Threading apparatus

Abstract

There is provided an apparatus for forming at least one threaded member. The apparatus includes a rotatable member, at least one holding member protruding from the rotating member, the at least one holding member having at least one spool and/or the like of a threaded material located thereon. The at least one holding member is offset to the axis of rotation of the rotating member such that upon rotation of said rotating member, the threaded material is wrapped around an article provided with the apparatus.

Claims

1. Apparatus for forming at least one threaded member, said apparatus including: a rotatable member; and at least one holding member protruding from said rotatable member; said at least one holding member having at least one spool of a threaded material located thereon, wherein said at least one holding member is offset to the axis of rotation of the rotatable member such that upon rotation of said rotatable member, the said threaded material is wrapped around said article; wherein means for changing a colour of the thread are included with said apparatus; and wherein said means is provided to alter a pigment of one or more strands of threaded material associated with said apparatus by dying said one or more strands of threaded material prior to wrapping said thread material about said article.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the article is substantially mounted along the axis of rotation of the rotatable member.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the rotatable member is mounted for rotation in a housing and the housing includes means to allow the powered or manual movement of the rotatable member.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the rotatable member has two or more holding members which are spaced apart.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein each of the holding members is offset from the axis of rotation and each is capable of receiving a spool thereon.

6. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said apparatus is provided with a base portion.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said housing is movable on said base portion.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said housing is movable relative to a support portion located on said base portion.

9. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said rotatable member is provided with an aperture located therein.

10. Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said aperture is located in a substantially central position on said rotatable member and is sized to receive said article.

11. Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said article is located on a support portion and is received through said aperture upon movement of said housing along a base portion and towards said support portion.

12. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein rotation of said rotatable member is actuated by activation means.

13. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein rotation of said rotatable member rotates said holding member about said article.

14. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein three or more holding members are provided on said rotatable member.

15. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said article is provided as a tubular member, having first and second ends, the first end of said article being detachably attached to a support portion.

16. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein two or more holding members, each having at least one spool of a threaded material located thereon are located radially outward of a centrally located aperture on said rotatable member, and wherein a first end of said threaded material is attached to a first end of said article.

17. Apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said rotatable member rotates said two or more holding members and, hence said spools of threaded material about said article, causing two or more strands of threaded material to simultaneously wrap about said article.

18. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein cover means are provided on said apparatus, said cover means being provided to act as a protective guard against rotating components of the apparatus.

19. Apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said cover means includes an aperture located substantially opposite an aperture on said rotatable member, said article sized to be received through each of said apertures.

20. Apparatus according to claim 18, wherein wrapping of said threaded material about said article occurs within said cover means.

21. Apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said cover means is provided as a substantially transparent casing.

22. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein guide means are provided on said rotatable member, associated with said at least one holding member, said guide means being provided with an aperture located therein.

23. Apparatus according to claim 22, wherein said threaded material associated with said at least one holding member is received through the aperture located on the associated guide means.

24. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said article is located on a support portion, said support portion being separate from said apparatus.

25. Apparatus according to claim 24, wherein said support portion includes a first face and a second, opposing face.

26. Apparatus according to claim 25, wherein a plate member is located on said first face of said support portion, said plate member being rotatable with respect to the support portion.

27. Apparatus according to claim 26, wherein said plate member is detachably attachable to two or more holding members on said rotatable member.

28. Apparatus according to claim 27, wherein rotation of said plate member is actuated by rotation of said rotatable member.

29. Apparatus according to claim 26, wherein said plate member includes an aperture located thereon, said aperture being located centrally of said plate member and sized to receive threaded material.

30. Apparatus according to claim 29, wherein said support portion includes an aperture located thereon substantially in line with the aperture located on said plate member and to receive threaded material.

31. Apparatus according to claim 25, wherein said article is detachably attached to said second face of said support portion.

32. Apparatus according to claim 31, wherein said article is rotatable with respect to said support portion.

33. Apparatus according to claim 32, wherein rotation of said article is actuated by rotation of said rotatable member.

34. Apparatus according to claim 33, wherein said article rotates at a slower angular velocity than that of said rotatable member.

35. Apparatus according to claim 25, wherein guide means are located on said second face of said support portion.

36. Apparatus for forming at least one threaded member about an article, said apparatus including: a rotating member; two or more holding members protruding from said rotating member; a respective guide member associated with each holding member, each guide member individually protruding from said rotating member, and each guide member provided with an aperture located therein; said two or more holding members each having at least one spool of a threaded material located thereon, wherein said threaded material is received through the aperture located in the respective guide member, and wherein upon rotation of said rotating member, two or more strands of threaded material associated with the two or more holding members simultaneously wrap around said article.

37. Apparatus according to claim 36, wherein said article, having said two or more strands of threaded material wrapped therearound, forms at least a part of an item of jewelry or children's jewelry.

38. Apparatus for forming at least one threaded member, said apparatus including: a rotating member, wherein said rotating member is provided with an aperture located therein, and wherein said aperture is located in a substantially central position on said rotating member and is sized to receive an article located on a support portion and received through said aperture upon movement of said housing along a base portion and towards said support portion; two or more holding members protruding from said rotating member; said two or more holding members each having at least one spool of a threaded material located thereon, wherein upon rotation of said rotating member, two or more strands of threaded material associated with the two or more holding members simultaneously wrap about each other and subsequently around said article.

39. Apparatus according to claim 38, wherein said threaded member is a composite of two or more strands of threaded material, said threaded member being removable from said article to form an item of jewelry or children's jewelry.

40. Method of forming at least one threaded member about an article, said method including the steps of: providing an apparatus including a rotating member, providing a plurality of holding members protruding from said rotating member; providing a respective guide member for each holding member, each guide member individually protruding from said rotating member, and each guide member provided with an aperture located therein; and providing on said at least one holding member at least one spool of a threaded material located thereon, wherein said threaded material is received through the aperture located in the respective guide member; wherein upon connection of the end of the threaded material to a first end of said article, rotation of said rotating member wraps said threaded material around said article.

41. Method of forming at least one threaded member, said method including the steps of: providing an apparatus including a rotating member, two or more holding members protruding from said rotating member, said two or more holding members each having at least one spool of a threaded material located thereon, guide means associated with each of said two or more holding members; receiving ends of two or more strands of threaded material associated with the two or more holding members through apertures located on said guide means, said article located on a support portion attachable to said apparatus; and attaching said support portion to said apparatus; wherein upon connection of the ends of two or more strands of threaded material to a first end of an article, rotation of said rotating member causes said strands of threaded material associated with the two or more holding members to simultaneously wrap about each other and subsequently around said article, forming a threaded member that is a composite of two or more strands of threaded material.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying figures, wherein:

(2) FIG. 1 illustrates an apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

(3) FIG. 2 illustrates an apparatus with spools of threaded material affixed thereto, in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.

(4) FIG. 3 illustrates an apparatus with spools of threaded material and an article affixed thereto, in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.

(5) FIG. 4 illustrates an apparatus having a cover means in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

(6) FIG. 5 illustrates an apparatus and support portion in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

(7) FIG. 6 illustrates an apparatus and support portion with threaded material fed therethrough, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

(8) FIG. 7 illustrates a close-up view of an apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

(9) FIG. 8 illustrates a close-up view of a support portion of an apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

(10) FIG. 9 illustrates an apparatus and support portion connected and in use, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(11) Referring firstly to FIGS. 1-3, there is provided an apparatus in the form of a thread-wrapping machine (1) provided to enable thread from a number of spools (3) to be simultaneously wrapped about an article (5). The thread-wrapping machine (1) includes a housing (7) in which there is located a rotating member in the form of a disc (9). In this embodiment the disc (9) has a number of holding members in the form of spool holding bars (11) protruding outwardly therefrom, on which the spools (3) may be placed. Although the present example illustrates three holding bars (11) on the disc (9), the skilled person will appreciate that this number may vary depending on the specifications of the thread wrapping machine. Rotation of the disc (9) is activated by switch (13) located on the housing (7) of the apparatus (1). The housing (7) of the apparatus (1) is located on a base (15) and is movable therealong relative to a supporting portion (17), located at an end (19) of the base (15), which is fixed in position on the base (15). A support bar (21) is provided on the supporting portion (17), protruding outwardly therefrom toward the housing (7). A central hole (23) is formed in the rotating disc (9) and extends through the housing (7) of the apparatus (1). The hole (23) is located substantially in line with the support bar (21).

(12) A first end (25) of the article (5) about which thread is to be wrapped is attached to the support bar (21). The article (5) has a maximum radius sized to fit through the hole (23) in the housing (7) and once located on the support bar (21), a second end (27) of the article (5) extends through the hole (23), allowing the housing (7) to move back and forth along the base (15) with the article (5) sliding through the hole (23). With the spools (3) located on their respective holding bars (11), the ends of each strand of thread are taken and attached to the first end (25) of the article (5), with the housing (7) located in close proximity to the supporting portion (17) initially. Once the thread ends are attached to the article (5), the switch (13) is activated, causing the disc (9), and consequently the holding bars (11) and spools (3), to rotate about the article (5). During rotation, thread is unwound from the spools (3) forming a layer of multiple strands of thread simultaneously wrapped about the article (5). As the article (5) is wrapped with thread, the housing (7) is moved gradually away from the supporting portion (17) along the base, thereby exposing more of the article (5) to be wrapped. The spools (3) of thread may be provided in various colours, resulting in a varying range of colours and/or patterns of thread wrapped about the article (5). Once the article (5) has been wrapped/covered in thread to a sufficient degree or to a user's satisfaction, rotation of the disc (9) is ceased via the switch (13), the housing (7) moved to a distal end (29) of the base away from the supporting portion (17), thereby allowing the article (5), now wrapped in multiple strands of thread, to be removed from the support bar (21).

(13) The article (5) may subsequently be used as an item of novelty/children's jewellery, or as an accessory/attachment to an item of children's jewellery.

(14) While the housing (7) of the thread-wrapping machine (1) is movable along the base portion (15) with respect to the supporting portion (17), it may also be detachably attached thereto, allowing a user to remove the housing (7) for maintenance, repair, or even use without the need for the base or supporting portions (15, 17).

(15) FIG. 4 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the thread-wrapping machine (401), which includes a protective cover (431) located thereon. The cover (431) encases the holding bars (411) and, hence, the spools (403) thereby preventing any fast-moving parts from becoming detached from the apparatus while moving and causing injury to a user. In order for an article to be wrapped when the apparatus (401) is presented in this form, the cover (431) includes a hole (433) located in its face opposite the central hole (423) of the housing (407). In this embodiment, a user holds the article (not shown) as it passes through the holes (433, 423) and is wrapped in thread. The cover (431) is also provided as a transparent body, enabling the user to view the progress of the thread-wrapping action.

(16) Referring now to FIGS. 5-9, there is provided the housing (7) of the thread-wrapping machine (1) depicted in FIGS. 1-3. However, in this particular embodiment, the main body has been detached from the base portion (15). Guide means (535) are affixed to the rotating disc (9), each of which is associated with a corresponding holding bar (11), and located radially between each holding bar (11) and the central hole (23). Each guide means (535) has a guide hole (537) through which thread from each pool (3) is fed. Such a feature allows the individual thread strands to be combined and, upon rotation of the disc (9), intertwined, thereby creating a composite thread made from two, three or potentially more individual strands of thread.

(17) An alternative supporting portion (517) is provided, which includes two faces. On the first face (539) there is located a plate (541), which is rotatable with respect to the supporting portion (517). The plate (541) can be attached to the holding bars (11) of the housing (7) or spools (3) located thereon. Such an attachment provides a connection between the supporting portion (517) and the housing (7) of the apparatus (1), such that upon rotation of the disc (9), the plate (541) is caused to rotate at the same angular velocity. The plate (541) includes a hole (543) located centrally thereon and in line with the hole (23) of the rotating disc (9) and a further hole (545) located on the supporting portion (517) extending through its first face to a second, opposing face (547). The holes (543, 545) are sized to allow strands of thread to pass therethrough. An alternative article (505) is located on the second face (547) of the supporting portion (517). The article (505) may be detachably attached to the supporting portion and, while attached, is rotatable with respect to the sporting portion (517). Rotation of the article (505) is actuated by rotation of the disc (9) and, consequently, the plate (541). However, the article (505) is arranged to rotate at a slower angular velocity than that of the disc (9) and the plate (541). Additional guide means (549) is provided on the second face (547) of the supporting portion (517) having a guide hole (551) located therein. The guide means (549) allows thread, which has been fed through guide holes (537) and subsequently holes (543, 545) in the plate (541) and supporting portion (517), to be fed through its guide hole (551) and finally attached to a first end (525) of the article (505). As the switch (13) is activated and the disc (9) rotates, the strands of thread from each spool (3) begin to intertwine with one another and are slowly fed onto and wrap around the article (505), creating a composite thread formed from multiple individual strands of thread. In theory, if several lengths of composite thread are formed, these can be put through the same process as the spools (3) of individual thread, thereby creating a secondary composite thread, and so on. Once wrapping of the thread about the article (505) is complete, the composite thread may be removed and used as an item of children's jewellery, such as a necklace, bracelet, friendship bracelet, anklet and/or the like.

(18) Additionally, dying apparatus such as a marker (not shown) may be affixed to the apparatus and arranged so as to colour and/or recolour one or more of the strands of thread as they unwind from their respective spools. This feature may be added to alter the colour of a particular thread prior to it being intertwined with other thread strands and/or being wrapped about the article. For example, a user may affix a spool of white thread and wish to colour it prior to wrapping. This can be achieved by the provision of an appropriately coloured marker located in position on the apparatus. Several locations for markers may be provided so a user can, if they choose, colour each spool of thread that is place on the holding bars of the thread-wrapping machine.