Knitted textile structures formed by altering knit patterns to accommodate external mediums, and manufacturing processes associated therewith
An example method of manufacturing a knitted fabric that includes a non-knitted structure occurs in accordance with a programmed knit sequence for a multi-dimensional knitting machine. The method includes, providing a non-knitted structure to the multi-dimensional knitting machine at a point in time when a fabric structure has a first knit portion, wherein the first knit portion is formed based on a first type of knit pattern. The method also includes, after the providing of the non-knitted structure, following the programmed knit sequence to automatically adjust the multi-dimensional knitting machine to use a second type of knit pattern, distinct from a first type of knit pattern, to accommodate the non-knitted structure within a second knit portion that is adjacent to the first knit portion within the fabric structure.
1. A method of manufacturing a knitted fabric that includes a non-knitted structure, the method comprising:
while knitting a fabric structure in accordance with a programmed knit sequence for a multi-dimensional knitting machine:
providing a non-knitted structure to the multi-dimensional knitting machine at a point in time when the fabric structure has a first knit portion, wherein the first knit portion is formed based on a first type of knit pattern; and
after the providing of the non-knitted structure, following the programmed knit sequence to automatically adjust the multi-dimensional knitting machine to use a second type of knit pattern, distinct from the first type of knit pattern, to accommodate the non-knitted structure within a second knit portion that is adjacent to the first knit portion within the fabric structure,
wherein the fabric structure is configured to retain the non-knitted structure through contact with both the first knitted pattern and the second knitted pattern, and the non-knitted structure includes an electronic component.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the non-knitted structure is provided to the multi-dimensional knitting machine via an insertion device that is distinct from the multi-dimensional knitting machine.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the insertion device is passed through the multi-dimensional knitting machine.
4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the insertion device is attached to the multi-dimensional knitting machine and feeds the non-knitted structure into the multi-dimensional knitting machine in accordance with the programmed knit sequence.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first type of knit pattern has a higher knit density than the second type of knit pattern.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first type of knit pattern uses a type of knit pattern than stretches more than the second type of knit pattern.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the programmed knit sequence for a multi-dimensional knitting machine is configured to accommodate multiple non-knitted structures while knitting the fabric structure.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein one of the multiple non-knitted structures is a different material than the non-knitted structure.
9. The method of claim 7 , wherein one of the multiple non-knitted structures is a different shape than the non-knitted structure.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the non-knitted structure is a flexible circuit board.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the non-knitted structure is an electrical wire or bundle of wires.
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the non-knitted structure is a semi-rigid support for providing rigidity to the fabric structure.
13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first knit portion and the non-knitted structure within a second knit portion have substantially the same stretchability.
14. The method of claim 1 , including:
after providing a non-knitted structure to the multi-dimensional knitting machine at a point in time when the fabric structure has a first knit portion, formed based on a first type of knit pattern, and before following the programmed knit sequence to automatically adjust the multi-dimensional knitting machine to use a second type of knit pattern:
following the programmed knit sequence to automatically create a transition area where the fabric has a second type of knit pattern, wherein the second type of knit pattern allows for more movement of the non-knitted structure.
15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the non-knitted structure is inserted such that it follows a meandering pattern along an axis, wherein the meandering pattern allows the non-knitted structure to stretch along the axis with knitted portions of the fabric structure.
16. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second type of knit pattern can be a volumetric knit to allow for a non-knitted structure to be placed in a volume of the volumetric knit.
17. A method of manufacturing a knitting machine, comprising:
providing a multi-dimensional knitting machine;
attaching an insertion mechanism to the multi-dimensional knitting machine;
interconnecting the multi-dimensional knitting machine and the insertion mechanism to a processor, wherein the processor is configured to cause:
while knitting a fabric structure in accordance with a programmed knit sequence for the multi-dimensional knitting machine:
providing a non-knitted structure, via the insertion mechanism, to the multi-dimensional knitting machine at a point in time when the fabric structure has a first knit portion, formed based on a first type of knit pattern; and
after the providing of the non-knitted structure, following the programmed knit sequence to automatically adjust the multi-dimensional knitting machine to use a second type of knit pattern, distinct from the first type of knit pattern, to accommodate the non-knitted structure within a second knit portion that is adjacent to the first knit portion within the fabric structure,
wherein the fabric structure is configured to retain the non-knitted structure through contact with both the first knitted pattern and the second knitted pattern, and the non-knitted structure includes an electronic component.
18. A wearable structure with a knitted fabric that includes a non-knitted structure, the wearable structure comprising:
a fabric structure having a first knit portion, wherein the first knit portion has a first type of knit pattern that was formed in accordance with a programmed knit sequence for a multi-dimensional knitting machine; and
the fabric structure also having a second type of knit pattern, distinct from the first type of knit pattern, to accommodate a non-knitted structure within a second knit portion that is adjacent to the first knit portion within the fabric structure, wherein the second knit pattern was formed in accordance with the programmed knit sequence for the multi-dimensional knitting machine,
wherein the fabric structure is configured to retain the non-knitted structure through contact with both the first knitted pattern and the second knitted pattern, and the non-knitted structure includes an electronic component.