Patent Publication Number: US-2020299875-A1

Title: Knitting ring

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     N/A 
     BACKGROUND 
     Many different knitting techniques exist. Brioche knitting, for example, is used to create ridged fabrics using slipped stitches in conjunction with yarnovers. Brioche knitting can be performed using a one-pass technique or a two-pass technique as those of skill in the art would understand. With both of these brioche techniques, it is possible to use two different strands of yarn which are typically different colors. Stranded knitting is another type of knitting technique that may involve two different strands of yarn. 
     With any knitting technique, it is common for the knitter to hold and possibly tension the yarn in his or her fingers. Many different techniques and even devices have been developed for this purpose. Even so, many knitters find it difficult, if not impossible, to hold the strands of yarn while performing certain knitting techniques. This is particularly true when the knitting employs two strands of yarn. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY 
     The present invention extends to a knitting ring that can be worn on a knitter&#39;s finger and used to hold and tension yarn while the knitter is knitting. The knitting ring includes a yarn member that is configured to hold and tension multiple strands of yarn and a finger member that can be coupled to the yarn member to mount the yarn member on the knitter&#39;s finger. The yarn member includes opposing arms that are configured to hold the strands of yarn and apply a desired amount of tension to the strands of yarn. The yarn member may be removed from the finger member during use and then repositioned on the finger member in a desired orientation thereby facilitating a number of different knitting techniques. 
     In one embodiment, the present invention is implemented as a knitting ring that includes a yarn member and a finger member. The yarn member has arms positioned on opposing sides of the yarn member. Each arm is configured to pivot inwardly towards the corresponding side. The yarn member also includes a finger member channel. The finger member has a base, a finger portion extending from the base and prongs extending from the base opposite the finger portion. The prongs are configured to insert into the finger member channel to secure the finger member to the yarn member. 
     In another embodiment, the present invention is implemented as a knitting ring that includes a yarn member and a finger member. The yarn member includes a main body having a top surface, a bottom surface opposite the top surface, a first side surface, a second side surface opposite the first side surface, and opposing face surfaces that extend between the top and bottom surfaces and between the first and second side surfaces. The main body also forms a finger member channel that extends between and through the top and bottom surfaces. The yarn member also includes a first arm that extends outwardly from the main body and that is positioned overtop the first side surface. The first arm is configured to selectively hold and tension yarn against the first side surface. The yarn member also includes a second arm that extends outwardly from the main body and that is positioned overtop the second side surface. The second arm is configured to selectively hold and tension yarn against the second side surface. The finger member has a base, a finger portion that extends from the base and prongs that extends from the base opposite the finger portion. The prongs are configured to insert through the finger member channel to selectively couple the finger member to the yarn member. 
     In another embodiment, the present invention is implemented as a knitting ring that includes a yarn member and a finger member. The yarn member includes a main body having a top surface, a bottom surface opposite the top surface, a first side surface, a second side surface opposite the first side surface, and opposing face surfaces that extend between the top and bottom surfaces and between the first and second side surfaces. The main body also forms a finger member channel. The yarn member also includes a first arm that extends outwardly from the main body and that is positioned overtop the first side surface. The first arm is configured to selectively hold and tension yarn against the first side surface. The yarn member also includes a second arm that extends outwardly from the main body and that is positioned overtop the second side surface. The second arm is configured to selectively hold and tension yarn against the second side surface. The finger member couples to the yarn member to enable the yarn member to be positioned on a knitter&#39;s finger. 
     This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In order to describe the manner in which the above-recited and other advantages and features of the invention can be obtained, a more particular description of the invention briefly described above will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof which are illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are not therefore to be considered to be limiting of its scope, the invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1A  illustrates an assembled view of a knitting ring that is configured in accordance with embodiments of the present invention; 
         FIG. 1B  illustrates an exploded view of the knitting ring; 
         FIG. 2A  illustrates a front/rear view of a yarn member of the knitting ring; 
         FIG. 2B  illustrates a top/bottom view of the yarn member; 
         FIG. 2C  illustrates a side view of the yarn member; 
         FIG. 3A  illustrates a top view of a finger member of the knitting ring; 
         FIG. 3B  illustrates a front/rear view of the finger member; 
         FIG. 4  illustrates the knitting ring in use; and 
         FIGS. 5A and 5B  illustrate how the arms of the yarn member can hold and tension yarn. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIGS. 1A and 1B  illustrate an assembled view and an exploded view respectively of a knitting ring  100  that is configured in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present invention. Knitting ring  100  includes a yarn member  110 , a finger member  120 , retaining members  130  and tightening members  140 . In this specification, the term “yarn” should encompass strands of any type of fiber or material that can be used to knit. In some embodiments, knitting ring  100  can be formed of nylon or another plastic-based material that is substantially rigid but sufficiently elastic to perform the functions described below. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1A , finger member  120  couples to yarn member  110  to enable a knitter to wear knitting ring  100  on his or her finger. Retaining members  130 , which may be in the form of barrel nuts, can be configured to receive tightening members  140 , which may be in the form of thumb screws. Retaining members  130  are configured to enable tightening members  140  to be tightened towards yarn member  110  (e.g., via threads). 
       FIGS. 2A-2C  provide different views of yarn member  110  in isolation. Yarn member  110  includes a main body  111  that may have a generally rectangular shape. Main body  111  has opposing top/bottom surfaces  111   a,  opposing side surfaces  111   b  and opposing face surfaces  111   c.  As will be described further below, yarn member  110  can be coupled to finger member  120  with either top/bottom surface  111   a  facing upward. Therefore, the term “top/bottom” is used to distinguish the surfaces from the side surfaces. 
     Yarn member  110  also includes arms  112  positioned overtop side surfaces  111   b.  Arms  112  are oriented in opposite directions (i.e., one arm points down while the other arm points up). Each of arms  112  is coupled to main body  111  via a biasing member  112   a.  In the depicted embodiment, biasing member  112   a  is in the form of circular extension of arm  112  but another biasing structure, such as a living hinge, could be used. Biasing member  112   a  causes arm  112  to be biased outwardly away from the corresponding side surface  111   b.  Each arm  112  includes openings  112   b  and  112   c  that align with corresponding protrusions  115  and  116  that extend from the corresponding side surface  111   b.  Protrusions  115  and  116  are spaced apart to thereby create a gap  117 . Opening  112   b  extends to the end of arm  112  to thereby cause the end of arm  112  to have two prongs. 
     Main body  111  includes a finger member channel  113  that extends between and through top/bottom surfaces  111   a.  Finger member channel  113  can have a symmetrical cross-sectional shape. For example, in the depicted embodiment, finger member channel  113  has twelve inner surfaces  113   a  (i.e., the cross-sectional shape is a dodecagon). This configuration of finger member channel  113  enables yarn member  110  to be coupled to finger member  120  in many different orientations as will be further described below. 
     Main body  111  also includes retaining member channels  114  that extend between and possibly through face surfaces  111   c.  Retaining member channels  114  are configured to house retaining members  130 . In the depicted embodiment, retaining member channels  114  extend through face surfaces  111   c  and may therefore allow retaining members  130  to be removed from main body  111 . In other embodiments, however, retaining member channels  114  may be configured to prevent retaining members  130  from being removed from main body  111  (e.g., by including an inwardly extending lip that overlaps an end surface of retaining member  130 ). In any case, retaining member channels  114  can be configured to allow retaining members  130  to rotate as will be described below. As is visible in  FIG. 2B , an opening  114   a  can be formed through each top/bottom surface  111   a  and the corresponding side surface  111   b  overtop the corresponding retaining member channel  114 . Opening  114   a  combined with opening  112   b  allows tightening member  140  to pivot while it is secured to the corresponding retaining member  130  as is shown in  FIGS. 5A and 5B . 
       FIGS. 3A and 3B  illustrate views of finger member  120  in isolation. Finger member  120  includes a ring portion  121  that is configured to be worn around the knitter&#39;s finger, a base  122 , non-locking prongs  123  and locking prongs  124  (generally “prongs”). As shown, ring portion  121  can extend downwardly from base  122 , while prongs  123 / 124  can extend upwardly from base  122 . Ring portion  121  can include a notch  121   a  that allows the diameter of ring portion  121  to expand as necessary. 
     Non-locking prongs  123  extend upwardly from opposing sides of base  122  and face one another. Locking prongs  124  similarly extend upwardly from opposing sides of base  122  and face one another. Locking prongs  124  can be positioned between non-locking prongs  123 . Non-locking prongs  123  and locking prongs  124  include outer surfaces  123   a  and  124   a  respectively that are shaped and positioned to correspond with inner surfaces  113   a  of finger member channel  113 . For example, in the depicted embodiment, there are twelve outer surfaces  123   a/   124   a  such that these outer surfaces form a dodecagon. Of course, other numbers of outer surfaces  123   a/   124   a  and inner surfaces  113   a  could be employed (e.g., to form a hexagonal or octagonal cross-sectional shape). 
     Locking prongs  124  also include tabs  124   b  that are positioned at or towards the end of locking prongs  124 . As is visible in  FIG. 1A , when prongs  123 / 124  are inserted into finger member channel  113 , locking prongs  124  will deflect inwardly until tabs  124   b  pass through finger member channel  113 . At that point, locking prongs  124  will pivot outwardly causing tabs  124   b  to overlap with the corresponding top/bottom surface  111   a  thereby preventing finger member  120  from being decoupled from yarn member  110  without first squeezing locking prongs  124 . Because locking prongs  124  are separate from and positioned between non-locking prongs  123 , this inward deflection is possible. 
     The symmetrical cross-sectional shape of finger member channel  113  allows yarn member  110  to be coupled to finger member  120  with either top/bottom surface  111   a  facing upwardly while also retaining the ability to rotate yarn member  110  relative to finger member  120  at the same orientations. For example, with the dodecagonal cross-sectional shape shown in the figures, yarn member  110  could be rotated to twelve different orientations regardless of which top/bottom surface  111   a  is facing upwardly away from finger member  120 . 
       FIG. 4  illustrates how knitting ring  100  can be worn on a knitter&#39;s finger to hold and tension yarn  401  and  402 . In this figure, yarn member  110  is coupled to finger member  120  in an orientation that causes yarn member  110  to be substantially parallel to the knitter&#39;s finger. However, the knitter could squeeze locking prongs  124 , remove yarn member  110  and then recouple it at any other desired orientation. For example, yarn member  110  could be positioned in an orientation that is substantially perpendicular to the knitter&#39;s finger. Additionally, yarn member  110  could be removed, flipped upside down and then recoupled to finger member  120  even without removing yarn  401  and  402  from yarn member  110  and while knitting. This ability to reorient yarn member  110  can facilitate various knitting techniques including the brioche technique where the yarn must be turned around between passes. 
       FIGS. 5A and 5B  illustrate how yarn member  110  can be employed to hold and tension two strands of yarn. In  FIG. 5A , tightening members  140  have been pivoted to free them from arms  112 . In this orientation, yarn  501  and  502  can be inserted into gaps  117 . Alternatively, yarn  501  and  502  could be threaded through gaps  117  without pivoting tightening members  140 . Then, as represented in  FIG. 5B , tightening members  140  can be pivoted back into openings  112   b  and tightened against arms  112 . Biasing members  112   a  will allow arms  112  to pivot inwardly towards the corresponding side surface  111   b  to thereby pinch yarn  501  and  502  between the respective arm and side surface. Tightening member  140  can be tightened until the desired amount of tension is applied to yarn  501  and  502 . With yarn  501  and  502  tensioned, the knitter may begin knitting. The tension on yarn  501  and  502  could be adjusted at any time by simply loosening tightening member  140 . 
     Although knitting ring  100  can be used while performing any knitting technique and using one or more strands of yarn, it is particularly beneficial when performing techniques that employ two stands of yarn (e.g., the brioche technique and the stranded knitting technique). As an example, arms  112  provide a way to hold and tension two strands of yarn while the configuration of yarn member  110  and finger member  120  allow the orientation of the strands of yarn to be adjusted as necessary or desired. 
     The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.