KNITTING NEEDLE

Abstract

A knitting needle includes a hook point having an upper face, lateral portions, and a rear portion. The knitting needle has an at least approximately oval cross section, at least in portions, at the hook point, in order to improve the knitting needle in terms of structure and/or function.

Claims

1-15. (canceled)

16. A knitting needle, comprising: a hook point having an upper face, lateral portions, and a rear portion; the knitting needle having an at least approximately oval cross section, at least in portions, at the hook point.

17. The knitting needle of claim 16, wherein the cross section is in the shape of an obtuse-angled polygon, at least in portions.

18. The knitting needle of claim 16, further comprising: a planar cover surface and oblique edge surfaces at the upper face of the hook point.

19. The knitting needle of claim 16, further comprising: a planar cover surface at the upper face of the hook point; first oblique edge surfaces which adjoin the cover surface, and second edge surfaces which adjoin the first edge surfaces.

20. The knitting needle of claim 19, wherein: the first edge surfaces enclose an angle of from approximately 80 degrees to approximately 100 degrees at the upper face; and the second edge surfaces enclose an angle of from approximately 50 degrees to approximately 70 degrees at the upper face.

21. The knitting needle of claim 20, wherein at least one of: the first edge surfaces enclose an angle of approximately 90 degrees at the upper face; or the second edge surfaces enclose an angle of approximately 60 degrees at the upper face.

22. The knitting needle of claim 16, further comprising oblique edge surfaces at the rear portion of the hook point.

23. The knitting needle of claim 16, further comprising: oblique first edge surfaces at the rear portion of the hook point; and oblique second edge surfaces which adjoin the first edge surfaces.

24. The knitting needle of claim 23, wherein: the first edge surfaces enclose an angle of from approximately 110 degrees to approximately 130 degrees at the rear portion; and the second edge surfaces enclose an angle of from approximately 50 degrees to approximately 70 degrees at the rear portion.

25. The knitting needle of claim 24, wherein at least one of: the first edge surfaces enclose an angle of approximately 120 degrees at the rear portion; and the second edge surfaces enclose an angle of approximately 60 degrees at the rear portion.

26. The knitting needle of claim 16, wherein: the knitting needle has an overall height at the hook point; the upper edge surfaces include a portion of from approximately 20 percent to approximately 40 percent of the overall height; the lateral portions include a portion of from approximately 20 percent to approximately 40 percent of the overall height; and the edge surfaces on the rear portion side include a portion of from approximately 20 percent to approximately 40 percent of the overall height.

27. The knitting needle of claim 26, wherein at least one of: the upper edge surfaces include a portion of approximately 30 percent of the overall height of the knitting needle at the hook point; the lateral portions include a portion of approximately 30 percent of the overall height; or the edge surfaces on the rear portion side include a portion of approximately 30 percent of the overall height.

28. The knitting needle of claim 16, wherein: the hook point comprises a point portion and a hook portion, the hook portion comprising a hook protrusion; and the lateral portions of the knitting needle converge at at least one of the point portion or the hook protrusion.

29. The knitting needle of claim 28, wherein the lateral portions of the knitting needle converge in the manner of a step wedge at at least one of the point portion or the hook protrusion.

30. The knitting needle of claim 16, wherein: the hook point comprises a point portion and a hook portion; and the upper face and the rear portion converge at at least one of the point portion or at the hook portion.

31. The knitting needle of claim 30, wherein the upper face and the rear portion converge in the manner of a step wedge at at least one of the point portion or the hook portion.

32. The knitting needle of claim 16, wherein: the knitting needle comprises a longitudinal axis; and the upper face extends along the longitudinal axis.

33. The knitting needle of claim 16, wherein: the hook point comprises a point portion; the knitting needle further comprises a longitudinal axis; the point portion is located on the longitudinal axis; and the point portion is asymmetrical to the longitudinal axis.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate exemplary embodiments of the invention and, together with a general description of the invention given above, and the detailed description given below, serve to explain the principles of the present invention.

[0027] FIG. 1 is a side view of a knitting needle comprising a hook point and having an approximately oval cross section at the hook point,

[0028] FIG. 2 is a plan view of a knitting needle comprising a hook point and having an approximately oval cross section at the hook point,

[0029] FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross section of a knitting needle comprising a hook point and having an approximately oval cross section at the hook point,

[0030] FIG. 4 is a side view and cross sections of a knitting needle comprising a hook point and having an approximately oval cross section at the hook point, along the lines denoted A-A, B-B, C-C, D-D and E-E in FIG. 4,

[0031] FIG. 5 is a plan view of a knitting needle comprising a hook point and converging lateral portions,

[0032] FIG. 6 is a side view of a knitting needle comprising a hook point and a converging upper face and rear portion,

[0033] FIG. 7 shows a knitting needle comprising a hook point and having an approximately oval cross section at the hook point, when used together with a unidirectional non-woven fabric, and

[0034] FIG. 8 shows a knitting needle comprising a hook point and having an approximately oval cross section at the hook point, when used together with a biaxial non-woven fabric.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0035] FIG. 1 is a detail side view of a knitting needle 100 comprising a hook point 102 and having an approximately oval cross section at the hook point 102. FIG. 2 is a plan view of the knitting needle 100.

[0036] The knitting needle 100 is intended for use in a stitch bonding method. The knitting needle 100 has a longitudinal axis 104, a vertical axis 106, and a transverse axis 108, which are arranged so as to be at right angles to one another.

[0037] The hook point 102 forms a front part of the knitting needle 100. The hook point 102 comprises an upper face 114 which is oriented in the extension direction of the vertical axis 106 and extends along the longitudinal axis 104, lateral portions 116, 118 which are oriented in the extension direction of the transverse axis 108, and a rear portion 120 which is oriented in the extension direction of the vertical axis 106 and forms a lower face of the knitting needle 100. The hook point 102 comprises a point portion 122 and a hook portion 124. The point portion 122 is located asymmetrically to the longitudinal axis 104 and forms a front end of the knitting needle 100. The hook portion 124 adjoins the point portion 122 in the extension direction of the longitudinal axis 104. The hook portion 124 comprises a hook protrusion 126, a hook throat 128, and a hook base 130.

[0038] The knitting needle 100 comprises a needle shank 112. The needle shank 112 adjoins the hook point 102 in the extension direction of the longitudinal axis 104, and forms a central or rear part of the knitting needle 100. The knitting needle 100 comprises a slit 132 which is arranged on the needle shank 112 and extends in the extension direction of the longitudinal axis 104. The slit 132 is used for guiding a slide in the extension direction of the longitudinal axis 104, in order to open and/or close the hook throat 128.

[0039] The knitting needle 100 has an approximately elliptical cross section at the hook point 102. FIG. 3 is a cross section of the knitting needle 100, in a plane in parallel with the vertical axis 106 and with the transverse axis 108, at the hook base 130. FIG. 4 is a side view and cross sectional views of the knitting needle 100, along the lines denoted A-A, B-B, C-C, D-D and E-E in FIG. 4, from which it is possible to identify the cross section at the corresponding positions.

[0040] The elliptical cross section is clearly visible in the cross-sectional views, at the positions C-C and D-D. Towards the point portion 122, the cross section reduces more significantly in the vertical direction than in the transverse direction. At the hook portion 124, the cross section is delimited at the front by the hook base 130 and is semi-elliptical in shape.

[0041] The cross section is in the shape of an obtuse-angled polygon, in the present case hendecahedral or dodecahedral. Over a longitudinal portion of the knitting needle 100, the corners of the cross section form edges which extend in parallel with the longitudinal axis 104, on the upper side, and downwards towards the hook portion 124, to the rear portion 120, proceeding from the point portion 122, on the rear portion side.

[0042] The knitting needle 100 comprises a planar cover surface 134 on the upper face 114 of the hook point 102, which cover surface extends along the longitudinal axis 104, oblique first edge surfaces, such as 136, which adjoin the cover surface 134, and oblique second edge surfaces, such as 138, which adjoin the first edge surfaces 136. The first edge surfaces 136 enclose an angle of approximately 90 degrees. The second edge surfaces 138 enclose an angle of approximately 60 degrees. The edge surfaces 136, 138 are arranged so as to be symmetrical to the vertical axis.

[0043] At the rear portion 120 of the hook point 102, the knitting needle 100 comprises first edge surfaces, such as 140, which directly adjoin one another, and oblique second edge surfaces, such as 142, which adjoin the first edge surfaces 140. The first edge surfaces 140 enclose an angle of approximately 120 degrees at the rear portion 120. The second edge surfaces 142 enclose an angle of approximately 60 degrees at the rear portion 120.

[0044] The upper edge surfaces 136, 138 include a portion of approximately 30 percent of an overall height of the knitting needle 100. The lateral portions 116, 118 include a portion of approximately 30 percent of the overall height of the knitting needle 100. The edge portions 140, 142 on the rear portion side include a portion of approximately 30 percent of the overall height of the knitting needle 100.

[0045] As is clear in the plan view according to FIG. 2, the lateral portions 116, 118 converge at the point portion 122 in the manner of a step wedge, comprising a first step 144 and a second step 146. After the first step 144, the lateral portions 116, 118 converge at an angle of approximately 7 degrees. After the second step 146, the lateral portions 116, 118 converge at an angle of approximately 25 degrees.

[0046] FIG. 5 is a plan view of a knitting needle 200 comprising a hook point 202 and converging lateral portions 204, 206. The lateral portions 204, 206 of the knitting needle 200 converge at the point portion 208, such that a polygonal elliptical shape 212 results in plan view. Furthermore, reference is made in addition in particular to FIG. 1 to FIG. 4, and the associated description.

[0047] FIG. 6 is a side view of a knitting needle 300 comprising a hook point 302 and converging upper face 304 and rear portion 306. The upper face 304 and the rear portion 306 converge at the point portion 308, and optionally also at the hook portion 310, such that an elliptical shape 312 results in a side view. Furthermore, reference is made in addition in particular to FIG. 1 to FIG. 4, and the associated description.

[0048] The knitting needle 100, 200, 300 is intended for use in a stitch bonding method, in which during a vertical lifting movement in a knitting needle longitudinal direction, corresponding to an extension direction of the longitudinal axis, the needle 100, 200, 300 is additionally moved horizontally, in a production direction transversely to the knitting needle longitudinal direction.

[0049] FIG. 7 shows a knitting needle 400, like the knitting needles 100, 200, 300, when used together with a unidirectional non-woven fabric 402. The non-woven fabric 402 comprises fibers, such as 406, which extend at an angle of 90 degrees to a feed direction 404. FIG. 8 shows the knitting needle 400 when used together with a biaxial non-woven fabric 410. The non-woven fabric 410 comprises fibers, such as 412, 414, which extend at an angle of 90 degrees relative to one another, and at an angle of 45 degrees relative to the feed direction 404.

[0050] Owing to the elliptical cross section of the knitting needle 400, the fibers 406 or 412, 414 of the non-woven fabric 402 and 410, respectively, loop around the hook point 408 in an extensive manner, without significant deflection, such that wear on the knitting needle 400 and damage to the non-woven fabric 402 or 410 is reduced.

[0051] The knitting needle 400 can also be used together with a multiaxial non-woven fabric. The advantageous effects can come into their own in particular in this case.

[0052] “Can”/“may” refers in particular to optional features of the invention. Accordingly, there are also developments and/or embodiments of the invention which additionally or alternatively comprise the particular feature or the particular features.

[0053] While the present invention has been illustrated by a description of various embodiments, and while these embodiments have been described in considerable detail, it is not intended to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appended claims to such detail. The various features shown and described herein may be used alone or in any combination. Additional advantages and modifications will readily appear to those skilled in the art. The invention in its broader aspects is therefore not limited to the specific details, representative apparatus and method, and illustrative example shown and described. Accordingly, departures may be made from such details without departing from the spirit and scope of the general inventive concept.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0054] 100 Knitting needle [0055] 102 Hook point [0056] 104 Longitudinal axis [0057] 106 Vertical axis [0058] 108 Transverse axis [0059] 112 Needle shank [0060] 114 Upper face [0061] 116 Lateral portion [0062] 118 Lateral portion [0063] 120 Rear portion [0064] 122 Point portion [0065] 124 Hook portion [0066] 126 Hook protrusion [0067] 128 Hook throat [0068] 130 Hook base [0069] 132 Slit [0070] 134 Cover surface [0071] 136 First edge surface [0072] 138 Second edge surface [0073] 140 First edge surface [0074] 142 Second edge surface [0075] 144 First step [0076] 146 Second step [0077] 200 Knitting needle [0078] 202 Hook point [0079] 204 Lateral portion [0080] 206 Lateral portion [0081] 208 Point portion [0082] 210 Hook protrusion [0083] 212 Elliptical shape [0084] 300 Knitting needle [0085] 302 Hook point [0086] 304 Upper face [0087] 306 Rear portion [0088] 308 Point portion [0089] 310 Hook portion [0090] 312 Elliptical shape [0091] 400 Knitting needle [0092] 402 Unidirectional non-woven fabric [0093] 404 Feed direction [0094] 406 Fiber [0095] 408 Hook point [0096] 410 Biaxial non-woven fabric [0097] 412 Fiber [0098] 414 Fiber