STOP FOR HOSIERY Filed May 1, 1962 United States Patent 3,208,241 RUN-8T0? FOR HOSIERY Mahlon M. Frederick, Souderton, Pa., assignor to Van Raalte Company, Inc, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed May 1, 1962, Ser. No. 193,055 3 Claims. (Cl. 66-172) This invention relates to hosiery .and more particularly to the toe portion threof, and is a continuation-in-part of application Serial No. 854,868, filed November 23, 1959, now abandoned.

It is customary to knit so-called seamless stockings on plain knitting machines, such as shown in US. Patent 1,- 282,958, whereon the stocking is knitted in a continuous operation. Such machines are automatic and, through a system of prearranged cams, levers and latches, knits the stocking from the reinforced Welt at the top to the loops and waste at the toe in a continuous operation. After it is completed, the stocking is removed from the machine and positioned on a looper where the waste is trimmed and the loops are sewed together to close the toe portion, completing the stocking.

In the knitting operation of the machine, the welt, leg and foot portions are knitted by a rotary operation of the knitting cylinder and the heel and toe portions are knitted by a reciprocating operation of the cylinder.

Thus, in the welt, leg and foot portions the knitted courses extend circumferentially around the stocking, while, in the reinforced heel and toe portions, the courses extend only partially around the stocking.

Most hosiery, especially womens hosiery to which the instant invention particularly relates, are outer Wearing apparel and, hence, appearance is of primary importance. Considerable effort, therefore, has been directed toward making hosiery attractive and, at the same time, serviceable. Appearance and serviceability have been attained by knitting the leg and foot portions with a relatively fine thread to form a sheer fabric in the leg and foot and by knitting a heavier thread in the heel and toe portions to reinforce such areas where the stocking is normally subject to greatest Wear. These reinforced areas are usually knitted from the heavier thread during reciprocal operation of the knitting drum and are knitted in such a fashion as not to detract from the over-all appearance of the hose particularly in those areas where the stocking will not be covered by the shoe.

With the use of low cut and open toed shoes the appearance of the reinforced toe portion of hosiery has become of significant importance. One of the steps which has been followed to improve the appearance of womens hose when worn with low cut shoes has been to decrease the extent of the reinforced area, especially on the top of the foot where the hose may be exposed by the shoe. In such hose, the reinforced area on the top of the hose is usually substantially less than the reinforced area on the bottom or sole of the toe and such reinforced toe, for purposes of this application, is referred to as a demitoe.

While the use of reinforced areas of heavier thread have been effective, to a large extent, in improving the serviceability of womens hose, it does not prevent runs, which emanate from cuts, snags, or the like in the toe, from progressing longitudinally, upward into the foot and [leg portions. Recently, it has been proposed to add a course of tucked and floated stitches between the foot and reinforced toe portion to intercept runs emanating from cuts and snags in the reinforced toe portion and prevent such runs from progressing into the foot and leg portions. Such tucked and floated courses have been formed as a band extending circumferentially around the toe, between the toe and foot portions, and have been found to be only partially effective in intercepting runs. In addition, such tucked and floated stitches extend in a band in a straight line across the top of the foot portion tending to detract from the appearance of the stocking, particularly when worn with a shoe low cut across the toe.

A principal object of this invention is to knit into hose, between the foot and toe portions, an effective barrier to prevent runs emanating in the toe portion from progressing upward into the foot and 'leg portion.

A further object is to provide such a barrier which will not detract from the appearance of the hose.

A still further object is to knit such a barrier into the hose during knitting in such a fashion that the barrier can be easily concealed 'by a shoe.

These and other objects will be apparent from the detailed description of an embodiment of the invention and the illustrations of the attached drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a stocking having a run resisting band between the foot and toe portions thereof according to the instant invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view diagrammatically illustrating the stitch pattern in the run resisting band of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the toe portion of the stocking of FIG. 1, as viewed from the side of the stocking, showing diagrammatically the pattern of the knitted course in the toe.

Referring now to the drawings, in FIG. 1 there is shown a stocking, generally designated 2, having a welt 4, a leg portion 6, a reinforced heel portion 8, a foot portion 10 and a toe portion 12. Between the foot por- :tion 10 and toe portion 12 is provided a band of courses 14 formed in accordance with the teaching of the invention, which, for purposes of descripiton will be referred to as a run-stop.

The stocking 2 is knitted on a circular knitting machine, such as that shown in U.S. Patent 1,232,958, the welt 4, leg 6, foot 10 and band 14 being knitted by con tinuous circular rotation of the knitting cylinder and the heel 8 and toe 12 being knitted by reciprocating! oscillations of the cylinder. When the exception of the band or run-stop 14, the stocking 2 may be knitted in any manner either from a single or plurality of threads, may include a knitted design pattern, if desired, and may include reinforcing thread at the welt, heel and toe.

As best shown in enlarged view in FIG. 2, run-stop 14 consists in a plurality of courses of alternately arranged knitted and tucked stitches, the knitted and tucked pattern, as shown in FIG. 2, being repeated around the stocking. The run-stop is, preferably, knitted with a heavier reinforcing yarn of the type conventionally used in the reinforced heel and toe portions and, in addition, also includes a second yarn which is knitted and floated into the run-stop.

Referring now to FIG. 2, there is shown an enlarged view illustrating the stitch pattern of the run-stop of the invention. For purposes of illustration the wales, extending longitudinally of the hose, have been designated alphabetically, a, b, c, and d and the courses, extending circumferentially, have been designated numerically, 20 through 41. While only four wales are illustrated, it is to be understood the stocking contains more than four wales, the four wales illustrated forming a pattern which is repeated around the stocking.

As aforestated, conventionally, stockings are knitted from top to bottom, that is, the first portion knitted is the welt and the last portion knitted is the toe. Hence, with respect to the FIG. 2, the first course knitted in the run-stop is 21, the courses being then progressively knitted, the last course knitted in the run-stop being 41.

As shown in FIG. 2, 20 is the last course of the foot portion to be knitted before the run-stop, 20 being knitted at each Wale, a, b, c, and d, and circumferentially around the foot, usually from the more sheer yarn employed in the leg. After the knitting cylinder has completed its revolution in knitting this course, it commences knitting the run-stop using the same yarn as used in the leg and foot and, in addition, a second, or float yarn of a weight slightly more than the main yarn is also added. In course designated 21, the first course of the run-stop, the stitches in the wales are knitted. In wales a and c of course 22, both the main yarn and the float yarn are knitted, while, in wales b and 03 one yarn is tucked and the other floated. Upon completion of course 22, the same pattern is continued through course 23 which includes alternately arranged knitted and tucked stitches,v

both yarns being knitted in the former and the main yarn tucked with the float yarn floated across the tucked stitch in the latter.

On completion of 23, the knitting cylinder continues into 24 with a change, however, in the knitting pattern. In walle a of 24, the main yarn is tucked and the float yarn floated, while, in wales b and d, both the main yarn and float yarn are knitted and in wale c both yarns are knitted. Thus, 24 consists in a tucked and floated stitch the circumferential extent of the course. 25 and 26 are identical, both courses containing a tucked and floated stitch in wales a and c and knitted stitches, which include both the main yarn and float-ed yarn, in wales b and d.

After completing 26, the knitting cylinder continues In wales a, b and c of 29 and 30, both the main yarn"- and float yarn are knitted and in Wale d the main yarn is tucked and the float yarn floated. In 31, all wales are knitted, both the main yarn and the float yarn being knitted, while in 32, in Wale a the main yarn is tucked and the float yarn floated and in wales b, c and d both the main yarn and float yarn are knitted. Both yarns are knitted in all wales of 33. In 34 and 35 both yarns are knitted in Wales a and c and the main yarn tucked and the float yarn floated in wales b and d. In 36, in

Wale a, the main yarn is tucked and the float yarn floated, while in wales a and c of both 37 and 38 the main yarn is tucked and the float yarn floated and in b and d both yarns are knitted. -In 39 and 41, both yarns are knitted in all courses, while in 40 both yarns are knitted in Wales a and c and the main yarn is tucked and the float yarn floated in wales b and d.

While the run-stop is knitted as a circumferential band between the foot and toe portions, as will be noted from FIG. 1, in the finished hose the run-stop is off-set at the top of the hose, the section of the run-stop on the top of the hose being closer to the toe end than the section on the bottom. This off-set relationship is accomplished by varying the length of the courses knitted in the reinforced toe portion during the reciprocating knitting of the reinforced toe.

After completing the last course of the run-stop, the knitting machine knits the reinforced toe portion. As aforestated, this portion is knitted by a reciprocating action of the knitting cylinder, the alternate courses being knitted as the cylinder moves clockwise and alternate courses being knitted as the cylinder moves counterclockwise. By selectively varying the number of stitches knitted in each course during reciprocating operation of the knitting cylinder, the toe portion or pocket is shaped 30 and three knitted stitches. This pattern is repeated for 4. in such fashion that the top or upper section of the circumferentially knitted run-stop is off-set forward on the hose to form the demi-toe.

As best shown in FIG. 3, the reciprocal operation of the knitting cylinder begins a preset number of needles knitting a continuous course of stitches, such course being designated x in FIG. 3. As each following course is knitted an additional needle is added to the opposite ends of the knitting cylinder in such manner that each course following course at contains two more stitches, one at each end, than does the course immediately preceding.

The addition of a stitch at the opposite ends of each progressively knitted course is continued until a sufficient number of courses, depending on the size of the hose, have been knitted. As knitting progresses beyond this point, a needle is removed from the knitting operation at either end of each progressively knitted course. For example, in course y, and in the courses which follow, a needle has been removed at the opposite end of the course during the knitting of this course and the courses which follow. Thus, course y, and the following courses, contain two stitches less, one at each end, than does the course immediately preceding. This knitting operation is continued to the end of the line 42 shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. In the courses knitted thereafter, the machine again adds one needle to the opposite end of each course on each progressively knitted course. Thus, the course designated 2 on FIG. 3 contains two stitches, one at each of its opposite ends, more than the course immediately preceding. The courses which follow course 2: each contain two more stitches, one stitch at each of its opposite ends. When the desired length has been attained, for example at course w of FIG. 3, the machine then knits one loose course of lengthened stitches or loops and then knits in a circular continuous rotation of the knitting cylinder to form the waste portion. When the hose is completed, it is removed from the machine and positioned on a looper where the waste portion is trimmed from the hose and the loops sewed to close the toe portion as shown at 16 in FIG. 3.

In addition to off-setting the run-stop to form the demitoe, it has been found that the selective increasing, then decreasing and, thereafter, increasing the length of the courses knitted by the reciprocating operation of the knitting cylinder in the reinforced toe portion provides a neat, even appearing fabric in the reinforced toe pocket. Thus, rather than a wide loose knitted appearing section or gusset between the courses extending across the top of the toe portion and the courses extending across the bottom, the ends of the courses are joined direct to each other in what, from the standpoint of appearance, is a single, relatively straight line 42 at either side of the reinforced toe portion.

The terms and expressions which have been employed are used as terms of description and not of limitation. and there is no intention, in the use of such terms and expressions, of excluding any equivalents of the features shown and described or portions thereof, but it is recognized that various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. A circularly knit stocking having wales extending longitudinally thereof, a leg, foot and toe portions, a section resistant to runs progressing in said wales, said section extending circumferentially around said stocking and including at least two yarns, said yarns being selectively knitted, tucked and floated in the Wales of said sections to form a band extending circumferentially around the foot portion of said stocking, the portion of said band at the top of said foot portion being off-set longitudinally with respect to the portion of said band at the bottom of said foot portion said band intermediate said off-set top and bottom portions extending substantially longitudinally of 5 said foot portion and substantially at right angle to said top and bottom portions.

2. In a circularly knit stocking as recited in claim 1, said section resistant to runs being intermediate said foot and toe portions.

3. A circularly knit stocking having Wales extending longitudinally thereof, a leg, foot and toe portions, a section resistant to runs intermediate said foot and toe portions and including at least two yarns selectively knitted, tucked and floated in the wales of said section, said band extending circumferentially around said foot portion, the portion of said band at the top of said foot portion being oif-set longitudinally with respect to the portion of said band at the bottom of said foot portion, said toe portion including courses extending partially around said stocking, the number of Wales in each of said courses in said toe portion progressively increasing, then decreasing and, therafter increasing, as said courses progress from the portion of said hand at the top of said foot portion to the portion of said band at the bottom of said foot portion.

References tCited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Black 66-187 Costello 66-172 Williams 66-187 Goodman 2-241 Quinn 66-172 Smetana 66-172 Hamilton 66-172 X Bellman 2.. 66-172 Tew 66-187 Reyn1es-Co1e 66-185 X Great Britain.

DONALD W. PARKER, Primary Examiner.

RUSSELL C. MADER, Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. A CIRCULARLY KNIT STOCKING HAVING WALES EXENDING LONGITUDINALLY THEREOF, A LEG FOOT AND TOE PORTIONS, A SECTION RESISTANT TO RUNS PROGRESSING IN SAID WALES, SAID SECTION EXTENDING CIRCUMFERENTIALLY AROUND SAID STOCKING AND INCLUDING AT LEAST TWO YARNS, SAID YARNS BEING SELECTIVELY KNITTED, TUCKED AND FLOATED IN THE WALES OF SAID SECTIONS TO FORM A BAND EXTENDING CIRCUMFERENTIALLY AROUND THE FOOT PORTION OF SAID STOCKING, THE PORTION OF SAID BAND

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