Patent Grant
9644292
This application is a 35 U.S.C. 371 National Phase Entry Application from PCT/JP2014/059172, filed Mar. 28, 2014, which claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Application No. JP2013-090653 filed on Apr. 23, 2013, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.
The present invention relates to a method for knitting a knitted fabric of forming a suppressing section for suppressing stretch in a knitting width direction of the knitted fabric in the middle of a wale direction of the knitted fabric.
When knitting a knitted fabric using a flat knitting machine, a suppressing section for suppressing the stretch in the knitting width direction of the knitted fabric is sometimes partially formed in the middle of the wale direction of the knitted fabric. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a method for knitting a knitted fabric that provides thickness to the knitted fabric and that suppresses the stretch in the knitting width direction of the knitted fabric by periodically repeating knit, tuck, and miss. A knitted fabric partially formed with the suppressing section can be knitted by forming the suppressing section using the method for knitting the knitted fabric described in Patent Document 1.
[Patent document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 4848370
However, the suppressing section knitted with the method for knitting the knitted fabric of Patent Document 1 is less likely to contract compared to a plain stitch section knitted with plain stitches, and is fixed in a state already spread in the knitting width direction at the time of knitting. Thus, the suppressing section may sometimes look loose.
The present invention has been made in light of the foregoing and an object of the present invention is to provide a method for knitting a knitted fabric, different from a conventional method, of forming a suppressing section for suppressing the stretch in the knitting width direction of the knitted fabric in the middle of the wale direction of the knitted fabric.
As a result of thoroughly reviewing the method for knitting the knitted fabric of forming a suppressing section in the middle of the wale direction of the knitted fabric, the inventors of the present invention conceived the idea of applying the bind-off process when forming the suppressing section. The bind-off process is a known knitting method (see e.g., Japanese Examined Patent Publication No. 7-65258) in which an overlapping of a stitch (first stitch) held on a needle bed and its adjacent stitch (second stitch) and a knitting of a stitch (retaining stitch) following in the wale direction of a double stitch including the first stitch and the second stitch are repeated. In the bind-off process, a plurality of proximate stitches are overlapped and fixed, and hence the stretch in the knitting width direction of the bind-off processed portion is suppressed. However, the bind-off process is normally not used in the middle of the wale direction of the knitted fabric. This is because the bind-off process is a process that prevents a terminating end in the wale direction of the knitted fabric from unraveling, and the knitted fabric is removed from the needle bed by carrying out the bind-off process. Thus, when applying the bind-off process, which is conventionally not used in the middle of the wale direction of the knitted fabric, to the middle of the wale direction of the knitted fabric, the inventors of the present invention conceived knitting a new base stitch that becomes a base branched from the bind-off processed portion and achieved the method for knitting the knitted fabric of the present invention. The method for knitting the knitted fabric of the present invention will be described below.
An aspect of the present invention relates to a method for knitting a knitted fabric of forming a suppressing section for suppressing stretch in a knitting width direction of the knitted fabric in the middle of a wale direction of the knitted fabric using a flat knitting machine including at least a pair of a front and a back needle bed and in which stitches are transferrable between the front and back needle beds. In the method for knitting the knitted fabric of the present invention, assuming one side in a longitudinal direction of the needle beds is a moving direction, the suppressing section is formed by repeating performing of a bind-off process, in which a first stitch held on one needle bed is overlapped with a second stitch that is proximate in the moving direction and a retaining stitch is knitted following in a wale direction of a double stitch of the first stitch and the second stitch, and forming of a new base stitch branched from at least one of the first stitch and the second stitch.
A known bind-off process can be used for the bind-off process in the present invention. A loop length of the stitches of the suppressing section is preferably made smaller than a loop length of the stitches of the portion other than the suppressing section. The stretch of the suppressing section thus can be effectively suppressed. Alternatively, the method for knitting the knitted fabric of the present invention may be applied to every few stitches lined in the knitting width direction. For example, the performing of the method for knitting the knitted fabric of the present invention on the odd-numbered stitches in the knitting width direction and the performing of the method for knitting the knitted fabric of the present invention on the even-numbered stitches may be alternately or sequentially carried out. In this case, the distance of moving the first stitch becomes long and the first stitch becomes a stretched state, and thus the stretch of the suppressing section can be further suppressed.
In order to branch the new base stitch from the first stitch (second stitch), the new base stitch is preferably knitted so that the first stitch (second stitch) and the new base stitch are in a directly connected state, or the split knitting is preferably carried out on the first stitch (second stitch). The split knitting is a known knitting method (see e.g., Japanese Patent Publication No. 2604653).
According to one aspect of the method for knitting the knitted fabric of the present invention, process α1 and process α2 may be repeated.
According to another aspect of the method for knitting the knitted fabric of the present invention, process β2 and process β3 may be repeated after process β1 is carried out.
Provided that, when repeating the process β2 and process β3, the retaining stitch in the nth process β3 is assumed as the first stitch in the n+1th process β2, and n+1th process β2 is carried out (n is a natural number greater than or equal to one).
According to another aspect of the method for knitting the knitted fabric of the present invention, processes γ1, γ2, and γ3 may be repeated.
Provided that, when repeating the processes γ1, γ2, and γ3, the retaining stitch in the nth process γ3 is assumed as the first stitch in the n+1th process γ1, and n+1th process γ1 is carried out (n is a natural number greater than or equal to one).
According to the method for knitting the knitted fabric of the present invention, the suppressing section is less likely to stretch since the bind-off process is used when forming the suppressing section. This is because in the bind-off process, the double stitch is formed by overlapping the first stitch and the second stitch that are proximate to each other, and hence the movement in the knitting width direction of the first stitch and the second stitch is restricted.
Furthermore, in the method for knitting the knitted fabric of the present invention, the bind-off process is carried out, and the new base stitch branched from one of the first stitch and the second stitch that are overlapped by the bind-off process is formed. That is, in place of the first stitch and the second stitch being removed from the needle bed by the bind-off process, the new base stitch branched from the first stitch or the second stitch is formed on the needle bed. Thus, the knitting of the knitted fabric can be continued with the new base stitch as a base.
Embodiments of the present invention will be hereinafter described based on the drawings. The knitting shown in the embodiments is all knitting examples using a two-bed flat knitting machine including at least a pair of a front and a back needle bed and in which stitches can be transferred between the front and back needle beds. The flat knitting machine used in the method for knitting the knitted fabric of the present invention is not, of course, limited to the two-bed flat knitting machine, and may be, for example, a four-bed flat knitting machine.
<First Embodiment>
In a first embodiment, a specific example of a method for knitting a knitted fabric of the present invention of knitting a suppressing section for suppressing stretch in a knitting width direction of the knitted fabric in the middle of a wale direction of the knitted fabric will be described based on a knitting process diagram of
<<Knitting Process>>
“Alphabet+number” in a left column in a knitting process diagram of
S0 shows a state in which stitches of a knitted fabric in the process of knitting are held on knitting needles B, D, F, H, J, and L of the FB. From this state, a suppressing section 4 (see S4) of suppressing stretch in a knitting width direction of the knitted fabric is knitted. First, a first stitch 11 that serves as a basis for starting the knitting of the suppressing section 4 is determined. In the present embodiment, the stitch held on the knitting needle B of the FB is assumed as the first stitch 11. Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the stitch held on the knitting needle D of the FB is assumed as a second stitch 12 to be overlapped with the first stitch 11 in the bind-off process, to be described later. The second stitch 12 is a stitch that is proximate to the first stitch 11 in the moving direction DR on the FB.
In S1, the first stitch 11 held on the knitting needle B of the FB is moved in the moving direction DR, and overlapped with the second stitch 12 held on the knitting needle D of the FB (corresponding to first process α1). The transfer of the stitch and the racking of the BB are used for the movement of the first stitch 11. According to S1, a double stitch 13 including the first stitch 11 and the second stitch 12 is formed on the knitting needle D of the FB.
In S2, knitting of a pickup stitch (new base stitch 14) on the knitting needle B of the FB and knitting of a retaining stitch 15 following in the wale direction of the double stitch 13 formed on the knitting needle D of the FB are continuously carried out (corresponding to first process α2). By continuously carrying out the forming of the new base stitch 14 and the knitting of the retaining stitch 15, a state in which the new base stitch is directly connected to the retaining stitch 15, that is, a state in which the new base stitch 14 is branched from the retaining stitch 15 is obtained. A stitch may be knitted continuously in the wale direction of the pickup stitch, and such stitch may be assumed as the new base stitch 14. In this case, a small mesh hole can be formed in the suppressing section 4.
In the next S3 and S4, knitting similar to S1 and S2 is repeated. In repeating such knitting, the retaining stitch 15 knitted with the knitting needle D of the FB in S2 is assumed as the first stitch 11. The stitch of the knitting needle F of the FB that is proximate to the first stitch 11 (retaining stitch 15) in the moving direction DR is assumed as the second stitch 12. Here, since the new base stitch 14 is branched from the retaining stitch 15 in S2 and the retaining stitch 15 is assumed as the new first stitch 11, the new base stitch 14 can be said as being branched from the first stitch 11.
In S3, the first stitch 11 held on the knitting needle D of the FB is moved in the moving direction DR, and overlapped with the second stitch 12 held on the knitting needle F of the FB (corresponding to second process α1). According to S3, the double stitch 13 including the first stitch 11 and the second stitch 12 is formed on the knitting needle F of the FB.
In S4, the forming of the pickup stitch (new base stitch 14) on the knitting needle D of the FB and the knitting of the retaining stitch 15 following in the wale direction of the double stitch 13 formed on the knitting needle F of the FB are continuously carried out (corresponding to second process α2).
As described above, the suppressing section 4 can be formed by carrying out the knitting of the new base stitch 14 once each time the bind-off process is carried out once (see S4). Furthermore, if the suppressing section 4 is to be extended in the moving direction DR, knitting similar to S3 and S4 may be carried out assuming the retaining stitch 15 of the knitting needle F of the FB as the first stitch 11 and the stitch of the knitting needle H of the FB as the second stitch 12, as shown in S4.
<<Effect>>
The suppressing section 4 knitted according to the knitting process of
The suppressing section 4 is formed when the new base stitch 14 branched from the first stitch 11 which is removed from the needle bed by the bind-off process is held on the needle bed in place of the first stitch 11. Since the knitting of the knitted fabric can be continued following the new base stitch 14, the suppressing section 4 can be formed in the middle of the wale direction of the knitted fabric although the bind-off process is being used.
The suppressing section 4 can be formed successively in the wale direction. In this case, the knitting process shown in
<Second Embodiment>
In a second embodiment, a method for knitting the knitted fabric of the present invention that uses split knitting when branching the new base stitch 14 from the portion to be bind-off processed in the suppressing section 4 will be described based on the knitting process diagram of
T0 shows a state in which the stitches of the knitted fabric in the process of knitting are held on the knitting needles B, D, F, H, J, and L of the FB. From this state, the suppressing section 4 (see T5) of suppressing the stretch in the knitting width direction of the knitted fabric is knitted. First, the first stitch 11 that serves as a basis for starting the knitting of the suppressing section 4 is determined. In the present embodiment, the stitch held on the knitting needle B of the FB is assumed as the first stitch 11. Furthermore, in the present embodiment, each of the stitches held on the knitting needles D, F, H, J, L of the FB lined in the moving direction DR with respect to the first stitch 11 is assumed as a moving side stitch 20. The number of stitches selected as the moving side stitch 20 determines the width of the suppressing section 4.
In T1, the split knitting is carried out continuously on the first stitch 11 of the knitting needle B of the FB and the moving side stitches 20 of the knitting needles D, F, H, J, and L of the FB (corresponding to process β1). The first stitch 11 and the moving side stitches 20 are respectively transferred to the knitting needle B of the BB and the knitting needles D, F, H, J, and L of the BB by the split knitting. The new base stitch 14 pulled out from the first stitch 11 is knitted on the knitting needle B of the FB and the new base stitch 14 pulled out from each moving side stitch 20 of the knitting needles D, F, H, J, L of the BB is knitted on the knitting needles D, F, H, J, L of the FB by the split knitting. The new base stitch 14 branched from the first stitch 11 is knitted by the split knitting of T1.
In T2, the first stitch 11 of the knitting needle B of the BB is moved in the moving direction DR and overlapped with the moving side stitch 20 (see T1) of the knitting needle D of the BB to form the double stitch 13 (corresponding to first process β2). The moving side stitch 20 of the knitting needle D in T1 is the second stitch 12 that is proximate to the first stitch 11 in the moving direction DR. The moving side stitch 20 (second stitch 12) of the knitting needle D of the BB is the stitch transferred from the FB to the BB by the split knitting of T1, and the new base stitch 14 of the knitting needle D of the FB is branched from the moving side stitch 20 (second stitch 12) as shown in T1.
In T3, the retaining stitch 15 following in the wale direction of the double stitch 13 formed in T2 is knitted (corresponding to first process β3). The first bind-off process is terminated by the knitting of the retaining stitch 15.
In the next T4 and T5, knitting similar to T2 and T3 described above is repeated. In repeating such knitting, the retaining stitch 15 knitted with the knitting needle D of the BB in T3 is assumed as the new first stitch 11. The moving side stitch 20 of the knitting needle F of the BB that is proximate to the first stitch 11 (retaining stitch 15) in the moving direction DR is assumed as the second stitch 12.
In T4, the first stitch 11 held on the knitting needle D of the BB is moved in the moving direction DR, and overlapped with the second stitch 12 held on the knitting needle F of the BB (corresponding to second process β2). According to T4, the double stitch 13 including the first stitch 11 and the second stitch 12 is formed on the knitting needle F of the BB.
In T5, the retaining stitch 15 following in the wale direction of the double stitch 13 formed in T4 is knitted (corresponding to second process β3). The second bind-off process is terminated by the knitting of such retaining stitch 15. Thereafter, the knitting similar to T4 and T5 is repeated to complete the suppressing section 4. After the suppressing section 4 is completed, the knitting of the knitted fabric is to be continued following the new base section 14 held on the needle bed.
According to the knitting processes described above as well, the suppressing section 4 in which the stretch in the knitting width direction of the knitted fabric is suppressed can be formed in the middle of the wale direction of the knitted fabric. The interval of the stitches of the suppressing section 4 can be made shorter by using the split knitting when branching the new base stitch 14 from the portion to be bind-off processed in the suppressing section 4.
According to the knitting processes of the present embodiment, the bind-off process is carried out on the back side of the new base stitch 14, and thus the suppressing section 4 does not stand out.
<Third Embodiment>
In the second embodiment, the split knitting of a plurality of times is carried out all at once at the start of knitting of the suppressing section 4 so that all the new base stitches 14 in the suppressing section 4 are knitted at one time. On the contrary, in the third embodiment, a method for knitting the knitted fabric of the present invention of carrying out the bind-off process each time the split knitting of knitting the new base stitch 14 is carried out once will be described based on the knitting process diagram of
U0 shows a state in which the stitches of the knitted fabric in the process of knitting are held on the knitting needles B, D, F, H, J, and L of the FB. From this state, the suppressing section 4 (see U6) of suppressing the stretch in the knitting width direction of the knitted fabric is knitted. First, the first stitch 11 that serves as a basis for starting the knitting of the suppressing section 4 is determined. In the present embodiment, the stitch held on the knitting needle B of the FB is assumed as the first stitch 11.
In U1, the split knitting is carried out with respect to the first stitch 11 on the knitting needle B of the FB (corresponding to first process γ1). The first stitch 11 is transferred to the knitting needle B of the BB by the split knitting. The new base stitch 14 pulled out from the first stitch 11 is knitted with the knitting needle B of the FB by the split knitting.
In U2, the first stitch 11 of the knitting needle B of the BB is moved in the moving direction DR and overlapped with the second stitch 12 (see U1) on the knitting needle D of the FB to form the double stitch 13 (corresponding to first process γ2). The second stitch 12 is a stitch that was proximate to the first stitch 11 in the moving direction DR in U0, that is, a stitch that was proximate to the first stitch 11 in the moving direction DR before carrying out the split knitting on the first stitch 11.
In U3, the retaining stitch 15 following in the wale direction of the double stitch 13 formed in U2 is knitted (corresponding to first process γ3). The first bind-off process is terminated by the knitting of the retaining stitch 15.
In following U4 to U6, knitting similar to U1 to U3 described above is repeated. In repeating the knitting, in U4, the retaining stitch 15 knitted with the knitting needle D of the FB in U3 is assumed as the new first stitch 11, and the split knitting is carried out (corresponding to second process γ1). Furthermore, the stitch of the knitting needle F of the FB that is proximate to the first stitch 11 (retaining stitch 15) in the moving direction DR is assumed as the second stitch 12.
In U5, the first stitch 11 held on the knitting needle D of the BB is moved in the moving direction DR and overlapped with the second stitch 12 held on the knitting needle F of the FB (corresponding to second process γ2). The double stitch 13 including the first stitch 11 and the second stitch 12 is formed on the knitting needle F of the FB by the U5.
In U6, the retaining stitch 15 following in the wale direction of the double stitch 13 formed in U5 is knitted (corresponding to second process γ3). The second bind-off process is terminated by the knitting of the retaining stitch 15. Subsequently, the knitting similar to U4 to U6 is repeated, and the suppressing section 4 is completed. After the suppressing section 4 is completed, the knitting of the knitted fabric is to be continued following the new base section 14 held on the needle bed.
According to the knitting processes described above, the suppressing section 4 in which the stretch in the knitting width direction of the knitted fabric is suppressed can be formed in the middle in the wale direction of the knitted fabric. The intervals of the stitches of the suppressing section 4 can be made shorter by using the split knitting when branching the new base stitch 14 from the portion to be bind-off processed in the suppressing section 4.
<Fourth Embodiment>
In a fourth embodiment, an example in which the method for knitting the knitted fabric of the present invention is applied to the knitting of the shoe upper will be described based on
<<Overall Configuration>>
A shoe upper 1 (knitted fabric) of the present embodiment shown in
<<Procedure for Producing Shoe Upper>>
The shoe upper 1 can be produced by knitting the right side portion 1R of the instep cover section 3 and the sole cover section 2 with one needle bed of the flat knitting machine, and knitting the left side portion 1L of the instep cover section 3 and the sole cover section 2 with the other needle bed. For example, the knitting is started from the toe side of the shoe upper 1, and the shoe upper 1 is knitted to the position of cut end of the slit 5s by tubular knitting and the like.
Next, the right side portion 1R and the left side portion 1L are knitted by C-shaped flechage knitting and the suppressing section 4 is formed using the method for knitting the knitted fabric of the present invention described using
After the suppressing section 4 arranged closest to heel side in
<<Effect of Shoe Upper>>
In the shoe upper 1 knitted according to the knitting procedure described above, the stretch toward the side of the shoe upper 1 is suppressed by the suppressing section 4. The shoe upper 1 is less likely to lose shape and the fitting property of the shoe upper 1 with respect to the foot of the wearer enhances by suppressing the stretch of the relevant portion.
<<Others>>
The knitting yarn configuring the shoe upper 1 preferably includes a heat fusible yarn. The shoe upper 1 thus can be three-dimensionally shaped by fitting the shoe upper 1 to a last and performing heat process after terminating the knitting of the shoe upper 1.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013-090653 | Apr 2013 | JP | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/JP2014/059172 | 3/28/2014 | WO | 00 |
| Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| WO2014/174990 | 10/30/2014 | WO | A |
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5174134 | Okuno | Dec 1992 | A |
| 5271249 | Mitsumoto | Dec 1993 | A |
| 5456096 | Mitsumoto | Oct 1995 | A |
| 5669244 | Okuno | Sep 1997 | A |
| 5836177 | Okuno | Nov 1998 | A |
| 6571584 | Okayama | Jun 2003 | B1 |
| 6658898 | Okamoto | Dec 2003 | B2 |
| 6761048 | Okamoto | Jul 2004 | B2 |
| 6789402 | Okamoto | Sep 2004 | B2 |
| 6892555 | Kubo | May 2005 | B2 |
| 20020189299 | Okamoto | Dec 2002 | A1 |
| 20090100878 | Miyai | Apr 2009 | A1 |
| Number | Date | Country |
|---|---|---|
| 2366820 | Sep 2011 | EP |
| 2540887 | Jan 2013 | EP |
| 404418 | Jan 1934 | GB |
| 7-65258 | Jul 1995 | JP |
| 08-100352 | Apr 1996 | JP |
| 2008-214775 | Sep 2008 | JP |
| 4848370 | Oct 2011 | JP |
| 2012-117175 | Jun 2012 | JP |
| 2012-122175 | Jun 2012 | JP |
| 0148286 | Jul 2001 | WO |
| Entry |
|---|
| European Search Report issued Oct. 4, 2016, in corresponding European Application No. 14787902.7, 8 pages. |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20160122913 A1 | May 2016 | US |
