Needle threader

A needle threader includes a flat handle portion and a thread-introducing loop portion extending from the handle portion. The thread-introducing loop portion includes a folded insertion edge at a tip for insertion into an eye of a needle. The thread-introducing loop portion includes a plate member having a first end, a second end, and a narrow band portion integrally connecting between the first and second ends. The narrow band portion has the folded insertion edge at a lengthwise center. The first end and the second end of the plate member are laid one on another and held in the handle portion. The narrow band portion is exposed from the handle portion to form the thread-introducing loop portion.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a needle threader for use in threading a sewing needle or the like.

2. Description of the Related Art

In the field of handicraft such as embroidery and sewing, a needle threader is known which is a tool for facilitating threading of an embroidery needle or the like. Typically, a needle threader includes a thread-introducing loop portion that can be passed through the eye of a needle, and a handle portion attached to the thread-introducing loop portion. The handle portion is formed of a thin metal plate for example, and is adapted to be pinched with the fingers. The thread-introducing loop portion has a thin wire of a circular cross-section formed into an approximately diamond-shaped loop, for example, so that the loop can be inserted into the needle eye by utilizing a pointed tip.

There is also known a needle threader which has a thread-introducing loop portion formed of a flat metal wire (see Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 8-004948 for example). In the needle threader disclosed in this publication, the flat-shaped (or plate-shaped) metal wire is folded into an approximately diamond-shaped loop so that the metal wire has a flat cross section having a long axis orthogonal to a plane constituting the diamond-shaped loop. According to such a structure, when the thread-introducing loop portion is passed through the needle eye, the tip end of the thread-introducing loop portion is inserted into the needle eye in the state where the long axis of the cross section of the metal wire extends in the longitudinal direction of the needle eye. The thread-introducing loop portion is pulled back through the needle eye after a thread is passed through the thread-introducing loop portion. At this time, the thread is placed in the folded loop portion located at the end of the thread-introducing loop portion, along the long axis of the cross section of the metal wire. Thus, as shown inFIGS. 4 and 6in the above-described publication, the portions of the thread passed through the needle eye are placed at a distance from each other in the longitudinal direction of the needle eye. As such, according to the needle threader disclosed in the above publication, even if the thread is relatively thick, it is possible to pull out the thread-introducing portion, while the thread is being held thereby, without causing the thread and the thread-introducing loop portion to get stuck at the needle eye.

Meanwhile, the thread-introducing loop portion has its end portion attached to the handle portion made of a thin metal plate. As shown inFIG. 1in the above publication, the metal wire has a cross section whose long axis is orthogonal to a flat axis of the handle portion. Thus, in order to attach the end portion of the thread-introducing loop portion to the handle portion, the handle portion is applied with a cut, for example, and the end portion of the thread-introducing loop portion is inserted into the cut and, then, the cut portion is pressed for so-called caulking. With this configuration, however, when the thread-introducing loop portion repeatedly receives a pulling force toward its end, it may be torn off at its portion attached to the handle portion. Furthermore, an impact applied to the attaching portion may cause undesirable deformation of the end of the thread-introducing loop portion and/or the handle portion.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a needle threader which ensures that a thread-introducing loop portion passed through a needle eye for threading can be pulled out smoothly without causing the thread and the thread-introducing loop portion to get stuck at the needle eye, and which appropriately maintains an attached state of the thread-introducing loop portion to a handle portion.

A needle threader according to the present invention comprises a flat handle portion and a thread-introducing loop portion extending from the handle portion. The thread-introducing loop portion includes a folded insertion edge at a tip for insertion into an eye of a needle. The thread-introducing loop portion comprises a plate member having a first end, a second end, and a narrow band portion integrally connecting between the first and second ends. The narrow band portion has said folded insertion edge at a lengthwise center. The first end and the second end of the plate member are laid one on another and held in the handle portion. The narrow band portion is exposed from the handle portion to form said thread-introducing loop portion.

Preferably, the folded insertion edge of the thread-introducing loop portion is elongated in a direction in which the needle eye is elongated.

In a preferred embodiment, the first end has a greater size than the second end, and the first end has an ornamental pattern formed by etching a portion not laid on the second end. Further, the handle portion is formed of a transparent resin.

Preferably, each of the first end and the second end has an engagement hole, and the engagement hole of the first end is aligned with the engagement hole of the second end. Further, the handle portion has an engagement projection inserted through the engagement holes of the first and second ends.

Preferably, the narrow band portion has an intermediate portion between the insertion edge and the first end and another intermediate portion between the insertion edge and the second end, and the intermediate portions is curved moderately such that a distance between the intermediate portions increases as a position in the intermediate portions approaches a lengthwise center of the intermediate portions.

The other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the present invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As shown inFIGS. 1 and 2, a needle threader A according to an embodiment of the present embodiment includes a plate member1and a handle portion2.

The plate member1includes a first end11, a second end12, and a narrow band portion13connecting these ends. The plate member1is formed in one piece by subjecting a thin metal plate such as a stainless steel spring member to stamping or etching for example. The plate member1has a thickness of, e.g., about 0.1 mm.

The narrow band plate portion13extends in a straight line with a constant width. The narrow band plate portion13is folded at a lengthwise intermediate position to provide a folded insertion edge13a. A portion13bof the plate13located between the folded insertion edge13aand the first end11as well as another portion13cof the plate13located between the folded portion13aand the other end12is curved moderately in a manner that these curved portions come farther apart from each other as they each approach its lengthwise center. The insertion edge13aand the curved portions13B and13C may be formed by subjecting the narrow band portion13to presswork, for example.

The first and second ends11,12are wider than the narrow band portion13, and they are laid one on another while being held within the handle portion2. Each of the ends11,12is provided with a plurality of (e.g., three) engagement holes11a,12a, respectively, penetrating in the thickness direction. Each engagement hole11aof the first end11is aligned with a corresponding engagement hole12aof the second end12when the ends11,12are laid one on the other. The first end11has a greater size than the second end12. The first end11has an ornamental pattern11bprovided as perforations in a region not overlapping the second end12. The ornamental pattern11bmay be formed by subjecting the first end11to etching for material removal.

The handle portion2is formed of a transparent synthetic resin, which may be AS resin for example. The handle portion2has a flat shape as a whole to be conveniently nipped between the thumb and the pointing finger. The handle portion2also serves to hold the overlapping ends11,12of the plate member1therein. More specifically, the handle portion2includes first and second members2a,2bwhich are welded together into one piece with the ends11,12sandwiched between these two members. Such welding of the two members2a,2bmay be performed by ultrasonic bonding or high frequency welding. The first member2aof the handle portion2has integral engagement projections2cwhich are inserted through the engagement holes11a,12aof the plate member1into complementary recesses2c. In the needle threader A, while the ends11,12of the plate member1are housed and secured in the handle portion2, the narrow band portion13is exposed from the handle portion2to form a thread-introducing loop portion that can be passed through the eye of a needle.

In use of the needle threader A of the present embodiment, as shown inFIG. 3, the insertion edge13aof the narrow band portion13is passed through the eye4aof a needle4in such a manner that the width direction of the narrow band portion13coincides with the longitudinal direction of the needle eye4a, and a thread5is passed through the narrow band portion13that has been inserted into the needle eye4a. Then, as shown inFIG. 4, the narrow band portion13is pulled out of the needle eye4awith the thread5being left passed therethrough. In this manner, threading of the thread5through the needle eye4ais finished.

As described above, in the needle threader A of the present embodiment, when inserting the narrow band portion13into the needle eye4a, the width direction of the narrow band plate portion13is aligned with the longitudinal direction of the needle eye4a. Accordingly, when pulling the narrow band plate portion13out of the needle eye4a, the thread5that has been passed through the narrow band portion13extends in the width direction of the narrow band plate portion13, and thus, the plane including the thread5is oriented in the longitudinal direction of the needle eye4a. This ensures that the portions of the thread5being passed through the needle eye4aare apart from each other in the longitudinal direction of the needle eye4a, so that the thread5and the narrow band portion13can be pulled out smoothly without getting stuck at the needle eye4a(seeFIG. 4). Furthermore, the narrow band portion13is formed into a loop shape with the moderately curved portions13b,13cthereof. Such a structure is advantageous in that it is possible to reduce the resistance due to elastic deformation of the narrow band portion13when pulling it out of the needle eye4a.

In the needle threader A of the present embodiment, the plate member1formed in one piece is secured in the handle portion2in the state where its ends11,12are laid one on the other. Accordingly, even if a pulling force is repeatedly applied to the ends11,12during a threading operation, the ends11,12would not come off the handle portion2. Furthermore, the ends11,12covered with the handle portion2well withstand the impact. As such, it is possible to maintain the state where the narrow band portion13(the thread-introducing loop portion) is appropriately secured to the handle portion2, which prolongs the service life of the needle threader. In the needle threader A, the engagement projection2cof the handle portion2is inserted through the engagement holes11a,12aformed at the respective ends11,12of the plate member1, which ensures appropriate positioning of the ends11,12with respect to the handle portion2.

Furthermore, the handle portion2is formed of a transparent resin, and its interior can be seen therethrough. This allows the ornamental pattern11bformed at the first end11of the plate member1housed and secured in the handle portion2to be viewed from the outside, consequently providing an attractive appearance.

While the specific embodiment of the present invention has been explained above, the present invention is not limited thereto, and various modifications are possible within the range not departing from the concept of the invention. For instance, the specific shapes and materials of the respective portions of the needle threader of the present invention are not limited to those of the above embodiment.

Furthermore, the needle threader of the present invention may be configured such that the narrow band portion exposed from the handle portion is covered with a resin cap when not in use, to prevent undesirable contact of the narrow band portion with a foreign article.