An aspect of the disclosure is a footwear article. The footwear article includes a double layer knitted upper having a foot bed, an upper portion continuous with the foot bed, an ankle opening, and an inner void for receiving a foot of a wearer. The double layer knitted upper has an outer knit layer defining an exterior surface of the double layer knitted upper. The double layer knitted upper also has an inner knit layer monolithically knit to the outer knit layer. The inner knit layer has a plurality of inner knit regions that spatially correspond to the plurality of outer knit regions of the outer knit layer. The outer knit layer and the inner knit layer substantially define the foot bed and the upper portion of the double layer knitted upper.

An aspect of the disclosure is a footwear article. The footwear article includes a double layer knitted upper having a foot bed, an upper portion continuous with the foot bed, an ankle opening, and an inner void for receiving a foot of a wearer. The double layer knitted upper has an outer knit layer defining an exterior surface of the double layer knitted upper. The double layer knitted upper also has an inner knit layer monolithically knit to the outer knit layer. The inner knit layer has a plurality of inner knit regions that spatially correspond to the plurality of outer knit regions of the outer knit layer. The outer knit layer and the inner knit layer substantially define the foot bed and the upper portion of the double layer knitted upper.

The present invention provides an easy settable stretch fabric comprising three types of yarns: a rigid fiber, an elastic fiber, and a low-melt fiber, wherein the low-melt fiber comprises low-melt polymer which can be fused in the temperature between 60 C. to 200 C., being higher than the temperature used for normal textile process and household laundry, but lower than the temperature used for heat setting elastic fiber. The low-melt fiber can be selected from a group of fibers made from modified polyester, nylon, and polypropylene and the copolymer from them in the form of staple or filament.

The present invention provides an easy settable stretch fabric comprising three types of yarns: a rigid fiber, an elastic fiber, and a low-melt fiber, wherein the low-melt fiber comprises low-melt polymer which can be fused in the temperature between 60 C. to 200 C., being higher than the temperature used for normal textile process and household laundry, but lower than the temperature used for heat setting elastic fiber. The low-melt fiber can be selected from a group of fibers made from modified polyester, nylon, and polypropylene and the copolymer from them in the form of staple or filament.

A removal device for removing a knitted tubular manufacture from a circular knitting machine, comprising an annular removal body which supports a plurality of removal members arranged around the axis of the removal body, the removal body being arrangeable coaxially around the needle cylinder of a circular knitting machine, wherein the removal members are supported by a first annular portion and a second annular portion which can rotate with respect to each other about an oscillation axis to pass between a removal condition, in which they are arranged so as to form a circumference that is coaxial with the axis of the removal device, and a sewing condition, in which the annular portions are arranged so as to face each other.

A bent part of a sock has (i) a bulging part having a first bulging region which includes a region in which the number of wales decreases, and a second bulging region which includes a region in which the number of wales increases and (ii) an extended part having a first extended region in which the number of wales increases, and a second extended region in which the number of wales decreases. The extended part is located so as to be closer to a bend direction side than the bulging part. The extended part has a boundary part between the first extended region and the second extended region which boundary part has a bend direction side first end. The bend direction side first end is located on a center line in a direction in which a width of the sock extends, or within a predetermined distance from the center line.

A bent part of a sock has (i) a bulging part having a first bulging region which includes a region in which the number of wales decreases, and a second bulging region which includes a region in which the number of wales increases and (ii) an extended part having a first extended region in which the number of wales increases, and a second extended region in which the number of wales decreases. The extended part is located so as to be closer to a bend direction side than the bulging part. The extended part has a boundary part between the first extended region and the second extended region which boundary part has a bend direction side first end. The bend direction side first end is located on a center line in a direction in which a width of the sock extends, or within a predetermined distance from the center line.

The present device is a circular knitting machine, also known as a circular sock machine, designed to mostly be manufactured from polymers, such as plastics, or other materials that are typically lighter and have other physical properties, such as low hardness and tensile strength, compared to steel, from which such machines have historically been manufactured. The present design allows for the use of modern manufacturing techniques, such as 3-D printing in which a filament is often used comprising various types of polymers. The present device can also comprise a ribber apparatus, which is also designed to allow for most of its parts to be manufactured from polymers. However, in certain embodiments, some of the parts, such as needles, springs, and bolts can still be made from steel.

The present device is a circular knitting machine, also known as a circular sock machine, designed to mostly be manufactured from polymers, such as plastics, or other materials that are typically lighter and have other physical properties, such as low hardness and tensile strength, compared to steel, from which such machines have historically been manufactured. The present design allows for the use of modern manufacturing techniques, such as 3-D printing in which a filament is often used comprising various types of polymers. The present device can also comprise a ribber apparatus, which is also designed to allow for most of its parts to be manufactured from polymers. However, in certain embodiments, some of the parts, such as needles, springs, and bolts can still be made from steel.

An aspect of the disclosure is a footwear article. The footwear article includes a double layer knitted upper having a foot bed, an upper portion continuous with the foot bed, an ankle opening, and an inner void for receiving a foot of a wearer. The double layer knitted upper has an outer knit layer defining an exterior surface of the double layer knitted upper. The double layer knitted upper also has an inner knit layer monolithically knit to the outer knit layer. The inner knit layer has a plurality of inner knit regions that spatially correspond to the plurality of outer knit regions of the outer knit layer. The outer knit layer and the inner knit layer substantially define the foot bed and the upper portion of the double layer knitted upper.