Abstract:
Apparatus for winding bows from ribbon comprising a base and arms about which the ribbon may be wound in a plurality of loops. One arm is rotatably supported on the base so that it is capable of rotation towards the other arm. A spring resists rotation of that arm towards the fixed arm. The rotatable arm and spring permit one arm to rotate towards the other when loops of ribbon are drawn together midway between the arms in forming a bow. A holding arm is provided overhead the loops of ribbon for holding a loop in an upright orientation.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to apparatus for use by florists in the preparation of bows for use in floral arrangements and wreaths. 
     Bows are often used during festive and other seasons to enhance the beauty of wreaths, floral arrangements, and gifts. Such bows are generally made by hand by tying knots in a ribbon, or by binding the ribbon with wires. Some bows are stapled or glued together. The 3M Company supplies an automatic bow winding machine that cuts notches in the ribbon. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In a first aspect, the invention features an apparatus for winding bows from a ribbon comprising a base, a first and second arm, about which the ribbon may be wound in a plurality of loops, the arms being supported on the base. The apparatus further features a rotatable joint for supporting the second arm on the base so that it is capable of rotation towards the first arm. Also provided is a spring means for resisting the rotation of the second arm towards the first arm. The rotatable joint and spring means are capable of permitting the second arm to rotate towards the first arm sufficiently to allow the loops of the ribbon to be drawn together midway between the arms in forming a bow. In preferred embodiments, a spring tension clip is provided on the surface of one arm for holding an end of the ribbon; a weight arm supported on the base is capable of movement downwardly onto the top of one arm after the loops have been wound to hold an end of the ribbon in place; a means is provided for rotatably supporting the weight arm so that the arm may be rotated out of the proximity of the loops of ribbon when not needed; the first arm is supported on the base so as to be incapable of rotation; a means is provided to support at least one of the arms at a plurality of positions along the base so that the separation between the arms, and thereby the width of the loops, may be varied. 
     In a second aspect, the invention features a holding arm supported on the base so as to be capable of movement into position overhead the loops of ribbon. The holding arm provides a means for holding a loop of ribbon in an upright orientation over the loops wound around the main arms of the apparatus. In preferred embodiments, the holding arm is supported on the base so as to be capable of movement into position midway between the first and second arms and immediately above the midpoint of the loop, so as to hold a loop of ribbon in a position where it can be secured at the midpoint of the loops wound around the arms; a means is provided for holding a loop of the ribbon in a pair of calipers extending transversely to the ribbon, with the calipers being adapted to receive a loop of ribbon by sliding the loop between the calipers; and a means is provided for rotatably supporting the holding arm so that the arm may be rotated out of the proximity of the loops of ribbon. 
     In a third aspect, the invention features a method of winding a bow from ribbon comprising the steps of winding the ribbon around a pair of arms to form a plurality of wound loops of ribbon, cutting the ribbon at a distance from the wound loops to form a free end of ribbon, folding a portion of the free end of the ribbon back onto itself to form a first (or finger) loop, inserting the first loop into a holder positioned between the arms above the wound loops, thereby forming a second loop from the remainder of the free end not a part of the first loop, securing the first loop and wound loops together, and cutting the second loop to form two free ends of ribbon which extend from the finished bow. In preferred embodiments, loops are secured by twisting at least one wire around them, preferably one wire around each side of the first loop. 
     The invention has numerous advantages. Bows can be easily and quickly prepared by one person and can be of any desired size or design. Bows with different width ribbon and different width loops can be easily prepared. The apparatus for making the bows is simple and relatively inexpensive to manufacture. Bows with or without tails, and with tails of any length may quickly and easily be prepared. Bows can be constructed having the sheen side of the ribbon always facing outwards. Wires can be used to bind the bows together, and these permit the ready attachment of the bow to other items such as flower bouquets, wreaths, or to festive trees and presents. Attractive and uniform-appearing bows can be easily produced by relatively unskilled persons. 
     Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiment and from the claims. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The figures will first briefly be described. 
     DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a plan view of the presently preferred embodiment of the invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of said embodiment at 2--2 of FIG. 1. 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a bow prepared using said embodiment (fewer loops than would ordinarily be preferred are shown for clarity). 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a Christmas wreath with the bow of FIG. 3 attached. 
     FIGS. 5-14 are diagrammatic views of said embodiment at various stages of making a bow (fewer loops than would ordinarily be preferred are shown for clarity). 
    
    
     STRUCTURE 
     Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the apparatus of the invention comprises base 10 to which two vertical supports 12 and 14 are fixedly attached. These supports are further fixedly attached to horizontal bar 16, approximately 30 cm in length. Between base 10 and bar 16 are placed two arms 18 and 22. Arm 18 can be moved horizontally between base 10 and bar 16, and fixedly attached between them, using two pins 24 and 26, which are positioned through holes 28 in horizontal bar 16 and corresponding holes in base 10 (see FIG. 2, hole 30). The distance between arms 18 and 22 is chosen dependent upon the width of the ribbon being used and the size of the bow required. 
     Arm 22 is fixedly attached to base 10 and horizontal bar 16 by a single pin 32 about which the arm may rotate. Arm 22 is positioned at a distance A (approximately 2 cm) from vertical support 14 so that the arm may rotate a limited distance about pin 32. Tension spring 20, connected between the back end of arm 22 and base 10, resists rotation of arm 22 toward arm 18, to maintain ribbon tension during use. A stop member 38, positioned between arm 22 and vertical support 14, ordinarily maintains arm 22 parallel to arm 18. 
     Arm 18 carries a clip 40 attached to the arm 18 by screw 42 and held in tension on the arm by spring-loaded screw 44. This clip serves to hold a ribbon inserted beneath it. 
     The apparatus includes rod 46, supported at each end by supports 12 and 14, and passing-through weight arm 48 and holding arm 50. Both arms 48 and 50 are supported on rod 46 so that they may rotate about its axis. Holding arm 50 can be readily moved along rod 46 and comprises a pair of metal calipers 52 through which a ribbon can be inserted and temporarily held. Beneath holding arm 50 is a screw 54, the head of which rests on horizontal bar 16, and which can be adjusted to set the minimum height of calipers 52 above base 10. Generally screw 54 is adjusted to position the end of calipers 52 4-6 cm above base 10. 
     Weight arm 48 is fixed in horizontal position on rod 46 by two pins 60 and 62 but can still rotate about the rod. At the end of weight member 48, there is a relatively heavy metal rod 64 with a soft rubber tip 66. The rubber tip rests on top of ribbon passing over arm 22 to hold the ribbon temporarily in position. 
     A second horizontal rod 68, also supported between vertical members 12 and 14, provides a stop against which arms 48 and 50 can be positioned when not in use, as shown in FIG. 2. 
     The apparatus may be made out of a variety of materials. The embodiment shown was constructed primarily of wood, but it is expected that plastic will be preferred for volume production. 
     OPERATION 
     Referring to FIG. 5, arm 18 is fixed in place at a desired distance from arm 22. Holding arm 52 and weight arm 48 are placed in their upright positions, shown in dashed lines in FIG. 2, and holding arm 52 is placed centrally between arms 18 and 22. Ribbon 70, from roll 78, is inserted under spring clip 40 on arm 18, with sheen side upwards, wound around arm 22 and then, as shown in FIG. 6, wound back around arm 18. This process may be repeated as many times as is desired. Preferably from 3 to 6 loops of ribbon are wound around the arms. As the sheen side always faces outwards, all loops of the bow (FIG. 3) are shiny, and no material is wasted. As loops of ribbon are formed around the arms, spring 20 may provide tension on the loops. 
     After sufficient loops of ribbon have been wound, weight 66 is brought down to rest (FIG. 7) upon the upper layer of ribbon 70 to hold it in place. Ribbon 70 is then extended a desired length to form a tail, preferably 60-200 cm, and folded back on itself. The ribbon is cut at the desired length and the end 160 of the ribbon (FIG. 8) is again folded back on itself, for a distance of approximately of 20-40 cm, to form a finger loop 150, and placed between the holder pins 52 of holder 50, which has now been brought down to rest above the ribbon layers (FIGS. 8 and 11). It is important that the end of ribbon 160 is extended away from holder 50, and that the finger loop 150 is held at its base. 
     In the next step in the process (FIG. 9), wires 72 and 74 are placed around ribbon 70 such that wire 74 is close to the right side of holder 50 and away from ribbon end 160. Similarly wire 72 is placed on the ribbon, near the left side of holder 50. Wires 72 and 74 are then twisted such that ribbon 70 and finger loop 150 are tightly held, as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11. As wires 72 and 74 are tightened, arm 22 rotates (distance B in FIG. 12) against the load from spring 20. Loop 140 of ribbon 70 is cut at any desired position along its length (FIGS. 10 and 12) to form two free ends 152, 154. Note that the finger loop 150, held in holder 50 by wires 52, forms one loop of the final bow. The bow may then be removed from the apparatus, by pulling it off the arms, and the layers of ribbon adjusted to form an attractive series of loops (FIG. 3). 
     Referring to FIG. 4, the bow shown in FIG. 3 is readily attached to a wreath or bouquet using wires 72 and 74. 
     OTHER EMBODIMENTS 
     Other embodiments are within the following claims. For example, a simpler bow may be formed without the use of holding arm 50. As illustrated in FIGS. 13 and 14, loops of ribbon are formed around arms 18 and 22, and a single wire 72 is tightened around the center of the loops to form a bow lacking finger loop 150 and tails 152 and 154. Also, a single wire may be used to tie the bow of FIG. 3; preferably this wire is positioned to hold the free end of the ribbon and thus prevent the bow from unwinding. Almost any size of ribbon may be used on the apparatus to make almost any size of bow desired. Other means of tying the bow together may also be used, such as string, staples, or glue.