Abstract:
An apparatus and method for constructing bows includes a horizontal layout board holding vertical dowels and a method for winding ribbon around the dowels to form a bow. A center dowel, left dowels, and right dowels are positioned at progressively increasing spacing from a base dowel. The spacing of the dowels on the layout board facilitates efficient use of material. The apparatus facilitates construction of bows without extensive training or experience.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to constructing bows and in particular to a board with pegs positioned to facilitate constructing a decorative bow. 
     Known methods for constructing decorative bows comprise manual steps of measuring and forming each loop of the bow. The partially formed bows are held by the bow maker and each new loop is manually measured using a ruler or measuring tape. These methods are fatiguing, time consuming, and generally unpleasant. An inexperienced bow maker often fails to accurately measure ribbon used to add loops as the bow is formed, and an unattractive decorative bow results. 
     Additionally, the decorative bows are often constructed from one or more ribbon (often three ribbons), which are purchased on thirty foot (i.e., ten yard) spools. One very popular bow requires 10 feet (i.e., three yards and one foot) of ribbon. Because all of the ribbon is used to construct three bows, the ribbon must be used very efficiently to obtain three complete bows from one spool. Known methods require substantial training and bow makers may still often fail to obtain satisfactory results. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention addresses the above and other needs by providing an apparatus and method for constructing bows which includes a horizontal layout board holding vertical dowels and a method for winding ribbon around the dowels to form a bow. A center dowel, left dowels, and right dowels are positioned at progressively increasing spacing from a base dowel. The spacing of the dowels on the layout board facilitates efficient use of material. The apparatus facilitates construction of bows without extensive training or experience. 
     In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided a layout board including dowels facilitating the construction of decorative bows. The dowels are positioned on the layout board using dowel holes. The dowel holes include a base dowel hole, a center dowel hole, and right and left dowel holes spaced progressively farther from the base dowel hole. Loops of ribbon are then formed by winding the ribbon around the dowels to obtain the desired decorative bow. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for using the layout board and dowels to construct a decorative bow. The method includes the steps of: tying one end of a ribbon to a base dowel attached to a layout board using a tie; winding the ribbon on edge in a counter-clockwise direction around a center dowel attached to the layout board directly above the base dowel to form a first loop; pulling the ribbon snugly; continue the counter-clockwise winding on edge back around the base dowel; winding the ribbon clockwise around a first right dowel attached to the layout board to form a second loop; pulling the ribbon snugly; continue the clockwise winding back around the base dowel; winding the ribbon counter-clockwise around a first left dowel attached to the layout board to form a third loop; pulling the ribbon snugly; continue the counter-clockwise winding back around the base dowel; repeating the steps of clockwise winding around additional right dowels attached to the layout board and counter-clockwise winding around additional left dowels attached to the layout board, until all of the remaining loops are formed; releasing the tie from the base dowel; tying the tie around all of the ribbon loops; lifting the flat bow from the layout board and dowels; and spreading the loops to form individual bows. 
     In accordance with yet another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for using the layout board and dowels to construct a decorative bow using ribbon having one decorative side and one plain side. The method includes twisting the ribbon 180 degrees as the ribbon is wound around the base dowel to keep the decorative side on outer faces of the loops. 
     In accordance with still another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for drawing ribbon from one or more spools as the bow is constructed. A spool holder is positioned next to the layout board and one or more ribbon are drawn from spools. The ribbon is wound around the dowels to form loops of the bows, and the ribbon is twisted 180 degrees each time the ribbon is wound around the base dowel, by rotating the decorative side of the ribbon facing away from the base dowel 90 degrees to face down and continuing to rotate the ribbon an additional 90 degrees so that the preferred pattern is facing the base dowel. An additional benefit of such twisting is a problem of twisting in the ribbon between the spools and layout board is removed. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
       The above and other aspects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent from the following more particular description thereof, presented in conjunction with the following drawings wherein: 
         FIG. 1A  is a top view of a layout board and dowel positions for making bows according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 1B  is a front view of the layout board and dowels for making the bows according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  shows a first bow making step of attaching an end of a length of ribbon to a base dowel according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  shows a second bow making step of winding the ribbon in a counter-clockwise direction around a center dowel attached to the layout board directly above the base dowel and continue the counter-clockwise winding back around the base dowel according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  shows a third bow making step of winding the ribbon clockwise around a first right dowel attached to the layout board and continuing the clockwise winding back around the base dowel according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  shows a fourth bow making step of winding the ribbon counter-clockwise around a first left dowel attached to the layout board and continue the counter-clockwise winding back around the base dowel; 
         FIG. 6  shows the results of repeating the clockwise winding around additional right dowels attached to the layout board and counter-clockwise winding around additional left dowels attached to the layout board until all of the remaining loops are formed leaving some length of ribbon trailing off below the base dowel according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  shows tying the tie around all of the ribbon loops according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  shows releasing the tie and bow from the base dowel and lifting the flat bow from the layout board and dowels according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 9  shows spreading the loops to form the bows according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 10  shows a spool holder holding three ribbon spools used to combine three lengths of ribbon for constructing a bow according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 11  shows the ribbon being drawn from spools during construction of the bow. 
     
    
    
     Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding components throughout the several views of the drawings. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The following description is of the best mode presently contemplated for carrying out the invention. This description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of describing one or more preferred embodiments of the invention. The scope of the invention should be determined with reference to the claims. 
     A top view of a layout board  10  and dowel positions for making bows according to the present invention is shown in  FIG. 1A  and a front view of the layout board  10  and dowel  19  for making the bows is shown in  FIG. 1B . A base dowel position  12  resides laterally centered and near a forward edge of the layout board  10 . A center dowel position  14  resides above the base dowel position  12  and also laterally centered on the board. Right dowel positions  16  reside to the right of the center dowel position  16  in an arc reaching from near the center dowel position  14  towards a right front corner of the layout board  10 . Left dowel positions  18  reside to the left of the center dowel position  16  in an arc reaching from near the center dowel position  14  towards a left front corner of the layout board  10 . A nail, screw, or similar attachment point  20  is attached to a front edge of the layout board  10  approximately laterally centered. Non-skid pads  22  may be provided on the bottom of the board  10  to reduce slipping. The dowels are hereafter referred to base, center, right, and left dowels corresponding to their positions in the board  10 . 
     A preferred layout board  10  approximate size is 20.25 inches wide, 8.5 inches deep, and 0.75 inches thick. Preferred pads  22  may be four 2.5 inches by 2.5 inches 0.035 inch thick vinyl/nitrite blend having four mills of acrylic adhesive at each corner of the layout board  10 . 
     An important feature of the layout board  10  and dowel positions is the separation of the center, right, and left dowel positions from the base dowel. As described below, a length of ribbon  30  is wound around the dowels  19  in a specific order and direction to provide loops of the desired length to form an esthetically pleasing bow and to efficiently use the length of ribbon. A typical bow may be made from ten feet of ribbon, which is a convenient length because ribbon commonly comes in 30 foot rolls. Because the length of ribbon is exactly three times the total length of ribbon on a typical spool, the length of ribbon cannot be cut to excess length, and the method for making the bows must not significantly vary in the amount of ribbon used. In order to obtain the desired loop sizes to construct a preferred bow, the center dowel  14  is positioned 4.25 inches from the base dowel  12 . The right and left dowel positions  16  and  18  are progressively positioned ½ inch farther from the base dowel position  12  (i.e., 4.75, 5.25, 5.75 and so on). The resulting bow is completed using the selected length of ribbon and produces the desired appearance. Other bows require different lengths of ribbon, and the present invention is also advantageous when ever using a precise length of ribbon has value. 
     The layout board  10  is described in  FIGS. 1A and 1B  with a single set of dowel positions for constructing a single size bow. In generally, the layout board  10  will include two or more sets of dowel positions for constructing two or more sizes of bows. For example, five sets of center, right and left dowel positions may be provided for constructing five sizes of bows. Each set of dowel positions continues the relationship of progressive positioning about ½ inch farther from the base dowel  12 , starting from the center dowel, to use the desired length of ribbon and obtain the desired appearance. The center and right and left dowels thus form a pattern resembling the top of a heart, with the base dowel residing inside the heart. 
     For the smallest size bow, the dowel positions may be defined by holes about ¼ inches in diameter and about ½ inches deep, and for larger size bows, the dowel positions may be defined by holes about ⅜ inches in diameter and about ½ inches deep. The larger dowels are preferably about ⅜ inches in diameter and about 3½ inches long and the smaller dowels are preferably about ¼ inches in diameter and about 2½ inches long. 
     A first bow making step of attaching an end  30   a  of a length of ribbon  30  to the base dowel using a wire  26  according to the present invention is shown in  FIG. 2 . One end of the wire  26  is wound around the base dowel  12  and extra wire  26  is wound around the attachment point  20  for later use. The length of ribbon  30  forming the loops preferably remains on edge during construction of the bow. The ribbon  30  typically has a decorative side  30 ′ and a plain side  30 ″. 
     A second bow making step of winding the length of ribbon  30  in a counter-clockwise direction around the center dowel  14  directly above the base dowel  12  (see  FIG. 1A ), and continue the counter-clockwise winding back around the base dowel according to the present invention is shown in  FIG. 3 . The second step forms the first loop  32  and the remaining loose portion of the length of ribbon  30  is firmly pulled away from the base dowel and the ribbon  30  is twisted  38  180 degrees as the ribbon  30  is wound around the base dowel  12 . Twisting  38  the ribbon 180 degrees reverses the ribbon  30  to place the decorative side  30 ′ of the ribbon  30  on the outside of a second loop  34  (see  FIG. 4 ). 
     A third bow making step of winding the length of ribbon  30  clockwise around a first right dowel  16  and continuing the clockwise winding back around the base dowel  12 , and twisting  38  the ribbon 180 degrees as the ribbon  30  is wound around the base dowel  12 , is shown in  FIG. 4  forming the second loop  34 . 
     A fourth bow making step of winding the length of ribbon  30  counter-clockwise around a first left dowel  18  and continuing the counter-clockwise winding back around the base dowel  12 , and twisting  38  the ribbon 180 degrees as the ribbon  30  is wound around the base dowel  12 , to form a third loop  36  is shown in  FIG. 5 . 
     The clockwise winding around additional right dowels and counter-clockwise winding around additional left dowels, and twisting the ribon 180 degrees as the ribbon is wound around the base dowel, is continued until all of the desired loops are formed is shown in  FIG. 6  according to the present invention. Some of the length of ribbon  30  may be left trailing off below the base dowel to form a tail for the bow. 
     The extra wire wrapped around the attachment point  20  is now released and tied around all of the ribbon loops as shown in  FIG. 7 . 
     The flat bow may now be lifted from the layout board  10  and dowels  19  as shown in  FIG. 8 . 
     The result of spreading the loops to form the bow is shown in  FIG. 9 . The bow is generally formed from three laid together ribbons, and each ribbon may be spread apart to form a fully circular bow  42  having loops of all three ribbons clearly visible. The individual loops may be further spread outward to add depth to the bow. Any remaining length of ribbon trails below the bow forming a tail  44 . 
     A spool holder  50  holding three ribbon spools  52   a ,  52   b , and  52   c  is shown in  FIG. 10 . The spool holder  50  is used to combine three lengths of ribbon into laid together ribbon  54  which may be cut into a length of laid together ribbon for constructing the bow according to the present invention. 
     The ribbon  30  is shown being drawn from spools  52   a ,  52   b , and  52   c  during construction of the bow  42 , as distinguished from initially cutting a length of ribbon  30 . Winding the ribbon  30  around the dowels  12 ,  14 ,  16 , and  18  to form each loop  34  of the bow  42  also results in twisting the length of ribbon  30   a  between the spools  52   a ,  52   b , and  52   c  and the layout board  10 . Such twisting may be addressed by proper twisting of the ribbon  30  when the ribbon  30  is would around the base dowel  12 . The ribbon  30  is thus preferably twisted  38  to expose the decorative side of the ribbon for the next loop, and advantageously to also untwist the length of ribbon  30   a  between the layout board  10  and the spools  52   a ,  52   b , and  52   c , each time the ribbon  30  is wound around the base dowel  12 . The twisting  38  may comprise rotating the side of the ribbon  30  facing away from the base dowel  12  to face down and continuing to rotate the ribbon  30  an additional 90 degrees so that the decorative side  30 ′ of the ribbon  30  is facing the base dowel  12  and is on the outside to the next loop. 
     The method of the invention of described above starting with counter-clockwise winding of bow material, but the method may be equivalently performed by reversing the winding of each step. 
     While the invention herein disclosed has been described by means of specific embodiments and applications thereof, numerous modifications and variations could be made thereto by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention set forth in the claims.