Elastic circular knitting needle
OwnerKatherine Marie Eley-Holden-Sotnikinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A circular knitting needle (20) with an elastic cord (46). Cord (46) has integral connections (38), (40) at each end that are bonded to a pair of needles (26), (28), respectively. Needles (26), (28) are alike and comprise tapered distal tips (22), (24), and tapered proximal bases (34), (36) for ease of manufacturing. The elasticity of cord (46) facilitates the knitting of items with a small circumference, and facilitates the fitting and sizing of partially-knitted items.
Claims10
A circular knitting needle comprising:
- an elastic cord;
- a first knitting needle connected to a first end of said elastic cord;
- and
- a second knitting needle connected to a second end of said elastic cord;
- wherein said first knitting needle and said second knitting needle each comprise a shaft portion, a tip at a distal end, and a base at a proximal end;
- and
- wherein said elastic cord comprises an expandable segment and a first connection and a second connection;
- wherein said first connection and said second connection comprise a coated material layer bonded to the base of said first knitting needle and to the base of said second knitting needle, respectively;
- whereby said elastic cord stretches so as to enable said circular knitting needle to expand and contract.
In combination, a circular knitting needle comprising:
- a first knitting needle and a second knitting needle;
- the improvement wherein said first knitting needle and said second knitting needle are attached to an expansion means for instantaneous elongation of said circular knitting needle;
- wherein said expansion means comprises an expandable segment and two connection means;
- wherein each said connection means for attaching said expandable segment comprises a coated material layer;
- whereby said expansion means activates under tension and provides expansion and contraction in said circular knitting needle so that a partially knitted item can be knitted and sized conveniently.
A method of expanding and contracting a hand-knitting apparatus, comprising:
- providing a circular knitting needle of the type comprising a pair of needles each having a distal tip and a proximal base, and an elastic cord having a connection at each end bonded to the proximal bases of said pair of needles;
- providing a partially knitted item remaining intact on said circular knitting needle;
- gripping said pair of needles, one in each hand, and pulling the needles in opposite directions so that said elastic cord expands;
- relaxing said pair of needles so that said elastic cord contracts;
- holding said pair of needles so that said circular knitting needle forms an annulus;
- radially moving said pair of needles and swinging each said proximal base away from and toward the other;
- locking said pair of needles together in a known manner so that they form a barrier to hold said partially knitted item from sliding off said circular knitting needle;
- gripping said elastic cord and pulling said annulus and knitted item in a plurality of directions so that said elastic cord expands;
- relaxing said annulus and knitted item so that said elastic cord contracts;
- whereby said circular knitting needle will stretch and relax, and a knitter can knit and size a partially knitted item, and the knitted item is expanded and contracted in a simple fashion without restriction and without other elements.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.