The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 23, 2001
Filed:
May. 27, 1999
Bruce M. Pernick, Stamford, CT (US);
Philip Renda, Charlotte, NC (US);
Alan Gutschmit, Troy, NC (US);
Monarch Knitting Machinery Corp., Glendale, NY (US);
Abstract
A readily replaceable restricting member is within an annular receiving channel that is defined by a cylindrical portion of a circular knitting machine, and the restricting member is operative to restrict at least upward or downward movement of the sinkers of the circular knitting machine. The sinkers are operative for reciprocating radially relative to the cylindrical portion and the restricting member such that sliding contact is defined between the sinkers and the biased restricting member. In accordance with several of the embodiments of the present invention, each of the sinkers comprises an upper nib and a lower nib, a radially extending slot is defined between the upper nib and the lower nib, and the slot is open at the leading edge of the sinker. In accordance with several embodiments of the present invention, the restricting member is in the travel paths of the sinkers so that the biased restricting member is at least partially received within the radially extending slots in response to the radial reciprocating of the sinkers. In various combinations, upper surfaces of the lower nibs contact the restricting member, lower surfaces of the upper nibs contact the restricting member, and lower surfaces of the sinkers contact the restricting member, so that movement of the sinkers is restricted. In accordance with several embodiments of the present invention, the restricting member is biasedly engaged within the receiving channel.