GB2478942A - Device for holding needles,pins and similarly shaped objects - Google Patents

Abstract

A device for holding needles, pins and objects with shapes similar to those of needles and pins comprised of two or more rigid longitudinal members 1 supporting flexible lateral members 2 between which is stretched and affixed a mesh component 3 of material through which needles, pins and similarly shaped objects can be inserted, held securely and protected from contact on their ends with materials outside of the device and such that the flexible lateral members 2 will bend forming an arch with the mesh component 3 when a compressing force is applied transversely to the longitudinal members 1 along the lateral axis of the device towards its centre allowing needles, pins and similarly shaped objects to be inserted into and removed from the device.

Description

Device for holding Needles, Pins and Similarly Shaped Objects This invention relates to a device for holding needles, pins and objects with shapes similar to those of needles and pins.

Pin cushions and needle wallets made of cloth, leather or other flexible materials have long been known in the art, as have rigid-sided box-like containers, and are used to hold sewing pins, needles and similarly shaped objects so that these thin, pointed objects are safely stored and readily available when needed.

However, the use of these conventional holders can lead to a number of difficulties. If a pin cushion is used with the points of needles, pins or similarly shaped objects embedded in the cushion, the rear portions of these embedded objects project from the cushion and are easily snagged on materials with which the pin cushion comes into contact, such as loose thread and fabrics, becoming entangled and dislodged from the pin cushion. If a needle wallet comprised of fabric or some similar flexible material is used to hold needles, pins or similarly shaped objects, while enclosing them in such a way that their rear portions do not normally extend beyond the structure of the wallet, it does not hold needles, pins or similarly shaped objects under tension beyond that provided by the unsupported flexible material making up the wallet nor does it provide a ridged barrier to block the movement of the pointed ends of the needles, pins and similarly shaped objects held within it. This allows the pointed ends to stick through the material of the needle wallet, posing a danger of their sticking in to those things with which the wallet comes into contact, even when the wallet is closed. If a rigid-sided box-like container is used to hold needles, pins or similarly shaped objects, while containing the held objects in such a way that their ends do not normally extend beyond the container and posing a rigid barrier such that their pointed end do not stick through the walls of the container, the shapes of needles, pins and similarly shaped objects make them difficult to retrieve by hand from such a container.

The invention is set forth and characterized in the main claim, while the dependent claims describe other characteristics of the invention.

To overcome the problems existing in the art, the present invention proposes a device for holding needles, pins and objects with shapes similar to those of needles and pins comprised of rigid longitudinal members supporting flexible lateral members between which is stretched and affixed a mesh component of material through which pins, needles and similarly shaped objects can be inserted and held securely and so protected from contact on their ends with objects outside of the device.

The device is comprised preferably of separate longitudinal members, separate lateral members and a separate mesh component each comprised of different materials so as to utilize the different characteristics those materials may possess although the device can be comprised of one piece of one material, one piece of a composite of materials or of multiple pieces of the same material.

The longitudinal members are comprised of a material that is rigid at the thickness used to a force applied transversely to them along the lateral axis of the device towards its centre, such as acrylic, although they can be comprised of other materials such as other plastics, metals or wood. The thickness of the longitudinal members is that which is sufficient to provide rigidity in the material used.

The lateral members are comprised of a material that is flexible at the thickness used to a compressing force applied along the lateral axis of the device towards it centre, such as polypropylene or polycarbonate plastic, although they can be comprised of other flexible materials such as other plastics, thin strips of metals or wood.

The lateral members can be comprised of one or more pieces.

The longitudinal members preferably form two rigid parallel structures of equal length extending the full longitudinal length of the device as defined by the positions of the lateral members although they could form a greater number of structures, could extend beyond the positions of the lateral members and need not be parallel. The distance between the longitudinal members is greater than the length of the longest needle, pin or similarly shaped object to be held in the device. The thickness of the longitudinal members is preferably such that the plane defined by the upper most surface of the longitudinal members is at a height above the surface of the mesh component of the device that is equal to or greater than half the diameter of the thickest needle, pin or similarly shaped object to be held in the device.

The lateral members preferably form two flexible parallel structures extending across the full lateral width of the device as defined by the spacing of the longitudinal members although they could form a greater number of structures, could extend beyond the longitudinal members and need not be parallel.

The mesh component is preferably comprised of a material such as a fabric of such a composition and weave that needles, pins and similarly shaped objects can be inserted into it in two or more places along their lengths in a direction approximately parallel to the lateral axis of the device and held securely when the device is not being compressed by a force applied laterally across the device although it can be comprised of a web or mesh of fibre, plastic or metal.

The invention will now be described solely by way of non-restrictive examples and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a device for holding needles, pins and similarly shaped objects.

Figure 2 shows the device at rest without a compressing force applied to it.

Figure 3 shows the device beginning to flex along its lateral members as the result of a compressing force applied transversely to the longitudinal members along the lateral axis of the device towards its centre.

Figure 4 shows the device with a compressing force applied laterally to it causing the lateral members to flex to the point that the mesh of material stretched and affixed between the members has been raised above the plane defined by the upper-most surfaces of the longitudinal members.

Figure 5 shows a needle or pin being inserted two or more times along its length into the mesh component of the device by being passed in a direction approximately parallel to the lateral axis of the device and above a plane defined by the upper most surfaces of the longitudinal members and into the mesh component which has been raised above that plane.

Figure 6 shows the device holding a needle or pin as a compressing force is being withdrawn from the longitudinal members, causing the lateral members to decrease proportionately in the amount of flexing exhibited along their lengths.

Figure 7 shows the device holding a needle or pin at rest after the compressing force has been withdrawn entirely and the lateral members have regained their original shape.

Figure 8 shows a front elevation view of the device holding a needle or pin.

Figure 9 shows a plan view of the device holding a needle or pin.

Figure 10 shows the device at rest holding a needle or pin.

Figure 11 shows the device holding a needle or pin with a compressing force applied transversely through the longitudinal members along the lateral axis of the device towards its centre and such that the central portion of the mesh component and the needle or pin held within it are raised above a plane defined by the upper most surfaces of the longitudinal members.

Figure 12 shows a needle or pin being withdrawn from the device.

Figure 13 shows a needle of pin fully withdrawn from the device and the compressing force being withdrawn.

Figure 14 shows the device returning to its uncompressed shape as the compressing force is withdrawn.

Figure 15 shows the device in its uncompressed shape without a pin or needle being held in it.

Figure 16 shows a preferred embodiment of the device.

With reference to the attached drawings, Figure 1 shows a preferred embodiment of the device and not by way of limitation for holding a needle, pin or similarly shaped object 4 up to 60 millimetres in length and comprised of four strips of acrylic plastic 1 three millimetres thick, ten millimetres wide and 120 millimetres long arranged in two pairs above and below and coextensive with the longest edge of a sheet of polypropylene plastic 2 two millimetres thick, 80 millimetres wide and 120 millimetres long and from which a rectangle has been centrally removed with dimensions twenty millimetres less than the dimensions of the polypropylene sheet. Across the polypropylene sheet 2 is centrally stretched a rectangle of fabric 3 such a calico or canvas that is 144 millimetres long, 104 millimetres wide and the edges of the rectangle of fabric 3 are wrapped over the outermost edges of the polypropylene sheet 2. Each pair of acrylic strips I are attached together through the rectangle of fabric 3 and the polypropylene sheet 2 by a suitable means know in the art, such as mechanical fastening with pins, rivets, bolts or screws, adhesive bonding, welding or a combination of such means to affix the rectangle of fabric 3 over the polypropylene sheet 2 and between the acrylic strips 1. The longitudinal edges of the rectangle of fabric 3 not held between the acrylic strips 1, wrapped over the longitudinal edges of the polypropylene sheet 2, are affixed over the longitudinal edges of the polypropylene sheet 2 by a suitable means known in the art, such as stitching with tread, riveting, stapling, adhesive bonding or a combination of such means. The dimensions stated here are given by way of example only and do not limit the size or proportions of the device which can be of a greater or lesser size and of other proportions that those stated as would be desirable depending on the size of the needles, pins or similarly shaped objects 4 to be held within it, the materials used in its construction and the use to be made of the device.

Figure 1 shows the longitudinal members 1 supporting the lateral members 2 and between these members a mesh component 3 is stretched and affixed.

Figure 2 shows a compressing force being applied to longitudinal members 1 of the device when at rest.

Figure 3 shows lateral members 2 flexing to form an arch when a compressing force is applied transversely to the longitudinal members along the lateral axis of the device towards its centre.

Figure 4 shows how the mesh component 3 is raised in an arch above the device by the application of a compressing force.

Figure 5 show how a needle or pin 4 can be inserted into the device without interference from the sides of the device when the device is compressed.

Figure 6 shows how a needle or pin inserted into the compressed device in a direction approximately parallel to its lateral axis is retained within the device as the compressing force is removed and the lateral members 2 return to their uncompressed shape.

Figure 7 shows the device with a needle or pin 4 held within it.

Figures 8 and 9 show two views of the device holding a needle or pin 4 within it by means of a mesh component 3 stretched and affixed between lateral members 2 and longitudinal members 1 spaced a distance apart greater than the length of the needle or pin 4.

Figures 10 through 15 show the reverse of the procedure shown in Figures 2 through 7. In Figure 10, a needle or pin 4 is held in place within the device when at rest by the mesh component 3. In Figure 11, a compressing force applied transversely to the longitudinal members 1 along the lateral axis of the device towards its centre causes the lateral members 2 to flex forming an arch. This arching of the lateral members 2 is further shown in Figure 12, where the arch is raised high enough above a plane defined by the upper-most surface of the longitudinal members 1 that a needle or pin 4 can be withdrawn from the device without interference by those longitudinal members and afterwards the compressing force can be withdrawn, as is shown in Figure 13. When the compressing force is withdrawn, as is shown in Figure 14, the flexible lateral members 2 cause the device to return to its un-compressed shape, as in Figure 15.

Figure 16 shows another preferred embodiment of the device and not by way of limitation, in which the device can be made from a single continuous piece of acetyl or nylon plastic by machining, casting, extruding or by other suitable means so that there is formed two or more rigid longitudinal members 1 separated by a flexible sheet or sheets of the same plastic 5 into which are drilled, punched, cut or moulded through holes 6 of such a size and arranged in such a manner that needles, pins or similarly shaped objects 4 can be inserted into them two or more times along their lengths and held securely by the sheet and so combining the function of the lateral members 2 of the device with that of the mesh component 3.

In place of any preferred plastic, other plastics can be used to form the device. In place of plastics, metals can be used. Where appropriate to the method of construction, wood can be used for some or all of the longitudinal or lateral members. The mesh component can be comprised of other fabrics than those preferred or of webs or meshes of fibres, plastics or metals.

Claims (3)

1. Claims 1. A device to hold needles, pins and objects of shapes similar to those of needles and pins comprised of two or more rigid longitudinal members spaced a distance apart greater than the length of the longest needle, pin or similarly shaped object to be held within the device, supporting a flexible lateral member or members over which is stretched and affixed a mesh component and which will bend when a compressing force is applied transversely to the longitudinal members along the lateral axis of the device towards it centre causing the lateral members to form an arch with the mesh component rising above a plane defined by the upper-most surfaces of the longitudinal members such that needles, pins and similarly shaped objects can be inserted into or removed from the mesh component two or more times along their lengths in a direction approximately parallel to the lateral axis of the device and be held securely within the mesh component when so inserted and protected on their ends by the longitudinal members when the compressing force is withdrawn and the flexible lateral members have returned to their uncompressed shape.
2. 2. A device according to claim 1, in which the height above the mesh component of the plane defined by the upper most surfaces of the longitudinal members when the device is not compressed is equal to or greater than one half of the diameter of the thickest needle, pin or similarly shaped object to be held in the device.
3. 3. A device according to claim 1, in which all parts of the device are made from a single continuous piece of material of varying thickness such that the lateral members are combined with the mesh component in the form of a sheet or sheets of flexible material into which are positioned through holes of such arrangement and size that needles, pins or similarly shaped objects can be inserted into them two or more times along their lengths and be held securely by the sheet.