Patent Grant
11519109
Techniques have been developed and implemented to facilitate the creation of so-called “seamless” garments using various types of automated knitting machines. In these techniques, the need to create separate parts of a garment separately and assemble them together (by additional manual stitching, for example) or to impart a three-dimensional shape on a garment (i.e. a tubular form having overlapping sections) by stitching edges of a flat component together, may be significantly reduced or, for certain garments, eliminated altogether, resulting in the characteristic seamless nature of the garment through at least significant portions of the garment. Various types of automated knitting machines can be used to implement the developed seamless knitting techniques. In some aspects, tubular weft knitting machines have been developed to knit seamless tubes of knitted material. Such machines, however, offer reduced flexibility in stitch types and sizing within a single run of knitted material.
Flat-bed weft knitting equipment can be run according to certain specific techniques to achieve seamless material or garments with some of the characteristic flexibility such machines provide. To that end, in the use of a two-bed weft knitting machine (which may also be referred to as a V-bed knitting machine due to the relative orientation of the beds), one bed is used for one of two overlapping sections of the garment (e.g., the front of a sweater body, sleeve, etc.) and the other bed is used for the other section (e.g., the back) with the stitches on the outermost needles on which stitches are applied being linked from the front bed to the back bed to produce the two sections of the garment already attached together. To maintain the ability to transfer stitches, however, the stitches are applied to the needles in an alternating manner with the needles including stitches being staggered from the front bed to the back bed. As can be appreciated, specific sequences for moving stitches among needles 116 in such an arrangement are required. Additionally, three bed knitting machines have been developed with a central bed disposed between the front and back beds to solely handle transferring for both beds. Such machines, however, also exhibit drawbacks, including cost, the need to replace existing equipment, and complexity. Accordingly, further advancement in seamless knitting techniques may be needed to expand the range of garments and characteristics that can be achieved by way of seamless knitting on a V-bed flat weft knitting machine.
Additionally, the use of seamless garment production techniques and the ways in which the instructions for automated knitting machines are produced offer opportunities to make the garments produced customizable along a number of different parameters. Accordingly, advancements in the ways in which such customization is made available and implemented may also be useful. Still further, developments to provide such customization at scale may also be useful.
According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a method for manufacturing a knitted garment includes obtaining customer data regarding at least one customizable garment parameter, and applying at least one sequencing module to the customer data to generate a pattern for a customized garment according to the at least one customizable garment parameter. The at least one sequencing module includes a radial symmetry module that includes a sequence that includes transferring stitches on respective needles in a first section from a first needle bed to a second needle bed and transferring stitches on respective needles in a second section from the second needle bed to the first needle bed. The first and second section stitches are divided about a center location and are disposed on corresponding first and second sides thereof. A first transfer sequence is applied to the first section of stitches including executing an underlapping transfer of stitches from successive pairs of needles in the second bed to successive single needles in the first bed, respectively. A second transfer sequence is applied to the second section of stitches including executing an overlapping transfer of stitches from successive pairs of needles in the second bed to successive single needles in the first bed, respectively.
In one aspect, the first underlapping transfer may include changing a racking position of the second bed to align a fourth un-transferred stitch on the first side with a second open needle on the first side, transferring the fourth un-transferred stitch and a third un-transferred stitch to the second open needle and a first open needle. The sequence may further include changing the racking position of the second bed to align a second un-transferred stitch with the second open needle, and transferring the second un-transferred stitch and a first un-transferred stitch to the second open needle and the first open needle, respectively.
In a further aspect, the second overlapping transfer may include transferring a second un-transferred stitch and a first un-transferred stitch on the second side to a second open needle and a first open needle on the second side, respectively, changing a racking position of the second bed to align a fourth un-transferred stitch with the second open needle, and transferring the fourth un-transferred stitch and a third un-transferred stitch to the second open needle and the first open needle, respectively. The second transfer sequence may further include changing the racking position of the second bed to align a sixth un-transferred stitch with the second open needle, and transferring the sixth un-transferred stitch and a fifth un-transferred stitch to the second open needle and the first open needle, respectively.
In a further aspect of the method, the customer data is of first a customer, and the method may further include gathering customer data from a plurality of customers, the customer data being taken over internet and is associated with respective ones of a plurality of knitted garment orders. In this aspect, the method may also include generating patterns for a plurality of customized garments according to at least some of the plurality of knitted garment orders, including applying the at least one sequencing module to the customer data associated with each of the plurality of knitted garment orders according to the at least one customizable garment parameter associated with each of the plurality of knitted garment orders, generating a schedule for producing the plurality of customized garments including analyzing the at least one customizable garment parameter for the plurality of knitted garment orders, and manufacturing the plurality of customized garments according to the schedule.
In another aspect of the disclosure, a method for making a knitted garment with a reduction section exhibiting radial symmetry includes executing an automated knitting pattern on a knitting machine having a first needle bed and a second needle bed. The knitting pattern includes transferring stitches in a first section from respective needles in a first needle bed to corresponding needles in a second bed and transferring stitches in a second section from respective needles in the second needle bed to corresponding needles in the first bed. The first and second section stitches are divided about a center location and are disposed on corresponding first and second sides thereof. A first transfer sequence is applied to the first section of stitches including executing an underlapping transfer of stitches from successive pairs of needles in the second bed to successive single needles in the first bed, respectively. A second transfer sequence is applied to the second section of stitches including executing an overlapping transfer of stitches from successive pairs of needles in the second bed to successive single needles in the first bed, respectively.
In yet another aspect of the disclosure, a system for manufacturing a plurality of knitted garments includes a pattern generation module that obtains data regarding at least one customizable garment parameter respectively associated with the plurality of knitted garments and applies at least one sequencing module to the customer data to generate respective patterns for the plurality of knitted garments according to the at least one customizable garment parameter, including radial symmetry module. The radial symmetry module includes transferring stitches from a front needle bed and a back needle bed including executing an underlapping transfer of stitches from successive pairs of needles in the second bed to successive single needles in the first bed, respectively, and transferring stitches from the front needle bed and the back needle bed including executing an overlapping transfer of stitches from successive pairs of needles in the second bed to successive single needles in the first bed, respectively. The system further includes a scheduling module generating a schedule for producing the plurality of knitted garments including analyzing the at least one customizable garment parameter for the plurality of knitted garment orders and automated production equipment producing the plurality of knitted garments according to the schedule using the respective patterns.
In yet another aspect of the disclosure, a method for manufacturing a garment includes gathering customer data from a plurality of customers over the internet, the customer data being associated with respective ones of a plurality of garment orders and including customer data of first a customer regarding at least one customizable garment parameter. The method further includes applying at least one sequencing module to the customer data to generate a pattern for a customized garment according to the at least one customizable garment parameter, generating patterns for a plurality of garments according to at least some of the plurality of garment orders, including applying the at least one sequencing module to the customer data associated with each of the plurality of garment orders according to the at least one customizable garment parameter associated with each of the plurality of garment orders, generating a schedule for producing the plurality of customized garments including analyzing the at least one customizable garment parameter for the plurality of garment orders, and manufacturing the plurality of garments according to the schedule.
These and other features, advantages, and objects of the present invention will be further understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art by reference to the following specification, claims, and appended drawings.
For purposes of description herein the terms “upper,” “lower,” “right,” “left,” “rear,” “front,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” and derivatives thereof shall relate to the device as oriented in
Referring to the embodiment illustrated in
As can be appreciated from the present disclosure, the above-describe radial symmetry module 20 is useable in the overall method 10 to produce a portion of the pattern 18 that corresponds to a portion of the garment 110 to-be produced. In this respect, the pattern 18 can represent instructions executed 32 on automated production equipment 130 to produce the subject garment 110. In particular, the equipment 130 is an automated knitting machine, relevant portions of which are illustrated schematically in
In general, the automated production equipment described herein as an automated knitting machine 130 includes a plurality of needles 116 (depicted schematically in
To provide the ability to transfer stitches 114 to needles 116 that are not originally aligned, one or both of the needle beds 118,122 can be moved laterally to change the alignment between needles 116 in what is generally referred to as racking (including by a number of corresponding with the number of needle positions by which the particular rack is moved). When done between successive stitching operations (i.e., the application of a new set of stitches, which replaces a previous set of stitches) by the carriage, the transfer of stitches between and among the needles 116 can result in particular stitching effects that can be repeated in a controlled manner to give a desired effect to the article or relevant portion thereof being manufactured, according to concepts generally understood in the art.
In a further aspect, techniques have been developed and implemented to facilitate the creation of garments in a generally “seamless” manner using a flat-bed weft knitting machine, including a two-bed arrangement as described above. In these techniques, the need to create separate parts of a garment separately and assemble them together (by additional manual stitching, for example) or to impart a three-dimensional shape on a garment (i.e. a tubular form) by sewing edges of a flat component together, may be significantly reduced or, for certain garments, eliminated altogether. These techniques largely involve the use of one bed 118 or 122 for the “front” of a garment (e.g., sweater body, sleeve, etc.) and the other bed 122 or 118 for the “back” of the garment with the stitches on the outermost needles 116 on which stitches are applied 114 being linked from the front bed 118 to the back bed 122 to produce the garment with the front and back already attached together, including separate portions, such as the body and sleeves already assembled front-to-back and with the other adjacent portions. To maintain the ability to transfer stitches 114, however, the stitches are applied to the needles 116 in an alternating manner with the needles 116 including stitches 114 being staggered from the front bed 118 to the back bed 122. As can be appreciated, specific sequences for transferring stitches among needles 116 in such an arrangement are required.
The radial symmetry module 20, described generally above, involves a sequence of stitch 114 transfers among specific needles 116 in a knitting machine of the above-described V-bed flat weft knitting machine executed between stitching operations to produce a portion of the subject garment 110 that exhibits radial symmetry (as discussed further below). In particular, the radial symmetry module 20 is configured to be incorporated into the manufacture of the subject garment 110 according to a seamless knitting operation, in which alternating needles 116 on the first and second beds 118,122 include stitches 114 resulting from a previous stitching operation. An arrangement of stitches 114 is shown schematically on needles 116 in the first and second beds 118,122 depicted schematically in
Subsequently, the respective stitches 114 are transferred 38 back to the originating bed 118,122. As can be seen in
The process described with respect to
As presently described, the first transfer sequence and the second transfer sequence together reduce the number of stitches 114 by sixteen; however, the number of stitches 114 subjected to each of the transfer sequences 32,34 can vary according to various parameters, at least some of which may be customizable parameters. In this manner, the number of stiches 114 per section 112,120 (i.e. per row) may influence the number of iterations 46 determined in step 48. As can be appreciated by the specific examples given herein the number of stiches 114 per section 112,120 may be customizable characteristics 24 or may be influenced by characteristics 24 that take the garment size into account, but may be additional thereto.
The steps of the first transfer sequence 32 are shown in greater detail in
As discussed further below, the execution of radial symmetry module 20 can result in a portion 140 of garment 110 that includes a number of panel sections 144 that narrow toward the center 142 of the portion 140, the panels being defined and separated by ridges 146 that also converge toward center 140. The ridges 146 are formed by the doubled stitches 114d achieved by the first and second transfer sequences 32,34. Until at least the final iteration, the remaining stitches 114 will remain undoubled to define panel sections 144. The successive doubling of stitches 114 in particular areas causes the above-described reduction in the number of overall stitches 114 in successive rows, which will be appreciated as narrowing the garment 110 such that above-described iterations of the radial symmetry module 20 can converge garment 110 to the center 142 within the portion 104 created using radial symmetry module 20. Further, module 20 creates the desired radial symmetry by spacing the ridges 146 at regular intervals along the operative row and operating to maintain the width and relative location of the ridges 146 within the portion 140 of garment 110 overall. In this manner, it is the width of the panel sections 144 that reduce with successive iterations of radial symmetry module 20. Accordingly, the transfer sequences 32,34 are adapted to provide the same number of doubled stitches 114d in each iteration such that the number of remaining single stitches reduces evenly among the panel sections 144. In this manner, the midpoint location 132 may be determined to correspond with a halfway point between the central location 124 and the space after the last needle 116 in needle bed 118 having a stitch 114 thereon, or after the needle 116 corresponding with the number of stitches divided by two, as shown in
Once the midpoint location 132 and endpoint location 134 have been determined 48, the first step of the transfer sequence 32 is initiated, in which, beginning 49 from center location 124, what is referred to herein as an “underlapping” operation 50a is carried out. In general, the underlapping operation 50a (as well as 50b, discussed further below) is executed to position stitches 114 away from center location 124 on a needle 116 in first needle bed 118 beneath respective stitches 114 initially positioned closer to the center location 124. Because the first transfer sequence 32 is carried out on the first section 112, which extends from the center location 124 to the right, the rightmost (i.e. farther from center location 124) stitches 114 are transferred first to be positioned under the subsequently-transferred leftmost stitches 114, with the designation as underlapping being thusly derived. Accordingly, by starting at the center location 124, operative positions Pb and Pf on the second needle bed 122 and the first needle bed 118, respectively are defined at the first needle 116 from the center location 124 within the first section 112. On the initial step underlapping operation 50a is carried out in a single operation from center location 124 to midpoint location 132 with stitches 114 on the needles 116 from positions Pb+2 (i.e. needle 116 in position 3 in
Subsequently, the stitches 114 on needles 116 in positions Pb and Pb+1 are transferred 54 to the needles 116 in positions Pf and Pf+1, which is carried out by moving second needle bed 122 to a racking position of zero, as shown in
Subsequently, as second similar underlapping operation 50b is carried out on the next segment, which is defined 56 between midpoint location 132 of second needle bed 122 (with the first needle 116 after midpoint location 132 being designated as Pb). Notably, as the portion of stitches 114 on first needle bed 118 has been reduced by the underlapping operation 50a, the position Pf is designated as the first unoccupied needle 116, which is unaligned in the zero racking position of
A subsequent single underlapping process 50a is then repeated past endpoint location 134, as shown in
Turning to
After the initial transfer 68, an overlapping operation 70a is executed in which a pair of stitches 114 is positioned over the next pair of stitches 114 closer to center location 124. By performing the above-described underlapping operations 50a,50b on stitches 114 within the first section 112 and the now-described underlapping operation 70a within the second section 120, the ribs 146 on either side of center location 124 will be formed by doubled stitches 114d that exhibit the same directional characteristics. In particular, in all ribs 146, the doubled stiches 114d will include a leftmost stitch 114 (in the orientation of
Returning to
Turning now to
As can be appreciated by a comparison of
As can be appreciated based on the above discussion, the application of a single instance of the first transfer sequence 32 and the second transfer sequence 34 on respective single first and second sets 112,120 of stitches 114 (and depicted schematically in
To derive a complete pattern for the seamless production of an entire garment 110 such as the hat depicted in
As can be seen in
Subsequently (or initially, when the patterning is specifically associated with the garment type 86a) the selected modules 84a,84b,84c can be scaled 92 based on size data 86c by which garment size is a customizable parameter and is included in the parameter information 24. It is noted that the sizing information may be included in the garment type 86a in a similar manner as the pattern (e.g., a large hat, style X), in which instance the scaling step 92 is also skipped. Alternatively, sizing information may be taken as a head circumference measurement and may be associated with a particular predetermined size, may be treated as a custom size with scaling 92 being carried out to match the measurement as closely as possible, or may be associated with a batch-processed size with scaling 92 being applied in bulk to a predetermined number of garments 110 associated with the particular processed sizes, as discussed further below.
In general, each module 84a,84b,84c can include information on scaling, such as by how to properly include more or fewer stitches 114 in a single knitting operation associated therewith in the context of any specific characteristics of the module (i.e. ribbing, cabling, etc). The programming executing the pattern generation 14 can specifically scale each module 84a,84b,84c according to included logic and/or can sequentially size the modules 84a,84b,84c according to the prior organizing 90 such that an initial number of stitches 114 is fed forward from the previous module scaling. In this manner, radial symmetry module 20 can be similarly scaled. In one example, a number of body pattern sections 140 and stitches 114 included therein by radial symmetry module 20 can be dictated directly by the sizing information 86c or can be determined based on the number of stitches 114 included in body portion 146b from which it extends. In such an example, the number of ribs 146 and panels 144 can be predetermined with the number of stitches in either or both of the first and second sections 112,120 being dictated by the sizing. In yet another example, the number of pattern sections 140 can be a customizable parameter such that the application of radial symmetry module 20 includes both patterning 86b and sizing data 86c. As discussed above, the number of stitches included in each application of radial symmetry module 20 can influence the number of sequences in module 20 and can, therefore, further affect—or be affected by—the sizing 86c of garment 110. In an aspect the programming executing the pattern generation 14 can include logic or other programming to scale the various modules according to a number of such factors simultaneously.
After the module scaling 92, additional customizable parameter information 24 in the form of color data 86d can be applied to the assembled and scaled modules (alternatively, this can also be done in connection with the scaling). In various aspects, the garment 110 can be of a single color selectable from a number of colors or the garment 110 can be of a number of colors (such as with respect to each separate portion 136 and 146a-d, etc.), or a number of different coloring/striping patterns may be applicable to the garment overall as an overlay to the selected garment irrespective of the particular patterning. In any such aspect, the information 86d can be accessed during the pattern assembly 14 and applied 94 to the pattern to arrive at a specific application of pattern 18 that is customized by one or more of garment type 86a, patterning 86b, size 86c, and color data 86d, with additional parameters being similarly accounted for in assembly 14. In this manner, the automated equipment 130 can produce a customized garment that includes a radially-symmetric portion 136 that by application of the radial symmetry module 20 based on at least one customizable parameter.
Turning now to
As shown, the open order information 224 can be fed into fulfilment data 226 for scheduling of the various garments associated with open orders 212 according to a specific operation 228. In one aspect of the scheduling operation 228, can produce and maintain (such as by real time adjustments and modifications) a production schedule 230 that includes the information needed to produce the various garments to fulfill orders 212, including the customizable parameter data 24 and other information needed to generate the patterns 18, as discussed above according to method 10. The schedule 230 may include such information according to an order of garment production that is determined by scheduling operation 228 to optimize or enhance the efficiency with which the garments 110 are produced 10 and the orders 212 are fulfilled (i.e. by shipping 232). As shown, such information can include a current supply and/or availability of the materials 234 (e.g., yarn, thread, etc. of specific type, gauge, composition, color, etc.), as well as the capacity 236 of the equipment 130 needed to produce the garments 110. In this manner, scheduling operation 228 can result in orders 212, even those for different garment types 86a, using similar materials 234 according to their availability and distribution of such materials among the available equipment 130 being scheduled to run in groups using similar materials and distribution of the orders over the equipment 130 accordingly.
The scheduling operation 228 can also process the order information 222 in various ways to maximize fulfilment efficiency. In one aspect, geographic information can be pulled from the shipping information to group orders 212 to be shipped to a similar geographic region. In another aspect, the order information 222 can include a date stamp that can be used to ensure that the consideration of material availability 234 or equipment capacity 236 does not require orders 212 to wait a time interval deemed excessive for fulfillment. In a similar manner, such information can be used to intersperse small orders into large orders having similar customizable parameter information 24 to prevent large orders, such as from retailers, causing delays for individual customer orders. As discussed above, the scheduling operation 228 can be used in connection with aspects of the pattern generation module 14 discussed above to mutually increase efficiency in production. In particular, in the variation discussed above, wherein the sizing information 86c is taken from each customer 214 in the form of a head circumference measurement, periodic order information 222 can be aggregated and processed to batch-process a number of particular sizes (for example, small, medium, and large) that are selected to efficiently fulfil the orders with garments 110 produced in runs of the same size (e.g., using scaling step 92) with an acceptable fit among certain groups of head sizes. In this manner, scheduling operation 228 can take process orders 212 over a predetermined time frame, such as two days (or in other examples, one week, one month, etc.), or over a predetermined quantity and cluster the orders based on the distribution of sizing information 86c among the orders 212 given certain parameters, such as maximum deviation from any given measurement per derived sizing range, and determine the number of sizing groups needed and the particular sizes. Scheduling operation 228 can then group the orders for production 10 according to the assigned size and can associate scaling 92 information with the orders 212 so that the designated sizes can be produced together in a single batch (with additional scheduling based on other parameters) with increased production efficiency based on increased flexibility in the supply chain and a corresponding allowance for interchangeability in subcomponents. Such an operation may be particularly useful when the particular garment 110 can take advantage of the inherent compliance of knitted garments, such as the illustrated hat 110, where a snug fit by some extension of the knit is expected or desired. As the compliance characteristics of a garment 110 can vary based on the material used and/or the particular aspects of the knitting operation (tension, structure, etc.), in another similar aspect the size ranges can be developed at the outset of a product program, when the compliance of the textile is characterized or identified, to realize some of the above-discussed efficiency gains, while providing a more reliable or repeatable fit characteristic among garments 110.
In a further aspect of system 210, the information from orders 212, including the customizable parameter information 24 and aspects of the order information 222 can be stored in historic or archived data 238 that can be used by the scheduling operation 228 to predict orders 212 likely to be placed, including by geographic distribution and timing (e.g. season), or at least information about such orders, such as materials that will likely be needed and in what amount/quantity. In one aspect, this data 238 may be useable by the scheduling operation 228 to manufacture garments 110 according to anticipated orders according to predicted timing and quantity and incorporating predicted customizable parameter information 24. This can allow production 10 of garments 110 to be scheduled and associated with predicted customizable parameter data 24 and predicted order information 222 to be accordingly added to schedule 230 along with actual orders 212. In this manner, some of the garments 110 in open orders 212 may be scheduled or actually produced before the order 212 is placed, which can allow for shorter or even immediate fulfilment 232 of such an order 212. In various examples, the historic data 238 can be used to predict the types of garments that are ordered in particular sizes and colors among certain geographic regions at various times and can add the production of such garments in predicted quantities at predicted times to schedule 230 with such garments 110 being manufactured according to modeling conducted by scheduling operation 228 using data 238.
By way of example, the modeling may determine that garments 110 suitable for cold weather (e.g. hats or garments having thicker material) in darker colors are ordered in late fall in cold weather regions, or that size distribution among regions varies in a predictable manner and can be associated with garments typically ordered at certain times and associated with such regions (e.g. to predict size data). These and other patterns may be predicted by scheduling operation 228 and added to the schedule 230 accordingly. In a similar manner, scheduling operation 228 may be able to predict and anticipate the timing of large orders, such as from retailers (e.g. in a certain time interval prior to holidays, retail seasons, etc.) such that large orders can be accounted for (including by way of sizes, colors, garment types, and the like predictably ordered by certain retailers).
In one aspect, forecasting data 240 can also be used by the scheduling operation 228 to allow for adaptation of the historic data 238 over time. This can allow the scheduling operation 228 to adjust the anticipated orders (by timing, characteristic, quantity) to account for changes in trends, demographics, and other factors. In one example, forecasting model 240 can include information regarding color trends to prevent garments in outdated colors from being scheduled too heavily or to anticipate the increase in orders of garments in upwardly-trending colors. In this manner scheduling operation 228 can also be tuned to account for changes in sizing preference over time or uncharacteristically cold or warm weather in certain seasons or regions.
Further, the use of the scheduling operation 228 can allow for inventory 242 to be kept of garments 110 produced according to anticipated orders, which can help to enhance the efficiency gains from using scheduling operation 228. Further, the use of scheduling operation 228, including using the above-described historic data 238 and forecasting data 240, can help maintain inventory 242 at acceptably low levels (including by setting limits on inventory within scheduling operation 228). As further depicted in
As can be appreciated, the ability for scheduling operation 228 to accurately schedule predicted orders may inversely vary with the number of customizable parameters 24 it must consider and account for. Accordingly, interface 214 may be adapted to provide options for garments of varying levels of customization. For example, options for variations in size and color for certain garments may be provided as “quick order” options, and the anticipated orders added by scheduling operation 228 can be restricted to the subset of garments resulting from the permutations of customizable parameters 24 relating to the quick orders. In this aspect, further customization options can be provided for customers outside of the quick order context, with it being made known that higher levels of customization may impact the speed of order fulfilment. In a further aspect, scheduling operation 228 may be able to provide information regarding the estimated time for fulfilment to the customer by way of interface 214 during the ordering process. Such information can, in some aspects, be adapted to the particular customizable parameter information 24 being input on a real-time basis.
In a further aspect, the scheduling operation 228 can be used in the ordering and/or production of materials 234 based on both customer orders 212 and anticipated orders, as well as forward-looking data used to derive the anticipated orders. In particular, the need for certain materials, taking into account current supply, at certain times can be communicated such that orders can be placed accordingly. Further, when system 210 is placed within infrastructure having automated ordering capability, scheduling operation 228 can provide information to be used in such automated ordering. Still further, in instances, where system 210 is used by an entity that also produces all or some of the materials used in the production 10 of garments 110, the information from scheduling operation 228 can be used in operations 256 associated with material production, including schedule generation or automated production operations. In a similar manner, scheduling operation 228 can consider material production information provided back from material production operation(s) 256 in deriving schedule 230.
It will be understood by one having ordinary skill in the art that construction of the described device and other components is not limited to any specific material. Other exemplary embodiments of the device disclosed herein may be formed from a wide variety of materials, unless described otherwise herein.
It is also important to note that the construction and arrangement of the elements of the device as shown in the exemplary embodiments is illustrative only. Although only a few embodiments of the present innovations have been described in detail in this disclosure, those skilled in the art who review this disclosure will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible (e.g., variations in sizes, dimensions, structures, shapes and proportions of the various elements, values of parameters, mounting arrangements, use of materials, colors, orientations, etc.) without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of the subject matter recited. For example, elements shown as integrally formed may be constructed of multiple parts or elements shown as multiple parts may be integrally formed, the operation of the interfaces may be reversed or otherwise varied, the length or width of the structures and/or members or connectors or other elements of the system may be varied, the nature or number of adjustment positions provided between the elements may be varied. It should be noted that the elements and/or assemblies of the system may be constructed from any of a wide variety of materials that provide sufficient strength or durability, in any of a wide variety of colors, textures, and combinations. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present innovations. Other substitutions, modifications, changes, and omissions may be made in the design, operating conditions, and arrangement of the desired and other exemplary embodiments without departing from the spirit of the present innovations.
It will be understood that any described processes or steps within described processes may be combined with other disclosed processes or steps to form structures within the scope of the present device. The exemplary structures and processes disclosed herein are for illustrative purposes and are not to be construed as limiting.
It is also to be understood that variations and modifications can be made on the aforementioned structures and methods without departing from the concepts of the present device, and further it is to be understood that such concepts are intended to be covered by the following claims unless these claims by their language expressly state otherwise.
The above description is considered that of the illustrated embodiments only. Modifications of the device will occur to those skilled in the art and to those who make or use the device. Therefore, it is understood that the embodiments shown in the drawings and described above is merely for illustrative purposes and not intended to limit the scope of the device, which are defined by the following claims as interpreted according to the principles of patent law, including the Doctrine of Equivalents.
The present application is a Continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/043,252, filed on Jul. 24, 2018, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,787,756, entitled “CUSTOM SIZING AND METHODS FOR A KNITTED GARMENT HAVING RADIAL SYMMETRY,” the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
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| Number | Date | Country | |
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| 20210017681 A1 | Jan 2021 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
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| Parent | 16043252 | Jul 2018 | US |
| Child | 16983247 | US |
