US532196A - Stocking - Google Patents

Description

(ModeL) '2 Sheets-Sheet 1'.

- P. GLOU-TON.

STOCKING.

No. 532,196. Patented Jan. '8, 1895.

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(ModeL) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

P.-GL.OUTON.

STOGKING I Patented Jan. 8, 1895.

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WITNESSES 3 W #TTORNEX UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PAUL GLOUTON, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

STOCKING.

I SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 532,196, dated January 8, 1895.

Application filed July 31,1894. Serial No. 519,112. tModel.)

- fication.

In the manufacture of seamless stockings as heretofore carried on it has been found difficult to shape the stocking to conform to the foot of the wearer, and to give the requisite strength to the parts subject to thegreatest strain and wear. The shape has usually been obtained by stretching on wooden forms, or by knitting in gussets bythe use of special machinery or using short rows of stitches. The former of these methods results in weakening the fabric at the point where greatest strength is required, and is open to the further objection that the shape is soon lost through wear and washing; while the latter method necessitates the use of special machinery or running in short rows or courses of stitches and connecting their ends, at considerable inconvenience, without increasing the strength of the enlarged part to resist excessive wear.

In the operation of knitting ribbed stockings, it has been usual to knit the leg on one machine and then transfer to another machine to complete the operation. I am not aware that a ribbed stocking, seamless excepting at the toe, has ever been knit on a single machine in the shape of the human foot.

The objects of my invention are, first, to knit a stocking, seamless excepting at the toe, and more particularly a stocking ribbed throughout its entire length, which will conform in shape to the human foot; second, to

.reinforce the parts subject to greatest wear and strain, and, third, to avoid the use of short rows or courses of stitches, and special gusset forming machinery.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the character of the fabric resulting from my mode of operation, in which- Figure 1 shows a complete stocking, ribbed from top to toe, shaped to the wearers foot, and containing full courses of stitches only; Fig. 2, a section including the heel and instep. Fig. 3 illustrates the plain rib stitch; Fig. 4, the well; stitch; and Fig. 5, the cardigan stitch.

My invention comprehends, first, knitting the stocking foot from the toe to the line cd in welt stitch; second,'continuing from cd to a-b, knitting each course in welt stitch on the left of the line e-fand continuing the course in cardigan stitch on the right of this g-hin plain rib stitch.

In forming the welt stitch of the foot and instep all the dial needles of the machine are pushed out of action every other course or row of stitches, while in the courses alternating with these allot the needles are in operation. The fabric resulting is illustrated in Fig. 4, it being close and non-elastic, affording the firmness desirable for this part of the stocking.

In forming the cardigan stitch of the heel, the dial and cylinder needles are tucked in alternately in forming the alternate courses, producing the fabricillustrated in Fig. 5. The longer stitches and the increased quantity of yarn thus incorporated in the heel produce the desired shape and greater strength.

this point of greatest wear.

In formingthe plain ribstitch of the ankle and leg, both the dial and cylinder needles are continuously in action, producing the fabric illustrated in Fig. 3.

The manner of forming the stitches de scribed is well known to knitters and a more detailed description is unnecessaay to the understanding of those skilled in the art. thus changing the character of the stitch to produce the structure desired for the several parts of the fabric a stocking'may be formed containing only full courses of stitches and seamless excepting when the opening of the toe is closed.

An examination of any row or course of stitches in Fig. 2, as the course 1-2, will show that the courses are free and continuous, no short rows being used to produce the bulge. The stitches on the left of the line e are short to indicate the close welt stitch, while the stitches on the right are long to indicate the change from welt to cardigan stitch. The

laid threads incorporated in the heel.

I find that by knitting the stocking from the toe upward the tendency to ravel is re- Additional threads maybe laid in to reinforce line e-f, and, third, continuing from a-li to number, 3, designates one of the series of induced, and with the special stitch used it is found unnecessary to run the stitches on the needles of thelooping machine, as is usual in closingthe toe, to prevent raveling. In closing the toe I put the stitches on the looping machine in curved shape to conform to the foot, form the seam S, and trim the edges.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. A stocking having the heel knit in cardigan stitch and the instep knit in welt stitch, for the purpose set forth.

2. Astocking having the heel knit in cardi- PAUL GLOUTON.

Witnesses;

JNo. F. REARDON, CHARLES N. BUTLER.

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