Knitting ring

Abstract

A knitting ring can be worn on a knitter's finger and used to hold and tension yarn while the knitter is knitting. The knitting ring includes a yarn member that is configured to hold and tension multiple strands of yarn and a finger member that can be coupled to the yarn member to mount the yarn member on the knitter's finger. The yarn member includes opposing arms that are configured to hold the strands of yarn and apply a desired amount of tension to the strands of yarn. The yarn member may be removed from the finger member during use and then repositioned on the finger member in a desired orientation thereby facilitating a number of different knitting techniques.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A knitting ring comprising:
 a yarn member having arms positioned on opposing sides of the yarn member, each arm being configured to pivot inwardly towards the corresponding side, the yarn member also including a finger member channel; and   a finger member having a base, a finger portion extending from the base and prongs extending from the base opposite the finger portion, the prongs being configured to insert into the finger member channel to secure the finger member to the yarn member.   
     
     
         2 . The knitting ring of  claim 1 , wherein each of the opposing sides of the yarn member includes a pair of protrusions that are spaced apart to form a gap, and wherein the corresponding arm is positioned overtop the gap. 
     
     
         3 . The knitting ring of  claim 2 , wherein each arm includes a pair of openings that align with the corresponding pair of protrusions, and wherein the corresponding pair of protrusions insert into the pair of openings in the corresponding arm when the arm pivots towards the corresponding side. 
     
     
         4 . The knitting ring of  claim 1 , wherein the yarn member further comprises a pair of retaining members that are positioned in the main body at the opposing sides of the yarn member and a corresponding pair of tightening members that couple to the retaining members, each tightening member being configured to apply an inward force against the corresponding arm to cause the corresponding arm to pivot inwardly. 
     
     
         5 . The knitting ring of  claim 4 , wherein each of the retaining members is configured to rotate within the main body. 
     
     
         6 . The knitting ring of  claim 5 , wherein the main body includes an opening for each retaining member that allows the retaining member to rotate while the corresponding tightening member is coupled to the retaining member. 
     
     
         7 . The knitting ring of  claim 4 , wherein the retaining members are barrel nuts and the tightening members are thumb screws. 
     
     
         8 . The knitting ring of  claim 1 , wherein the prongs comprise non-locking prongs and locking prongs. 
     
     
         9 . The knitting ring of  claim 8 , wherein the non-locking prongs and the locking prongs form a plurality of outer surfaces that correspond with a plurality of inner surfaces of the finger member channel. 
     
     
         10 . The knitting ring of  claim 9 , wherein the inner surfaces of the finger member channel form a symmetrical cross-sectional shape. 
     
     
         11 . The knitting ring of  claim 1 , wherein the finger member channel extends between and through opposing top and bottom surfaces of the yarn member such that the prongs can be inserted into the finger member channel from either the top or the bottom surface. 
     
     
         12 . The knitting ring of  claim 1 , wherein at least some of the prongs include tabs that secure the finger member to the yarn member once the prongs are inserted through the finger member channel. 
     
     
         13 . The knitting ring of  claim 12 , wherein the prongs comprise locking prongs that include the tabs and non-locking prongs that do not include tabs. 
     
     
         14 . A knitting ring comprising:
 a yarn member comprising:
 a main body having a top surface, a bottom surface opposite the top surface, a first side surface, a second side surface opposite the first side surface, and opposing face surfaces that extend between the top and bottom surfaces and between the first and second side surfaces, the main body also forming a finger member channel that extends between and through the top and bottom surfaces; 
 a first arm that extends outwardly from the main body and that is positioned overtop the first side surface, the first arm being configured to selectively hold and tension yarn against the first side surface; and 
 a second arm that extends outwardly from the main body and that is positioned overtop the second side surface, the second arm being configured to selectively hold and tension yarn against the second side surface; and 
   a finger member having a base, a finger portion that extends from the base and prongs that extends from the base opposite the finger portion, the prongs being configured to insert through the finger member channel to selectively couple the finger member to the yarn member.   
     
     
         15 . The knitting ring of  claim 14 , wherein the first arm is coupled to the top surface of the main body and the second arm is coupled to the bottom surface of the main body. 
     
     
         16 . The knitting ring of  claim 14 , wherein the main body of the yarn member further includes:
 a first retaining member positioned towards the first side surface and a first tightening member that couples to the first retaining member, the first tightening member being configured to apply an inward force against the first arm to thereby hold and tension yarn against the first side surface;   a second retaining member positioned towards the second side surface and a second tightening member that couples to the second retaining member, the second tightening member being configured to apply an inward force against the second arm to thereby hold and tension yarn against the second side surface.   
     
     
         17 . The knitting ring of  claim 14 , wherein the main body of the yarn member further includes:
 a first set of protrusions that extend outwardly from the first side surface to define a gap within which yarn is held and tensioned by the first arm; and   a second set of protrusions that extend outwardly form the second side surface to define a gap within which yarn is held and tensioned by the second arm.   
     
     
         18 . The knitting ring of  claim 14 , wherein the finger member channel includes a plurality of inner surfaces and the prongs define a corresponding plurality of outer surfaces that align with the plurality of inner surfaces, the inner surfaces and the outer surfaces forming a symmetrical cross-sectional shape to thereby allow the yarn member to be coupled to the finger member in a plurality of orientations. 
     
     
         19 . The knitting ring of  claim 14 , wherein at least one of the prongs includes a tab that interlocks with the top or bottom surface when the prongs are inserted through the finger member channel. 
     
     
         20 . A knitting ring comprising:
 a yarn member comprising:
 a main body having a top surface, a bottom surface opposite the top surface, a first side surface, a second side surface opposite the first side surface, and opposing face surfaces that extend between the top and bottom surfaces and between the first and second side surfaces, the main body also forming a finger member channel; 
 a first arm that extends outwardly from the main body and that is positioned overtop the first side surface, the first arm being configured to selectively hold and tension yarn against the first side surface; and 
 a second arm that extends outwardly from the main body and that is positioned overtop the second side surface, the second arm being configured to selectively hold and tension yarn against the second side surface; and 
   a finger member that couples to the yarn member to enable the yarn member to be positioned on a knitter's finger.