Device for linking a thread spool with a matching bobbin

A device links thread spools with matching bobbins, using a rubber band. A cap or head extends down through a center bobbin hole and has a hook at its lower end. The rubber band is connected to this hook and extended down through the center hole of a thread spool. The rubber band is then spread open, stretched around the spool and over the top of the bobbin, and slipped into a groove at the top of the cap or head, thereby retaining the bobbin against the top of the spool. Provision is included for curtailing the length of the band when needed for a shorter spool. This can be a bead slidable on the rubber band, or multiple parallel grooves on the top of the cap, to take up some of the length of the band.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention concerns sewing equipment and supplies, and especially directed to a versatile device that is used to join bobbins of differing sizes with thread spools and cones of greatly varying sizes.

Seamstress work, using one or more sewing machines, requires a collection of spools of different thread, as well as bobbins for the various spools, often holding thread particular to a spool. The spools and bobbins are often switched frequently on a sewing machine.

Quite a number of devices have been conceived to accommodate multiple spools and/or bobbins for retrieval and storage in sewing. These come in a wide variety of forms. See, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,913,485, 5,727,699, 4,351,458, 4,195,739, 4,029,241, 3,948,396, 3,738,590, 2,944,761, 1,508,105, 1,405,554, 470,328, 462,702 and Des. 146,869. See also U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,789,771, 4,094,415, 3,491,893 and 2,431,423 showing devices for holding other articles not related to sewing.

In addition, U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,992,819 and 8,286,905, both developed by the inventor herein, describe a thread spool and bobbin holder wherein a series of flexible spindles can hold thread spools, optionally including a bobbin on the spindle, and the spindles are retained in a holder that receives a base end of each spindle in a sliding action.

The current invention is designed particularly for storing a bobbin with a corresponding thread spool, with the two secured together, and with versatility to accommodate thread spools and cones of widely varying sizes.

There is a need for a convenient, compact and versatile spool holder, preferably also for bobbins, to keep these items together and readily available for storage and retrieval.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The device of the invention in a preferred embodiment utilizes a rubber band (elastic band), a slide piece or bead secured to the rubber band, and a bobbin-engaging cap or head to secure a bobbin to a thread spool or cone, the device having an adjustment feature to accommodate bobbins of different sizes and spools and cones of very different sizes.

The invention achieves this object in general by use of the slide piece or bead captured onto the rubber band, with each of two parallel sections of the rubber band positioned within the bead, such that the bead can slide along the rubber band. The bead can be located in either of two different general positions relative to the thread spool and the bobbin, so as to take up some of the length of the rubber band in one position, to accommodate a thread spool which is short in height. In either position of the bead, the rubber band when installed secures a bobbin firmly to the top end of a corresponding thread spool. Other arrangements are possible for taking up some of the rubber band when needed.

The invention provides a versatile and efficient bobbin holder to maintain a bobbin with the appropriate spool of thread. These and other objects, advantages and features of the invention will be apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment, considered along with the accompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The invention is a device which acts as a connector for any size spool or cone of thread and any machine bobbin having a central hole containing matching thread, i.e. a companion bobbin to the thread spool.FIG. 1shows the invention in use, retaining a bobbin10to a thread cone12, the thread cone being rather tall in height as compared to a typical thread spool. A cap or head14extends down into and engages the bobbin10, via a central hole16in the bobbin as shown inFIG. 2, and a rubber band (that term including natural rubber or synthetic latex rubber bands)18extends over the top of the cap14, in a groove20, and around both sides of the thread cone12. The sectional view ofFIG. 2shows that the rubber band or elastic band18, wrapping around the bottom of the thread cone, extends up into the center bore21(which may be tapered, as shown) of the thread cone and has an end18aconnected over a depending hook22that is formed on a stem24of the cap14, extending down from a head25of the cap. A slide piece or bead26is secured on the rubber band so as to contain two parallel portions of the rubber band and is shown inFIGS. 3 and 4. The cap14, with its stem24and hook22, is shown inFIGS. 6 and 7.

The slide piece26is slidable along the rubber band, and is shown inFIG. 2in a typical position when the device of the invention is secured on a thread spool or cone of relatively long length (height). One function of the slide piece or bead26is to make easy the insertion of the rubber band down through the bobbin and the thread spool center bore21.

The channel or groove20in the top surface of the cap14holds the rubber band stably in position, as shown inFIGS. 1 and 2.

As shown inFIGS. 6 and 7, the cap14's hook22has an opening and closing safety-pin type mechanism in this preferred embodiment. When the open leg22aof the hook is locked into a corresponding hook or tab22bformed on the stem24opposite the hook leg22a, a loop is created from which an attached band is secure and will not escape. This stem/hook structure24/22is to be inserted down into the central hole of a bobbin.

The rubber band, preferably a synthetic latex, can be about 3.5 inches in length when collapsed (doubled), i.e. a total perimeter of about 7 inches, with a width of about ⅛ inch and a thickness of about 0.032 inch. These dimensions can vary, especially the width and thickness. The length can vary about 10% to 20% either way.

The plastic bead or slide piece26fastens around the rubber band in such a way as to keep the two parallel sides or portions of the rubber band separate. The bead can move up and down along the length on the rubber band, with each side of the band passing in its own channel within the bead. The channel structure is indicated inFIGS. 3 and 4. Certain internal elements of the bead26divide the interior of the preferably cylindrical bead into two parallel channels, these elements being shown at26a,26b,26c,26d,26e,26fand26ginFIGS. 3 and 4. The two halves of the bead preferably are identical, and when the two portions as shown inFIG. 3are assembled together as inFIG. 4, which may be by friction retention, the elements26bmate into the elements26f, at both ends. Holes26hare to aid in the assembly process with a rubber band. The elements26cand26eare located at these holes and give additional rigidity for the assembled bead. Thus, the assembled bead cylinder is formed, divided into two channels for the rubber band, which is shown inFIG. 4. This construction enables sliding of the bead up and down along the rubber band18.

At the two ends of the bead, end elements26aand26gextend out from the cylinder for a particular purpose. They act as divider protrusions to force the looping-over of the band18to occur outside the internal cavity of the bead, to enable grasping of the band by itself when the bead is to be moved by sliding along the band.FIG. 5shows the band looping over one of these protruding bead elements.

To secure a bobbin to a thread spool or cone as inFIGS. 1 and 2, the rubber band18with the bead positioned at the farthest point downward is passed through the center of a bobbin10, and with the upper end of the rubber band secured to the hook22of the cap, it is passed through the center of a spool or cone of thread. In this procedure the bead26helps put the rubber band through the bobbin and spool. In the case of a short thread spool30as inFIG. 5, the bead remains at the lower end of the rubber band and is grasped and pulled down and then up and over the head or cap14. As this is done the two sides of the rubber band are spread apart and stretched up each respective side of the thread spool. With the rubber band stretched up over the cap14, it is dropped into the groove or channel, traversing the cap14.

For this situation of a short thread spool30as inFIG. 5, the bead or slide piece26has been maintained at the extreme end of the rubber band remote from the hook22, which was the lowermost point but which, after installation, is at the top of the cap14. The bead26sits upright atop the bobbin and spool as shown inFIG. 5, taking up slack in the length of the rubber band in this case of a shorter spool. The curtailed length of the rubber band secures the bobbin and spool together.

When the spool or cone of thread is medium or taller in height, as inFIGS. 1 and 2, the bead26on the rubber band remains at the bottom of the length of the rubber band, farthest away from the head or cap14and the hook22to which the rubber band is connected, while feeding the band down through the central bobbin hole and the thread spool core or cone center21. When the bead26has passed entirely down through the center hole of the thread spool, or just at the bottom of the inside tapered chamber of the thread cone, it is grasped and pulled out enough to slide the bead up along the rubber band, inside the cone or tall spool. With the bead26inside the center of the spool or cone (it can be pushed completely up as inFIG. 2, or somewhat lower but still within the spool or cone), the rubber band sides are separated and then stretched up each side of the large spool or cone12and over the cap14and into the groove20, as shown inFIGS. 1 and 2.

For both the short spool and the tall spool, the cap or head14can first be placed into the bobbin hole, followed by attachment of the elastic band18onto the hook22extending somewhat below the bobbin. The above description refers to attaching the band18first, then extending it down through the bobbin hole. Either procedure can be used, and no limitation is implied as to order of these steps, herein or in the claims, which are intended to read on either procedure.

The device of the invention is thus highly adaptable and uniquely capable of joining bobbins of different sizes with thread spools and cones of greatly varying sizes.

Broadly speaking the invention encompasses a thread spool and bobbin linking device having a cap for engaging with the bobbin, connectable to a rubber band that passes down through the bobbin and thread spool, and such that the rubber band can be drawn up from the bottom of the spool and wrapped around the outside of the spool and secured over the top of the cap, and with some provision for curtailing the effective length of the rubber band when needed, to accommodate smaller spools, particularly of shorter height.

FIG. 8shows an alternative method and structure for curtailing the length of the elastic band when this is needed for a short spool. This is an alternative to the bead or slide piece26.

A modified cap14ahas three parallel grooves or channels20,21and22, rather than simply the central groove20shown inFIGS. 6-7and other drawings. The procedure for a tall spool or cone is similar to that described above, but without the bead. Only the center groove or channel20on the top of the cap14ais used, and the bobbin is retained on the tall spool as shown inFIG. 1. The disadvantage here is that the rubber band is somewhat more difficult to put through the spool, without the bead being present.

When a shorter spool is involved, the same procedure is used except that, after the rubber band is laid in the center groove20of the cap, can then be wound around in serpentine fashion as shown inFIG. 8, into the side take-up grooves21and22, taking up length of the rubber band to provide a curtailed effective length for use on the short spool, with the assembly then appearing as inFIG. 5but without the bead26. More preferably, the user can first lay the rubber band in one of the side grooves (21,22) and then wind it through the center groove and the other side groove.

It is also possible to include both the cap14aofFIG. 8and the bead on the rubber band, thus applying to a situation where three greatly different heights of spools will be encountered.

The term “spool” or “thread spool” as used in the claims is intended to include a cone as well as a spool.

The above described preferred embodiments are intended to illustrate the principles of the invention, but not to limit its scope. Other embodiments and variations to these preferred embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art and may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.