GB2079247A

GB2079247A - Reels for Thread

Info

Publication number: GB2079247A
Application number: GB8022283A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Dollfus Mieg and Cie DMC
Current assignee: Dollfus Mieg and Cie DMC
Priority date: 1980-07-08
Filing date: 1980-07-08
Publication date: 1982-01-20

Abstract

A reel for thread or like filamentary material comprises a substantially cylindrical body part a on which the thread is to be wound and at least one end cap b mounted on one end of the body part and rotatable relative thereto. The end cap has means such as a slot c to receive the free end f of the thread and the thread is trapped or engaged in gap e formed between a shoulder a3 of a flange a, carried by the body part and the skirt b3 of the end cap when relative rotation occurs. The cap may be a snap fit on the flange a, or may be a bayonet connection (not shown) affording sufficient relative rotational movement between the parts. Rotation of cap b is limited by projections g and h. The reel may be of moulded plastics material. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvement in Reels For Thread or Like Filamentary Material This invention relates to improvements in reels for thread or like filamentary material, e.g. sewing thread, provided at at least one end with means for retaining the thread when not in use so as to prevent it becoming unwound from the reel.

A conventional reel is of generally cylindrical shape with enlarged ends in one of which a slit is provided into which the thread can be engaged when not in use. This prevents the thread tending to unwind from the reel. This slit is generally quite narrow in order to engage the thread and is usually formed by a cutting operation with a knife.

This is so, even when the reel is made of plastics material as it is difficult to form such a narrow slit during moulding. The disadvantage of such slits is that there is a tendency for the thread to become frayed by engagement with the walls and edges of the slit as it is engaged or pinched therein and subsequently disengaged therefrom.

Numerous attempts have been made to provide reels, particularly reels of plastics material, with a thread retaining means, but none of the solutions proposed has given really satisfactory results, either because of the complications involved in the manufacture of the reel or because of other defects in the system.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved reel for thread or like filamentary material in which the disadvantages referred to above shall be materially reduced if not substantially obviated.

According to the present invention there is provided a reel for thread or like filamentary material comprising a cylindrical body on which the thread is to be wound, and a cap mounted on one end of the cylindrical body for angular displacement relative thereto and formed with a means to receive a part of the thread whereby, relative angular displacement of the cap engages the thread between the cap and the cylindrical body.

One embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example, reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a part elevational, part sectional view of a reel for thread or like filamentary material according to the invention, Fig. 2 is an end elevational view of the body of the reel of Fig. 1 with the end cap omitted and to a smaller scale, Fig. 3 is a plan view, to the same scale as Fig.

2, of the interior of the end cap omitted from Fig.

1.

In this example, a reel for thread or the like filamentary material is made of a plastics material by separately moulding a cylindrical body a and two end caps b which are subsequently mounted on the respective ends of the body a as will be described hereafter.

Integrally moulded with the body a at each end in an outwardly opening cup-shaped member having a base a and a cylindrical or annular part Integrally moulded with the body a at each end is an outwardly opening cup-shaped member having a base a1 and a cylindrical or annular part a2 spaced from the body a formed with an external annular rib i. Between the annular part a2 and the base a1 is an external annular shoulder a3.

Each end cap b is cup-shaped and comprises a circular base b, formed with a central aperture b2 and an annular skirt b3 the external surface of which is of frusto-conical shape tapering towards the base b, and the internal surface of which is tapered or chamfered at the mouth as atj1, the taper at the mouth being towards the base b,, and leading to an internal annular ribj.

The annular skirt b3 is dimensioned to enable cap b to be pushed over the annular part a2, this operation being facilitated by the chamfered mouth j,. The annular ribs i and j are located and dimensioned to enable the ribjto be pushed over the rib iwith a snap action facilitated by the flexibility of the annular part a2 and the skirt b3.

The cap b is then retained on the annular part a2 and is rotatable thereon. The axial length of the skirt b3 and of the annular part a2 is such that when the cap b is mounted on the part a2, an annular gap or clearance e is left between the open end of the skirt b3 and the shoulder a3.

In order to limit the rotation of the cap b on the body a, the latter is provided at its end with two diametrally opposed projections g and g1 and the cap b is provided with at least one projection h on the inner face of the base b, and on the same radius as the projections g and g,. Two projections h are provided in this example. With advantage, these projections g, g and h are so profiled that if a projection g and g1 should happen to opposite a projection h when the cap b is being pushed with axial pressure on the end of the reel body, then the projections will slide the one or the other under the assembly pressure, causing a slight relative rotation between the cap b and the body a.

In this example, as will be apparent, the rotation of the cap b relative to the body a is limited to less than 1800 but this can be selected to be any desired value by appropriately locating the projection g, g1 and h.

The skirt b3 is formed with a tapered slot c which has its largest dimension at the free end of the skirt b3 and which leads at its other end to a slot dformed in the base b,.

In Fig. 1 the chain-dotted line t denotes the thread wound on to the reel body a and fdenotes the free end of the thread which is to be secured.

In order to secure the thread, the free end fis introduced through the slot c into the slot dand whilst the thread is maintained under a slight tension, the cap b is rotated relative to the body part a in the sense of winding the thread on to the reel. This causes the free end of the thread fto ride into the gap or clearance e where it is wedged between the skirt b3 and the annular part a2. This secures the thread without risk of damage.

In order to release the free end fof the thread, the cap b is rotated in the opposite direction, i.e.

in the direction of unwinding the thread from the reel. This can be achieved simply by exerting a pull on the free end of the thread fin the appropriate direction, i.e. in the unwinding direction.

The length of thread trapped between the skirt b3 and the annular part a2 depends upon the degree of relative rotation between the cap b and the reel body a. In order to prevent too great a length of thread being trapped, leading to potential difficulties, such rotation is limited by the stops g, ga, and h as described above.

In the example illustrated in Fig. 1, it will be noted that the slot d is of trapezoidal shape. This is to ensure that the thread can be properly seated in the slot d. Also, in order to avoid any risk of the thread catching in the slot of a cap when it is being unreeled, regardless of the position of the reel, e.g. when used on a sewing machine, the largest external diameter of a cap b which, in this example, is the free end of the skirt b3, is less than the largest diameter of the reel body which, in this example, is the outer diameter of the shoulder a3.

The caps b are thus within the general profile of the assembled reel. This feature is further enhanced by the frusto-conical shape of the skirt b3.

In the embodiment described, a separate similar cap b is provided similarly mounted at each end of the body part a so that the free end f of thread can be secured at either end at will. In practice, and in accordance with the invention, only one such rotatable end cap b need be provided.

It will be appreciated that the invention is not limited to the specific embodiment described and many variations are possible within the scope of the invention. For example, the cap or caps b need not be fitted as a snap fit but could be by way of a bayonet connection affording sufficient angular displacement between such a cap b and the body part a. Also, the number and form of the stops which limit the angular movement of the cap or caps b, and also the configuration of the slots c and dcan be varied.

As will be understood, the invention is applicable to any reels for filamentary material.

The reel of the invention provides a means for carrying and securing thread or like filamentary material which is easy to manufacture, assemble and use and which is economic to produce.

Claims

1. A reel for thread or like filamentary material comprising a cylindrical body on which the thread is to be wound, and a cap mounted on one end of the cylindrical body for angular displacement relative thereto and formed with a means to receive a part of the thread whereby, relative angular displacement of the cap engages the thread between the cap and the cylindrical body.

2. A reel according to Claim 1 in which the cap is mounted on the cylindrical body by a snap engagement.

3. A reel according to Claim 1 or 2 in which the largest external diameter of the cap is less than the largest external diameter of the reel body.

4. A reel according to Claim 1, 2 or 3 in which the cap has a frusto-conical profile tapering away from the reel body.

5. A reel according to any one of the preceding claims in which the thread receiving means comprises a slot leading from the free edge of the cap and an annular clearance is provided between the free edge of the cap and the cylindrical body.

6. A reel according to any one of the preceding claims in which a similar cap is mounted at each end of the cylindrical body.

7. A reel according to Claim 1 in which the cap comprises a base and a skirt portion, the skirt portion between disposed about a cylindrical or annular part of the cylindrical body.

8. A reel according to Claim 7 in which the thread receiving means comprises a slot extending from the free end of the skirt portion to a slot in the base.

9. A reel according to Claim 8 in which the slot extending from the free end of the skirt portion is tapered with its largest dimension at the free end of the skirt portion.

10. A reel according to Claim 8 or 9 in which the slot in the base is of trapezoidal shape.

11. A reel according to any one of Claims 7 to 10 in which an annular clearance is provided between the free end of the skirt portion and an annular shoulder formed on the cylindrical or annular part of the cylindrical body.

12. A reel according to any one of Claims 7 to 11 in which the cylindrical or annular part of the cylindrical body part is provided with an external annular rib and the skirt portion is provided with an internal annular rib, the ribs being located and dimensioned to enable the internal rib to snap over the external rib to mount the cap on the cylindrical body and then retain the cap thereon.

13. A reel according to any one of Claims 7 to 1 2 in which engageable stop means is provided on the cylindrical body and the cap to limit rotation of the one relative to the other

14. A reel according to Claim 13 in which the engageable stop means comprises two diametrally opposed projections formed on the cylindrical body and at least one projection on the inner face of the base of the cap on the same radius as the projections on the cylindrical body.

1 5. A reel according to Claim 14 in which the projections are profiled to cause one to slide over the other and rotate the cap relative to the annular body under the influence of axial pressure in the event that the respective projections are exactly superimposed when the cap is mounted on the end of the annular body.

1 6. A reel according to any one of Claims 7 to 1 5 in which the skirt portion is chamfered or tapered inwardly from its free end to facilitate mounting about the cylindrical or annular part of the cylindrical body.

1 7. A reel according to any one of Claims 7 to 1 6 in which the largest external diameter of the cap is iess than the largest external diameter of the reel body.

1 8. A reel according to any one of Claims 7 to 1 7 in which the skirt portion is of frusto-conical form tapering towards the base.

1 9. A reel according to any one of Claims 7 to 1 8 in which a second similar cap is similarly mounted at the other end of the cylindrical body.

20. A reel according to any one of the preceding claims made of moulded plastics material.

21. A reel for thread or like filamentary material constructed, arranged and adapted to operate substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.