Knitted velcro sleeve

A knit fabric for use as a wrap around-sleeve having connectors along opposed edges. The fabric comprises a body portion knitted in a single layer of warp and weft yarns, a first edge portion of warp and weft yarns formed into spaced chains which secure a woven tape having hooks onto the knit fabric and a second edge knit to form raised loops. The hooks secured along the first edge are adapted to secure with the loops along the second edge securing the fabric edges forming the fabric into a wrap-around sleeve.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The instant invention is directed to a knit fabric having connectors along its laterally spaced longitudinal edges. The fabric has as its primary use the formation of a sleeve which may be wrapped about wiring or other articles to act as an insulator, protective cover or positioning member. The fabric, including the connectors, is formed in a single step by knitting.

Sleeve or cover fabrics are known. These fabrics are primarily formed by weaving or knitting a web with loop connectors formed along one edge. A tape, carrying hook members, is then sewn or adhered to the opposite edge of the web. This procedure, while an improvement over attaching connector tapes along both edges of a formed web, is time-consuming and inefficient.

Accordingly, a primary object of the instant invention is the method of forming a fabric having connectors along opposed edges in a single step.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a unitary knitted cover fabric having hook and loop connectors along opposed edges.

Another object of the invention is a knitted cover fabric in which the hook members are secured therewith by knitting during the formation of the cover fabric.

Another object of the invention is the formation of a knit fabric having connectors along each edge in a single continuous operation.

Another object of the invention is an improved and more economical method of forming a knit cover fabric.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The instant invention is directed to a knit cover fabric having connectors arranged along its longitudinal edges and the method of forming.

The method of forming the cover fabric includes the steps of preparing a plurality of warp and weft yarns and a tape carrying a plurality of connectors over one surface for delivery through the knitting zone of a knitting machine. The yarns, along with the tape, are fed through the knitting zone which operates to form a knitted web having first and second edges. The tape is fed simultaneously with the yarns through the knitting zone where it is secured with the knitted web by being knitted onto a first edge of the knitted web during its formation. Also, occurring simultaneously with the formation of the knitted web, loops are formed along its second edge. The loops are formed by knitting on a first web side simultaneously with the tape being knitted onto the opposite web side.

The fabric comprises a knit web having a body portion with laterally spaced edges. The web is formed of first, second and third yarn groups. The body portion of the web is formed of yarns of the first and second groups. A first edge of the web is formed of yarns of the first and second yarn groups while second edge is formed of yarns of the first, second and third yarn groups.

The first and second yarn groups knit with a fabric strip or tape having hook elements along one of its surfaces securing the fabric strip along the first edge and lower side of knit web.

The third yarn group knits with the yarns of the first and second yarn groups along the second edge forming loops along the upper side of the fabric. The loops formed by the third yarn group extend above the yarns of groups one and two.

By securing the fabric strip on one web surface and forming the loops on the opposite fabric surface, the web edges may be arranged or curled to position the loops to overlay the hook elements so that when engaged, the web forms a continuous circular configuration.

The web or the yarns of the first and second yarn groups are preferably formed of monofilament yarns while the loops formed by the yarns of the third yarn group are preferably multifilament yarns. Preferably, all yarns are polymeric material.

The yarns of groups one and two form the web using a pillar stitch while yarn three forms the raised loops using a treco stitch.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the following specification and by reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof.

Turning now to the drawings,FIG. 1is a top view showing closure fabric10from its top side.FIGS. 2-7are also referenced. Fabric10is intended for use as a wrap-around sleeve cover or shield fabric for use with electrical wiring, furniture, automobile covering, etc. The fabric is constructed in a single continuous process by knitting. This single process provides both time and labor saving features which are very desirable.

Fabric10consists of body or web11which is formed to be of selective widths depending upon the intended use of the fabric. The width of the body may range between 2″ to the width of the knitting machine. Body11is formed of vertical warp rows or chains12, of preferably closed pillow stitches13, inter-connective with weft yarns14. The yarns forming warp rows or chains12are preferably a monofilament of polymeric material such as a polyester. The yarn size is determined by the intended end use. Weft bars lay weft yarns14transversely of the warp rows or chains12preferably passing the yarn over four rows or chains per stitch. The weft yarn14may be a multi-filament or monofilament polymeric yarn, preferably a polyester.

Turning now toFIGS. 4-9, fabric10is shown in sections illustrating the central portion or body11and the opposed edge portions16and18. Loop edge18is constructed of between eight and ten warp chains or rows121formed of pillar stitches13slightly spaced from body11by a skipped chain or row19. The same yarns are used to form both warp rows12and121. Combined with pillar stitches13are tricot stitches20of multifilament yarns22which are fed to the same needles knitting with yarns24forming rows121forming raised loops26of additional loop forming stitches. The loop forming yarns22are knitted in a closed tricot stitch alternating with adjacent chains121positioning loops26above pillar stitches13. Yarns22form the raised loops26along edge18on the upper surface of fabric10. Again, weft yarns14engage with the respective stitches retaining the rows in position.

Turning now toFIGS. 1-3, body11of fabric10is shown connecting along its edge16with a hook containing tape28which is usually woven. As is shown inFIG. 2, the preformed hook containing tape28is positioned adjacent the edge of the knitting zone on the knitting machine and fed simultaneously through the knitting zone with warp yarns24forming the body portion11and warp chains12and1211. Tape28is fed beneath yarns24so as to appear on the lower surface of fabric10. Again, chains1211of edge16are spaced across the knitting zone there being usually about four chains forming edge16. Weft yarns141are passed also to be engaged with chain loops24of chains1211. Chains1211are spaced a distance so that each weft yarn141passes over and engages within only two chains in edge16. Weft yarn1411engages with the outermost chain12of body11and the innermost chain1211of edge16securing the edge portion with body11.

Hook carrying tape28, which is a standard hook tape of a hook and loop engagement system, i.e. VELCRO, is positioned to be fed through the knitting zone superimposed under warp yarns24forming chains1211. As yarns24and tape28are fed through the knitting zone, the needles forming stitches or loops13pass through hook tape28allowing the yarns24forming chains1211to engage with weft141securing the tape on the edge portion16. Weft yarn141engages with chains1211on the back surface of tape28. Simultaneously, the pillar stitches of chains1211are formed on the hook side of tape28securing it with the lower side of fabric10. An additional chain1211is formed outwardly of the edge of hook tape28forming the finished edge of fabric10.

Fabric10is formed as a finished product with tape28secured to a first side and edge of the fabric and loops26formed along the opposed edge and opposite fabric side, in a single operation. By removing unnecessary processing and handling steps, the fabric is produced in a most economical manner. Less handling further reduces the number of second or faulty products.

The size or denier of the yarns forming fabric10may vary between very fine to very course, depending upon the intended use of the finished product. Also, the synthetic yarns forming the fabric may vary also between various type polymeric material also depending upon the intended use and between mono or multifilament yarns as desired. Finally, the size and shape of the fabric varies depending upon the intended use. Primarily, monofilament yarns are preferred for all fabric sections except for the loop forming yarns. Here, multifilament yarns are preferred.