A New or Improved Machine-made Knitted Fabric for Under- garments and other purposes.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Apr., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 18th Jan., 1893-Accepted, 22nd Apr., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Machine-made Knitted Fabric for Under-
garments and other purposes.
I; OSCAR ZIMMERLI of the firm of Zimmerli & Co. of Aarbourg, Switzerland,
Manufacturer of Knitted Goods, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
This invention consists of a novel knitted fabric made by machinery and is as
follows:
The fabric may be made of wool silk cotton or any other suitable fibre (or from
fine wire or metallic threads) and is made upon a straight frame of a peculiar stitch
or construction which so far as I am aware has never heretofore been made on a
straight frame.
The stitch and construction I employ and effect on such straight knitting frame
(that is by machinery) as aforesaid is what is known or what I term as the
reverse stitch also known in France by the term "maille renversée" and in
Germany "links und links" (left and left).
This stitch is effected on a straight knitting frame by any suitable mechanism so
that the two sides or edges of the piece of knitted fabric produced have a selvage
thereon down each side that is the side edges of the fabric are uncut and cannot
fray out as is the case with fabrics made on a circular knitting frame which latter
have thereafter to be cut to the desired width--whereas my fabric is made ready
with a firm edge or selvage of the exact width that is increasing and diminishing
(called "fashioning") as required.
Any desired pattern or fancy or ornamental figures or designs may be produced
on my novel machine-made fabric by any of the well-known means of producing
fancy patterns upon other knitted fabrics-for instance by the Jacquard card or
otherwise.
My novel fabric is then made up into articles of wearing apparel such as under-
wear or other garments or made up or used in any other way or for any other
desired purposes.
A similar fabric similarly made from fine wire threads may be used for theatrical
or the like fancy dress costumes.
Dated this 26th day of Anvil 1900
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Machine-made Knitted Fabric for Under-
garments and other purposes.
J, OSCAR ZIMMERLI of the United Knitting Works Company Ltd. (late
Zimmerli & Co.) of Aarburg, Switzerland, Manufacturer of Knitted Goods, 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 consists of a novel knitted fabric made by machinery into the
desired shapes or garments and is as follows :—
The fabric may be made of wool silk cotton or any other suitable fibre (or from
fine wire or metallic threads) and is made-upon a straight knitting frame-of a
Price R1

page_text: peculiar stitch or construction which so far as I am aware has never heretofore
been made on a straight knitting frame.
The stitch and construction I employ and effect on such straight knitting frame
(that is by machinery) as aforesaid is what is known (or what I term) as the
reverse "stitch also known in France by the term "maille renversée" and in
Germany "links und links" (left and left).
"
This stitch is effected on a straight knitting frame-such as the machine patented
in Great Britain No. 21451 of 1891-suitable for producing the reverse stitch such
machines having two horizontal needle bars so that the two sides or edges of the
piece of knitted fabric produced have a selvage thereon down each side that is the
side edges of the fabric are uncut and cannot fray out as is the case with fabrics
made on a circular knitting frame which latter have thereafter to be cut to the
desired width whereas my fabric is made ready with a firm edge or selvage of the
exact varying width required that is increasing and diminishing (called "fashioning")
as required.
This "fashioning" (that is narrowing or widening of the fabric without cutting
but with a firm edge or selvage produced thereon by the machine) is effected by
means of diminishing or increasing the number of needles in use on the frame.
The said needles are what are known as self-acting needles with two hooks and
may be of any suitable size or gauge.
Any desired patterns or fancy or ornamental figures or designs may be produced
on my novel machine-made fabric by any of the well-known means of producing
fancy patterns upon other knitted fabrics-for instance by the Jacquard card or
otherwise.
My novel fabric is then made up into articles of wearing apparel such as under-
wear (vests drawers and combinations) or other garments or made up or used in any
other way or for any other desired purposes.
A similar fabric similarly made from fine wire threads may be used for theatrical
or the like fancy dress costumes.
I would remark that I am fully aware that a similar fabric has been made on a
circular knitting frame but such fabric cannot be "fashioned" (i.e. formed of
varying widths with a selvage or firm edge down each side) by varying the number
of needles as on a straight frame and therefore can only be formed to the desired
widths by cutting same into shape which cutting it is the object of my present
invention to avoid.
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 knitted fabric of a reverse stitch (links und links) produced on a
straight knitting frame and "fashioned" down each side so as to have a selvage
or firm edge down each such side of the exact varying width or shape required for
the manufacture of under-garments or garments such as vests drawers combinations
or the like substantially in the manner and for the purposes hereinbefore set
forth.
"7
2. Under-garments or garments such as vests drawers combinations or the like
manufactured from fabric knitted lengthways on a straight knitting frame with the
aforesaid " reverse (links und links) stitch and "fashioned" down each edge
so as to produce a selvage or firm edge of the desired formation without any
cutting substantially in the manner and for the purposes hereinbefore set forth.
3000
TONGUE & BIRKBECK,
34, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.