ELECTRICALLY CONDUCTIVE COMPOSITE KNITTING YARN HAVING EXCELLENT DURABILITY OF ELECTRICAL CONDUCTIVITY, METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE SAME, AND KNITTING GOODS INCLUDING THE SAME

An electrically conductive composite knitting yarn includes a core yarn and a plurality of stainless steel wing yarns that are bonded to the core yarn and extend on a side of the core yarn; each of the wing yarns is bonded to the core yarn by continuously forming twist portions at two loops adjacent to each other from among a plurality of loops formed on the core yarn in a longitudinal length of the core yarn. Alignments of the yarns, forming of yarns in groups, and a method of manufacturing the electrically conductive composite knitting yarn also are disclosed.

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Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a composite knitting yarn, a method of manufacturing the same, and knitting goods including the same, and more particularly, to a composite knitting yarn having excellent durability of electrical conductivity, a method of manufacturing the same, and knitting goods including the same.

2. Description of the Related Art

Knitting goods are light-weight and crease resistant, and thus, may be often used in sweaters, coats, hats, gloves, socks, inner wears, shawls, or the like. Knitting goods are manufactured by knitting a knitting yarn by hand or by using knitting machinery, are highly stretchable and easy to put on, and have a high heat-keeping function. When the knitting goods must have electrical conductivity, the knitting goods are manufactured using electrically conductive composite knitting yarns partially including copper yarns. For example, gloves that enable a wearer to operate a touch screen, particularly, an electrostatic capacity type touch screen as one of the input devices of electrical devices, are generally manufactured using electrically conductive composite knitting yarns partially including copper yarns. Electrically conductive composite knitting yarns have a structure including a plurality of wing yarns formed at regular intervals in a longitudinal direction of a core yarn made of organic polymer materials having elasticity, and at least some of the plurality of the wing yarns are normally formed of electrically conductive metal yarns. However, when knitting goods, such as conventional gloves, socks, or the like, manufactured using electrically conductive composite knitting yarns are worn, wing yarns easily debond so that a surrounding environment may be contaminated, and above all, the electrical conductivity decreases to a certain level or below, and thus, a wearer cannot operate a touch screen while wearing conventional gloves. The reason why the wing yarns easily debond is because of the structure of the electrically conductive composite knitting yarns. That is, when the electrically conductive composite knitting yarns are manufactured using a composite knitting yarn maker, as shown in FIG. 4, core yarns 10 are being supplied to a twist former 31 while the core yarns 10 form loops from a core yarn supplier (not shown) located at a lower part of a composite knitting yarn maker 30, and at the same time, yarns 20 for forming wing yarns are supplied to the twist former 31 from a supplier (not shown) of the yarns 20 for forming wing yarns, the supplier being located at an upper part of the composite knitting yarn maker 30. Thus, as shown in FIG. 1, the yarns 20 for forming wing yarns are inserted into a plurality of loops 11 formed in a longitudinal direction of the core yarn 10, and thus, a twist portion 12 is formed at each of the loops 11. Subsequently, when the remaining yarns 20 for forming wing yarns after forming the twist portions 12 are cut to be aligned with the core yarn 10 along a cutting line 40, a composite knitting yarn 1 having wing yarns may be obtained. Here, at least a part of the yarns 20 for forming wing yarns is formed of a conductive yarn partially including a copper yarn.

The electrically conductive composite knitting yarn 1 manufactured in such manner has the yarns 20 for forming wing yarns, each of the yarns 20 being bonded to the core yarn 10 only by the one loop 11 of the core yarn 10, and thus, in time, the bonding between the loop 11 and the yarn 20 for forming wing yarns is loosened and the yarn 20 for forming wing yarns may be debonded from the loop. Therefore, the durability of electrical conductivity of a conventional electrically conductive composite knitting yarn having such structure is not satisfactory. Also, in time, the resistance of the copper yarns to oxidation becomes lower, and thus, the copper yarns may be oxidized to copper oxides, which worsens the durability of the electrical conductivity.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an electrically conductive composite knitting yarn having excellent durability of electrical conductivity.

The present invention also provides a method of manufacturing an electrically conductive composite knitting yarn having excellent durability of electrical conductivity.

The present invention also provides knitting goods formed using the electrically conductive composite knitting yarn having excellent durability of electrical conductivity.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electrically conductive composite knitting yarn comprising:

a core yarn; and

a plurality of wing yarns that are bonded to the core yarn and extend on a side of the core yarn;

wherein each of the plurality of wing yarns is bonded to the core yarn by continuously forming twist portions at two loops adjacent to each other from among a plurality of loops formed on the core yarn in a longitudinal length of the core yarn, wherein the wing yarns comprise a stainless steel yarn.

According to an embodiment of the electrically conductive composite knitting yarn, wherein as a plurality of the core yarns aligned side by side vertically at a lower part of a composite knitting yarn maker proceed upward toward a twist former while continuously forming loops in a longitudinal direction of the core yarns and as a plurality of yarns for forming wing yarns proceed downward from an upper part of the composite knitting yarn maker toward the twist former, the electrically conductive composite knitting yarn is manufactured by forming the twist portions at the loops of the core yarn which enters into the twist former and then cutting a middle part of the yarns for forming wing yarns between two core yarns,

wherein two of the yarns for forming wing yarns and two of the core yarns form a group so that each of the yarns for forming wing yarns is inserted into the twist former and forms two twist portions at two continuous loops, which are first met by the yarn for forming wing yarns, from among the loops continuously formed on each of the core yarns, and then each of the yarns for forming wing yarns proceeds to the core yarn on the left or right side to continuously form two twist portions at the two loops of the core yarn on the left or right side after skipping the first two loops of the core yarn on the left or right side at a time, wherein the electrically conductive composite knitting yarn is manufactured by repeating the above process, and thus, the yarn for forming wing yarns proceeds back and forth in a zigzag manner between two lines of the core yarns to form the twist portions at the loops of all of the core yarn, and then cutting a middle part of the yarn for forming wing yarns crossing between the two lines of the core yarns in a longitudinal direction, wherein the yarn for forming wing yarns comprise a stainless steel yarn.

According to another embodiment of the electrically conductive composite knitting yarn, wherein as a plurality of the core yarns aligned side by side vertically at a lower part of a composite knitting yarn maker proceed upward toward a twist former while continuously forming loops in a longitudinal direction of the core yarns and as a plurality of yarns for forming wing yarns proceed downward from an upper part of the composite knitting yarn maker toward the twist former, the electrically conductive composite knitting yarn is manufactured by forming the twist portions at the loops of the core yarn which enters into the twist former and then cutting a middle part of the yarns for forming wing yarns between two core yarns,

wherein three of the yarns for forming wing yarns and four of the core yarns form a group so that each of the yarns for forming wing yarns is inserted into the twist former and forms two twist portions at two continuous loops, which are first met by the yarn for forming wing yarns, from among the loops continuously formed on each of the core yarns, and then each of the yarns for forming wing yarns proceeds to the core yarn on the right side to continuously form two twist portions at the two loops of the core yarn on the right side after skipping the first two loops of the core yarn on the right side at a time, and then each of the yarns for forming wing yarns proceeds to the core yarn on the left side to continuously form two twist portions at the two loops of the core yarn on the left side after skipping the first two loops of the core yarn on the left side at a time, wherein the electrically conductive composite knitting yarn is manufactured by repeating the above process, and thus, the yarn for forming wing yarns eventually proceeds back and forth in a zigzag manner between two lines of the core yarns of the four of the core yarns to form the twist portions at the loops of all of the core yarn, and then cutting a middle part of the yarn for forming wing yarns crossing between the two lines of the core yarns in a longitudinal direction, wherein the yarn for forming wing yarns comprise a stainless steel yarn.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of manufacturing an electrically conductive composite knitting yarn, the method comprising:

entering a plurality of core yarns aligned side by side vertically at a lower part of a composite knitting yarn maker by proceeding them upward toward a twist former while continuously forming loops in a longitudinal direction of the core yarns and a plurality of yarns for forming wing yarns by proceeding them downward from an upper part of the composite knitting yarn maker toward the twist former;

inserting each of two of the yarns for forming wing yarns into a first loop, which is first met by each of two of the yarn for forming wing yarns from among the loops continuously formed on each of two of the core yarns, and forming a first twist portion, wherein the two of the yarns for forming wing yarns and the two of the core yarns act as a group;

inserting each of the yarns for forming wing yarns that have formed the first twist portion into a second loop formed next to the first loop in a longitudinal direction on each of the core yarns and forming a second twist portion;

proceeding each of the yarns for forming wing yarns that have formed the second twist portion to the core yarn on the left or right side, inserting it into a third loop formed in each of the core yarns on the left or right side and forming a third twist portion;

inserting each of the yarns for forming wing yarns that have formed the third twist portion into a fourth loop formed next to the third loop in a longitudinal direction on each of the core yarns on the left or right side and forming a fourth twist portion;

continuing the two of the yarns for forming wing yarns acting as a group to repeat the above steps crossing each other while proceeding back and forth in a zigzag manner between the two of the core yarns such that each of the yarns for forming wing yarns is inserted into the twist former and forms two twist portions at two continuous loops, and then each of the yarns for forming wing yarns proceeds to the core yarn on the left or right side to continuously form two twist portions at the two loops of the core yarn on the left or right side after skipping the first two loops of the core yarn on the left or right side at a time; and

cutting a middle part of the yarns for forming wing yarns that are crossing each other between the two lines of the core yarns in a longitudinal direction,

wherein the yarns for forming wing yarns comprise a stainless steel yarn.

According to a still another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of manufacturing an electrically conductive composite knitting yarn, the method comprising:

entering a plurality of core yarns aligned side by side vertically at a lower part of a composite knitting yarn maker by proceeding them upward toward a twist former while continuously forming loops in a longitudinal direction of the core yarns and a plurality of yarns for forming wing yarns by proceeding them downward from an upper part of the composite knitting yarn maker toward the twist former;

inserting each of three of the yarns for forming wing yarns into a first loop, which is first met by each of three of the yarn for forming wing yarns from among the loops continuously formed on each of four of the core yarns, and forming a first twist portion, wherein the three of the yarns for forming wing yarns and the four of the core yarns act as a group;

inserting each of the three of the yarns for forming wing yarns that have formed the first twist portion into a second loop formed next to the first loop in a longitudinal direction on each of the four of the core yarns and forming a second twist portion;

proceeding each of the three of the yarns for forming wing yarns that have formed the second twist portion to each of the core yarns on the right side, inserting it into a third loop formed in each of the core yarns on right side and forming a third twist portion;

inserting each of the three of the yarns for forming wing yarns that have formed the third twist portion into a fourth loop formed next to the third loop in a longitudinal direction on each of the core yarns on the right side and forming a fourth twist portion;

proceeding each of the three of the yarns for forming wing yarns that have formed the fourth twist portion to each of the core yarns on the left side, inserting it into a fifth loop formed in each of the core yarns on left side and forming a fifth twist portion;

inserting each of the three of the yarns for forming wing yarns that have formed the fifth twist portion into a sixth loop formed next to the fifth loop in a longitudinal direction on each of the core yarns on the left side and forming a sixth twist portion;

continuing each of the yarns for forming wing yarns to repeat the above steps proceeding back and forth in a zigzag manner between the two of the core yarns such that each of the yarns for forming wing yarns is inserted into the twist former and forms two twist portions at two continuous loops, and then each of the yarns for forming wing yarns proceeds to the core yarn on the left or right side to continuously form two twist portions at the two loops of the core yarn on the left or right side after skipping the first two loops of the core yarn on the left or right side at a time; and

cutting a middle part of the yarns for forming wing yarns located between the two lines of the core yarns in a longitudinal direction,

wherein the yarns for forming wing yarns comprise a stainless steel yarn.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the yarn for forming the wing yarns may be a mixture of a steel yarn and at least one type of fiber yarn selected from the group consisting of cotton yarn, wool yarn, polyester yarn, polyamide yarn, acrylic yarn and acetate yarn.

According to a still another aspect of the present invention, there is provided knitting goods comprising the electrically conductive composite knitting yarn according to the present invention.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the knitting goods may be gloves.

EFFECT OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an electrically conductive composite knitting yarn, wherein as shown in FIG. 2, the wing yarns 400 having electrical conductivity form twist portions (310, 320, . . . ) at two continuous loops adjacent to each other from among a plurality of loops that are formed in a longitudinal direction of the core yarn 100, and thus, the wing yarns 400 are strongly bonded to the core yarn 100, and accordingly, the wing yarns 400 having electrical conductivity are not easily debonded from the core yarn 100 compared to a conventional electrically conductive composite knitting yarn. In this regard, in a process of manufacturing the electrically conductive composite knitting yarn according to the present invention, yarns (410, 420, and 430 in FIG. 3) for forming wing yarns that form the wing yarns 400 having electrical conductivity form twist portions (310 and 320 in FIGS. 2; 311 and 312; 321 and 322; 313 and 314; . . . in FIG. 3) over two loops adjacent to each other from among a plurality of loops that are formed in a longitudinal direction of the core yarns (100 in FIG. 2; 110, 120, 130, and, 140 in FIG. 3), and thus, bonding between the loops of the core yarns and the wing yarns is strengthened.

Therefore, according to the present invention, the wing yarns having electrical conductivity may not be easily debonded from the loops of the core yarn, and as a result, the electrically conductive composite knitting yarn and knitting good including the same according to the present invention have excellent durability of electrical conductivity and high elasticity, and the electrical conductivity may be semi-permanently maintained until the wing yarns (400) are worn out.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent by describing in detail exemplary embodiments thereof with reference to the attached drawings of which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a structure of a conventional electrically conductive composite knitting yarn;

FIG. 2(a) is a schematic view illustrating a structure of an electrically conductive composite knitting yarn according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2(b) is a schematic view illustrating a structure of an electrically conductive composite knitting yarn according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3(a) is a schematic view describing processes of manufacturing the electrically conductive composite knitting yarns according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3(b) is a schematic view describing processes of manufacturing the electrically conductive composite knitting yarns according to the second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a photograph to describe a process of manufacturing a conventional electrically conductive composite knitting yarn; and

FIG. 5 is a photograph to describe a process of manufacturing an electrically conductive composite knitting yarn according to one or more embodiments of the present invention.

 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, a structure of an electrically conductive composite knitting yarn and a method of manufacturing the same according to embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 2(a) is a schematic view illustrating a structure of an electrically conductive composite knitting yarn according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2(b) is a schematic view illustrating a structure of an electrically conductive composite knitting yarn according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIGS. 2(a) and 2(b), an electrically conductive composite knitting yarn 1 according to the first or second embodiment of the present invention includes a core yarn 100; and a plurality of wing yarns 400 that are bonded to the core yarn 100 and extend laterally from the core yarn 100. Each of the plurality of wing yarns 400 continuously forms twist portions 310 and 320 along the core yarn 100 at adjacent loops 210 and 220 from among a plurality of loops formed in a longitudinal direction of the core yarn 100, and thus, the wing yarns 400 are bonded to the core yarn 100. The wing yarns 400 include a stainless steel yarn.

The wing yarns 400 may include non-electrically conductive wing yarns in addition to electrically conductive wing yarns. The non-electrically conductive wing yarns are fiber yarns manufactured using a common organic polymer. For example, the non-electrically conductive wing yarns may be formed of at least one type of fiber yarns selected from the group consisting of cotton yarns, wool yarns, polyester yarns, polyamide yarns, and acetate yarns. The electrically conductive wing yarns may be preferably formed of mixed yarns of at least one type of fiber yarns selected from the group consisting of cotton yarns, wool yarns, polyester yarns, polyamide yarns, acrylic yarns and acetate yarns, and stainless steel yarns according to processability thereof.

If any type of fiber yarns and stainless steel yarns are separately used, yarn-cutting of the stainless steel yarns may often occur, and thus, it may be difficult to smoothly perform a process of manufacturing the electrically conductive composite knitting yarn according to the present invention. Stainless steel yarns have excellent resistance to oxidation and are economical compared to copper yarns, which are included in the conventional conductive yarns. If any type of fiber yarns and stainless steel yarns are separately used instead of mixed yarns of at least one type of fiber yarns and stainless steel yarn, yarn-cutting of the stainless steel yarns occurs frequently, and thus, it may be difficult to smoothly perform a process of manufacturing the electrically conductive composite knitting yarn.

The polyester yarn may be filament yarns or staple yarns obtained by spinning polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polytrimethylene terephthalate (PTT), polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), polyethylene naphthalate (PEN), or the like which are polymerization product of ethyleneglycol, 1,3-propanediol or 1,4-butanediol and dimethyl terephthalate (DMT), terephthalic acid (TPA), dimethyl-2,6-naphthalene dicarboxylate (NDC) or 2,6-naphthalene dicarboxylic acid (NDA). PET, PTT, and PBT are particularly preferable in view of the possibility of availability and economic feasibility. Alternatively, filament yarns or staple yarns obtained from at least one type selected from the group consisting of poly1,4-dimethylcyclohexane terephthalate and polypivalolactone may be used.

The polyamide yarns may be filament yarns or staple yarns obtained by spinning at least one type selected from the group consisting of nylon 4, nylon 6, nylon 7, nylon 11, nylon 12, nylon 66, and nylon 610.

The acrylic yarns may be filament yarns or staple yarns obtained from a homopolymer of acrynitrile or a copolymer of acrynitrile and a different comonomer such as vinyl chloride. In some embodiments of the present invention, the acrylic yarns include a modacrylic yarn.

The acetate yarns may be filament yarns or staple yarns obtained by spinning acetic acid ester of cellulose. The acetate yarns include both filament yarns and staple yarns obtained from cellulose acetate and cellulose triacetate.

A mixing ratio of the non-electrically conductive wing yarns and the electrically conductive wing yarns is not particularly limited. A mixing ratio of the electrically conductive wing yarns, i.e., the stainless steel yarns may be increased as much as necessary to increase the electrical conductivity. An increase of the mixing ratio of the stainless steel yarn may be obtained either by increasing the mixing ratio of stainless steel yarn in an electrically conductive wing yarn or by increasing the mixing ratio of the electrically conductive wing yarns including a certain amount of stainless steel yarns.

Fineness of the electrically conductive wing yarns and the non-electrically conductive wing yarns is not particularly limited and may be adjusted according to the requirements of the final product. One of ordinary skill in the art may manufacture or properly obtain the electrically conductive wing yarns and the non-electrically conductive wing yarns having an appropriate fineness from the market.

The knitting goods of the present invention are at least partially formed by using the electrically conductive composite knitting yarns of the present invention. Examples of the knitting goods may be gloves, socks, but are not particularly limited thereto. In particular, gloves manufactured using the electrically conductive composite knitting yarns of the present invention enable a wearer to operate a touch screen, and since the durability of electrical conductivity is good, the knitting goods may be satisfactorily used for a long period of time.

FIG. 3(a) is a schematic view describing processes of manufacturing the electrically conductive composite knitting yarns according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3(b) is a schematic view describing processes of manufacturing the electrically conductive composite knitting yarns according to the second embodiment of the present invention. Hereinafter, the electrically conductive composite knitting yarns according to the first or second embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 3 and 5. In each of the drawings, the same reference numerals denote the same element.

1. First Embodiment

Referring to FIGS. 3(a) and 5, a plurality of core yarns such as a first core yarn 110, a second core yarn 120, a third core yarn 130, or the like are aligned side by side at a lower part of a composite knitting yarn maker 500 in FIG. 5, and at the same time, the core yarns (110, 120, 130, . . . ) vertically proceed upward while continuously forming loops (211, 212, 213, . . . ) in a longitudinal direction of the core yarns (110, 120, 130, . . . ) to enter a twist former 510. The total number of the core yarns (110, 120, 130, . . . ) may be 20 to 200, particularly 30 to 150, and more particularly 50 to 100, in consideration of yarn productivity, but is not particularly limited thereto.

As the core yarns (110, 120, 130, . . . ) forming the loops (211, 212, 213, . . . ) enter the twist former 510, yarns (410, 420, 430, . . . ) for forming wing yarns proceed downward from an upper part of the composite knitting yarn maker 500, for example, while proceeding back and forth in a zigzag manner between two lines of the core yarns (110, 120), and form twist portions (311, 312; 313, 314; . . . ; corresponding to portion 12 in FIG. 1) at two of the loops (211, 212; 213, 214; . . . ) that are continuously formed in a longitudinal direction of the core yarns (110, 120). That is, on the first core yarn 110, the first yarn 410 for forming wing yarns is twisted at the first loop 211 of the first core yarn 110 to form the first twist portion 311, and then, the first yarn 410 for forming wing yarns is continuously inserted into the second loop 212 of the first core yarn 110, which enters and is twisted at the second loop 212, to form the second twist portion 312. The first yarn 410 for forming wing yarns that form the second twist portion 312 at the first core yarn 110 continuously proceeds to the right to form a twist portion at the second core yarn 120, which enters the twist former 510, then the first yarn 410 for forming wing yarns is inserted into the third loop 223 of the second core yarn 120 and is twisted at the third loop 223 of the second core yarn 120 to form the third twist portion 323, and then, the first yarn 410 for forming wing yarns is continuously inserted into the fourth loop 224 of the second core yarn 120, which enters the twist former 510, and is twisted at the fourth loop 224 to form the fourth twist portion 324. Like this, the first yarn 410 for forming wing yarns first forms the twist portions 311 and 312 at the two continuous loops 211 and 212 at the first core yarn 110, and continuously proceeds to the second core yarn 120, skips two of the loops 221 and 222, and forms the twist portions 323 and 324 at the two continuous loops 223 and 224, which enter the twist former 510. Like this, the first yarn 410 for forming wing yarns forms twist portions at the two continuous loops of one core yarn while the first yarn 410 for forming wing yarns goes back and forth in a zigzag manner between the first core yarn 110 and the second core yarn 120 while skipping two loops at a time. The second yarn 420 for forming wing yarns forms twist portions 321 and 322; 313 and 314; . . . at the skipped loops as apparent from the drawings.

That is, on the second core yarn 120, the second yarn 420 for forming wing yarns is inserted into the first loop 221 and twisted at the first loop 221 to form the first twisting portion 321 and then is continuously inserted into the second loop 222 of the second core yarn 120, which enters the twist former 510, and is twisted at the second loop 222 to form the second twist portion 322. The second yarn 420 for forming wing yarns that form the second twist portion 322 at the second core yarn 120 is, at this time, inserted into the third loop 213 of the first core yarn 110 and twisted at the third loop 213 to form the third twist portion 313, and then the second yarn 420 for forming wing yarns is also continuously inserted into the fourth loop 214, which enters the twist former 510, and is twisted at the fourth loop 214 to form the fourth twist portion 314. Like this, the second yarn 420 for forming wing yarns also first forms the twist portions 321 and 322 at the two continuous loops 221 and 222 at the second core yarn 120, and continuously proceeds to the first core yarn 110, skips two of the loops 211 and 212, and forms the twist portions 313 and 314 at the two continuous loops 213 and 214, which enter the twist former 510.

Like this, two of the core yarns (110, 120; . . . ) and two of the yarns for forming wing yarns (410 , 420; . . . ) work as a group in that each of the yarns for forming wing yarns (410, 420; . . . ) goes back and forth between the two core yarns, for example the first core yarn 110 and the second core yarn 120, in a zigzag manner and form the twist portions (311, 312; 321, 322; . . . ) skipping two of the loops formed on the core yarns (110, 120), and the process is repeated. This process takes place continuously until the twist portions (311, 312; 313, 314; . . . ) are formed at all of the loops (211, 212; 213, 214; . . . ) that are formed on the core yarns (110, 120, . . . ).

After the processes described above take simultaneously place for all the core yarns (110, 120, 130, 140, . . . ) in the composite knitting yarn maker 500, if the exact middle part of the yarns (410, 420) for forming wing yarns between the two core yarns, for example, the first core yarn 110 and the second core yarn 120, that is, the part where the yarns (410, 420) for forming wing yarns cross each other, is cut in a longitudinal direction, the electrically conductive composite knitting yarn of the first embodiment of the present invention with a structure as illustrated in FIG. 2(a) is obtained.

As shown in FIG. 2(a), the composite knitting yarn of the first embodiment includes all the wing yarns in the same direction, but the yarns (410, 420) for forming wing yarns form each of the twist portions (311, 312; 313, 314; . . . ) over two of the loops (211, 212; 213, 214; . . . ), and thus, when compared with a conventional electrically conductive composite knitting yarn, the wing yarns of the first embodiment of the present invention do not easily debond. Therefore, according to the present invention, the durability of electrical conductivity of the composite knitting yarn is excellent.

2. Second Embodiment

In the second embodiment, a method of manufacturing a composite knitting yarn with abundant wing yarns will be described.

Referring to FIGS. 3(b) and 5, a plurality of core yarns such as a first core yarn 110, a second core yarn 120, a third core yarn 130, a fourth core yarn 140, or the like are vertically aligned side by side at a composite knitting yarn maker 500 in FIG. 5, and at the same time, the core yarns (110, 120, 130, . . . ) vertically proceed upward while continuously forming loops (211, 212, 213, . . . ) in a longitudinal direction of the core yarns (110, 120, 130, . . . ) to enter a twist former 510. The total number of the core yarns (110, 120, 130, . . . ) may be 20 to 200, particularly 30 to 150, and more particularly 50 to 100, in consideration of productivity, but is not particularly limited thereto.

As the core yarns (110, 120, 130, . . . ) forming the loops (211, 212, 213, . . . ) enter the twist former 510, yarns (410, 420, 430, . . . ) for forming wing yarns proceed downward from an upper part of the composite knitting yarn maker 500, three lines of the yarns (410, 420, 430) for forming wing yarns and four lines of the core yarns (110, 120, 130, 140) form a group, and each of the yarns for forming wing yarns (410, 420, 430) proceeds back and forth in a zigzag manner between two lines of the core yarns, for example, the first yarn 410 for forming wing yarns between the first and second core yarns (110, 120), the second yarn 420 for forming wing yarns between the second and third core yarns (120, 130), or the third yarn 430 for forming wing yarns between the third and fourth core yarns (130, 140), and thus, form twist portions (311, 312; 323, 324; 315, 316; . . . ) continuously in two of the loops (211, 212; 223, 224; . . . ) that are formed on the four lines of the core yarns (110, 120, 130, 140).

That is, as shown in FIG. 3(b), each of the core yarns (110, 120, 130, 140) placed at a lower part of the composite knitting yarn maker 500 vertically proceeds upward while continuously forming loops (211, 221, 231, 241 . . . ) in an upper longitudinal direction of the core yarns (110, 120, 130, 140) and enters the twist former 510 of FIG. 5. Also, at the same time the core yarns (110, 120, 130, 140) enter the twist former 510 of FIG. 5, the yarns (410, 420, 430, . . . ) for forming wing yarns proceed downward from the upper part of the composite knitting yarn maker 500, and thus three lines of the yarns (410, 420, 430) for forming wing yarns and four lines of the core yarns (110, 120, 130, 140) form a group and the yarns (410, 420, 430) for forming wing yarns proceed back and forth in a zigzag manner while continuously forming two of the twist portions (311, 312; 321, 322; 331, 332; . . . ) at each of the loops (211, 221, 231, 241 . . . ) which are formed on each of the core yarns (110, 120, 130, 140). That is, the first yarn 410 for forming wing yarns is inserted into the first loop 211 of the first core yarn 110 and is twisted to form the first twist portion 311, and then, the yarn 410 for forming wing yarns is continuously inserted into the second loop 212 of the first core yarn 100 entering the twist former 510, and is twisted at the second loop 212 to form the second twist portion 312. Subsequently, the first yarn 410 for forming wing yarns that form the second twist portion 312 proceeds to the right and is inserted into the third loop 223 of the second core yarn 120 located on the right to form the third twist portion 323, and then, the first yarn 410 for forming wing yarns is continuously inserted into the fourth loop 224, which enters the twist former 510, and is twisted at the fourth loop 224 to form the fourth twist portion 324. Continuously, the first yarn 410 for forming wing yarns that form the fourth twist portion 324 is, inserted into the fifth loop 215 of the first core yarn 110 located on the left to form the fifth twist portion 315 and is twisted at the sixth loop 216, which continuously enters the twist former 510, to form the sixth twist portion 316. Then, the first yarn 410 for forming wing yarns that form the sixth twist portion 316 goes back and forth in a zigzag manner between the first and second core yarns 110 and 120 and the processes of continuously forming the twist portions (311, 312; 323, 324; 315, 316; 327, 328; . . . ) are repeated at two loops of one of the core yarns (110, 120), skipping two loops at a time in the longitudinal direction.

At the same time, the second 420 yarn for forming wing yarns is inserted into the first loop 221 of the second core yarn 120 and is twisted at the first loop 221 to form the first twist portion 321, and the second yarn 420 for forming wing yarns is continuously inserted into the second loop 222, which enters into the twist former 510, and is twisted at the second loop 222 to form the second twist portion 322. Subsequently, the second yarn 420 for forming wing yarns that form the second twist portion 322 is inserted into the third loop 233 of the third core yarn 430 on the right to form the third twist portion 333, and the second yarn 420 for forming wing yarns is continuously inserted into the fourth loop 234, which enters the twist former 510, and is twisted at the fourth loop 234 to form the fourth twist portion 334. The second yarn 420 for forming wing yarns that form the fourth twist portion 334 is, this time, inserted into the fifth loop 225 of the second core yarn 420 on the left to form the fifth twist portion 325, and the second yarn 420 for forming wing yarns is continuously inserted into the sixth loop 226, which enters into the twist former 510, and is twisted at the sixth loop 226 to form the sixth twist portion 326. Like this, the second yarn 420 for forming wing yarns goes back and forth in a zigzag manner between the second and third core yarns 120 and 130 and the process of forming the two continuous twist portions (321, 322; 333, 334; . . . ) are repeated at the loops (221, 222; 233, 234; . . . ) that are formed on the second and third core yarns 120 and 130.

The same process of the first and second yarns (410, 420) for forming wing yarns is simultaneously performed for the third yarn 430 for forming wing yarns. That is, the third yarn 430 for forming wing yarns is inserted into the first loop 231 of the third core yarn 130 and is twisted at the first loop 231 to form the first twisted portion 331, and the third yarn 430 for forming wing yarns is continuously inserted into the second loop 232, which enters twist former 510, and is twisted at the second loop 232 to form the second twist portion 332. Subsequently, the second yarn 420 for forming wing yarns that form the second twist portion 332 is inserted into the third loop 243 of the fourth core yarn 140 on the right to form the third twist portion 343, and the second yarn 420 for forming wing yarns is continuously inserted into the fourth loop 244, which enters the twist former 510, and is twisted at the fourth loop 244 to form the fourth twist portion 344. Continuously, the third yarn 430 for forming wing yarns that form the fourth twist portion 344 is inserted into the fifth loop 235 of the third core yarn 130 on the left to form the fifth twist portion 335, and the third yarn 430 for forming wing yarns is continuously inserted into the sixth loop 236, which enters the twist former 510, and is twisted at the sixth loop 236 to form the sixth twist portion 336. Like this, the third yarn 430 for forming wing yarns goes back and forth in a zigzag manner between the third and fourth core yarns 130 and 140 and the process of forming the two continuous twist portions (331, 332; 343, 344; . . . ) are repeated at the loops (231, 232; 243, 244; . . . ) that are formed on the third and fourth core yarns (130, 140).

The processes described above take place at the same time for all the core yarns (110, 120, 130, 140) aligned in the composite knitting yarn maker 500.

After forming the two twist portions (311, 312; 321, 322; 331, 332; . . . ) at each of the loops (211, 212; 221, 222; 231, 232, . . . ) formed on all the core yarns (110, 120, 130, 140), when the middle area of the yarns (410, 420, 430) for forming wing yarns between the two core yarns is cut, an electrically conductive composite knitting yarn of which wing yarns 400 are bonded on left and right side of the core yarn 100 is formed, as shown in FIG. 2(b).

As shown in FIG. 2(b), the electrically conductive composite knitting yarn of the second embodiment has the wing yarns 400 formed alternating in left and right side directions of the core yarn 100, but the wing yarns 400 form the twist portions (311, 312; 313, 314; . . . ) over two of the loops (211, 212; 213, 214; . . . ) formed on the core yarn 100, and thus, when compared with a conventional electrically conductive composite knitting yarn, as in the case of the electrically conductive composite knitting yarn of the first embodiment, the electrically conductive wing yarns 400 do not easily debonded from the core yarn 100. Therefore, according to the present invention, the durability of electrical conductivity of the composite knitting yarn is excellent. Also, since the wing yarns 400 are formed alternating in the left and right side directions of the core yarn 100, the electrically conductive composite knitting yarn of the second embodiment may have better heat-keeping properties and bulky handle compared to the electrically conductive composite knitting yarn of the first embodiment which only has the wing yarns 400 on one side.

While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the following claims.

Claims

1. An electrically conductive composite knitting yarn comprising:

a core yarn; and
a plurality of wing yarns that are bonded to the core yarn and extend on a side of the core yarn;
wherein each of the plurality of wing yarns is bonded to the core yarn by continuously forming twist portions at two loops adjacent to each other from among a plurality of loops formed on the core yarn in a longitudinal length of the core yarn, wherein the wing yarns comprise a stainless steel yarn.

2. The electrically conductive composite knitting yarn of claim 1, wherein as a plurality of the core yarns aligned side by side vertically at a lower part of a composite knitting yarn maker proceed upward toward a twist former while continuously forming loops in a longitudinal direction of the core yarns and as a plurality of yarns for forming wing yarns proceed downward from an upper part of the composite knitting yarn maker toward the twist former, the electrically conductive composite knitting yarn is manufactured by forming the twist portions at the loops of the core yarn which enters into the twist former and then cutting a middle part of the yarns for forming wing yarns between two core yarns,

wherein two of the yarns for forming wing yarns and two of the core yarns form a group so that each of the yarns for forming wing yarns is inserted into the twist former and forms two twist portions at two continuous loops, which are first met by the yarn for forming wing yarns, from among the loops continuously formed on each of the core yarns, and then each of the yarns for forming wing yarns proceeds to the core yarn on the left or right side to continuously form two twist portions at the two loops of the core yarn on the left or right side after skipping the first two loops of the core yarn on the left or right side at a time, wherein the electrically conductive composite knitting yarn is manufactured by repeating the above process, and thus, the yarn for forming wing yarns proceeds back and forth in a zigzag manner between two lines of the core yarns to form the twist portions at the loops of all of the core yarn, and then cutting a middle part of the yarn for forming wing yarns crossing between the two lines of the core yarns in a longitudinal direction, wherein the yarn for forming wing yarns comprise a stainless steel yarn.

3. The electrically conductive composite knitting yarn of claim 1, wherein

as a plurality of the core yarns aligned side by side vertically at a lower part of a composite knitting yarn maker proceed upward toward a twist former while continuously forming loops in a longitudinal direction of the core yarns and as a plurality of yarns for forming wing yarns proceed downward from an upper part of the composite knitting yarn maker toward the twist former, the electrically conductive composite knitting yarn is manufactured by forming the twist portions at the loops of the core yarn which enters into the twist former and then cutting a middle part of the yarns for forming wing yarns between two core yarns,
wherein three of the yarns for forming wing yarns and four of the core yarns form a group so that each of the yarns for forming wing yarns is inserted into the twist former and forms two twist portions at two continuous loops, which are first met by the yarn for forming wing yarns, from among the loops continuously formed on each of the core yarns, and then each of the yarns for forming wing yarns proceeds to the core yarn on the right side to continuously form two twist portions at the two loops of the core yarn on the right side after skipping the first two loops of the core yarn on the right side at a time, and then each of the yarns for forming wing yarns proceeds to the core yarn on the left side to continuously form two twist portions at the two loops of the core yarn on the left side after skipping the first two loops of the core yarn on the left side at a time, wherein the electrically conductive composite knitting yarn is manufactured by repeating the above process, and thus, the yarn for forming wing yarns eventually proceeds back and forth in a zigzag manner between two lines of the core yarns of the four of the core yarns to form the twist portions at the loops of all of the core yarn, and then cutting a middle part of the yarn for forming wing yarns crossing between the two lines of the core yarns in a longitudinal direction, wherein the yarn for forming wing yarns comprise a stainless steel yarn.

4. The electrically conductive composite knitting yarn of claim 1, wherein the yarn for forming the wing yarns is a mixture of a steel yarn and at least one type of fiber yarn selected from the group consisting of cotton yarn, wool yarn, polyester yarn, polyamide yarn, acrylic yarn and acetate yarn.

5. A method of manufacturing an electrically conductive composite knitting yarn, the method comprising:

entering a plurality of core yarns aligned side by side vertically at a lower part of a composite knitting yarn maker by proceeding them upward toward a twist former while continuously forming loops in a longitudinal direction of the core yarns and a plurality of yarns for forming wing yarns by proceeding them downward from an upper part of the composite knitting yarn maker toward the twist former;
inserting each of two of the yarns for forming wing yarns into a first loop, which is first met by each of two of the yarn for forming wing yarns from among the loops continuously formed on each of two of the core yarns, and forming a first twist portion, wherein the two of the yarns for forming wing yarns and the two of the core yarns act as a group;
inserting each of the yarns for forming wing yarns that have formed the first twist portion into a second loop formed next to the first loop in a longitudinal direction on each of the core yarns and forming a second twist portion;
proceeding each of the yarns for forming wing yarns that have formed the second twist portion to the core yarn on the left or right side, inserting it into a third loop formed in each of the core yarns on the left or right side and forming a third twist portion;
inserting each of the yarns for forming wing yarns that have formed the third twist portion into a fourth loop formed next to the third loop in a longitudinal direction on each of the core yarns on the left or right side and forming a fourth twist portion;
continuing the two of the yarns for forming wing yarns acting as a group to repeat the above steps crossing each other while proceeding back and forth in a zigzag manner between the two of the core yarns such that each of the yarns for forming wing yarns is inserted into the twist former and forms two twist portions at two continuous loops, and then each of the yarns for forming wing yarns proceeds to the core yarn on the left or right side to continuously form two twist portions at the two loops of the core yarn on the left or right side after skipping the first two loops of the core yarn on the left or right side at a time; and
cutting a middle part of the yarns for forming wing yarns that are crossing each other between the two lines of the core yarns in a longitudinal direction,
wherein the yarns for forming wing yarns comprise a stainless steel yarn.

6. A method of manufacturing an electrically conductive composite knitting yarn, the method comprising:

entering a plurality of core yarns aligned side by side vertically at a lower part of a composite knitting yarn maker by proceeding them upward toward a twist former while continuously forming loops in a longitudinal direction of the core yarns and a plurality of yarns for forming wing yarns by proceeding them downward from an upper part of the composite knitting yarn maker toward the twist former;
inserting each of three of the yarns for forming wing yarns into a first loop, which is first met by each of three of the yarn for forming wing yarns from among the loops continuously formed on each of four of the core yarns, and forming a first twist portion, wherein the three of the yarns for forming wing yarns and the four of the core yarns act as a group;
inserting each of the three of the yarns for forming wing yarns that have formed the first twist portion into a second loop formed next to the first loop in a longitudinal direction on each of the four of the core yarns and forming a second twist portion;
proceeding each of the three of the yarns for forming wing yarns that have formed the second twist portion to each of the core yarns on the right side, inserting it into a third loop formed in each of the core yarns on right side and forming a third twist portion;
inserting each of the three of the yarns for forming wing yarns that have formed the third twist portion into a fourth loop formed next to the third loop in a longitudinal direction on each of the core yarns on the right side and forming a fourth twist portion;
proceeding each of the three of the yarns for forming wing yarns that have formed the fourth twist portion to each of the core yarns on the left side, inserting it into a fifth loop formed in each of the core yarns on left side and forming a fifth twist portion;
inserting each of the three of the yarns for forming wing yarns that have formed the fifth twist portion into a sixth loop formed next to the fifth loop in a longitudinal direction on each of the core yarns on the left side and forming a sixth twist portion;
continuing each of the yarns for forming wing yarns to repeat the above steps proceeding back and forth in a zigzag manner between the two of the core yarns such that each of the yarns for forming wing yarns is inserted into the twist former and forms two twist portions at two continuous loops, and then each of the yarns for forming wing yarns proceeds to the core yarn on the left or right side to continuously form two twist portions at the two loops of the core yarn on the left or right side after skipping the first two loops of the core yarn on the left or right side at a time; and
cutting a middle part of the yarns for forming wing yarns located between the two lines of the core yarns in a longitudinal direction,
wherein the yarns for forming wing yarns comprise a stainless steel yarn.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein the yarn for forming the wing yarns is a mixture of a steel yarn and at least one type of fiber yarn selected from the group consisting of cotton yarn, wool yarn, polyester yarn, polyamide yarn, acrylic yarn and acetate yarn.

8. Knitting goods comprising the electrically conductive composite knitting yarn of claim 1.

9. The knitting goods of claim 8, wherein the knitting goods are gloves.

Patent History
Publication number: 20130319053
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 12, 2013
Publication Date: Dec 5, 2013
Inventors: Kye-Yoon PARK (Seoul), In-Ho LEE (Seoul)
Application Number: 13/861,810
Classifications
Current U.S. Class: Hand Coverings (66/174); Wire Wrapped (57/212); With Core Other Than Wire (57/220); With Wire Or Strand Preforming Or Shaping (57/9); With Plural Strands (57/13); Materials (66/202)
International Classification: D04B 1/28 (20060101); D04B 1/14 (20060101); D02G 3/44 (20060101); D02G 3/12 (20060101); D02G 3/38 (20060101);