US Patent 7555920 Compound needle with flanged slider channel

A compound needle (1) having a slider channel (5) that is delimited by two lateral walls (8, 9). At least one of the lateral walls (8, 9) has, in its upper edge region (11, 12), a reduced thickness (d1). The edge (11) of the lateral wall (8) is bent, respectively, toward the other lateral wall (9). Due to the reduced thickness (d1), a narrow bending radius can be achieved, as a result of which the needle channel (5) can be better approximated—in cross-section—to a rectangular form than was possible until now. This allows the slider (4) to better utilize the clearance height of the slider channel (5).