Weaving device

A device for spreading lengths of warp thread mounted on a weaving frame to allow lengths of weft thread to be woven therethrough. The device includes an elongated bar member rotatably mounted to the weaving frame for passage underneath the lengths of warp thread. A plurality of transverse slots are provided through the bar member for selectively allowing certain ones of the lengths of warp thread to be received therein. Certain of the plurality of slots are substantially 180.degree. opposed from other ones of the plurality of slots so that certain ones of the lengths of warp thread will be received in certain ones of the plurality of slots while other ones of the lengths of warp thread are held substantially on the outer circumference of the bar member to create a shed between certain ones of the lengths of warp thread to allow lengths of weft thread to be easily woven therethrough. When the bar member is rotated substantially 180.degree. upon the frame, certain ones of the lengths of warp thread that were held substantially on the outer circumference of the bar member will be received in certain ones of the plurality of slots while certain ones of the lengths of warp thread that were received in certain ones of the plurality of slots will be held substantially on the outer circumference of the bar member to thereby aid in weaving lengths of weft thread through the lengths of warp thread.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
This invention relates generally to weaving frames of the type used to 
weave fabric from lengths of warp and weft thread. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
In general, fabric is now woven on two types of devices: a floor loom and a 
weaving frame. A floor loom is a heavy, expensive structure which lacks 
certain versatility desired by a weaving artist or the like. For example, 
the fabric in a floor loom is woven in a horizontal position and is wound 
around a bar member as it is woven, thereby making it difficult or 
impossible for the weaving artist to view the entire woven web of fabric 
as it is woven. A weaving frame consists, in general, of an open-faced 
frame onto which a series of lengths of warp thread are mounted in 
substantially parallel alignment with one another. A series of lengths of 
weft thread are then woven transversely through the series of lengths of 
warp thread to thereby create a web of woven fabric. While such weaving 
frames can be used in a vertical position to allow the weaving artist to 
view the entire woven web of fabric as it is woven, such weaving frames 
have not heretofore been provided with efficient means for separating the 
lengths of warp thread to allow lengths of weft thread to be easily woven 
therethrough. A floor loom, on the other hand, is usually provided with 
means comprised of a series of parallel strips of wire (i.e., a reed) to 
separate the lengths of warp thread to allow the lengths of weft thread to 
be easily woven therethrough. However, such means are disadvantageous 
because, for example, the reed portion thereof requires time-consuming 
procedures in order to separate the lengths of warp thread. That is, the 
warp thread must first be threaded through the series of parallel strips 
of wires of the reed. Another disadvantage with such means is the 
complexity thereof, especially of the construction of the reed part 
thereof. 
The inventor is aware of a toy-type device for use with a weaving frame 
which consists of an elongated bar member for passage underneath the 
lengths of warp thread mounted on the frame. This bar member includes 
three or four substantially transverse slots per inch for receiving the 
lengths of warp thread. Certain of these transverse slots are 
substantially 180.degree. opposed from other ones of the slots so that 
certain of the lengths of warp thread will be separated from one another 
since certan ones of the lengths of warp thread will be held on the outer 
circumference of the bar member while other ones of the lengths of warp 
thread will be received in the slots. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention is directed towards overcoming the problems and 
disadvantages of prior fabric weaving devices. The concept of the present 
invention is to provide a typical weaving frame with a simple, fast-acting 
means for spreading or separating the lengths of warp thread. 
The spreader means of the present invention includes, in general, an 
elongated bar member for being rotatably mounted to a typical fabric 
weaving frame and for passage underneath the lengths of warp thread 
mounted to the frame. The bar member includes a plurality of substantially 
transverse slots for receiving the lengths of warp thread. Certain ones of 
the plurality of slots are substantially 180.degree. opposed from other 
ones of the plurality of slots so that certain ones of the lengths of warp 
thread will be received in certain ones of the plurality of slots while 
other ones of the lengths of warp thread are held substantially on the 
outer circumference of the bar member to create a shed between certain 
ones of the lengths of warp thread and so that when the bar member is 
rotated substantially 180.degree. upon the frame, certain ones of the 
lengths of warp thread that were held substantially on the outer 
circumference of the bar member will be received in certain ones of the 
plurality of slots while certain ones of the lengths of warp thread that 
were received in certain ones of the plurality of slots will be held 
substantially on the outer circumference of the bar member. The spreader 
means also includes a hollow sleeve member for being attached to the frame 
and for substantially enveloping the bar. The sleeve member includes a 
plurality of substantially transverse slots for selectively guiding the 
lengths of warp thread into the plurality of slots in the bar member. The 
sleeve member allows the user of the device to easily change the pattern 
of the fabric being woven by changing the type weave being woven. That is, 
the sleeve member allows the bar member to be easily removed and replaced 
with another bar member having a different spacing of the slots therein 
which will result in a different type weave as will be apparent to those 
skilled in the art.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
The weaving device 11 of the present invention is for use in weaving fabric 
from lengths of thread. The device 11 includes a substantially typical 
open-faced frame 13 which may be made in any size desired depending on the 
size of fabric to be woven, etc., and which may be made of wood or the 
like in any manner apparent to those skilled in the art. The device 11 
also includes means 15 for allowing lengths of warp thread 17 to be 
mounted to the frame 13 (see, in general, FIG. 1). The means 15 may 
consist simply of a plurality of peg-like members 19 fixedly mounted to 
the frame 13 in positions so as to allow a series of lengths of warp 
thread 17 to be mounted to the frame 13 in a substantially parallel 
alignment with one another as shown in FIG. 1. It should be noted that the 
number of lengths of warp thread 17 and the spacing between adjacent ones 
of the lengths of warp thread 17 depends on the type fabric to be woven 
and the like as is apparent to those skilled in the art. Likewise, the 
number and spacing of the peg-like members 19 also depends on the type 
fabric to be woven and the like. Thus, the number and spacing of the 
lengths of warp thread 17 and the peg-like members 19 in FIGS. 1 and 2 is 
for purpose of example only. The peg-like members 19 may consist simply of 
a plurality of nails or the like hammered into the frame 13. The device 11 
also includes a spreader means 21 attached to the frame 13 for selectively 
spreading the lengths of warp thread 17 apart to allow lengths of weft 
thread 23 to be easily woven through the lengths of warp thread 17. It 
should be noted that the lengths of warp thread 17 and weft thread 23 may 
each consist of a single, unitary length of thread in a manner well known 
to those skilled in the art and as shown in FIG. 1. 
The spreader means 21 includes an elongated bar member 25 for being 
rotatably attached to the frame 13 and for passage underneath the lengths 
of warp thread 17. The bar member 25 includes a plurality of substantially 
transverse slots 27 for receiving the lengths of warp thread 17 in a 
manner which will hereinafter become apparent. Each of the plurality of 
slots 27 are spaced apart from each adjacent one of the plurality of slots 
27 a distance substantially equal to the distance between each adjacent 
ones of the lengths of warp thread 17 mounted on the frame 13. The number 
and spacing of slots 27 depend on the type fabric to be woven and the 
like. Thus, the number and spacing of the slots 27 shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 6 
and 9 are for purpose of example only. Certain ones of the plurality of 
slots 27 are located on the bar member 25 substantially 180.degree. 
opposed from other ones of the plurality of slots 27 (see FIG. 6) so that 
certain ones of the lengths of warp thread 17 will be received in certain 
ones of the plurality of slots 27 while other ones of the lengths of warp 
thread 17 are held substantially on the outer circumference of the bar 
member 25 to create a shed 29 between certain ones of the lengths of warp 
thread 17 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 and so that when the bar member 25 is 
rotated substantially 180.degree. upon the frame 13, certain ones of the 
lengths of warp thread 17 that were held substantially on the outer 
circumference of the bar member 25 will be received in certain ones of the 
plurality of slots 27 while certain ones of the lengths of warp thread 17 
that were received in certain ones of the plurality of slots 27 will be 
held substantially on the outer circumference of the bar member 25. The 
elongated bar member 25 is preferably a cylindrical member as shown in 
FIG. 8 and is preferably of a length to extend substantially completely 
across the frame 13 in a direction transverse to the lengths of warp 
thread 17 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. It should be noted that the bar 
member 25 is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 as having slots 27 only in a portion 
of the length thereof. However, the bar member 25 would normally have 
slots 27 in substantially the entire length thereof as shown in FIG. 6. 
The actual number and spacing of the plurality of slots 27 depend on the 
type fabric to be woven as will be apparent to those skilled in the art. 
The bar member 25 may include a handle portion 31 for allowing the bar 
member 25 to be easily rotated by hand or the like. Additionally, the bar 
member 25 may be hollow to reduce the weight thereof and may be 
constructed of metal or the like. 
The spreader means 21 also includes a hollow sleeve member 33 for being 
attached to the frame 13 and for substantially enveloping the bar member 
25 as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 9. The sleeve member 33 includes a 
plurality of substantially transverse slots 35 (see FIG. 5). Each of the 
plurality of slots 35 are spaced apart from each adjacent one of the 
plurality of slots 35 a distance substantially equal to the distance 
between each adjacent ones of the lengths of warp thread 17 mounted on the 
frame 13. The number and spacing of slots 35 depend on the type fabric to 
be woven and the like. Thus, the number and spacing of the slots 35 shown 
in FIG. 1, 2, 5 and 9 are for purpose of example only. The plurality of 
slots 35 of the sleeve member 33 act to selectively guide each of the 
lengths of warp thread 17 into the plurality of slots 27 in the bar member 
25 in a manner which will hereinafter become apparent. The sleeve member 
33 is preferably an elongated, cylindrical member as shown in FIGS. 5 and 
7 and is preferably of a length to extend substantially completely across 
the frame 13 in a direction transverse to the lengths of warp thread 17 as 
shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. It should be noted that the sleeve member 33 is 
shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 as having slots 35 only in a portion of the length 
thereof. However, the sleeve member 33 would normally have slots 35 in 
substantially the entire length thereof as shown in FIG. 5. The actual 
number and spacing of the plurality of slots 35 depend on the type fabric 
to be woven as will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The sleeve 
member 33 may include a handle portion 37 for allowing the sleeve member 
33 to be easily rotated upon the frame 13 in a manner and for reasons 
which will hereinafter become apparent. The sleeve member 33 may be 
constructed of metal or the like. 
Means may be provided for attaching the sleeve member 33 to the frame 13. 
More specifically, a pair of clamp-like members 39, 41 may be provided for 
being movably attached to the frame as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Each of the 
clamp-like members 39, 41 may include a lower portion 43 for engagement 
with the lower edge of the frame 13 and may include an upper portion 45 
for engagement with the upper edge of the frame 13 as shown in FIG. 2. 
Each clamp-like member 39, 41 may include one or more fastening means 47 
for fastening the lower and upper portions 43, 45 thereof to one another. 
Each of the fastening means 47 may include a bolt-like member 49 passing 
through apertures in each of the lower and upper portions 43, 45 and may 
include a wing nut member 51 or the like to secure the lower and upper 
portions 43, 45 to the bolt member 49 in a manner apparent to those 
skilled in the art. Each of the lower and upper portions 39, 41 preferably 
include an offset portion 43', 45', respectively, for engagement with the 
lower and upper edges of the frame 13 as clearly shown in FIG. 2. As 
should be apparent, when the offset portion 43', 45' are positioned on the 
lower and upper edges of the frame 13, the fastening means 47 will 
selectively cause the clamp-like member 39, 41 to be securely attached to 
the frame 13 in a manner similar to a well-known C-clamp. The upper 
portion 45 of each of the clamp-like members 39, 41 preferably includes an 
aperture 53 for allowing the sleeve member 33 to pass therethrough as 
clearly shown in FIG. 2. The apertures 53 are preferably of a size which 
allows the sleeve member 33 to be manually rotated therein for reasons 
which will hereinafter become apparent. 
The spreader means 21 may include means 55 for confining each of the 
lengths of warp thread 17 to one of the plurality of slots 35 in the 
sleeve member 33. The confining means 55 may include an elongated member 
57 for being fixedly mounted above, and being substantially coextensively 
with, the sleeve member 33 as clearly shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. A pair of 
leg-like members 59 are preferably provided to attach the elongated member 
57 to the upper portion 45 of the clamp-like members 39, 41 as can be seen 
in FIGS. 2, 3, and 4. The confining means 55 also may include a plurality 
of downwardly directed members 61 fixedly attached to the elongated member 
57 as shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 for engaging the sleeve member 33 
substantially intermediate each of the plurality of slots 35 in the sleeve 
member to confine each of the lengths of warp thread 17 substantially 
between adjacent ones of the plurality of slots 35 in the sleeve member 33 
and between adjacent ones of the plurality of downwardly directed members 
61 as shown in FIG. 2. 
To use the weaving device 11 of the present invention, first, the lengths 
of warp thread 17 are mounted to the frame 13 in any manner known to those 
skilled in the art such as by winding a single length of thread around the 
peg-like members 19. The number and spacing of the lengths of warp thread 
17 depend on the type fabric to be woven and the like as will be apparent 
to those skilled in the art. It should be noted that the lengths of warp 
thread 17 are passed between the plurality of downwardly directed members 
61 of the confining means 55 and above the sleeve member 33 so as to 
engage the slots 35 of the sleeve member 33 as shown in FIG. 2. A length 
of weft thread 23 is then passed through the shed 29 substantially 
adjacent the sleeve member 33 thereby causing the length of weft thread 23 
to be woven through the lengths of warp thread 17. Next, the bar member 25 
is rotated causing certain of the lengths of warp thread 17 that were held 
substantially on the outer circumference of the bar member 37 to be 
received in certain ones of the plurality of slots 27 while certain 
lengths of warp thread 17 that were received in certain ones of the 
plurality of slots 27 will be held substantially on the outer 
circumference of the bar member 25. A length of weft thread 23 is then 
again passed through the shed 29 substantially adjacent the sleeve member 
33 thereby causing a web 63 of woven fabric to be formed (see FIG. 1). The 
above steps are repeated until the desired size of fabric is woven. If a 
different type weave is desired to be woven, the sleeve member 33 is 
rotated substantially 180.degree. so that all of the lengths of warp 
thread 17 will be held on substantially the outer circumference of the 
sleeve member 33 and above the slots 27 of the bar member 25. The bar 
member 25 is then pulled out of the sleeve member 33 and is replaced with 
another bar member 25 having a different spacing of the slots 27 (e.g., 
with one having every third slot 27 substantially 180.degree. opposed from 
the adjacent slots 27 rather than having every other slot 27 so opposed). 
The above steps are then repeated thereby resulting in a different type 
weave as will be apparent to those skilled in the art. It should be noted 
that additional steps may be used as is well known to those skilled in the 
art. For example, a comb-like means (not shown) may be used to force the 
lengths of weft thread 23 tightly against the web 63 in a manner and for 
reasons well known to those skilled in the art. Additionally, a well-known 
needlelike member 65 may be used to aid in passing the lengths of weft 
thread 23 through the shed 29. 
Although the invention has been described and illustrated with respect to a 
preferred embodiment thereof, it is not to be so limited since changes and 
modifications may be made therein which are within the full intended scope 
of the invention.