Abstract:
A method of constructing an interwoven basket using a collapsible basket form apparatus is disclosed. The present invention permits the construction of an interwoven basket including a solid bottom surface and upwardly converging woven side walls that define a top opening which is relatively smaller than the largest diameter of the basket. The present collapsible basket form apparatus permits construction of a basket from which a unitary basket form of the same shape could not otherwise be removed upon completion of the basket. The present basket form apparatus is adaptable to construction of baskets of many different sizes and shapes by the use of interchangeable rib components which function to define the basket contours.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) of United States Provisional Application No. 60/080,773 filed Apr. 6, 1998, by Diane V. Langston and James S. Langston for Basket Form Apparatus. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
     1. Field of Invention 
     This invention relates generally to basket weaving and, more particularly, to a method of manufacturing interwoven baskets on a collapsible form apparatus. 
     Basket weaving forms that permit a basket weaver to accurately construct an interwoven basket are well known to those skilled in the art. For example, such form devices for constructing baskets are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 16,953 to Ellis, U.S. Pat. No. 1,116,820 to Huke, U.S. Pat. No. 1,595,349 to McKane and U.S. Pat. No. 1,243,082 to Lloyd. Such devices typically employ a solid wood form having a plurality of component parts or an articulating frame whereon the weaver interweaves strips of natural or synthetic materials. Upon completion of the basket, the form may be disassembled or collapsed and removed from the basket assuming it is provided with a large enough top opening to permit removal of the form members. 
     However, since such prior art basket forms do not address the problem of constructing a basket having upwardly converging side walls or outwardly curved side walls resulting in a basket having a significantly larger diameter body than the top opening, the present invention has been developed to resolve this problem and other shortcomings of the prior art. 
     2. Description of Related Prior Art 
     U.S. Pat. No. 16,953 to Joel A. H. Ellis discloses a form or mold in which wooden slats are formed into baskets. This device is constructed of a plurality of generally cylindrical wooden blocks whereon the wooden slats are applied and secured by bending a wooden hoop about the slats. Thereafter, the wooden slats are interconnected by a wire to form a basket having an open top of a larger diameter than the bottom of the basket. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 1,116,820 to William Huke discloses a basket frame including a solid bottom plate of a round, oval, square, oblong or other suitable shape to which a plurality of radially disposed arms are attached at one end thereof in pivoting relation. An opposite end of each arm includes an articulating joint which permits the arms to be expanded during the weaving process to a desired diameter and shape. However, this device will not permit the construction of a basket having a body diameter larger than its top opening. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 1,595,349 to George N. McKane discloses a form for weaving baskets which may be removed from the finished work in sections to provide for the manufacture of baskets having inturned, overhanging sides. However, this device is limited to the construction of cylindrical baskets and does not allow the construction of a basket with a significantly larger body diameter than its top opening. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 1,243,082 to Marshall B. Lloyd discloses a method of producing woven reed articles which consists in providing a skeleton frame having spaced-apart, connected members presenting relatively small contacting surfaces to the fabric and weaving the reed fabric in a manner convenient for the weaving operation and independent of the frame and, thereafter, applying the reed fabric to and securing it upon the frame instead of weaving the fabric and shaping upon the frame during the weaving operation. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 1,724,293 to William J. Lawrence discloses a core for use in manufacture of wood and reed baskets having a continuous surface and a plurality of continuous guides extending lengthwise of its outer surface adapted to permit accurate placement and lining up of the upright reeds used in the construction of a basket by blind workers. This device also provides other tactile reference points on the core to allow construction by a blind basket weaver. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 35,265 to J. D. and J. T. Shuler discloses an improved means for manufacturing baskets. This device consists in use of a generally square block provided with guides, cords and gauge measures or marks over which the basket is formed. The size of the basket constructed may vary by reference to the gauge marks on the form. However, this devise is limited to the construction of generally square or rectangular baskets having open top and parallel side walls. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 184,237 to George Gensch discloses an apparatus and method of constructing rattan baskets wherein a plurality of shaping blocks or cores are stacked onto a handle having a threaded rod projecting therefrom. The rod is inserted through central apertures in the shaping blocks to provide a form having substantially the shape and size of the interior of the basket to be made. Thereafter, the basket is woven about the form, which is then removed through the top opening of the basket after completion. 
     Finally, U.S. Pat. No. 3,563,292 to Michael Gordon et al. discloses a method for manufacture of interwoven wicker basket, plastic strip basket, handbag or luggage which involves interweaving the wicker or plastic strips to form a body and to form a cover for the body of the basket and then anchoring by means of a tool the protruding ends of the strips of the body and of the cover to channel the shaped rails which rest on removable supports in the body forming a box-shaped body and cover. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     After study of the above problem, the present invention has been developed to provide a basket form apparatus and a method of constructing a basket thereon such basket having a solid bottom surface and upwardly converging side walls that define a top opening in the basket which is significantly smaller than the body diameter of the basket. This is accomplished by the use of a collapsible basket form apparatus which could not otherwise be removed from the top of the basket upon completion of the basket. 
     The present basket form apparatus may be adapted to permit the construction of interwoven baskets having numerous different shapes and cross-sectional profiles. In addition, the present basket form apparatus permits accurate construction of an interwoven basket using both natural and synthetic materials. 
     In view of the above, it is an object of the present invention to provide a basket form apparatus which can be utilized to construct a basket having a top opening which is relatively smaller in diameter in comparison to the size of the body portion of the basket. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a basket form apparatus which can be used to construct such a basket and thereafter completely disassembled and removed from the interior of the basket through a top opening thereof. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a basket form apparatus which is particularly useful in construction of interwoven baskets having a solid bottom surface whereon the present form apparatus is temporarily attached during the basket construction process. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a basket form apparatus which can be adapted to construct baskets having numerous different shapes and cross-sectional profiles. 
     Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent and obvious from a study of the following description and the accompanying drawings which are merely illustrative of such invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the basket form apparatus of the present invention showing the installation of a rib member between the top plate and the base plate; 
     FIG. 2 is a plan view of the basket form apparatus showing the corner rib members installed therein; 
     FIG. 3 is a plan view of the basket form apparatus showing all of the rib members installed and retained in position by an elastic band; 
     FIG. 4 is a partial side elevational view of the basket form apparatus showing the top plate being removed; and 
     FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along lines  5 — 5  of FIG. 3 showing the basket form apparatus being disassembled. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     With reference to the drawings there is shown therein a basket form apparatus in accordance with the present invention, indicated generally at  10  and illustrated in FIG.  1 . In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 the basket form apparatus  10  is designed for use with a basket of the type having a solid bottom plate  35  made of wood or other suitable material. 
     However, it will be understood that the basket form apparatus  10  of the present invention can be adapted to other baskets of a similar design and construction. Thus, the embodiment shown is intended to be illustrative of the present invention and not to be considered to be restrictive in any sense. 
     The basket form apparatus  10  includes a top plate  12  and a base plate  14  which are interconnected by a length of threaded rod  16  that is provided with a plurality of adjustable fasteners such as washers  18 , wing nuts  20 , and hex nuts  22 . The above described fasteners function to secure the basket form apparatus  10  to the bottom  35  of the basket to permit rapid and accurate construction of the basket as shown in FIG.  1 . 
     The top plate  12  and the base plate  14  are fabricated from wood or other suitable material and each include a plurality of opposed slots  24  formed in the inwardly facing surfaces thereof as more clearly shown in FIG.  2 . 
     Slots  24  are adapted to receive a plurality of rib members  25  that are configured to define the contours of the basket  39  which will be constructed thereon as most clearly shown in FIG.  5 . 
     In the preferred embodiment, the rib members  25  are fabricated from wood or other suitable material and include an upper tab member  25   a  and lower tab member  25   b . The respective tabs  25   a  and  25   b  are configured and dimensioned for insertion into the slots  24  formed in the inwardly facing surfaces of top plate  12  and base plate  14  as best seen in FIGS. 1 and 2. 
     It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that a plurality of rib members  25  totaling eighteen each for this embodiment and having a substantially similar contour are required to complete the basket form apparatus  10  whereon the basket, indicated generally at  39  will be constructed. 
     In an assembly procedure of the present invention the top plate  12  and the base plate  14  are provided with a center hole  19  drilled through the respective centers thereof. The threaded rod  16  together with the attaching hardware i.e. washers  18  and wing nuts  20  is inserted through and loosely penetrates each center hole  19  in the top plate  12  and the base plate  14  and thereafter is inserted through a coaxial hole in the bottom  35  of the basket. 
     Next, the base plate  14  is positioned in symmetrical alignment with the bottom  35  of the basket and secured thereto by advancing the wing nut  20  and the hex nut  22  into contact as shown in FIG.  1 . 
     Thereafter, the comer rib members  25   c  are inserted into their respective positions as shown in FIG.  2  and the top plate  12  is installed thereon and secured by advancing the uppermost wing nut  20  to clamp this subassembly together. 
     Next, a pair of elastic bands  26  and  27  are positioned about the periphery of the top plate  12  and about the lower portion of the rib members  25  respectively within notches  28  to assist in securing the remaining rib members  25  in position as they are inserted into the remaining slots  24  in the top plate  12  and the base plate  14  as shown in FIG.  3 . 
     This is accomplished by holding each rib member  25  in the position shown in FIG.  1  and initially inserting the upper tab  25   a  within the elastic band  26  and into a slot  24  and, thereafter, pivoting the rib member  25  to engage the lower tab  25   b  within the appropriate slot  24  in the base plate  14  and thereafter adjusting the elastic band  27  to engage each respective notch  28 . 
     After all of the rib members  25  have been installed to the position shown in FIG. 3, the upper wing nut  20  is tightened down against the washer  18  on the upper surface of the top plate  12  to hold the form apparatus  10  together. 
     Thereafter, an interwoven basket  39  may be constructed by initially inserting proximal ends of the material strips (not shown) to be used in the construction of the basket  39  into the horizontally extending slot  38  formed along the peripheral edge of the bottom  35  of the basket as best shown in FIG.  1 . The material strips (not shown) must be sufficiently flexible to be wrapped around and to closely conform to the outwardly projecting profile of the rib members  25  extending to an upper edge  39   a  of the completed basket  39 . 
     Once the vertically disposed strips are secured in position, construction proceeds by interweaving a plurality of horizontally disposed material strips in a known manner to the height shown in FIG.  5 . 
     Since such interweaving techniques are well known to those skilled in the art, further detailed discussion of the same is not deemed necessary. 
     After the weaving operation has been completed to the vertical height of the top plate  12 , the two elastic bands  26  and  27  are cut and the upper wing nut  20  is loosened such that the top plate  12  can be removed as shown in FIG.  4 . It may be necessary to utilize a hammer  30  to strike a dowel pin  32  or other suitable tool to separate the top plate  12  from the finished basket  39 . 
     Next, the user may reach down into the top opening of the basket  39  and remove the ribs  25  from the form apparatus  10  as shown in FIG.  5 . 
     Thereafter, the bottom nut  22  is loosened and removed from the bottom  35  which is now firmly attached to the basket as at slot  38 , and the rod  16  together with the base plate  14  may be removed from the basket  39  through the top opening thereof. 
     From the above it can be seen that the present invention provides a basket form apparatus and method of using the same which permits the construction of a basket having a solid bottom surface and upwardly converging side walls that define a top opening which is relatively smaller than the largest diameter of the basket. This is accomplished by the use of a collapsible form apparatus which could otherwise not be removed from the top opening upon completion of the basket. 
     The basket form apparatus of the present invention permits the rapid and accurate assembly of an interwoven basket using both traditional and synthetic material. 
     The terms “upper”, “lower”, “side”, and so forth have been used herein merely for convenience to describe the present invention and its parts as oriented in the drawings. It is to be understood, however, that these terms are in no way limiting to the invention since such invention may obviously be disposed in different orientations when in use. 
     The present invention may, of course, be carried out in other specific ways than those herein set forth without departing from the spirit and essential characteristics of such invention. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and all changes coming within the meaning and equivalency range of the appended claims are intended to be embraced therein.