Abstract:
The present invention describes a thread spool holder. The device comprises a wall-mountable frame with a series of support shelves positioned horizontally across the frame. The support shelves are upwardly angled in relation to the back wall of the device, thereby enabling the spool to be held thereon. A user can place the spools onto the shelving in an end-to-end configuration for storage and can arrange the colors in a manner that enables the user to quickly locate a desired spool. The present invention provides an organized, accessible way to store thread, and allows the user to view the entire thread collection at once.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/823,610 filed on May 15, 2013, entitled “Thread Storage Invention” The above identified patent application is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety to provide continuity of disclosure. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to a thread spool holder. More specifically the invention relates to a device that comprises a wall-mountable frame, which includes support shelves that extend horizontally across the frame, thereby organizing a plurality of spools in a convenient and decorative manner. 
         [0004]    A thread is a type of thin yarn that is comprised of a continuous length of interlocking fibers, which are used to make or repair cloth. The threads may be made from a variety of colors and materials, including that of cotton, polyester, nylon, rayon, silk, and wool. The threads may be wound around a spool, which prevents the tangling of thread. Moreover, the spool enables easy attachment of the thread onto a sewing machine, which is then capable of drawing the thread off of the spool and weaving the thread into a cloth. 
         [0005]    Although spools prevent the threads from tangling together, there is still an issue with organization. Common solutions involve providing a case that is adapted to holding a plurality of threads. The drawback of this common solution is that the threads are inserted into a single container, where they become lost among the plurality of different threads. Moreover, if one thread becomes loose on a spool, there is a possibility that the thread would become tangled among the other spools within the case. 
         [0006]    Most thread spool organization systems involve drawers, boxes, or other separate containers that keep the thread out of view. It can be time consuming to retrieve a box, sort through a drawer, or otherwise search for thread as it is needed. Divided containers often do not have enough space for a very large thread collection. Additionally, most storage solutions waste unnecessary space in a drawer, on a tabletop, or elsewhere. Proper organization of thread spools is an essential function to small seamstress shop owners, midsize sewing factories, and in-home crafters alike as varying thread compositions are needed depending on the fabric being sewn. 
         [0007]    There are several prior art devices that are designed to prevent these issues from happening. These devices often comprise spool racks, which are configured to support one or more spools on a rod or shelf. The rack may be rotatable to enable selection of the desired spool, may be attachable onto a wall, or may include a separate curved shelf-like holder for each spool. These prior art devices, however, fail to provide a decorative spool holder, which is capable of neatly organizing a plurality of spools. 
         [0008]    The present invention relates to a wall-mountable decorative rack that is configured to hold a plurality of spools. The rack comprises a frame comprised of a back wall, sidewalls, and a plurality of upwardly angled support shelves. The support shelves are positioned horizontally across the frame, which enables the shelves to hold a plurality of different sized spools thereon in any desired manner. Moreover the back wall comprises brackets that enable the rack to be supported on a wall. 
         [0009]    2. Description of the Prior Art 
         [0010]    Devices have been disclosed in the prior art that relate to thread spool holders. These include devices that have been patented and published in patent application publications. These devices generally relate to holders that comprise a separate bar or shelf for holding each spool. The following is a list of devices deemed most relevant to the present disclosure, which are herein described for the purposes of highlighting and differentiating the unique aspects of the present invention, and further highlighting the drawbacks existing in the prior art. 
         [0011]    Devices of the prior art largely relate to thread spool holders, which fail to provide a multitude of threads on a single bar or shelf. These spool holders come in the form of cases, rotatable holders, individual holder bars, and individually curved shelves, which are capable of holding a single spool. However, while useful for their own purposes, the prior art fails to anticipate the present invention. The present invention provides a decorative wall-mountable rack that comprises a series of horizontal support shelves, whereby the shelves provide support for one or more thread spools. 
         [0012]    One such prior art device that fails to anticipate the present invention is U.S. Pat. No. 1,405,554 to Northcraft, which describes a spool rack. The rack includes slots and circular openings, which contain spools are inserted into the rack and secured thereon. While the device of Northcraft discloses a holder for spools of thread, the prior art device fails to provide a wall-mountable device having upwardly angled support shelves that are configured to support a plurality of spools thereon. 
         [0013]    Another such prior art device, U.S. Pat. No. 2,588,529 to Hume discloses a spool rack that provides support for a plurality of spools. The rack is further capable of holding spools thereon even when folded into an inoperative position. The rack includes a swingable frame with a plurality of cross bars that include spool receiving pins. While the device is useful for its own purposes, it fails to teach wall mount support shelves that enable spools to rest thereon in an end to end manner. 
         [0014]    U.S. Pat. No. 2,944,761 to Best discloses a rotary spool rack, which is configured to display a plurality of sewing thread spools thereon. The rack includes a rotary drum, having longitudinal and circumferential rows of spool-holding pins, which releasably engage spools. The design enables the sizes and colors of the spools to be readily seen and selected from the plurality of pins. The device of Best, however, fails to provide a thread spool holder which supports threads in an end to end manner, and further fails to provide a decorative wall-mountable frame. 
         [0015]    Yet another prior art patent, U.S. Pat. No. 4,351,458 to Wolfe teaches a rotary thread spool storage tree, which includes vertically extending posts, which carry a plurality of vertically spaced groups of limbs. The limbs of each group project at an outward angle from the post, wherein the arrangement provides for a maximum number of limbs for the length of the post. While the posts of Wolfe are configured to hold spools, the device differs from the prior art in that it fails to provide a support for spools in an end to end manner, whereby the spools are supported on a shelf that spans the width of the frame. 
         [0016]    Finally, design patents 263,184 to Meehan, 371,233 to Kelly, and 411,344 to Ovalle disclose varying designs for the support of a variety of spools thereon. The design of Meehan includes a wall-mountable rack, which includes shelving that includes a plurality of curved sections that are configured for holding spools thereon. Kelly teaches a design which comprises a base, which includes a plurality of differently sized pegs, whereby the pegs are configured for holding a singular spool thereon. Lastly, the design of Ovalle teaches a thread spool holder that comprises a plurality of extension arms for the reception of a spool thereon. While these designs are useful for their own purposes, they fail to teach a wall mountable frame, which enables a plurality of spools to be supported thereon in an end to end manner. 
         [0017]    The present invention relates to a spool holding device. The device includes a frame, having a back wall and vertical and horizontal side walls that extend outward therefrom. A series of vertically separated, and upwardly angled support shelves are provided between the vertical side walls. A user may place a sewing thread spool on the angled support shelf, thereby securing the spool therebetween. The present invention is capable of holding a plurality of spools thereon in an end-to-end manner and enables a user to decoratively display a plurality of spools of varying sizes, colors, and compositions. The back wall may also include indicia, which may identify or direct a user to a desired placement of a sewing thread spool. 
         [0018]    It is submitted that the present invention is substantially divergent in design elements from the prior art and consequently it is clear that there is a need in the art for an improvement to thread spool organization devices. In this regard the instant invention substantially fulfills these needs. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0019]    In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of spool organizers now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new device wherein the same can be utilized for providing convenience for the user when a spool thread organizer that is capable of displaying a plurality of spools at once. 
         [0020]    It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved spool organization device that has all of the advantages of the prior art and none of the disadvantages. 
         [0021]    It is another object of the present invention to provide a new spool organizer that is configured to support a plurality of differently sized spools on an upwardly angled support shelf. 
         [0022]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a spool organizer that is configured to support a plurality of spools in an end-to-end manner. 
         [0023]    Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a wall-mountable spool thread organizer that enables quick and easily selection and replacement of spools. 
         [0024]    Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0025]    Although the characteristic features of this invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims, the invention itself and manner in which it may be made and used may be better understood after a review of the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like numeral annotations are provided throughout. 
           [0026]      FIG. 1A  displays a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the spool organizer of the present invention. 
           [0027]      FIG. 1B  displays a close-up view of a shelving panel section of the spool organizer. 
           [0028]      FIGS. 2A and 2B  display front and rear views of the spool organizer of the present invention. 
           [0029]      FIG. 3  displays a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the spool organizer, whereby the organizer comprises support bars that offer support of thread spools. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0030]    Reference is made herein to the attached drawings. Like reference numerals are used throughout the drawings to depict like or similar elements of the sewing thread spool organizer. For the purposes of presenting a brief and clear description of the present invention, the preferred embodiment will be discussed as used for organizing spools of thread in a decorative manner. The figures are intended for representative purposes only and should not be considered to be limiting in any respect. 
         [0031]    Referring now to  FIG. 1A , there is displayed a perspective view of the spool organizer of the present invention, whereby the spool organizer is designed to decoratively display a plurality of spools in an end-to-end manner thereon. Preferably, the device  10  comprises a frame  15  having a plurality of side walls  25  and a back wall  20 . The organizer further includes a plurality of vertically separated and upwardly angled support shelves  30 . The shelves  30  and back wall  20  are configured for support a plurality of spools  40  thereon. 
         [0032]    The spool organizer is configured to be customizable to suit the needs of a user. The shelving  30  is positioned on a plurality of panels  28  that may be joined into a larger assembly. The side walls  25  and back wall  20  may be sized to provide an adequate bordering frame  15  for the assembled panels.  FIG. 1B  displays a close-up view of a shelving panel section. A panel  28  may comprises a series of vertically separated angularly upstanding shelves  30 . The plurality of shelving panels  30  may be connected together, thereby forming a completed spool organizer. The sides of the panels  28  may comprise fasteners  29  that facilitate the securing of one panel to an adjacent panel. The fastener may be an adhesive, a threaded attachment, snaps, interlocking or a friction fitting. The panels may have similar fasteners that facilitate the removable attachment to the side walls and back wall. Moreover, the frame  15  may comprise fasteners  16  (See  FIG. 1A ) that may secure the sides  25  of the frame together, or secure the panels  28  within the frame. 
         [0033]    Referring now to  FIGS. 2A and 2B , there are displayed front and rear views of the spool organizer  10  of the present invention, wherein the shelves  30  are holding a plurality of spools  40  in an end-to-end manner.  FIG. 2A  displays the spool organizer, whereby the frame  15  includes four sides  25  that form the border of the frame  15 . A plurality of shelving panels  28  are secured within the side walls  25  and back wall  20  to provide a completed spool organizer. A series of spools  40  may be placed on the upwardly angled shelves  30  of the organizer. The placement of the spools  40  enables a user to quickly identify and select a desired spool of thread. The device  10  is configured to support a plurality differently sized, colored, and compositions of spools  40  thereon. The upwardly angled shelves  30  enable the placement of a plurality of spools in an end-to-end configuration. The shelves  30  are separated from an adjacent shelf by an appropriate distance that facilitates the placement of larger or smaller spools. 
         [0034]    Referring now to  FIG. 2B , there is displayed a rear view of the spool organizer. The spool organizer  10  is configured for hanging on a wall. The back wall  20  of the device is flat and includes a pair of fastener mechanisms in the form of brackets  35 . The brackets  35  are positioned on opposing sides of an upper surface of the back wall  20 , thereby enabling a level hanging. A user may then secure the spool organizer  10  onto a wall in a manner similar to that as a user would hang a picture frame. Nails, screws, or other suitable wall attachment mechanisms may be utilized for supporting the brackets  30  in order to hang the spool organizer  10  on a wall. 
         [0035]    Referring now to  FIG. 3 , there is shown an alternative embodiment of the present invention, whereby a plurality of spools  40  are secured between the back wall  20 ′ and a series of support bars  30 ′. The support bars  30 ′ span a distance from one vertical side wall of the device  10 ′ to an opposing wall side  25 ′, and are thereafter secured within insertions holes  36 ′ of the vertical side walls. The bars  25  may be made of molded plastic, metal, wood, or other suitable compositions. Additionally, the bars may be removable, telescopic, have interlocking parts, or be fixedly attached within the side wall  25 . 
         [0036]    The connection of the support bars  30 ′ into the side walls  25 ′ facilitate a separation between the support bars  30 ′ and the back wall  20 ′ of the device  10 ′. The separation between the back wall  20 ′ and the support bar  30 ′ is at a distance that is less than the diameter of the sewing thread spool  40 , thus enabling the spool organizer to support the spool  40  thereon. Moreover, the arrangement of the support bars  30 ′ enables a plurality of spools  40  to be supported in an end-to-end manner between each bar  30 ′ and the back wall  20 ′. Similar to the primary embodiment, the alternative embodiment enables sufficient accessibility and visibility of the spools to enable a user to obtain, replace, or organize the spools of thread that may vary in size, color, and composition. 
         [0037]    The primary embodiment of the present invention relates to a device that is capable of supporting a plurality of sewing thread spools thereon. The device  10  includes a frame  15  having side walls  25  and a back wall  20 . A plurality of panels  28  may be secured within the side walls  25 . The panels  28  may comprise upwardly angled shelves  30  that are configured to provide support for a plurality of spools  40 . The design enables a user to easily remove or insert a spool thread  40  on the shelf  30 . Moreover, the panel design enables a user to add or replace or insert additional panels  28  to provide a larger or smaller framework for the placement of spools  40 . The back wall  20  of the device  10  may comprise identification features  45 , such as labels, which provide a description of the size, color, or composition of the spool  40  to further aid in the organization of the spool organizer  10 . 
         [0038]    Alternatively, separate embodiment provides a series of holes  36 ′ on the vertical sidewalls  25 ′, whereby the holes  36 ′ are configured for the reception of support bars  30 ′ therein. The side walls  25 ′ extend outward from the back  20 ′ of the device  10 ′, thereby providing a separation between the back wall  20 ′ and the plurality of support bars  30 ′ secured within the holes  36 ′ of the side walls  25 ′. The support bars  30  are separated from the back wall  20 ′ by a distance that is less than that of the diameter of the spools  40 , which enables the spools  40  to be supported between the back wall  20 ′ and the support bar  30 ′ in an end-to-end orientation. The user is capable of inserting or removing one or more of the horizontal support bars  30 ′ from the side walls  25 ′, which enables the device  10 ′ to be customized to suit the aesthetic tastes of the user 
         [0039]    It is therefore submitted that the instant invention has been shown and described in what is considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art. With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
         [0040]    Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.