U.S. patent application number 11/188608 was filed with the patent office on 2006-02-09 for knitted surface fastener.
Invention is credited to Mitsutoshi Ishihara, Eiji Nakayama, Mitsuhisa Okawa.
Application Number | 20060026998 11/188608 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35462449 |
Filed Date | 2006-02-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060026998 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Okawa; Mitsuhisa ; et
al. |
February 9, 2006 |
KNITTED SURFACE FASTENER
Abstract
The invention provides a knitted surface fastener made of warp
knitted fabric, which eliminates necessity of resin coating for
fixing a base portion of a pile loop and fusion between yarns,
securing flexibility and ventilation proper to knitted fabric
wherein, in a base fabric of a surface fastener, wales are formed
with at least chain knitting yarns and the respective wales are
connected including at least weft in-laid yarns, engaging element
loops are formed of first and second engaging element forming yarns
striding over two or more wales and the respective engaging element
forming yarns are knitted into at least three adjoining courses on
a same wale in a zigzag shape, at this time, the first and second
engaging element forming yarns are knitted into adjoining same
stitches of at least two or more courses of the same wale in the
zigzag shape.
Inventors: |
Okawa; Mitsuhisa;
(Toyama-ken, JP) ; Nakayama; Eiji; (Toyama-ken,
JP) ; Ishihara; Mitsutoshi; (Toyama-ken, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Michael S. Leonard;Everest Intellectual Property Law Group
P.O. Box 708
Northbrook
IL
60065
US
|
Family ID: |
35462449 |
Appl. No.: |
11/188608 |
Filed: |
July 25, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
66/195 |
Current CPC
Class: |
D10B 2501/0632 20130101;
Y02P 70/633 20151101; D04B 21/10 20130101; Y02P 70/62 20151101;
A44B 18/0023 20130101; D04B 21/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
066/195 |
International
Class: |
D04B 21/00 20060101
D04B021/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Aug 6, 2004 |
JP |
2004-231371 |
Claims
1. A knitted surface fastener made of warp knitted fabric in which
a base fabric is warp knitted while plural engaging element loops
of at least any one of male and female are formed on a surface
thereof, the knitted surface fastener comprising: warp knitting
yarns for forming wales; and connecting yarns for connecting the
respective wales, wherein the engaging element loops are formed of
engaging element forming yarns striding over two or more wales, the
engaging element forming yarns include adjoining first and second
engaging element forming yarns and each of the engaging element
forming yarns is knitted over at least three adjoining courses on a
same wale in a zigzag shape, and the first and second engaging
element forming yarns are knitted into adjoining same stitches at
least in two or more courses of a same wale in a zigzag shape.
2. The knitted surface fastener according to claim 1, wherein each
of the warp knitting yarns is a chain knitting yarn and each of the
connecting yarns is a weft in-laid yarn.
3. The knitted surface fastener according to claim 1, wherein the
first and second engaging element forming yarns are knitted in a
doubled manner in a same wale.
4. The knitted surface fastener according to claim 1, wherein the
first and second engaging element forming yarns are knitted in a
same wale such that they intersect each other.
5. The knitted surface fastener according to claim 1, wherein the
engaging element loops are disposed in a staggered fashion.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a surface fastener obtained
by warp knitting and more particularly to a knitted surface
fastener that secures flexibility characteristic to knitted fabric
without necessity of back coating.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] In a surface fastener made of fiber, engaging element
forming yarns are woven or knitted in so as to form a plurality of
loops on a surface of a base fabric at a same time when the base
fabric is woven or knitted. Each of the loops serves as a female
engaging element as it is or it forms a hook-like or
mushroom-shaped male engaging element by cutting a part thereof. In
order to prevent the engaging element from loosing out of the base
fabric in the surface fastener obtained by weaving or knitting, a
surface opposite to the surface having the engaging elements is
coated with resin or so-called back coating is performed so as to
bond the base fabric with the engaging elements as disclosed in for
example, Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 2563369.
[0005] This back coating can prevent the engaging elements from
loosing out of the base fabric. However, it is usually necessary to
apply resin over an entire surface of the base fabric in order to
prevent the engaging elements from loosing out. As a result, the
entire base fabric hardens so that gaps between stitches or weave
patterns are covered with resin except the aforementioned Japanese
Utility Model Publication No. 2563369 disclosing a net-like base
fabric, and as a consequence, ventilation becomes poor. Thus, a
surface fastener which prevents the engaging elements from loosing
out without necessity of back coating and at the same time, secures
flexibility particular to knitted or woven fabric has been demanded
strongly.
[0006] For example according to Japanese Patent Application
Laid-Open No. 63-200705, knitting yarn strides over wales of first
to third chain knitting yarns so as to form a loop on a same
course. More specifically, after yarn for forming an engaging
element is knitted in a zigzag shape into three courses adjoining
each other on a second wale, it moves to an adjoining first wale
while forming a loop. Then, it is knitted into the three courses in
the zigzag shape and returns to the original second wale while
making a loop and there, the three courses are knitted in the
zigzag shape and the knitting stage moves to the adjoining first
wale and this pattern is repeated.
[0007] While the yarn for forming the engaging elements is knitted
into the three courses on the first and second wales in the zigzag
shape, a second yarn for forming engaging elements is operated in a
same way between the second and third wales so as to form a loop.
Further, according to the Japanese Utility Model Publication No.
2563369, a heat shrinkage ratio of a warp yarn of the base fabric
and loop yarn is set higher than that of a weft yarn in order to
prevent the engaging elements from loosing out, and thereby the
loop yarn is fixed by heat shrinkage. By adopting such a structure,
the loop is fixed to the base fabric without back coating. However,
plural loop yarns are not knitted into the same course on the same
wale formed with the chain knitting yarns but a single loop yarn is
knitted into each course and therefore, the engaging elements are
likely to loose out.
[0008] Likewise, Japanese Patent Application No. 2003-274704 has
proposed a warp knitted surface fastener made of fibers equipped
with a knitting construction in which a loop is fixed to a base
fabric securely without necessity of back coating or use of any
particular heat shrinkage yarn.
[0009] According to the invention of the Japanese Patent
Application No. 2003-274704, a loop is formed across two or more
wales with a pile knitting yarn for forming a pile loop and after
that, the pile knitting yarn is entangled with each stitch of
adjoining three or more courses on the wales continuously so as to
form a stitch. Among the stitches of the pile knitting yarn formed
when the pile knitting yarn is entangled with each of the adjoining
three or more courses, at least one or more stitches located in a
middle are formed with a closed loop. Thus, if the stitch at a loop
end formed across an adjoining wale is of an open loop, even if
that loop is pulled strongly, the stitches formed with the
aforementioned closed loop in the middle is tightened from both
directions, the stitch is fixed tightly so that it is not pulled
out. As a result, the base portion of the pile loop is firmly fixed
not only to a base fabric having a high density knitting structure
but also to a net-like base fabric, and even if no resin coating is
performed or adjoining yarns are not fused together, prevention of
the loosing out of the engaging element is carried out
securely.
[0010] Although, according to the Japanese Patent Application No.
2003-274704, the loop yarn is securely prevented from loosing out
because the loop forming yarn is entangled with three or more
courses adjoining a chain knitting yarn constituting the wale and a
stitch located in the middle of those stitches is entangled with a
stitch of chain knitting yarn with a closed loop, the stitch formed
with the closed loop not only increases a thickness of the base
fabric due to its stitch structure but also increases its hardness,
thereby likely damaging flexibility required for knitted
fabric.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011] Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to
provide a knitted surface fastener which eliminates necessity of
back coating and fusion between yarns, prevents a loop yarn from
loosing out and maintains flexibility proper to knitted fabric.
[0012] In order to achieve the above-described object, there is
provided a surface fastener made of warp knitted fabric in which a
base fabric is warp knitted and, at a same time, plural engaging
element loops of at least any one of male and female are formed on
a surface, wherein the surface fastener comprises warp knitting
yarns for forming wales and connecting yarns for connecting the
respective wales, wherein each of the engaging element loop is
formed of engaging element forming yarns striding over two or more
wales, the engaging element forming yarns includes adjoining first
and second engaging element forming yarns and each of the engaging
element forming yarns is knitted over at least three courses
adjoining on a same wale in a zigzag shape, and adjoining first and
second engaging element forming yarns are knitted into at least two
courses of a same wale at a same time.
[0013] Although a preferred embodiment of each of the warp knitting
yarns is a chain knitting yarn and a preferred embodiment of each
of the connecting yarns is a weft in-laid yarn, it is permissible
to use a tricot knitting yarn as other embodiment of the warp
knitting yarn. In this case, although it is permissible not to use
any connecting yarn, use of the weft in-laid yarn is preferable
because it stabilizes a configuration of a knitted product.
[0014] The first and second engaging element forming yarns may be
knitted in a doubled manner in a same wale and the first and second
engaging element forming yarns may be knitted in a same wale such
that they intersect each other. Further, the engaging element loops
are preferred to be disposed in a staggered fashion. Each of the
engaging element forming yarns is constituted of multi-filament or
mono-filament independently or it is permissible to knit both of
them at a same time so that they are mixed.
[0015] In the knitted surface fastener of the present invention,
the first and second engaging element forming yarns are formed so
as to stride between a second wale and a third wale adjoining each
other interposing a row of a first wale between them and inserted
through stitches of foundation yarns of three or more courses
adjoining on a same wale in a zigzag shape, and the engaging
element forming yarn is knitted together with the adjacent engaging
element forming yarn for forming an engaging element over several
courses at a same time. As a consequence, the engaging element can
be prevented from loosing out like the knitted surface fastener of
the Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 63-200705. The
knitted surface fastener of the Japanese Utility Model Publication
No. 2563369 is not worth being compared with the present invention.
Further, if compared with the Japanese Patent Application No.
2003-274704, because the engaging element forming yarns are knitted
through the stitches of the foundation yarns in the zigzag shape, a
thickness of the base fabric does not increase and thus, as for its
tactile feeling, flexibility proper to the knitted fabric is
maintained.
[0016] If the first and second engaging element forming yarns are
knitted in a doubled manner into the same course on the same wale,
since the respective engaging element forming yarns make contact
with each other, they deviate less due to application of friction
force and thus, they are unlikely to loose out. If the first and
second engaging element forming yarns are knitted such that they
intersect each other, since they restrict a movement of each other
at an intersection point, they are also unlikely to loose out from
the base fabric.
[0017] By disposing the engaging elements on the surface of the
base fabric in a staggered fashion, residual stress at loop
formation positions is distributed equally both in warp and weft
directions so as to maintain a plane shape of an entire product. If
the engaging elements are disposed uniformly in the warp direction
or weft direction or in a bias direction on the surface of the base
fabric, directivity is generated in residual stress at the
formation positions of the engaging elements, whereby a product is
entirely wound in a single direction.
[0018] As each of the engaging element forming yarns, the
multi-filament or mono-filament is used. If the multi-filament is
used independently, a female surface fastener is produced and if
the mono-filament is used independently, male or female surface
fastener is produced. In any way, if a loop shape is maintained, it
can be used as a female surface fastener. In case of the
multi-filament, usually, after loops are formed, loops of each
filament are separated by napping or other similar way and the
loops are directed in multiple ways. On the other hand, usually, a
male engaging element is formed in a hook shape or mushroom shape.
For that purpose, hooks are formed by cutting out side portions of
the loops knitted into the base fabric, or mushroom-shaped male
engaging elements are formed by cutting out top ends of the loops
and fusing the ends as described in the Japanese Patent Application
Laid-Open No. 63-200705. To mix male and female engaging elements,
usually, loops made of the multi-filament and mono-filament are
knitted and mixed such that they are distributed over the base
fabric.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] FIG. 1 is an entire structure diagram of a knitted surface
fastener according to a first embodiment of the present
invention;
[0020] FIG. 2 is a knitting structure diagram of first and second
engaging element forming yarns excluding a base fabric structure of
the same surface fastener;
[0021] FIG. 3 is a 3-dimensional diagram schematically showing part
of the knitting construction of the same surface fastener;
[0022] FIG. 4 is an entire structure diagram of a knitted surface
fastener according to a second embodiment of the present
invention;
[0023] FIG. 5 is a knitting structure diagram of first and second
engaging element forming yarns excluding a base fabric structure of
the same surface fastener;
[0024] FIG. 6 is a 3-dimensional diagram schematically showing part
of the knitting construction of the same surface fastener;
[0025] FIG. 7 is a knitting structure diagram of first and second
engaging element forming yarns excluding a base fabric structure of
a knitted surface fastener according to a third embodiment of the
present invention;
[0026] FIG. 8 is an entire knitting structure diagram of a knitted
surface fastener according to a fourth embodiment of the present
invention; and
[0027] FIG. 9 is a knitting structure diagram of first and second
engaging element forming yarns excluding a base fabric structure of
the same surface fastener.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0028] A surface fastener of the present invention is a warp
knitted surface fastener made of fiber, which has a plurality of
engaging elements on a single surface. For the engaging elements,
while a base fabric is knitted, loops are formed across a mandrel
disposed in a knitting section of a knitting machine such that they
stride over two or more wales. In case of a female surface
fastener, the loops composed of multi-filaments are napped so as to
separate each filament and directed in multiple directions. In case
of a male surface fastener, an end side of each loop formed with
mono-filament is cut out so as to form a hook. After these
treatments are performed, an entire shape of the surface fastener
is fixed by implementing thermal setting. In case of a male
engaging element, depending on a case, a top of a loop may be cut
out and that cut portion is melted by heat so as to form a
mushroom-shaped expanded structure. In a following example, a male
knitted surface fastener having hook-shaped male engaging elements
will be described. Although the following example uses a chain
knitting yarn as a warp knitting yarn, the present invention is not
restricted to this but it is permissible to use a tricot knitting
yarn.
[0029] Hereinafter, a typical embodiment of the present invention
will be described further in detail with reference to accompanying
drawings.
First Embodiment
[0030] FIG. 1 shows an entire structure diagram of the male knitted
surface fastener according to a first embodiment of the present
invention. FIG. 2 shows an independent structure of engaging
element forming yarns in the first embodiment. FIG. 3 schematically
shows a knitting construction of an entire surface fastener.
Although in FIG. 3, sizes of composition yarns are changed or
stitches and its densities are expressed extremely large in order
to facilitate understanding, actually, the sizes of the composition
yarns are arbitrary. Further, since the densities of the stitches
are high, gaps formed between stitches are extremely small.
[0031] A male surface fastener 100 of this embodiment is composed
of a base fabric 110 and hooks 120 protruded from an entire surface
of the base fabric 110. The base fabric 110 is constituted of chain
knitting yarns 111 having 1-0/0-1 structure which forms a wale W,
and weft in-laid yarns 112 having 0-0/5-5 structure which run in a
zigzag shape across five wales W and are inserted into stitches of
the chain knitting yarns 111. For each of the chain knitting yarns
111 and the weft in-laid yarns 112, usually, multi-filament is
used. However, this embodiment is not restricted to it but it is
permissible to use a textured yarn, a twisted yarn or a spun yarn.
According to this embodiment, at a same time when the base fabric
110 is knitted, engaging element forming yarns 121 composed of
mono-filament are knitted into the same base fabric so as to form
engaging element loops 122. Side portions of the loops 122 are cut
out during knitting or after knitting so as to form the hooks
120.
[0032] According to this embodiment, the engaging element forming
yarns 121 are constituted of first and second engaging element
forming yarns 121a, 121b. As for knitting structures of the first
and second engaging element forming yarns 121a, 121b, as shown in
FIG. 2, the first engaging element forming yarn 121a is
2-2/2-2/1-1/2-2/1-1/2-2/0-0/1-1/1-1/0-0/1-1/0-0/1-1/0-0/2-2/1-1 and
the second engaging element forming yarn 121b is
1-1/2-2/0-0/1-1/0-0/0-0/1-1/0-0/1-1/0-0/2-2/1-1/2-2/1-1/2-2/2-2.
[0033] Referring to FIG. 3, when viewing a certain wale (first wale
W1) in a center, after the first and second engaging element
forming yarns 121a, 121b are knitted into the first wale W1 in a
zigzag shape, they are brought to second and third wales W2, W3
adjoining the first wale W1 on right and left thereof and knitted
into the respective wales W2, W3 in the zigzag shape. Next, they
return to the original first wale W1 while forming engaging element
loops 122 and knitted into the first wale W1 in the zigzag shape
and this pattern is repeated. At this time, part of the first and
second engaging element forming yarns 121a, 121b knitted into the
first wale W1 in the zigzag shape are knitted into plural common
courses C3 to C6 in the zigzag shape and their remainders are
separately knitted into different courses C1, C2; C7 to C10 on the
first wale W1.
[0034] More specifically, the first engaging element forming yarn
121a is (1) inserted into a sinker loop of a chain stitch formed on
a course C1 on the same wale W1 and after that, jumps a first chain
stitch of a next course C2 and inserted into a sinker loop of a
chain stitch of a next course C3 with its direction changed. (2)
Subsequently, it is inserted through sinker loops of respective
chain stitches of adjoining four courses C4 to C7 in the zigzag
shape and then inserted into the sinker loop of the chain stitch
formed in the same course C7 on the wale W2 adjoining on the right
side in FIG. 1. While it moves to this adjoining wale W2, it
strides over a mandrel (not shown) so as to form an engaging
element loop 122. After moving to the adjoining wale W2, the first
engaging element forming yarn 121a is (3) changed in direction and
inserted into a first sinker loop of a chain stitch formed in a
next course C8 adjacent to the course C7 on the same wale W2. (4)
Subsequently, it strides over a first chain stitch formed in a
course C9 and inserted into a sinker loop of a chain stitch of a
next course C10. (5) Subsequently, it is inserted into each sinker
loop of respective chain stitches formed in five courses C11 to C15
in the zigzag shape and (6) returned to the course 15 on the
original wale W1 while forming an engaging element loop 122, and
inserted into a sinker loop of chain stitch formed in the same
course C15, and then, (7) turned over and inserted into a sinker
loop of a chain stitch formed in a next course C16 adjacent like
the above-described (1). After that, this pattern is repeated.
[0035] On the other hand, the second engaging element forming yarn
121b is (1)' located on the same course C1 received the
above-described operation of the (1) by the first engaging element
forming yarn 121a and it is inserted into a sinker loop of a chain
stitch on the wale W3 adjoining on the left side in FIG. 1 in an
opposite direction to the insertion direction of the first engaging
element forming yarn 121a. (2)' Its direction is turned over and it
is inserted into each sinker loop of chain stitches of the next
courses C2, C3 in the zigzag shape and (3)' moves to the wale WI
adjoining on the right side in FIG. 1 while forming the engaging
element loop 122 and it is inserted into a sinker loop of a chain
stitch of the course C3 on the same wale W1. After that, (4)' it is
inserted through continuous courses C4 and C5 on the same wale W1
in the zigzag shape and then, (5)' it strides over a first chain
stitch of the next course C6 and is inserted into a sinker loop
formed on the course C7. (6)' The second engaging element forming
yarn is inserted through respective sinker loops of chain stitches
formed on the courses C8 to C11 in the zigzag shape and (7)'
returned to the course C11 on the original wale W3 while forming
the engaging element loop 122 and after it is inserted into a
sinker loop of a chain stitch of the same course C11, it is
inserted through respective sinker loops of chain stitches of the
four adjoining courses C12 to C15 in the zigzag shape. Then, (8)'
it strides over a first chain stitch. The procedure returns to the
operation of (1)' and the above-described pattern is repeated.
[0036] Here, the first engaging element forming yarn 121a strides
over a chain stitch in the courses C1, C2 on the wale W1 and in the
courses C8, C9 on the wale W2 and is inserted into each stitch in
the next courses C3, C10 in the zigzag shape. The second engaging
element forming yarn 121b strides over a chain stitch in the
courses C5, C6 on the wale W1 and in the courses C15, C16 on the
wale W3 and is inserted into each stitch in the next courses C7, C1
in the zigzag shape. The reason is that when the knitting
construction of each of the engaging element forming yarns 121a,
121b is composed of repetition of even course number (16 courses)
and the first and second engaging element forming yarns 121a, 121b
are knitted in parallel in the zigzag shape, it needs to stride
over two chain stitches in every repetition unit as described
above, in order to dispose the engaging element loops 122 formed
with each of the engaging element forming yarns 121a, 121b in a
staggered fashion and knit the first and second engaging element
forming yarns 121a, 121b in parallel in the zigzag shape. The warp
knitted fabric in which the engaging element loops 122 are knitted
is subjected to thermal setting at a same time or after the
knitting and at a same time, side portions of the engaging element
loops 122 are cut out so as to form the hooks 120.
[0037] In the warp knitted surface fastener 100 of this embodiment
obtained in this way, the first engaging element forming yarn 121a
and the second engaging element forming yarn 121b are knitted into
each wale and the hooks 120 formed of the first engaging element
forming yarn 121a and the second engaging element forming yarn 121b
are alternately disposed in a warp knitting direction between wales
disposed so as to sandwich a wale between them. According to this
embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, because the first and second
engaging element forming yarns 121a, 121b are knitted into stitches
in the zigzag shape on adjoining three or more courses of the chain
knitting yarn 111 on the same wale with part of the courses shared
under 1-1/0-0 warp in-laid structure, in addition to that the first
and second engaging element forming yarns 121a, 121b knitted in a
doubled manner into adjoining same courses in the zigzag shape are
constructed under such an zigzag-like structure which disables the
yarn from being pulled out easily and that the engaging element
forming yarns 121a, 121b are doubled and disposed in the zigzag
shape, the first and second engaging element forming yarns 121a,
121b restrict motions thereof in a yarn direction. As a result, the
respective engaging element forming yarns 121a, 121b become very
difficult to be pulled out separately. Consequently, even if a
pulling force is applied to the hook 120, it is not pulled out
easily. Further, because a surface of the base fabric 110 on an
opposite side to a surface in which the hooks 120 are formed is not
coated with back coating material such as synthetic resin, the
thickness of the base fabric 110 is not increased and flexibility
and ventilation proper to knitted fabric are secured.
Second Embodiment
[0038] FIG. 4 is a structure drawing showing an entire structure of
a knitted surface fastener 100 according to a second embodiment of
the present invention. According to this embodiment also, a base
fabric 110 is composed of chain knitting yarns 111 having 1-0/0-1
structure forming wales W and weft in-laid yarns 112 having 0-0/5-5
structure running across five wales W in the zigzag shape, each of
the weft in-laid yarn being inserted into stitches of the chain
knitting yarns 111. At a same time when the base fabric 110 is
formed, loops are formed by knitting an engaging element forming
yarns 121 into the same base fabric. A side portion of each of the
loops is cut out during or after knitting so as to form a hook 120.
FIG. 5 is a knitting structure drawing of two engaging element
forming yarns 121a, 121b excluding the knitting structure of the
base fabric 110. FIG. 6 schematically shows a knitting construction
of a knitted surface fastener of this embodiment. Although sizes of
knitting yarns shown in FIG. 6, particularly sizes of the
composition yarns 111, 112 of the base fabric 110 and the first and
second engaging element forming yarns 121a, 121b forming loops are
changed extremely and gaps between stitches are enlarged by
reducing their knitting density, there is not so much difference
between the sizes of the composition yarns 111, 112 of the base
fabric 110 and the sizes of the first and second engaging element
forming yarns 121a, 121b and the gaps between the knitting yarns
are much smaller.
[0039] According to this embodiment also, the engaging element
forming yarns 121 are composed of the two first and second engaging
element forming yarns 121a, 121b. As for the knitting structures of
the first and second engaging element forming yarns 121a, 121b, as
shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the first engaging element forming yarn 121a
is 1-1/2-2/0-0/1-1/0-0/1-1/0-0/2-2/1-1/0-0 and the second engaging
element forming yarn 121b is
1-1/0-0/1-1/0-0/2-2/1-1/2-2/1-1/2-2/0-0. In this embodiment, what
is largely different from the first embodiment is that, although
according to the first embodiment when the first and second
engaging element forming yarns 121a, 121b are knitted into the same
wale in the zigzag shape, they are knitted in parallel such that
they do not intersect each other, according to the second
embodiment when the first and second engaging element forming yarns
121a, 121b are knitted in the same wale in the zigzag shape, they
are intersected with each other at each stitch.
[0040] When a repetition unit of the knitting structure is of even
courses, even if the first and second engaging element forming
yarns 121a, 121b are knitted in the zigzag shape by intersecting
them with each other, engaging element loops 122 can be disposed
equally over an entire surface of the base fabric 110 in a
staggered fashion. When the first and second engaging element
forming yarns 121a, 121b are knitted in the zigzag shape so as to
intersect each other on a same wale, even if a strong pulling force
is applied to the loops, the first and second engaging element
forming yarns 121a, 121b restrict motions of mating yarn at each
intersection point and therefore, they are not easily pulled
out.
Third Embodiment
[0041] FIG. 7 shows a third embodiment of a knitted surface
fastener 100 of the present invention. FIG. 7 shows only knitting
structures of first and second engaging element forming yarns 121a,
121b while the knitting structure of a base fabric 110 is omitted
because its is same as that of the first embodiment. According to
this embodiment, the knitting structure of the first engaging
element forming yarn 121a is 0-0/1-1/0-0/2-2/1-1/2-2 and the
knitting structure of the second engaging element forming yarn 121b
is 1-1/2-2/0-0/1-1/0-0/2-2. That is, the first and second engaging
element forming yarns 121a, 121b are deviated by a single course in
a course direction and inserted in a doubled manner in the zigzag
shape into a sinker loop of each chain stitch formed in adjoining
three courses on a same wale.
[0042] Therefore, the first and second engaging element forming
yarns 121a, 121b are inserted into chain stitches of adjoining two
courses in a double manner in the zigzag shape on a wale and after
that, they move to wales adjoining on right and left of the wale
while forming the engaging element loops 122. Subsequently, they
are inserted into chain stitches of two courses in a doubled manner
in the zigzag shape and return to the original wale while forming
the engaging element loops 122. This pattern is repeated. Thus,
according to this embodiment, each of the engaging element loops
122 is formed for every three courses and if compared with the
first and second embodiments, a density of the engaging elements
increases and the engagement strength is intensified. Of course,
the loops are difficult to be pulled out and necessity of back
coating does not exist, so that flexibility and ventilation proper
to knitted fabric are secured like the first and second
embodiments.
Fourth Embodiment
[0043] FIGS. 8 and 9 show a fourth embodiment of the present
invention. FIG. 8 shows an entire knitting structure of a knitted
surface fastener and FIG. 9 shows knitting structures of first and
second engaging element forming yarns 121a, 121b. A base fabric 110
is constituted of chain knitting yarns 111 and first and second
weft in-laid yarns 112a, 112b. The knitting structure of each of
the chain knitting yarns 111 is 1-0/0-1, constituting wales of the
base fabric 110. According to this embodiment, the chain knitting
yarn 111 skips every other needle in a course C direction (right
and left direction in each drawing) over entire knitting yarns so
as to form the wale W.
[0044] The knitting structure of the first weft in-laid yarn 112a
is 0-0/1-1/0-0/1-1/0-0/3-3/2-2/3-3/2-2/3-3 and the knitting
structure of the second weft in-laid yarn 112b is
3-3/2-2/3-3/2-2/3-3/0-0/1-1/0-0/1-1/0-0. As understood from FIG. 1
and these knitting structures, the base fabric 110 of this
embodiment is formed into a net shape having large gaps surrounded
in a square shape by the first and second weft in-laid yarns 112a,
112b inserted into the chain knitting yarns 111 constituting two
rows of wales and sinker loops of chain stitches of every five
courses composed by the chain knitting yarns 111 alternately.
[0045] On the other hand, a knitting structure of the first
engaging element forming yarn 121a is
3-3/2-2/3-3/2-2/3-3/0-0/1-1/0-0/1-1/0-0/1-1/1-1/0-0/1-1/0-0/3-3/2-2/3-3/2-
-2/3-3 and a knitting structure of the second engaging element
forming yarn 121b is
3-3/2-2/3-3/2-2/3-3/2-2/2-2/3-3/2-2/3-3/0-0/1-1/0-0/1-1/0-0/1-1/1-1/0-0/1-
-1/0-0.
[0046] That is, after the first engaging element forming yarn 121a
is knitted in the zigzag shape into the sinker loops of the chain
stitches of adjoining four courses C2 to C5 on a wale W1, it is
inserted into the sinker loop of the chain stitch formed in the
course C5 on a wale W2 knitted by skipping a single needle in a
direction of the course C while forming an engaging element loop
122 and next, inserted in the zigzag shape into sinker loops of
chain stitches formed in the adjoining four courses C6 to C9 on the
same wale W2 and then, inserted into a sinker loop of a chain
stitch of a course 11 by skipping a single chain stitch of the
adjoining single course C10. Subsequently, it is inserted in the
zigzag shape into sinker loops of the chain stitches formed in
following three courses C12 to C14. This first engaging element
forming yarn 121a moves to the same course C14 of the original wale
W1 while forming the engaging element loop 122 and after it is
inserted into a sinker loop of a chain stitch formed there, it is
inserted into sinker loops of chain stitches formed in four
adjoining courses C15 to C18 in the zigzag shape and after a single
chain stitch of an adjoining course C19 is skipped, it is inserted
into a sinker loop of a chain stitch formed in a course 20. After
that, this pattern is repeated.
[0047] In the course C2 on the wale W2 formed by skipping a single
needle in the direction of the course of the wale W1, the second
engaging element forming yarn 121b is knitted in the zigzag shape
into sinker loops of chain stitches of adjoining five courses C2 to
C6 like the first engaging element forming yarn 121a and then, by
skipping a single chain stitch of the next course C7, it is
inserted into a sinker loop of the chain stitch of the course C8.
Subsequently, the second engaging element forming yarn 121b is
inserted into sinker loops of the chain stitches formed in
adjoining three courses C9 to C11 in the zigzag shape. The second
engaging element forming yarn 121b after being inserted into the
course C11, is moved to the same course C11 of the wale W3 formed
by skipping a single needle to right in the course direction in
FIG. 9 while forming the engaging element loop 122, and inserted
into a sinker loop of the chain stitch formed there. After that, it
is inserted into sinker loops of the chain stitches formed in
adjoining four courses C12 to C15 in the zigzag shape and, by
skipping a single chain stitch of the course C16, inserted into the
sinker loop of the chain stitch formed on the adjoining course C17.
Subsequently, it is inserted into sinker loops of the chain
stitches formed in the two courses C18, C19. Here, the second
engaging element forming yarn 121b is returned to the same course
C19 in the original wale W2 while forming the engaging element loop
122 and inserted into the sinker loop of the chain stitch formed in
the same course C19. After that, this pattern is repeated.
[0048] According to the fourth embodiment, the engaging element
loops 122 are located between two wales of a net-like base fabric
110 having square gaps and formed in a staggered fashion along the
first and second weft in-laid yarns 112a, 112b corresponding to the
weft yarn. Thus, each of the engaging element loops 122 never
transverses the square gaps and therefore, even after the surface
fastener 100 is formed, a net-like cloth shape is maintained.
Because the first and second engaging element forming yarns 121a,
121b knitted in the same wale in the zigzag shape have many courses
and the first and second engaging element forming yarns 121a, 121b
are knitted in a wale direction (vertical direction in the drawing)
into each sinker loop of the respective chain stitches formed in
five courses in the zigzag shape by skipping a single gap, such
that they intersect the sinker loop, even if a strong pulling force
is applied to each engaging element loop 122, they restrict a
movement of each mating one and as a consequence, even if no back
coating is performed on a surface on an opposite side to a surface
in which the engaging element loop 122 is formed, the first and
second engaging element forming yarns 121a, 121b are never pulled
out of the base fabric 110.
[0049] Although the first and second engaging element forming yarns
121a, 121b of the above-mentioned embodiment are all composed of
mono-filaments and form male surface fasteners in which hooks are
formed by cutting out side portions thereof after forming the
engaging element loops 122, it is permissible to use multi-filament
all for the first and second engaging element forming yarns 121a,
121b and produce a female surface fastener by napping the formed
engaging element loops to separate individual filaments and then
executing thermal setting with multi-directivity given. Further, it
is also permissible to use the mono-filament for any one of the
first and second engaging element forming yarns 121a, 121b while
using the multi-filament for the other one of the engaging element
forming yarns 121b, 121a to form each engaging element loop 122 and
then produce a male/female mixing surface fastener in which hooks
and loops are mixed by cutting the engaging element loops 122
composed of the mono-filament. Although not shown, it is possible
to use a tricot knitting yarn as a composition knitting yarn of the
base fabric 110.
* * * * *