Improvements in the Manufacture of Stockings.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Nov., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 29th July, 1896-Accepted, 5th Sept., 1896
Improvements in the Manufacture of Stockings.
We, THOMAS JONES, JAMES JONES, HENRY LANGDALE, and ARTHUR
LANGDALE of Clyde Street, Leicester, Hosiery Manufacturers, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has reference to the manufacture of stockings and is designed
with the object of producing stockings that will maintain their proper position on
the leg of the wearer during wear without the aid for that purpose of auxiliary
means, such as garters, suspenders or similar devices.
Heretofore many different attempts have been made and various methods of
manufacturing stockings have been devised with the object of effecting this result,
but all, as far as we are aware, have proved unsuccessful.
The present invention effectually prevents stockings working down the wearer's
legs and this desideratum is met by the peculiar formation of the stocking. as
hereinafter described.
Stockings made in accordance with our improvements are suddenly contracted in
width at that part of their length where gartering usually takes place.
The position on the leg upon which the garter is placed varies with different
individuals and is sometimes above the knee and sometimes below it..
We may therefore effect the sudden contraction of the fabric at one or both of
such parts of the stocking as may be desired.
To carry out our invention we may employ a straight bar knitting frame for the
purpose and make the welt and first few courses in the upper part of the leg upon
the full complement of needles or upon a slightly smaller number than the full
complement of needles used in knitting the calf or widest part of the leg.
To reduce the width of the fabric the latter is narrowed quickly that is at each
or every alternate course in the fabric for a desired number of courses and for
the desired length of fabric when several successive courses may be knitted upon
the minimum number of needles and the fabric then quickly widened to its original
width.
A splicing thread may be inserted during the knitting of the contracted part so
as to reduce the elasticity of the fabric thereat.
During the knitting of the contracted part or parts the narrowings are made
near the selvedge of the fabric so that when the two edges or selvedges are
subsequently connected together a sudden bend or carve is formed in that contracted
part of the fabric which in wear is behind the wearer's leg while a uniform line is
presented in the front part of the stocking leg.
Dated this 2nd day of November 1895.
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicants.

page_text: Improvements in the Manufacture of Stockings.
We, THOMAS JONES, JAMES JONES, HENRY LANGDALE, and ARTHUR
LANGDALE of Clyde Street, Leicester, Hosiery Manufacturers, 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 relating to the manufacture of stockings is designed with the
object of improving them in such a manuer that during wear they will be self-
supporting and maintain their proper position on the leg of the wearer without the
aid for that purpose of auxiliary means, such as garters, suspenders or similar
supporting devices.
.
Heretofore many different attempts have been made and various methods of
manufacturing stockings have been devised with the object of effecting this result,
but all, as far as we are aware, have proved unsuccessful.
By the present invention stockings are effectually prevented creeping down the
.wearer's legs and this desideratum is met by the peculiar formation of the stocking
as hereinafter described. .
Stockings made in accordance with our improvements are suddenly contracted in
width as hereinafter described at that part of their length where gartering usually
takes place.
The position on the leg upon which the garter is placed varies with different
individuals and is sometimes above the knee and sometimes below it.
We may therefore effect the sudden contraction of the fabric at one or both of
such parts of the stocking as may be desired.
In order that the invention may be the more clearly understood reference is made
to the accompanying drawing which shows a side elevation of the upper part of the
leg of a machine made stocking knitted in accordance with this invention.
The self supporting stocking forming the subject of the present invention is by
preference made upon a straight bar knitting frame such as the "Cotton's" or on
any other of the well known types of straight machines.
The knitting of a flat web forming the leg of the said stocking is commenced at
the welt A upon the full complement of needles or upon a slightly smaller number
of needles than the full complement of needles to be subsequently employed in the
knitting of the calf or widest part of the leg.
A number of courses following those of the welt are made upon the same
number of needles and then the width of the stocking is quickly contracted by
narrowings B near each selvedge of the fabric made at each course or alternate
courses as desired.
These narrowings being inserted in quick succession produce a sharply diminished
width of fabric at the part C the contraction imparting the form of a bend or curve
on the back of the stocking while the straight front of the stocking is not interfered
with.
These narrowings may be of the, number shown, more or less and after the last
of the narrowings B is made several courses may be knitted upon the minimum
number of needles thus producing a short length of fabric C upon the same
decreased number of needles.
The leg fabric is then increased in width by widenings D which may be inserted
as frequently as the narrowings viz.: at every course or alternate courses, as will
be understood, until the whole of the original number of needles have again come
into action.
The leg may then be completed upon this number of needles or upon any larger
number and fashioned in the usual manner.
The contraction in the fabric hereinbefore described has taken place a short

page_text: distance below the welt A and a stocking so made will be suitable for the use of
those persons who prefer to garter above the knee.
Instead however of contracting the stocking at such part or in addition thereto,
the fabric may be similarly contracted at E behind or near the knee, by
narrowings F inserted as quickly as herein before mentioned.
Widenings G may afterwards be made and the fabric enlarged at H for the calf
of the leg.
The stocking may then be completed.
While it is preferable to knit a number of successive courses upon the minimum
number of needles at C or E this is not an absolutely indispensable condition as a
stocking would be practically self-supporting when the widenings come immediately
after the last narrowings, but a stocking so made would not be so comfortable in
wear.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is: 11
1. A machine made stocking the upper part of the leg of which is contracted at
one or more parts and then widened to its original or a greater width substantially
in the manner and for the purpose described.
2. A machine made self-supporting stocking knitted substantially in the manner
described and illustrated in the accompanying drawing.
3. The manufacture of machine made self-supporting stockings which consists
in knitting a flat selvedged web suddenly contracted in width on each of its
selvedges and subsequently expanded to its original or a greater width substantially
as described.
4. The manufacture of machine made self-supporting stockings which consists
in knitting a flat selvedged leg fabric, suddenly narrowing and widening one or more
times the upper part thereof and knitting a short length of the narrowest width of
fabric between the narrowings and widenings substantially as described.
5. The improved machine made stocking kuitted substantially in the manner and
for the purpose described and illustrated in the accompanying drawing.
1000
THOMAS JONES..
JAMES JONES.
HENRY LANGDALE.
ARTHUR LANGDALE.
Witness-
E. N. LEWIS,
Berridge Street Chambers,
Leicester.
Boult & Wade,
Agents for the Applicants.