AU601057B2 - Yarn supporting pivot rod - Google Patents

Description

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AUSTRALIA

Patents Act COMPLETE SPECIFICATION

(ORIGINAL)

Class Int. Class Application Number: Lodged: 057 009 0 0 0 4 9a 0 o 00 Complete Specification Lodged: Accepted: Published: Priority I am~ .iifl&~ .lWS4tflrj "Related Art: 0 o00 0 00 0 00 0 0 0 a0 00 0 000 APPLICANT'S REF.: CAP of PI 3114 Name(s) of Applicant(s): AUDREY MADGE PARKER Address(es) of Applicant(s): 0600 0 0 0 0 20 Fairview Avenue, Yarram, Victoria 3971, Australia.

AUDREY PARKER Actual Inventor(s): Address for Service is: PHILLIPS, ORMONDE AND FITZPATRICK Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys 367 Collins Street Melbourne, Australia, 3000 Complete Specification for the invention entitled: "YARN SUPPORTING PIVOT ROD" The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to applicant(s): P19/3/84 L ~~1 -2- This invention relates generally to the support of yarn wound into balls or skeins or onto ;;ls or other yarn carriers, and in particular to a device for supporting the yarn so that it can be unwound in an orderly manner. The device is suitable for use by hand knitters and craft workers to support balls of knitting and craft yarns while the yarn is progressively unwound and drawn from the balls during yarn working. It will be convenient to hereinafter describe and define the device in relation to this exemplary application, although it is to be appreciated that the invention is not limited to that application.

Yarn for hand knitting and craft work is usually bundled or wound or coiled into balls or skeins, or onto reels or similar yarn carriers for storage and from which it is drawn as required during use. Typically, those balls are left free to move as the yarn is drawn therefrom. However, sometimes the yarn resists being drawn from the ball so that a user must put aside his/her work and use both hands to manually unwind additional yarn from the ball. Where the yarn does easily unwind from the ball, then it can sometimes become tangled either with itself or some other object, and requires constant monitoring and attention to avoid substantial -angling.

Moreover, because the ball is free to move about it often falls away from the user and must be periodically retrieved.

As a result of these difficulties, knitting or craft work is 1 often interrupted by a need to adjust or correct the supply of yarn from yarn balls.

It is an object of the present invention to alleviate 4 these difficulties through the provision of a relatively simple device for supporting balls of wound yarn whilst the yarn is drawn therefrom for use.

-W-ith that object in mind, the present invention provides a support device for supporting a wound ball of yarn during unwinding, including: a base member for resting flat support surface to stably locate the d 'vica a rod member connected to the base member andu anding therefrom, the rod member being freely table about a longitudinal axis thereof rel.- to the base member, the rod member being h=srpivo a 11 -f yarn thereon, the rod member

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-3- With that object in mind, the present invention provides a support device for supporting a wound ball of yarn during unwinding, including: a b-,e member for resting on a flat support surface to stably locate the device; a rod member connected to the base member and upstanding therefrom, the rod member being freely rotatable about a locngitudinal axis thereof relative to the base member, the rod membeL being sized to receive a ball of yarn thereon; and, a support means carried by the rod member above the base member, a ball of .y 10 yarn received on the rod member resting on the support means, wherein during use of the device the rod member projects into the yarn ball along an axis of windirg of the yarn ball and the yarn ball rests on the support means so that, as yarn is pulled from the ball laterally outwardly from the rod member, the rod member can rotate and the ball of yarn rotates about the longitudinal a:is of the rod member thereby progressively unwinding.

In one embodiment the base member is weighted. That weight acts to retain the device on the support surface against toppling and other movement under influence of forces that are applied to the rod member during unwinding -f yarn from a ball.

In one embodiment the rod member is connected to the base member for rotation about its longitudinal axis. To that end, in one embodiment the base member is provided with an upright bore and the rod member is rotatably fitted in that bore and upstands therefrom. The bore is closed at a bottom end thereof and a bearing surface is located at the bore bottom end, in one embodiment. A, lower end of the rod member rotatably bears directly or indirectly on that bearing i: *surface. In one embodiment the rod member is removably fitted in the bore.

In one embodiment the support means includes a support flange surrounding and rigidly connected to the rod member.

That support flange provides a support surface on which a ball of yarn rests for support.

In one embodiment the support device further includes a sleeve member on which a ball of yarn can be crried. That 39 sleeve member in turn is receivable on the rod member so as to -0485E

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i, ii ''i 3A locate the yarn on the rod member. In one embodiment the sleeve member is annular shaped in cross-section and size so as to be slidably received on the rod member. Moreover, that sleeve member can be longitudinally tapered to facilitate projection into a ball of yarn.

This invention is described and defined herein with reference to the device in a normal use orientation on a horizontally extending support surface, and terms such as 048Ei ill |0 i Of o "upright", "top", "bottom", "upper", and "lower" should be construed in the light of this orientation. However, it is to be appreciated that other orientations may be equally possible and that consequential changes in terms such as those above may be required in the light of those other orientations for a proper and complete understanding of the invention.

The device of the invention is applicable to any form of spun thread or filamentary line, including wool, cotton, and synthetic thread used for knitting, weaving, craft work and other purposes, and the term "yarn" as used herein is intended to embrace such forms. In addition, the term "ball" as used f herein should be understood as including arrangements whereby S a quantity of yarn is bundled, wound or coiled upon itself or bundled, wound or coiled onto a yarn carrier such as a reel, spool, sleeve or core. However, to simplify description and definition of the present invention it is convenient to refer i to "a ball of yarn".

The following description refers to preferred embodiments of the device of the present invention. To facilitate an understanding of the invention, reference is made in the description to the accompaning drawings illustrating the device. It is to be understood that the device is not limited to the preferred embodiments as hereinafter described.

In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a perspective view, partially cut away, of a preferred embodiment of the support device with a ball of yarn supported thereon; and Fig. 2 is a perspective view of an accessory sleeve member, with a ball of yarn supported thereon, for use with the support device of Fig. 1. ""Y Referring initially to Fig. 1, there is generally shown portable device 1 for supporting a ball B of wound yarn Y so that yarn Y can be unwound from ball B in an orderly manner for subsequent use, such as knitting, of that yarn Y. Device 1 includes base member 2 with rod member 3 upstanding therefrom' and on which ball B is mounted.

Base member 2 is weighted for steadying of device 1 39 against movement, particularly toppling, as yarn Y is drawn

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5 1 from bjll B. In one embodiment, base member 2 is composed of relatively heavy material. In another embodiment, base member 2 is comprised of a generally lightweight material body having a ballast piece incorporated in or attached to the body.

Stability of device 1 can be improved by appropriate shaping of base member 2. In the illustrated embodiment, that is achieved by providing base member 2 with relatively wide foot portion 4 having face 5, through which base member 2 rests on a support surface, and leg portion 6 upstanding centrally from foot portion 4.

In the illustrated preferred embodiment, base member 2 has bore 7 in leg portion 6 opening upwardly therefrom. In this embodiment bore 7 is closed at the bottom end thereof with bearing surface 8 facing along bore 7. In an alternative embodiment (not illustrated) bore 7 is open at the bottom end thereof and the support surface on which base member 2 rests during use provides a bearing surface facing along open ended bore 7. Bore 7 is cylindrical in shape, whilst bearing surface 8 is flat and smooth in this illustrated embodiment.

Rod member 3 is fitted in bore 7 for smooth, free rotation about its longitudinal axis. Rod member 3 has lower end 9 bearing on bearing surface 8 and upstands out of bore 7 to upper end 10. In this preferred embodiment, lower end 9 is of a rounded tapered shape so as to provide a reduced contact region with bearing surface 8 and thereby facilitate free rotation of rod member 3. In addition, lower end 9 is composed of relatively hard material to resist wear during that rotation. Typically, rod member 3 is a neat sliding fit in bore 7 and can be removed therefrom when device 1 is not being used.

As illustrated in fig. 1, rod member 3 upstand from base member 2 a distance sufficient to enable ball B to be mounted thereon. Depending on the size of ball B, rod member 3 projects substantially or completely through ball B. Ball B is mounted on rod member 3 so that rod member 3 extends at least generally along that axis about which ball B is bundled, wound, or coiled. In this way, as yarn Y is withdrawn from ball B, ball B will tend to naturally rotate about that axis.

39 Typically, rod member 3 and ball B (as illustrated) will

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i i -6 rotate together. There will be very little resistance to Irotation of ball B so that it will easily rotate as yarn Y is manually drawn therefrom.

To prevent ball B resting on base member 2 in such a manner as to cause binding therewith, device 1 includes support means 11 on which ball B rests. In the illustrated embodiment, support means 11 is carried by rod member 3 clear j of base member 2 and is configured as a flange member providing upwardly facing support surface 12 surrounding and extending radially from rod member 3. Ball B rests on support i surface 12 in this embodiment and that resting is sufficient i to cause means 11 and rod member 3 to rotate with ball B.

Moreover, in this embodiment, support means 11 is rigidly connected to or formed integral with rod member 3.

Support means 11 has other configurations in other embodiments. In one other embodiment (not illustrated) support means 11 is configured so as to include a plurality of support spokes carried by and projecting outwardly from rod member 3, and on which ball B can rest.

In an alternative embodiment (not illustrated), base member 2 is provided with a support surface on which ball B rests. That support surface also surrounds rod member 3 at i the open top end of bore 7, and is flat and smooth so that ball B can be supported thereon yet be generally free to rotate relative thereto.

In the illustrated embodiment, rod member 3 has bore 13 extending therealong and opening through upper end 10. Bore 13 does not extend through lower end 9 in this embodiment.

However, in one preferred embodiment rod member 3 is composed -t 30 of a tube with an insert fitted at lower end 9 in order to close off the tube, the insert bearing on bearing surface 8.

Bore 13 can be used to store at least one knitting needle when not in use.

In using device 1 so far described and illustrated, ball B is generally "spiked" onto rod member 3 until ball B rests on support means 11. This supports ball B so that yarn Y can be easily and readily progressively unwound for use. It is suggested that ball B is not repeatedly removed from and 39 replaced onto rod member 3 as that may cause spliting or

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Al tangling of yarn within ball B. Thus, ball B once mounted onto rod member 3 should be completely used. This problem should not arise if ball B incorporates a yarn carrier (not illustrated).

Where it is desired or anticipated that a yarn ball, without a yarn carrier, will be repeatedly removed and replaced on rod member 3 then it is recommended that sleeve member 14, as illustrated in Fig. 2, be used as an accessory with device 1. Sleeve member 14 acts as a temporary yarn carrier, ball B being spiked onto sleeve member 14 which in turn is slid onto rod member 3. Ball B remains on sleeve member 14 until it is finally used, but sleeve member 14 can slipped onto and off rod member 3 as and when required without damaging yarn Y.

Sleeve member 14, in this embodiment, is tapered to facilitate "spiking" of ball B there onto. Moreover, sleeve member 14 has through passage 15 sized so as to be slidingly received on rod member 3.

Device 1 is constructed of any suitable materials using 2n an suitable manufacturing process. In one preferred embodiment, device 1 is at least substantially molded from plastic materials.

The device of the present invention supports balls of yarn so as to keep them neat and tidy whilst yarn is progressively withdrawn therefrom. That in turn reduces the necessity for a yarn user to periodically interrupt his/her work to adjust or correct supply of yarn from the ball. In particular, the device tends to minimize tangling of the yarn.

The portable device is relatively small and lightweight, and is thus conveniently stored and carried with yarn ball and knitting, craft work or other work pieces.

Finally, it is to be appreciated that various modifications and/or additions may be made to the device without departing from the ambit of the present invention as defined in the claims appended hereto.

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Claims (9)

1. 0 A support device for supporting a wound bal of yarn during unwinding, including: a base member for resting on a flat support surface to stably locate the device; a rod member connected to the base member and upstanding therefrom, the rod member being freely rotatable about a longitudinal axis thereof relative to the base member, the rod member being sized to receive a ball of yarn thereon; and, a support means carried by the rod member above the base member, a baJl of yarn received on the rod member resting on the support means, wherein during use of the device the rod member projects into the yarn ball along an axis of winding of the yarn ball and the yarn ball rests on the support means so that, as yarn is pulled from the ball laterally outwardly from the rod member, the rod member can rotate and the ball of yarn rotates about thb longitudinal axis of the rod member thereby progressively S unwinding.

2. A support device as claimed in claim i, wherein the base member is weighted to retain the device on the support surface against toppling and other movement under influence of forces applied during unwinding of yarn from a ball on the rod member.

3. A support device as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the base member has an upright bore therein closed at a bottom end and a bearing surface located at the bore bottom end, and the rod member is fitted in the bore for rotation about the longitudinal axis, a lower end of the rod member rotatably bearing directly or indirectly on the bearing surface.

4. A support device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the rod member is removably fitted in the bore.

5. A support device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the support means includes a support flange surrounding and rigidly connected to the rod member, the support flange providing a support surface on which a ball of yarn rests for support.

6. A support device as claimed in any preceding claim, and further including a sleeve member on which a ball of yarn can be carried, the sleeve member in turn being receivable on the rod member. 39

7. A support device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the O4 "V~ r i t i L mm c i t-7 ii, iiCili-LLiii~P~T? 9 sleeve member is annular shaped in cross-section, and longitudinally tapered to facilitate projection into a ball of yarn.

8. A support device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the rod member has a longitudinally extending bore therein opening through an upper end thereof, the bore being shaped and sized to receive at least one knitting needle therein for storage.

9. A support device for supporting a ball of yarn, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. DATED: 6 June, 1990 PHILLIPS ORMONDE FITZPATRICK Attorneys for: AUDREY MADGE PARK l 0485E ~1 '0 L