Method for manufacturing a knitted fabric comprising a vertical yarn filament

1. A method for manufacturing a knitted fabric comprising a basic knit, into which at least one electrically conductive yarn filament is incorporated as a vertical yarn filament (F 3 ), using a flat knitting machine having at least two needle beds and in reliance upon a first and a second yarn carrier (FF 1 , FF 2 ), which are arranged on different yarn carrier rails to be displaceable along the at least two needle beds, the method comprising the steps of:

using the first and the second yarn carrier (FF 1 , FF 2 ) to simultaneously feed a first and a second yarn (F 1 , F 2 ) to needles of a front needle bed, a rear needle bed or both, of the at least two needle beds;

incorporating the electrically conductive vertical yarn filament, using a third yarn carrier (FF 3 ) positioned on a third yarn carrier rail located between the yarn carrier rails for the first and the second yarn carriers (FF 1 , FF 2 ), at the desired position at which the vertical yarn filament (F 3 ) is to be incorporated; and

forming a sequence of stitch rows (MR 1 -MR 7 ) using the first and second yarns (F 1 F 2 ), by guiding the first yarn (F 1 ) over the electrically conductive vertical yarn filament (F 3 ) on a front side of the knitted fabric, and guiding the second yarn over the electrically conductive vertical yarn filament (F 3 ) on a back side of the knitted fabric, such that the first and second yarns (F 1 , F 2 ) cover the electrically conductive vertical yarn filament (F 3 ) on the front side and the back side of the knitted fabric.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein in the step of forming, making the first yarn (F 1 ) visible on the front side of the knitted fabric and making the second yarn (F 2 ) visible on the back side of the knitted fabric.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second yarns (F 1 , F 2 ) are produced from the same material or from different materials.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the electrically conductive vertical yarn filament (F 3 ) is incorporated at multiple points of the knitted fabric.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the step of forming includes that changing a position of the third yarn carrier (FF 3 ) between the knitting of two stitch rows of the sequence of stitch rows (MR 1 -MR 7 ), using the first and second yarns (F 1 , F 2 ).

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the step of forming includes that the electrically conductive vertical yarn filament (F 3 ) is not covered by the first or the second yarn (F 1 , F 2 ) in one or multiple stitch rows of the sequence of stitch rows (MR 1 -MR 7 ).

7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the step of forming includes that the third yarn carrier (FF 3 ) is brought into the desired position prior to formation of the first stitch row (MR 1 ) for the knitted fabric, by use of the first and second yarns (F 1 , F 2 ).

8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein a standard yarn carrier or a plaiting yarn carrier is utilized as the third yarn carrier (FF 3 ), and wherein the third yarn carrier (FF 3 ) is moved by the carriage of the knitting machine or driven autonomously.

9. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising a step of producing a closed electrical circuit in the knitted fabric in reliance upon one or more of the electrically conductive vertical yarn filament and weft yarns.

10. The method according to claim 9 , further comprising a step of electrically connecting batteries, switches, and consumers such as LEDs to the closed electrical circuit produced in the knitted fabric.