Method and band for making quick overlockings with an improved alignment

Abstract

 A method of making quick overlockings comprises the steps of manufacturing a band with at least one course of the knitted fabric made of an elastic yarn for producing a fold along said one course; folding back the band along the fold for juxtaposing it with a knitted element to which it is to be applied; sewing knitted element and edge close to the elastic course. In addition, in accordance with the invention, a band for quick overlocking is provided for being folded back to form at least one fold (15) along which it is to be sewn to a knitted element (12) to be trimmed therewith. At the fold position, the band is formed with a course (14) of knitted stitches made of an elastic yarn so as to promote folding.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a method and a band for carrying out quick overlocking of knitted fabric edges.

[0002] In the knitting field the so-called quick-overlocking technique is known, according to which the edges of knitted articles of garment are finished by sewing appropriate knitted bands or edging ribbons thereon.

[0003] For quick application, the bands are often made up of a tubular portion which is folded along its extension so as to form a loop inside which the edge to be trimmed is received. Edge and band are then sewn together.

[0004] One of the critical points in known embodiments is the junction line between the folded back band and the knitted element. The quality of this junction line makes the final result more or less similar to a true overlocking or "hooking-up" carried out stitch by stitch.

[0005] For instance, a too rounded fold of the band at the junction point makes it apparent that there is a mere seam, the effect being far away from a true hooking-up of stitches.

[0006] It is a general object of the present invention to eliminate the above-mentioned drawbacks by providing a method and a band for carrying out quick overlocking which leads to an aesthetic result more similar to that of a true hooking-up of stitches one by one than in the embodiments of the known art.

[0007] In view of the above object, in accordance with the invention, a method of carrying out quick overlockings has been devised which comprises the steps of manufacturing a band with at least one course of knitted fabric made of an elastic yarn for producing a fold along said one course; folding the band back along the fold for juxtaposing it with a knitted element to which it is to be applied; sewing knitted element and edge close to the elastic course.

[0008] Still in accordance with the present invention, accomplishment of a band for quick overlocking has been devised which is intended for being folded back to form at least one fold along which it is to be sewn to a knitted element to be trimmed therewith, characterized in that at the fold position, the band is formed with a course of knitted stitches made of an elastic yarn aiming at promoting folding.

[0009] For better explaining the innovatory principles of the present invention and the advantages it offers over the known art, a possible embodiment applying said principles will be given hereinafter, by way of non-limiting example, with the aid of the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:

• Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view, in section, of a tubular band made in accordance with the invention, sewn in place onto the edge to be trimmed;
• Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a band portion before application;
• Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic front view, to an enlarged scale, of the band region shown in Fig. 1.

[0010] With reference to the drawings, shown in Fig. 1 is a band which is advantageously of a tubular type, generally identified by 10, folded back to form a loop 11 in which the edge 12 of a knitted fabric to be trimmed is received.

[0011] The band 10 is sewn in place by a seam carried out along line 13.

[0012] According to the principles of the invention, the band has at least one course of knitted stitches, intended for being disposed on the right side of the knitted element to which it is applied, which course is manufactured with an elastic thread 14, a known yarn made up of a very elastic core, for example (of a rubber or latex type) and a subsequent coating (consisting of stretch nylon or cotton material, for example). Such a yarn can be the yarn called "ELASTAN", for example. The elastic course is shown in Fig. 3.

[0013] As shown in Fig. 1 and, in more detail, in Fig. 2, due to the existence of the elastic course, an outwardly facing fold 15 is produced along said course, on the band surface. The elastic course is disposed in the band so as to form the fold at the folding and sewing region of the band for application to the knitted element.

[0014] As viewed from Fig. 1, the elastic courses can be two in number, such positioned as to form a fold on both sides of the band, above and below the knitted element.

[0015] Folding of the band along the line preestablished by the elastic course ensures a precise alignment of the band, which alignment would be otherwise rather inaccurate. Due to the presence of a clear fold, a better adhesion of the outer side of the band to the knitted element is achieved.

[0016] The overall aesthetic impression becomes that of a true overlocking.

[0017] As shown in Fig. 3, the course formed of the elastic yarn may be preceded (towards the outside of the band when applied) by a course 16 of larger loops through which the band will be sewn to the knitted element. It has been found that this expedient further improves the aesthetic effect and enables to come closer to the features typical of a hooking-up operation carried out stitch by stitch.

[0018] In order to be able to use a larger (or looser) course 16, an assurance of linearity in the band fold is required, which assurance can be obtained only with the existence of the elastic-yarn course 14, in the absence of which a loose course would emphasize any existing misalignment still more.

[0019] At this point it is apparent that the intended purposes have been achieved.

[0020] Obviously, the above description of an embodiment applying the innovatory principles of the present invention is given for purposes of illustration only and is not to be interpreted as a limitation of the scope of the invention as herein claimed.

[0021] For example, the band can also be of an open type, in addition to being of the tubular type. Furthermore, other external forms can be conceived such as that providing projecting flaps 17, as shown in chain lines in Fig. 1.

[0022] In the present description, by "edge or knitted element" it is intended the edge or element of any article made by knitting, such as pullovers, socks, etc. for example, or, at all events, any article that is trimmed using the technique of quick overlocking.

Claims

1. A method of carrying out quick overlockings comprising the steps of:

- manufacturing a band with at least one course of knitted fabric made of an elastic yarn for producing a fold along said one course;

- folding the band back along the fold for juxtaposing it with a knitted element to which it is to be applied;

- sewing knitted element and edge close to the elastic course.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that during manufacturing of the band, the elastic course is preceded by one course having looser loops through which the seam is caused to pass.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the courses of elastic knitted fabric are two in number for producing two folds disposed on two faces of the knitted element.

4. A band for quick overlocking, intended for being folded back to form at least one fold (15) along which it is to be sewn to a knitted element (12) to be trimmed therewith, characterized in that at the fold position, the band is formed with a course of knitted stitches (14) made of an elastic yarn aiming at promoting folding.

5. A band as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that the elastic course is preceded by a course (16) made of larger loops intended for being passed through by the seam.

6. A band as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that the courses (14) of elastic knitted stitches are two in number for producing two folds (15) disposed on two faces of the knitted element.

7. A band as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that it is of a tubular type.

Drawing