GB2172019A - Knitted fabric - Google Patents

Abstract

A dimensionally stable, open texture weft knitted fabric has a pattern width extending across a pair of wales (10, 11) and a pattern repeat in the wale direction including sequences of stitches each comprising at least one tucked stitch (15) and at least one missed stitch (16) in adjacent courses, successive such stitch sequences occurring in alternate wales of each pair of wales. In other embodiments described the tucked and missed stitches are reversed in order, a second tucked or a second missed stitch follows the first and the missed stitch of Figure 6 is replaced by a second tucked stitch. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Knitted fabric This invention relates to a knitted fabric produced on a weft knitting machine. The fabric has an open texture but is dimensionaliy stable and is suitable for use, for example, in leisure wear, sportswear and underwear.

Fabrics in structures such as double cross tuck (also known as double Lacoste), Fred Perry (also known as Lacoste) and cellular blister structures are already known. See "Knitting Technology" by David J. Spencer. Pergammon Press, 1983, page 133.

However, the present fabric exhibits different or enhanced surface effects and can show improved dimensional stability in comparison with these known fabrics.

According to one aspect of the invention, a weft knitted fabric has a pattern width extending across a pair of wales and a pattern repeat in the wale direction including sequences of stitches each comprising at least one tucked stitch and at least one missed stitch, in adjacent courses, successive such stitch sequences occurring in alternate wales of each pair of wales.

Preferably each of the said stitch sequences includes a knitted stitch together with at least one tucked stitch and at least one missed stitch, thus producing a pattern repeat of at least six courses.

According to another aspect of the invention, a weft knitted fabric has a pattern width extending across a pair of wales and a pattern repeat in the wale direction including sequences of stitches each comprising at least one knitted stitch and at least one tucked stitch together with at least one missed stitch or another tucked stitch all in adjacent courses, successive such stitch sequences occurring in alternate wales of each pair of wales.

In fabrics according to either aspect of the invention including missed stiches, it is advantageous that the average length of yarn per wale should be less in those courses including missed stitches. In a fabric consisting of pattern repeats each of which includes two sequences of stitches as described above, in adjacent wales, and in which each said stitch sequence includes at least one missed stitch thus creating courses comprising alternate missed and knitted stitches, the ratio of the length of yarn in courses with missed stitches to the length of yarn in courses without missed stitches is advantageously inthe range from 25 per cent to 75 per cent, preferably from 40 per cent to 60 per cent or 45 per cent to 55 per cent.

The invention will be further described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 to 5 show stitch pattern repeats for five different weft knitted fabrics according to the invention, and Figures 6and 7 are representations of the stitch structures of the reverse and face sides, respectively, of the fabric produced using the pattern repeat of Figure 1.

Fabrics according to the invention are suitable for use in leisurewear, sportswear and underwear for men, women and children. They may be knitted in a natural fibre, for example cotton, or in a blend of a natural fibre with a synthetic or man-made fibre, for example an acrylic fibre, a polyester fibre or a viscose fibre. A blend of natural fibres may also be used, for example a blend of cotton and linen.

Fabrics according to the invention may be knitted on a single jersey multifeed circular weft knitting machine with two or more knitting tracks in the cam systems. Alternative machines which can be used to knit fabrics according to the invention are flat V-bed knitting machines, circular knitting machines for producing garment lengths, and knitting machines for producing socks, which can thus be knitted in a fabric according to the invention.

In order to knit the fabrics to be described below, the knitting machine used must be able to provide for or allow supply of yarn at two different rates to different yarn feeders in the machine. In a single jersey multifeed circular knitting machine, this may be achieved by providing two separate positive feed systems or by using storage feed systems at each yarn feeder. Alternatively, if it is not desired to duplicate the positive feed system for the yarn, a single positive feed system may be used to supply yarn to some yarn feeders of the machine and storage feed systems may be used to supply yarn to the remaining yarn feeders of the machine.

Each pattern repeat illustrated in Figures 1 to 5 extends across a pair ofwales and comprises sequences of stitches in the wale direction which alternate between the wales of the pair. The notation used in representing the stitch structure of each pattern repeat in the drawings is as follows : x = knitted stitch = tucked stitch = = missed stitch The pattern repeat of Figure 1 extends (in the wale direction) over six courses. In the first course, knitted stitches are formed from yarn supplied at feeder 1 in both wales 10 and 11. The second course formed in the wales 10 and 11 is produced at feeder 2 and comprises a tucked stitch in wale 10 and a knitted stitch in wale 11. At feeder 3 the needle producing the stitches of wales 10 does not take yarn to knit or tuck and a missed stitch is produced in this wale.In wale 11 another knitted stitch is produced at feeder 3. Thus, at this stage, there has been produced in wale 10 a sequence of stitches comprising a tucked stitch at feeder number 2 and a missed stitch at feeder number 3, that is in adjacent courses.

At feeder 4 two knitted stitches are produced and the stitch sequence in the pair of wales 10 and 11 is then reversed, a sequence of knitted stitches being produced in wale 10 at feeders 5 and 6 and a sequence of a tucked stitch and a missed stitch being produced in wale 11 at the same feeders. Thus, the sequence of one tucked stitch and one missed stitch in successive courses alternates between the wales 10 and 11, that is, the sequence occurs in alternate wales of the pair since, of course, the pattern repeat illustrated in Figure 1 is repeated a desired number of times in the wale direction and a desired number of times in the course direction to produce a piece of fabric of the size required.

The stitch structure produced using the pattern repeat of Figure 1 is represented in Figures 6 and 7.

At feeder 1 it is seen that loops are pulled through the previous loops 12 and 13 ofthe structure in both wales 10 and 11. At feeder 2 a knitted loop is formed in wale 11 but the needle forming wale 10, although it takes yarn to form a loop 14 does not cast off the previous loop 15 and thus forms a tucked stitch. At feeder 3 the needle forming wale 10 takes no yarn and a stitch is missed, yarn 16 extending across wale 10 from the adjacent wale (not shown) to wale 11.

The sequence is then repeated in wale 11 and continues alternating between the two wales.

The fabric produced is open in structure with a textured three dimensional effect on its face and good dimensional stability, even when Washed.

To achieve a more pronounced three-dimensional effect, more yarn per wale should be supplied at feeders 1,2,4 and 5, where only knitted and tucked stitches are formed than is supplied at feeders 3 and 6 where missed stitches are also formed. Otherwise there will be a tendency for the missed stitches represented by floats in the fabric to be too loose and possibly so loose that they will cause difficulties in knitting.

If the fabric of Figure 1 is knitted on an 18 gauge single cylinder large diameter circular weft knitting machine with two positive feed systems, feeders 1,2,4 and 5 may, for example, be supplied with 7.5 mm of yarn for every two wales and feeders 3 and 6 may be supplied with 4.9mm of yarn for every two wales, a ratio of approximately 65 per cent. Advantageously, this ratio of yarn supplied to courses without missed stitches to yarn supplied to courses with missed stitches lies in the range of from 40 per centto 90 per cent and is preferably in the range 55 per cent to 75 per cent or better, 60 per cent to 70 per cent.

In a machine without positive feed, the amount of yarn pulled by the individual active needles in the knit-miss courses may be greater than the amount of yarn pulled by the individual needles in the knit-knit and knit-tuck courses in order to provide yarn for the floats which are formed where no needle is active.

The fabric of Figure 1 involves a pattern repeat over two wales and six courses with a sequence of stitches comprising a kitted stitch, a tucked stitch and a missed stitch alternating between the two wales. The fabric weight is determined by the choice of yarn count and machine gauge and normal finishing procedures may be used. For example, when knitted with cotton yarn, the fabric may be scoured, winch dyed, dried when tubular or slit, and finally stentered. An alternative finishing procedure for cotton fabric is continuous bleaching, drying when tubular or slit, and stentering.

The pattern of Figure 2 shows a two wale repeat extending over six courses and including a sequence of stitches alternating between the two wales. This sequence includes a tucked stitch and a missed stitch knitted in the opposite order to that of Figure 1.

The pattern of Figure 3 is also a two wale repeat extending over six courses and including a sequence of stitches alternating between the two wales so that successive sequences occur in alternate wales. In this case each of the said sequences of stitches comprise two tucked stitches in adjacent courses and the sequence is completed by a knitted stitch.

The pattern of Figure 4 extends over two wales and eight courses and includes 4 sequences of stitches alternating between the two wales, each such sequence including a tucked stitch followed by two missed stitches and preceded by a knitted stitch.

Figure 5 shows a similar pattern in which each such stitch sequence includes a knitted stitch, two tucked stitches and a missed stitch.

It is not necessary that all of the stitch sequences in a fabric according to the invention should be identical. For example the fabric may include stitch sequences including two tucked stitches in successive courses and stitch sequences including a tucked stitch and a missed stitch in successive courses.

Claims (8)

1. Aweft knitted fabric having a pattern width extending across a pair of wales and a pattern repeat in the wale direction including sequences of stitches each comprising at least one tucked stitch and at least one missed stitch in adjacent courses, successive such stitch sequences occurring in alternate wales of each pair of wales.

2. Aweft knitted fabric according to claim 1, wherein each of the said sequences of stitches includes a knitted stitch together with at least one tucked stitch and at least one missed stitch and the fabric has a pattern repeat of at least six courses.

3. A weft knitted fabric having a pattern width extending across a pair of wales and-a pattern repeat in the wale direction including sequences of stitches each comprising at least one knitted stitch and at least one tucked stitch together with at least one missed stitch or another tucked stitch all in adjacent courses, successive such stitch sequences occurring in alternate wales of each pairof wales.

4. A weft knitted fabric according to claim 1,2 or 3 including missed stitches, wherein, in courses including missed stitches, the length of yarn per wale is lessthan in courses not including missed stitches.

5. Aweft knitted fabric according to claim 4, including courses comprising alternate missed and knitted stitches and courses comprising no missed stitches, the ratio of the length of yarn per wale in courses with missed stitches to the length of yarn per wale in courses without missed stitches is in the range from 40 per cent to 90 per cent.

6. A weft knitted fabric according to claim 5, wherein the said ratio is in the range from 55 per cent to 75 per cent.

7. Aweft knitted fabric according to claim 5, wherein the said ratio is in the range from 60-per cent to 70 per cent.

8. A weft knitted fabric substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1,6 and 7 or any one of Figures 2 to 5 of the accompanying drawings.