CA1106158A - Macrame coupling device - Google Patents
Macrame coupling deviceInfo
- Publication number
- CA1106158A CA1106158A CA315,590A CA315590A CA1106158A CA 1106158 A CA1106158 A CA 1106158A CA 315590 A CA315590 A CA 315590A CA 1106158 A CA1106158 A CA 1106158A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- assembly
- passage
- strand
- diameter end
- macrame
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
- 230000008878 coupling Effects 0.000 title claims abstract description 13
- 238000010168 coupling process Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 13
- 238000005859 coupling reaction Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 13
- 230000000717 retained effect Effects 0.000 claims abstract 2
- 239000000306 component Substances 0.000 description 22
- 239000011324 bead Substances 0.000 description 12
- 238000013461 design Methods 0.000 description 4
- 239000002023 wood Substances 0.000 description 3
- 238000010276 construction Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000004033 plastic Substances 0.000 description 2
- 229920003023 plastic Polymers 0.000 description 2
- 230000001154 acute effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000000712 assembly Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000000429 assembly Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000005034 decoration Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000000605 extraction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000003780 insertion Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000037431 insertion Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000012546 transfer Methods 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- F16G—BELTS, CABLES, OR ROPES, PREDOMINANTLY USED FOR DRIVING PURPOSES; CHAINS; FITTINGS PREDOMINANTLY USED THEREFOR
- F16G11/00—Means for fastening cables or ropes to one another or to other objects; Caps or sleeves for fixing on cables or ropes
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- F16G—BELTS, CABLES, OR ROPES, PREDOMINANTLY USED FOR DRIVING PURPOSES; CHAINS; FITTINGS PREDOMINANTLY USED THEREFOR
- F16G11/00—Means for fastening cables or ropes to one another or to other objects; Caps or sleeves for fixing on cables or ropes
- F16G11/08—Fastenings for securing ends of driving-cables to one another, the fastenings having approximately the same diameter as the cables
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Cultivation Receptacles Or Flower-Pots, Or Pots For Seedlings (AREA)
Abstract
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A macrame coupling device for releasably interconnect-ing the aligned ends of macrame strands includes a generally ellipsoidal assembly defined by two identical portions, i.e., the assembly is split in a plane passing through the longitudinal centre thereof, each portion including a longitudinally extend-ing strand-receiving passage, the passages at the centre of the assembly being enlarged to receive a tubular coupler, the coupler including one externally threaded sleeve in one portion extending into and engaging the internally threaded sleeve in the other portion, the knotted ends of the strands being retained by the partially open outer ends of the sleeves.
A macrame coupling device for releasably interconnect-ing the aligned ends of macrame strands includes a generally ellipsoidal assembly defined by two identical portions, i.e., the assembly is split in a plane passing through the longitudinal centre thereof, each portion including a longitudinally extend-ing strand-receiving passage, the passages at the centre of the assembly being enlarged to receive a tubular coupler, the coupler including one externally threaded sleeve in one portion extending into and engaging the internally threaded sleeve in the other portion, the knotted ends of the strands being retained by the partially open outer ends of the sleeves.
Description
~ - 2 11(~6158 The invention relates generally to the art of macrame, and more particularly to artistic arrangements to provide hang-ing supports for plant containers.
In recent years, the indoor use of tropical or semi-tropi-cal foilage plant for residential, or commercial office decora-tion has resulted in an increased demand for artistically worked slings or hangers adapted for the suspended support of such plants.
The art of macrame is old, and in its simplest form uti-lizes rope strands, knotted and woven for artistic effect. It has been common in this art to utilize woven ropestrands in a sling-like fashion, the lower portion of the sling being formed in a net, by knotting adjacent rope strands. The net may be formed in various sized to accommodate large or small pots, con-tainers or baskets.
The artistic designs incorporated within such macrame sup-ports, may result in relatively complex net configurations, which, while asthetically pleasing, tend to be somewhat disad-vantageous in a practical sense.
As will be appreciated, a great number of the more popular foilage plants are of-the~ trailing variety, and as such are es-pecially chosen to be utilized in hanging displays.
In the case where a young plant with minimal growth is in-troduced into a macrame hanger or sling, problems do not arise until such time as it becomes necessary, in view of increased growth, to re-pot or transfer to a larger hanger. It then is found to be extremely difficult if not impossible, to extract a plant from the hanger without causing damage to the ~leaves, and/or trailing portions of the plant.
The problem is even more acute however, when it is required to arrange already large trailing plants within such hangers, the 1~615~3 procedure generally requiring at least two people and some con-siderable time before the plant can be carefully manipulated into posltion within the hanging net. Even then, some damage to the plant is unavoidable.
The present invention however seeks to overcome this prob-lem by providing a device, in the manner of a releasable fasten-ing, which when incorporated into the design of the hanger, or sling renders it capable of disassembly, thus permitting the extraction or insertion of plants with relative ease and conse-quently in a less damaging manner.
Accordingly, the invention comprises a coupling devicefor detachably securing adjacent strands of a hanging macrame plant support comprising a first component attached to at least one major supporting strand of the assembly, a second component attached to at least a second major supporting strand of the assembly, the first and second components being adapted for releasable interconnection one with the other thereby facili-tating convenient assembly and/or disassembly of the support.
The invention will now be described by way of example only, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a schematic representation of a conventional form of macrame hanger embodying a plurality of devices accord-ing to the invention;
Figure 2 shows the arrangement according to Figure 1, one of the devices according to the invention being disconnected;
Figure 3 is a perspective view of one complete device ac-cording to the invention; and Figure 4 and 4a show a partial section of the two separa-ted halves of a preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention.
~ -- 4 11~6~5~3 Referring now to the drawings where like numerals have, for ease of understanding, been utilized to refer to like com-ponents of the system, numeral 10 designates a typical macrame assembly adapted for the support of a plant container 11.
The assembly, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, of is relative-ly simple design, and comprises a first portion consisting of a number of braided rope strands 12 joined at their uppermost ends to form a loop 13, and a second portion consisting of a number of rope strands 12a, suitably knotted in a conventional manner at 15 to form a supporting net for container 11.
The lower ends of strands 12a are in the embodiment shown, braided together to form a knot 16, the distal ends of strands 12a depending therefrom in the form of a tassle 17.
The construction of each heretofor mentioned portion is conventional and does not therefor form part of the present in-vention, which is directed principally to the releasable inter-connection of the two structural portions of the assemblies in a manner to be described hereafter.
It is common in the art of macrame to include within the design a number of beads of varying shape and size. Such beads are normally of wood but can be manufactured from any suitable or desired material, for example plastics.
In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, cer-tain of these beads have been adapted to provide the means where-by the first and second portions may be readily uncoupled. While it is esthetically advantageous to provide the coupling elements in the form of beads, it is to be understood that such a coupling may be provided in a number of forms, all of which fall within the scope of the present invention.
Figures 1 and 2 show a number of such coupling elements ~I6~S~3 in the form of beads 14, shown slightly enlarged for clarity.
Each bead 14 as can be seen in Figures 3, 4 and 4a comprise two interlockable half sections 14a and 14b, the bead accord-ing to Figure 3 being manufactured from wood, whereas in the alternative embodiment according to Figure 4 and 4a, the bead is manufactured in plastics.
Looking specifically at the construction of the coupling element according to Figures 4 and 4a, each half section 14a and 14b of bead 14 is provided with a central bore 18 extending longitudinally therethrough, bore 18 being enlarged toward one end of each of sections 14a and 14b, into a chamber 19.
To facilitate interconnection between components 14a and 14b of bead 14, male and female components 20 and 21 respective-ly are provided, threadably engagable one with the other. Fe-male component 21 comprises a tubular sleeve member fixedly lo-cated within chamber 19 of component 14a, the internal bore of which tubular component being provided with a threaded portion 22. Male component 20 also comprises a tubular sleeve member fixedly located in part within chamber 19 of component 14b and projecting outwardly therefrom a distance substantially equal to the depth of chamber 19 of component 14a. The projecting portion of component 20 being provided, on the external surface thereof with a threaded portion 23.
~ Each of sleeve members 20 and 21 are substantially closed : at their innermost ends 24, each being provided however with an aperture 25 which registers with bore 18 in their respective ; component.
Component 14a and 14b, as can be seen from Figures 4 and 4a respectively, are attached to their respective rope strands 12 and 12b by inserting the strand through bore 18 and providing l~a6ls~
knots 26. The knots thus formed being contained within com-ponents 20 and 21, and effectively preventing disengagement of the strands from their co-operating component.
In use, as will be evident from the drawings and the previous description, the externally threaded component 20 is screwed into the tubular internally threaded component 21, thus completing the assembly of bead 14 and affecting positive interconnection between strands 12 and 12a.
It will therefore be readily appreciated, as shown sche-matically in Figure 2, that by disconnecting one or more beads 14, a plant holding container 11 may be extracted from a macrame net support with relative ease, in such a manner as to avoid substantial damage to the plant.
While in the embodiment according to Figures 4 and 4a, there has been described a threadably engagable plug and socket type assembly, it is to be understood that in the embodiment according to Figure 3 where the components are manufactured from wood, the threadable portions of each component could be integrally formed by convention wood-turning techniques.
It will also be appreciated that the quick connect/dis-connect coupling may be located at any convenient point within the assembly, and not exactly in the configuration and manner shown herein.
Further modifications and alternative embodiments of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art in view of the foregoing description. Accordingly, this description is to be construed as illustrative only and is for the purpose of teaching those skilled in the art the manner of carrying out the invention. It is further understood that the form of the 3n invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as the '.' 111~J6158 presently preferred embodiment. Various changes may be made in the shape, size and general arrangement of components. For example, equivalent elements may be substituted for those illus-trated and described herein, parts may be used independently of the use of other features, all as will be apparent to one skilled in the art after having the benefits of the description of the 7 invention.
,
In recent years, the indoor use of tropical or semi-tropi-cal foilage plant for residential, or commercial office decora-tion has resulted in an increased demand for artistically worked slings or hangers adapted for the suspended support of such plants.
The art of macrame is old, and in its simplest form uti-lizes rope strands, knotted and woven for artistic effect. It has been common in this art to utilize woven ropestrands in a sling-like fashion, the lower portion of the sling being formed in a net, by knotting adjacent rope strands. The net may be formed in various sized to accommodate large or small pots, con-tainers or baskets.
The artistic designs incorporated within such macrame sup-ports, may result in relatively complex net configurations, which, while asthetically pleasing, tend to be somewhat disad-vantageous in a practical sense.
As will be appreciated, a great number of the more popular foilage plants are of-the~ trailing variety, and as such are es-pecially chosen to be utilized in hanging displays.
In the case where a young plant with minimal growth is in-troduced into a macrame hanger or sling, problems do not arise until such time as it becomes necessary, in view of increased growth, to re-pot or transfer to a larger hanger. It then is found to be extremely difficult if not impossible, to extract a plant from the hanger without causing damage to the ~leaves, and/or trailing portions of the plant.
The problem is even more acute however, when it is required to arrange already large trailing plants within such hangers, the 1~615~3 procedure generally requiring at least two people and some con-siderable time before the plant can be carefully manipulated into posltion within the hanging net. Even then, some damage to the plant is unavoidable.
The present invention however seeks to overcome this prob-lem by providing a device, in the manner of a releasable fasten-ing, which when incorporated into the design of the hanger, or sling renders it capable of disassembly, thus permitting the extraction or insertion of plants with relative ease and conse-quently in a less damaging manner.
Accordingly, the invention comprises a coupling devicefor detachably securing adjacent strands of a hanging macrame plant support comprising a first component attached to at least one major supporting strand of the assembly, a second component attached to at least a second major supporting strand of the assembly, the first and second components being adapted for releasable interconnection one with the other thereby facili-tating convenient assembly and/or disassembly of the support.
The invention will now be described by way of example only, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a schematic representation of a conventional form of macrame hanger embodying a plurality of devices accord-ing to the invention;
Figure 2 shows the arrangement according to Figure 1, one of the devices according to the invention being disconnected;
Figure 3 is a perspective view of one complete device ac-cording to the invention; and Figure 4 and 4a show a partial section of the two separa-ted halves of a preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention.
~ -- 4 11~6~5~3 Referring now to the drawings where like numerals have, for ease of understanding, been utilized to refer to like com-ponents of the system, numeral 10 designates a typical macrame assembly adapted for the support of a plant container 11.
The assembly, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, of is relative-ly simple design, and comprises a first portion consisting of a number of braided rope strands 12 joined at their uppermost ends to form a loop 13, and a second portion consisting of a number of rope strands 12a, suitably knotted in a conventional manner at 15 to form a supporting net for container 11.
The lower ends of strands 12a are in the embodiment shown, braided together to form a knot 16, the distal ends of strands 12a depending therefrom in the form of a tassle 17.
The construction of each heretofor mentioned portion is conventional and does not therefor form part of the present in-vention, which is directed principally to the releasable inter-connection of the two structural portions of the assemblies in a manner to be described hereafter.
It is common in the art of macrame to include within the design a number of beads of varying shape and size. Such beads are normally of wood but can be manufactured from any suitable or desired material, for example plastics.
In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, cer-tain of these beads have been adapted to provide the means where-by the first and second portions may be readily uncoupled. While it is esthetically advantageous to provide the coupling elements in the form of beads, it is to be understood that such a coupling may be provided in a number of forms, all of which fall within the scope of the present invention.
Figures 1 and 2 show a number of such coupling elements ~I6~S~3 in the form of beads 14, shown slightly enlarged for clarity.
Each bead 14 as can be seen in Figures 3, 4 and 4a comprise two interlockable half sections 14a and 14b, the bead accord-ing to Figure 3 being manufactured from wood, whereas in the alternative embodiment according to Figure 4 and 4a, the bead is manufactured in plastics.
Looking specifically at the construction of the coupling element according to Figures 4 and 4a, each half section 14a and 14b of bead 14 is provided with a central bore 18 extending longitudinally therethrough, bore 18 being enlarged toward one end of each of sections 14a and 14b, into a chamber 19.
To facilitate interconnection between components 14a and 14b of bead 14, male and female components 20 and 21 respective-ly are provided, threadably engagable one with the other. Fe-male component 21 comprises a tubular sleeve member fixedly lo-cated within chamber 19 of component 14a, the internal bore of which tubular component being provided with a threaded portion 22. Male component 20 also comprises a tubular sleeve member fixedly located in part within chamber 19 of component 14b and projecting outwardly therefrom a distance substantially equal to the depth of chamber 19 of component 14a. The projecting portion of component 20 being provided, on the external surface thereof with a threaded portion 23.
~ Each of sleeve members 20 and 21 are substantially closed : at their innermost ends 24, each being provided however with an aperture 25 which registers with bore 18 in their respective ; component.
Component 14a and 14b, as can be seen from Figures 4 and 4a respectively, are attached to their respective rope strands 12 and 12b by inserting the strand through bore 18 and providing l~a6ls~
knots 26. The knots thus formed being contained within com-ponents 20 and 21, and effectively preventing disengagement of the strands from their co-operating component.
In use, as will be evident from the drawings and the previous description, the externally threaded component 20 is screwed into the tubular internally threaded component 21, thus completing the assembly of bead 14 and affecting positive interconnection between strands 12 and 12a.
It will therefore be readily appreciated, as shown sche-matically in Figure 2, that by disconnecting one or more beads 14, a plant holding container 11 may be extracted from a macrame net support with relative ease, in such a manner as to avoid substantial damage to the plant.
While in the embodiment according to Figures 4 and 4a, there has been described a threadably engagable plug and socket type assembly, it is to be understood that in the embodiment according to Figure 3 where the components are manufactured from wood, the threadable portions of each component could be integrally formed by convention wood-turning techniques.
It will also be appreciated that the quick connect/dis-connect coupling may be located at any convenient point within the assembly, and not exactly in the configuration and manner shown herein.
Further modifications and alternative embodiments of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art in view of the foregoing description. Accordingly, this description is to be construed as illustrative only and is for the purpose of teaching those skilled in the art the manner of carrying out the invention. It is further understood that the form of the 3n invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as the '.' 111~J6158 presently preferred embodiment. Various changes may be made in the shape, size and general arrangement of components. For example, equivalent elements may be substituted for those illus-trated and described herein, parts may be used independently of the use of other features, all as will be apparent to one skilled in the art after having the benefits of the description of the 7 invention.
,
Claims (3)
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. A coupling device for releasably interconnecting strands of a hanging macrame support comprising a bead-shaped assembly, said assembly including a first portion, and a second portion, said first portion and said second portion having sub-stantially identical external shapes; a passage through each said portion for receiving one strand; each passage including a narrow diameter end for receiving a strand, and a large diameter end;
respective coupling means in said large diameter end of the pas-sage of each said first portion and said second portion releas-ably interconnecting said first portion and said second portion with the passages aligned; and an aperture in each coupling means for receiving one end of a respective strand, whereby, when one end of each strand is knotted after passing through a narrow diameter end of a respective assembly portion passage and then through the adjacent large diameter end of that passage the respective knotted end will be retained in the respective coup-ling means.
respective coupling means in said large diameter end of the pas-sage of each said first portion and said second portion releas-ably interconnecting said first portion and said second portion with the passages aligned; and an aperture in each coupling means for receiving one end of a respective strand, whereby, when one end of each strand is knotted after passing through a narrow diameter end of a respective assembly portion passage and then through the adjacent large diameter end of that passage the respective knotted end will be retained in the respective coup-ling means.
2. A device according to claim 1, wherein said coupling means includes an open-ended sleeve in each large diameter end of the passage of each said first portion and said second portion, one said sleeve being externally threaded and extending outwardly from said first portion; and the other said sleeve being internally threaded and mounted in said second portion for receiving said one sleeve.
3. A device according to claim 1, wherein said assembly has a generally ellipsoidal external shape, said narrow diameter ends of said passages being at the narrow ends of the body, a junction between said first portion and said second portions being in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the assembly and at the longitudinal centre thereof.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA315,590A CA1106158A (en) | 1978-10-31 | 1978-10-31 | Macrame coupling device |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA315,590A CA1106158A (en) | 1978-10-31 | 1978-10-31 | Macrame coupling device |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1106158A true CA1106158A (en) | 1981-08-04 |
Family
ID=4112850
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA315,590A Expired CA1106158A (en) | 1978-10-31 | 1978-10-31 | Macrame coupling device |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1106158A (en) |
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WO1991005963A1 (en) * | 1989-10-17 | 1991-05-02 | Stephen Craig Jaggers | A connector for fishing nets |
| US20090266859A1 (en) * | 2008-04-28 | 2009-10-29 | Michele Antoinette Peterson | Elastic Suspension Apparatus for Beverages |
-
1978
- 1978-10-31 CA CA315,590A patent/CA1106158A/en not_active Expired
Cited By (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WO1991005963A1 (en) * | 1989-10-17 | 1991-05-02 | Stephen Craig Jaggers | A connector for fishing nets |
| US20090266859A1 (en) * | 2008-04-28 | 2009-10-29 | Michele Antoinette Peterson | Elastic Suspension Apparatus for Beverages |
| US8690034B2 (en) * | 2008-04-28 | 2014-04-08 | Michele Antoinette Peterson | Elastic suspension apparatus for beverages |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKEX | Expiry |