Toe Closing Method and Structure

Abstract

A toe closing method for closing a toe end with first and second circumferential portions includes the steps of: folding the first circumferential portion to superimpose over the second circumferential portion such that the toe end is formed with opposed first and second end points; knitting a stitching thread by threading the same through the loops of the superimposed circumferential portions to form a first loose thread and an initial stitch segment; continuously knitting the thread around the superimposed circumferential portions until the second end point is reached to form a joining segment; and continuously knitting the thread around a part of the joining segment to form at least one tail portion and a second loose thread.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A toe closing method for closing a toe end of a tubular hosiery body that extends around a longitudinal axis, the toe end including a first circumferential portion, a second circumferential portion, and a plurality of loops formed on the first and second circumferential portions and surrounding the longitudinal axis, the first and second circumferential portions being respectively located on two opposite sides of a diametrical axis of the tubular hosiery body which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, the loops of the first circumferential portion corresponding in number to the loops of the second circumferential portion, said toe closing method comprising the steps of:
 (A) folding the first circumferential portion along the diametrical axis to superimpose the same over the second circumferential portion such that the loops of the first circumferential portion are respectively aligned with the loops of the second circumferential portion and that the toe end is placed in a closed state and is formed with a first end point at one end of the diametrical axis and a second endpoint at the other end of the diametrical axis diametrically opposite to the first end point;   (B) knitting a stitching thread by threading the stitching thread through the loops of the superimposed first and second circumferential portions to form a first loose thread and an initial stitch segment, wherein the first loosed thread is located between the first and second end points, an angular distance between the first loose thread and the first endpoint is smaller than that between the first loose thread and the second end point, and the initial stitch segment starts from the first loose thread and is formed by threading the stitching thread through the loops of the superimposed first and second circumferential portions along a first circumferential direction from the second endpoint toward the first endpoint until the first endpoint is reached;   (C) continuously knitting the stitching thread from the first end point along a second circumferential direction opposite to the first circumferential direction and around the superimposed first and second circumferential portions until the second end point is reached to form a joining segment, the joining segment having a first section interlaced with the initial stitch segment, and a second section connected to the first section and interlaced with the loops of the superimposed first and second circumferential portions located between the initial stitch segment and the second end point; and   (D) continuously knitting the stitching thread from the second end point and around a part of the joining segment to form at least one tail portion and a second loose thread connected to the at least one tail portion, the at least one tail portion being interlaced with the part of the joining segment, an angular distance between the second loose thread and the second endpoint being smaller than that between the second loose thread and the first end point.   
     
     
         2 . The toe closing method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein in step (D), the at least one tail portion includes a first tail portion and a second tail portion, the first tail portion being formed by continuously knitting the stitching thread along the first circumferential direction from the second endpoint and around a part of the second section of the joining segment, the second tail portion being formed by continuously knitting the stitching thread along the second circumferential direction from one end of the first tail portion, which is distal from the second end point, and around the first tail portion, the second tail portion being interlaced with the first tail portion. 
     
     
         3 . The toe closing method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein, in step (D), the at least one tail portion includes one tail portion, the tail portion is interlaced with the part of the joining segment and is formed by continuously threading the stitching thread through the part of the joining segment from the second end point along the first circumferential direction and around the part of the joining segment, and the second loose thread is connected to the tail portion and is disposed at a position between the first and second end points. 
     
     
         4 . The toe closing method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein, in step (B), a first radial line extends from the longitudinal axis and passes through one end of the initial stitch segment which is distal from the first end point, the first radial line and the diametrical axis forming a first included angle therebetween, which ranges from 5 degrees to 45 degrees. 
     
     
         5 . The toe closing method as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein, in step (B), the initial stitch segment includes six initial stitch loops. 
     
     
         6 . The toe closing method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein in step (D), a second radial line extends from the longitudinal axis and passes through one end of the at least one tail portion which is distal from the second end point, the second radial line and the diametrical axis forming a second included angle therebetween, which ranges from 5 degrees to 45 degrees. 
     
     
         7 . The toe closing method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein in step (D), the at least one tail portion includes six tail loops. 
     
     
         8 . A toe closing structure for closing a toe end of a tubular hosiery body which extends around a longitudinal axis, the toe end having a first end point, a second end point opposite to the first end point, a first circumferential portion extending from the first end point to the second end point, a second circumferential portion superimposed on the first circumferential portion, and a plurality of loops provided on the first and second circumferential portions, the loops of the first circumferential portion corresponding in number to and being respectively aligned with the loops of the second circumferential portion, said toe closing structure comprising:
 a first loose thread configured to be located between the first and second end points, an angular distance between said first loose thread and the first end point being smaller than an angular distance between said first loose thread and the second end point;   an initial stitch segment including a plurality of initial stitch loops configured to be interlaced with the loops of the superimposed first and second circumferential portions located between said first loose thread and the first end point;   a joining segment including a first section interlaced with said initial stitch segment, and a second section connected to said first section and configured to be interlaced with the loops of the superimposed first and second circumferential portions located between said first section and the second end point, said first section having a plurality of first loops interlaced with said initial stitch loops of said initial stitch segment, said second section having a plurality of second loops configured to be interlaced with the loops of the superimposed first and second circumferential portions located between said initial stitch segment and the second end point;   at least one tail portion configured to be proximal to the second end point, interlaced with a part of said joining segment, and including a plurality of tail loops; and   a second loose thread connected to said at least one tail portion, an angular distance between said second loose thread and the second end point being smaller than that between said second loose thread and the first end point.   
     
     
         9 . The toe closing structure as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein said at least one tail portion includes first and second tail portions, said first tail portion is interlaced with said joining segment, and said second tail portion is interlaced with said first tail portion and extends around an outer side of said said first tail portion.