GB2252761A - Collapsible bobbin - Google Patents

Abstract

A portable collapsible winding bobbin comprises a hollow core 12. A removable circular flange 18 is secured at each end of the core and an axle 24 is passed through the flanges and core. Lengths of hook and loop material 2 are attached, e.g. by nails 28, to the core to allow a web e.g. a bowling mat 30, to be positioned relative to, and attached to, the core. For mat winding, the axle ends may be supported on chairs. <IMAGE>

Description

PORTABLE WINDING BOBBIN The present invention relates to a portable winding bobbin.

In particular though not exclusively the present invention relates to a portable winding bobbin for rolling up and storing a bowling mat.

The game of short-mat bowling involves the use of a piaying mat which is 6' wide by 45' long. The mat comprises a playing surface layer and a backing layer. In use the mat is laid with the playing surface layer uppermost on the available flooring which can comprise a wooden floor, a carpeted floor, a part carpeted and wooden floor, or a asphalt floor. After play the mat has to be rolled up with the playing surface layer outermost. This involves the entire length of the mat being turned over before them mat can be rolled up.

It will be appreciated that the turning over of a 45' length of mat is an arduous task and is preferably done by two or more people. Even when the mat has been turned over, the rolling up process has to be conducted with care otherwise the mat tends to be rolled up in the form of a spiral rather than a cylinder.

Usually there is more than one mat to be rolled up after play has ceased and therefore the rolling up and storing of the playing mats can take considerable time and effort once playing has finished.

The present invention seeks to provide a portable winding bobbin which avoids the need for the playing mat to be turned over and which enables the mat to be rolled up into a cylindrical form with relative ease.

Accordingly the present invention provides a portable winding bobbin comprising a core member having removeable end members, an axle passable through the core member and the end members7 the core member having securing means enabling the end of a length of material which is to be wound onto the bobbin to be attached to the bobbin and correctly aligned with the bobbin.

The bobbin core member can include a slot at each end and each end member can have a corresponding projection to cooperate with the slots in the core member.

The core member is preferably circular in section and the slot at each end is defined by two sector shaped inserts attached to the core member.

Each end member can comprise a disk having a central opening to receive the axle and the projection can be defined by two rectangular blocks on each side of the central opening.

The securing means can comprise two or more lengths of VELCRO (registered trade mark) material attached at one end to the core member and hanging free.

The present invention will now be more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which, Fig. 1 is an exploded view of one form of portable winding bobbin according to the present invention, Fig. 2 is a view on arrow A in Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a view on arrow B in Fig. 1, and Fig. 4 is a detail to an enlarged scale of part of Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawings a portable winding bobbin 10 comprises a hollow cylindrical core member 12, having a slot 14 at each end defined by sector shaped members 16 which are attached to the core member 12.

The bobbin 10 has a removeable circular member 18 at each end, each removeable member having a central opening 20 and two rectangular blocks 22 located on each side of the central opening and attached to the end member. The blocks 22 are sized and located to co-operate with the slots 14 at the ends of the core member.

An axle 24 passes through both end members 18 and the core member 12 which is provided with securing means 26 in the form of three strips of VELCRO material 26. Each strip hangs free and is attached at one end to the core member by, for example rivets 28.

In order to use the bobbin 10, the end members 18 are attached to the core member 12 by insertion of the blocks 22 into the respective slots 14 at the ends of the core member. The axle 24 is then passed through the end members 18 and the core member 12 so that an approximately equal length of axle is extending from each end member 18. The free ends of the axle 24 are then placed on a pair of chairs, the chair seats being of approximately equal height. The bobbin is levelled using a spirit level (not shown) and the height of the chairs is adjusted by a suitable packing under the legs of the chairs, or packing under the axles.

An end of a playing mat 30 a part of which is shown in outline only in Fig. 1 is attached to the VELCRO strips 26 so that the mat is correctly aligned, ie square to the core member 12. The remainder of the carpet can be left laying free or folded depending upon the nature of the floor on which the playing mat is lying. For example, in the case of a wooden floor, the playing mat can be left in the playing position. If the mat is lying partly upon a wooden floor and a carpetted floor, that length of the mat lying on the carpet can be folded from the point where the carpet and wooden floor meet. If the mat is lying on a wholly carpet laid floor then one end of the mat can be folded to meet the other end of the mat.

Once one end of the playing mat has been attached to the VELCRO strips the core member 12 can be turned using the end members 18 to provide leverage and the mat can be wound onto the core member. If the mat starts to telescope as it is being wound onto the core member, the mat can be pulled back into line as the core member is being turned Once the mat has been wound onto the core member the bobbin 10 complete with wound up playing mat can be lifted from the chairs and the axle and end members removed from the core member 12. The playing mat and the core member 12 can then be stored wherever required.

It will be appreciated that the end members 18 and the axle 24 can then be used in association with another or other core members 12 in order to roll up and store other playing mats.

It will be further appreciated that the portable winding bobbin according to the present invention provides a relatively simple apparatus for winding up and storing playing mats with relative ease.

It will also be appreciated that the portable winding bobbin according to the present invention can also be used to wind up and store lengths of material other than playing mats for indoor bowling.

Claims (7)

1. A portable winding bobbin comprising a core member having removable end members, an axial passable through the core member and the end members, the core member having securing means enabling the end of a length of material to be wound onto the bobbin to be attached to the bobbin and correctly aligned with the bobbin.

2. A bobbin as claimed in claim 1 in which each end of the core member includes a slot and each end member has a projection shaped to co-operate with the slot.

3. A bobbin as claimed in claim 2 in which the core member is circular in section and the slot at each end is defined by two segments shaped inserts attached to the core member.

4. A bobbin as claimed in claim 3 in which each end member is a disc having a central opening to receive the axial, and the projection is defined by two rectangular blocks on each side of the central opening.

5. A bobbin as claimed in claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the securing means comprises at least two lengths of velcro (registered trade mark) material attached at one end to the core member.

6. A bobbin as claimed in claim 5 in which the lengths of velcro (registered trade mark) material are attached to the core member, the length being equi-spaced, with one length located centrally on the core member.

7. A portable winding bobbin constructed and arranged for use in operation substantially as herein described, and with reference to the accompanying drawings.