A needle holder comprising a panel with thread codes

Abstract: A needle holder (1) comprises holding means (2) for one or more needles and a panel (5) on which thread codes can be provided. The panel (5), which can be fixedly or detachably connected to the holding means (2), provides information on codes of threads which are passed through the eyes of needles (3) which are inserted in the holding means. The embroidering or crocheting in particular of large tableaus, wherein several threads are used, can thus take place in a more surveyable manner.

Description: The present invention relates to a needle holder which comprises holding means for one or more needles, and a panel on which thread codes can be provided. Needle holders of a kind, for example in the form of needle cushions, are commonly known. When carrying out work, such as crochet work, for example, threads of various colours are used, which, after being incorporated in the crochet work, are fastened off, after which the needle provided with a thread of a particular colour is stuck into the needle cushion for later use. In the case of larger tableaus, up to several dozens of different colours may be used. US-A-5,184,729 discloses a needlework threadholder and organizer in the form of a box-like container having a removable organizer insert therein. The insert is constructed of a material which is easily penetrable by sewing needles, and on the insert there is an imprinted organizational grid preferrably made of paper overlaying top and bottom of the insert. The grid forms a writing surface for thread number codes and the like. US-A-4,664,302 discloses a threaded needle holder made up of a rectangular card with a magnetic strip affixed parallel to one long edge of the card. The needles are attracted to and held by the magnetic strip, while thread in the needle is urged into slits which are aligned with thread color indicating lines. US-A-4,679,716 which is considered to be prior art where from the present invention is delimited, discloses holding means in the form of a pin cushion for inserting needles therein, and a panel for providing thread codes thereon. The object of the invention is to provide a further improved needle holder. In order to accomplish that objective, the needle holder according to the invention is characterized in that said holding means are provided with openings for inserting the needles and with a stop plate mounted behind said openings, against which the inserted needle butts. The advantage of the needle holder according to the invention is that it is possible to find the inserted needle provided with the thread based on the thread codes and the distinctive needle opening respectively. Conversely, the needle can be placed back into the distinctive opening in the holding means after use of the needle and thread, which place is in turn determined by the code and associated needle opening. Furthermore advantageous is the fact that it is possible with the needle holder according to the present invention to take hold of the needle properly, because it is ensured at all times that a large enough part of the needle is positioned outside the opening. As is advantageous for manufacturing reasons, in a further needle holder according to the invention the panel is formed integrally with the holding means. Another embodiment of the needle holder according to the invention is characterized in that said panel can be detachably/fixedly connected to said holding means. Advantageous is the fact that thus a modular structure of the needle holder can be realised, so that low-volume transport is readily possible. Another embodiment of the needle holder according to the invention is characterized in that the panel is arranged for one or more thread codes to be provided thereon, for example by being glued or written thereon or by being inserted between guides. In principle, the manner in which the thread codes are to be provided on the panel can be freely selected. In another embodiment of the needle holder according to the invention, the panel is provided with one or more card holders, into which cards carrying one or more thread codes can be inserted. Advantageous is the fact that these cards can be sold with or without the threads and with or without the codes associated with said threads in order for said codes to be provided on the panel. Preferably, the openings are so configured that their diameter becomes smaller in the direction of insertion of a needle, with the advantageous effect that on the one hand also people having poor eyesight will have no difficulty in inserting the needle into the opening from the wider needle insertion side, whilst on the other hand the needle to be taken hold of cannot move aside too much, due to the decreasing diameter. Further embodiments of the invention are defined in the further subclaims. The invention and its concomitant advantages will now be explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein parts corresponding to each other are indicated by the same numerals in the various figures. In the drawing: Figure 1 shows a first possible embodiment of the needle holder according to the present invention; Figure 2 shows a second possible embodiment of the needle holder according to the present invention; and Figure 3 shows a cross sectional view at the location of an opening for inserting a needle. Figures 1 and 2 show embodiments of a needle holder 1, which comprises holding means 2 for receiving one or more needles 3. The holding means 2 as shown are in the form of a flat plate, for example, or a plate which is bent in a horizontal or vertical plane (not shown), which is for example made of plastic material, in which openings 4 are provided for inserting needles 3 therethrough. As an alternative, the holding means 2 may for example include the aforesaid needle cushions or pin cushions, or a foam material or a plastic material or a piece of cloth. Needle holder 1 comprises a panel 5, on which thread codes, for example A1, A2, B1, B2, DE7 are present. The panel may be fixedly connected to holding means 2 to provide a uniform needle holder 1, which may be made of a suitable plastic material, for example by means of an injection moulding process, but the holding means 2 and the panel 5 may also be detachably interconnected, thus enabling low-volume transport of the needle holder 1, due to the modular structure thereof. Panel 5 may be provided with one or more card holders 6 (schematically shown in Figure 2), into which a card, on which thread codes are provided or are to be provided, can be inserted in horizontal or vertical direction, seen in Figure 2. Figure 3 is a sectional view of the plate-shaped holding means 2 at the location of an opening 4, which shows the manner in which the opening converges in downward direction from a needle insertion side 7. Opening 4 may have a circular or polygonal cross-section, for example a triangular or rectangular cross-section. As is shown in the embodiment of Figure 1, the inserted end of needle 3 will strike against a stop plate 8 upon insertion of needle 3 through opening 4. At the place where the needle strikes the plate, which is schematically indicated at 9, a cavity may be provided in the stop plate, into which the respective end of the needle will fall, so that movement in transverse direction of the part of needle 3 that projects above the holding means is substantially prevented. Besides the embodiment as shown in Figure 2, which comprises two levels with holding means in which the openings 4 are provided, also many other variants are possible. Thus the needle holder as a whole may be inclined towards the user, as is the case with some keyboards, and/or be bent in longitudinal direction, if desired. Needle holder 1 is preferably made of a lightweight material, which may be at least partially transparent and which may generally be made of a plastic material, preferably a scratch-resistant plastic material. In an alternative embodiment, the needle holder might be cut out of cardboard and subsequently be folded into at least part of a needle holder 1, possibly by the consumer himself. If desired, fastening means (not shown), for example in the form of pins, may be provided on the rear side of panel 5, for example, so as to prevent the threads from becoming entangled and to organise the threads with their different colours.

Claims: A needle holder (1), which comprises holding means (2) for one or more needles (3), and a panel (5) on which thread codes (A1, A2, B1, B2, DE7) can be provided, characterized in that said holding means (2) are provided with openings (4) for inserting the needles (3) and with a stop plate (8) mounted behind said openings (4), against which the inserted needle (3) butts. A needle holder (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said panel (5) is formed integrally with said holding means (2). A needle holder (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said panel (5) is detachably/fixedly connected to said holding means (2). A needle holder (1) according to any one of the claims 1 - 3, characterized in that said panel (5) is arranged for one or more thread codes (A1, A2, B1, B2, DE7) to be provided thereon, for example by being glued or written or by being inserted between guides. A needle holder (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that said panel (5) includes one or more card holders (6), into which cards carrying a thread code (A1, A2, B1, B2, DE7) can be inserted. A needle holder according to any one of the claims 1 - 5, characterized in that the diameter of said openings (4) becomes smaller in the direction of insertion of a needle (3). A needle holder according to one of the claims 1-6, characterized in that the openings (4) have a circular, triangular or polygonal cross-section. A needle holder according to any one of the claims 1 - 7, characterized in that said holding means (2) are arranged in a spiral or platform-like manner above/behind each other. A needle holder (1) according to any one of the claims 1 - 8, characterized in that said needle holder (1) is made at least partially of cardboard or of a scratch-resistant plastic.

Inventors: ROEST JUAN, ROEST, JUAN
Applicants: PAKO HANDWERKEN B V, PAKO HANDWERKEN B.V.
Application year: 1999
Main classification: D05B91
IPC codes: A41H17, D05B91