GB2366302A

GB2366302A - Needle craft frame

Info

Publication number: GB2366302A
Application number: GB0021320A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jillian F Taylor
Original assignee: NEEDLE NEEDS Ltd
Current assignee: NEEDLE NEEDS Ltd
Priority date: 2000-08-30
Filing date: 2000-08-30
Publication date: 2002-03-06
Also published as: GB0021320D0

Abstract

A needle craft frame has two fabric restraining members (2, 4) to which a fabric to be worked upon is attached. The fabric restraining members (2, 4) are held substantially parallel and spaced apart from one another by two control elements (6, 8) that form the sides of the frame. Each control element (6, 8) has a threaded end that is threadedly engaged with one of the fabric restraining members (2, 4). By rotating the control elements (6, 8) the distance between the restraining members (2, 4) can be varied as the restraining member (2, 4) translates along the thread on the control elements (6, 8), thus allowing the fabric to be worked upon to be tensioned.

Description

<Desc/Clms Page number 1> NEEDLE CRAFT FRAME The present invention relates to a needle craft ftame. Such a frame is used in embroidery in order to hold the fabric being embroidered such that it remains substantially flat and that both sides thereof are accessible.

Needle craft frames are known wherein first and second spaced apart generally cylindrical elements are held at a fixed distance from one another by side elements. The spaced apart members are rotatable with respect to the sido elements such that they can be rotated to wind the fabric therebetween into a state of moderate tension. -Me first and second spaced apart elements are then clamped with respect to the side elements to maintain this state of tension. However, if the material is not put on uniforrnly with respect to the frame, these fi=es can result in the material on one side of the frame being tensioned whilst the material at the other side of the frame is not properly tensioned.

According to the present invention, them is provided a needle craft frame comprising first and second spaced apart members for receiving and engaging a fabric extending therebetween, and tensioning means extending between the first and second spaced apart members, wherein the tensioning means comprises at least one control element in screw threaded engagement with one of the first and second spaced apart members and engaged with the other of the first and second spaced apart members such that rotation of the at least one control element with respect to the spaced apart members varies the separation of the first and second spaced apart members.

By having the control element ha%ing a threaded portion which directly engages one of the first and second part members, it is possible to provide a needle craR fmme in which the first and second spaced apart members may be moved with respect to one another and in which they may be, if necessary, slightly inclined with respect to one another in order to keep the fabric therebetween under tension. Furthermore, the use of screw threaded inter-engagement between the at least one control element and one of the first and second spaced apart members provides a reliable, robust and inexpensive arrangement for controlling the separation between said members.

Preferably two control elements are provided, one adjacent each side of the fi=e. Thus each control element can be operated to move the first and second spaced apart elements with respect to one another and to keep them substantially parallel.

The present invention will further be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, inwbich, Figure I schematically illustrates a needle craft frame constitutiug an embodiment of the present invention; and Figure 2 is a cross sectional view along the line AW of Figure 1 showing the mechanism for attaching the fabric to the fi=e.

The needle craft frame shown in Figure I comprises a first member 2 held in a spaced apart configuration with respect to a second member 4 via control elements 6 and 8, respectively. The first member 2 has first and second passageways 10 and 12 formed therein which accept an extension 14 of the control element 6 and an extension 16 of the control elemeni 8, respectively. The extensions 14 and 16 are of reduced radius compared to the remainder of the control elements 6 and 8. This gives rise to the formation of a.shoulder 18 on the first control element 6 and a shoulder 20 on the second control element 8 against which the first member 2 can bear.

Each control element 6 and 8 has a screw threaded portion which, in use, screw threadedly engages with a respective passage '30 and 32 formed in the second member 4. Thus, rotation of the first and second control elements 6 and 8 causes the second member 4 to translate along the screw threaded portion. Thus it is possible to accurately control the. distance between the first and second members 2 and 4 by romtion of the control elemem 6 and S. in order to facilitate rotation of the control elements, handles 34 and 36 are provided. These handles may be integrally formed with the elements 6 and 8, or may be attached thereto. Furthermore, although the handles 34 and 36 have been illustrated as being positioned intermediate the elements 2 and 4, they can also be attached to either end of the elements 6 and 8 for example by screwing them on to the threaded portions or by attaching them to the extensions 14 and 16 if these were modified to extend through the first element 2.

In use, the material to be embroidered is aitached between the members 2 and 4 and the control elements 6 and 8 are rotated to cause the members 2 and 4 to move apart until the material is suitably tensioned.

Figure 2 shows the attachment arrangement in more detail. Each of the members 2 and 4 has an elongate groove 40 formed therein. The groove is profiled such that the walls thereof extending away from the mouth 42 of the groove are inclined with respect to each other, and that the width of the groove increases with increasing distance from the mouth 42. In order to secure the material to the member 2, the material 44 is folded such tliat a loop of it extends within the groove. A dowel 46 is then inserted from one side of the member 2 or 4 such that it extends within the loop of material and within the groove 40. The diameter of the dowel 46 is selected such that this is greater than the width of the mouth 42 of the groove. Thus, as the material 44 comes under tension the dowel 46 moves towards the mouth 42 of the groove and in so doing becomes wedged against the side walls of the groove 40 thereby clamping the material 44 with respect to the member 2. This anangement is provided in both the members 2 and 4 thereby providing a simple and reliable method of attaching the material to the embroidery fi-arne.

It is thus possible to provide a needle craft frame in which the material to be worked on can be readily and easily attached between two spaced apart members and then tensioned by use of a simple and inexpensive tensioning mechanism.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A needle craft frame comprising first and second fabric receiving members for receiving and engaging a fabric extending therebetween and tensioning means extending between said first and second fabric receiving members, wherein said tensioning means comprises at least one control element having a screw threaded portion in threaded engagement with one of said first and second fabric receiving members and a further portion rotationally engaged with the other of said first and second fabric receiving members such that rotation of the at least one control element with respect to the fabric receiving members varies the separation of said first and second fabric receiving members.
2. A needle craft frame according to claim 1, wherein said tensioning means comprises two control members located substantially at the periphery of said needle craft frame.
3. A needle craft frame according to claim I or 2, wherein the or each control member further comprises a handle to facilitate rotation of said control member.
4. A needle craft frame according to any preceding claim, wherein at least one of said first and second fabric receiving member includes fabric attachment means comprising an elongate groove arranged to receive a fold of said fabric and an elongate rod arranged to engage with said groove and said fold of fabric.
5. A needle craft frame according to claim 5, wherein said groove has an elongate mouth the width of which is less than the diameter of said elongate rod, whereby said fabric is held between said elongate rod and said elongate mouth.
6. A needle craft frame according to claim 4 or 5, wherein said first and second fabric receiving member each include fabric attachment means.

<Desc/Clms Page number 5>
7. A needle craft frame according to any preceding claim, wherein said further portion of the or each control element comprises a shoulder against which one of said fabric receiving members bears.
8. A needle craft frame according to any preceding claim, wherein the or each control element is of unitary construction
9. A needle craft frame substantially as described with reference to, or as shown in, the accompanying figures.