Abstract:
A needle puncher includes a needle and a grip member. The needle has a tip and a head spaced apart from each other in a longitudinal direction of the needle. The needle also has a held portion disposed between the tip and the head The grip member is configured to hold the needle in a manner such that the tip of the needle is exposed from the grip member. The grip member includes a holding portion and a grip portion. The holding portion holds the held portion of the needle, and the grip portion is gripped by a user of the needle puncher. The holding portion and the grip portion include front ends, respectively. The front end of the holding portion is closer to the head of the needle than the front end of the grip portion is.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to a handicraft needle puncher for use in the field of e.g. wool handicrafts such as appliqué. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    Needle punching technique is used typically in the manufacture of nonwoven fabric. In this technique, a plurality of webs of fibers are placed one on top of another and then, a needle is stuck through these webs to tangle fibers of different webs with each other, whereby the webs are combined. Such a needle punching technique is used also in the field of handcrafts. For instance, as a needle punching tool for handicrafts, a needle puncher is proposed which includes a plurality of needles attached to a grip member (see e.g. Patent Document 1 listed below). 
         [0005]    In the field of handicrafts, a piece of felt which has a desired shape as a motif is placed on an appropriate sheet of cloth, and then, a needle is stuck through the cloth and the felt a number of times, so that fibers of the felt tangle with the fibers of the cloth, whereby an appliqué of the felt piece is made. According to the needle puncher disclosed in Patent Document 1, a plurality of needles can be stuck at one time through a piece of felt, which allows the work of making an appliqué to be performed efficiently. Needle punchers are also used for wool felt crafting in which a needle is repetitively stuck through a fluffy material of wool to form the fluffy material into a desired three-dimensional shape. 
         [0006]    To make an appliqué of a complicated design, the piece of felt to be sewed often has a complicated shape including a plurality of small linear parts. A needle puncher having a plurality of needles is not suitable for sticking a needle through such a small part. Patent Document 2 discloses a needle puncher having a single needle. This needle puncher is configured to stick the needle through a small part. In this needle puncher, however, the needle is held by a grip member at a head-side portion distant from the tip. Further, the portion to be gripped by the user is arranged generally in the middle of the grip member. Thus, to stick the needle precisely through a small part, the position of the tip of the needle, which is distant from the portion where the user grips, needs to be controlled precisely, which is difficult. This makes the handicrafts using a needle puncher less enjoyable. Moreover, in the case of a needle puncher having a single needle, the force applied during the work is concentratedly exerted on the single needle. This may lead to breakage or the like of the needle. 
         [0007]    Patent Document 1: JP-A-2004-308046 
         [0008]    Patent Document 2: JP-U-3151522 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    The present invention has been proposed under the circumstances described above. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a needle puncher with which users can easily make an appliqué of a complicated design. 
         [0010]    According to an embodiment of the present invention, a needle puncher is provided, which includes: a needle having a tip and a head spaced apart from each other in a longitudinal direction, and further having a held portion disposed between the tip and the head; and a grip member holding the needle in a manner such that the tip of the needle is exposed from the grip member. The grip member includes a holding portion and a grip portion, where the holding portion holds the held portion of the needle, and the grip portion is configured to be gripped by a user of the needle puncher. The holding portion and the grip portion have front ends, respectively, and the front end of the holding portion is closer to the head of the needle than the front end of the grip portion is. 
         [0011]    Preferably, the grip portion includes a tapered part increasing in diameter as proceeding toward the tip of the needle, and the front end of the holding portion is closer to the head of the needle than the tapered part is. 
         [0012]    Preferably, the front end of the holding portion is closer to the head of the needle than the grip portion is. 
         [0013]    Preferably, the holding portion is formed with a through-hole having an inner surface to beheld in contact with the held portion of the needle. 
         [0014]    Preferably, the needle includes a small-diameter portion and a large-diameter portion, where the small-diameter portion is connected to the tip of the needle, and the large-diameter portion is closer to the head of the needle than the small-diameter portion is. The large-diameter portion is greater in diameter than the small-diameter portion. The held portion of the needle is included in the large-diameter portion. 
         [0015]    Preferably, the grip member includes an outer cylinder providing the grip portion and housing the holding portion. The outer cylinder is formed with a front opening through which the needle can pass. The front opening is greater in diameter than the large-diameter portion of the needle. 
         [0016]    Other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from detailed description given below with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0017]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing a needle puncher according to a present invention; 
           [0018]      FIG. 2  is a side view of the needle puncher shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0019]      FIG. 3  is a sectional view taken along lines III-III in  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0020]      FIG. 4  is a sectional view taken along lines IV-IV in  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0021]      FIG. 5  is a side view of the needle puncher of  FIG. 1  in the state for use; and 
           [0022]      FIG. 6  is a schematic sectional view of the needle puncher in the state for use, taken along lines VI-VI in  FIG. 3 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0023]    Preferred embodiments of the present invention are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
         [0024]      FIGS. 1-6  show an example of needle puncher according to the present invention. The needle puncher A of this embodiment is made up of a needle  1 , a grip member  2  and a cap  3 . 
         [0025]    The needle  1  is made of a metal such as iron. As the needle  1 , a needle designed for a needle puncher for use in the manufacture of nonwoven fabric can be employed. As shown in  FIG. 6 , the needle  1  includes a tip  11 , a head  12 , a small-diameter portion  13 , a middle-diameter portion  14  and a large-diameter portion  15 . The tip  11  has a sharp point so that the needle  1  can stick through a piece of felt in making e.g. an appliqué. The head  12  is provided at an end opposite from the tip  11 . In this embodiment, the head  12  is made by bending a portion of the needle  1 . 
         [0026]    The small-diameter portion  13 , the middle-diameter portion  14  and the large-diameter portion  15  are arranged in the mentioned order from the tip  11  side toward the head  12  side. The small-diameter portion  13  is directly connected to the tip  11 . For instance, the small-diameter portion  13  has a plurality of small projections for catching fibers of felt. The middle-diameter portion  14  is directly connected to the small-diameter portion  13  and has a diameter slightly larger than that of the small-diameter portion  13 . The large-diameter portion  15  is positioned on the head  12  side of the middle-diameter portion  14  and has a diameter larger than those of the small-diameter portion  13  and middle-diameter portion  14 . 
         [0027]    The needle  1  is held by the grip member  2 . The grip member  2  is a member to be gripped by the user. In this embodiment, the grip member  2  is made up of an outer cylinder  21 , an inner cylinder  22  and a press portion  23 . The structure of the grip member  2  is not limited to this, and the grip member  2  may be made up of a larger number of parts or a smaller number of parts. The grip member  2  may be formed as a single-piece member. 
         [0028]    The outer cylinder  21  is made of e.g. resin and has a cylindrical shape as a whole. The outer cylinder  21  includes a tapered portion  211 , a grip portion  212  and an opening  213 . As shown in  FIG. 6 , the outer cylinder  21  houses in it the inner cylinder  22 . A part of the needle  1  projects from the opening  213 . In this embodiment, the small-diameter portion  13  of the needle  1  projects from the opening  213  to be directly exposed to the outside. The diameter of the opening  213  is larger than that of the large-diameter portion  15  of the needle  1 . 
         [0029]    The tapered portion  211  is a portion of the outer cylinder  21  at which the opening  213  is formed. The outer diameter of the tapered portion  211  reduces as proceeding toward the tip  11  of the needle  1 . The inner diameter of the tapered portion  211  gradually increases as proceeding from the opening  113  toward the deeper side (to the right in  FIG. 6 ). 
         [0030]    The grip portion  212  as a whole is closer to the head  12  of the needle  1  than the tapered portion  211  is. The portion indicated by the arrows with the reference sign  212  in  FIG. 6  is the grip portion  212 . The grip portion  212  is a portion to be gripped by a user with fingers and has a shape suitable for gripping. Specifically, in this embodiment, as shown in  FIGS. 1-5 , the grip portion  212  is slightly constricted at an intermediate portion in the longitudinal direction and has a hexagonal cross section. The boundary between the grip portion  212  and the tapered portion  211  is a front end  212   a  of the grip portion  212 . The front end  212   a  corresponds to the tip-side end of the grip portion  212  in the present invention. As shown in  FIG. 6 , the point of the grip portion  212  at which the diameter is the maximum on the head  12  side of the needle  1  is the rear end  212   b  of the grip portion  212 . A part of the grip portion  212  which is adjacent to the front end  212   a  is a tapered part  212   c.  The outer diameter of the tapered part  212   c  increases as proceeding toward the tip  11  of the needle  1 . 
         [0031]    The inner cylinder  22  is a portion for holding the needle  1 . In this embodiment, the inner cylinder  22  is housed in the outer cylinder  21  at a position deviated to the right in  FIG. 6 . The inner cylinder  22  is made of e.g. a resin. The length of the inner cylinder  22  is shorter than that of the outer cylinder  21  and may be e.g. about one half of the outer cylinder  21 . The inner cylinder  22  includes a holding portion  221 . The holding portion  221  is a portion that holds the needle  1  and has a front end  221   a  and a through-hole  221   b.  The front end  221   a  corresponds to the tip-side end of the holding portion  221 . The holding portion  221  holds a held portion  15   a  of the needle  1 . The held portion  15   a  is an elongated portion extending in the longitudinal direction. In this embodiment, the held portion  15   a  is a part of the large-diameter portion  15 . The inner cylinder  22  has a through-hole extending through the entire length, and a part of this through-hole which contributes to the holding of the needle  1  is the through-hole  221   b.  In this embodiment, therefore, of the through-hole extending through the entire length of the inner cylinder  22 , the portion indicated by the arrows with the reference sign  221  in  FIG. 6  is the through-hole  221   b.  The diameter of the through-hole  221   b  is substantially equal to or slightly larger than that of the large-diameter portion  15  of the needle  1 . The inner surface of the through-hole  221   b  is in contact with the needle  1 . In other words, of the through-hole extending through the entire length of the inner cylinder  22 , the left portion in the figure has a diameter for coming into contact with the large-diameter portion  15  of the needle  1 , and this portion is the through-hole  221   b.  Of the inner cylinder  22 , the portion in which the through-hole  221   b  exists in the longitudinal direction is the holding portion  221 . Of the through-hole extending through the entire length of the inner cylinder  22 , the portion on the right side of the through-hole  221   b  in the figure has a diameter somewhat larger than that of the large-diameter portion  15  and is normally out of contact with the large-diameter portion  15 . Of the large-diameter portion  15 , the portion that is in contact with the through-hole  221   b  is the held portion  15   a.    
         [0032]    In this embodiment, the entirety of the holding portion  221 , including the front end  221   a,  is arranged closer to the head  12  of the needle  1  than the grip portion  212  is. In other words, in the grip member  2 , the grip portion  212 , which is the portion to be gripped with fingers Fg, is positioned closer to the tip  11  of the needle  1  than the holding portion  221  holding the needle  1  is. 
         [0033]    The press portion  23  is made of e.g. a resin and provided to prevent the needle  1  from detaching from the inner cylinder  22 . In this embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 6 , the needle  1  is configured to be inserted into the inner cylinder  22  from the right side in the figure. The press portion  23  is removably attached to the outer cylinder  21  and the inner cylinder  22  by engaging the outer cylinder  21 . The press portion  23  includes a press plate  231 . For instance, the press plate  231  is a circular plate made of a metal. In the state in which the press portion  23  engages the outer cylinder  21 , the press plate  231  presses the head  12  of the needle  1  against the inner cylinder  22 . 
         [0034]    The cap  3  is made of transparent resin, for example. The cap  3  is in the form of a cylinder with a bottom and tapers toward the front end. The shape and size of the cap  3  are configured to fit to both of the outer cylinder  21  and press portion  23  of the grip member  2 .  FIG. 2  shows the state in which the cap  3  is fitted to the outer cylinder  21 . In this state, the needle  1  is covered by the cap  3 . Thus, this state is suitable for storing the needle puncher A.  FIGS. 5 and 6  show the state in which the cap  3  is fitted to the press portion  23 . In this state, the needle  1  is exposed. The entire length of the needle puncher A in this state is longer than that in the state shown in  FIG. 2 , which allows the user to easily hold the needle puncher. Thus, this state is suitable for using the needle puncher A. 
         [0035]    Advantages of the needle puncher A are described below. 
         [0036]    When using the needle puncher A, the user holds the grip portion  212  with fingers Fg as shown in  FIG. 6  and presses the needle puncher A as a whole against a target such as a piece of felt toward the tip  11  side (the left side in the figure). The arrangement of the needle puncher A makes it easier to finely control the position of the tip  11  than such an arrangement as disclosed in Patent Document 2 in which the portion to be gripped by the user is more distant from the tip  11  than the portion at which the needle  1  is held is. Thus, when the piece of felt has a complicated shape including e.g. a large number of small straight parts, the user can easily stick the needle  1  precisely through a desired part. Moreover, the portion (held portion  15   a ) of the needle  1  where it is held by the grip member  2  is on the head  12  side of the grip portion  212 . While the needle puncher A is gripped with fingers Fg at the grip portion  212  that is relatively close to the tip  11 , the distance from the tip  11  to the held portion  15   a  (distance from the tip  11  to the front end  221   a  of the holding portion  221 ) is relatively long. Thus, the force applied to the needle puncher A for the work is exerted on this relatively long part of the needle  1 . If the force is exerted to only a short part of the needle  1  close to the tip  11 , a large stress is exerted on the short part, which may result in breakage of the needle  1 . In this embodiment, the force applied during the work is exerted on a relatively long part extending from the tip  1  of the needle  1  to the front end  221   a  of the holding portion  221 , so that the stress exerted on the needle  1  is relatively small. This prevents problems such as breakage of the needle  1 . Thus, with the needle puncher A, an appliqué of a complicated design can be made properly. 
         [0037]    The front end  221   a  of the holding portion  221  is positioned close to the middle of the large-diameter portion  15  of the needle  1 . When a force is applied during the work, a large stress tends to be exerted on the held portion  15   a  of the needle  1  or on the front end  221   a  in particular. Since these portions are positioned at the large-diameter potion  15 , breakage of the needle  1  is reliably prevented. 
         [0038]    As described above, to avoid breakage of the needle  1  while facilitating fine work, it is preferable that the grip portion  212  is closer to the tip  11  of the needle  1  than any point of the holding portion  212  is. However, the present invention is not limited to this arrangement. Most of the force with which the needle puncher A is pressed with fingers F is exerted on the tapered part  212   c  of the grip portion  212 . Thus, arranging the front end  221   a  of the holding portion  221  closer to the head  12  than the tapered part  212   c  is prevents breakage of the needle  1  while facilitating fine work. Further, arranging the front end  221   a  of the holding portion  221  closer to the head  12  than the front end  212   a  of the grip portion  212  is prevents breakage of the needle  1  while facilitating fine work, as compared with e.g. the structure in which the grip portion  212  is more distant from the tip  11  than the holding portion  221  is. 
         [0039]    The needle  1  is held with the large-diameter portion  15  held in contact with the inner surface of the through-hole  221   b  which has a considerable length. This prevents unfavorable tilt or movement of the needle  1  relative to the grip member  2 . 
         [0040]    The diameter of the opening  213  of the outer cylinder  21  is larger than the diameter of the large-diameter portion  15  of the needle  1 . This arrangement prevents the needle  1  from coming into contact with the outer cylinder  21  even when the small-diameter portion  211  of the needle  1  is bent during the work. 
         [0041]    The tapered portion  211  provided on the tip  11  side of the grip portion  212  allows the user to easily see the position of the tip  11  during the work. 
         [0042]    The needle puncher according to the present invention is not limited to the foregoing embodiment. The specific structure of each part of the needle puncher according to the present invention may be changed in many ways in design.