Improvements in or relating to the Manufacture of Stockings.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Feb., 1895-Accepted 30th Mar., 1895
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to the Manufacture of Stockings.
1, JOSEPH BENNOR, of No. 661, Hawthorn Street, in the City of Macon, in
the County of Bibb and State of Georgia, United States of America, Machinist,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement :-
This invention relates to stockings and to the art of manufacturing the same.
It has reference, more especially, to the class of stockings produced upon
" automatic straight kuitting machines of the kind in which two opposite rows
or sets of latch needles are employed.
The invention consists, first, in a stocking in which the lower or narrow portion
and the upper or wide portion of the leg are connected by an intermediate portion
scamed laterally on diagonal lines running from the lower to the upper portion, as
will hereinafter appear.
The invention consists, secondly, in the process of knitting a tubular web for
stockings, upon two rows of needles, by throwing a predetermined number of
needles out of action at each end of each row, then knitting with the needles in
action, then throwing into operation the needles first thrown out of action, then
knitting with all the needles in action, then cutting diagonally the laterally-
projecting portions of the web, and, finally, seaming or otherwise closing the slits
or openings thus formed.
The invention consists, thirdly, in the process of forming stockings by throwing
out of action at each end of each set of opposed needles, a predetermined number
of needles, then proceeding to knit the toe, the foot, the heel, and the ankle or
lower portion of the leg upon the remaining needles, then throwing into operation
the needles first thrown out of action, and proceeding with the knitting of the leg
of the stocking, then cutting diagonally the laterally-projecting parts of the
widened leg portion, and seaming or otherwise closing the slits or openings in the
sides of the leg portion.
Referring to the annexed drawings―
Figure is an elevation of the improved stocking.
Figure 2 is a view of the knitted web preparatory to the trimming and seaming
of the laterally-projecting parts of the leg portion.
Figure 3 illustrates the invention as applied to the foot of the stocking.
a is the toe of the stocking; b, the foot; c, the heel; d, the ankle or lower
portion of the leg; e, the fashioned portion of the leg, and the upper portion
thereof. The fashioned portion is formed by shaping the leg on each side thereof,
at g, h, instead of on the back portion only of the web, as heretofore, whereby a
more graceful and natural form is imparted to the leg of the stocking than
formerly.
In knitting the stocking, a straight knitting machine equipped with two opposite
rows or sets of needles is employed, more especially such a machine wherein the
knitting is commenced at the toe, and continued automatically through the other
members of the stocking.
At the outset of the process, is thrown out of operation at each end of each row
of needles, a number of needles equal to one-quarter of the difference between those
required for the formation of the ankle or narrow portion of the leg and those
required for the formation of the upper or wide portion of the leg; that is to say,

page_text: if there are seventy-six stitches required in each course of the narrow part and
one hundred stitches required for each course of the wide part, six needles are
thrown out of action at each end of each set of needles, thus leaving in action
seventy-six needles. This being done, the operative needles are manipulated to
form the toe pouch, the tubular foot portion, the heel pouch, and the ankle or lower
part of the leg, whereupon the idle end needles are moved into operation, and the
knitting of the leg with all the needles is proceeded with until a proper length has
been formed. Following this, the web (Figure 2) thus kuit is dropped from the
machine, and the operation is repeated for a like result, and so on successively.
In the said web there is an open projecting portion (i) on each side of the leg
portion where the inoperative needles were brought into play, that is, at the
junction of the narrow and wide tubular parts. The laterally extended portions
are cut in outwardly running diagonal lines from the narrow portion of the web
upward, as from to h, and the slits or openings thus formed are seamed up or
otherwise closed. The result is the completed full-fashioned stocking illustrated in
Figure 1.
If it be desired to fashion the foot, as well as the leg of the stocking, I throw
out of action, at the beginning of the operation, several additional end needles, and
knit the toe and the lower half (say) of the foot with the remaining needles in
action. I then throw into operation the said additional needles and knit the
remainder of the foot. I then knit the heel, the ankle, and the upper portion of
the leg in the manner first above described. The laterally-projecting portions of
the foot are trimmed off diagonally and seamed similarly to the leg portion (see
Figure 3).
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
1. A. fashioned stocking in which the upper or wide portion of the leg and the
lower or narrow part of the leg are connected by an intermediate portion seamed
laterally on diagonal lines running from the lower to the upper portion, substantially
as described.
•
2. The process of knitting a tubular web for stockings upon two rows of needles,
which consists in throwing a predetermined number of needles out of action at each
end of each row, then knitting with the needles in action, then throwing into
operation the needles first thrown out of action, then knitting with all the needles
in action, then cutting diagonally the laterally projecting portion of the web, and,
finally, seaming or otherwise closing the slits or openings thus formed, substantially
as described.
3. The process of knitting fashioned stockings upon two rows of needles equal
to the required stitches to form the top of the leg, which consists in throwing a
predetermined number of needles out of action at each end of each row of needles,
knitting the toe, the foot, the heel and the ankle of the stocking upon the
remaining needles, throwing the idle needles into operation, knitting the remainder
of the leg upon all the needles, cutting or trimming diagonally the laterally
projecting parts of the widened leg portion, and seaming or otherwise closing the
slits or openings in the sides of the leg portion, substantially as described.
Dated this 23rd day of February 1895.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Agents for the Applicant.