Fabric pattern structure

Abstract

A fabric pattern structure knitted by a weft knitting machine is presented, and a method for knitting the fabric pattern structure, the fabric pattern structure comprising three rows, wherein two rows comprise a plurality of alternating front knit stitches and floating stitches, and the third row comprises a plurality of tuck stitches. As a result, the present structure presents a higher protection against puncture or cutting of the fabric.

Description

[0001] Fabric pattern structure

[0002] The present disclosure relates to fabric structures and methods for manufacturing fabric structures.

[0003] BACKGROUND

[0004] Weft knitting machines have been widely used for many applications in garments or fabrics for many years, and the resulting structures are formed by loops which creates a volume. Depending on how the loops are deployed (i.e. , the loops are deployed in the structure by means of knitting a stitch), different properties are achieved. In general, knitted fabrics are known to be elastic, and the possibilities of combining types of stitches, structures and materials make them very versatile, depending on the needs of the product.

[0005] The use of knitted fabrics for protection purposes against puncturing or cutting has also been used in the state of the art. However, many structures designed to protect against cutting (due to, for example, a high tenacity response of the materials used therein), react poorly to a puncturing object due to, for example, a low friction at the puncturing point. On the other hand, knitted fabrics which work well against a cutting edge moving along its structure, are very prone to allow the passing-through of a puncturing object through its structure due to too much elasticity and deformation of the structure, and / or low density of the structure itself.

[0006] Therefore, there is a need for a fabric structure which is able to protect both against puncturing and cutting at the same time.

[0007] SUMMARY

[0008] In a first aspect, a fabric pattern structure knitted by a weft knitting machine is provided. The fabric pattern structure may comprise: a first row comprising a first and a second knitted yarn, wherein each knitted yarn is knitted with a plurality of alternating front knit stitches and floating stitches, and wherein the front knit stitches are staggered along the length of the yarns between the first yarn and the second yarn; a second row comprising a third and a fourth knitted yarn, wherein each knitted yarn is knitted with a plurality of alternating rear knit stitches and floating stitches, and wherein the rear knit stitches are staggered along the length of the yarns between the third yarn and the fourth yarn; a third row comprising a fifth knitted yarn knitted with a plurality of tuck stitches.

[0009] The fabric pattern structure may be knitted by a weft knitting machine. The weft knitting machine may comprise a front needle bed and a rear needle bed configured to knit front stitches and rear stitches respectively.

[0010] Automatic and / or programable weft knitting machines comprise at least two confronted aligned collection of needles known as beds. In the present disclosure, a weft knitting machine may be a flat weft o circular weft knitting machine, and it may comprise a front needle bed and a rear needle bed, wherein each needle of the two beds shares positions, thus having one needle from both front needle bed and rear needle bed per position. This way, when passing a yarn through a position of the needle bed, a needle from the front needle bed may rise, or a needle from the rear needle bed may rise holding the yarn in order to form a specific type of stitch. It is also possible that, in a specific position of the needle beds, no needle is raised, thus not acting upon the yarn in said position, leaving it unstitched. The result of passing yarn through the confronted beds is a fabric which may comprise a front side, a confronted opposite rear side or both. The front side of the fabric may thus comprise stitches resulting of using the front needle bed of the weft knitting machine, and the confronted opposite rear side may thus comprise stitches resulting of using the rear needle bed of the weft knitting machine. Front knit stitches are thus arranged at the front side and rear knit stitches at the rear side. Consequently, front knit stitches may be made by using the front needle bed and rear knit stitches by using the rear needle bed.

[0011] In the present disclosure, a row of the fabric pattern structure may be formed, for example, by passing a yarn through the needle beds and allocating the yarn in a row of the fabric pattern structure, in a way that, while passing the yarn, a combination of one or more front needles and / or rear needles may perform a stitch, thus knitting the yarn in a particular way. However, a row may also be formed by a yarn being allocated on the row of the fabric but being left unstitched (i.e. , no needle from the front or rear needle bed may perform a stitch of any type along the row, thus leaving the yarn “floating” on the row). Therefore, when a yarn is knitted with a type of knit, it is to say that a yarn of the row may comprise such type of knit.

[0012] Furthermore, the knitting machine may be able to work in serial or parallel mode, by passing at least one yarn carrier (which holds a rolled yarn) along the positions of the beds each time a yarn is stitched in any manner, to form a row of a fabric structure. More specifically, each time a yarn is passed from one end of the row of needles of the machine to the other, a plurality of stitches may be formed on the yarn.

[0013] Weft knitting machines are configured to perform several types of stitches. According to the present disclosure, rows may be formed by knitting yarns with a plurality of different types of stitches. Examples of different stitches may be as follows:

[0014] - A knit stitch: the smallest, most common and most dimensionally stable stitch unit within knitted fabric is the knit stitch. It consists of a yarn loop, which is held together by being intermeshed with another stitch or other loops.

[0015] - A float stitch: it is composed of a held loop, one or more float loops and knitted loops. It is produced when a needle holding its old loop fails to receive the new yarn that passes, as a float loop, to the back of the needle and to the reverse side of the resultant stitch, joining together the two nearest needle loops knitted from it.

[0016] - A tuck stitch: a stitch that is formed when a needle already holding a loop receives another loop which is tucked in behind the held stitch. One or more rows formed by this type of stitch reduce the length elasticity and increases the width of the resulting fabric.

[0017] The fabric pattern structure according to the present disclosure comprises at least three different rows, the first row comprising a first and second knitted yarn. In this row, each knitted yarn may be knitted with a plurality of alternating front knit stitches and floating stitches (i.e. , stitches knitted by the front needle bed, and floating stitches, thus avoiding any stitch knitted by the rear needle bed of the weft machine).

[0018] Furthermore, the front knit stitches of each of the two yarns of the first row may be staggered, and therefore, not being aligned at the same needle positions. For example, the first knitted yarn may comprise knitted stitches in odd positions of the needle beds (i.e., positions 1 , 3, 5, 7, etc...) and floating stitches in between its knitted stitches (i.e., positions 2, 4, 6, 8, etc...), and the second knitted yarn may comprise knitted stitches in even positions of the needle beds (i.e., positions 2, 4, 6, 8, etc...) and floating stitches in between its knitted stitches (i.e., positions 1 , 3, 5, 7, etc...). Another example may be the knitted stitches of a first knitted yarn being in allocated in every two even positions (i.e., 2, 6, 10, etc...) and the knitted stitches of the second knitted yarn being allocated in a staggered even needle position in respect of the first knitted yarn (for example, positions 4, 8, 12, etc...). Any combination of positions ensuring that the knitted stitches of the first knitted yarn and the second knitted yarn are staggered along the length of the yarns between the first yarn and the second yarn may be possible.

[0019] In an analog way to the first row, the second row of the fabric pattern structure may comprise a third and a fourth knitted yarn. In this row, each of the third and fourth knitted yarn may be knitted with a plurality of alternating rear knit stitches and floating stitches (i.e., stitches knitted by the rear needle bed, and floating stitches, thus avoiding any stitch knitted by the front needle bed of the weft machine). In the same way as in the first row, any combination of positions ensuring that the knitted stitches of the third knitted yarn and the fourth knitted yarn are staggered along the length of the yarns between the third yarn and the fourth yarn may be possible.

[0020] The third row of the fabric may comprise a fifth knitted yarn knitted with a plurality of tuck stitches, i.e., the tuck stitches alternating between a front tuck stitch and a rear tuck stitch, forming an interlock tuck structure. In this case, the tuck stitches may alternate between a stitch knitted by the front needle bed and a stitch knitted by the rear needle bed, rendering the tuck stitches staggered along the length of the yarn between the front stitches and the rear stitches. Any possible positions that ensure that the tuck stitches are staggered between a stitch knitted by the front needle bed and a stitch knitted by the rear needle bed may be possible. For example, the tuck stitches may have a plurality of tuck stitches knitted by the front needle in needle positions 1, 4, 8, 12, etc... , and a plurality of tuck stitches knitted by the rear needle in needle positions 2, 5, 9, 13, etc... , and the positions in between may be, for example, floating stitches. This way, the resulting interlock tuck structure may at least keep the previous knitted yarn together. Therefore, because of the specific structure as described above, a higher protection against puncture or cutting is achieved in the fabric itself. More specifically, the first two rows of the structure ensure enough density and sturdiness of the fabric in the length direction of the yarns, whilst still retaining enough elasticity. Such elasticity is important when a puncture or a cut is performed on the fabric: in the impact upon contact of a cutting or perforating object on the fabric, a small burst of energy is received by the fabric, which makes the stitches of the fabric to deform. The first and second row are dense enough to stop down part of the first burst of energy received upon puncture or cutting, whilst the two staggered yarns increase the elasticity of the fabric enough to absorb the remaining energy of the burst, transforming it into a deformation of the fabric in the point of contact of the object.

[0021] However, by forming the first and second row with a structure wherein the stitches are staggered in between the corresponding yarns of each row, any elasticity that the third row may normally introduce in a fabric pattern structure is substantially decreased, thus retaining the density of the interlock tuck structure added to the structure by the third row, and obtaining an increased stability in the length direction of the yarns, whilst no extra elasticity is introduced by the third row. Therefore, the balance between the elasticity of the first two rows and the density and stability introduced by the third row achieves a higher protection against a puncturing and a cutting at the same time.

[0022] Furthermore, the third row comprising the half of an interlock tuck structure ensures that the deformation is contained, and the likelihood of a permanent deformation or rupturing of the fabric is decreased, further distributing the energy along other parts of the fabric.

[0023] According to an example, the structure may further comprise a fourth row formed by a continuous floating yarn. More specifically, a floating yarn may be a yarn that is deployed on the fourth row, and is not knitted in any way, i.e., the yarn is not knitted by any needle when the yarn passes along the needle beds of the weft knitting machine during the manufacturing process of the fabric.

[0024] A floating yarn combined with the previous structure increases the dimensional stability of the resulting fabric. Because of the lack of waving or tucking when deploying the yarn in the structure, the floating yarn only has the elasticity of the material of the yarn itself. Therefore, if a fabric with such structure is stretched in the length direction of the floating yarn, the overall elasticity of the fabric may be reduced, increasing the tension of the fabric. Furthermore, the floating yarn fills the space left between the first and the second row of the structure (formed by the loops of the knits therein) enhancing the consistency and padding it, whilst enhancing the horizontal stability of the fabric (stability in the length direction of the yarns). This features help increasing the resistance of the resulting fabric in front of a puncturing.

[0025] Furthermore, the floating yarn also improves the resistance against cutting of the fabric. More specifically, when an impact of an object upon the fabric occurs, whether it is a puncture or an attempt to cut, it is important for the contact point of the fabric to have a degree of flexibility (i.e. , a minimum of elasticity, which is provided by the first and second row of the structure) to absorb the maximum energy of the initial impact, but at the same time being sufficiently tenacious so that the object does not go through allowing a sufficient amount of cutting edge to cut the fabric itself. Therefore, a balance may be achieved between both features of the fabric (tension, not being too taut, and the ability to absorb the energy of the puncture or cut upon impact from the puncturing or cutting object), and this may be achieved by adding the floating yarn every other first and second row.

[0026] Furthermore, in another example, the floating yarn may be made of a different material than the rest of the yarns. This way, by changing the material of the floating yarn, other specific features of the resulting fabric may be enhanced. For example, a specific type of metallic floating yarn may enhance the level of protection, or it may protect against a specific type of cut (i.e., a cut performed with a serrated edge, continuous edge, etc...).

[0027] Also, in another example, the fourth row may be knitted before the third row. More specifically, due to the cyclical repetition of the fabric pattern structure when a fabric is manufactured, the floating yarn may be placed in any possible order, although it may be preferable for it be before a tuck stitch of the same fabric pattern structure.

[0028] According to another example, the third row may further comprise a sixth yarn knitted with a plurality of tuck stitches, wherein the tuck stitches of the fifth and sixth yarns are staggered along the length of the yarns between the fifth yarn and the sixth yarn, thus forming a full interlock tuck structure. This way, the interlock tuck structure connects the previous rows (i.e. , the stitches performed only by the front needle bed and the rear needle bed), compacting and increasing the density of the overall fabric pattern structure, whilst decreasing the elasticity of the structure, and enhancing the protection of the resulting fabric against a puncturing object.

[0029] According to a further example, the third row is knitted after the first and second rows. This way, a compensation between the stitches performed by the front needle bed and the stitches performed by the rear needle bed is achieved. Furthermore, in order to ensure a vertical stability, a full tubular knitted row (i.e., the first knitted row and the second knitted row) may be knitted on the structure, before a half interlock tuck structure or a full interlock tuck structure is knitted in the fabric structure.

[0030] In another example, at least one of the yarns is made of Ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE). On a molecular level, it has extremely long chains, with a molecular mass usually between 3.5 and 7.5 million amu. The longer chain therein helps transferring load more effectively to the polymer backbone of the material, by strengthening intermolecular interactions.

[0031] As a result, UHMWPE is a very tough material, with one of the highest impact strength among any thermoplastic presently made. Furthermore, it presents a low elasticity and a self lubrication which helps avoiding the abrasion of the structure in case of cutting, by deflecting the direction of the energy emitted by a cutting object, such as, for example, a knife.

[0032] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, a Method for knitting a fabric pattern structure using a weft knitting machine, the knitting machine comprising a front needle bed and a rear needle bed configured to knit front stitches and rear stitches respectively, the method comprising the steps of:

[0033] Forming a first row by deploying a first and a second yarn, further comprising knitting each yarn with a plurality of alternating front knit stitches and floating stitches, wherein the front knit stitches are staggered along the length of the yarns between the first yarn and the second yarn;

[0034] Forming a second row by deploying a third and a fourth yarn, further comprising knitting each yarn with a plurality of alternating rear knit stitches and floating stitches, wherein the rear knit stitches are staggered along the length of the yarns between the third yarn and the fourth yarn;

[0035] Forming a third row by deploying a fifth yarn, further comprising knitting the fifth yarn with a plurality of tuck stitches.

[0036] When manufacturing a garment or fabric, the weft knitting machine may normally use a plurality of yarn carriers comprising a roll of yarn, wherein, by moving the carriers along the needle beds of the machine, the yarns may be deployed in each position of the needle beds, thus forming rows of the pattern structure of the fabric. During the deployment of the yarns, the needles may rise or not in order to knit a specific stitch using the yarn that is being deployed in the needle’s position.

[0037] As previously described, according to the present disclosure, the above-described method may be performed by a weft knitting machine, and may comprise forming three rows, wherein different yarns are deployed to form each row. Also, the yarn carriers of the weft knitting machine may be moved by a carriage in order to deploy the plurality of yarns of the structure. More specifically, a carriage may move the yarn carriers carrying the first and second yarns, the yarn carriers being moved together when forming the first row, and it may also move the yarn carriers carrying the third and fourth yarns, the yarn carriers being moved together when forming the second row. By doing so, the first and second yarns may intertwine forming a mesh which increases the sturdiness and homogeneity of the resulting fabric while retaining elasticity in the direction of the length of the yarns. Furthermore, the same happens in the case of the third and fourth yarns.

[0038] Also, by moving each pair of yarns when forming the first and second row of the structure, the manufacturing time is decreased dramatically, and, if the first row and second row are formed using the same material, a saving of remainder materials may also be achieved, since the same yarn rolls may be used in series to form both the first and second row. In another example, the first and second yarns may also be of different materials, using a combination of materials which may further increase the

[0039] According to another example, the forming of a third row may further comprise: Deploying a sixth yarn, the deploying further comprising knitting the sixth yarn with a plurality of tuck stitches in a way in which the tuck stitches of the fifth and sixth yarns are staggered along the length of the yarns between the fifth yarn and the sixth yarn.

[0040] Therefore, by deploying a sixth yarn, a full interlock tuck structure may be formed, increasing the mesh compaction and density of the overall structure. For example, a floating yarn may be deployed using a single yarn carrier on a single carriage, in order to save time and avoid displacing yarn carriers which may be used in combination with other yarn carriers in further deployments of yarns for further rows in the structure. Furthermore, the single yarn carrier deploying the floating yarn may be loaded with a different type of yarn, thus enhancing the anti-puncturing properties of the overall structure. For example, the first and second rows of the structure may be deployed using yarns of Ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE), and the floating yarn may be deployed using a yarn made of a metallic material.

[0041] According to a further example, the method for knitting a fabric pattern structure may further comprise forming a fourth row formed by a continuous floating yarn.

[0042] In another example, the first and second yarns may be deployed using two different yarn carriers, by moving the carriers in a substantially parallel manner along a first direction along the needle beds.

[0043] Also, according to another example, the third and fourth yarns may also be deployed using two different yarn carriers, by moving the carriers in a substantially parallel manner along a first direction along the needle beds.

[0044] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0045] Non-limiting examples of the present disclosure will be described in the following, with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

[0046] Figure 1 depicts a first example of a three-row fabric pattern structure according to the present disclosure.

[0047] Figure 2 depicts a second example of a five-row fabric pattern structure according to the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLES

[0048] Figure 1 shows an example of a structure according to the present disclosure, wherein the structure comprises three rows. More specifically, the fabric pattern structure comprises a first row 101, second row 102 and third row 103, which, in this example, are knitted by a weft knitting machine in that order (the order is depicted by direction of knitting 100).

[0049] First row 101 comprises a first yarn 101 A having alternated knit stitches knitted by the needles of the front needle bed of the weft machine, and a second yarn 101 B having alternated knit stitches also knitted by the front needle bed of the weft machine. As it can be seen in figure 1 , in this example, odd positions of the needle beds (i.e., first, third, fifth, etc...) have knitted stitches using the first yarn 101A, and even positions of the needle beds (i.e., second, fourth, sixth, etc...) have knitted stitches using the second yarn 101 B.

[0050] In a similar manner, second row 102 comprises a third yarn 102A and a fourth yarn 102B having alternated knit stitches knitted by the rear needle bed of the weft machine. As in the case of the first row 101 , the odd positions have knitted stitches using the third yarn 102A, and even positions have knitted stitches using the fourth yarn 102B.

[0051] Both first and second rows 101 , 102 form what is known as a technical tubular knit structure. Afterwards, a third row 103 connects the two previous rows, i.e., the first and the second rows, with stitches that form an interlock tuck structure. More precisely, in this example, the third row comprises a fifth yarn 103A and a sixth yarn 103B, the tuck stitches being arranged staggered between the fifth yarn and the sixth yarn.

[0052] In this example, the rows are deployed in the order shown by direction arrow 100, by the weft knitting machine. Furthermore, two yarn carriers comprising a yarn roll each are used to deploy all the rows comprising the structure. More specifically, the yarn carriers comprise a yarn made of Ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) material and are carried by the carriage of the machine which transports the two yarn carriers at the same time in a direction along the needle beds. As it is commonly used in double system weft knitting machines, the carriage is able to deploy the two yarns on the needle beds by deploying a first yarn from the first yarn carrier in the first place, and a second yarn from the second yarn carrier right after the first one is deployed, but in the same carriage movement. Therefore, for example, the first yarn carrier may be deploying the first yarn in needle bed position number 3, when the second yarn carrier may be deploying the second yarn in needle bed position number 1 , thus avoiding a collision of needles from different beds (i.e., the needle from the same position being raised both from the front needle bed and the rear needle bed). This way, the two yarns of each row may be deployed in a single carriage movement, achieving an intertwining of the yarns from the same row, and decreasing the deployment time, making the manufacturing process much faster.

[0053] Furthermore, in this example, the carriage comprising yarn carriers Y1 and Y2 may be moved from left to right in order to form the first row 101. After the first row 101 is formed, the second row 102 may be formed by moving the carriage comprising both yarn carriers Y1, Y2 from right to left. Finally, after the second row 102 is formed, the third row 103 may be formed by moving the carriage from left to right again, thus finishing the fabric pattern structure. Each time the carriage is moved, for each row, the needle beds may be programmed to knit the stitches as seen in figure 1 for each yarn of each row.

[0054] Since the process is a cyclical one, the second time the structure may be manufactured by the weft knitting machine, the carriage may be where it was left after the last moving (i.e., on the right side of the machine). Therefore, the weft knitting machine may repeat the same structure as seen in figure 1, but changing the directions of movement of the carriage, in order to save time between repetitions of the forming of each repetition of the structure of figure 1.

[0055] Figure 2 shows a second example of a structure according to the present disclosure, wherein the structure comprises five rows. More specifically, the fabric pattern structure comprises a first row 201, second row 202, third row 203, fourth row 205, and fifth row 206 which, in this example, are knitted by a weft knitting machine in that order (the order is depicted by direction of knitting 200).

[0056] First row 201 comprises a first yarn 201 A having alternated knit stitches knitted by the front needle bed of the weft machine, and a second yarn 201 B having alternated knit stitches also knitted by the front needle bed of the weft machine. As it can be seen in figure 2, in this example, odd positions of the needle beds (i.e., first, third, fifth, etc...) have knitted stitches using the first yarn 201A, and even positions of the needle beds (i.e., second, fourth, sixth, etc...) have knitted stitches using the second yarn 201 B.

[0057] In a similar manner, second row 202 comprises a third yarn 202A and a fourth yarn 202B having alternated knit stitches knitted by the rear needle bed of the weft machine. As in the case of the first row 201 , the odd positions have knitted stitches using the third yarn 202A, and even positions have knitted stitches using the fourth yarn 202B.

[0058] In this example, the structure comprises a further third row 203 comprising a fourth yarn 203A, which does not have any stitch either knitted by the front needle bed or the rear needle bed, i.e., the fourth yarn 203A is deployed in a manner wherein it is a floating yarn on top of first row 201 and second row 202.

[0059] As in the previous example of figure 1 , both first and second rows 201 , 202 form what is known as a tubular knit, which is completed by connecting the previous rows by means of a fourth row 204 and a fifth row 205, which connect the previous three rows with stitches that form two interlock tuck structures. More precisely, in this example, the fourth row comprises a sixth yarn 204A and a seventh yarn 204B, the tuck stitches being arranged staggered between the sixth yarn 204A and the seventh yarn 204B. Furthermore, the same structure of fourth row 204 is repeated in the present structure by deploying a fifth row 205 with the same pattern as fourth row 204. Thus, in this example, both the fourth row 204 and the fifth row 205 form an interlock tuck structure each, whilst not forming a knitted row (i.e., increasing the thickness of that row of the structure).

[0060] The last two rows 204 and 205 substantially decrease the elasticity of the fabric in the yarn’s direction, thus increasing the resistance against cutting and, specially, puncturing, of the fabric pattern structure. More specifically, a further interlock tuck structure 205 (as compared with the example of figure 1) may reinforce the first interlock tuck structure 204, increasing the consistency of the fabric, further reducing the elasticity of the resulting fabric (i.e., increasing its stiffness) while increasing the thickness of the fabric, resulting in a thickness closer to the limit allowed by the needle beds of the weft knitting machine. Furthermore, when the interlock tuck structure 205 is deployed on the fabric after the first interlock tuck structure 204, it further enhances the protection against puncture and cutting. Furthermore, in this example, a first carriage comprising yarn carriers Y3 and Y4 may be moved from left to right in order to form the first row 201. After the first row 201 is formed, the second row 202 may be formed by moving the carriage comprising both yarn carriers Y3, Y4 from right to left. Then, after the second row is formed, the third row may be formed by moving a second carriage Y3 from left to right again, in order to deploy the floating yarn 203A. Then, the first carriage comprising Y3 and Y4 may be used again to deploy the yarns 204A, 204B, 205A, 205B corresponding to rows 204 and 205, thus finishing the fabric pattern structure. Each time the carriage is moved, for each row, the needle beds may be programmed to knit the stitches as seen in figure 2 for each yarn of each row.

[0061] Although only a number of examples have been disclosed herein, other alternatives, modifications, uses and / or equivalents thereof are possible. Furthermore, all possible combinations of the described examples are also covered. Thus, the scope of the present disclosure should not be limited by particular examples, but should be determined only by a fair reading of the claims that follow. If reference signs related to drawings are placed in parentheses in a claim, they are solely for attempting to increase the intelligibility of the claim, and shall not be construed as limiting the scope of the claim.

Claims

CLAIMS1. Fabric pattern structure knitted by a weft knitting machine, wherein the fabric pattern structure comprises: a first row comprising a first and a second knitted yarn, wherein each knitted yarn is knitted with a plurality of alternating front knit stitches and floating stitches, and wherein the front knit stitches are staggered along the length of the yarns between the first yarn and the second yarn; a second row comprising a third and a fourth knitted yarn, wherein each knitted yarn is knitted with a plurality of alternating rear knit stitches and floating stitches, and wherein the rear knit stitches are staggered along the length of the yarns between the third yarn and the fourth yarn; a third row comprising a fifth knitted yarn knitted with a plurality of tuck stitches.

2. Fabric pattern structure according to claim 1 , wherein the third row further comprises a sixth yarn knitted with a plurality of tuck stitches, and wherein the tuck stitches of the fifth and sixth yarns are staggered along the length of the yarns between the fifth yarn and the sixth yarn.

3. Fabric pattern structure according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a fourth row formed by a continuous floating yarn.

4. Fabric pattern structure according to claim 3, wherein the floating yarn is made of a different material than the rest of the yarns.

5. Fabric pattern structure according to claims 3 or 4, wherein the fourth row is knitted before the third row.

6. Fabric pattern structure according to any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the third row is knitted after the first and second rows.

7. Fabric pattern structure according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein at least one of the yarns is made of Ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE).

8. Method for knitting a fabric pattern structure using a weft knitting machine, the knitting machine comprising a front needle bed and a rear needle bed configuredto knit front stitches and rear stitches respectively, the method comprising the steps of:Forming a first row by deploying a first and a second yarn, further comprising knitting each yarn with a plurality of alternating front knit stitches and floating stitches, wherein the front knit stitches are staggered along the length of the yarns between the first yarn and the second yarn; Forming a second row by deploying a third and a fourth yarn, further comprising knitting each yarn with a plurality of alternating rear knit stitches and floating stitches, wherein the rear knit stitches are staggered along the length of the yarns between the third yarn and the fourth yarn; Forming a third row by deploying a fifth yarn, further comprising knitting the fifth yarn with a plurality of tuck stitches.

9. Method for knitting a fabric pattern structure according to claim 8, wherein the forming of a third row further comprises:Deploying a sixth yarn, the deploying further comprising knitting the sixth yarn with a plurality of tuck stitches in a way in which the tuck stitches of the fifth and sixth yarns are staggered along the length of the yarns between the fifth yarn and the sixth yarn.

10. Method for knitting a fabric pattern structure according to claims 8 or 9, further comprising forming a fourth row formed by a continuous floating yarn.11 . Method for knitting a fabric pattern structure according to any of claims 8 to 10, wherein the first and second yarns are deployed using two different yarn carriers, by moving the carriers in a substantially parallel manner along a first direction along the needle beds.

12. Method for knitting a fabric pattern structure according to any of claims 8 to 11 , wherein the third and fourth yarns are deployed using two different yarn carriers, by moving the carriers in a substantially parallel manner along a first direction along the needle beds.

13. Garment comprising a fabric pattern structure according to any of claims 1 to 7.

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