# US 5,701,766 A · Method for broadening a tubular knitted fabric by a flat knitting machine, a knit design apparatus and a memory therefor, and knitted tubular fabric

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- Number: US 5,701,766 A
- Document ID: US5701766A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 08/752,243
- Filed: 1996-11-21
- Granted: 1997-12-30
- Earliest claimed: 1995-11-24
- Assignees: Shima Seiki Manufacturing, Ltd.
- Inventors: Nobuyasu Takahashi
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5701766A

## CPC

- D04B 1/22: specially adapted for knitting goods of particular configuration
- D04B: KNITTING

## Abstract

A tubular knitted fabric is broadened while fully preventing generation of open gap. Yarn is hooked on a needle of a second needle bed and twisted to form a loop, and this loop is transferred onto a first needle bed to become a broadening loop. A subsequent stitch is formed on the broadening loop and transferred back to the second needle bed. Yarn is hooked again on a needle of the second needle bed and twisted to form a loop, and this loop is transferred to the first needle bed to become a broadening loop.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A broadening method of using a flat knitting machine having at least a pair of abutting needle beds, each having a large number of needles, holding a first knitted fabric on needles of a first needle bed, holding a second knitted fabric on needles of a second needle bed, and broadening a tubular knitted fabric comprising said first knitted fabric and said second knitted fabric, and
said broadening method comprising repeating a series of steps for forming a broadening stitch, a series of steps for transferring the broadening stitch thus formed, and a series of steps for compensating for broadening, and
said series of steps for forming a broadening stitch including
feeding yarn to needles holding the first knitted fabric to form a new row of stitches on the first knitted fabric, and feeding yarn to an empty needle outside the first knitted fabric on the second needle bed to form a hooked part.
twisting said hooked part on the second needle bed to make prolongations on both sides of the hooked part cross and change it into a loop, and feeding yarn to needles holding the second knitted fabric to form a new row of stitches on the second knitted fabric, and
transferring said loop onto an empty needle being outside the first knitted fabric on the first needle bed to make it a broadening loop, and
said series of steps for transferring said formed broadening stitch including
feeding yarn to needles holding the first knitted fabric except a needle corresponding to said broadening loop to form a new row of stitches on the first knitted fabric.
feeding yarn to the needle corresponding to said broadening loop on the first needle bed to form a stitch subsequent to the broadening loop, and feeding yarn to needles holding the second knitted fabric to form a new row of stitches on the second knitted fabric, and
transferring the stitch subsequent to said broadening loop on the first needle bed to an empty needle outside the second knitted fabric on the second needle bed to broaden the second knitted fabric, and
said series of steps for compensating for broadening including,
feeding yarn to needles holding the first knitted fabric to form a new row of stitches on the first knitted fabric, and feeding yarn to an empty needle outside the first knitted fabric to form a hooked part,
twisting said hooked part on the second needle bed to change it into a loop, and feeding yarn to needles holding the second knitted fabric to form a new row of stitches on the second knitted fabric, and
transferring said loop on the second needle bed onto an empty needle outside the first knitted fabric on the first needle bed to broaden the first knitted fabric.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A method of broadening a tubular knitted fabric of claim 1 being characterized in that
feeding yarn to needles holding the first knitted fabric and the needle corresponding to said broadening loop to form a new row of stitches on the first knitted fabric, and feeding yarn to needles holding the second knitted fabric to form a new row of stitches on the second knitted fabric (s9) are provided between said series of steps for forming a broadening stitch and said series of steps for transferring a formed broadening stitch.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

A method of broadening a tubular knitted fabric of claim 1 being characterized in that
said flat knitting machine has four abutting needle beds, a first lower needle bed and a first upper needle bed and a second lower needle bed and a second upper needle bed, and
said first knitted fabric is held on needles of the first lower needle bed, said second knitted fabric is held on needles of the second lower needle bed, and said respective hooked parts are formed on needles of the first upper needle bed or the second upper needle bed.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

A method of broadening a tubular knitted fabric of claim 1 being characterized in that
of a new row of stitches on the first knitted fabric, face stitches are formed by needles on the first needle bed and back stitches are formed by needles on the second needle bed and
of a new row of stitches on the second knitted fabric, face stitches are formed by needles on the second needle bed and back stitches are formed by needles on the first needle bed.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

A tubular knitted fabric broadened by the method of claim 1.