Knitting needle in particular for producing knitwear with cable patterns, and method for producing the knitting needle

Abstract

The invention relates to a knitting needle, in particular for producing knitwear with cable patterns, having at least one rigid needle tip and a shank on which the knitwear can be arranged at least regionally. The invention now proposes that the shank consist at least regionally of a material that is reversibly plastically deformable by bending in very different directions, wherein the transition between the shank and needle tip is flush and smooth. Furthermore, the invention proposes a method for producing such a knitting needle.

Claims

1-9. (canceled)

10. A knitting needle (10), for the production of knitted goods (50) with cable patterns, having at least one rigid needle tip (11) and a shaft (12) on which the knitted goods (50) can be arranged at least in sections, characterized in that, the shaft (12) consists, at least in a region, of a material that is reversibly plastically deformable in many different directions by bending in virtually any desired way through an application of force by a user, wherein the shaft retains its shape subsequent to the application of force until a new force acts upon the region, wherein the transition (14) between the shaft (12) and needle tip (11) is flush and smooth, wherein the knitting needle (10) comprises a wire (40) that is overmolded with one or more plastics (30, 31) and wherein the needle tip (11) consists of a first, rigid plastic (30), and the shaft (12) is composed of a second, pliable, flexible plastic (31).

11. The knitting needle (10) of claim 10, characterized in that the needle tip (11) is strongly rounded in design, and further characterized in that it transitions into a teardrop-shaped or pompom-like bulge (retrieving knob 20), and has a significantly smaller diameter than the shaft (12).

12. The knitting needle (10) of claim 10 where in the first hard plastic (30) has an injection point, and wherein the injection point (32) of the first hard plastic (30) simultaneously serves as an anchor point for the second soft plastic (31).

13. The knitting needle (10) of claim 10, characterized in that the needle tip (11) is so long that it can accommodate two to three stitches (51).

14. The knitting needle (10) of claim 10, characterized in that the material of the needle tip (11) has a very smooth and slidable surface (13).

15. The knitting needle (10) of claim 10, characterized in that the first plastic (30), of which the needle tip (11) consists, is an acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer.

16. The knitting needle (10) of claim 10, characterized in that the second plastic (31), of which the shaft (12) consists, is a crosslinked thermoplastic elastomer.

17. A method for producing a knitting needle (10) according to claim 10, characterized in that a flexible wire (40) in the region of its ends with a first hard plastic (30) is overmolded to produce the needle tips (11), and then the non-overmolded areas of the wire (40) are encapsulated with a second soft plastic (31), wherein the second soft plastic (31) also partially surrounds the first hard plastic (30), in particular in the region of the injection points (32) of first hard plastic (30).

18. The method according to claim 17, characterized in that the wire (40) during injection molding with two plastics (30, 31) is positioned centrally in these and in such a way that in the second soft plastic (31), smooth breakthroughs (33) arise.

19. The knitting needle of claim 16 wherein the crosslinked thermoplastic elastomer is an olefin-based crosslinked thermoplastic elastomer.

Description

[0018] Additional advantages and embodiments are evident from the description below, the dependent claims, and the drawings. In the drawings, the subject matter of the invention is shown in an exemplary embodiment. The figures show:

[0019] FIG. 1: a knitting needle according to the invention in a front view,

[0020] FIG. 2a: a possible first shape into which the kitting needle can be bent,

[0021] FIG. 2b: a possible second shape into which the kitting needle can be bent,

[0022] FIG. 2c: a possible third shape into which the kitting needle can be bent,

[0023] FIG. 3: the knitting needle according to the invention from FIG. 1 in cross-section,

[0024] FIG. 4a: one possible shape for use of the knitting needle in a U-shape during knitting,

[0025] FIG. 4b: one possible shape for use of the knitting needle in a loop shape during knitting,

[0026] FIG. 4c: one possible shape for use of the knitting needle in a bent shape during knitting.

[0027] FIG. 1 shows a knitting needle 10 according to the invention. It has two needle tips 11 that are made of a first, rigid plastic 30. In the region of the shaft 12, a second, flexible plastic 31 has been used. The transition 14 between the shaft 12 and the needle tips 11 is flush and smooth in design here, so that absolutely no projections or the like are produced that would hinder the knitting process.

[0028] It is evident in the enlargement shown that the second, flexible plastic 31 surrounds the first, rigid plastic 30 in the region of the injection point 32 as well in order to produce an especially good and inseparable connection between the two plastics 30, 31.

[0029] In addition, a rounded bulge, namely the retrieving knob 20, is provided at each of the two needle tips 11. This minimizes the risk of injury so that a user cannot injure himself on a needle tip 11 during the knitting process.

[0030] FIGS. 2a to 2c show the flexibility of the shaft 12. In this regard, a user can bend the knitting needle 10 to shape as desired in order to make pleasant and easy knitting possible for himself. The shapes shown here are merely by way of example in this respect. Every user can put the knitting needle 10 into his own desired shape, and also change this shape at any time.

[0031] FIG. 3 shows the internal structure of the knitting needle 10 according to the invention. Visible here is the flexible wire 40, which is overmolded at its ends with a first, rigid plastic 30 in order to form the needle tips 11 and the retrieving knob 20. In the central region, the wire 40 is overmolded by a flexible, elastic plastic 31 in order to form the shaft 12. Furthermore, the openings 33, which were produced by the placement of positioning means, are also visible in the second, flexible plastic 31 of the shaft 12. These positioning means ensure that the wire 40 is located exactly centered in the plastics 30 and 31 during the overmolding of said wire.

[0032] FIGS. 4a to 4c show the use in knitting by way of example. Several shapes of the knitting needle 10 according to the invention can be seen here. These, again, are also shown by way of example. In FIG. 4a, the knitting needle 10 is bent into a U-shape in this case. The stitches 51 of the knitted good 50 are arranged in the convex area of the shaft 12 in this example. In order to protect the stitches 51 especially well from slipping off, the knitting needle 10 can also be bent into a loop, as is shown in FIG. 4b. In this case, the bent part of the shaft 12 additionally blocks itself so that the stitches 51 cannot slip off. In FIG. 4c, the knitting needle 10 is bent at an angle. In this shape, the knitting process can be carried out. Of course, many other shapes are also possible.

[0033] In order to produce a knitting needle according to the invention, first, a wire that is plastically deformable by bending is overmolded at its ends with a rigid plastic to produce the needle tips. After that, the central regions of the wire, which have not as yet been overmolded, are overmolded with a second, flexible plastic, wherein this second, flexible plastic also surrounds sections of the first, rigid plastic, in particular in the region of the injection points of the first, rigid plastic. In this way, the region of the shaft that is plastically deformable by bending is produced and adequately connected to the first, rigid plastic, which forms the needle tips. Advantageously, the wire is positioned centrally in the two plastics during the overmolding therewith, which causes smooth openings to be produced in the second, flexible plastic. The openings here are formed such that they are very fine and smooth, and thus unproblematic for the second, flexible plastic and for knitting.

[0034] In conclusion, it should be noted that the embodiments shown here are merely exemplary realizations of the invention. The invention is not limited thereto. Instead, additional modifications and delimitations are possible. In this regard, it is possible, for example, to equip a whole set of knitting needles with the elastic region rather than just one spare knitting needle for producing cable patterns. Also, an entire set of double-ended needles for making socks can be designed in this way. Finally, the regions of the needle tip and shaft can have different proportions to one another. The knitting needle itself can also be produced in different lengths and thicknesses. Moreover, different materials than the ones named can be used for producing the needle.

LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

[0035] 10 knitting needle [0036] 11 needle tip [0037] 12 shaft [0038] 13 surface of 11 [0039] 14 transition between 11 and 12 [0040] 20 retrieving knob [0041] 30 first plastic [0042] 31 second plastic [0043] 32 injection point of 30 [0044] 33 opening in 31 [0045] 40 wire [0046] 50 knitted good [0047] 51 stitch