1. No category

April 7, 1953
2,633,720
J. J. ROBBINS
KNITTING ‘NEEDLE
Filed Aug. 2, 1948
FII3____L_
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2,633,720
Patented Apr. 7, 1953
fi'ifllUNlTEl) STATES PATENT OFFICE‘
2,633,720
KNITTING NEEDLE
Jesse J. Robbins, Glendale, Calif., assignor to
Stylofede Corporation, a corporation of Cali
fornia
.
Application August 2, 1948, Serial No. 42,109‘
22 Claims.
(01. 66-117)
r2
1
vide' a needle which w‘ l positively prevent (break
The inventionrelates to knitting needles and
‘,more' particularly to the circular or hoop type
‘of needle used for knitting an annularly or end‘
‘less. closed ‘course such as desired in the knitting
‘or skirts, sweaters and other seamlessv garments
ing or fraying of the cable at the pins, and to be
~otherwise practically indestructible in the course
_'of ‘normal use.
_, The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some of which, with the fore
,or portions thereof.
_
'
going, will be set forth in the following descrip
‘_ I Circular knitting needles of the type to which
tion of the preferred form of the invention-which
‘the "present invention relates have been construc
is illustrated in the drawing accompanying and
ted of a pair of steel rods, sometimes called
forming part of the speci?cation. It is to be
1.0
_“pins,” pointed at one end for engagement with
understood, however, that variations in the
“the ‘yarn to be knitted and connected at their
showing made by the said drawing and descrip
‘opposite ends to the opposite ends of a ?exible
tion may be adopted within the-‘scope of .the in
j'steel cable forming the body or hoop part of the
"needle, and onto and over which the knitted
‘loops are advanced as they are formed by the
vention'as
Referringset
to forth
said drawing:
in the claims.
a
15
pins. ‘While the steel cable is intended to pro
vide the ?exible part of the needle, it'is, never
theless,- quite stiff and resilient, making the
needle somewhat dif?cult ‘and awkward to han
' .-
v= '-. ~.
,
> ‘Figure ‘1 is a side elevation of a knitting. needle
constructed in accordance with the present in
vention.
.
'
t
Figure 2 is an enlarged longitudinal cross-sec
tional view of the joinder portions of _the.cable
ldle and'limiting the use of the needle to garments 20
having a relatively large diameter. For_exam
and pin of the needle.
,
.-
>
- Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the part
vple, the steel cable type of knitting needle can
of the needle illustrated in Figure 2‘ and‘is taken
"not be used for knitting items such as socks,
substantially onthe plane of line 3-3 ofFig
sleeves or garments of like diameter, and it is
2.
,.
,
customary in such instances to use a plurality 25 ureFigure
4 is a cross-sectional view similar'to
of straight needles set in a polygonal fashion
Figure 2 but showing a modi?ed form of construc
:‘around the closed course to be knitted.
j As will be understood, the most active ?exing
tion.
Figure 5 is a- longitudinal cross-sectionalview
"of the circular-type needle, and consequently the
greatest wear and strain, occurs at the joinder 30 similar to Figure 4 but showing a di?erent posi
of the parts.
"between the pins and the cable and directly atv . tion
.The circular knitting needle illustrated inthe
fthejends of the cable, due to the rapid and con
accompanying drawing is composed of, a‘ pair
stant manipulation of the pins in the hands of
of relatively sti?, slender, elongated,‘ rod-like
"the user. This concentration of strain and wear
members or pins 6 and ‘I, which are pointed. at
:;,at the ends of the cable causes the breaking and
their ends 8 and 9 for engagement with the yarn
ifrayin'g of the strands of the cable at its ends '
to be knitted and facilitating the inter-looping
~' after a limited period of use, requiring the re
of the yarn into knitted stitches, as is under
“pair or replacement of the needle.
stood. These pins are preferably formed of
'An object of the present invention is to pro
such as steel, aluminum or alloys thereof,
fzvide va knitting needle of the character described 40 = metal
and for lightness and ease of handling I prefer
{having an improved combination of materials in
‘the pins and ?exible body part of the needle, and
to use an aluminum alloy such as is known
generally under the name “Durel.” In accord
“an improved method of and construction for per
ance with the present invention-and as aSprin
1?mane'ntly securing such ‘parts together, whereby
cipal
feature thereof, the central ?exible .body
‘there is afforded a needle of suchextreme light 45
.or cable portion II of the needleis formed-of
jne'ss' "in weight and ?exibility as to be ideally
'manipulatable in the hands of the user and-ca
ipable of use in knitting small-diameter garments
ch *as' socks, sleeves and the like.
Another. object'of‘ the invention is to provide
"a- circular-type‘knitting needle combiningwell- .
a length of a tough, durable and ?exible plastic
1 having the opposite end portions l2 and-13
secured to the rear ends 14 and iii of the pins
50 ' 6 and l.
Preferably, the central or body por
tion of the present needle’ is composed of mono
‘ ?lamentv nylon, which aifords the needlev extreme
stirengthanddurability as well as a ?exibility
‘permitting the needle to-' be much shorter‘ in
{known qualities of metal with the extremely
'ltough, ‘durable and ?exible qualities of certain
plastics‘in' the “cable portion of the needle, and
in so joining and attaching these parts as to pro .55. length and therefore capable of'?knitting smaller
2,633,720
3
diameter garments than heretofore possible. In
central bore or recess 21 opening to the end face
24 thereof, within which is mounted and secured
one end 28 of the nylon cord 26, the opposite end
29 of the cord 26 extending from the end face
24 of the pin by a distance more than su?icient
to cover the critical area of bending. Desirably,
sofar as I am aware, there has been heretofore
no successful method or process availableior
bonding nylon to metal, and it is in the over
coming of this problem that a principal feature
of the present invention lies. More speci?cally,
in the present eonstruction there is provided a
the cord 26 has a length‘of up'to‘about one inch.
smooth'peri'phe'r‘a/l joinder between ‘the ends of
I, Armodi?ed vform of the invention is'illustrated
the nylon cord and the attached ends of the
in Figures 4 and 5 of the drawing wherein the
pins 6 and ‘I, over which knitted loops may freely 10 and M’ of the pin 6' is provided with a recess or
slide, and these attached ends are securely and
borejl extending substantially axially thereof
permanently fastened together against longitu
vand opening to the end face 32 of the pin. The
dinal separation and in such amanner
topre
internal wall 33 of the bore 3| is preferably
vent breaking of the nylon at the joinder, where \
constant ?exing takes place.
freugh‘eined on'serrated in some fashion so as to
provide a plurality of internal projections 34
The joinder of one end 12 of vthe nylon cord
spaced axially along the bore. These serrations
are viiesiralcl'y termed by tapering the bore to pro
H to one end IQ of the pin '6 is illustrated in
Figure 2, it being noted that the joinder of {the
opposite cord end 43 to the other pin end It is
identical. in constrnciien andiheillusire?en and
Aescriptionpi the one sensation Idem-tied in
vide _,_t;hreads extending peripherally around the
Wall 33 and in planes substantially perpendicular
20
Figure 2‘ will sempe, . With reference to this ‘?g;
ure, it will be noted that the nylon mono-?la
_ment__ cord“ 1 this tubular
construction, having ~
raihpnowy interior, de?ned hr the. inside 'well i l1
to the axis of the recess. vADesir-ably, theintern-al
‘edge ‘of the thread is relatively'?atu'that ‘isg'not
_r d'ucedto af’sh'arp point, as may be'a‘cc' lished
by "cutting ‘aw-called squareihieaid mieitheboré
create ‘a tap which‘p'rovid'es something iessuan
a
qftheitube?aflid whicliis disteiideealid pressed
fullthre'a'd.
._
__
_
_
_,
\
_ The ?exible nylon inonoe?lament earn 11": "of
“theneedle'ispreferably ‘solid ‘in ‘this f w mQoffthe
over andjcompressedupon a reducedcylindrical
end Portion won the, pin
The, ieeiaqtiqn in
invention ‘and is. formed with screamed cylindri
the normal diametérofthe pin"!i tQPl‘OVtlg the
calfend portion“ 35 ‘having a diameter‘ approxi
end portion l8mde?nes, attlie inner endhofrsuch '30 mately "equal to the internal diameter tithe-tore
portionhan annular shoulder 19 against which
nieasured ‘across the proj ection's 34, less clearance,
the end-face 2Lofthe nylontubeis abutted, also,
lfso ‘as’ to permit
the normal diameter of theapin >6’ isdsomewhat
li'ei-iiiw?fe bore/.1.
greater than the external" diameterrof ‘the tube j -
11-, and a peripheral portion 22 of the pincon
tiguous With'shoulder !9 is tapered in the direc
tion of the shoulder
ameter equal to the
:tube, so as to a?ord a
between the tube end
"der 19. .To hold the
'
‘
..
or
‘
7
W
V
.o‘
,,
.
illustrated in i'gurekl, ‘the periphery oipl'n ‘end
‘projections '11 into the cord end 36 to thereby
to provide thereat a di
external diameter of the
smooth peripheral joinder
andthe pin ‘at the shoul
cord permanently a?ixed
seem-e137 100k the vpi'n’arld cord against separation.
This compression ‘may be accomplished in any
suitable Vman‘ner, ‘Desirably, the pmjénd is ‘?rst
jceiiipres‘se'd between‘a pair of spprtpnatetimmar
jaws, not ‘shown, so astojpreliminariiy securethe
pins and cord ‘together and then thefénd |4'_ 6r
‘on-the pin end portion I8, thela'tter is provided
withfa plurality of longitudinally-spaced annular
wIth‘e'pin is sp "n so ‘as to provide _a
serrations or barbs 23, which are imbedded into
the inside wall I‘! of the tube, due to the normal 45
compression action ‘of thetube wall against the
periphery of end portion I8. If desired, the ser
circum
'ferential compression and a smaptn taper
' the
jeii‘dtcth‘e; p'e‘riphery‘of dieters If! f "as illustrated
‘in Figure 5.‘ “The use'ersqaare 'o'r'?at threads as
above discussed is, of importance in seen-?ttings.
very strong imbedding of the threads into the'E'ord
without, danger 'of cutting ‘or'seve'ring the'ceie.
rations 23 may be formed of threads ‘on the pe
riphery of pin portion l8 so that the tube end may
be conveniently attached by threading onto the 50' I Asv will ‘be ‘seen from the'drawings, the reduc
portion [8. 'In any event,v the forming of the
tion in diameter of portend“ 36 ‘provides atfthe
diameter of the serrations 23 slightly larger than
outer end o'_f_ the peruse 36 ‘an annular shoulder
the normal internal diameter of the tube will
‘3.1 which ebuisthé ‘emcee nitrite-tn 'h'sfiil
cause these serrations to be ?rmly imbedded in
important ‘reamed: the‘present construction; the
the nylon wall and provide a powerful gripping 55 end wall 32 is "formed with'a ‘rounded come-r38
‘action permanently securing the nylon on the
in the’ bore in, which fits into a ‘sim'nariy iaun'ajea
metal shank and positively prevent the longi
corner 39 at the base of shoulder '3"1,-an‘d thereby
tudinal‘separationof these parts under ordinary
substantially extends ftheglength or has of vthe
‘use or deliberate pulling of the pins.
coifd portion. subject ‘to 'hingemovement. ' These
As has been hereinbefore noted, the principal
ieterretties sneer-1e?seesaw-waressiiffaéés act
this respect Somewhat, like?» .iéell-célildis‘bdléét
universal ieini and, materially, seeing, the
‘strain on the needle occurs at the point of join
der between the ?exible cord ‘and the pins, and
in the present construction, in the cord adja
mcent to end face 24 of the pins. While the tu
bular form of the cord“ provides more than
adequate strength and ?exibility at this point,
connection between the cord and the pin'at this
"Domini-v.v
65
there, may be a tendency, after ‘acute bending of
the pin relative to the ‘cord, to effect ‘a creasing
ofthe tube adjacent to pin vend 24. To prevent
this creasing and to otherwise reinforce the nylon 70
‘tube adjacent itsjoinder to the pin, 1 insert
vwithin the tube ll andwthroughout its critical
lengths: bendingiia lenethrz? pcfisolidh?exible
aylen rcqrsl- .As mayibe seen. frQmrFisure . ,2,
there is provided in the pin end portion 18 a
c
,
i
_
.
c
c
1
lit/ill :now be deer that therknitting needle 0.1
‘tee‘present ieyentionis yer-y iisht.ih¢weieht;and
earnest. easilnmapinuleted in thehauds, 9.? the user‘;
is so perfectly ?exihlethat “much sherter lengths
(may. be used forjknitting' smaller-diameter rounds
has new iwthmerniatée leftee'efoe
.ereilelele; and see, be the yqeeliiiesfqf, the metal
‘and nylon epnstructioir, is;extremely__d_urable and
practically indestructiblein ordinary use.
.1 ciagnil
on‘; i .
it,“
all“
WWW;
1
1.‘ A circular-type knitting needle b'omprising', a
v2,633,720
with an. axially extending recess opening to "an
end thereof, the wall of said recess being rough
pair of round slender metal rods each tapered to
a point at one end for engagement with the yarn
to be knitted, and a nylon cord havingits opposite
ends telescopically engaged with the opposite ends
ened to provide a plurality of internally extend
ing projections, and a relatively ?exible nylon
cord having an end inserted in said recess, said
of said rods, said last-named rod ends being
formed with annular peripheral serrations im
bedded into said cord ends.
rod end being compressed about said cord end so
as to imbed said projections into said cord and
vide a smooth peripheral joinder between said rod
pressed‘ about said cord thereby embedding said
secure said rod and cord against separation. _
? 2. 'A knitting needle comprising, an elongated
8. A knitting needle comprising, an elongated
slender metal rod, a ?exible nylon cord having one
metal rod pointed at one end for engagement
10
end thereof secured to one end of said rod, one of
with the yarn to be, knitted, and formedwith-an
said ends being provided with a bore telescopically
axially extending bore opening to its opposite
receiving said other of said ends, said rod end
end, the side wall of said bore being threaded to
being formed with a plurality of peripheral serra
provide a plurality of peripheral threads in the
tions imbedded into said cord end, the periphery
axis of the bore, and a cord of plastic material
of said rod adjacent to the end thereof being 15 having
one end inserted in said bore, the periph
tapered to the diameter of said cord so as to pro
ery of said rod adjacent said bore beingcom
and cord.
threads into said cord and tapering said rod
3. A knitting needle comprising, an elongated
periphery to the second-named end thereof to
20
round slender rod pointed at one end for engage
provide a smooth joinder of said periphery with
ment with the yarn to be knitted, and a ?exible
the periphery of said cord.
_ ,
cord of plastic material having a tubular end tele
9. A knitting needle comprising, an elongated
scopically receiving the opposite end of said rod,
round slender rod having an axially extending
said last-named rod end being formed with pe
opening to an end thereof, theinterior wall of
ripheral serrations imbedded into the internal 25 said bore being formed with a plurality of ser
wall of said tubular cord end.
rations, a round nylon cord having a diameter
4. A knitting needle comprising, an elongated
smaller than the diameter of vsaid rod end and
round slender rod pointed at one end for engage
larger than the diameterof said bore, an end por
ment with the yarn to be knitted, a ?exible cord
tion of said cord being of a reduced diameter
of plastic material having a tubular end telescop 30 approximately equal to the diameter of said bore
ically receiving the opposite end of said rod, said
and de?ning an annular shoulder at the joinder
~last-named rod end beingformed with peripheral
of said reduced portion and remainder of said
serrations imbedded into the internal wall of said
cord, said cord end portionv being positioned in
said bore with said shoulder in abutment with
cured to said last-named rod and extending 35 said rod end, the end portion of said rod sur
therefrom into the tubular. interior of said cord
rounding said bore being compressed about said
end.
cord, said serrations being thereby embedded into
tubular ‘cord end,-and a ?exible plastic cord se
5. A knitting needle comprising, an elongated
the periphery of said cord end portion and the
metal rod pointed at one end for engagement with
diameter of said rod end being reduced to the
40
the yarn tobe knitted and formed with a reduced
outside diameter of said cord shoulder.
cylindrical portion at the opposite end thereof, a
10. A knitting needle comprising, an elongated
?exible nylon tube having one end inserted upon
round metal rod having a bore opening to an end
and telescopically receiving said rod end portion,
face thereof, said bore being threaded to pro
said rod end portion being formed with outstand
ing peripheral serrations imbedded into the inter
vide a plurality'of longitudinally spaced threads,
45 said end wall being rounded to provide an an
nal wall of said tube, said rod being tapered in the
direction of said reduced portion thereof to the
nular convex surface, a round nylon cord hav
external diameter of said tube so as to provide a
ing a cylindrical end portion of reduced diameter
fitted into said bore and an annular shoulder at
smooth'peripheral joinder between said tube end
the outside end of said portion mounted against
and said rod, and a length of nylon cord secured 50 said rod end face, the base of said shoulder be
to said .lastenamed rod end and extending longi
tudinally therefrom in the 'hollow interior of said
tube‘,_
.
_
.
.
_
._
ing formed with an annular concavity ?tting the
convex surface of said rod end face, the ‘portion
of said rod surrounding said bore being com
p
6. ‘A circular type knitting needle comprising,
‘a' pair' of elongated slender metal rods each
55
pressed about said cord, said threads being
thereby embedded into said cord end portion and
the diameter of said rod end face being reduced
to the outside diameter of said shoulder and the
convex and concave surfaces aforesaid being
pointed at an end for engagement with the yarn
to be knitted and formed with a reduced cylin
drical portion at the other end terminating in
pressed into bearing engagement.
_
an annular shoulder and provided with a plural
ity of annular serrations, a ?exible nylon tube 60 " 11, A- circular type knitting needle comprising,
having the opposite ends thereof inserted over
a pair of knitting needles of relatively stiff form,
and compressed upon said reduced portions to
a central ?exible body portion composed of nylon
imbed said serrations into the interior wall of said
tubing, the ends of said body portion being
tube and with said tube ends in abutment with
telescopically mounted over and secured to ends
said shoulders, said rods being tapered to said 65 of said needles, and elongated ?exible elements
shoulders to provide thereat a diameter equal to
connected to said needle ends and extending
the external diameter of said tube thereby afford
therefrom interiorly of said body portion.
ing a smooth peripheral joinder between said rod
12. A knitting needle comprising, an elongated
and tube, said second-named rod ends being
slender rod of relatively stiff material formed
formed with axially extending bores, and a pair 70 with an axially extending recess opening to an
of lengths of ?exible nylon cord mounted in
end thereof, and a relatively ?exible nylon
teriorly of said tube adjacent the opposite ends
mono-filament cord having an end inserted in
thereof and secured in said rod end bores.
said recess, said rod end being compressed about
7. A knitting needle comprising, an elongated
slender rod of relatively stiff material formed 76 said cord end, said compression constituting the
256885-720
onlyineans-ror securing said ‘rod and cord against
, 19. A circular type knitting needle comprising,
a pair :of knitting needles of relatively stiff Iorm,
‘a central [flexible body portion composed of nylon
tubing, the ends of said body portion being tele
scopically engaged with ends of said needles,
said needle ‘ends being formed with "axially ex
separation.
11% »A ‘circularetype knitting needle ‘compris
mg, a pair ‘ofiroundislender rods of relatively sti?
material each tapered to a point at one end for
engagement with the yarn to be knitted, and a
flexible ‘cord ‘of plastic ‘material having its -op=
tending recesses, and elongated ?exible vrein
Tforcing ‘means secured in said recesses and ex
posite vends telescopically ‘engaged with ‘the "op;
Iposite ends'of said rods, said last-named'rod ends
tending therefrom interiorly ‘of said tubing ‘for
being ‘formed with annularperipheral ‘serrations 10 ‘supporting the walls thereof adjacent said needle
‘embedded ‘into 'sa'i’dicord-ends.
14, A knitting ‘needle comprising, an elongated
ends.
‘said 'lastén‘aniedirod end so vto secure saidrod
and cb'rd against separation.
16. lklnlittingineedle comprising, an elongated
rolil'nd slender rod’pomted'at one endéfor engage
iment'yvith the yarn to be knitted, and a flexible
'“d'er,
cord or > ‘nylon, having a tubuia'r end "telescopically
The following references are of record in the
?le of this patent:
20. -A circular type knitting needle comprising,
slender rod of relativelyvsti?f material, 'a ?exible
apair bf knitting needles of relatively stiff form,
''cord 'of Tplasti'c material ‘having one end thereof
vace‘ntral flexible body portion composed of nylon
secured to ‘one 'eh'djof said rod, one of said ends 15 tubing, the ends-of said body portion being tele
being provided ‘with a ‘bore telescopically receiv
scopically engaged with the ends of said needles.
ing the ‘other "of "said ‘ends, ‘said rod ‘end being
and ?exible elongated means connected to said
‘formed with ‘a plurality o?pe'riphe‘ral ‘serrations
needle ends and extending therefrom interiorly
v*‘ernbedd'ed into "said rcord "end, the periphery of
“of ‘said body. portion.
saidrodfadjacent toitne end‘th'ereof being tapered 20 21. In a circular type knitting needle, a pair
to .the ‘diameter "of said cord ‘so ‘as to provide a
vof knitting needles, and a central ?exible 1-body
smooth peripheral joinder between-said rod and
portion composed of mono-?lament nylon cord,
cord.
the opposite ends of said body ‘portion and one
316.~A knitting needle comprising, ‘an elongated
end of each of said needles being compressively
iroun'd'slender lrodlpoint'ed at one end for'engage 25 secured to one another ina substantially smooth
ment ‘with thefya'rn tobe knitted, sand ~a ?exible
peripheral joinder.
"cord 10': plastic ‘material having a tubular ‘end
'22. In a-circular type knitting needle, a pair of
‘telescopically receiving the ‘opposite end of said
knitting needles, and a central vflexible bodypor
rod, ‘said lastinamed ‘rod end being roughened
tion composed of vmono-?lament nylon cord, the
"and having in diameter slightly larger than the 30 opposite ends of said body portion and ioneiend
normal internal diameter of said ‘tubular end,
of each of said needles being secured to one an
whereby-"said tubular end is ‘compressed-‘against
other in asubstantially smooth peripheral joine
JESSE J. ROBBINS.
REFERENCES CITED
receiving the opposite end of said ‘rod, said last
l'n'am‘ed rod end being "roughened and having ‘a 40
diameter slightly larger than the normal internal
‘diameter of ‘said tubular end, whereby said tubu
lar end 'is compressed vagainst ‘said rlastename'd
Number
‘rod end so as-to'secu-resaid rod and cord against
separation.
’
_
“17'. ‘A'circ'ular'type ‘knitting-‘needle comprising,
UNITED ‘STATES PATENTS
45
apair or knitting ‘needles of relatively-‘stiff form,
Walls thereof ‘against ‘collapse adjacent the join
"deritosaid needle ends.
1-8. A circular ‘type knitting needle comprising,
*a pair of knitting ‘needles er vvrel'atii'felyTs'tii‘f ~1rorm,
a central ?exible body portion composed-of nylon
55
"Date
'Soderberg ________ __ Apr. 19, 1901
‘774,716
‘Barrett _______ _-,____ Nov. 8, 1904
1,286,125
Sessions .____,______ Nov. '26., 1918
“1,960,133
Aiva'zian ________ __ May 22,1934
‘1,989,352 I
Davis ____________ __ Jan. 29, 1935
-‘a central flexible body'portionlcom'posed of nylon
1,999,691
tubing, the ends of said body portion being tele
2,043,958
scopically engaged with the ends of saidneedle's,
‘2,045,268
andelon'gated means extending ‘from ‘said needle 50 2,059,968
*en‘ds 'interiorl-y "of said tubing 1 for supporting the
Name
671,712
Graham __________ __ Apr. 30, 1935
En‘gél ____________ __ June 9, 1936
Graham _________ ._ June 23, "1936
'Le'Febvre ________ __ Nov. ,3, 1936
2,061,282
Leboff > __________ __ ‘NOV. '17, 1936
2,096,483
‘2,230,495
2,274,255
"Cook _____________ __ ‘Oct. 19, 1937
Kohlman __________ __ Feb. 4, 1941
Pierce ,___,_ _______ __ "Feb. 24, 1942
‘2,353,875
Burnh'am _______ __ June 18,1944
vit'ubi'n'g, the ends of vsaid bodyipertionrbeing tele
scopically engaged 2with ‘the ‘ends-10f said ‘needles
Number
and elongatedineansv'connected to ‘said 'needle
215,642
‘ends anasxtending therefrom Iinteri'orl'y ‘of vsaid 60
392,667
body portion.
FOREIGN PATENTS
Country
Date
Switzerland _-_~-»__V_1-_ July 15,1941
Great Britain ___>-_-_-1»_ May 25,1933