Abstract:
The present invention is directed towards a bead positioning device comprising two tools used position small embellishments onto jewelry, scrapbooks, containers and clothing. Each tool has an adhesive member and a positioning member. The positioning member comprises a plurality of prongs. In use, the embellishment is secured to the adhesive member of the first tool. Once secured, the positioning member of the second tool is used to remove the embellishment from the first tool and position the embellishment onto the desired location.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the priority of Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/070,718 filed on Mar. 25, 2008 which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates generally to tools for making jewelry. In particular, the present invention relates to tools for positioning beads, stones or other embellishments during jewelry making and craft projects. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Decorative embellishments such as beads, jewels, rhinestones, flat backs, stickers or other small objects are frequently used in the art of jewelry making, scrapbooking and other crafts. For decorative purposes, these embellishments are adhered to the desired medium. In order to form aesthetically pleasing patterns, these embellishments must be carefully and precisely positioned. 
         [0004]    This task is made difficult by the nature of the embellishments. Small and irregularly shaped embellishments are difficult to pick up and manipulate with fingers. Due to the size of the embellishments and the intricate designs that they are a part of, it is also difficult to position them precisely in the desired location and orientation on the medium. Once the task of positioning embellishments is accomplished, attempts to apply pressure to set the embellishments into the adhesive on the medium results in adhesive on fingers and undesirable movement of the embellishments on the medium. 
         [0005]    There is a need for a convenient tool that can facilitate the action of picking up and positioning embellishments. It is important that this tool permit the user to easily pick up single embellishments for positioning. The user should also be able to easily and dextrously manipulate the position of the embellishments while minimizing inconvenient mess. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The present invention is directed toward a device that is used to position beads, jewels, rhinestones, flatbacks, stickers and other small embellishments onto a particular medium such as jewelry, scrapbooks, containers or clothing. In use, it is preferred that two similar tools are used. Each tool comprises a shaft with adhesive material at one end and a plurality of prongs at the other end. The adhesive material of the first tool is used to removably secure an embellishment to that tool. Once the embellishment is secured on the first tool, the embellishment is positioned on the desired medium. To remove the embellishment from the first tool, pressure is applied on the embellishment by the plurality of prongs on the second tool. Once the embellishment is removed, the plurality of prongs on the second tool are used to precisely and conveniently position the embellishment on the desired medium. The use of the tools allows a user to precisely and cleanly position small embellishments on a particular medium without having any adhesive adhere to undesired locations or alter the design in an undesired fashion. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is perspective view of another embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  shows a schematic representation of the invention in use; and 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  shows a schematic representation of the invention in use. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0011]    The present invention is directed to tools to position beads, jewels, rhinestones, flatbacks, stickers and other embellishments. The invention disclosed herein is, of course, susceptible of being embodied or conducted in many different manners. Shown in the drawings and described herein below in detail is a preferred embodiment of the invention. It is to be understood, however, that the present disclosure is an exemplification of the principles of the invention and does not limit the invention to the illustrated embodiment. 
         [0012]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a perspective view of a positioning tool  10  is shown. Preferably the positioning tool  10  is constructed of plastic. The positioning tool  10  can also be constructed of other suitable materials known in the art, such as metal or wood. Body  11  of the positioning tool is a longitudinally elongated section. The body  11  has a generally circular cross-section and is an elongated cylindrical portion. In other embodiments, the cross-section of the body may be elliptical, square or rectangular without departing from the spirit of the invention. The body  11  may be hollow or solid. The body  11  has a proximal end  12  and a distal end  13 . Also contained on the body  11  is an indention  14 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , the indention  14  may have a flattened cross section. In another embodiment the entire body may have a flattened or widened cross section similar to the indention  14 . The body  11  and/or the indention  14  may be textured. 
         [0013]    Secured to the proximal end  12  of the body  11  is a stanchion  18 . Connected to the stanchion  18  is a support member  15 . In the preferred embodiment, the stanchion  18  and the support member  15  are integrally constructed with the body  11  and composed of the same material as the body  11 . 
         [0014]    Attached to the support member  15  is an adhesive  16 . The adhesive  16  may be secured to the support member  15  by forming the adhesive  16  around or onto the support member  15 . In another embodiment, the adhesive  16  may be secured to the body  11  by forming the adhesive  16  over the support member  15  and the stanchion  18  and onto the body  11 . 
         [0015]    In the preferred embodiment the adhesive  16  is a pressure sensitive adhesive such as florist wax or beeswax. The material of the adhesive  16  can be chosen from a number of natural or synthetic materials meeting certain characteristics lending suitability for use in picking up and positioning small decorative objects such as beads, rhinestones or stickers. The material must be durable enough for repeated use over many applications. The material should also be suitably tacky so as to be able to pickup an embellishment, yet be sufficiently non-adherent to permit release and separation of the embellishment from the adhesive  16  without undue force. It should be appreciated that the composition of the material of the adhesive  16  can be made of a number of materials as long as the desired characteristics are achieved. 
         [0016]    Secured to the distal end  13  of the body  11  is a positioning fork  17 . The positioning fork  17  is composed of a plurality of prongs or fingers. In the preferred embodiment, the positioning fork  17  is integrally constructed with the body  11  and composed of similar material. The positioning fork  17  has diametrically opposed prongs. In other embodiments, more than two prongs may be utilized. The plurality of prongs on the positioning fork  17  may be rounded, pointed or flat. By having a plurality of prongs, pressure can be applied at one or more points on the embellishment to securely hold it in position without slippage or lateral movement. 
         [0017]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , a perspective view of a positioning tool  20  is shown. Preferably the positioning tool  20  is constructed of plastic. The positioning tool  20  can also be constructed of other suitable materials known in the art, such as metal or wood. Body  21  of the positioning tool  20  has a generally circular cross-section. In other embodiments, the cross-section of the body may be elliptical, square or rectangular without departing from the spirit of the invention. The body  21  may be hollow or solid. The body  21  has a proximal end  22  and a distal end  23 . Although no indention is shown in the body  21 , an indention similar to the one described in reference to  FIG. 1  may be included. The body  21  may be textured. 
         [0018]    The proximal end  22  of the body  21  may be closed or opened. Secured to the proximal end  22  of the body  21  is an adhesive  24 . The adhesive  24  may be secured to the body  21  by forming the adhesive  24  around the body  21 . The properties of the adhesive  24  are similar to those of described above in reference to the adhesive  16  of  FIG. 1 . 
         [0019]    Secured to the distal end  23  of the body  21  is positioning fork  25 . The positioning fork  25  is similar to the positioning fork  17  described above in reference to  FIG. 1 . 
         [0020]      FIGS. 3-4  show the device in use. Two tools, the positioning tool  20  and the second positioning tool  30  are used. In the preferred embodiment, the positioning tool  20  and the second positioning tool  30  are identical. In other embodiments, the positioning tool  20  and the second positioning tool  30  are not identical. If the two tools are not identical, at least one tool must have an adhesive portion similar to the adhesive  24  and at least one of the other tools must have a positioning member similar to the positioning fork  35 . 
         [0021]    In operation, an embellishment  40  is removably secured to the adhesive  24  of positioning tool  20 . Once the embellishment  40  is removably secured to the adhesive  24 , the embellishment  40  is transferred to its desired location on the surface  41 . The surface  41  is any location where the embellishment  40  is to be secured such as jewelry, a scrapbook, a container or clothing. Once the embellishment  40  is at its desired location, the positioning fork  35  of the second positioning tool  30  is used to remove the embellishment  40  from the adhesive  24 . Once removed, the plurality of prongs on the positioning fork  35  are used to position the embellishment  40  into place. By using the plurality of prongs to remove and position the embellishment  40 , the embellishment  40  is securely held in place by pressure applied through multiple points on the embellishment  40 . Such pressure results in the embellishment  40  being less susceptible to undesirable movements such as jumping or dislodging movements that might cause it to move from the desired location on the surface  41 . 
         [0022]    Once the embellishment  40  is at the desired location on the surface  41 , pressure is exerted on the embellishment  40  by plurality of prongs on the positioning fork  35 . Such force secures the embellishment  40  onto the surface  41 . Use of the plurality of prongs prevents any adhesive found on the surface  41  to stick to any undesirable location. It also prevents any undesirably interference with the design the embellishment  40  is used to create on the surface  41 . 
         [0023]    Preferred embodiments of this invention are described herein, including the best mode known to the inventors for carrying out the invention. Variations of those preferred embodiments may become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description. The inventor expects skilled artisans to employ such variations as appropriate, and the inventor intends for the invention to be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein. Accordingly, this invention includes all modifications and equivalents of the subject matter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicable law. Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements in all possible variations thereof is encompassed by the invention unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.