US20170029987A1 - Device for weaving a linked item and a pack of pliable material for use in weaving the linked item - Google Patents
Device for weaving a linked item and a pack of pliable material for use in weaving the linked item Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20170029987A1 US20170029987A1 US14/812,091 US201514812091A US2017029987A1 US 20170029987 A1 US20170029987 A1 US 20170029987A1 US 201514812091 A US201514812091 A US 201514812091A US 2017029987 A1 US2017029987 A1 US 2017029987A1
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- members
- support frame
- pliable
- gripping
- weaving
- 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.)
- Abandoned
Links
Images
Classifications
-
- D—TEXTILES; PAPER
- D04—BRAIDING; LACE-MAKING; KNITTING; TRIMMINGS; NON-WOVEN FABRICS
- D04D—TRIMMINGS; RIBBONS, TAPES OR BANDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- D04D7/00—Decorative or ornamental textile articles
- D04D7/02—Flat articles
-
- D—TEXTILES; PAPER
- D03—WEAVING
- D03D—WOVEN FABRICS; METHODS OF WEAVING; LOOMS
- D03D37/00—Circular looms
-
- D—TEXTILES; PAPER
- D03—WEAVING
- D03D—WOVEN FABRICS; METHODS OF WEAVING; LOOMS
- D03D29/00—Hand looms
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A44—HABERDASHERY; JEWELLERY
- A44C—PERSONAL ADORNMENTS, e.g. JEWELLERY; COINS
- A44C27/00—Making jewellery or other personal adornments
- A44C27/001—Materials for manufacturing jewellery
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A44—HABERDASHERY; JEWELLERY
- A44C—PERSONAL ADORNMENTS, e.g. JEWELLERY; COINS
- A44C5/00—Bracelets; Wrist-watch straps; Fastenings for bracelets or wrist-watch straps
- A44C5/02—Link constructions
- A44C5/025—Link constructions with links threaded on a band
- A44C5/027—Link constructions with links threaded on a band the band also made of links
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A44—HABERDASHERY; JEWELLERY
- A44C—PERSONAL ADORNMENTS, e.g. JEWELLERY; COINS
- A44C5/00—Bracelets; Wrist-watch straps; Fastenings for bracelets or wrist-watch straps
- A44C5/02—Link constructions
- A44C5/04—Link constructions extensible
- A44C5/08—Link constructions extensible having separate links
-
- D—TEXTILES; PAPER
- D04—BRAIDING; LACE-MAKING; KNITTING; TRIMMINGS; NON-WOVEN FABRICS
- D04D—TRIMMINGS; RIBBONS, TAPES OR BANDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- D04D11/00—Ribbon-threading apparatus or devices
Definitions
- the second holding member comprises a gripper with first and second gripping members which are moveable relatively between open and closed positions.
- second holder member includes at least two, first and second grippers.
Abstract
A portable device for weaving an item from a pliable member. The device includes a support frame defining a weaving area and having upper and lower surfaces, and a holder positionable on the support frame, adjacent the weaving area, and accessible from at least the upper surface of the support frame for releasably holding the pliable member across the weaving area. The holder includes first and second releasable holding members. The first and second holding members are spaced apart by the weaving area for holding the pliable member across the weaving area. In another aspect, the invention is directed to a pack of pliable material for weaving an item including at least two pliable members interconnected by a web.
Description
- The present invention relates to a device for weaving an item and a pliable material for use in weaving the item, for example particularly, but not exclusively, a wearable item.
- Looms used to weave colorful rubber bands into bracelets are known. The weaving of bracelets becomes a popular pastime targeting at children. A recent and popular one would be the Rainbow Loom®. Loose rubber bands are sold in packs. The rubber bands are tangled inside the pack making them difficult to retrieve. Too much pressure on the packs will cause the packing to burst.
- Conventionally looms are used to weave strings into linked items. The relatively long loose strings are even more prompt to tangle than the rubber bands.
- Looms are usually not portable. They are machines with the basic purpose to hold the wrap threads under tension to facilitate the interweaving of the weft threads. The shape of the loom may vary but the size is usually taller than a seated-human.
- The invention seeks to eliminate or at least to mitigate such shortcomings for more fun by providing a new or otherwise improved device for weaving a linked item and pliable material arranged in an improved and novel manner.
- According to the invention, there is provided a portable device for weaving an item from a pliable member, comprising: a support frame defining a weaving area and having upper and lower surfaces, and a holder positioning on the support frame adjacent the weaving area and accessible from at least the upper surface of the support frame for releasably holding said pliable member across the weaving area, wherein the holder includes first and second releasable holding members, the holding members are set apart by the weaving area for holding said pliable member across the weaving area.
- Preferably, the first holding member is provided on the upper surface of the support frame and the second holding member extends across the upper and lower surfaces.
- More preferably, the lower surface of the support frame is provided with a releasable attachment means for releasably attaching the support frame on a support surface.
- Advantageously, the weaving area comprises an aperture that extends through the upper and lower surfaces of the support frame.
- More advantageously, the support frame comprises upper and lower frame parts each having a through hole, upon assembling the upper and lower frame parts to form the frame structure, the through holes align to form the aperture.
- Preferably, the first holding member comprises a projection with a periphery over which said pliable member runs.
- More preferably, the first holding member includes a retainer for retaining said pliable member on the periphery of the projection.
- Yet more preferably the retainer is moveable between open and closed positions and the projection includes a free end closeable by the retainer which is moved to the closed position to thereby retain the pliable member on the periphery of the projection.
- It is preferable that the retainer is resiliently biased to the closed position.
- Preferably, the second holding member comprises a gripper with first and second gripping members which are moveable relatively between open and closed positions.
- More preferably, the gripping members, at the closed position, are spaced apart by a gap which increases in magnitude when the gripping members move to the opened position.
- Yet more preferably, the gripping members are resiliently biased to the closed position.
- Advantageously, the gripping members are resiliently biased to the closed position by an inherent resilience of the first gripping member and movable to the open position by deformation of the first gripping member.
- More advantageously, the first and second holding members are provided at opposite end portions of the support frame, which defines a first axis, and the gripping members of the second holding member are movable between the open and closed positions along a second axis traverse to the first axis.
- It is advantageous that the first gripping member is situated in a seat to restrict its relative position therein, and wherein the seat is pre-formed in one of the upper and lower frame parts of the frame structure.
- Preferably, the first gripping member is an L-shaped formation.
- More preferably, L-shaped formation includes a free end for engaging a surface of the second gripping member.
- Yet more preferably, the free end of the L-shaped formation extends beyond a side of the seat for engaging the surface of the second gripping member.
- Advantageously, second holder member includes at least two, first and second grippers.
- More advantageously the first gripping member of the first and second grippers are situated in respective seats in the frame structure, a part of the first gripping member of the first gripper extends beyond a side of the seat in which it is situated, and the second gripping member of the first gripper comprises a side of the seat in which the first gripping member of the second gripper is situated.
- Preferably, the first and second gripping members are situated in the upper part of the frame structure.
- More preferably, the releasable attachment means comprises a suction cup.
- It is preferable that the support frame forms a handgrip.
- In another aspect of the invention there is provided a pack of pliable members for use with the device as mentioned above for weaving an item comprising at least two pliable members interconnected by a web.
- Preferably, the web is breakable by sheering force for separating two pliable members from one another.
- More preferably, the web is formed integrally with the at least two pliable members.
- Advantageously, the pliable members and the web are shaped by one-step moulding.
- More advantageously, the pliable member is elastic.
- The invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
-
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a device with pliable members spreading across a weaving area in accordance with the invention; -
FIG. 2 is a front view of the device ofFIG. 1 ; -
FIG. 3 is a rear view of the device ofFIG. 1 ; -
FIGS. 4a and 4b are the side views of the device ofFIG. 1 ; -
FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the device ofFIG. 1 ; -
FIGS. 6a to 6c are illustrative drawings showing the holders on the device for holding the pliable members across the weaving area; -
FIG. 7a is a top plan view of the device inFIG. 1 ; -
FIG. 7b is a sectional view of the device inFIG. 7a along line B-B; -
FIG. 7c is an enlarged sectional view of the device inFIG. 7a along line D-D; -
FIG. 8a is a top plan view of a pack of six pliable members for use with the device inFIG. 1 ; -
FIG. 8b is a top plan view of the pack inFIG. 8a with the pliable members being partly separated from the pack showing a web connecting two consecutive pliable members; -
FIG. 8c is a sectional view of the pack inFIG. 8a taken along line A-A, with each pliable member having a circular cross-sectional shape; -
FIG. 9A is a perspective view of a pack of two pliable members for use with the device inFIG. 1 ; and -
FIG. 9B is a sectional view of the pack inFIG. 9A , with each pliable member having a hexagonal cross-sectional shape. - Referring to
FIGS. 1 to 7 of the drawings, there is shown a portable device 100 for weaving, knitting or plaiting a wearable item such as a bracelet out of one or morepliable members 200 each in the form of a strap or string. - The portable device 100 is best show in
FIG. 5 which is an exploded view thereof. The device 100 is preferably a two-part frame structure enclosing anaperture 101. Anupper part 102 defines anupper surface 102 a and alower part 103 defines alower surface 103 a of the frame structure 100. The upper andlower frame parts frame parts frame parts - The
aperture 101 in the form of a large central hole in the device 100 defines a weaving, knitting or plaiting area for the user's fingers to manipulate thepliable members 200. Theaperture 101 is formed byrespective apertures lower frame parts aperture 101 makes knitting easier by providing access to the straps orstrings 200 from above and below the device 100. It accommodates the hand of the user allowing the user to grip onto the frame which becomes a handle for easy manipulation of the device 100. There are twoholders upper surface 102 a of the frame structure adjacent theaperture 101 for maintaining or tensioning the strap orstring 200 across theaperture 101. Theseholders - In the preferred embodiment, the
holder 104 is provided on theupper surface 102 a. It is in the form of a clip with twoseats cover 104 c pivotally set on the twoseats cover 104 c is pivotably connected to the twoseats cover 104 c is moveable between open and closed positions. A resilient biasing means, preferably a spring, is attached to the shafts for biasing thetiled cover 104 c in the closed position as shown inFIG. 5 . - The
holder 104 may further include one ormore projections 106 projecting underneath the tiltedcover 104 c. Theseprojections 106 are formed on and extended traversely from a platform. Theprojections 106 are preferably integrally formed on the platform as one piece. The platform is secured in position between the upper andlower frame parts first surface 102 a through one ormore opening 102 b thereon. A seat is defined in an interior of thelower frame part 103 in which the platform sits. Theupper frame part 102 has corresponding structures which functions with the seat in thelower part 103 to confine the relative position of the platform therein, hence theprojections 106 in the frame structure. Once the upper andlower frame parts projections 106 are held in position. In the preferred embodiment as shown inFIG. 5 , there are 5projections 106 spaced apart from one another by a slot or gap. - When the tilted
cover 104 c is at the closed position, it closes off free ends of theprojections 106 to retain the strap orstring 200 on a periphery of theprojection 106 in use. End surfaces of the free ends of theprojections 106 are slanted to match with an inner side of the tiltedcover 104 c in the closed position. - In an alternative embodiment, the
holder 104 may include only theprojections 106 which may be provided with features such as a groove to retain the straps orstrings 200 looped onto the periphery of theprojection 106. This prevents the strap orstring 200 from slipping off theprojection 106 in a direction parallel to that in which theprojection 106 extends. - The
holder 105 is accessible through theupper surface 102 a. As shown in this embodiment, theholder 105 extends across the upper andlower surfaces holder 105 includes sevengrippers 105. Eachgripper 105 includes a pair of grippingmembers string 200 is insertable. The grippingmembers string 200, the grippingmembers members member 105 a. Alternatively, a resilient biasing means such as a spring may be used to maintain thegripping members member 105 a pushes against a surface of the grippingmember 105 b to sandwich between them a strap orstring 200 upon insertion. The grippingmember 105 a is made of a material more resilient or deformable relative to the material from which the grippingmember 105 b is made of. - Referring again to
FIG. 5 , seats 103 c are defined in the interior of theupper part 102 of the frame structure at its extreme end. The sevengripping members 105 a are linked together by aconnection bar 105 a-1. Preferably, theconnection bar 105 a-1 along with the grippingmembers 105 a are formed in one piece e.g. by moulding. Tworetainers 105 a-2 in the form of rings on either end ofconnection bar 105 a-1 are looped onto respective projections 102 d projecting from the interior of theupper part 102 and each grippingmember 105 a are placed into theirrespective seats 102 c for being retained in the interior of theupper frame part 102. Each grippingmember 105 a protrudes beyond anopening 102 c-1 on a first side surface of therespective seats 103 b to interact with the grippingmember 105 b. Preferably the grippingmember 105 a is an L-shaped member with afree end 105 a-3 protruding beyondrespective openings 102 c-1 on the seats. - In the preferred embodiment, there are at least two, first and second,
grippers 105. Thefree end 105 a-3 of the L-shaped grippingmember 105 a of thefirst gripper 105 protrudes beyond theopening 102 c-1 on a side of theseat 103 b in which thegripper member 105 a of thefirst gripper 105 sits. Thefree end 105 a-3 interacts with a side of theseat 103 b, the grippingmember 105 b, in which the grippingmember 105 a of thesecond gripper 105 sits. - The gripping
member 105 b of alast gripper 105 includes a side surface of anend seat 102 c′ without a grippingmember 105 a. - Referring to
FIGS. 6a to 6c , in operation the tiltedcover 104 c is moved to its opened position revealing theprojections 106. A bundle of straps orstrings 200 are held together with a ringed end. The ringed end is looped onto at least one of theprojections 106. The ringed end run over the periphery of theprojection 106. The tiltedcover 104 c is then allowed to be biased to the closed position closing the free end of theprojections 106. The ringed end of thebundle 200 is thereby retained on the periphery of theprojection 106. Free end of the individual straps orstrings 200 are individually inserted intorespective grippers 105. The grippingmember 105 a is pushed into theseat 103 through theopening 102 c-1 when the strap orstring 200 is inserted between thegripping members FIG. 5 , the relative positions between theconnection bar 105 a-1 and the respective grippingmembers 105 a defines a defaulted position. They have the tendency to remain in the defaulted positions. The inherent resilience of the grippingmember 105 a and theconnection bar 105 a-1 pushes the grippingmember 105 a through theopening 102 c-1, hence thegripper 105 towards its closed position. - Alternatively, the gripping
member - To weave, at least one of the straps or
strings 200 is removed from thegripper 105 and be placed onto the other straps orstrings 200 which remain tensioned by theholders - A releasable attachment means in the form of a
suction cup 107 is provided on an underside of thelower part 103 for anchoring the device onto a surface such as a table surface that supports the device 100. Thesuction cup 107 is releasably attached to thelower part 103 by conventional means. In an alternative embodiment, thesuction cup 107 may be replaced by other releasable attachment means which makes use of friction to retain the device on the surface. Releasable attachments means such as hooks may be used. - Turning to
FIGS. 8a to 8c , in the preferred embodiment, the straps orstrings 200 are formed in a pack of six. In another embodiment, the pack may be made up of any number of straps orstrings 200, for example a pack of two as shown inFIGS. 9A and 9B . Two adjacent straps or strings are connected or held together by aweb 201. The pack is preferably formed by extrusion. The web is dimensioned and made to be torn by sheering force. In other words, each strap or string in the pack can be separated by sheering or peeling as shown inFIG. 8b . The straps orstrings 200 and theweb 201 may be made from a single type of material. As shown inFIG. 8c , the straps orstrings 200 may have unified circular cross-section take along line A-A traverse to length of the straps or strings 200. The straps orstrings 200 may have other cross-sectional shapes. In an alternative embodiment, the straps orstrings 200 may have a hexagonal cross-section as show inFIGS. 9A and 9B . The cross-sectional shape of the straps orstrings 200 may be varied. - As the straps or
strings 200 are held together in a pack, their relative position is basically fixed. They will not tangle. Also the compactness allows transportation at lower cost by taking up less space. - The invention has been given by way of example only, and various other modifications of and/or alterations to the described embodiment may be made by persons skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as specified in the appended claims.
Claims (28)
1. A portable device for weaving an item from a pliable member, comprising:
a support frame defining a weaving area and having upper and lower surfaces, and
a holder positionable on the support frame, adjacent the weaving area, and accessible from at least the upper surface of the support frame for releasably holding the pliable member across the weaving area, wherein
the holder includes first and second holding members that are releasable, and
the first and second holding members are spaced apart by the weaving area for holding the pliable member across the weaving area.
2. The device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein
the first holding member is located on the upper surface of the support frame, and
the second holding member extends across the upper and lower surfaces.
3. The device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the lower surface of the support frame includes releasable attachment means for releasably attaching the support frame on a support surface.
4. The device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the weaving area comprises an aperture that extends through the upper and lower surfaces of the support frame.
5. The device as claimed in claim 4 , wherein
the support frame comprises upper and lower frame parts,
each of the upper and lower frame parts has a through hole, upon assembling the upper and lower frame parts to form the support frame, and
the through holes align to form the aperture.
6. The device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first holding member comprises a projection with a periphery over which the pliable member passes.
7. The device as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the first holding member includes a retainer for retaining the pliable member on the periphery of the projection.
8. The device as claimed in claim 7 , wherein
the retainer is moveable between open and closed positions, and
the projection includes a free end closeable by the retainer and which is moved to the closed position to retain the pliable member on the periphery of the projection.
9. The device as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the retainer is resiliently biased toward the closed position.
10. The device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the second holding member comprises a gripper with first and second gripping members which are moveable, relatively, between open and closed positions.
11. The device as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the first and second gripping members, at the closed position, are spaced apart by a gap which increases in magnitude when the first and second gripping members move to the open position.
12. The device as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the first and second gripping members are resiliently biased toward the closed position.
13. The device as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the first and second gripping members are resiliently biased toward the closed position by inherent resilience of the first gripping member and are movable to the open position by deformation of the first gripping member.
14. The device as claimed in claim 10 , wherein
the first and second holding members are located at opposite end portions of the support frame, which defines a first axis, and
the first and second gripping members of the second holding member are movable between the open and closed positions along a second axis which is transverse to the first axis.
15. The device as claimed in claim 10 , wherein
the first gripping member is situated in a seat restricting positioning of the first gripping member, and
the seat is located in a part of the support frame.
16. The device as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the first gripping member has an L-shape.
17. The device as claimed in claim 16 , wherein the L-shape includes a free end for engaging a surface of the second gripping member.
18. The device as claimed in claim 17 , wherein
the first gripping member is situated in a seat restricting positioning of the first gripping member, and
the free end of the L-shaped formation extends beyond a side of the seat for engaging the surface of the second gripping member.
19. The device as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the second holding member includes at least first and second grippers.
20. The device as claimed in claim 16 , wherein
the first and second gripping members are situated in respective seats in the support frame,
a part of the first gripping member extends beyond a side of the seat in which the first gripping member is situated, and
the second gripping member comprises a side of the seat in which the first gripping member is situated.
21. The device as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the first and second gripping members are situated in an upper part of the support frame.
22. The device as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the releasable attachment means comprises a suction cup.
23. The device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the support frame provides a handgrip.
24. A pack of pliable members for use with the device as claimed in claim 1 for weaving an item comprising at least two pliable members interconnected by a web.
25. The pack as claimed in claim 24 , wherein the web is breakable by a shearing force separating two pliable members from one another.
26. The pack as claimed in claim 24 , wherein the web integrally includes the at least two pliable members.
27. The pack as claimed in claim 26 , wherein the pliable members and the web are shaped by one-step moulding.
28. The pack as claimed in claim 24 , wherein the item is elastic.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US14/812,091 US20170029987A1 (en) | 2015-07-29 | 2015-07-29 | Device for weaving a linked item and a pack of pliable material for use in weaving the linked item |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US14/812,091 US20170029987A1 (en) | 2015-07-29 | 2015-07-29 | Device for weaving a linked item and a pack of pliable material for use in weaving the linked item |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20170029987A1 true US20170029987A1 (en) | 2017-02-02 |
Family
ID=57885897
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US14/812,091 Abandoned US20170029987A1 (en) | 2015-07-29 | 2015-07-29 | Device for weaving a linked item and a pack of pliable material for use in weaving the linked item |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
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US (1) | US20170029987A1 (en) |
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO2021138554A1 (en) * | 2020-01-03 | 2021-07-08 | WeCool Toys Inc. | Toy loom |
-
2015
- 2015-07-29 US US14/812,091 patent/US20170029987A1/en not_active Abandoned
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO2021138554A1 (en) * | 2020-01-03 | 2021-07-08 | WeCool Toys Inc. | Toy loom |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: THE BRIDGE DIRECT (HK) LIMITED, CHINA Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:YEUNG, KA YAN KAREN;REEL/FRAME:036466/0910 Effective date: 20150831 |
|
STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION |