Abstract:
A leno heddle includes a pair of elongated shanks, which are removably assembled together in overlying relationship. One of the shanks has configured ends to be removably received within corresponding openings in the other shank. The shank having configured ends can be replaced within the leno heddle without having to remove the other shank from its coupled relationship with the loom&#39;s upper and lower leno heddle support bars.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates in general to a heddle adapted for use in mechanical looms, and more particularly, to leno heddles for use in combination with dupe heddles for producing a leno weave. 
         [0002]    A loom is a machine used to weave together warp and weft threads to make fabric. There are known a number of mechanical looms which produce various woven patterns having different characteristics. One such loom is referred to as a leno loom for producing a leno weave. A leno weave is a weave in which two warp threads are twisted around the weft thread to provide a strong fabric. The twisted warp threads grip tightly about the weft thread which produces a durable fabric with almost no thread slippage or misplacement of threads, particularly suitable for use in carpet backing material. To produce a leno weave, the loom is threaded with the shuttle weft thread and the dupe warp threads. The dupe warp threads can be of similar or lesser weight and strength to the weft thread. The weft thread is woven into the shed, and for each weft shuttle, the warp threads are twisted interchangeably to produce a figure eight pattern. 
         [0003]    Two of the many mechanical components of the leno loom for weaving the warp and weft threads are the leno heddle and the dupe heddle. By way of example, a typical leno loom includes a pair of leno heddles, which are interconnected at a medial location by the dupe heddle. The leno heddle includes a pair of elongated shanks coupled together forming a space therebetween for receiving a portion of the dupe heddle. The ends of the leno heddle include eyelets for coupling the heddle to an upper and lower heddle support bar. The heddle support bar is received within the eyelets for positioning the heddles within the leno loom during the weaving operation. The pair of shanks may be maintained in an assembly relationship by interfitting elements, such as disclosed in Kramer, U.S. Pat. No. 4,572,241. 
         [0004]    The number of leno heddles used in a leno loom varies depending upon the width of the fabric being woven. It is not unusual to have hundreds of leno heddles attached to the heddle support bars within the leno loom. Like other machine parts, the heddles are subject to wear and breakage, especially at their eyelet ends. When such a heddle has broken, it has heretofore been necessary to stop the loom, and remove the broken heddle for replacement. This can be particularly difficult and time-consuming when the broken heddle is in the middle of other heddles, which may have to be removed from the heddle support bars before the broken heddle can be replaced. To overcome this problem, there is known from Thorpe, U.S. Pat. No. 2,691,389, a repair head which can be attached to the upper end of the heddle shank after removal of the broken eyelet end. The repair head, however, is typically bulky compared to the original heddle shank, and in general, can catch on the other adjacent heddles during operation of the loom. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, there is disclosed and described a heddle for a loom, comprising an elongated first shank having spaced apart ends and an opening therebetween; and an elongated second shank overlying the first shank, the second shank having spaced apart ends releasably attached to the first shank and a transition region extending through the opening in the first shank. 
         [0006]    The ends of the second shank are attached to the first shank inwardly of the ends of the first shank. The first shank includes first and second sides, the second shank having a first leg between one end thereof and the transition region overlying the first side of the first shank and a second leg between the other end thereof and the transition region overlying the second side of the first shank. 
         [0007]    One end of the first shank includes an opening having a shape and one end of the second shank has a corresponding shape, wherein the shape comprises a T-shape. Another end of the first shank includes an opening having a shape and another end of the second shank has a corresponding shape, wherein the shape comprises a rectangular shape. The first shank has a length generally greater than a length of the second shank. 
         [0008]    In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, there is disclosed and described a heddle for a loom, comprising an elongated first shank having opposing first and second sides, spaced apart ends, and an opening therebetween; an elongated second shank passing through the opening of the first shank and having a first leg overlying the first side of the first shank and a second leg overlying the second side of the first shank, the second shank having spaced apart ends releasably attached within respective openings provided inwardly of the ends of the first shank. 
         [0009]    In accordance with still another embodiment of the invention, there is disclosed and described a heddle for a loom, comprising an elongated first shank having first and second spaced apart ends, a first heddle support bar opening adjacent the first end of the shank, a second heddle support bar opening adjacent the second end of the shank, a first shank opening adjacent the first heddle support bar opening, a second shank opening adjacent the second heddle support bar opening, and a third opening between the first and second shank openings; and an elongated second shank having third and fourth spaced apart ends and a transition region therebetween, wherein when the first and second shanks are assembled, the third end of the second shank is removably received within the first shank opening and the fourth end of the second shank is removably received with the second shank opening with the transition region passing through the third opening. 
         [0010]    The first shank includes first and second sides, the second shank having a first leg between the third end thereof and the transition region overlying the first side of the first shank and a second leg between the fourth end thereof and the transition region overlying the second side of the first shank. 
         [0011]    The first end of the first shank includes an opening having a shape and the third end of the second shank has a corresponding shape, wherein the shape comprises a T-shape. The second end of the first shank includes an opening having a shape and the fourth end of the second shank has a corresponding shape, wherein the shape comprises a rectangular shape. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]    Various embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the appended drawings. It is appreciated that these drawings depict only exemplary embodiments of the invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope. 
           [0013]      FIG. 1  is a top plan view of an unassembled leno heddle formed from a pair of elongated shanks; 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is a side elevational view of one end of the first shank; 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is a side elevational view of the other end of the first shank; 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is a top plan view of the leno heddle of  FIG. 1  shown in assembled relationship; 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  is a top plan view of one end of the leno heddle in assembled relationship as shown in  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 6  is a side elevational view of the assembled end of the leno heddle as shown in  FIG. 5 ; 
           [0019]      FIG. 7  is a top plan view of the other end of the leno heddle as shown in assembled relationship in  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0020]      FIG. 8  is a top plan view of a dupe heddle; and 
           [0021]      FIG. 9  is a top plan view of a leno heddle assembly including a pair of leno heddles and a dupe heddle. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0022]    In describing the preferred embodiments of the invention illustrated in the drawings, specific terminology will be used for the sake of clarity. However, the invention is not intended to be limited to the specific terms so used, and it is to be understood that each specific term includes all equivalents that operate in a similar manner to accomplish a similar purpose. 
         [0023]    Referring to the drawings wherein like reference numerals represent like elements, there is shown in  FIG. 1  a leno heddle in unassembled relationship and generally designated by reference numeral  100 . The leno heddle may be referred to hereinafter as simply the heddle  100 . The heddle  100  includes an elongated configured first shank  102  and an elongated configured second shank  104  as shown in unassembled relationship. By way of example, the shanks  102 ,  104  may be made from  301  stainless steel having a thickness of about 0.023 inches. The shanks  102 ,  104  can be fabricated using various machine techniques, for example, laser cutting, stamping, progressive tooling, and the like. 
         [0024]    Shank  102  includes a transition region in the area generally designated by reference numeral  106  and a pair of spaced apart ends generally designated by reference numerals  108  and  110 . The transition region  106  includes an opening  112 , which although shown and described as rectangular, may be of other shapes such as geometric or nongeometric as will be understood from a further description of the present disclosure. The shank section extending generally from the transition region  106  to the end  108  defines a first leg  114 . In a like manner, the shank section extending generally from the transition region  106  to the second end  110  forms a second leg  116 . The first end  108  may be formed with a C-shaped opening  118  having its longitudinal axis extending in the longitudinal direction of the first leg  114 . In addition to a C-shaped opening  118 , the opening may also be of other shapes, for example, J-shaped, circular or oval shaped, and the like. Various shaped openings are shown in Baumann et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,230,756, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
         [0025]    A configured opening  120  is provided in leg  114  inwardly adjacent opening  118 . By way of one example, the opening  120 , as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , has a T-shape. In this regard, the leg  114  includes an angled portion  122  adjacent the first end  108 . The configured opening  120  is formed within the angled portion  122  extending into the first end  108 . The T-shape of the configured opening  120  is formed by the opening having an enlarged rectangular end  124 . Although shown and described as T-shaped, the opening  120  may be of other shapes as will be understood from a further description of the present disclosure. For example, any shape that will perform a similar function to capture and retain the end of the second shank  104 , as to be described, may be used. 
         [0026]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 3 , second end  110  likewise may include a C-shaped opening  126  having its longitudinal axis extending in the longitudinal direction of the second leg  116 . Here again, although shown as a C-shaped opening  126 , the opening can also have other shapes, such as J-shaped, circular or oval shaped, and the like. The second leg  116 , inwardly of the second end  110 , includes an angled portion  128  having an opening  130 . The opening  130 , although illustrated as rectangular, can have other geometric or nongeometric shapes which will be understood from a further description of the present disclosure. 
         [0027]    The second shank  104 , as shown in  FIG. 1 , includes a transition region of reduced width generally designated by reference numeral  132  and a pair of space apart first and second ends generally designated by reference numerals  134  and  136 . A first leg  138  is generally defined extending between the transition region  132  and the first end  134 . Likewise, a second leg  140  is generally defined extending between the transition region  132  and the second end  136 . The transition region  132  is configured at an angle such that the first and second legs  138 ,  140  are arranged extending generally in parallel spaced apart planes, See  FIG. 4 . The first end  134  may be configured to have a shape corresponding to the shape of the opening  120 , by way of example, a T-shape. In this example, the T-shape is formed by a main body  142  having an enlarged rectangular head  144  thereby representing the letter T. Other shapes are contemplated as will be understood from a further description of the present disclosure. For example, any shape that will perform a similar function to be captured and retained by the opening  120  in the first shank  102  may be used. The size of the T-shaped first end  134  is generally slightly smaller than the size of the corresponding T-shaped opening  120 . The second end  136  of the second shank  104  includes an elongated extending tab  146 . Although the tab  146  is shown as having a generally rectangular shape, other shapes are contemplated as will be understood from the following description of the present disclosure. 
         [0028]    Referring now to  FIGS. 4-6 , there is shown the first and second shanks  102 ,  104  in assembled relationship to form a leno heddle  100  by way of one example. The second shank  104  is inserted through the opening  112  in the first shank  102  until aligned with the transition region  132 , with the first and second legs  138 ,  140  arranged in parallel offset planes on opposite sides of the first shank  102 . In this regard, as shown in  FIG. 4 , the first leg  138  of the second shank  104  is arranged overlying and in alignment with one side of the first leg  114  of the first shank  102 , while the second leg  140  of the second shank is arranged overlying and in alignment with the opposite side of the second leg  116  of the first shank. The legs  114 ,  138  of the first and second shanks  102 ,  104  provide a slight space  148  therebetween for receiving a portion of the dupe heddle as to be described hereinafter. 
         [0029]    Referring more specifically to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the first end  134  of the second shank  104  is releasably attached to the first end  108  of the first shank  102 . In this regard, the T-shaped end  142 ,  144  of the second shank  104  is first aligned overlying the corresponding T-shaped opening  120  in the first shank  102 . The T-shaped end  142 , 144  is passed through the T-shaped opening  120 , and then, longitudinally moved in a direction away from the first end  108  of the first shank  102  until the enlarged head  144  of the T-shaped end is stopped by portions of the first shank  102  formed by the angled portion  122 . The enlarged head  144  by abutting the angled portion  122  precludes the second shank  104  from sliding longitudinally toward the second end  110  of the shank  102 . 
         [0030]    Referring to  FIG. 7 , the second end  136  of the second shank  104  is similarly releasably attached to the second end  110  of the first shank  102 . In this regard, the tab  146  of the second shank  104  is inserted through the opening  130  within the angled portion  128  of the first shank  102 . The tab  146  extends beyond the extent of the opening  130 , overlying a portion of the second end  110  of the first shank  102  adjacent opening  126 , completing the assembly of the leno heddle  100 . 
         [0031]    The assembled leno heddle  100  may be used with a dupe heddle for forming a leno weave. A dupe heddle  150 , by way of one example, is shown in  FIG. 8 . The dupe heddle  150  includes a pair of spaced apart elongated legs  152 ,  154 , which terminate at respective J-shaped ends  156 ,  158 . The other ends of the legs  152 ,  154  form an eyelet  160  adapted for receiving the warp thread to be twisted about the weft thread during the weaving process. Another example of a dupe heddle  150  is disclosed in Hockemeyeer et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,116,291. 
         [0032]    Referring now to  FIG. 9 , there is shown a leno heddle assembly  162  for use in a mechanical loom for producing a leno weave using the leno heddles  100  in accordance with the present invention. A pair of leno heddles  100  are arranged side by side in alignment with one another. The upper ends  108  of the heddles  100  are slidably supported by upper leno heddle support bars  164  via the openings  118 . Likewise, the second ends  110  of the heddles  100  are slidingly supported by lower leno heddle support bars  166  via the openings  126 . The legs  153 ,  154  of the dupe heddle  150  are passed through the space  148  formed between the assembled shanks  102 ,  104 . The legs  152 ,  154  extend longitudinally and outwardly of the shanks  102 ,  104  with the J-shaped ends  156 ,  158  positioned adjacent the ends  110  of the leno heddles  100 . The J-shaped ends  156 ,  158  receive dupe heddle support bars  168 . The use of a leno heddle assembly  162  in a leno loom for forming a leno weave is considered known to those having ordinary skill in the art. Accordingly, a description of using the leno heddles in a leno loom is not required for a complete understanding of the construction and operation of the leno heddles in accordance with the present disclosure. 
         [0033]    As previously noted, a leno loom may include hundreds of leno heddles  100  arranged as shown in  FIG. 9 . The second shank  104  can be easily and quickly removed and replaced from within the heddle with minimal loom downtime by reversing the assembly procedure described hereinabove. In this regard, it is not required that the entire leno heddle  100  be removed from the upper and lower heddle support bars  164 ,  166 . 
         [0034]    Although the invention herein has been described with reference to particular embodiments, it is to be understood that these embodiments are merely illustrative of the principles and applications of the present invention. It is therefore to be understood that numerous modifications may be made to the illustrative embodiments and that other arrangements may be devised without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.