JP2026000480A - Method for knitting a single knitted fabric having three or more multiple stitches, legwear, and a single knitted fabric having three or more multiple stitches - Google Patents

Abstract

[Problem] An object of the present invention is to provide a method for knitting a multi-layer knitted fabric that can more efficiently demonstrate the function of the skin-facing layer. [Solution] In the method according to the present invention, a single knitted fabric having three or more multiple stitches is knitted using a specific knitting machine. The knitting machine has needles that move up and down. In addition, in the knitting machine, the outlets of the first yarn path, the second yarn path, and the third yarn path are arranged in order from bottom to top in a plan view, and the outlets of the first yarn path, the third yarn path, and the second yarn path are located in order from bottom to top. In this method, a first knitting is selectively performed in which the needles are raised to a height at which the yarn passed through the third yarn path passes and flat knits the yarn passed through the first yarn path and the yarn passed through the second yarn path while keeping the yarn passed through the second yarn path in a floating state, and a second knitting is selectively performed in which the needles are raised to a height at which the yarn passed through the second yarn path passes and flat knits the above three yarns. [Selected Figure] Figure 3

Description

The present invention relates to a method for knitting a single knitted fabric having three or more multiple stitches. The present invention also relates to legwear. The present invention also relates to a single knitted fabric having three or more multiple stitches.

In the past, there have been three-layer knitted fabrics (see, for example, Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 57-034592) that are knitted with "three yarns, including one elastic yarn, and of the two yarns other than the elastic yarn, one is exposed on the front side and the other on the back side, with the elastic yarn sandwiched between the two yarns (see, for example, Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 57-034592)," and "three-layer structured fabrics consisting of a back layer for absorbing insensible perspiration or sweat from the human body, an intermediate layer for allowing moisture to pass through the back layer, and a surface layer for releasing moisture from the intermediate layer to the outside air, the back layer being composed of hydrophilic fibers, the surface layer being composed of hydrophobic fibers, and the intermediate layer A three-layer fabric has been proposed in which the intermediate layer is composed of hydrophobic fibers and/or hydrophilic fibers, the denier ratio between the yarns forming the surface layer and the yarns forming the back layer is 1:1 to 5:8, the denier ratio between the yarns forming the intermediate layer and the yarns forming the surface layer is 1:4 to 1:7, the weight ratio of the intermediate layer to the entire fabric is 0.4 to 5.0%, the weight ratio of the surface layer to the back layer is 5:6 to 1:2, and the basis weight of the entire knitted fabric is 130 to 600 g/m2 (see, for example, Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 59-169386).

Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 57-034592 Jitszen No. 59-169386

An object of the present invention is to provide a method for knitting a multi-layer knit fabric that allows the layer facing the skin to function more efficiently. Another object of the present invention is to provide legwear that allows the layer facing the skin to function more efficiently. Another object of the present invention is to provide a single knit fabric with multiple stitches that minimizes the return of moisture from the skin, such as sweat and insensible perspiration, to the skin, and minimizes the contact of moisture adhering from the outside, such as rain, with the skin.

In a method for knitting a single-knitted fabric having three or more multiple stitches according to a first aspect of the present invention, a single-knitted fabric having three or more multiple stitches is knitted using a specific knitting machine. The specific knitting machine has needles that move up and down. In the specific knitting machine, an outlet for a first yarn path is provided at a position closest to the knitting point in a plan view, an outlet for a third yarn path is provided at a position farthest from the knitting point in a plan view, and an outlet for a second yarn path is provided at a position that is longer than the distance from the outlet for the first yarn path P1 to the knitting point and that is also shorter in the circumferential direction from the outlet for the third yarn path to the knitting point in a plan view. In the specific knitting machine, the outlet for the first yarn path is located below the outlets for the second yarn path and the third yarn path, the outlet for the second yarn path is located above the outlets for the first yarn path and the third yarn path, and the outlet for the third yarn path is higher in height than the outlet for the first yarn path and lower in height than the outlet for the second yarn path. In this method, first knitting and second knitting are selectively performed. In the first knitting, the needles are raised to a height through which the yarn passed through the third yarn path (hereinafter referred to as the "third yarn") passes, and the third yarn and the yarn passed through the first yarn path (hereinafter referred to as the "first yarn") are flat knitted, while the yarn passed through the second yarn path (hereinafter referred to as the "second yarn") is left floating. In the second knitting, the needles are raised to a height through which the second yarn passes, and the first, second, and third yarns are flat knitted.

In single knit fabrics knitted using this method, the sinker-side loop of the second yarn is exposed in a floating state on one side. Therefore, by making that side face the skin, the surface yarn can be more easily brought into contact with the skin than in fabrics where both the front and back sides are flat knitted. Therefore, in this single knit fabric, by using a functional yarn as the surface yarn knitted in a floating knit, the surface yarn's function against the skin can be more efficiently exerted. Furthermore, in this single knit fabric, the side opposite the above-mentioned side is flat knitted. Therefore, the opposite side of the single knit fabric can be kept dense.

In the method according to the first aspect, it is preferable to selectively perform the first knitting, second knitting, and third knitting to knit a single knit fabric having three or more multiple stitches. In the third knitting, the needles are raised to a height through which the first yarn passes, and only the first yarn is flat knitted.

A legwear according to a second aspect of the present invention has a first region formed therein. The first region is knitted from at least one elastic yarn and at least two face yarns that are less elastic than the elastic yarn. In this first region, the elastic yarn is knitted in a flat knitting pattern, and at least one of the at least two face yarns is knitted in a flat knitting pattern with its needle-side loop exposed on the face side, and at least one of the at least two face yarns is knitted in a float knitting pattern with its sinker-side loop exposed and floating on the inside.

In the first region of the legwear, the sinker-side loops of the face yarn, which is knitted in a float knit, are exposed in a floating state on the inside. This makes it easier for the face yarn to come into contact with the skin compared to knitted fabrics in which both the front and back are knitted flat. Therefore, in this legwear, by using a functional yarn as the face yarn knitted in a float knit, the face yarn's function on the skin can be more efficiently exerted. Furthermore, in the first region of this legwear, the face side is knitted flat. This allows the face side of the first region to remain dense.

When the legwear according to the second aspect has a tubular portion and a heel covering portion, it is preferable that a first region be formed in the tubular portion. In such a case, it is also preferable that a second region be formed in the heel covering portion. In the second region, the elastic yarn and at least two face yarns are knitted in a flat knitting pattern.

This legwear allows the functional yarn in the tubular section to function on the skin, while also increasing the durability of the heel covering section.

Furthermore, when the legwear according to the second aspect has a tubular portion and a toe covering portion, it is preferable that a first region be formed in the tubular portion. In such a case, it is also preferable that a second region be formed in the toe covering portion. In the second region, the elastic yarn and at least two face yarns are knitted in a flat knitting pattern.

This legwear allows the functional yarn in the tubular portion to function on the skin, while also increasing the durability of the toe covering.

Furthermore, when the legwear according to the second aspect has a groin covering portion, it is preferable that a third region be formed in the groin covering portion. In the third region, the elastic yarn is knitted in a flat knitting pattern, and at least two outer yarns are knitted in a floating knitting pattern.

Furthermore, when the legwear according to the second aspect has an instep covering portion and a sole covering portion, it is preferable that the second region be formed in the instep covering portion and the first region be formed in the sole covering portion. Furthermore, in the second region, the elastic yarn and at least two outer yarns are knitted in a flat knitting pattern.

Furthermore, when the legwear according to the second aspect has an instep covering portion and a sole covering portion, it is preferable that the third region be formed in the instep covering portion and the first region be formed in the sole covering portion. In the third region, the elastic yarn is knitted in a flat knitting pattern, and at least two outer yarns are knitted in a floating knitting pattern.

Furthermore, when the legwear according to the second aspect has an instep covering portion and a sole covering portion, it is preferable that a third region is formed in the upper portion of the instep covering portion, a second region is formed in the area where the lower portion of the instep covering portion and the upper portion of the sole covering portion meet, and a first region is formed in the lower portion of the sole covering portion. In the third region, the elastic yarn is knitted in a flat knitting pattern, and at least two outer yarns are knitted in a float knitting pattern. In the second region, the elastic yarn and at least two outer yarns are knitted in a flat knitting pattern.

Furthermore, when the legwear according to the second aspect has a sole covering portion, an instep covering portion, a toe covering portion, and a heel covering portion, it is preferable that a first region be formed in the sole covering portion, and that a second region be formed in the instep covering portion, the toe covering portion, and the heel covering portion. Furthermore, in the second region, the elastic yarn and at least two outer yarns are knitted in a flat knitting pattern.

Furthermore, when the legwear according to the second aspect has a leg covering portion, an ankle covering portion, an instep covering portion, and a sole covering portion, it is preferable that a third region is formed in the leg covering portion, ankle covering portion, and instep covering portion, and that a first region is formed in the sole covering portion. In the third region, the elastic yarn is knitted in a flat knitting pattern, and at least two face yarns are knitted in a floating knitting pattern.

A single knit fabric having triple or more multiple stitches according to a third aspect of the present invention is knitted from at least one elastic yarn and at least two face yarns. The face yarn has lower elasticity than the elastic yarn. In this single knit fabric, the needle-side loop of at least one of the at least two face yarns is exposed on the first surface side, and the sinker-side loop of at least one of the at least two face yarns is exposed on the second surface side. The second surface is the surface opposite the first surface. In this single knit fabric, the exposed proportion of the sinker-side loop is greater than the exposed proportion of the needle loop. The face yarn exposed on the first surface side is a different face yarn from the face yarn exposed on the second surface side.

For this reason, if the second surface faces the skin, the moisture absorption effect of the coarse-knit structure (the effect of moisture moving from a knitted structure with large stitches to a knitted structure with small stitches) will allow moisture such as sweat and insensible perspiration from the skin to move from the second surface to the first surface, minimizing the moisture such as sweat and insensible perspiration absorbed by the face yarn knitted in flat knitting returning to the skin and preventing moisture from outside, such as rain, from coming into contact with the skin. Furthermore, because the face yarn knitted in float knitting has a smaller contact area with the skin, moisture is less likely to be felt on the skin.

1 is a partial plan view of a circular knitting machine according to an embodiment of the present invention, showing the positional relationship between each yarn path and a knitting point. FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the height relationship of each yarn path in the circular knitting machine according to the embodiment of the present invention. This figure explains the relationship between the height position of a needle and the yarn that is hung on that needle in a circular knitting machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. Note that the dashed arrows shown in this figure do not indicate the movement of the needle, but rather the time-series state transition of the needle. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the height positional relationship between a plain knitting surface yarn passing through a first yarn path, an elastic yarn passing through a second yarn path, and a float knitting surface yarn passing through a third yarn path in the needles of a circular knitting machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1A and 1B are diagrams illustrating an example of legwear according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing regions designated as first and second regions in an example of legwear according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing regions designated as first and third regions in an example of legwear according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing regions designated as a first region, a second region, and a third region in an example of legwear according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing regions designated as first and second regions in an example of legwear according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing regions designated as first and third regions in an example of legwear according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing regions designated as a first region, a second region, and a third region in an example of legwear according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing regions designated as first and second regions in an example of legwear according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing regions designated as first and third regions in an example of legwear according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a region designated as a first region in an example of legwear according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 15 is a photograph showing an example of the legwear shown in FIG. 14. This is a 50x magnified photograph of the outside (front side) of the first region of the legwear shown in Figure 15. In this figure, the yarns shown in black are front yarns for flat knitting, and the yarns shown in white are front yarns for float knitting. In the figure, the symbol Y2 indicates the front yarn for float knitting, and the symbol Y3 indicates the front yarn for flat knitting. This is a 50x magnified photograph of the inside (skin side) of the first region of the legwear shown in Figure 15. In this figure, the white yarn with floated loops is the float knitting front yarn, and the white yarn with flat knitting without floated loops is the elastic yarn. In the figure, the symbol Y1 indicates the elastic yarn, and the symbol Y2 indicates the float knitting front yarn.

<Configuration of single knitted fabric according to embodiment of the present invention>
The single knit fabric according to an embodiment of the present invention is a single knit fabric having triple or more multiple stitches. This single knit fabric is knitted from at least one elastic yarn and at least two face yarns. The at least two face yarns have lower elasticity than the elastic yarn. At least one of the at least two face yarns is knitted in a plain knit pattern. The needle-side loop of the face yarn knitted in a plain knit pattern (hereinafter sometimes referred to as a "face yarn for plain knitting") is exposed on the first surface side. At least one of the at least two face yarns is knitted in a float knit pattern. Here, a float knit pattern is also referred to as a welt knit pattern, a miss knit pattern, or a float knit pattern. The sinker-side loop of the face yarn knitted in a float knit pattern (hereinafter sometimes referred to as a "face yarn for float knitting") is exposed in a floated state on the second surface side. Here, the second surface is the surface opposite the first surface. The elastic yarn is positioned between the face yarn for plain knitting and the face yarn for float knitting. Incidentally, such a single knitted fabric has the characteristic that it is not thinner than a single knitted fabric knitted with one front yarn and one back yarn only by float stitches.

<Method of knitting a single knitted fabric according to an embodiment of the present invention>
The single knitted fabric according to the embodiment of the present invention can be knitted in a planar shape using a flat knitting machine, or can be knitted in a tubular shape using a circular knitting machine (circular knitting). When knitting a single knitted fabric in a tubular shape, it is preferable that the single knitted fabric is knitted so that the float knitting surface yarn is located on the inside. Below, a method for knitting a single knitted fabric according to the embodiment of the present invention in a tubular shape using a circular knitting machine so that the float knitting surface yarn is located on the inside will be described.

First, we will describe in detail the circular knitting machine used in the method for knitting a single knitted fabric according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this circular knitting machine, the yarn path for the elastic yarn is referred to as the "first yarn path," the yarn path for the float knitting surface yarn is referred to as the "second yarn path," and the yarn path for the flat knitting surface yarn is referred to as the "third yarn path."

In this circular knitting machine RN, the outlets of the three yarn paths are provided so as to have the following positional relationships (a) to (f), as shown in FIGS.
(a) The outlet E1 of the first yarn path P1 is located closest to the knitting point (also called the knitting point) NP in the circumferential direction in a plan view (see FIG. 1).
(b) The outlet E3 of the third yarn path P3 is located at the farthest position from the knitting point NP in the circumferential direction in a plan view (see FIG. 1).
(c) The outlet E2 of the second yarn path P2 is located between the outlet E1 of the first yarn path P1 and the outlet E3 of the third yarn path P3 in the circumferential direction in a plan view (see FIG. 1). That is, the circumferential distance from the outlet E2 of the second yarn path P2 to the knitting point NP is longer than the circumferential distance from the outlet E1 of the first yarn path P1 to the knitting point NP, and the circumferential distance from the outlet E3 of the third yarn path P3 to the knitting point NP is shorter.
(d) The outlet E1 of the first yarn path P1 is located lower than the outlet E2 of the second yarn path P2 and the outlet E3 of the third yarn path P3 (i.e., the outlet E1 of the first yarn path P1 is located at the lowest point of the three yarn paths P1 to P3) (see FIG. 2).
(e) The outlet E2 of the second yarn path P2 is located above the outlet E1 of the first yarn path P1 and the outlet E3 of the third yarn path P3 (i.e., the outlet E2 of the second yarn path P2 is located at the highest point of the three yarn paths P1 to P3) (see FIG. 2).
(f) The outlet E3 of the third yarn path P3 is located higher than the outlet E1 of the first yarn path P1 and lower than the outlet E2 of the second yarn path P2 (i.e., the outlet E3 of the third yarn path P3 is located between the outlet E1 of the first yarn path P1 and the outlet E2 of the second yarn path P2) (see FIG. 2).

Next, a method for knitting a single-knit circular knit fabric according to an embodiment of the present invention using this circular knitting machine RN will be described in detail. As shown in Figure 3, in this single-knit circular knitting machine RN, whether or not the float knitting surface yarn Y2 is knitted in is determined by adjusting the height to which the needle ND is raised, as shown in Figure 3. (Note that in Figure 3, the portion indicated by the symbol Nm is the "hook," and the portion indicated by the symbol Nb is the "latch." The hook Nm opens toward the inside of the circular knitting machine RN.) That is, as shown on the left side of Figure 3, if the needle ND does not reach the height at which the float knitting surface yarn Y2 passes, the float knitting surface yarn Y2 is not knitted, and its sinker-side loop portion is left in a floating state. In this case, as shown on the left side of Fig. 3 , the needle ND reaches a height where the plain knitting front yarn Y3 passes, so the plain knitting front yarn Y3 and the elastic yarn Y1 passing below it are hooked onto the needle ND, and the elastic yarn Y1 and the plain knitting front yarn Y3 are knitted in a plain knit pattern. The height of the needle ND may be adjusted mechanically or programmatically. In this case, as shown in Fig. 4 , the elastic yarn Y1 is positioned on the needle ND closer to the knitting machine RN than the plain knitting front yarn Y3 (yarns are hooked onto the needle ND in order from the yarn farthest from the knitting point NP, and the yarns farther from the knitting point NP are hooked onto the needle ND so that they are positioned on the outside of the knitting machine RN and the yarns closer to the knitting point NP are positioned on the inside of the knitting machine RN). This means that the needle-side loop of the plain knitting front yarn Y3 is exposed on the outside, and the elastic yarn Y1 is exposed on the inside (i.e., the skin side). Furthermore, the float knitting front yarn Y2 that is not hooked on the needles is not knitted, and the sinker side loops of the float knitting front yarn Y2 float inward, so essentially the needle side loops of the plain knitting front yarn Y3 are exposed on the front side, the sinker side loops of the float knitting front yarn Y2 are exposed on the inside (i.e., the skin side), and the stretchable yarn Y1 is positioned between them. In this case, the needle side loops of the float knitting front yarn Y2 also are exposed on the front side.

On the other hand, as shown on the right side of Figure 3, when the needle ND reaches a height where the float knitting front yarn Y2 passes, the float knitting front yarn Y2, as well as the flat knitting front yarn Y3 and stretch yarn Y1 passing underneath, are hooked onto the needle ND, and the float knitting front yarn Y2, flat knitting front yarn Y3, and stretch yarn Y1 are knitted in a flat knit pattern. In this case, as shown in Figure 4, on the needle ND, the flat knitting front yarn Y3 is positioned outside the float knitting front yarn Y2, and the float knitting front yarn Y2 is positioned outside the stretch yarn Y1, so the needle-side loop of the flat knitting front yarn Y3 is exposed on the outer side, the stretch yarn Y1 is exposed on the inner side (i.e., the skin side), and the float knitting front yarn Y2 is positioned between them.

Although not shown, with this circular knitting machine RN, the maximum stroke position of the needle ND can be adjusted so that the needle ND does not reach the height at which the plain knitting surface yarn Y3 passes, allowing the needle ND to knit plain knitting using only the elastic yarn Y1, and leaving the sinker-side loop portions of both the float knitting surface yarn Y2 and the plain knitting surface yarn Y3 in a floating state without knitting.

As described above, by adjusting the highest stroke position of the needle ND, this circular knitting machine RN can produce a mixture of the following in the same single knit fabric: (i) areas where the elastic yarn Y1, the floating knitting surface yarn Y2, and the plain knitting surface yarn Y3 are all plain knit; (ii) areas where the elastic yarn Y1 and the plain knitting surface yarn Y3 are plain knit and the floating knitting surface yarn Y2 is float knit; and (iii) areas where the elastic yarn Y1 is plain knit and the floating knitting surface yarn Y2 and the plain knitting surface yarn Y3 are float knit. It is preferable to designate the area where the floating knitting surface yarn Y2 and the plain knitting surface yarn Y3 should be kept from contacting the skin as much as possible as area (i), the area where only the floating knitting surface yarn Y2 should be in contact with the skin as area (ii), and the area where both the floating knitting surface yarn Y2 and the plain knitting surface yarn Y3 should be in contact with the skin as area (iii).

<Application of single knitted fabric according to an embodiment of the present invention>
The single knit fabric according to the embodiment of the present invention can be applied to, for example, knit hats, apparel, legwear, armwear, and other wearable devices. When the single knit fabric according to the embodiment of the present invention is applied to wearable devices, it is preferable that the sinker-side loops of the floating knitting surface yarn are exposed to the skin side, and the needle-side loops of the plain knitting surface yarn are exposed to the front side. In such cases, by using a functional yarn having the desired function on the skin as the floating knitting surface yarn, the function of the functional yarn can be made to act on the skin, and by using a yarn with excellent appearance or a yarn with a pleasant feel as the plain knitting surface yarn, it is possible to knit a knitted fabric with a surface that is excellent in appearance and feel. As described above, the stretchable yarn should be more stretchable than at least two surface yarns (including the plain knitting surface yarn and the floating knitting surface yarn). Examples of elastic yarns include FTY (filament twisted yarn), SCY (single covered yarn), DCY (double covered yarn), and woolly nylon. It is more preferable to use functional yarns that have the desired skin function and elasticity as the elastic yarns. Below, we will introduce some application examples of this single knitted fabric.

Furthermore, when the single knit fabric according to the embodiment of the present invention is applied to legwear such as socks having toe and heel covering portions, it is preferable to form a first region in the tubular portion covering the base of the foot, sole, instep, ankle, and leg, in which the elastic yarn Y1 and the flat knitting surface yarn Y3 are flat knitted and the float knitting surface yarn Y2 is float knitted. An example of such legwear is shown in Figures 5 and 6. In Figure 5, reference numeral 100 denotes the legwear, reference numeral 105 denotes the leg covering portion, reference numeral 110 denotes the ankle covering portion, reference numeral 120 denotes the heel covering portion, reference numeral 130 denotes the instep covering portion, reference numeral 140 denotes the sole covering portion, reference numeral 150 denotes the base covering portion, reference numeral 160 denotes the toe covering portion, and reference numeral 180 denotes the tubular portion. In Figure 6, reference numeral R1 denotes the first region described above, and reference numeral R2 denotes the second region described below. The tubular portion 180 is composed of a leg covering portion 105, an ankle covering portion 110, a heel covering portion 120, an instep covering portion 130, a sole covering portion 140, and a base covering portion 150. In this type of legwear 100, it is preferable to form a second region R2 in the toe covering portion 160 that covers the toes and the heel covering portion 120 that covers the heel, in which the elastic yarn Y1, the floating knitting surface yarn Y2, and the flat knitting surface yarn Y3 are all flat knit (see Figure 6). This allows the functional yarn in the tubular portion to function on the skin, and increases the durability of the toe covering portion 160 and the heel covering portion 120.

In such cases, it is preferable that the toe covering portion 160 and the heel covering portion 120 include narrowing stitches where the number of wales gradually decreases and widening stitches where the number of wales gradually increases. This is because the toe covering portion 160 and the heel covering portion 120 can be shaped to fit the shape of the human body, improving the comfort of wearing the legwear 100. Note that the yarns used to knit the toe covering portion 160 and the heel covering portion 120, both the stretch yarn and the face yarn, are usually different from the yarns used to knit the tubular portion 180.

The toe covering portion 160 and the heel covering portion 120 may also be flat knitted using the elastic yarn Y1 and one of the above-mentioned surface yarns. The toe covering portion 160 and the heel covering portion 120 may be knitted using any method other than "a method in which the elastic yarn Y1 and the surface yarn for flat knitting Y3 are flat knitted and the surface yarn for float knitting Y2 is float knitted."

14 and 15, a first region in which the elastic yarn Y1 and the flat knitting surface yarn Y3 are flat knit and the float knitting surface yarn Y2 is float knit may be formed in the toe covering portion 160 and the heel covering portion 120 in addition to the tubular portion 180. Note that FIG. 16 shows a 50x enlarged photograph of the outside (front side) of the first region of the legwear shown in FIG. 15, and FIG. 17 shows a 50x enlarged photograph of the inside (skin side) of the first region of the same legwear. In such a case, it is preferable to make the number of wales in the heel covering portion 120 the same as that in the tubular portion 180, and not include narrowing stitches where the number of wales gradually decreases or widening stitches where the number of wales gradually increases in the heel covering portion 120. In this case, the heel covering portion 120 can have the functional yarn function on the skin, just as in the tubular portion 180, and the knitting appearance of the heel covering portion 120 and the tubular portion 180 is the same, resulting in an aesthetically pleasing sock. It is also preferable to provide a serged edge portion in the center of the tip of the toe covering portion 160, which is formed by either cutting the tip of the tubular portion 180 and rolling the cut seam and sewing it, or by sewing it after cutting. In this case, the toe covering portion 160 can have the functional yarn function on the skin, just as in the tubular portion 180, and the knitting appearance of the toe covering portion 160 and the tubular portion 180 is the same, resulting in an aesthetically pleasing sock with inconspicuous seams in the toe covering portion 160.

The toe covering portion 160 and heel covering portion 120 may also include narrowing stitches where the number of wales gradually decreases and widening stitches where the number of wales gradually increases, and may also include a first region R1 where the stretch yarn Y1 and the flat knitting surface yarn Y3 are flat knitted and the float knitting surface yarn Y2 is float knitted. In this case, the functionality of the functional yarn can be exerted on the skin, and the toe covering portion 160 and heel covering portion 120 can be shaped to fit the shape of the human body, improving the comfort of the legwear.

Other examples besides those described above include those shown in Figures 7 to 13. Figure 7 shows an example in which the leg covering portion 105, ankle covering portion 110, heel covering portion 120, instep covering portion 130, and sole covering portion 140 are defined as the first region R1, and the groin covering portion 150 is defined as the third region R3. The third region R3 is a region in which the elastic yarn Y1 is knitted in a flat knitting pattern, and the flat knitting surface yarn Y3 and the float knitting surface yarn Y2 are knitted in a float knitting pattern. Figure 8 shows an example in which the leg covering portion 105, ankle covering portion 110, instep covering portion 130, and sole covering portion 140 are defined as the first region R1, the toe covering portion 160 and heel covering portion 120 are defined as the second region R2, and the groin covering portion 150 is defined as the third region R3. Fig. 9 shows an example in which the instep covering portion 130 is the second region R2 and the sole covering portion 140 is the first region R1. Fig. 10 shows an example in which the instep covering portion 130 is the third region R3 and the sole covering portion 140 is the first region R1. Fig. 11 shows an example in which the upper portion of the instep covering portion 130 is the third region R3, the combined lower portion of the instep covering portion 130 and the upper portion of the sole covering portion 140 is the second region R2, and the lower portion of the sole covering portion 140 is the first region R1. Fig. 12 shows an example in which the sole covering portion 140 is the first region R1, and the instep covering portion 130, toe covering portion 160, and heel covering portion 120 are the second region R2. Additionally, Figure 13 shows an example in which the leg covering portion 105, the ankle covering portion 110, and the instep covering portion 130 are defined as the third region R3, and the sole covering portion 140 is defined as the first region R1.

(1) First Application Example As the first application example, we will introduce a wearing device that is comfortable to wear in the summer.
In summer, sweating is likely to occur, causing discomfort to the skin, and a harness that alleviates this discomfort is needed. To produce such a harness, for example, a hydrophobic or water-repellent yarn is used as the float knitting surface yarn, and a hydrophilic or water-absorbent yarn is used as the flat knitting surface yarn. In such an example, the hydrophobic or water-repellent yarn is float-knitted to form a knitted structure on the skin side, and the hydrophilic or water-absorbent yarn is flat-knitted to form a knitted structure with finer stitches than the skin side. By knitting the single-knit fabric according to an embodiment of the present invention in this manner, a coarse-dense structure is formed in the single-knit fabric, with the knitted structure on the skin side being sparse and the knitted structure on the front side being dense. The water-absorbing effect of this coarse-dense structure allows moisture such as sweat to move from the skin side to the front side, and the hydrophobicity and water-repellency of the float knitting surface yarn make it difficult for moisture to return from the front side to the skin side. Furthermore, the sinker-side loops of the float knitting surface yarn reduce the area of contact of the single-knit fabric with the skin, making the skin less susceptible to moisture.

Incidentally, when the above-mentioned wearing device is legwear such as socks with a heel covering portion, it is preferable to form an area in the tubular portion covering the sole, instep, ankle, and leg where the elastic yarn Y1 and the flat knitting surface yarn Y3 are flat knitted and the floating knitting surface yarn Y2 is floated. In particular, it is preferable to form an area in the portion covering at least one of the base of the toe and the sole, which are prone to sweating, where the elastic yarn Y1 and the flat knitting surface yarn Y3 are flat knitted and the floating knitting surface yarn Y2 is floated. It is also preferable to form an area in the portion covering at least one of the base of the toe and the instep where the elastic yarn Y1 is flat knitted and the floating knitting surface yarn Y2 and the flat knitting surface yarn Y3 are floated. In this case, moisture such as sweat on at least one of the base of the toe and the sole is prevented from moving from the skin side to the surface side, minimizing the feeling of wetness, and it is possible to maximize the breathability of at least one of the base of the toe and the instep.

(2) Second Application Example As a second application example, we will introduce a wearing device that is comfortable to wear in winter.
In winter, the human body (especially the legs, feet, and hands) is prone to getting cold, creating a demand for garments that warm the human body. To produce such garments, for example, a yarn with the function of warming the human body (e.g., a yarn that has a warming effect when it comes into contact with the human skin, such as a contact warming yarn, a thermosensory stimulating yarn that stimulates TRPV1, or a hygroscopic heat-generating yarn that generates heat in response to moisture such as sweat or insensible perspiration) is used as the float knitting face yarn, and a yarn with insulating properties is used as the flat knitting face yarn. In such an example, the knitting structure on the skin side is formed by float knitting with the yarn with the function of warming the human body, and the knitting structure on the skin side is formed by flat knitting with the insulating yarn to close the stitches. By knitting the single knitted fabric according to an embodiment of the present invention in this manner, the knitting structure on the skin side of the single knitted fabric becomes loose, making it easier for an air layer to form within the knitting structure on the skin side, and the knitting structure on the front side becomes dense, blocking outside air and making it difficult for air within the knitting structure on the skin side that has been warmed by body temperature to escape. In such cases, the effect can be further enhanced by forming the floating portions of the floating knitting face yarn into a honeycomb or lattice shape, and in some cases it is expected that it will be possible to achieve warmth comparable to that of terry knitting while being thinner than terry knitting.Furthermore, if the portion facing the skin, including the floating portions, is raised, it is expected that it will become softer and be able to contain more air.

When the above-mentioned wearing device is legwear such as socks with a heel covering portion, it is preferable to form areas in the tubular portion covering the sole, instep, ankle, and leg where the elastic yarn Y1 and the flat knitting surface yarn Y3 are flat knitted and the floating knitting surface yarn Y2 is floated. It is also preferable to form areas where the elastic yarn Y1 and the flat knitting surface yarn Y3 are flat knitted and the floating knitting surface yarn Y2 is floated in areas covering at least one of the following: the toes, which are at the extremities of the human body and where blood circulation is prone to be poor; the soles of the feet, which are prone to losing body heat through heat conduction when in contact with the soles of shoes or the floor and therefore becoming cold; and the ankles, where blood vessels (arteries) with a high blood flow run close to the skin. This is because the floating knitting surface yarn, which has the function of warming the human body, comes into direct contact with the skin in areas of the foot that are prone to getting cold, prevents the outside air from coming into contact with the skin in those areas, and prevents the air warmed by body heat from escaping from the knitting structure on the skin side, thereby more effectively warming those areas.

<Features of the single circular knitted fabric according to the embodiment of the present invention>
In the single circular knitted fabric according to the embodiment of the present invention, the sinker-side loop of the floating knitting face yarn is exposed in a floating state on the skin side. Therefore, compared to a knitted fabric in which both the front and back sides are plain knitted, the floating knitting face yarn can be more easily brought into contact with the skin. Therefore, in this single circular knitted fabric, by using a functional yarn as the floating knitting face yarn, the function of the floating knitting face yarn on the skin can be more efficiently exerted. Furthermore, in this single circular knitted fabric, the face side is plain knitted. Therefore, the face side of the single circular knitted fabric can be kept dense.

<Modification>
(A)
In the circular knitting machine RN according to the previous embodiment, the elastic yarn Y1 was passed through the first yarn path P1, but the elastic yarn Y1 may be passed through the second yarn path P2. In such a case, the floating knitting front yarn Y2 may be passed through the first yarn path P1 or the third yarn path P3, and the plain knitting front yarn Y3 is passed through the yarn path that the floating knitting front yarn Y2 is not passed through. In such a case, it is possible to knit a knitted fabric with a distinctive texture having an uneven surface.

(B)
In the circular knitting machine RN according to the previous embodiment, the elastic yarn Y1 was passed through the first yarn path P1. However, the elastic yarn Y1 may be passed through the third yarn path P3. In this case, the floating knitting surface yarn Y2 may be passed through either the first yarn path P1 or the second yarn path P2, and the flat knitting surface yarn Y3 is passed through the yarn path other than the floating knitting surface yarn Y2. In this case, it is possible to pass the yarn that should not come into contact with the skin (e.g., a hard yarn such as a metal yarn) through the first yarn path P1, and the yarn that should come into contact with the skin through the second yarn path P2. By doing so, for example, aluminum-vapor-deposited yarn or aluminum-slit yarn can be used as the metal yarn, preventing body heat from escaping due to the heat-reflecting effect of aluminum. Furthermore, a substrate fabric for a wearable device can be knitted using conductive fiber as the metal yarn.

(C)
Although not equipped in the circular knitting machine RN according to the previous embodiment, the circular knitting machine RN may be equipped with a height adjustment mechanism for adjusting the height of the third yarn path P3. In such a case, the highest stroke position of the needle ND may or may not be adjusted. This makes it possible to mix, in the same single knit fabric, (i) areas where the elastic yarn Y1, the float knitting surface yarn Y2, and the plain knitting surface yarn Y3 are all plain knitted, (ii) areas where the elastic yarn Y1 and the plain knitting surface yarn Y3 are plain knitted and the float knitting surface yarn Y2 is float knitted, and (iii) areas where the elastic yarn Y1 is plain knitted and the float knitting surface yarn Y2 and the plain knitting surface yarn Y3 are float knitted.

When knitting the above region (i), the height of the third yarn path P3 is arbitrary. When knitting the above region (ii), the third yarn path P3 is moved to a height between the first yarn path P1 and the second yarn path P2. When knitting the above region (iii), the third yarn path P3 is moved to a position higher than the second yarn path P2.

Furthermore, by adjusting the highest reach position of the needle ND stroke or moving the needle ND to the height position of the third yarn path P3 after the cylinder of the circular knitting machine RN has completed at least one revolution, it is possible to knit a combination of the above regions (i), (ii), and (iii) in different courses of the same knitted fabric. Furthermore, by adjusting the highest reach position of the needle ND stroke or moving the needle ND to the height position of the third yarn path P3 while the cylinder is completing one revolution, it is possible to knit a combination of the above regions (i), (ii), and (iii) in different wales in the same course of the same knitted fabric. As a result, the above regions (i), (ii), and (iii) can be knitted in any position.

E1 Exit of first yarn path E2 Exit of second yarn path E3 Exit of third yarn path ND Needle NP Knitting point P1 First yarn path P2 Second yarn path P3 Third yarn path RN Circular knitting machine Y1 Elastic yarn Y2 Float knitting surface yarn Y3 Flat knitting surface yarn

Claims (15)

a knitting machine having needles that move up and down, and an outlet of a first yarn path is provided at a position closest to the knitting point in a plan view, an outlet of a third yarn path is provided at a position farthest from the knitting point in a plan view, an outlet of a second yarn path is provided at a position that is longer than a distance from the outlet of the first yarn path P1 to the knitting point in a plan view and that also has a shorter circumferential distance from the outlet of the third yarn path to the knitting point, the outlet of the first yarn path is located below the outlets of the second yarn path and the third yarn path, the outlet of the second yarn path is located above the outlets of the first yarn path and the third yarn path, and the outlet of the third yarn path is higher in height than the outlet of the first yarn path and lower in height than the outlet of the second yarn path,
a first knitting in which the needles are raised to a height at which the yarn passed through the third yarn path (hereinafter referred to as the "third yarn") passes, and the third yarn and the yarn passed through the first yarn path (hereinafter referred to as the "first yarn") are plain knitted, while the yarn passed through the second yarn path (hereinafter referred to as the "second yarn") is kept in a floating state;
The needles are raised to a height where the second yarn passes through, and a second knitting is selectively performed in which the first yarn, the second yarn, and the third yarn are plain knitted, thereby knitting a single knitted fabric having three or more multiple stitches. The first formation;
The second formation;
2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the needles are raised to a height through which the first yarn passes, and a third knitting step is selectively performed in which only the first yarn is plain knitted, thereby knitting a single knitted fabric having three or more multiple stitches. A legwear knitted from at least one elastic yarn and at least two surface yarns having lower elasticity than the elastic yarn, wherein the elastic yarn is knitted in a flat knitting manner, and at least one of the at least two surface yarns is knitted in a flat knitting manner, with its needle side loop exposed on the surface side, and at least one of the at least two surface yarns is knitted in a floating knitting manner, with its sinker side loop exposed in a floating state on the inside, forming a first region. It has a tubular portion and a heel covering portion,
The legwear according to claim 3 , wherein the first region is formed in the tubular portion. 5. The legwear according to claim 4, wherein a second region is formed in the heel covering portion, in which the elastic yarn and the at least two face yarns are knitted in a plain knitting pattern. a cylindrical portion and a toe covering portion;
The legwear according to claim 3 , wherein the first region is formed in the tubular portion. The legwear according to claim 6, wherein the toe covering portion has a second region formed therein in which the elastic yarn and the at least two face yarns are knitted in a plain knit pattern. It has a base covering part,
The legwear according to claim 3, wherein the groin covering portion has a third region formed therein in which the elastic yarn is knitted in a flat knitting manner and the at least two face yarns are knitted in a floating knitting manner. The foot support has an instep covering portion and a sole covering portion,
a second region is formed in the instep covering portion, in which the elastic yarn and the at least two outer yarns are knitted in a plain knitting pattern;
The legwear according to claim 3, wherein the first region is formed in the sole covering portion. The foot support has an instep covering portion and a sole covering portion,
a third region is formed in the instep covering portion, in which the elastic yarn is knitted in a flat knitting pattern and the at least two face yarns are knitted in a floating knitting pattern;
The legwear according to claim 3, wherein the first region is formed in the sole covering portion. The foot support has an instep covering portion and a sole covering portion,
a third region is formed in an upper portion of the instep covering portion, in which the elastic yarn is knitted in a flat knitting pattern and the at least two face yarns are knitted in a floating knitting pattern;
a second region in which the elastic yarn and the at least two outer yarns are knitted in a plain knitting pattern is formed in the area where the lower part of the instep covering part and the upper part of the sole covering part are joined together;
The legwear according to claim 3, wherein the first region is formed on a lower portion of the sole covering portion. The footwear has a sole covering portion, an instep covering portion, a toe covering portion, and a heel covering portion,
The first region is formed on the sole covering part,
The legwear according to claim 3, wherein the instep covering portion, the toe covering portion, and the heel covering portion have a second region formed therein in which the elastic yarn and the at least two outer yarns are knitted in a flat knitting pattern. The foot cover includes a leg cover, an ankle cover, an instep cover, and a sole cover,
a third region is formed in the leg covering portion, the ankle covering portion, and the instep covering portion, in which the elastic yarn is knitted in a flat knitting manner and the at least two face yarns are knitted in a floating knitting manner;
The legwear according to claim 3, wherein the first region is formed in the sole covering portion. at least one elastic thread;
At least two face yarns having lower elasticity than the elastic yarns;
It is composed of
At least one of the at least two face yarns has a needle-side loop exposed on the first surface side,
At least one of the at least two face yarns has a sinker-side loop exposed on a second surface opposite to the first surface,
A single knitted fabric having triple or more multiple stitches, in which the exposed ratio of the sinker side loops is greater than the exposed ratio of the needle loops. 15. The single knitted fabric having three or more multiple stitches according to claim 14, wherein the face yarn exposed on the first surface side is a different face yarn from the face yarn exposed on the second surface side.