Angled Knitting Needle Shank Design for Small Diameter Production
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing knitting systems require frequent needle changes and struggle to produce knitted products with small round cross-section diameters, and stitches often slip off the needles during or after knitting.
Innovation Solution
A knitting needle design with legs angled between 37° and 60°, balanced with the center of gravity within the shank section, allowing for reduced needle changes and improved stitch retention, enabling the production of knitted products with smaller diameters using fewer needles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a knitting set with five straight needles is used to produce knitted products with round cross section, then the needles can be used for various diameters, but the needles have to be changed four times within a round and it is difficult to produce products with very small diameter
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the geometric parameter of the knitting needle by introducing an angle between the legs (at least 37° and less than 60°) instead of using straight needles. This parameter change allows the needles to be used in a new configuration that reduces needle changes from four times to only twice per round while maintaining the ability to produce round cross-section products
2Device complexity
If straight knitting needles are used for knitting, then the structure is simple, but the stitches slip off the knitting needle easily during knitting and after pauses
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies curvature by angling the legs of the knitting needle at least 37° and less than 60° to each other, creating a non-linear configuration. This angular geometry helps secure stitches better than straight needles while maintaining structural simplicity, thereby improving stitch retention without significantly increasing device complexity
3Reliability
If an auxiliary cable knitting needle with 90° angle between legs is used for cable patterns, then the stitches are immobilized effectively, but the hand has to perform large compensating movements that disturb the knitting process
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the angle parameter between the legs of the auxiliary knitting needle by specifying at least 37° and less than 60°, which is a compromise between the 90° angle that provides good stitch immobilization and smaller angles that reduce hand compensating movements. This parameter optimization balances reliability of stitch holding with ease of operation
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a knitting needle (1) for a knitting set for producing knitted products with a round cross-section, comprising a first leg (3) extending rigidly from a rigid shaft section (2) in a first extension direction (5) to a first free end (6) suitable for receiving stitches, and a second leg (4) extending rigidly from the rigid shaft section (2) in a second extension direction (7) to a second free end (8) suitable for receiving stitches, wherein the center of gravity (10) of the knitting needle (1) is arranged within the shaft section (2), and wherein the first extension direction (5) and the second extension direction (7) have an angle (9) of at least 30° and less than 60° to each other.