Abstract
A method for producing tubular compression knitted fabric includes: knitting a tubular first section of a basic knitted fabric forming stitches from at least one knitting yarn along a knitting direction, with a plurality of rows of stitches following one another in the knitting direction and an elastic weft yarn bound into the stitches via tuck stitches; and seamlessly knitting of a second section onto the first section along the knitting direction. In the second section viewed in the knitting direction, the number of stitches is successively reduced at least in some of the successive rows of stitches by transferring of stitches, thereby forming a closed dome-shaped end at the distal end of the second section by a reduction of stitches. The compression knitted fabric is usable to create prosthetic stockings for an amputated limb to apply compression pressure with a defined pressure profile without causing skin irritation.
Claims
1. A method for producing an at least substantially tubular compression knitted fabric for producing knitted prosthetic stockings for application to an amputated limb of a patient for supplying a compressive force onto the amputated limb, the compression knitted fabric extending from an open proximal end to a closed distal end, wherein: a basic knitted fabric forming stitches from at least one knitting yarn along a knitting direction extending from the open proximal end to the closed distal end of the compression knitted fabric is knitted seamlessly in an uninterrupted knitting operation on a flat knitting machine having a front needle bed and a rear needle bed, the front and rear needle beds extending between end sections thereof, wherein a front ply of the basic knitted fabric is knitted on the front needle bed and a rear ply opposite the front ply is knitted on the rear needle bed, the front ply and the rear ply each having side edges, the front ply and the rear ply seamlessly knitted together at their respective side edges by interchanging the at least one knitting yarn from the front needle bed onto the rear needle bed, and vice versa, at the respective end sections of the front and rear needle beds, to form a tubular basic knitted fabric having a plurality of rows of stitches following one another in the knitting direction, wherein an elastic weft yarn is drawn off from a weft yarn package during knitting and is bound into the basic knitted fabric by a weft yarn device of the flat knitting machine by forming tuck stitches, a tubular first section of the compression knitted fabric forming stitches from the at least one knitting yarn is knitted along the knitting direction with a plurality of rows of stitches following one another in the knitting direction, wherein the elastic weft yarn is bound into the stitches of the tubular first section of the basic knitted fabric via tuck stitches, a second section of the compression knitted fabric is seamlessly knitted onto the first section of the compression knitted fabric along the knitting direction, wherein in the second section as viewed in the knitting direction, a number of stitches is successively reduced at least in some or in all of successive rows of stitches of the second section by transferring of stitches, as a result of which a closed dome-shaped end is formed at the closed distal end of the compression knitted fabric by a reduction of stitches, wherein the knitting yarn is knitted off once or several times at the closed distal end of the compression knitted fabric in a region of a last occupied needle of one of the front and rear needle beds of the flat knitting machine, in order to close the dome-shaped end, and wherein the elastic weft yarn is interlocked in the basic knitted fabric at the closed distal end of the compression knitted fabric by one or more binding elements, and the elastic weft yarn subsequently is cut off from the weft yarn package after it has been interlocked in the basic knitted fabric.
2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the reduction of stitches in the second section of the compression knitted fabric is affected by an offset of the front and rear needle beds of the flat knitting machine with respect to each other, wherein the offset of the front and rear needle beds is affected by one or more needles.
3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the reduction of stitches takes place in selected stitch reduction zones in at least one of the front ply and the rear ply of the compression knitted fabric between the side edges of the front ply and the rear ply.
4. The method according to claim 3, wherein, in selected courses having a higher number of reduction of stitches, a plurality of stitch reduction zones is arranged at a predetermined distance from one another within each course of the selected courses.
5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the elastic weft yarn is bound into the stitches of the basic knitted fabric in each row of stitches or in every n.sup.th row of stitches, with nN and n2, wherein a density of the elastic weft yarn in the rows of stitches of the second section is smaller than a density of the elastic weft yarn in the rows of stitches of the first section.
6. The method according to claim 4, wherein each stitch reduction zone is arranged at a predetermined distance from the side edges of the front ply and the rear ply.
7. A method for producing an at least substantially tubular compression knitted fabric for producing knitted prosthetic stockings for application to an amputated limb of a patient for supplying a compressive force onto the amputated limb, the compression knitted fabric extending from an open proximal end to a closed distal end, wherein: a basic knitted fabric forming stitches from at least one knitting yarn along a knitting direction extending from the open proximal end to the closed distal end of the compression knitted fabric is knitted seamlessly in an uninterrupted knitting operation on a flat knitting machine having a front needle bed and a rear needle bed, the front and rear needle beds extending between end sections thereof, wherein a front ply of the basic knitted fabric on the front needle bed and a rear ply opposite the front ply is knitted on the rear needle bed, the front ply and the rear ply each having side edges, the front ply and the rear ply are seamlessly knitted together at their respective side edges by interchanging the at least one knitting yarn from the front needle bed onto the rear needle bed, and vice versa, at the respective end sections of the front and rear needle beds, to form a tubular basic knitted fabric with a plurality of rows of stitches following one another in the knitting direction, wherein an elastic weft yarn is drawn off from a weft yarn package during knitting and is bound into the basic knitted fabric by a weft yarn device of the flat knitting machine by forming tuck stitches, a tubular first section of the compression knitted fabric forming stitches from the at least one knitting yarn along the knitting direction and extending from the open proximal end to the closed distal end of the compression knitted fabric is knitted, with a plurality of rows of stitches following one another in a knitting direction, wherein the elastic weft yarn is bound into the stitches of the tubular first section of the basic knitted fabric via tuck stitches, a second section of the compression knitted fabric is seamlessly knitted onto the first section of the basic knitted fabric along the knitting direction, wherein in the second section, as viewed in the knitting direction, a number of stitches is successively reduced at least in some or in all of the successive rows of stitches of the second section by transferring of stitches as a result of which a closed dome-shaped end is formed at the closed distal end of the compression knitted fabric by a reduction of stitches, wherein the elastic weft yarn is bound into the stitches of the basic knitted fabric in each row of stitches or in every n.sup.th row of stitches, with nN and n2, wherein a density of the elastic weft yarn in the rows of stitches of the second section is smaller than a density of the elastic weft yarn in the rows of stitches of the first section, wherein the elastic weft yarn is interlocked in the basic knitted fabric at the closed distal end of the compression knitted fabric by one or more binding elements, and wherein the elastic weft yarn is cut off from the weft yarn package after it has been interlocked into the basic knitted fabric.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(1) These and other advantages as well as preferred features of the invention result from the embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, which serve to explain the invention and do not limit the scope of protection of the invention defined by the following claims. The drawings show:
(2) FIGS. 1A-1C: An illustration of knitting patterns in the form of a technical cartridge of a first embodiment of the compression knitted fabric according to the invention, wherein FIG. 1A shows the first seven courses of stitches, FIG. 1B shows the subsequent courses 8 to 16 of stitches and FIG. 1C shows the courses 17 to 27 of stitches terminating the knitted fabric in the direction of knitting;
(3) FIG. 2: an illustration of a knitting pattern in the form of a technical cartridge of a second embodiment of the compression knitted fabric according to the invention, wherein the first two rows of stitches of a first section of the knitted fabric are shown as an example in FIG. 2;
(4) FIG. 3: an illustration of a knitting pattern in the form of a technical cartridge of a third embodiment of the compression knitted fabric according to the invention, wherein the first four rows of stitches of a first section of the knitted fabric are shown as an example in FIG. 3;
(5) FIG. 4: a photographic representation of a prosthetic stocking made of a compression knitted fabric according to the invention; and
(6) FIG. 5: the symbols used in FIGS. 1A-1C, 2, and 3 to represent the knitted weaves of a knitting yarn T and an elastic weft yarn S, wherein the designations front and rear are referring to the front needle bed and the rear needle bed of a flat knitting machine on which the compression knitted fabric is knitted.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
(7) FIGS. 1A-1C show the yarn path of a first embodiment of the compression knitted fabric according to the invention by means of a technical cartridge, wherein the compression knitted fabric shown in FIGS. 1A-1C comprises a total of 27 stitch rows R following one another in a knitting direction v, which are divided in the partial images of FIGS. 1A-1C, wherein FIG. 1A shows the stitch rows 1 to 7, FIG. 1B shows the stitch rows 8 to 16 and FIG. 1C shows the stitch rows 17 to 27.
(8) The compression knitted fabric shown in FIGS. 1A-1C is knitted seamlessly and without interruption in a continuous knitting process on a flat knitting machine with a front needle bed and a rear needle bed, wherein a front ply L0 of a basic knitted fabric M is knitted on the front needle bed and a rear ply L1 opposite the front ply is knitted on the rear needle bed from a knitting yarn T. The front ply is knitted seamlessly together with the rear ply by interchanging the knitting yarn T at the edges of the front and rear layers from an end sections of the front needle bed to a beginning section of the rear needle bed, and vice versa, to form a tubular basic knitted fabric M. The front ply is designated L0 in the technical cartridge of FIGS. 1A-1C in the respective row of stitches (in the left column next to the row number R), and the back ply is designated as L1 in each row of stitches. The front ply L0 and the rear ply L1 form a tubular basic knitted fabric M by knitting the side edges of the front ply L0 with the side edges of the rear ply in the same row of stitches and by joining the edges of the rear ply L1 with the edges of the front ply L0 of the following row of stitches. In FIGS. 1A-1C, the direction of movement of the yarn guide along the needle beds of the flat knitting machine is indicated by an arrow in the Direction column. As can be seen, for example, from FIG. 1A in row 1, when knitting the front ply L0, the yarn guide runs on the front needle bed from right to left, and in the rear ply L1 of the same row of stitches (row 1), the yarn guide runs on the rear needle bed from left to right, and so on. In this process, the knitting yarn T, from which the basic knitted fabric M is knitted, is knitted into a stitch m on each needle of one of the two needle beds of the flat knitting machine. The stitch formations of the knitting yarn T are each designated with the symbol m in the Function column of FIGS. 1A-1C. In alternative embodiments, the knitting yarn T can also be knitted to form a stitch m on, for example, every second needle of the front and rear needle beds of the flat knitting machine and floated over intermediate needles. Other structures of the basic knitted fabric are also possible, with the knitting yarn T forming the basic knitted structure in particular by a combination of stitch, float or stitch on each needle of the front and rear needle beds of the flat knitting machine. The knitting yarn T may be, for example, a single wound spandex yarn or a single yarn. The knitting yarn T can also be a double yarn or a plied yarn. In addition to the knitting yarn T, an additional yarn can also be bound into the basic knitted fabric M by plating, wherein the knitting yarn T is lying on the right side of the fabric while the additional yarn (plated yarn) lies on the left side of the fabric.
(9) An elastic weft yarn S is bound into the basic knitted fabric M formed from the knitting yarn T by means of a weft yarn device of the flat knitting machine. In the example shown in FIGS. 1A-1C, a weft thread S is bound into each row R of stitches. Alternatively, the elastic weft yarn S can also be incorporated into the basic knitted fabric M only in every second, third or fourth row of stitches R. Non-periodic sequences are also possible in that the elastic weft yarn S is, for example, first inserted in three successive rows of stitches, omitted in a fourth row of stitches, inserted in the following fifth row of stitches and omitted again in the following sixth row of stitches. The weft yarn S can, for example, be a double-wound spandex thread.
(10) The integration of the elastic weft yarn S into the basic knitted fabric M, which is indicated in the Function column of the drawings in FIGS. 1A-1C, 2, and 3 by the symbol s in each case, is achieved by means of tuck stitches F which are produced on certain needles of the front and rear needle beds of the flat knitting machine in the weft yarn system S. The weft yarn S lies float between two tuck stitches F of the weft yarn S which follow one another in the direction of the row of stitches. In the knitting pattern shown in FIGS. 1A-1C, the weft yarn S forms a tuck stitch F on every second needle of the front and rear needle beds of the flat knitting machine and accordingly lies float on every second needle lying in between. Other bindings of the elastic weft yarn S into the basic knitted fabric M are possible, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The example of the compression knitted fabric shown in FIGS. 1A-1C is a right-/left basic knitted fabric M with weft yarn S integrated 1:1 via tuck stitches F.
(11) The knitting direction v shown in FIGS. 1A-1C runs from a proximal end p to a distal end d of the compression knitted fabric. In FIGS. 1A-1C the proximal end p is shown in the first row of stitches 1 and the distal end d in FIG. 1C is shown in the last row of stitches (row 27). The proximal end p of the compression knitted fabric of FIGS. 1A-1C forms an open end of a tubular first section A1 and the distal end d forms a dome-shaped closed end A3 of the knitted fabric.
(12) The first section A1, which is shown in FIG. 1A, comprises the first three rows 1 to 3 of the knitted fabric and forms a tubular knitted fabric which comprises a certain number of stitches m of the knitting yarn T on the front needle bed and the rear needle bed of the flat knitting machine and has a constant (or changing) number of stitches m in the successive rows of stitches of the first section A1 along the knitting direction v. However, the first section A1 of the compression knit may comprise further rows of stitches each having a constant or changing number of stitches m along the knitting direction v in each row of stitches R, which are not shown here in the drawings. The number of stitches m in the individual rows of stitches R of the first section A1 can thereby be different in order to adapt the contour of the tubular first section A1 to the body shape of a body extremity to which the compression knitted fabric (for example in the form of a stocking) is to be applied. The change in the number of stitches in the individual rows of stitches R of the first section A1 can be effected for this purpose in particular by stitch increases or stitch decreases, which are expediently effected at the edges of the front ply L0 and the rear ply L1 of the basic knitted fabric M.
(13) The first, tubular section A1 of the basic knitted fabric M is followed in the knitting direction v towards the distal end d of the compression knitted fabric, by a second section A2 with a contour tapering towards the distal end d. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1A-1C, the elastic weft yarn S comprises rows of stitches 4 to 27. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1A-1C, the second section A2 comprises the stitch rows 4 to 27. The elastic weft yarn S is thereby integrated, both in the first section A1 and in the second section A2, of the basic knitted fabric M, whereby in the embodiment shown, the integration of the weft yarn S in the first section A1 and in the second section A2 is uniform, i.e., in both sections A1 and A2, the elastic weft yarn S is integrated into the basic knitted fabric M in each row of stitches via tuck stitches F on every second needle of the needle beds of the flat knitting machine.
(14) The extension of the compression knitted fabric in the circumferential direction, i.e. in the direction of the rows of stitches of the knitted fabric, is successively reduced in the second section A2 of the compression knitted fabric by stitch reduction by means of transferring the knitting yarn T using a transfer device. The transfer of the knitting yarn T is indicated by the symbol u in the Function column of FIGS. 1A-1C. The transfer u of the knitting yarn T in selected stitch rows R of the basic knitted fabric M results in a stitch reduction MM, i.e. a reduction in the number of stitches of the knitting yarn T in the relevant stitch row by a predetermined number of stitches. In the example shown in FIGS. 1A-1C, the stitch reduction takes place, for example, in row 4 of the knitted fabric both on the front needle bed and on the rear needle bed of the flat knitting machine, both in the front ply L0 and in the rear ply L1 of the knitted fabric as well. The needles of the front and rear needle beds of the flat knitting machine, on which the knitting thread T is transferred by the transfer device to reduce the number of stitches, are identified in row 4 of the knitted fabric by the clip symbols shown there. Each clip symbol symbolizes a transfer u of the knitting yarn T by a predetermined number of needles inwards, i.e. against the original direction of movement of the thread guide, which is why a double arrow is drawn in the Direction column of FIGS. 1A-1C in each of the rows of the knitted fabric in which a transfer u of the knitting yarn T takes place. Such an overhanging u of the knitting yarn T takes place in rows 4, 7, 13 to 15, 19, 21, 23 and 25 in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1A-1C. The stitch reduction allows the contour of the knitted fabric to be adjusted along the knitting direction v, i.e. from the proximal end p to the distal end d.
(15) The stitch reductions in the selected rows of stitches of the knitted fabric are carried out by overhanging u the knitting yarn T from the active needle bed of the flat knitting machine to the opposite needle bed, which is currently inactive, and a subsequent shifting of the inactive needle bed relative to the active needle bed by a predetermined number of needles. After the mutual displacement of the two opposing needle beds, the stitches of the knitting yarn T are hooked from the inactive needle bed back onto the active needle bed, whereby, due to the displacement of the opposing needle beds, a stitch reduction, i.e. a reduction in the number of stitches in the relevant row of stitches, takes place depending on the number of needles by which the two needle beds have been displaced relative to one another. The stitch reductions take place in selected stitch reduction zones MM within selected rows of stitches, the stitch reduction zones MM being arranged between the edges of the front ply L0 or the rear ply L1. Preferably the reduction zones MM are at a distance from the edges of the front ply or the rear layer. Several such stitch reduction zones MM can also be arranged at a distance from one another within a row of stitches.
(16) The number of stitches reduced in this way in the stitch reduction zones MM can be controlled by the offset of the two opposing needle beds relative to one another. In the example shown in FIGS. 1A-1C, for example, the needle beds are offset with respect to each other by two needles. However, an offset by only one needle or by three, four or more needles can take place as well, with a corresponding number of stitch reductions by one stitch or by three, four or more stitches, etc., in the relevant row of stitches in which a stitch reduction takes place by overhanging u of the knitting yarn.
(17) The stitch reductions in the selected rows of the knitted fabric to stitches of the basic knitted fabric lying further inside can also be carried out by overhanging u the knitting yarn T from the active needle bed of the flat knitting machine to an auxiliary needle bed.
(18) The overhanging u of the knitting yarn T takes place in each case at the edge of the relevant row of stitches R, i.e. either at the left edge 1 or at the right edge r, as can be seen from rows 4, 7, 13 to 15, 19, 21 and 23 of the knitting diagram in FIGS. 1A-1C. The overhanging u of the knitting yarn T thus takes place either at the left edge 1 of the front ply L0 and at the left edge of the rear ply L1 connected to the front ply L0, or at the right edge r of the front ply L0 and at the right edge r of the rear ply L1 connected thereto. The respective side edges of the front ply L0 and the rear ply L1 are joined together in this case by guiding the knitting yarn T from the front needle bed onto the rear needle bed of the flat knitting machine, and vice versa, in order to join the front ply L0 to the rear ply L1 together to form a closed tubular fabric.
(19) By reducing the number of stitches in selected stitch rows R of the knitted fabric, the extent of the knitted fabric in the direction of the stitch rows can be varied along the knitting direction v, and the contour of the knitted fabric can thereby be optimally adapted to the body shape of a body extremity to which the compression knitted fabric is to be applied in order to exert a defined compressive effect. The number of stitches in the individual stitch rows R of the knitted fabric required for optimum adaptation of the shape of the knitted fabric to the body shape of the body extremity can be determined by scanning the body shape of the limb and subsequently calculating the necessary number of stitches in the individual stitch rows R depending on the shape of the limb.
(20) In the second section A2 of the compression knitted fabric, which in the embodiment of FIGS. 1A-1C extends over the stitch rows 4 to 27, the number of stitches m in at least some selected stitch rows R (in the embodiment of FIGS. 1A-1C these are stitch rows 4, 7, 10, 13 to 15, 19, 21, 23 and 25) by overhanging u stitches m of the basic knitted fabric M, whereby the extension of the basic knitted fabric M in the direction of the rows of stitches along the knitting direction v, i.e. towards the distal end d of the knitted fabric, is successively reduced due to the stitch reduction. This results in a dome-shaped closed end A3 at the distal end d of the knitted fabric. In the knitted fabric shown in FIGS. 1A-1C and in particular in FIG. 1C, the dome-shaped closed end A3 extends from course 23 to the last course 27. In course 23, the knitting yarn T in the front ply L0 and in the rear ply L1 is initially transferred by two stitches in each case, and then the knitting yarn T in course 23 is transferred at the right edge r of the front ply L0 and of the rear ply L1 by one stitch in each case. In the following row of stitches 24, the knitting yarn T is knitted on both the front ply L0 and the rear ply L1 (i.e. on the front and rear needle beds of the flat knitting machine) to form a single remaining stitch m, and the elastic weft yarn S is bound into this stitch m by a tuck stitch F. In the following row of stitches 25, a final overhanging u of the knitting yarn T is effected by means of the transfer device by one stitch m from the rear needle bed (i.e. from the rear needle bed) to the front needle bed (i.e. onto the front needle bed). In the last two rows of stitches 26 and 27, the knitting yarn T is knitted off to form a stitch m on the front needle bed (i.e. in the front ply L0 of the knitted fabric). The knitting yarn T can be knitted off as often as required in a last, remaining stitch m on the front needle bed of the flat knitting machine. Multiple knitting-off ensures that the knitted fabric does not come loose at the closed, distal end d. The elastic weft yarn S is locked at this point by one or more knitted structures in the basic knitted fabric M, in particular by tuck stitches F or by stitch formation, and then the weft yarn is cut off by a weft yarn roller integrated in the weft yarn device, from which the weft yarn S is drawn off.
(21) In this way, a tubular compression knitted fabric with an elastic weft yarn S, which is bound into the basic knitted fabric M, can be produced with a precisely defined pressure profile of the compression pressure exerted by the compression knitted fabric on a body extremity (limb) of a patient, wherein the tubular knitted fabric has an open proximal end p and a closed distal end d. The compression pressure exerted by the knitted fabric, when applied to a body extremity (limb) can thereby be controlled by the yarn tension of the weft yarn S, with which the latter is bound into the basic knitted fabric, and by the length of the tuck stitches F, by which the weft yarn S is bound into the basic knitted fabric. Preferably, at least in the first section A1, the compression knitted fabric generates a compression profile with decreasing pressure towards the proximal end p. Such a compression knitted fabric is particularly suitable for use as a compression stocking or as a compression head mask.
(22) When used as a head mask, a face opening is knitted into the tubular knitted fabric of the first section A1. This can be done by reducing stitches in selected rows of stitches of the first section A1. When used as a stocking, in particular a prosthetic stocking, to be used on an amputated limb, the pressure gradient in the second section A2 may decrease towards the distal end d to prevent excessive pressure at the distal end of the amputated limb. In this example of use, the knitted fabric exhibits a maximum of compression pressure at the transition from the first section A1 to the second section A2.
(23) FIG. 2 shows the yarn course of a second embodiment of the compression knitted fabric according to the invention by means of a technical cartridge, wherein the compression knitted fabric shown exemplarily in FIG. 2 shows two stitch rows R (row 1 and row 2) of the first section A1, in which the basic knitted fabric M is formed as a right-hand/left-hand multi-eye knitted fabric with an elastic weft yarn S bound therein in each row R. Therein, the weft yarn S, in contrast to the embodiment of FIGS. 1A-1C, is bound into the basic knitted fabric M on every fourth needle of the needle beds of the flat knitting machine via a tuck stitch F and is floated over three needles between two neighboring tuck stitches F which follow one another in a row of stitches R. The two rows of stitches shown in FIG. 2 are followed by correspondingly constructed rows of stitches of the second section A2, in which stitch reductions are effected in selected stitch reduction zones MM in accordance with the embodiment of FIGS. 1A-1C by means of the above-described overhanging u of the knitting yarn T.
(24) FIG. 3 shows the yarn course of a third embodiment of the compression knitted fabric according to the invention by means of a technical cartridge, wherein the compression knitted fabric shown exemplarily in FIG. 3 shows four stitch rows R (rows 1 to 4) of the first section A1 of the compression knitted fabric according to the invention, wherein the basic knitted fabric M is constructed as a right-hand/left-hand knitted fabric with an elastic weft yarn S bound therein in every second row R. The weft yarn S, as in the embodiment of FIGS. 1A-1C, is bound into the basic knitted fabric M on every second needle of the needle beds of the flat bed knitting machine via a tuck stitch F and is lying float over a needle between two neighboring tuck loops F which follow one another in a row of stitches R. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the weft yarn S is bound into the odd-numbered rows R (rows 1, 3, etc.) of the basic knitted fabric M and there is no weft yarn in the even-numbered rows (rows 2, 4, etc.). The four rows of stitches shown in FIG. 3 are followed by correspondingly formed rows of stitches of the second section A2, in which stitch reductions are made in selected stitch reduction zones MM in accordance with the embodiment of FIGS. 1A-1C by means of the above-described overhanging u of the knitting yarn T.
(25) FIG. 4 shows a limb stump stocking (prosthetic stocking) for applying to an amputated body extremity (limb), e.g. to an amputated leg. The stocking is made from a compression knitted fabric according to the invention, which is knitted along the knitting direction v from a proximal end p to a distal end d and comprises a tubular first section A1 with an opening at the proximal end p and an adjoining second section A2 with a dome-shaped closed end A3 at the distal end d. The second section A3 contains stitch reduction zones MM formed by the above-described overhanging processes during knitting. The second section A3 contains stitch reduction zones MM formed by the above-described overhanging processes during knitting, which can be seen in the knitted fabric on the outer fabric side and are designated by the symbol MM in FIG. 4. Towards the distal end d, the circumference of the second section A2 with the closed end A3 arranged at the distal end d tapers further and further, caused by the stitch reductions in the stitch reduction zones MM, until the last stitch at which the knitting yarn (and thus the basic knitted fabric knitted from the knitting yarn) is fixed by a multiple knitting-off.
