Abstract:
Method and Apparatus for making a basket, positioned on a basket mold on a frame. A holder mountable upon a support surface is adjustable with respect to the support surface, and the holder is connected to the frame that supports the basket mold with the basket thereon.

Description:
REFERENCES  
       [0001]    
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                   
               
               
                 U.S. Patent Documents 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 124231 
                 March, 1872 
                 Tower 
                 217/122. 
               
               
                   
                 763580 
                 June, 1904 
                 Walker 
                 217/122. 
               
               
                   
                 1311086 
                 July, 1919 
                 O&#39;Loughlin 
                 217/122. 
               
               
                   
                 1933879 
                 November, 1933 
                 Thayer 
                 147/48.  
               
               
                   
                 2265820 
                 December, 1941 
                 Scanlan 
                 147/48.  
               
               
                   
                 4,678,016 
                 July, 1987 
                 Hall 
                 147/48.  
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     This invention relates to the hand weaving of baskets and, more particularly, to a method and apparatus machine for supporting a basket while being woven.  
         [0003]     Basket making, commonly employs machines having a drive mechanism for rotating the basket during the weaving as illustrated by U.S. Pat. No. 1,933,879, which issued to Thayer in 1933. Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 2,322,363, which issued to James, shows the formation of basket warp and weave around a mold with an electric motor, driven by a belt and a pulley for operating a gear reduction unit to move a clamping mechanism.  
         [0004]     The use of machinery to rotate a basket weaving mold can interfere with the need for carefully controlling the weave pattern when the pattern entails any unusual degree of sophistication and intricacy.  
         [0005]     Accordingly, there is a need for a weaving system that permits the production of baskets having unusual and intricate styling.  
         [0006]     There is a need for a simple and efficient system for hand weaving operations.  
         [0007]     It is therefore a further object of the invention to provide an improved system for the hand weaving of baskets.  
         [0008]     Another object is to provide an improved arrangement for basket components on a basket mold for hand weaving.  
         [0009]     Another object is to provide an improved method for holding basket components in place during the weaving procedure.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0010]     In accomplishing the foregoing and related objects, the invention provides for making a basket on a basket mold positioned on a frame. A holder mountable upon a support surface is adjustable with respect to the support surface, and the holder is, connected to the frame on which the basket mold is positioned.  
         [0011]     In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the holder includes a top surface, a front surface, and a back surface. The back surface includes a groove therein to permit the holder to be adjustably positioned with respect to the support surface. A clamp is positionable in the groove for adjustable placement of the holder on the support surface.  
         [0012]     In accordance with another aspect of the invention, an insert into the holder secures the position of the clamp therein. The holder includes an aperture for receipt of a connector from the frame to the holder.  
         [0013]     In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, the aperture is positioned in the front surface of the holder. The holder has an auxiliary surface diagonally disposed between the upper surface and the frontal surface and an aperture for the connector can be positioned therein.  
         [0014]     In accordance with still another aspect of the invention, the holder can include a plurality of apertures therein for receipt of the connector from the frame to the holder.  
         [0015]     In accordance with a method of the invention for making a basket, the steps include (a) providing a basket mold on a frame, (b) mounting a holder upon a support surface, (c) adjusting the holder with respect to the support surface, and (d) connecting the frame to the holder.  
         [0016]     The method further includes the step of providing the holder with a top surface, a front surface, and a back surface. The back surface has a groove to permit the holder to be adjustably positioned with respect to the support surface. A clamp is positionable in the groove for adjustable placement of the holder on the support surface.  
         [0017]     The method also includes the step of inserting a member into the holder for securing the position of the clamp therein. Included in the holder is an aperture for receipt of the connector of the frame to the holder. An aperture is positionable in the front surface of the holder, and the holder can have an auxiliary surface diagonally disposed between the upper surface and the frontal surface with an aperture therein. The holder can be provided with a plurality of apertures for receipt of the connector for connection of the frame to the holder. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0018]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a system in accordance with the invention for expediting the hand weaving of baskets.  
         [0019]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the adjustable mount that is used by the invention for expediting the hand weaving of baskets.  
         [0020]      FIG. 3  is a rear view of the adjustable mount of  FIG. 2  showing the groove by which the mount can be adjusted with respect to a support surface.  
         [0021]      FIG. 4  is a side view of the mount of  FIG. 3 , adjustably positioned on a support surface by a clamp.  
         [0022]      FIG. 5A  is a side view of the mount of  FIG. 3  illustrating the apertures that extend into the mount for a supporting rod that extends from the mount to the mold that holds the basket shown in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0023]      FIG. 5B  is a top view of the mount of  FIG. 3  illustrating the top apertures that extend into the mount for a supporting rod that extends from the mount to the mold that holds the basket shown in  FIG. 1 , and the groove .for the adjustable clamp by which the mount is held in position on a work surface. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0024]     With reference to the drawings,  FIG. 1  illustrates a system  10  of the invention for making hand woven baskets. The system  10  includes a mount or frame  11 , having a longitudinally extending base member  11   b  with a frontal surface  11   f  extending upwardly therefrom to an inclined surface  11   s  that joins an upper surface  11   u.    
         [0025]     The mount  11  has a rear surface with an elongated groove  11   g  that supports a member such as a clamp  12  by which the mount  11  can be adjustably positioned on a support surface  13 . As a result, the system permits a worker to elevate and lower the mount  11  to a position that is compatible with the weaving operation that he/she is undertaking. The support surface  13  illustratively is the top of a table or any other structure to which the mount  11  can be conveniently attached.  
         [0026]     Extending from the mount  11  is an elongated connector or leg  14  that connects the basket mold within the basket  15  to the mount  11  as shown in  FIG. 2 . Because the mount  11  has a plurality of apertures  16  that extend within the mount  11 , the elongated connector  14  can be variously positioned at different angles in relation to the person weaving the basket.  
         [0027]     Accordingly, the invention provides two degrees of freedom for the position of the mount and the connector in relation to the basket weaver. The weaver (not shown) can adjust the height of the mount in relation to the support surface  13  as discussed above, and can change the angle of elevation of the connecting rod  14 . As a result, the basket weaving procedure provided by the invention facilitates the creation, not only of ordinary baskets, but of those having special or unusual design characteristics.  
         [0028]     As shown in  FIG. 3 , which is a rear view of the adjustable mount  11  of  FIG. 2 , the groove  11   g  by which the mount  11  can be adjusted with respect to the support surface  13 , has side walls  11   s  that permit slidable movement of the member, such as the clamp  12  that is held in a selected position by a member such as a threaded screw  17 . In order to prevent inadvertent movement of the mount  11  after a particular position has been selected, the mount  11  of  FIG. 3  has three securing screws  17 - 1  through  17 - 3 . It will be appreciated that other arrangement maybe made for securing the clamp  12  to the mount  11  or providing an alternative fix of the mount  11  to the support surface  13 .  
         [0029]     In  FIG. 4 , which is an alternative view of the mount  11  of  FIG. 1 , the mount  11  has been adjustably positioned on the support surface  13  by placing the mount  11  at an alternative position in relation to the clamp  12 . It will be appreciated that the invention accommodates any one of the various positions that can be assumed by the mount  11  in relation to the clamp  12  as the mount  11  is slidably positioned along the clamp  12 .  
         [0030]     In order to provide added flexibility in establishing a particular position, a side rail  12   s  can be added to the clamp  12 , so that the number of positions can be increased to accommodate any desired elevation in relation to the worker involved in the hand weaving of a basket.  
         [0031]     As shown in  FIG. 5A , which is a side view of the mount  11  of  FIG. 3 , elongated apertures  16 - 1  through  16 - 6  extend into the mount  11  for a supporting rod  14  that extends from the mount  11  to the mold that holds the basket  15  shown in  FIG. 1 . The apertures  16 - 1  through  16 - 6  permit the rod  14  to adopt various angular positions extending from the 90° position relative to the vertical for elongated aperture  16 - 1  to the 0° position relative to the vertical for elongated aperture  16 - 6 . The apertures  16 - 2 ,  16 - 3  and  16 - 4  are respectively at about 80, 70 and 60 degrees relative to the vertical.  
         [0032]     In an illustrative embodiment of the invention the mount  11  had a base  11   b  that measures 1.500 inches and a height of 2.50 inches. The centerline of the aperture  16 - 1  was 0.323 inches from the base  11   b,  while the apertures  16 - 2  through  16 - 4  were respectively 0.830, 1.300 and 1.764 inches from the base  11   b.  The three securing screws  17 - 1  through  17 - 3  were respectively positioned 0.250, 1.250 and 2.250 inches from the base  11   b.  Each of the apertures  16 - 1  through  16 - 6  had a depth of about) 0.800 inches and a diameter of 0.313 inches.  
         [0033]     In  FIG. 5B , which is a top view of the mount  11  of  FIG. 3 , the top apertures  16 - 5  and  16 - 6  are positioned along a center line C-C and the groove  11   g  extends by about 0.510 inches into the mount  11  from the back  11   k,  which has width, illustratively, of 0.250 inches. The groove  11   g  has a tapered opening that angles about 0.156 inches from a width of about 0.312 inches to a width of about. 0.260 inches. The distance from the back  11   k  to the uppermost aperture  16 - 6  was about 0.820 inches.  
         [0034]     The foregoing detailed description is illustrative only and that adaptations, modifications, and alterations of the invention may be made by those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.