Interchangeable knitting needle system
OwnerMark D. Moracainventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An interchangeable circular knitting needle system with improved reliability and consistency having at least one knitting needle, at least one flexible cable, and a connector assembly to join the needle to the cable. The connector assembly is composed of two members, a plug and a receptacle. The plug may be inserted snugly into the receptacle to ensure a reliable physical connection. An interchangeable circular knitting needle kit is composed of the interchangeable circular knitting needle described above as well as a disconnecting tool for assisting in disconnecting the connector assembly members.
Claims20
An interchangeable knitting needle system, comprising:
- a. at least one knitting needle having a tip, a shaft extending from the tip and terminating at a base opposite the tip, the base connected to a coupling assembly for connecting at least one knitting needle and at least one flexible cable;
- b. at least one flexible cable capable of receiving looped knitted material thereon upon engagement with the at least one knitting needle by connecting to the coupling assembly at one end of the at least one flexible cable;
- and
- c. the coupling assembly, comprising a plug and a receptacle,
- i. the receptacle having a hollow interior and being generally cylindrical in shape both along an exterior surface and an interior surface and defining a hollow interior, and said receptacle comprising a receiving aperture for receiving the plug, and
- ii. the plug comprising two spaced prong extensions sized to fit into the receptacle and, while compressed within the receptacle, to engage the interior surface of the receptacle and compress against each other resulting in compression engagement within the receptacle.
An interchangeable knitting needle kit, comprising:
- a. at least one knitting needle having a tip, a shaft extending from the tip and terminating at a base opposite the tip, the base connected to a coupling assembly for connecting at least one knitting needle and at least one flexible cable;
- b. at least one flexible cable capable of receiving looped knitted material thereon upon engagement with the at least one knitting needle by connecting to the coupling assembly at one end of the flexible cable;
- c. the coupling assembly, comprising a plug and a receptacle,
- i. the receptacle having a hollow interior and being generally cylindrical in shape both along an exterior surface and an interior surface and defining a hollow interior, and said receptacle comprising a receiving aperture for receiving the plug and further comprising two removal apertures on opposite sides of the receptacle providing two openings through the receptacle to the hollow interior, and
- ii. the plug comprising two spaced prong extensions sized to fit into the receptacle and, while compressed within the receptacle, to engage the interior surface of the receptacle and compress against each other resulting in compression engagement within the receptacle;
- and
- d. a disconnecting tool for disconnecting the plug and the receptacle of at least the coupling assembly, the disconnecting tool comprising two arms connected at a base and each terminating at a tip opposite the base, the tips each turned at approximately a 90 degree angle and sized to fit within the two removal apertures of the receptacle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.