Knitting needle in particular for producing knitwear with cable patterns, and method for producing the knitting needle

Abstract

The invention relates to a knitting needle, in particular for producing knitwear with cable patterns, having at least one rigid needle tip and a shank on which the knitwear can be arranged at least regionally. The invention now proposes that the shank consist at least regionally of a material that is reversibly plastically deformable by bending in very different directions, wherein the transition between the shank and needle tip is flush and smooth. Furthermore, the invention proposes a method for producing such a knitting needle.

1 - 9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . A knitting needle ( 10 ), for the production of knitted goods ( 50 ) with cable patterns, having at least one rigid needle tip ( 11 ) and a shaft ( 12 ) on which the knitted goods ( 50 ) can be arranged at least in sections, 
       characterized in that,
 the shaft ( 12 ) consists, at least in a region, of a material that is reversibly plastically deformable in many different directions by bending in virtually any desired way through an application of force by a user, 
 wherein the shaft retains its shape subsequent to the application of force until a new force acts upon the region, 
 wherein the transition ( 14 ) between the shaft ( 12 ) and needle tip ( 11 ) is flush and smooth, wherein the knitting needle ( 10 ) comprises a wire ( 40 ) that is overmolded with one or more plastics ( 30 ,  31 ) and wherein the needle tip ( 11 ) consists of a first, rigid plastic ( 30 ), and the shaft ( 12 ) is composed of a second, pliable, flexible plastic ( 31 ). 
 
     
     
         11 . The knitting needle ( 10 ) of  claim 10 , characterized in that the needle tip ( 11 ) is strongly rounded in design, and further characterized in that it transitions into a teardrop-shaped or pompom-like bulge (retrieving knob  20 ), and has a significantly smaller diameter than the shaft ( 12 ). 
     
     
         12 . The knitting needle ( 10 ) of  claim 10  where in the first hard plastic ( 30 ) has an injection point, and wherein the injection point ( 32 ) of the first hard plastic ( 30 ) simultaneously serves as an anchor point for the second soft plastic ( 31 ). 
     
     
         13 . The knitting needle ( 10 ) of  claim 10 , characterized in that the needle tip ( 11 ) is so long that it can accommodate two to three stitches ( 51 ). 
     
     
         14 . The knitting needle ( 10 ) of  claim 10 , characterized in that the material of the needle tip ( 11 ) has a very smooth and slidable surface ( 13 ). 
     
     
         15 . The knitting needle ( 10 ) of  claim 10 , characterized in that the first plastic ( 30 ), of which the needle tip ( 11 ) consists, is an acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer. 
     
     
         16 . The knitting needle ( 10 ) of  claim 10 , characterized in that the second plastic ( 31 ), of which the shaft ( 12 ) consists, is a crosslinked thermoplastic elastomer. 
     
     
         17 . A method for producing a knitting needle ( 10 ) according to  claim 10 , characterized in that a flexible wire ( 40 ) in the region of its ends with a first hard plastic ( 30 ) is overmolded to produce the needle tips ( 11 ), and then the non-overmolded areas of the wire ( 40 ) are encapsulated with a second soft plastic ( 31 ), wherein the second soft plastic ( 31 ) also partially surrounds the first hard plastic ( 30 ), in particular in the region of the injection points ( 32 ) of first hard plastic ( 30 ). 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 17 , characterized in that the wire ( 40 ) during injection molding with two plastics ( 30 ,  31 ) is positioned centrally in these and in such a way that in the second soft plastic ( 31 ), smooth breakthroughs ( 33 ) arise. 
     
     
         19 . The knitting needle of  claim 16  wherein the crosslinked thermoplastic elastomer is an olefin-based crosslinked thermoplastic elastomer.