Patent ID: 6085554
Filing Date: 2000-07-11
Classification: D04B

Abstract:
A needle for performing a transfer stitch operation on a circular knitting machine, comprising:(a) an elongate shank having a hook formed on a top end thereof and a butt formed on a bottom end thereof;(b) a latch pivotally mounted on the shank below said hook and reciprocally moveable by a yarn being formed into a loop between an open position wherein the latch resides generally alongside the shank of the needle and a closed position extending between the shank and the end of the hook;(c) an extension formed on said hook, said extension having a reduced profile and extending upwardly from said hook for penetrating the loop formed for transfer; and(d) loop-enlarging means positioned on the needle shank between the latch and the butt and extending laterally into a plane defined by an adjacent needle for receiving the adjacent needle through the loop whereby the loop is transferred laterally to the adjacent loop to thereby form an opening in a fabric being formed by the knitting machine.