ADJUSTABLE KNITTING NEEDLE AND METHOD FOR KNITTING

Abstract

A knitting needle assembly has a needle body including a tip at one end and a cord connected to the needle body at other end. An adjustable slider is disposed on the cord. The cord stabilizes and holds stitches of yarn used to create a knitted workpiece. The distance between the needle tip and the slider can be adjusted by the user to accommodate the width of the knitted workpiece. Two such assemblies are used to knit. The sliders on each assembly can be adjusted to compress previously formed stiches of the workpiece so that the stitches are delivered to the needle body under a resiliency force. The sliders can also be adjusted to accommodate newly formed stitches without compression so they move freely away from the needle tip once they are formed.

Claims

1. A knitting needle assemble comprising: a first needle body having first and second ends, wherein the first end forms a needle tip; a flexible cord connected at a first end to the second end of the needle; and an adjustable stop disposed on the cord, wherein the stop can be adjustably fixed to a selected point along the length at the cord.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the adjustable stop comprises a slider and wherein the cord extends through a passage of the slider.

3. The assembly of claim 2, further comprising a fixed stop disposed at a second end of the cord opposite the first end connect with the needle body, wherein the fixed stop is configured to prevent the slider from moving off the end of the cord.

4. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising a transition portion, wherein the transition portion connects the second end of the needle body with the first end of the cord and wherein the transition portion has a smooth variation in diameter between a diameter of the needle body and a diameter of the cord.

5. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising a second needle body, wherein the first and second needles bodies are shaped to allow a user to knit a fabric.

6. The assembly of claim 5, wherein the first needle body, cord, and adjustable stop comprise a first needle assembly and further comprising a second needle assembly, the second needle assembly comprising the second needle body, a second cord attached thereto, and a second adjustable stop disposed on the second cord.

7. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the cord is formed from one or more of a metal wire, a polymer, a woven fabric, and a combination thereof.

8. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the cord comprises a friction-reducing or wear-reducing coating.

9. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the first needle body is formed from one or more of hardwood, including rosewood, sheesham, or ebony; bamboo; polymer; metal or metal alloy, including aluminum, steel, brass, bronze, copper, gold, silver; and/or combinations thereof.

10. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the first needle body comprises two sections along its length, the sections set at a non-zero angle to one another.

11. A method of knitting fabric using the assembly according to claim 6.

12. The method according to claim 11, further comprising the steps of: positioning a plurality of stitches on the first needle body and the cord attached thereto; adjusting a position of the adjustable stop of the first needle assembly such that the plurality of stitches are compressed between the needle body and the adjustable stop of the first needle assembly, wherein the compressed stitches create a resiliency force; moving a first stitch of the plurality of stitches to the tip of the needle body of the first needle assembly; interlocking the first stitch with a newly formed stitch using tips of needle bodies of the first and second assemblies; placing the newly formed stitch on the second needle body; and delivering second stitches of the plurality of stitches to the needle body of the first assembly using the resiliency force.

13. The method according to claim 12, further comprising the step of: adjusting a position of the second adjustable stop on the second cord so that the distance from a tip of the second needle body to the second adjustable stop is sufficient to hold the plurality of stitches.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] A more complete appreciation of the disclosure and many of the attendant advantages thereof will be readily obtained as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0020] FIG. 1 shows a knitting needle assembly according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

[0021] FIGS. 2a-c show a slider according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

[0022] FIG. 3 shows a slider according to a further embodiment of the disclosure;

[0023] FIGS. 4a-b show a slider according to a still further embodiment of the disclosure;

[0024] FIG. 5 show two knitting needle assemblies according to an embodiment of the disclosure used to form a knitted workpiece;

[0025] FIG. 6 shows a knitting needle assembly according to a further embodiment of the disclosure;

[0026] FIG. 7 shows a knitting needle assembly according to a still further embodiment of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027] FIG. 1 shows a knitting needle assembly 100 according to an embodiment of the disclosure. A knitting needle 102 is connected with a cord 106 by a transition portion 104. At the end of the cord opposite the needle is a stopper 110. A moveable slide 108 is positioned on the cord 106. Typically, two such assemblies are used by a knitter to form a knitted workpiece from interlocking stitches.

[0028] The needle 102 may be formed from any of a variety of materials and is preferably light in weight. Exemplary materials including hardwood such as rosewood, sheesham, or ebony, bamboo, polymer, metal or metal alloy, such as aluminum, steel, brass, bronze, copper, gold, silver, and/or combinations thereof. The surface of the needle 102 is preferable smooth to facilitate sliding of stitches across its surface. The needle has a tip 101 at the end opposite the transition portion 104 with a shape suitable for forming interlinked stitches of yarn.

[0029] The transition portion 104 provides a smooth surface between the needle 102 and the cord 106 over which stiches of yarn can slide as the needle assembly is used to knit. In this exemplary embodiment, the transition portion 104 has a frustoconical shape with the end connected with the needle 102 equal to the needle diameter and the end connected with the cord 106 equal to the cord diameter. Other shapes are also possible, including providing cylindrical portions equal to the needle and cord diameters, respectively, and a frustoconical portion between the cylindrical portions. According to another embodiment, the transition portion 104 is omitted and the cord 106 is connected directly with the needle 102.

[0030] The transition portion 104 may be formed from the same material as the needle 102 or may be formed from a different material and joined to the needle 102. According to one embodiment, the transition portion 104 is formed from a metal or metal alloy such as steel, brass, bronze, copper, gold, silver, a polymer, an elastomer, a composite material, and/or a combination of these.

[0031] Cord 106 is flexible and has a smooth surface to facilitate sliding of stitches of yarn along its length. According to one embodiment cord 106 is between about 12 inches and 60 inches long. According to a preferred embodiment, cord 106 is between about 24 inches and 48 inches long. According to a most preferred embodiment, cord 106 is about 36 inches long. Cord 106 may be formed from a plastic, a metal, a natural fiber, a composite material, or a combination thereof. Cord 106 may be a single filament or may be woven from strands of material or may be a formed from twisted or braided strands, metal wire, or combination thereof. According to a further embodiment, the cord includes a coating that reduces friction with the yarn and/or that resists wear.

[0032] According to one embodiment, cord 106 has a round cross section. According to another embodiment, cord 106 is formed as a flat strip of material. Cord 106 may have a curl so that it tends to form a curled-up configuration when not forced into a straight configuration. By providing a curl, cord 106 can be made to more easily assume a compact configuration when not in use. Cord 106 may include markings along its length, such as inch or centimeter markings or markings that correspond to a number of stiches forming a workpiece. Such markings may be useful during use to allow the knitter to easily measure the width of the workpiece as it is being formed or to determine a pattern of colors or stitch textures to use.

[0033] According to one embodiment, the cord can rotate with respect to the needle. This reduces twisting of the cord and eases knitting. The rotatable connection can be formed by swivel mechanism comprising part of the transition portion, by a rotatable connection, such as a ball-in-socket arrangement, between the cord and the transition portion or between the transition portion and the needle, or a combination thereof.

[0034] Slider 108 is disposed on the cord 106. FIGS. 2a-c show a slider according to one embodiment of the disclosure. FIG. 2a shows a perspective view the slider 108 disposed on cord 106. FIG. 2b shows the slider before assembly. FIG. 2c shows a cross section of the assembled slider 108 disposed on cord 106. As shown in FIG. 2b, the slider 108 consists of a button portion 112, a receiver portion 114, and a spring 116. A through-hole 118 extends through the button 112. Through-holes 120 are provided through opposing sides of the receiver 114. As shown in FIG. 2c, when the slider 108 is assembled, cord 106 extends through holes 118, 120. The inner diameter of holes 118, 120 is somewhat larger than the outer diameter of cord 106 so that, when holes 118, 120 are aligned, cord 106 moves easily through the holes. Spring 116 provides a force pushing button 112 out of cavity 122. This force causes holes 118, 120 to tend to misalign, thus engaging with and fixing the slider 108 to the cord 106 at a desired location along the cord. Pressing button 112 toward receiver 114 compresses spring 116 and causes holes 118, 120 to align, thus unlocking slider 108 from cord 106. When the slider 108 is unlocked, it can be repositioned along the length of cord 106.

[0035] According to one embodiment, slider 108 is cylindrical. According to another embodiment, slider 108 is square, rectangular, oval, or other shape. Button 112 and receiver 114 may be formed from hardwood, metal, plastic, composite materials, or a combination thereof. According to a further embodiment, the slider may be a different mechanism suitable for releasably fixing to the cord such as a screw clamp or spring loaded clip.

[0036] As shown in FIG. 1, stopper 110 is affixed to the end of cord 106. Stopper 110 is larger than the diameter of hole 120 in the slider 108 and prevents the slider from moving off the end of cord 106. Stopper 110 may be a knot formed in the end of cord 106. Stopper 110 may also be an object such as a ball or a decorative item such as a crystal. Stopper 110 may include an embossable surface to allow a trademark, a logo, or personalized information, such as a monogram to be displayed. Stopper 110 may include a tool, such as a yarn cutter, scissors, row or stich counter, and the like.

[0037] According to one embodiment, stopper 110 includes a clip, magnetic catch, or other engagement mechanism designed to securely and removably connect the stopper 110 with the needle 102 or transition portion 104. By engaging the engagement mechanism with the other portion of the assembly, the cord 106 is formed into a closed loop. A partially finished workpiece can be securely retained, stored, and transported with the cord in such a loop configuration. According to another embodiment, the engagement mechanism is disposed on the slider 108, again forming the cord 106 into a closed loop to securely retain a partially finished workpiece. According to a further embodiment, the stopper 110 or slider 106 comprises a needle cap that securely and removably engages with the tip of the needle.

[0038] FIG. 3 shows cross section views of the button 112 and receiver 114 according to an alternative embodiment of the slider 108. As with the embodiment described above, the button portion 112 and a receiver portion 114 have through-holes 118 and 120 for engaging cord 106. Surrounding the through-hole in the button 112 is a liner 119. The through-holes 120 in receiver 114 are likewise surrounded by a liner 121. The liner 119, 121 may be formed from an elastomer, such as silicone rubber, natural rubber, polyurethane, and the like that provides a high-friction contact with the surface of the cord 106 and/or that reduces wear or damage to the cord 106 as the slider is moved along the cord 106.

[0039] Top and bottom surfaces of the button 112 and receiver 114 may also include features that improve grip. These features may include grooves or textured surfaces or coatings such as non-slip coatings that allow the knitter to securely hold the slider while repositioning it along the cord. The top and/or bottom surfaces of the button 112 and receiver 114, respectively, may also be concave to allow the knitter to securely hold and operate the slider.

[0040] FIGS. 4a and 4b show another embodiment of a slider 108. According to this embodiment, slider 108 is formed from an elastomeric material such as polyurethane or silicone rubber. The slider body 130 includes an opening 132 extending through the length of the slider 108. Cord 106 extends through the opening 132. The opening 132 has a lens-shaped cross section. As shown in FIG. 4a, when no force is applied to the body 130, the sides of the opening 132 press against the cord 106, holding the slider 108 in place on the cord. As shown in FIG. 4b, when force is applied in the directions shown by arrows 134, the body 103 deforms, causing the lens-shaped opening 132 to expand away from the surface of cord 106. In this configuration, slider 108 can be repositioned along cord 106. When the force is release, body 130 rebounds to the configuration shown in FIG. 4a, again fixing the slider to the cord.

[0041] According to one embodiment, both stopper 110 and transition portion 104 are larger than holes 120 of the slider. Stopper 110 is permanently affixed to cord 106. When needle assembly 100 is assembled as shown in FIG. 1, slider 108 cannot slide past stopper 110 and transition portion 104 and is captive on cord 106. This arrangement prevents the slider 108 from becoming separated from the assembly 100 and misplaced. According to another embodiment, stopper 110 is removable from cord 106, allowing the slider 108 to be removed from the cord 106. According to this embodiment, the slider 108 can be replaced with a different slider.

[0042] The needle 102, transition portion 104, slider 108 and/or stopper 110 may include a surface suitable for holding markings such as a product logo, needle size information, and the like.

[0043] FIG. 5 shows two needle assemblies 100l, 100r used to form a workpiece 202. The knitter manipulates needles 102l, 102r to form interlocking stitches of yarn 204. If the knitter is knitting to the left as shown in FIG. 5, the knitter moves a previously formed stitch to the tip of left needle 102l and uses the tips of the left and right needles to form a new stitch that is moved onto right needle 102r. The process is repeated, with newly stitches sliding along right needle 100r and along cord 106r. The position of slider 108r on cord 106r may be selected to accommodate the desired width of the workpiece.

[0044] The needle assembly of the present disclosure allows shorter needles to be used, regardless of the size of the workpiece because the workpiece is supported and retained on the cord. This arrangement is especially useful in the knitting of large garments, such as blankets and afghans where standard straight needles are generally too short to hold the amount of stitches needed. According to one embodiment, cords 106l and 106r can rest on a tabletop or in the knitters lap to support the weight of the workpiece and relieve strain on the knitter's hands. This is advantageous for knitting heavy, bulky or large items.

[0045] When stitches encounter slider 106r they stop moving along the cord and accumulate on the cord. The position of slider 106r is selected so that the required number of stitches needed to form the width of the workpiece 202 can accumulate on cord 106r without interfering with the knitter's manipulation of the needles.

[0046] A method of knitting according to one embodiment of the disclosure adjustable sliders 108l and 108r allow the knitter to conveniently deliver previously formed stitches to the tips of needles 102l and 102r. Again, assuming the knitter is knitting to the left as shown in FIG. 5, stitches are taken from left needle 102l, joined with newly formed stitches by manipulating the yarn with needles 102l and 102r, and transferred to right needle 102r. The newly formed stitches slide along needle 102r and onto cord 106r, as described above. As previously formed stitches are being removed from left assembly 100l, the knitter moves left slider 108l toward left needle 102l while holding a grip on previously formed stitches on left needle 102l. This pushes previously formed stitches toward the knitters left hand, compressing the stitches against one another and biasing them to move toward the tip of the left needle 102l. The knitter can then conveniently deliver stitches from left needle 102l to the tip of the needle for knitting. As previously formed stitches on the left needle are knitted to newly formed stitches and transferred to the right needle, the resilience of the stitches compressed between the knitter's left hand and the slider 108l causes more stitches to move to the right from cord 106l and onto the needle 106l. The knitter does not have to continually move stitches from the bottom of the cord to the needle. Periodically, as previously formed stitches are knitted and transferred from the left needle 102l the knitter repositions slider 108l to maintain compression on the previously formed stitches.

[0047] With an embodiment of the present invention, by pulling slider 108l closer to needle 102l, the resilience of the stitches causes a force pushing the stitches toward the needle tip. The knitter can then control the delivery of previously formed stitches by allowing the stitches to slide toward the needle tip. Also, when the knitter is knitting to the left as shown in FIG. 5, right slider 108r can be moved farther out along cord 106r so that newly formed stitches are not compressed, but instead, move easily away from the knitter's right hand. Once a row knitted to the left is complete, the knitter can adjust sliders 108l, 108r to reverse the process, this time compressing stitches on right assembly 100r so that they are delivered to the tip of right needle 102r and slide without interference onto cord 106l of left assembly 100l.

[0048] FIG. 6 shows another embodiment according to the disclosure. Assembly 400 is formed from needle 402 including threaded portion 403 at the end opposite the tip 401. Transition portion 404 includes threaded hole 405. Needle 402 is connected with transition portion 404 by threading threaded portion 403 into hole 405. Cord 406, slider 408, and stopper 410 are similar to the cord, slider and stopper described above with respect to FIG. 1. Needle 402 can be disconnected from transition portion 404 by disconnecting the threaded portions and connected with the transition portion 404 of a different assembly. This allows a variety of needles 402 to be interchangeably connected with the same cord 406, slider 408, and stopper 410 assembly. According to another embodiment, instead of a threaded connection between needle 402 and transition portion 404, these elements can be removably connected with one another using a friction fit, a snap, a twist lock, or other removable connection mechanism.

[0049] According to a further embodiment of the disclosure, the components of assembly 400 are provided as part of a kit. The kit may include a plurality of needles 402 that can be interchangeably connected with a transition portion 404, cord 406, slider 408, and stopper 410. The plurality of needles 402 may have differing diameters, lengths, and/or cross sectional shapes that are appropriate for a variety of knitting projects. For example, the kit may include needles with sizes US# 11, 13, 15, 19, but is not limited to those sizes. The kit may also include a plurality of cord and slider assemblies of differing lengths to allow a knitter to select a cord with a length appropriate for a particular project. The kit may also include other materials, including instruction manuals, media containing instructional diagrams or video tutorials demonstrating the use of the assembly, patterns for projects, yarns, and/or other accessories.

[0050] FIG. 7 shows a further embodiment according to the disclosure. Needle 502 includes an angled portion 503. Cord 506, slider 508, and stopper 510 are similar to the cord, slider and stopper described above.

[0051] While illustrative embodiments of the disclosure have been described and illustrated above, it should be understood that these are exemplary of the disclosure and are not to be considered as limiting. Additions, deletions, substitutions, and other modifications can be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the disclosure. Accordingly, the disclosure is not to be considered as limited by the foregoing description.