Apparatus and method for spooling stranded material

Apparatus and method for managing stranded media for hand-working includes a base frame; a vertical spindle unit having a shaft, and first and second flanges. A guide for the media is manually movable during operation of the crank for axially dispersing portions of the media being rewound between opposite ends of the spindle, the guide being selectively held stationary in an intermediate position for dispensing the media through the guide with limited axial displacements of the media from the supply. The apparatus can include a crank on the spindle shaft, part of the frame extending near the crank for manual support of the apparatus while cranking. The guide can be biased in one direction, and a control member coupled to the guide for movement in the other direction in response to downward finger pressure for rewinding with one hand turning the crank and the other hand holding the frame and moving the control member. The spindle unit can include a removable temporary core, a guide pin being axially connectable to the temporary core in flush relation to the temporary core when it is removed from the first flange, the guide pin having a smoothly blunt tapered end profile for piercing a skein of the media without damage to the stranded media. Another configuration has the blunt end profile on a solid spindle shaft that is received in the frame by temporarily deflecting the frame, rewinding being facilitated by a second horizontal orientation of the spindle.

DISCLOSURE DOCUMENT 
This application relates to Disclosure Document No. 346,799 that was filed 
on Jan. 27, 1994. 
BACKGROUND 
The present invention relates to crafts such as knitting and crocheting, 
and more particularly to devices and methods for managing supplies of yarn 
or thread being used in manual stitching of stranded material. 
Holders for crochet thread are disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 
1,174,637 to Stupfell, 1,290,577 to Kinney, and 1,505,623 to Burton. 
Similar devices for yarn are disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 
1,278,528 to Van Rensselaer, 2,536,931 to Harwood, 4,634,077 to Wilson, 
and 4,955,557 to Sewell et al. Typically, a post or spindle is vertically 
supported on a base for holding a spool or skein of stranded material, and 
a guide for the strand may be provided. The devices of the prior art have 
not been entirely satisfactory for a variety of reasons; for example: 
1. Excessive and/or uneven force is required for feeding the strand; 
2. Yarn in skeins is subject to damage by insertion of a sharply pointed 
spindle therethrough in that the spindle can split strands of the yarn, a 
further consequence being that feeding of the strand beyond a point of 
separation is blocked by the spindle; 
3. The devices are ineffective for feeding complete skeins, even in the 
absence of damage from inserting the spindle, because there is little 
chance of inserting the spindle exactly through the center of a skein. 
A further problem is that the holders of the prior art are inconvenient to 
use for winding the strand such as for restoring to the spool or skein 
played-out lengths of the strand that are not being immediately used. 
Thus there is a need for a strand holding apparatus that provides for both 
cones and skeins uniformly low feeding resistance, being effective for 
dispensing complete skeins without damage thereto, that is easy to use for 
winding as well as feeding the strand, and that is inexpensive to produce. 
SUMMARY 
The present invention meets this need. In one aspect of the invention, 
apparatus for managing a supply of wound stranded media to be hand-worked 
into a workpiece includes a base for support on a horizontal supporting 
surface; a spindle shaft supportable relative to the base on a spindle 
axis, a first flange supported by the spindle shaft and rotatable about 
the spindle axis for supporting the supply of media being played out to 
the workpiece; a guide member supported to one side of the spindle axis 
for guiding the media between the supply and the workpiece, the guide 
member being manually movable between first and second positions during 
rotation of the spindle shaft for axially dispersing the media being 
rewound onto the supply between opposite ends thereof; and means for 
holding the guide member in a third position that is spaced between the 
first and second positions for permitting the media to be played out 
through the guide from the supply with axial displacements of the media 
between the supply and the guide being limited to approximately half of an 
axial length of the supply. The apparatus can further include a hand crank 
operatively connected to the first flange for rotation thereof to rewind 
selected portions of the stranded media onto the supply, the guide member 
being operable between the first and second positions during operation of 
the hand crank. 
Preferably the apparatus has stationary structure near the hand crank, and 
a control member coupled to the guide member for movement thereof in 
response to downward finger pressure proximate the stationary structure 
for facilitating the rewinding by one using one hand turning the crank and 
the other hand holding the apparatus and moving the control member, the 
guide member being biased toward the first position thereof. The means for 
holding the guide member can include a stop member movably mounted 
relative to the stationary structure for selectively preventing upward 
movement of the control member. 
The apparatus can further incorporate a frame supported on the base and 
having a first spindle bearing laterally spaced from an upstanding column 
member, and an arm member projecting from the top of the column member and 
having latch means for releasably holding a second spindle bearing 
vertically spaced from the first spindle bearing; and a spindle unit 
including the spindle shaft, the first flange, the hand crank, and the 
second spindle bearing, the first flange being removably fixably mounted 
to the spindle shaft, the hand crank being fixably mounted proximate one 
end of the spindle shaft, the opposite end of the spindle shaft being 
adapted for rotatably engaging the first spindle bearing, the second 
spindle bearing being rotatably mounted to the spindle shaft between the 
first flange and the hand crank. When the second spindle bearing is being 
held by the latch means with the opposite end of the shaft engaging the 
first spindle bearing, the spindle axis is vertically oriented with the 
spindle shaft and the first flange freely rotatable by the hand crank. 
The guide member can form an open eyelet near one end of a guide arm 
pivotally mounted to the column member approximately midway between the 
spindle bearings. Preferably the means for holding the guide member 
includes a guide clamp for selectively clamping the guide arm in the third 
position of the guide member. 
A control rod can be movably connected between the frame and the guide arm, 
having a control knob operatively coupled thereto for moving the guide arm 
from the first position to the second position of the guide member in 
response to unidirectional finger pressure; and a stop member movably 
mounted relative to the frame and having a first position for preventing 
movement of the control rod from the third position of the guide member 
toward the first position, the guide arm being biased toward the first 
position. Preferably the control knob is located proximate the arm member 
of the frame for facilitating simultaneous operation of the crank with 
respective hands of a user spaced no farther than a distance between the 
crank and the column member, the guide member being moved toward the 
second position in response to downward pressure on the control knob. The 
control knob can be affixed to an end extremity of the control rod. The 
stop member can selectively engage the control knob. The apparatus can 
further include a lever pivotally connected to the arm member and coupled 
to the control rod for actuation thereof, the control knob being located 
on the lever near the crank. 
The apparatus can further include a tubular temporary core removably 
connected to the first flange, and a guide pin having a coupling for 
axially connecting the temporary core in flush relation to one end of the 
guide pin when the temporary core is removed from the first flange, the 
other end of the guide pin having a smoothly blunt tapered end profile for 
piercing a skein or ball of the media without damage to the stranded 
media. 
In another preferred configuration, a first end of the spindle shaft has a 
conical journal extremity formed thereon, an opposite second end of the 
spindle shaft having a smoothly blunt tapered end profile, the apparatus 
further including the frame fixably connected to the base, the first 
spindle bearing being fixably supported relative to the base for engaging 
the journal extremity of the spindle shaft, the second spindle bearing 
being located on the frame for engaging the tapered end profile of the 
spindle shaft whereby the spindle shaft is rotatable on a spindle axis 
extending between the first and second spindle bearings, the frame being 
temporarily elastically deformable for receiving the spindle shaft between 
the first and second spindle bearings. 
The frame can include a C-shaped bar of substantially uniform 
cross-section, including a column portion laterally spaced from the 
spindle axis, a leg portion projecting near one extremity of the column 
portion for supporting the first spindle bearing, and an arm portion 
projecting near an opposite extremity of the column portion for supporting 
the second spindle bearing, the base being connected to the leg portion, 
the combination of the base and the frame having orthogonal first and 
second orientations supported on the supporting surface, the spindle axis 
being vertical in the first orientation for permitting free rotation of 
the spindle shaft supported by the conical extremity of the journal, the 
spindle axis being horizontal in the second orientation for facilitating 
rewinding of the selected portions of the stranded media. Preferably the 
apparatus can further include a floating flange slidably engagable with 
the spindle shaft for locating contact with an inside surface of a cone 
core having the stranded media thereon when the cone core is inverted on 
the first flange with the spindle shaft vertically oriented. 
In another aspect of the invention, the supply is wound on a cone core 
having an inside conical surface with a major inside diameter greater than 
1.5 inches and a minor inside diameter less than 1 inch, the apparatus 
including the base; the spindle shaft supported relative to the base on a 
vertical spindle axis, a first flange supported by the spindle shaft and 
rotatable about the spindle axis for supporting the supply of media being 
played out to the workpiece, the first flange having a face diameter D 
being between approximately 1 inch and approximately 1.5 inches for 
engaging the inside conical surface of the cone core; the guide member 
fixably supported above the base and to one side of the spindle shaft; and 
means for adjusting a spacing between the first flange and the base for 
locating the axial length of the supply approximately centered relative to 
the guide member. Preferably the apparatus further includes a second 
flange removably supported on the spindle shaft in spaced relation above 
the first flange for retaining the cone core.

DESCRIPTION 
The present invention is directed to a system that facilitates 
hand-advancing of strands such as yarn and crochet thread at low tension 
from spools and/or skeins thereof. With reference to FIG. 1 of the 
drawings, a spindle apparatus 10 has a frame 12 and a spindle unit 14 that 
is adapted for mounting a cone, ball or skein of stranded material media 
15 such as yarn or crochet thread as described below, a skein 16 being 
illustrated in FIG. 1. The frame 12 includes a column portion 18, an arm 
portion 20 and a leg portion 22 projecting horizontally from respective 
upper and lower extremities of the column portion 18, and a base member 24 
pivotally connected to the foot portion 22 for movement between a deployed 
position perpendicular to the leg portion 22 as shown in FIG. 1, and a 
storage position folded alongside the leg portion 22 as indicated by the 
counterclockwise arrows in FIG. 1. In the exemplary configuration of FIG. 
1, pivotal connection of the base member 24 is by a flat-headed screw 
fastener 26, and washer 27 and lock nut 28; and the frame 12 is of metal 
construction, the column portion 18 having a uniform C-shaped 
cross-section, and the arm and leg portions 20 and 22 having uniform 
square cross-section, suitable materials therefor being extruded aluminum. 
For example, the column portion 18 can be made from extruded channel 7/8 
inch wide by 1/2 inch flange width by 1/16 inch wall thickness, 
approximately 13.25 inches long; the arm and leg portions 20 and 22 being 
made from 3/4 inch square tubing having 1/16 inch wall thickness, the arm 
portion 20 having a length of approximately 5 inches, the leg portion 22 
having a length of approximately 6 inches. The arm and leg portions 20 and 
22 are rigidly connected to the column portion by respective pluralities 
of rivets 30. Suitable spacers (not shown) can be used within the square 
tubing of the arm and leg portions 20 and 22 for facilitating installation 
of the rivets 30. The base member 24 may be formed by removing diagonally 
opposing flange portions from a length of extruded aluminum channel having 
a cross-sectional shape corresponding to the column portion 18. A pair of 
foot members 32 project downwardly from opposite ends of the leg portion 
22, approximately flush with the bottom of the base member 24, the 
combination of the base member 24 and the foot members 32 providing stable 
support of the frame 12 on a flat supporting surface 33 such as a table 
top in the extended position of the base member 24. The foot members 32 
are affixed by a suitable adhesive, being preferably formed of a resilient 
polymer having a high frictional coefficient for securely anchoring the 
frame 12 against the low tension forces required for advancing the yarn or 
thread strands, suitable feet being commercially available from a variety 
of sources. 
The spindle unit 14 includes a spindle shaft 34 having an outside spindle 
diameter d, a crank 36 rigidly extending from an upper extremity of the 
shaft 34, and an upper bearing 38 for rotatably supporting the shaft 34 
proximate the crank 36, the bearing 38 being removably supported proximate 
a free extremity of the arm portion 20 of the frame 12 as described below. 
A lower extremity of the shaft 34 is formed having a journal portion 40 
for rotatably engaging the leg portion 22 of the frame 12, the shaft 34 
extending vertically in parallel-spaced relation to the column portion 18. 
More particularly, the journal portion 40 is formed with a reduced 
locating diameter d1 for freely engaging a spindle opening 42 that is 
formed in an upper wall of the leg portion 22, a bottom extremity of the 
journal portion 40 being smoothly rounded for low-friction axial 
engagement against a horizontally disposed surface of a thrust bearing 44, 
the bearing 44 being affixed upon a bottom wall of the leg portion 22. As 
shown in FIG. 1, the thrust bearing 44 is formed of thin sheet angle 
having a smooth hard surface, being held in place within the leg portion 
22 by a screw fastener 46 that extends through a side wall of the leg 
portion 22. A suitable material for the thrust bearing 44 is "half-hard" 
stainless steel sheet. 
The arm portion 20 of the frame 12 has a spindle slot 48 formed through 
upper and lower walls thereof for receiving the portions of the spindle 
shaft 34 as the upper bearing 38 enters the arm portion 20 of the frame 
12. The upper bearing 38 is removably retained approximately flush with 
the free end of arm portion 20 by a latch 50 that is pivotally mounted to 
the arm portion 20 by a screw fastener 26', washer 27' and a lock nut 28', 
being reduced in size from the fastener 26, washer 27, and nut 28, the 
faster 26' also having a conventional shouldered head. The latch 50 is 
biasingly held in a closed position as shown in FIG. 1 by a latch spring 
52, the latch 50 having an upwardly extending finger tab 54 for moving 
same to an open position when it is desired to remove or replace the upper 
bearing 38. Thus the spindle unit 14 is freely rotatable on a spindle axis 
55 in the frame 12 with low-friction bearing support proximate opposite 
ends thereof, being quickly removable and replaceable without tools for 
loading or changing the media 15. The widely spaced combination of the 
upper bearing 38 with the spindle opening 42 and thrust bearing 44 
generously stabilizes the spindle shaft 34, particularly when the crank 36 
is being used for winding the media 15 onto the spindle unit 14 as 
described below. Further, the arm portion 20 (and to a lesser extend an 
upper region of the column portion 18) provides stationary structure of 
the apparatus 10 that facilitates cranking of the crank 36 with one hand 
while holding the hereby stationary structure with the other hand. A 
suitable material for the spindle shaft 34 is #10-24 threaded steel rod. 
In the exemplary configuration of FIG. 1, the crank 36 threadingly engages 
the spindle shaft 34, being secured thereto by another counterpart of the 
lock nut 28. An additional counterpart of the lock nut 28 is located below 
the upper bearing 38 for retaining same approximately vertically 
positioned on the spindle shaft 34 for entry into the arm portion 20, 
which entry is further facilitated by the upper bearing 38 being tapered 
toward the column portion 18. Suitable materials for the upper bearing 38 
include Nylon.RTM., Delrin.RTM., and acrylics. 
As indicated above, the present invention provides convenient and 
relatively rapid winding of the media 15 onto the spindle unit 14, such 
being desired in one or more of the following situations: 
1. When consumption of the media such as by knitting or crocheting is being 
suspended, for convenient storage of the apparatus 10 together with the 
media 15; 
2. In case of inadvertent feeding of excess lengths of the media such as 
when mistakes are made in the hand work and stitches must be pulled out, 
for restoring the excess length to the spindle unit 14; and 
3. When the skein 16 is nearly expended, a remainder of the media 15 being 
sufficiently off-center on the spindle unit 14 that continued consumption 
in that condition is no longer practical, for freshly winding the 
remainder onto the spindle unit 14 for consumption thereof. 
The spindle unit 14 further includes a temporary core 56, an upper flange 
58, and a lower flange 60, the flanges 58 and 60 being provided with 
respective clamp screws 62 whereby the core 56 and the flanges 58 and 60 
are removably clamped onto the spindle shaft 34. As described further 
below in connection with FIG. 8, the temporary core 56 can be loaded with 
the skein 16 without damage to the media 15. Alternatively, and preferably 
with the temporary core 56 being unused, the spindle unit 14 can be loaded 
with a spool or cone core having the media 15 as described below in 
connection with FIG. 7. In the configuration of FIG. 1, the temporary core 
56 rotates with the spindle shaft 34 for being driven by the crank 36. 
Torque transmittal to the core 56 sufficient for winding the media 15 onto 
the spindle unit 14 is obtained by frictional contact with one or both of 
the flanges 58 and 60, such as by clamping the flanges to the shaft 34 
with some axial pressure applied to the core 56, and/or by a very slight 
interference fit between one or both of the flanges 58 and 60 and an 
outside diameter of the core 56. 
An important feature of the present invention is a strand guide 70 that has 
stationary and movable modes of operation as described herein. The guide 
70 includes a guide arm 72 that is pivotally connected to the frame 12 and 
having a slotted eyelet 74 at a free extremity thereof for passing the 
media 15, means for holding the guide arm 72 with the eyelet 74 
approximately vertically centered to one side of the skein 16 (or other 
supply of the media 15, as indicated by double-dashed lines in FIG. 1), 
and means for raising and lowering the eyelet 74 on either side of the 
centered position thereof during operation of the crank 36 (between a 
lowered position as shown by solid lines, and a raised position as 
indicated by triple dashed lines in FIG. 1) for approximately level 
winding of the media 15 onto the spindle unit 14. In the exemplary 
configuration of FIG. 1, the guide arm 72 is pivotally mounted to the 
column portion 18 using counterparts of the screw fastener 26, the washer 
27, the lock nut 28, and the upper bearing 38. The raising and lowering of 
the eyelet 74 is effected by a control rod 76 that is slidably supported 
relative to the frame 12 by a bracket 78, the bracket 78 being affixed to 
the column portion 18 by counterparts of the rivets 30. The control rod 76 
is pivotally connected to the guide arm 72 by a clevis 80, the clevis 80 
being located opposite the eyelet 74 at a relatively short distance from 
the fastener 26 for effecting a wide range of motion of the eyelet 74 in a 
relatively short stroke of the control rod 76. The rod 76 is guided by an 
upper flange opening 82 of the bracket 78, the rod 76 also passing through 
a lower flange opening 84 of the bracket 78, the opening 84 being 
elongated for accommodating slight lateral motion of the rod 76 resulting 
from angular movement of the guide arm 72. A control knob 86 is attached 
to an upper extremity of the rod 76, whereby the eyelet 74 is raised by 
depressing the control knob 86. The control rod 76 extends through a 
helical guide spring 88, a lock nut 90 being threaded onto the rod 76 for 
biasingly coupling the rod 76 by the spring 88 to the bracket 78 for 
enhancing downward movement of the eyelet 74 as the control knob 86 is 
being released. As further shown in FIG. 1, a pair of washers 91 is 
disposed on opposite ends of the spring 88. 
The stationary mode wherein the eyelet 74 is maintained approximately 
centered relative to the supply of media 15 is effected by a stop arm 92 
that is pivotally mounted to the frame 12 for selectively blocking a 
portion of the upward movement of the control knob 86 to a position 
corresponding to a centered position of the eyelet 74. The stop arm 92, 
being mounted to the arm portion 20 of the frame 12 by counterparts of the 
threaded fastener 26 and the lock nut 28', has a thumb tab portion 94 for 
manually swinging the arm 92 over the control knob 86 when the knob 86 is 
depressed sufficiently to clear the arm 92. A suitable material for the 
guide arm 72 is aluminum bar having a thickness of 3/32 inch, a width of 
0.5 inch, and a length of approximately 6 inches, the eyelet 74 being 
formed as an open spiral for laterally receiving a strand of the media, 
the bar being further formed with a smooth curvature between the eyelet 74 
and the fastener 26 for smooth passage of the media 15 from the spindle 
14, through the eyelet 74, thence to a workpiece being formed thereby. 
In use, the stop arm 92 is normally positioned over the control knob 86 as 
indicated by the clockwise arrow in FIG. 1 for effecting the stationary 
mode of the eyelet 74 when the media 15 is being fed from the spindle 14. 
When only a short length of the media 15 is to be rewound onto the spindle 
24, the stationary mode can be continued, the winding being effected by 
manual operation of the crank 36 as described above. Alternatively, and 
preferably when longer lengths of the media 15 are to be wound onto the 
spindle 14, the stop arm is moved onto the arm portion 20 of the frame 12 
as shown by solid lines in FIG. 1 for clearing the control knob 86, the 
knob 86 being cyclically depressed during the winding for producing an 
approximately level wind of the media 15 as desired. 
With further reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, an alternative configuration of 
the apparatus 10 has the extruded materials of the frame 12 exchanged 
between the column portion, designated 18', and the arm and leg portions, 
respectively designated 20' and 22'. More particularly, the column portion 
18' is tubular, having a square cross-section, and the arm and leg 
portions 20' and 22' being C-shaped in cross-section. In the configuration 
of FIGS. 2 and 3, as well as that of FIG. 1, the members are in a closely 
fitting overlapping condition for facilitating rigid connection thereof by 
the rivets 30 as described above. As shown in FIG. 2, a disk-shaped base 
member 64 is substituted for the base member 24 of FIG. 1. Also, a 
counterpart of the spindle opening 42 is provided by a counterpart of the 
upper bearing 38, the bearing 38 being fastened between flanges of the leg 
portion 22' by a counterpart of the screw fastener 46. As shown in FIG. 3, 
another counterpart of the upper bearing 38 is supported between flanges 
of the arm portion 20' by a retainer bracket 66, the bracket 66 being 
fastened in place by a counterpart of the rivet 30. A single counterpart 
of the spindle slot 48 is formed in a web section of the arm portion 20'. 
Further, a threaded boss 68 is crimped in place under the arm portion 20' 
for receiving a counterpart of the fastener 26 by which the latch 50 is 
pivotally mounted to the frame 12 for releasably locking the upper bearing 
38 in place. 
With further reference to FIG. 4, another alternative configuration of the 
apparatus 10 has a counterpart of the guide arm, designated 72' formed of 
wire, a counterpart of the control rod, designated 76', being pivotally 
connected directly to the guide arm 72' between the fastener 26 and the 
eyelet 74. Thus the eyelet 74 is raised by raising the control rod 76'. 
Also, a control lever 96 is pivotally mounted to the arm portion 20 of the 
frame 12 for actuation of the control rod 76', the lever 96 having an 
upwardly inclined thumb tab 98 for manual actuation proximate the crank 
36. A counterpart of the bracket, designated 78', guides the control rod 
76', the guide spring 88 being coupled to the rod 76' by a washer 100 that 
is located by an enlargement 102 of the rod 76'. In this configuration of 
the apparatus 10, the winding of the media 15 onto the spindle 14 is 
further facilitated by a user thereof being able to conveniently cycle the 
guide arm 72 while grasping the frame 12 proximate the crank 36, thereby 
making it easier to hold the apparatus in a desired position while 
operating the crank 36. As also shown in FIG. 4, the control rod 76' is 
coupled to the guide arm 72' and the control lever 96 by counterparts of 
the lock nut 90, and a counterpart of the stop arm 92 can selectively 
engage either or both of the rod 76' and the control lever 96 for 
effecting the stationary mode, holding the eyelet 74 approximately 
centered to one side of the supply of media 15. Further, a counterpart of 
the latch 50, designated 50', is formed as a deflectable spring member for 
accepting and releasably holding the upper bearing 38 of the spindle unit 
14 seated in the frame 12. 
With further reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, another configuration of the 
apparatus 10 has the frame 12 formed with counterparts of the column 
portion 18, the arm portion 20, and the leg portion, respectively 
designated 18", 20", and 22", made from a plastic material such as an 
acrylic polymer, the portions 18", 20" and 22" being mitered and rigidly 
joined by a suitable solvent cement. In the configuration of FIGS. 5 and 
6, a counterpart of the base member, designated 64', is octagonal, a 
suitable material therefor also being acrylic plastic. Preferably the base 
member 64' is provided with a spaced plurality of resilient counterparts 
of the foot members, designated 32'. 
As further shown in FIG. 5, an alternative configuration of the strand 
guide 70 incorporates a wing nut 104 in place of the lock nut 28 for 
selectively holding a counterpart of the guide arm, designated 72", in the 
centered position of the stationary mode. In this configuration, the 
control rod 76 and associated parts are omitted. Instead, the level 
winding of the media 15 onto the spindle 14 is effected by manual movement 
of the arm 72" using direct finger pressure thereon after loosening the 
wing nut 104. As shown in FIG. 5, the guide arm 72" is a formed wire 
member similar to the arm 72' of FIG. 4, but does not include a loop for 
connecting the control rod 76'. A suitable material for the arm 72" is 
thermo-plastic rod material that is available from a variety of sources. 
Characteristic of the apparatus 10 as configured in FIGS. 5 and 6 is that 
substantially all of the parts thereof can be provided in non-metallic 
materials. For example, the screw 26 and the wing nut 104 can be formed of 
Nylon.RTM.. The spindle shaft 34 can also be formed of a suitable plastic 
such as acrylic, counterparts of the spindle opening 42 and the thrust 
bearing 44 being formed integrally with the leg portion 22' by molding or 
drilling. In the configuration of FIGS. 5 and 6, the spindle shaft 34 is 
provided with a ring member 106 under the upper bearing 38 in place of the 
lock nut 28 of FIG. 1, the ring member 106 also being formed of acrylic 
and affixed by a suitable adhesive. Also, a counterpart of the latch, 
designated 50", is pivotally mounted against one side of the arm portion 
20" for selectively engaging a lug 108 that rigidly protrudes from a 
counterpart of the upper bearing 38, whereby the bearing 38 is removably 
secured in the frame 12 as described above. Further, a counterpart of the 
crank 36, also formed of acrylic, can be cemented directly to an upper 
extremity of the spindle shaft 34 as shown in FIG. 7, discussed below. 
With further reference to FIG. 7, the spindle unit 14 in the configuration 
of FIGS. 5 and 6 can have counterparts of one or both of the upper and 
lower flanges, designated 58' and 60', formed with a series of concentric 
steps 110 for locating engagement with a variety of cone cores such as the 
core 112 which can carry a supply of crochet thread as the media 15, the 
combination with the core 112 being designated spool 114. As also shown in 
FIG. 7, the lower flange 60' has an indexing dog 116 formed therein for 
rotationally locking a counterpart of the temporary core 56 thereto as 
described below for insuring direct drive thereof when the crank 36 is 
operated, without requiring a tight fit between the core 56 and either the 
spindle shaft 34 or one of the flanges 58 and 60. 
FIG. 8 shows a counterpart of the temporary core, designated 56', being 
loaded with the skein 16 of the media 15, using a guide pin 118 for 
avoiding damage to the media 15 of the skein 16. The guide pin 118 is 
formed with an outside diameter corresponding to the temporary core 56 (or 
56'), one end thereof having a coupling member 120 for concentric 
engagement with an inside diameter of the temporary core 56, the other end 
having a bluntly rounded nose configuration as indicated at 122. In 
exemplary implementations of the apparatus 10, the temporary core 56 can 
be made from a length of acrylic tubing having an outside diameter of 
approximately 0.5 inch, an inside diameter of 0.25 inch, and a length of 
approximately 10 inches. The guide pin 118 can be fabricated with a 
tubular body portion 124 being a duplicate length of the acrylic tubing of 
the core 56, the coupling member 120 being a short length of 0.25 inch 
diameter acrylic rod cemented to the inside diameter of the body portion 
124 and extending therefrom. A nose member 126, being a shorter length of 
the acrylic rod, is cemented to the body portion 124 opposite the coupling 
member 120, the body portion 124 being smoothly shaped together with the 
nose member 126 with the bluntly rounded and tapered profile 122. 
As indicated in FIG. 8, the tapered profile 122 of the guide pin 118 is 
worked gently through the skein 16, approximately concentric therewith, 
until the body portion 124 projects from opposite ends of the skein 16. 
Next, the guide pin 118 is axially joined with the temporary core 56 and 
the skein 16 is slipped from the guide pin 118 and onto the core 56. Then, 
the core 56 is assembled into the spindle unit 14 and the spindle unit 14 
is mounted into the frame 12, whereby the supply of media 15 is loaded 
into the apparatus 10. As shown in FIG. 8, the temporary core 56' has a 
notch 128 formed at one end thereof for engaging the indexing dog 116, 
whereby the temporary core 56' is positively driven in unison with the 
lower flange 60' by the crank 36. 
Respective vertically spaced pairs of holder blocks 130 are provided on the 
frame 12 in the configuration of FIGS. 5 and 6 for convenient storage of 
the temporary core 56 and the guide pin 118. The holder blocks 130, which 
can be formed from pieces of the same acrylic material as the frame 
portions 18", 20" and 22", are affixed to opposite sides of the column 
portion 18" of the frame 12 by a suitable cement. 
With further reference to FIG. 9, yet another alternative configuration of 
the apparatus, designated 10', is adapted particularly for dispensing the 
media 15 from counterparts of the cone core 112. The apparatus 10' 
includes a disk-shaped base 132, an upstanding post 134 approximately 
centrally located on the base 132, a main roller 136 being freely 
rotatable on the post 134 and vertically adjustable as further described 
below, and a strand guide unit 138 extending outwardly and upwardly from 
proximate a lower extremity of the post 134. Preferably a retainer roller 
140 is adjustably locatable on the post 134 above the main roller 136 for 
retaining the core 112 seated on the main roller 136. 
More particularly, an exemplary configuration of the apparatus 10' has the 
post 134 being a length of threaded rod, threadingly engaging the base 
132. The guide unit 138 includes respective first and second arm segments 
142 and 144, the second arm segment having a counterpart of the eyelet 74 
at a free extremity thereof. The arm segments 142 and 144 are formed of 
solid wire material, one end of the first arm segment having a loop 146 
formed therein for enclosing the post 134, being clamped between a pair of 
washers 148 against the base 132 by a counterpart of the lock nut 28. 
Adjacent ends of the arm segments 142 and 144 have counterparts of the 
loop 146, being pivotally connected by counterparts of the screw fastener 
26 and the wing nut 104. Thus the eyelet 74 is adjustably locatable 
relative to the base 132 and the post 134, the wing nut 104 providing 
means for holding the eyelet 74 selectively fixed in a desired position. 
The main roller 136 can be cylindrical annulus in form, a pair of flanged 
bushings 150 being inserted at opposite ends thereof for obtaining a close 
free-rolling fit with the post 134. The bushings 150 are axially retained 
at a desired elevation on the post 132 by an opposed pair of the wing nuts 
104 and washers 148, the roller 136 supporting the core 112 against a 
tapered inside wall surface thereof. It has been discovered that the main 
roller 136 having an outside diameter D of approximately 1.33 inches 
provides stable and concentric support for a wide variety of cone cores 
commonly in use as spools for crochet thread. This is because the roller 
136 engages typical ones of the cores 112 vertically near a center of 
gravity of the loaded spool 114, and because the outside surface of roller 
136, being a right circular cylinder, seeks angular alignment with the 
cone core 110 loaded thereon. 
The retainer roller 140 is supported by a counterpart of the lock nut 18 
and retained thereon by a counterpart of the wing nut 104. The outside 
surface of the retainer roller 140 is frustro-conical in form, tapering 
downwardly and inwardly for engagement by upper extremities of larger ones 
of the cone cores 112, without in many cases requiring adjustment of the 
supporting lock nut 28. Smaller ones of the cone cores 112 are retained 
under lower side surfaces of the retainer roller as shown in FIG. 9. 
Normally, the cone core 112 need not contact the retainer roller 140 
except in the event that the apparatus 10' is accidentally tipped over or 
inadvertent contact is made with the spool 114 (or when the apparatus 10' 
is stored or transported with the spool 114 loaded thereon). 
With further reference to FIGS. 10-12, yet another configuration of the 
apparatus, designated 10", has the column, arm, and leg portions of the 
frame 12, respectively designated 18'", 20'", and 22'", integrally formed 
of a material having a desired combination of stiffness and elasticity to 
permit the spindle to be installed and removed by the expedient of 
momentarily deflecting the frame to spread the arm and leg portions 20'" 
and 22'". For this purpose, a suitable material for the frame member 12 is 
a solid bar of acrylic plastic, 3/4 inch square, heat-formed in a C-shaped 
configuration. A counterpart of the spindle unit, designated 14', includes 
a counterpart of the spindle shaft, designated 34', that is formed of a 
solid round bar having a diameter D of approximately 0.5 inch, one end 
thereof having a conical journal 152, the other end having a counterpart 
of the nose profile 122 formed on a tapered journal 154. 
A counterpart of the base 64' is fastened to the frame 12 such that one 
edge thereof is flush with the column portion 18'" for placement of the 
apparatus 10" with the spindle axis 55 vertically in a first orientation 
as described above, and in a second orientation horizontally with the base 
64' and the column portion 18'" resting on the horizontal supporting 
surface 33. In the first orientation, the spindle unit 14' rotates with 
little or substantially no resistance for permitting the media 15 to be 
freely drawn from the skein 16 or the cone core 112. The horizontal 
orientation facilitates rewinding of the media 15, rotating the spindle 
14' by directly rotating one of the flanges 58 or 60 while manipulating 
the guide 70 as desired for level winding. 
As further shown in FIG. 10, the apparatus 10' further includes a floating 
flange 156 that slides freely on the spindle shaft 34' for locatingly 
contacting the inside conical surface of the cone core 122 when the core 
122 is inverted on the second flange 60. Once located as thus described, 
the cone core 122 can be secured on the shaft 34' by the first flange 58. 
Counterparts of the fastener 26 and the wing nut 104 are provided on the 
column portion 18'" for holding the floating flange 156 when the flange 
156 is not being used. 
The apparatus 10 of the present invention provides a convenient, effective 
and economical way to manage stranded material media including yarn and 
crochet thread for hand use. It is versatile in that the media can be used 
directly from skeins, spools, and cones. It is effective in that there is 
very low resistance to feeding the media, and in the configurations of 
FIGS. 1-8 it is efficient in that the media can be quickly and easily 
rewound onto the spindle 14 by the crank 36, with level winding as 
desired. The configuration of FIG. 9 is particularly convenient, 
inexpensive and effective for feeding crochet thread on cone cores in a 
variety of sizes. The configuration of FIGS. 10 and 11 provides a 
desirable combination of convenience, effectiveness, versatility, low 
cost, and decorative appearance. 
Although the present invention has been described in considerable detail 
with reference to certain preferred versions thereof, other versions are 
possible. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should 
not necessarily be limited to the description of the preferred versions 
contained herein.