William T Cothran

US Patent:

43410979, Jul 27, 1982

Filed:

Jul 21, 1980

Appl. No.:

6/170698

Inventors:

Edward L. Cassidy - Burlington NC
William B. Cothran - Burlington NC
Sam C. Safrit - Pfafftown NC

Assignee:

Kayser-Roth Hosiery, Inc. - Burlington NC

International Classification:

A41B 1102

US Classification:

66187

Abstract:

A reinforced toe with varying density is provided for hosiery articles such as sheer stockings, pantyhose and the like so that there is no sharply contrasting line of demarcation between the sheer fabric in the foot portion and the reinforced fabric in the toe pocket and while providing full reinforcement in the area of the toe pocket at the ends of the toes where the need is greatest. The reinforced toe is produced by knitting a reinforcing yarn in plated relationship with the body yarn in spaced-apart courses in a first group of courses adjacent the sheer foot and knitting the reinforcing yarn in more closely spaced courses of a second group of courses adjacent the closed end of the toe pocket. This arrangement provides a gradual or stepped transition from the sheer fabric of the foot to the relatively heavy fabric at the closed end of the toe pocket and provides the reinforced toe with varying or increasing fabric density from the foot to the closed end thereof.