Paul B Demarco

US Patent:

61582506, Dec 12, 2000

Filed:

Feb 14, 2000

Appl. No.:

9/503317

Inventors:

Edward Camp Tibbals - Thomasville NC
Karl Robert Leinsing - Raleigh NC
Paul Brad DeMarco - Charlotte NC

Assignee:

Novacept - Palo Alto CA

International Classification:

D04B 700

US Classification:

66 62

Abstract:

A flat bed knitting apparatus and method of knitting are provided in which needles movably carried in opposing needle beds are selected and actuated for movement between various positions required for stitch formation independently of any other needles while completing the formation of a stitch on each selected needle prior to the actuation of the next needle in sequence and while varying the length of needle movement to its stitch forming position as required for uniform stitches throughout the fabric and in which a covered spandex yarn is fed to the needles while varying the tension thereof for uniform stitch formation. The needle selection and actuation further includes tapering the knit fabric by transferring stitches from selected needles in one needle bed onto adjacent needles in the other needle bed so that the knit fabric formed is a tapered, tubular knit product.