Shawls are often worn to keep the wearer warm, impart a feeling of comfort and coziness, and even to impart a sense of style. A traditional shawl may range from a simple decorative rectangular segment of knit or woven fabric to more elaborate knit patterns that offer greater warmth. Where some shawls may simply be a utilitarian garment made from cotton, wool, acrylic or the like, for use in, e.g., a healthcare facility, others may be super-luxury.
Whatever the style, the shawl is typically wrapped around the shoulders of the wearer and allowed to drape, with the wearer relying on the dual forces of gravity and friction to keep the garment in position.
These traditional shawls have significant drawbacks. Because the garment is held in place only by gravity and friction, it is susceptible to slipping out of position or off the wearer entirely. A wearer that is in motion or otherwise active may need to hold the garment in place with one hand, reducing the wearer's ability to engage in other activity while wearing the garment. Similarly, since the shawl typically drapes, the front hangs open. In order to take advantage of the garment's heat-retention properties, the wearer must manually hold the garment closed around the front. The wearer may wish to keep the shawl closed for stylistic reasons as well, which would likewise immobilize one hand. Because of its amorphous shape, a shawl may be utilized as a scarf, neckerchief or similar accessory, particularly when made from a thin material such as silk or satin.
A related garment to the shawl is the drape-front cardigan, which is traditionally a loose-fitting open-front sweater with integrated sleeves.
These cardigans may be made from the same materials and yarns as shawls, ranging from cotton and wool yarns to more elegant silks and sateen fabrics. Drape-front cardigans such as that shown in
However, many drape-front cardigans suffer from significant drawbacks. As with a shawl, the drape-front cardigan may simply hang open, reducing the heat-retention properties of the garment and perhaps diminishing its stylishness. The drape-front cardigan is worn like a sweater so the wearer must insert the arms into the sleeves to put it on, an additional step not present with a traditional shawl. Further, the drape-front cardigan may lack versatility and cannot be adapted to other uses.
Combinations have been proposed in which sleeves are integrated into a traditional shawl. Referring to
Where sleeve portions are simply formed and attached, the user cannot wear the garment as a shawl since the presence of the sleeve portions interferes with the draping of the shawl on the wearer. The sleeves also inhibit fashioning the garment into an accessory.
Further, sleeves that are formed and attached to a shawl require additional labor to fabricate the sleeves and then attached them to the main portion of the garment. Additional labor can introduce additional cost to the product.
Commercially-available knitting processes have generally been limited and are unable to produce an integrated shawl-like garment in which components such as armholes are integrated into a single seamless garment produced in a single step.
What is needed is a versatile, multi-purpose article that can fill the combined functions of sweater and shawl, and that can be efficiently manufactured.
What is further needed is a multi-purpose article that can still fill the function of sweater or shawl individually.
What is further needed is a combined sweater and shawl that presents a clean, stylish appearance.
The disclosed technology is a method of manufacturing a multipurpose garment in a seamless fashion, saving time and money, and providing a more durable garment.
In one implementation, the disclosed technology discloses a method of manufacturing a multipurpose garment. The method can comprise the steps of: knitting a first section 130, the first section including a plurality of single courses; knitting a second section 131, the second section including a plurality of double courses; knitting a third section 132, the third section including a plurality of single courses; knitting a fourth section 133, the fourth section including a plurality of double courses; and knitting a fifth section 134, the fifth section including a plurality of single courses, wherein transitions between the first section and the second section, the second section and the third section, the third section and the fourth section, and the fourth section and the fifth section are seamless.
In some implementations, the knitting direction can comprise the steps of: knitting the section 135, a plurality of single courses; knitting section 136, a plurality of double courses; knitting section 137, a plurality of single courses, wherein transitions between the section 135 and the section 136, the section 136 and the section 137 are seamless.
In some implementations, the single courses can be reverse Jersey stitches. In some implementations, the double courses can be Jersey stitches and reverse Jersey stitches. In some implementations, the multipurpose garment 100 can comprise combinations of section 110 being reverse jersey stitches, section 121 being jersey stitches (the reverse side of 120) and section 123 being jersey stitches (reverse side of 122).
In some implementations, the multipurpose garment 100 can comprise combinations of section 110 being jersey stitches, section 121 being reverse jersey stitches (reverse side of 120) and section 123 being reverse jersey stitches (reverse side of 122). In some further implementation, multipurpose garment 100 can comprise combinations of tuck stitches.
In some implementations, the steps of knitting the double courses further comprise the steps of: knitting a first course of a body portion in a first direction; applying a first transition stitch; knitting a first course of a first sleeve section in a second direction; knitting a second course of a body portion in the second direction; applying a second split transition stitch; knitting a second course of a first sleeve section in a first direction; and repeating the above steps until a sleeve section of a defined number of courses is formed.
In some implementations, the transition stitch can be a split stitch. In some implementations, the transition stitch can be a tuck stitch. In some implementations, the first course of a body portion and the second course of a body portion can be reverse Jersey stitches. In some implementations, the first course of a sleeve portion and the second course of a sleeve portion can be Jersey stitches. In some implementations, the first course of a body portion and the second course of a body portion can be Jersey stitches. In some implementations, the first course of a sleeve portion and the second course of a sleeve portion can be reverse Jersey stitches.
In some embodiments, a multimodal garment may include a body portion, a left sleeve portion formed in the elongate body portion substantially parallel to the first and second horizontal edge portions, and/or a right sleeve portion formed in the elongate body portion substantially parallel to the first and second horizontal edge portions. In some embodiments, the body portion may include first and second horizontal edge portions, and first and second vertical edge portions.
In some embodiments, the left and right sleeve portions are configured as tubes extending outward from adjacent a center vertical axis of the body portion to the vertical edge of the body portion without a visible seam.
In some embodiments, the body portion, left sleeve portion, and right sleeve portion are formed together using a tubular knitting technique. In some embodiments, the left and right sleeve portions are configured as sewn-on tubes extending outward from adjacent a center vertical axis of the body portion to the vertical edge of the body portion with visible seams. In some embodiments, the body portion, left sleeve portion, and right sleeve portion are formed together using a whole garment seamless knitting technique.
In some embodiments, a multimodal garment may include a body portion and/or a secondary torso panel formed in the elongate body portion, and integrated into the body portion on at least two sides.
In some embodiments, each of the left and right sleeve portions are closed on at least one end. In some embodiments, each of the left and right sleeve portions terminate in an integrated mitten or glove portion.
In some embodiments, the garment is formed from one of natural fibers such as wool, cotton, linen, silk and synthetic fibers such as rayon, nylon and polyester and any blend thereof.
In some embodiments, such a multimodal garment may further include a decorative adornment, including fringe, jacquard, intarsia, cable knitting, or pointelle textured stitches.
In some embodiments, a multimodal garment may include a substantially planar body portion and/or a left sleeve portion and a right sleeve portion formed in the planar body portion. In some embodiments, the substantially planar body portion may include at least one edge. In some embodiments, the left and right sleeve portions are configured as tubes extending outward from adjacent a center vertical axis of the planar body portion to an edge of the body portion. In some embodiments, the left and right sleeve portions are integrally formed with the planar body portion in a single process using a tubular knitting technique.
The features and advantages of the present disclosure will be more fully understood with reference to the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying figures, wherein:
b shows a multipurpose garment in a three-dimensional configuration.
The disclosed technology relates to a method of manufacturing a multipurpose garment in a seamless fashion, saving time and money, and providing a more durable garment.
In some embodiments, a multimodal garment is described in which sleeve portions are integrated into the body using a tubular knitting-in technique.
Referring to
It will be appreciated by those of skill in the art that a wide variety of sizes and shapes may be used for elongate body portion 310. In a preferred embodiment, a rectangular body portion is contemplated, of a length sufficient to cover the wearer and appropriate to the desired style. It should be noted that in differing embodiments, the rectangular-shaped elongate body portion may be oriented such that the longer edges are aligned with the horizontal plane, or alternatively, that the longer edges are aligned with the vertical plane. In some embodiments, other shapes may be used depending on the application, including polygonal, circular, oval, and elliptical, among others.
In some embodiments, sleeve portions 360 and 370 may be formed in the garment. A left sleeve portion 370 may be defined along a segment of top horizontal edge portion 340, and a corresponding right sleeve portion 360 may be defined along a segment of top horizontal edge portion 340. In some embodiments, left and right sleeve portions 360, 370 may take the form of mirror opposites of each other. In some embodiments, left and right sleeve portions 360, 370 are designed to accommodate the left and right arms of the wearer, respectively, and extend to a length that may vary with the size of the garment (e.g., S, M, L, XL) or be based upon the average size of a wearer. The left and right sleeve portions 360, 370 may be open-ended to allow the hands of the wearer to protrude. In alternate embodiments, left and right sleeve portions 360, 370 may be closed-ended and capped with an integrated mitten or glove for additional warmth.
A wide variety of materials may be utilized in garment 300, both in the body portion 310 and sleeve portions 360, 370. In a preferred embodiment, a wool sweater knit may be used. In alternate embodiments, fabrics, such as cotton, linen, silk or other woven fabrics may be utilized.
As shown in
Additional stylistic elements may be incorporated into garment 300. For example, decorative adornments such as fringe at right and left vertical edge portions 320, 330 may be incorporated into body portion 310. Additional examples of textures for the body portion 310 and sleeve portions 360, 370 may include jacquard, cable or pointelle textured stitches.
Lastly,
Referring to
Sleeve portions 960, 970 may be formed in the garment and defined as a tubular knit portion fabricated according to the process described below. Each sleeve portion has an opening 960′, 970′ that is proximal to the wearer. Corresponding openings 960″, 970″ are formed opposite the corresponding openings 960′, 970′ to form a tube through which the arms of the wearer may be inserted.
In some embodiments, left and right sleeve portions 960, 970 may be formed with garment 900 during manufacturing using a tubular knit-in technique that enables three-dimensional knitting of the complete garment including, for example, tubular knitting to form 960, 970 in the same process as with the main body portion.
Alternatively, sleeve portions 960, 970 may be laterally linked-on by linking machine or sewn-on by sewing machine leaving openings 960′, 970′ and corresponding opening 960″, 970″.
Various alternate embodiments of the invention are contemplated to fulfill various stylistic or manufacturing requirements.
For example, referring to
In some embodiments, a secondary portion 1150 may be formed in the garment. In a preferred embodiment, secondary portion 1150 may be formed of the same material as body portion 1110 by tubular knit-in technique. Secondary portion 1150 may be attached laterally, linked-on by linking machine or sewn-on by sewing machine on two sides leaving open a top neck portion 1150′ and bottom torso portion 1150″. Arm openings 1160, 1170 may be provided for receiving the wearer's arms.
In a preferred embodiment, the entire garment 1100 is formed from a tubular or seamless knitting technique and knit in a single manufacturing step, which can minimize labor and cost, and also provide for a more attractive product. Traditional commercial knitting processes have generally been found to be unsuitable for producing such a garment. However, advances in mechanized knitting technology have made production of the embodiments shown herein possible.
It has been found that machines such as the Shima Seiki Wholegarment Computerized Flat Knitting Machine (Mach2XS) and the Stoll Knit and Wear series of machines are well-suited for use with the present invention.
Generally speaking, knitting involves interlacing yarn or thread in a series of connected loops, which are called stitches. Arrays of needles are organized into beds, which slide up or down to carry and transfer the yarn or thread. Needles may be curved or straight, and may contain a latch to hook the yarn. An exemplary latch needle is shown in
Cams typically cause the needles in the bed to be raised and lowered. A carriage traverses the needle beds to raise and lower the needles according to the desired pattern. Successive loops in the fabric or garment are pulled through an existing loop and this process is repeated until completion.
As a needle is raised by a cam, the downward hook passes by the current yarn segment before hooking that yarn segment on the lowering movement. The latch of the needle catches the yarn and holds the yarn in place as another active yarn segment is passed across, pulling the yarn through the prior loop or stitch. The needle then releases the current loop or stitch on the raising movement. The current loops, known as “active loops,” are held on a needle until another loop can be passed through them to complete the stitch.
In embodiments that utilize the whole garment machines capable of seamless knitting, these machines are specially configured so that these stitches can be passed from one bed to the other and the beds can be moved in relation to one another. This transfer ability permits the integration of components such as pockets and lateral sleeves into the garment as it is knit.
In some embodiments, components of the garment (e.g., sleeves) may be formed separately (with the remainder of the garment formed from the tubular or seamless technique) and joined to the main garment using a linking technique.
Linking is a method of seaming/attaching pieces of a garment together after the pieces have been knitted on a flat-bed knitting machine. It will be appreciated by those of skill in the art that the linking process requires a skilled operator, and is used mainly for fully-fashioned knitted apparel. In the linking process, a slacker course of loops of yarn is created on the linking machine, which connects two pieces of fabric together.
In another implementation, the disclosed garment can be manufactured using a weft double-bed knitting machine or a weft flat-bed knitting machine known in the art. Weft knitting is a horizontal stitch process that knits using a left to right and right to left motion, e.g., shown in
There are numerous stitches that can be knitted using the weft knitting process, e.g., a Jersey stitch, a reverse Jersey Stitch, a tuck stitch, a float stitch, and a split stitch, to name a few. Examples of these stitches are shown in
The general appearance of a Jersey stitch is shown in
By utilizing a weft double-bed knitting machine or a weft flat-bed knitting machine, a disclosed garment 100, as shown in
During manufacture, the knitting machine can form single courses and double courses as programmed by a user to form the disclosed garment 100. For example, the disclosed garment 100 can be broken into five sections 130-134. The first section 130 can be a single course knit, the second section 131 can be a double course knit, the third section 132 can be a single course knit, the fourth section 133 can be a double course knit and the fifth section 134 can be a single course knit.
During the knitting process, the first section 130 can be a single course of a reverse Jersey stitch, the second section 131 can be a double course of a Jersey stitch and a reverse Jersey stitch, the third section 132 can be a single course of a reverse Jersey stitch, the fourth section 133 can be a double course of a Jersey stitch and a reverse Jersey stitch and the fifth section 134 can be a single course of a reverse Jersey stitch. Please note that other stitches can be used and are contemplated.
The knitting machine can begin its process by forming the first section 130 of reverse Jersey stitches in a weft knit that allows the knitting machine to move from left to right and right to left to form the reverse Jersey stitch, shown in
The knitting machine can seamlessly transition from the first section 130 to the second section 131. In the second section 131, two courses of different stitches are knitted with one on top of the other, a first course for the body portion 110 and a second course for the first sleeve section 120.
As shown in
In Step 1, a full course of the body portion 110 is knitted from left to right (line A to line B) and knit reverse jersey stitch in the back-needle bed. In Step 2, the knitting machine (without knitting) moves from right to left to line C (a right side of the sleeve portion 120). The knitting machine applies a first split stitch 140. In Step 3, from that first split stitch 140, a first course of the sleeve portion 120 can be knitted from right to left (line C to line D) using a Jersey stitch in the front needle bed. (The first course of the sleeve portion 120 can have a width (e.g., 1-200 wales) determined by design). Once the first course of the sleeve portion 120 is complete, the knitting machine, in Step 4, without knitting moves from left to right (line D to line B). In Step 5, a second full course of the body portion 110 is knitted from right to left (line B to line A) in the back-needle bed. In Step 6, the knitting machine (without knitting) moves from left to right to line D (a left side of the sleeve portion 121). The knitting machine then applies a second split stitch 141. In Step 7, from that second split stitch 141, a second course of the sleeve portion 120 can be knitted from left to right (line D to Line C) using a Jersey stitch having a length as predetermined by design. Once complete, in Step 8, the knitting machine without knitting moves from right to left (line C to line A). The above steps are repeated until the first sleeve portion with a height determined by design is formed (e.g., 1-200 courses).
The knitting machine then seamlessly transitions from the second section 131 to the third section 132. The third section can be a series of single course of reverse Jersey stitches with a height determined by design (e.g., 1-800 courses).
The knitting machine can seamlessly transition from the third section 132 to the fourth section 133. In the fourth section 133, like the second section 131, two courses are to be knitted on top of one another.
As shown in
The knitting machine then seamlessly transitions from the fourth section 133 to the fifth section 134. The fifth section can be a series of single course of reverse Jersey stitches with a height determined by design (e.g., 1-800 courses).
During the knitting process these steps are repeated allowing the sleeve portions to be knitted seamlessly. That is, the knitting machine seamlessly transitions from the section 137 to the section 136 and from the section 136 to the section 135. There are no visible seams on Line D and line C due to the split stitches seamlessly connecting the body portion 110 and the sleeve portion 121.
As shown in
During the knitting process these steps are repeated allowing the sleeve portions to be knitted seamlessly. That is, there are no visible seams on Line D and line C due to the transition stitches seamlessly connecting the body portion 110 and the sleeve portion 120.
It will be understood that there are numerous modifications of the illustrated embodiments described above which will be readily apparent to one skilled in the art, such as any other combinations of features disclosed herein that are individually disclosed or claimed herein, explicitly including additional combinations of such features. These modifications and/or combinations fall within the art to which this invention relates and are intended to be within the scope of the claims, which follow. It is noted, as is conventional, the use of a singular element in a claim is intended to cover one or more of such an element.
This application is a continuation-in-part of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/213,888, filed Jul. 19, 2016, now pending, which is incorporated here by reference in its entirety to provide continuity of disclosure.
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 15213888 | Jul 2016 | US |
Child | 16034936 | US |