# US 8,464,559 B2 · Flight acceptable knitting needles

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- Number: US 8,464,559 B2
- Document ID: US8464559B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/208,208
- Filed: 2011-08-11
- Published: 2012-02-16
- Granted: 2013-06-18
- Earliest claimed: 2010-08-11
- Assignees: eg POP
- Applicants: Gail West; Ellery West
- Inventors: Gail West; Ellery West
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8464559B2

## CPC

- D04B 3/02: Needles
- D04B: KNITTING

## Abstract

A knitting needle has multiple segments, at least one of which is relatively non-rigid, wherein the segments can be combined to produce a needle that is sufficiently rigid to be used for knitting, while also having diminished usefulness as a weapon. In three major classes of embodiments, one of the segments fits inside the other in a telescoping manner, one of the segments wraps around the other, or the two segments can fit together in some sort of slotted fashion. There may be one or more engineered points of structural failure. Segments can be held together frictionally, magnetically, threadably, using a snap or twist and lock fitting, or in any other suitable manner. Contemplated segments can have any suitable composition, including especially a bendable plastic or a foam rubber.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A multi-segmented knitting needle, comprising:
a first non-rigid segment having a distal end and a proximal end;
a second segment having a distal end and a proximal end, wherein the second segment is configured to operatively interact with the first segment such that a combination of the first and second segments forms the needle; and
wherein a knitting tip is disposed at the distal end of at least one of the first and second segments, and wherein multiple engineered stress fractures are disposed longitudinally along at least one of the first and second segments.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The needle of claim 1, wherein the first segment comprises a sheath having a lumen, and the second segment can be slidably inserted into the lumen.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The needle of claim 2, wherein the second segment cooperates with the first segment to provide pneumatic stiffness to the first segment.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The needle of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second segments comprises rolled paper having a coating.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The needle of claim 4, wherein the coating comprises at least one of a milk protein, a sugar cane protein an elastomeric polymer and a paint.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The needle of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second segments comprise at least one of a bendable plastic and foam rubber.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The needle of claim 1, wherein the second segment is nested within the first segment and configured to be telescoping relative to the first segment.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The needle of claim 7, further comprising a third segment is nested within the second segment and configured to be telescoping relative to the second segment.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The needle of claim 1, wherein the first segment is threadably coupled to the second segment.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The needle of claim 1, wherein the first segment is magnetically coupled to the second segment.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The needle of claim 1, wherein the first segment and the second segment are coupled by a snap fitting.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The needle of claim 1, wherein the first segment and the second segment are coupled by a twist and lock mechanism.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The needle of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second segments further comprises an end cap.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The needle of claim 1, further comprising a point of structural failure.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The needle of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second segments is slotted, and the first and second segments mate in a finger joint fashion.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

The needle of claim 1, wherein the second segment is wrapped about the first segment.

### Claim 17 (depends on 1)

A knitting system, comprising two of the needles of claim 1 coupled by a cable.

### Claim 18

A break-away knitting needle, comprising:
a shaft having a knitting tip disposed on an end of the shaft; and
wherein at least a portion of the shaft includes at least one engineered point of structural failure, and wherein multiple engineered stress fractures are disposed longitudinally along at least one of the first and second segments.