Knitting method for forming integrally formed joins for three dimension fabric

Abstract

Knitted joins are made in double jersey knitted articles using a method which minimizes the effect of hole formation at the join. Single jersey edges are knitted along the edges to be jointed, being knitted on from one to six needles in each of the courses of knitting which form part of the edge of the join. The edgings need not extend along the whole length of the join. In a further embodiment superimposed strips of single jersey knitting are knitted between the edgings so as to split hole formation into two smaller series which are less noticeable. With this embodiment, one or both edgings can be omitted. The method is useful for upholstery fabric joins, particular for vehicle seat covers, where exposure of the padding is to be avoided.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. In a method of knitting, on a knitting machine having independently operable needles disposed in at least two needle beds, an article having a mainly double jersey structure comprising two areas having respective edges joined together on the machine, during the knitting of the article, so that wales on opposite sides of a join between said edges are inclined to one another, the improvement comprising knitting a single jersey edging along at least part of a length of, and integrally with, each of said edges, each of said edgings being knitted on two needles in each course of knitting which forms said at least part of the length of each of said edges, and joining adjacent edges of said edgings, during the knitting of the article, to form the join between said areas of the article. 
     
     
       2. A method according to claim 1 wherein from one to four courses of single jersey knitting are knitted on each of two of said needle beds to form two superimposed strips of single jersey knitting between said single jersey edgings along at least part of the length of said edgings so that in a finished article the single jersey edgings are joined one to another, along at least part of their lengths, via .Iadd.one of .Iaddend.said two superimposed strips of single jersey knitting. 
     
     
       3. A method according to claim 2 wherein the knitting of at least one of said single jersey edgings is omitted and, during the knitting of the article, the two superimposed strips of single jersey knitting are joined, where said edging is omitted, directly to an adjacent edge of an area of double jersey knitting and, where an edging is present, .Iadd.one of them is joined .Iaddend.to said edging. 
     
     
       4. A method according to claim 3 wherein a single jersey edging is knitted on the edge of said double jersey are knitted later in the knitting sequence. 
     
     
       5. A method according to claim 2 wherein each of the two superimposed strips of single jersey knitting comprises two courses. 
     
     
       6. A method according to claim 1 wherein the single jersey edgings and at least one of two superimposed strips of single jersey knitting are knitted with a same yarn, or one of the same yarns, as is used for knitting the main double jersey structure of the article. 
     
     
       7. A method according to claim 2 including the subsequent step of temporarily stretching the join region of the article in the direction of the join. 
     
     
       8. A method according to claim 2 wherein at least one of the superimposed strips of single jersey knitting is knitted with a yarn selected from an elastomeric yarn, a high bulk yarn and a latent crimp yarn. 
     
     
       9. A method according to claim 1 wherein the edges of the double jersey areas to be joined are knitted so that, if left unjoined, said edges, or tangents of said edges in the case of convexly-opposed curved edges, would meet at an angle of greater than 90 degrees. 
     
     
       10. A knitted article having a mainly double jersey construction comprising two areas having respective edges which are joined together so that wales on opposite sides of the join between said edges are inclined to one another wherein the join is produced by the method claimed in claim 1. 
     
     
       11. An upholstery cover comprising knitted fabric of mainly double jersey construction shaped to fit a three dimensional support, said cover having joins wherein the cover is made by a method which includes the knitting of said joins by the method claimed in claim 1. 
     
     
       12. In a method of knitting, on a knitting machine having independently operable needles disposed in at least two needle beds an article having a mainly double jersey construction comprising two areas having respective edges joined together on the machine, during the knitting of the article, so that wales on opposite sides of a join between said edges are inclined to one another, the features of knitting said edges so that, if the edges were left unjoined, said edges, or tangents to said edges in the case of convexly-opposed curved edges, would meet at an angle of greater than 90 degrees, and knitting a single jersey edging along at least part of a length of, and integrally with, each of said edges, each of said edges being knitted on from one to six needles in each course of knitting which forms said st least part of the length of each of said edges and joining adjacent edges of said edgings during the knitting of the article to form the join between said areas of the article. 
     
     
       13. An upholstery cover comprising knitted fabric of mainly double jersey construction shaped to fit a three dimensional support and having joins, wherein the cover is made by a method which includes the knitting of said joins by the method claimed in claim 12. 
     
     
       14. In a method of knitting, on a knitting machine having independently operable needles disposed in at least two needle beds, an article having a mainly double jersey structure comprising two areas having respective edges joined together on the machine, during the knitting of the article, so that wales on opposite sides of a join between said edges are inclined to one another, the improvement of knitting a single jersey edging along at least part of a length of, and integrally with, each of said edges, each of said edgings being knitted on from one to six needles in each course of knitting which forms said at least part of the length of each of said edges, and in addition knitting from one to four courses of single jersey knitting on each of two of said needle beds to from two superimposed strips of single jersey knitting between said single jersey edgings along at least part of the length of said edgings so that in a finished article the single jersey edgings are joined one to anther, along at least part of their lengths, via .Iadd.one of .Iaddend.said two superimposed strips of single jersey knitting to form the join between said areas of the article. 
     
     
       15. A method according to claim 14 wherein the knitting of at least one of said single jersey edgings is omitted and, during the knitting of the article, the two superimposed strips of single jersey knitting are joined, where said edging is omitted, directly to an adjacent edge of an area of double jersey knitting and, where an edging is present, .Iadd.one of them is joined .Iaddend.to said edging. 
     
     
       16. In a method of knitting, on a knitting machine having independently operable needles disposed in at least two needle beds, an article having a mainly double jersey structure comprising two areas having respective edges joined together on the machine, during the knitting of the article, so that wales on opposite sides of a join between said edges are inclined to one another, the improvement of knitting a single jersey edging along at least part of a length of, and integrally with, each of said edges, each of said edgings being knitted on from one to six needles in each course of knitting which forms said at least part of the length of each of said edges, and joining adjacent edges of said edgings, during the knitting of the article, to form the join between said areas of the article. 
     
     
       17. In a method of knitting, on a knitting machine having independently operable needles disposed in at least two needle beds, an article having a mainly double jersey structure comprising two areas having respective edges joined together on the machine, during the knitting of the article, so that wales on opposite sides of a join between said edges are inclined to one another, the improvement of knitting a single jersey edging along at least part of a length of, and integrally with, each of said edges, each of said edgings being knitted on from one to two needles in each course of knitting which forms said at least part of the length of each of said edges, and joining adjacent edges of said edgings, during the knitting of the article, to form the join between said areas of the article. 
     
     
       18. In a method of knitting, on a knitting machine having independently operable needles disposed in at least two needle beds, an article having a mainly double jersey structure comprising two areas having respective edges joined together on the machine, during the knitting of the article, so that wales on opposite sides of a join between said edges are inclined to one another, the improvement of knitting a single jersey edging along at least part of a length of, and integrally with, each of said edges, each of said edgings being knitted on from three to six needles in each course of knitting which forms said at least part of the length of each of said edges, and joining adjacent edges of said edgings, during the knitting of the article, to form the join between said areas of the article. 
     
     
       19. An upholstery cover comprising knitted fabric of mainly double jersey construction shaped to fit a three-dimensional support and having joins formed between two areas of fabric having respective edges joined to form the join so that wales on opposite sides of the join between said edges are inclined to one another, the cover being knitted by a method of knitting on a knitting machine having independently operable needles disposed in at least two needle beds; and wherein a single jersey edging is knitted along at least part of a length of, and integrally with, each of said edges, each of said edgings being knitted on from one to six needles in each course of knitting which forms said at least part of the length of each of said edges, and adjacent edges of said edgings are joined, during the knitting of the cover, to form the join between said areas of the cover.