Knitted fabric and method for producing a knitted fabric

Abstract

Knitted fabric and method of forming knitted fabric. Knitted fabric includes warp threads that run in a longitudinal direction and that are connected to one another by a stitch formation, and at least three sections arranged consecutively in the longitudinal direction. The at least three sections may include at least one section formed as a spacer fabric, one section formed as a single-ply fabric and one section formed as a tubular fabric.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A knitted fabric comprising:
 warp threads that run in a longitudinal direction and that are connected to one another by a stitch formation; and   at least three sections arranged consecutively in the longitudinal direction,   wherein the at least three sections comprise at least one section formed as a spacer fabric, one section formed as a single-ply fabric and one section formed as a tubular fabric.   
     
     
         2 . The knitted fabric according to  claim 1 , wherein the single-ply fabric is formed as a one-by-one rib knitted fabric. 
     
     
         3 . The knitted fabric according to  claim 1 , wherein the single-ply fabric is arranged between the spacer fabric and the tubular fabric. 
     
     
         4 . The knitted fabric according to  claim 3 , wherein the spacer fabric has a larger extension in the longitudinal direction than the tubular fabric. 
     
     
         5 . The knitted fabric according to  claim 4 , wherein the spacer fabric has an extension in the longitudinal direction that is at least two times as large as the extension of the tubular fabric in the longitudinal direction. 
     
     
         6 . The knitted fabric according to  claim 1 , wherein the spacer fabric is symmetrically arranged to the single-ply fabric in the thickness direction. 
     
     
         7 . The knitted fabric according to  claim 1 , wherein the single-ply fabric has an extension in the longitudinal direction which is at least as large as a thickness of the spacer fabric that protrudes past the single-ply fabric. 
     
     
         8 . The knitted fabric according to  claim 1 , wherein the single-ply fabric has an extension in the longitudinal direction which is at least as large as a thickness of a tube that is formed by the tubular fabric. 
     
     
         9 . The knitted fabric according to  claim 1 , wherein the spacer fabric is arranged on one side of the tubular fabric and the single-ply fabric is arranged on an opposite side of the tubular fabric. 
     
     
         10 . The knitted fabric according to  claim 1 , wherein the spacer fabric comprises sections with different thicknesses transversally to the longitudinal direction. 
     
     
         11 . A method for producing a knitted fabric using two knitting needle heads and thread-feeding elements at least partially embodied as jacquard elements, comprising:
 forming piles or surfaces, depending upon a predetermined fabric structure, by using at least four independent thread-feeding elements and controlling the jacquard elements.   
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the jacquard elements are used to pattern at least one surface. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the jacquard elements are controlled varyingly during a stitch formation process. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein different structures are created in the width direction of the knitted fabric. 
     
     
         15 . A method of forming a knitted fabric comprising:
 forming at least three sections consecutively in a longitudinal direction along which warp threads are arranged to run, the at least three sections comprising a spacer fabric section, a single-ply fabric section and a tubular fabric section,   wherein, in forming the at least three sections, the warp threads are connected to one another by a stitch formation.   
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein the spacer fabric section comprises a front surface layer and a rear surface layer connected by pile threads, wherein the single-ply fabric section comprises the front surface layer and the rear surface layer, and the tubular fabric section comprises the front surface layer and the rear surface layer. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein, in a machine with plural guide bars, a first guide bar lays down the front surface layer, a second guide bar lays down the rear surface layer and a third guide bar lays down the pile threads. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein, in a machine with plural guide bars and plural jacquard bars, a first guide bar lays down the front surface layer, a second guide bar lays down the rear surface layer and the plural jacquard bars lays down the pile threads. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein, in a machine with at least two needle beds and plural independent thread-feeding elements, the at least two needle beds form the front and rear surface layer and the plural independent thread-feeding elements form the pile layers. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 19 , wherein the plural independent thread-feeding elements comprise at least four jacquard bars.