Patents by Inventor Masao Okuno

Masao Okuno has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 7437895
    Abstract: The present invention aims to provide a seamless glove of high support performance knitted by flat knitting. The seamless glove has a base knitted fabric set up knitting from a tip of finger toward a mouth or from the mouth toward the tip of finger and knitted in such a manner that respective fingers, a four-finger body, a five-finger body are knitted on a rib knit structure basis using a stretch elastic yarn, and an elastic yarn in a tensed state is inlaid in the base knitted fabric. The base knitted fabric is knitted on a rib jacquard structure basis, and the inlay yarn is knotted at a location at which the knitting of the finger starts and at a finger crotch part, to prevent cast-off of the inlay yarn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Shima Seiki Mfg., Ltd
    Inventor: Masao Okuno
  • Patent number: 7263860
    Abstract: The present invention provides a knitting method of a tubular knitted fabric with a projection part having stretch and a supporting performance and formed in an arbitrary shape and at an arbitrary location by using a flat knitting machine. The method comprises the step 1 of knitting a knitted fabric in a tubular form joined at both ends of a knitting width by a rib knitting, while inserting an elastic yarn in the tubular body by an inlay, and the step 2 of knitting only a part for the projection part to be formed on at least either of a front side of the tubular knitted fabric and a back side of the same by a flechage knitting, the step 1 and the step 2 being repeatedly carried out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2007
    Assignee: Shima Seiki Mfg., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masao Okuno
  • Publication number: 20070113592
    Abstract: The present invention aims to provide a seamless glove of high support performance knitted by flat knitting. The seamless glove has a base knitted fabric set up knitting from a tip of finger toward a mouth or from the mouth toward the tip of finger and knitted in such a manner that respective fingers, a four-finger body, a five-finger body are knitted on a rib knit structure basis using a stretch elastic yarn, and an elastic yarn in a tensed state is inlaid in the base knitted fabric. The base knitted fabric is knitted on a rib jacquard structure basis, and the inlay yarn is knotted at a location at which the knitting of the finger starts and at a finger crotch part, to prevent cast-off of the inlay yarn.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2004
    Publication date: May 24, 2007
    Applicant: Shima Seiki MFG., LTD
    Inventor: Masao Okuno
  • Patent number: 7201023
    Abstract: When bringing pins (2) are engaged with the yarn carrier at the engagement portions (3a, 3b) near the center of the yarn carrier, the yarn carrier, as a normal carrier, feeds the yarn so that the yarn is applied to a knitting needle performing knitting operation by a carriage. When the bringing pins (2) are engaged with the yarn carrier at the engagement points (4a, 4b) near the rear side thereof in the travel direction, the yarn carrier, as an inlay carrier, feeds the yarn in preference to the knitting operation so that the yarn is not applied to the knitting needle performing the knitting operation by the carriage. When the projection portions (6a, 6b) of engagement releasing members (5a, 5b) are pressed by the contact thereof with the stopper, the engagement releasing members (5a, 5b) are moved backward, and slope portions (7a, 8a; 7b, 8b) push up the bringing pins (2) engaged with the yarn carrier at the engagement points (3a, 4a; 3b, 4b) so as to release the engagement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: Shima Seiki Manufacturing Limited
    Inventors: Masao Okuno, Toshinori Nakamori
  • Publication number: 20070051137
    Abstract: The present invention provides a knitting method of a tubular knitted fabric with a projection part having stretch and a supporting performance and formed in an arbitrary shape and at an arbitrary location by using a flat knitting machine. The method comprises the step 1 of knitting a knitted fabric in a tubular form joined at both ends of a knitting width by a rib knitting, while inserting an elastic yarn in the tubular body by an inlay, and the step 2 of knitting only a part for the projection part to be formed on at least either of a front side of the tubular knitted fabric and a back side of the same by a flechage knitting, the step 1 and the step 2 being repeatedly carried out.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2004
    Publication date: March 8, 2007
    Applicant: Shima Seiki Mfg., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masao Okuno
  • Publication number: 20060144096
    Abstract: When bringing pins (2) are engaged with the yarn carrier at the engagement portions (3a, 3b) near the center of the yarn carrier, the yarn carrier, as a normal carrier, feeds the yarn so that the yarn is applied to a knitting needle performing knitting operation by a carriage. When the bringing pins (2) are engaged with the yarn carrier at the engagement points (4a, 4b) near the rear side thereof in the travel direction, the yarn carrier, as an inlay carrier, feeds the yarn in preference to the knitting operation so that the yarn is not applied to the knitting needle performing the knitting operation by the carriage. When the projection portions (6a, 6b) of engagement releasing members (5a, 5b) are pressed by the contact thereof with the stopper, the engagement releasing members (5a, 5b) are moved backward, and slope portions (7a, 8a; 7b, 8b) push up the bringing pins (2) engaged with the yarn carrier at the engagement points (3a, 4a; 3b, 4b) so as to release the engagement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2004
    Publication date: July 6, 2006
    Inventors: Masao Okuno, Toshinori Nakamori
  • Patent number: 6966202
    Abstract: A method of knitting an intarsia pattern fabric that can prevent occurrence of a yarn catching even when a tubular knitted fabric with an intarsia pattern and the like is knitted by using a four-bed flat knitting machine and also can eliminate the need of a split knitting to provide improved productivity. The flat knitting machine has intarsia-pattern knitting function of allowing change of position of the knitting yarn fed from the yarn feeding member to a needle before or after the knitting of the intarsia pattern, and the knitted fabric opposite to the knitted fabric to be knitted to insert the intarsia pattern (3, 8) therein is knitted in such a condition that the knitting yarn (11) extending from a needle (K) holding a final loop of the intarsia pattern (3, 8) to the yarn feeder (10) of the yarn feeding member is hooked with an empty needle of the needle bed on the upper side of the needle bed to which the needle (K) belongs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2005
    Assignee: Shima Seiki Mfg., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masao Okuno
  • Publication number: 20050016220
    Abstract: A method of knitting an intarsia pattern fabric that can prevent occurrence of a yarn catching even when a tubular knitted fabric with an intarsia pattern and the like is knitted by using a four-bed flat knitting machine and also can eliminate the need of a split knitting to provide improved productivity. The flat knitting machine has intarsia-pattern knitting function of allowing change of position of the knitting yarn fed from the yarn feeding member to a needle before or after the knitting of the intarsia pattern, and the knitted fabric opposite to the knitted fabric to be knitted to insert the intarsia pattern (3, 8) therein is knitted in such a condition that the knitting yarn (11) extending from a needle (K) holding a final loop of the intarsia pattern (3, 8) to the yarn feeder (10) of the yarn feeding member is hooked with an empty needle of the needle bed on the upper side of the needle bed to which the needle (K) belongs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2002
    Publication date: January 27, 2005
    Inventor: Masao Okuno
  • Patent number: 6766667
    Abstract: The present invention aims to provide improved texture of right and left marginal parts formed to extend along an open part of knitwear knitted in a tubular form, such as a cardigan and a vest with open part. The invention provide a method for producing a tubular fabric wherein a vertically extending open part (2) is formed and right and left marginal parts (21, 22) extending along the open part (2) are arranged in two layers to overlap each other when wearing by using a flat knitting machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2004
    Assignee: Shima Seiki Mfg., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiro Dohtsu, Masao Okuno
  • Publication number: 20040093907
    Abstract: The present invention aims to provide improved texture of right and left marginal parts formed to extend along an open part of knitwear knitted in a tubular form, such as a cardigan and a vest with open part. The invention provide a method for producing a tubular fabric wherein a vertically extending open part (2) is formed and right and left marginal parts (21, 22) extending along the open part (2) are arranged in two layers to overlap each other when wearing by using a flat knitting machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2003
    Publication date: May 20, 2004
    Inventors: Masahiro Dohtsu, Masao Okuno
  • Patent number: 6668594
    Abstract: A plating method for knitting a tubular fabric by using a four-bed type flat knitting machine comprising a first lower needle bed and a second lower needle bed which are arranged in pair in front and back and a first upper needle bed and a second upper needle bed which are arranged over the respective lower needle beds, wherein a first knitting fabric including a rib knitting knitted with needles on the first lower needle bed and the second upper needle bed and a second knitting fabric including a rib knitting knitted with needles on the first upper needle bed and the second lower needle bed are joined together at each widthwise side end thereof, so as to be knitted into a tubular form and the knitting fabrics are each knitted to have a plated structure by using a front yarn and a back yarn, and wherein a yarn feeder for the front yarn is displaced in each knitting in such a manner that when the first knitting fabric is knitted, the front yarn can be made closer to the second upper needle bed than the back ya
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
    Assignee: Shima Seiki Mfg., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masao Okuno
  • Publication number: 20030019247
    Abstract: A plating method for knitting a tubular fabric by using a four-bed type flat knitting machine comprising a first lower needle bed and a second lower needle bed which are arranged in pair in front and back and a first upper needle bed and a second upper needle bed which are arranged over the respective lower needle beds, wherein a first knitting fabric including a rib knitting knitted with needles on the first lower needle bed and the second upper needle bed and a second knitting fabric including a rib knitting knitted with needles on the first upper needle bed and the second lower needle bed are joined together at each widthwise side end thereof, so as to be knitted into a tubular form and the knitting fabrics are each knitted to have a plated structure by using a front yarn and a back yarn, and wherein a yarn feeder for the front yarn is displaced in each knitting in such a manner that when the first knitting fabric is knitted, the front yarn can be made closer to the second upper needle bed than the back ya
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2002
    Publication date: January 30, 2003
    Inventor: Masao Okuno
  • Patent number: 6119487
    Abstract: To provide improved beauty of an double jersey fabric at its side edge portion and improved productivity, the present invention provides a method for knitting the double jersey fabric including rib knitting such as Milano rib by a knitting equivalent to or higher than a double knitting by use of a flat knitting machine, wherein a piping is provided for at least one of a side edge portion of the fabric by the step that one or more needles of the front and back needle beds are introduced so that knitting of the side edge portion of the fabric on an ending side of a course knitting can be ended with the needle(s) of one of the needle beds and knitting of the side edge portion of the fabric on a beginning side of the subsequent course knitting can be started with the needle(s) of the other of the needle beds; and the step that the course knitting are performed orderly from the yarn feeder disposed on a frontwardly positioned track, when the knitting of the side edge portion is ended with the needle(s) of the back
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2000
    Assignee: Shima Seiki Manufacturing Limited
    Inventor: Masao Okuno
  • Patent number: 6119050
    Abstract: A computer aided designing (CAD) apparatus for generating knitting commands accessible by knitting machines having built-in computers. The knitting commands include forming, transferring and overlapping stitches. The commands are stored on a computer retrievable memory such as a computer disk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2000
    Assignee: Shima Seiki Manufacturing, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masao Okuno, Michael Caird
  • Patent number: 6070438
    Abstract: Each stitch of the last course of a front knitted fabric of a tubular knitted fabric is overlapped with a stitch, one stitch interior, of an immediately preceding course of the front knitted fabric. Each stitch of the last course of a back knitted fabric is overlapped with a stitch, one stitch interior, of an immediately preceding course of the back knitted fabric. Prolongations of each stitch of the last course of the front knitted fabric crosses with prolongations of a stitch of the last course of the back knitted fabric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2000
    Assignee: Shima Seiki Manufacturing, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masao Okuno, Michael Caird
  • Patent number: 6021650
    Abstract: In a broadening course, a yarn feeder of which front and back agree with the front and back of a fabric is used as a preceding yarn feeder, and a yarn feeder of which front and back are reverse is used as the succeeding yarn feeder,(a) the preceding first yarn feeder is used to knit the first fabric, and to newly feed yarn to needles of the opposing needle bed on the lower side of the knitting direction of the course, and to needles of the original needle bed, and(b) the succeeding yarn feeder is used to knit the first fabric, and to feed yarn again to either one of needles to which yarn was newly fed by the first yarn feeder in the above-mentioned step a.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2000
    Assignee: Shima Seiki Manufacturing, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masao Okuno, Takashi Ikegami
  • Patent number: 5873266
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for knitting a seamless tubular fabric of 2.times.1 rib stitch uses a flat knitting machine having at least one front needle bed and at least one back needle bed. The beds extend sideways and abut against each other in a front-back relationship with a trick gap between them. The needles are preferably arranged in units consisting of six needles on the front needle bed and six needles on the back needle bed. The first and sixth needle on both the front and back beds are used to form face stitches. The second and forth needles of one needle bed and the third and fifth needles of the other bed are used to form back stitches. The remaining needles are used to align the stitches. At least one of the needle beds is preferably capable of racking sideways and transferring stitches between the needle beds. The resulting tubular fabric is especially suited for rib hem parts and similar fabric components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1999
    Assignee: Shima Seiki Manufacturing Ltd.
    Inventors: Haruo Kosugi, Masao Okuno
  • Patent number: 5836177
    Abstract: Each stitch of the last course of a front knitted fabric of a tubular knitted fabric is overlapped with a stitch, one stitch interior, of an immediately preceding course of the front knitted fabric. Each stitch of the last course of a back knitted fabric is overlapped with a stitch, one stitch interior, of an immediately preceding course of the back knitted fabric. Prolongations of each stitch of the last course of the front knitted fabric crosses with prolongations of a stitch of the last course of the back knitted fabric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1998
    Assignee: Shima Seiki Manufacturing Ltd.
    Inventors: Masao Okuno, Michael Caird
  • Patent number: 5692399
    Abstract: The present invention provides a knitted fabric of three-dimensional silhouette shape which comprises a front half and a back half coupled at side edges to each other forming a tubular shape and in which the circumferential length of the tubular shape is varied by increasing and/or decreasing the number of wales of one of the two, front and back, halves and also, a method of knitting the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 2, 1997
    Assignee: Shima Seiki Mfg., Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuyasu Takahashi, Masao Okuno
  • Patent number: 5669244
    Abstract: A binding off method for binding off stitches of at least two fabrics which form a tube requires a plurality of steps. A first step is providing a flat knitting machine with a first needle bed and a second needle bed, with each needle bed having a plurality of needles, and being slidable relative to each other. The needle beds are configured to hold stitches, with the stitches being transferable between the first and second needle bed. A second step is knitting a first knit fabric and a second knit fabric, with the first knit fabric corresponding to the first needle bed and the second knit fabric corresponding to the second needle bed. The first and second knit fabrics are configured to face each other on the first and second needle beds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 23, 1997
    Assignee: Shima Seiki Manufacturing Ltd.
    Inventor: Masao Okuno