Abstract: “Tinkles” (also known as “gotchas”) (see reference number 20 in FIGS. 1 and 2) are portions of knitted metal loops produced when a tube of knitted wire mesh is cut into individual pieces. In the prior art, tinkles have been considered a fact of life and the approach has been to try to shake them out of the mesh or immobilize them on or in the mesh. By producing a knitted tube (11) having alternating segments (12,13) of knitted rows of yarn and knitted rows of wire, completely tinkle-free knitted socks are produced which are used to produce completely tinkle-free knitted wire mesh filters. Knitted wire mesh filters that cannot release tinkles because they do not have any tinkles can be used in such applications as fuel filters and airbag filters.

Abstract: Fibers, such as textile fibers, having electrical components deposited thereon. More particularly, one or more electrical components are formed directly onto the surface of at least one fiber. The fiber having the electrical component formed thereon may then be interlaced with other fibers to form a larger piece of fabric, which can be employed to produce an article of clothing. A group of transistors and piezoelectric components forming an accelerometer may be woven onto one or more natural or synthetic fibers. The fibers may then be employed as the warp, weft, or both, of a woven piece of fabric, or used to form a knitted piece of fabric. The fabric piece can then be cut and sewn to form a wearable item, such as a shirt, a pair of pants, a hat, or the upper piece of a shoe that includes the accelerometer.

Abstract: In a tubular knitted fabric with a stripe pattern knitted by a flat knitting machine, to cause cross-over yarns to appear inside the tubular knitted fabric so as to eliminate cutting operation of the cross-over yarns. For each knitting of a plurality of courses, a first knitted fabric portion and a second knitted fabric portion are continuously knitted by switching a first knitting yarn and a second knitting yarn. The first knitted fabric portion and the second knitted fabric portion are knitted by continuously performing a first knitting process for knitting the first knitted fabric and a second knitting process for knitting the second knitted fabric alternately.

Abstract: A knitted fabric comprising a plurality of knitted stitches which are interconnected to define a plurality of courses and wales, the knitted stitches being formed from a heat fusible yarn, with at least some of said stitches being formed from said heat fusible yarn plated with a ground yarn, the heat fusible yarn being fused together at adjacent points of contact on stitches in order to give the fabric a desired dimensional stability and shape.

Abstract: A patterned float plated fabric composed of courses incorporates at least two plating yarns dominating alternating patterned sections of the fabric with the floats of their float plated portions, such that a ground fabric is composed from sections of plain courses formed complementary from one of the at least two plating yarns and such that sections of plain ground fabric courses are connected together by at least one stitch formed from the yarns forming the ground fabric of the adjacent patterned sections. Additionally, a process for forming the patterned float plated fabric includes holding down the fabric with a lower throat of a sinker; raising portions of needles to a clearing position; feeding first plating yarn to the raised needles; arranging the sinkers such that their lower looping ledge is between the needles, retracting the needles to an lower intermediate position.

Abstract: A method of utilizing a standard circular knitting machine to produce a fabric with a pattern by the combination of selectively rendering specific needles of the standard circular knitting machine inoperative, removing pre-selected needles in a predetermined manner from the cylinder of the knitting machine, using yarns of the type including S-twist, Z-twist, colored, and textured, and feeding the yarn types, i.e. z and s-twist yarns, in alternating manner with a predetermined length of yarn of each type.

Abstract: This invention relates to a tubular casing for location around food products prior to cooking or curing that produce a quilted-like surface pattern to the surface of the food product. The invention comprises a first tubular portion that is knitted in continuous lengths such that the wall of the first tubular portion is stretchable, and circumferential and longitudinal threads secured to the surface of the first tubular portion that become taut as food product is located within the first tubular portion such that a quilted surface pattern is applied to the surface of the product.

Abstract: A circular knit one-piece garment blank, lower torso garment, and method of making same having a welt portion and a tubular knit body with front, back and side portions. The front portion contains a spot control area wherein bulkier yarns are included to impart an elastic character throughout the area and to impart the characteristics of a foundation garment to the area.

Abstract: The invention relates to a moisture management sock and shoe. The sock includes a multi-layer moisture-wicking panel extending from a front ankle portion of the sock to a front toe portion of the sock. The moisture wicking panel is generally coextensive with an area of the foot covered by the tongue of a shoe. First and second single layer air circulation channels are formed in the sock, and extend along opposing sides of the moisture-wicking panel from the front ankle portion to the front toe portion of the sock. A moisture-management shoe includes a shoe tongue, a toe box area, and a moisture wicking inner liner residing adjacent the tongue and the toe box area for moving moisture from the foot and through the shoe for evaporation.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for knitting a pocket on a knit type of clothing such as a sweater. The apparatus includes a flat knitting machine having multiple front and back knitting needles operational in parallel. The pocket is knitted by the front and rear needles by knitting a portion of the pocket with some needles and then transferring the stitches to other needles for knitting other parts of the pocket.

Abstract: Moisture control characteristics are imparted to the sock of the present invention by body yarn knit in successive courses throughout the leg and foot. A hydrophobic yarn is knit in plated relationship with the body yarn in partial courses extending throughout the sole, and hydrophilic yarn is knit in plated relationship with the body yarn in partial courses extending throughout the instep whereby moisture generated by the foot of the wearer is wicked and transported from the sole and into the instep to be evaporated therefrom. Cut free ends extend from the endmost stitch loops in wales along the juncture of the sole and the instep while cut free ends of the hydrophilic yarn extend from endmost stitch loops in wales along the juncture of the sole and instep so that the endmost stitch loops at opposite ends of the partial courses of the hydrophobic and hydrophilic yarns are formed in adjacent wales and are not knit in plated relationship with each other in the same courses.

Abstract: A hosiery knitting method and apparatus wherein contoured terry-type heel and toe areas are circularly knit on a four station hosiery machine by arranging one station to knit complete terry courses on all needles and sinkers and arranging the other three stations to knit partial terry courses on only a group of selected successive needles and associated sinkers. To insure proper plating for terry knitting when reintroducing the yarns at the three other stations, a number of needles preceding and succeeding the needles selected to knit are operated to tuck the base yarn to constrain it onto the lower sinker surface.

Abstract: The panty portion of the panty hose is knit of stretch and spandex yarns to provide compressive force against the body of the wearer. The panty portion includes an attractive pattern of relatively opaque areas and open lace areas with alternate courses being knit of spandex yarn and intervening courses being knit of main and auxiliary stretch yarns. The spandex yarn is knit in every wale of the opaque areas and is selectively knit and tucked in the open lace areas. The main stretch yarn is knit in every wale of both the opaque and open lace areas while the auxiliary stretch yarn is knit in plated relationship with the main stretch yarn in the opaque areas and is floated in the open lace areas.