Abstract:
An apparatus for assisting in beading is provided. The apparatus has an enlarged flat top, akin to a micro-table and may be used as a ring or a wristband. A tacky tape is provided on the flat top. The beads to be thread are placed on top of the tape, so that they remain in place. The person then uses the needle to thread the beads.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The subject invention relates to device for assisting persons engaged in arts and crafts and, more specifically, for assisting handling small items, such as beads. 
         [0003]    2. Related Art 
         [0004]    Engaging in arts and crafts may require handling of small items. Long period of handling small items over a conventional desk may lead to back pain, as the artist hunches over the table for prolonged periods. Additionally, handling small items may be difficult for the elderly or for those with poor eyesight. Consequently, such persons are prevented from engaging in such arts and crafts, or prevented from doing it for a prolonged period. 
         [0005]    Recently beading has become a very popular hobby. There are various methods for beading, but most require the threading of a string through the beads. When using small beads, the hole is very small and a needle is used to thread the string through the beads. However, when the beads are very small, this operation becomes difficult, as one has to handle each bead separately and thread it using the needle. Since the beads are very small, they are very difficult to handle. Also, one needs to hunch over the worktable during this task, which may create back pain or other problems. 
         [0006]    What&#39;s needed in the art is an apparatus and method to enable easier threading of strings through beads. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0007]    The following summary of the invention is provided in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects and features of the invention. This summary is not an extensive overview of the invention and as such it is not intended to particularly identify key or critical elements of the invention or to delineate the scope of the invention. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts of the invention in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented below. 
         [0008]    Various embodiments of the subject invention provide an apparatus that assist in handling small items, such as small beads. Specific embodiments of the invention enable easy threading of strings through beads, especially small beads. 
         [0009]    According to embodiments of the invention, a ring or a wristband is provided, which the person doing the beading wears on the hand that does not hold the needle (for right persons the ring/wristband would be on the left hand, while for lefties it would by on the right hand). The ring/wristband has a top work surface, akin to a micro-table. A tacky surface, such as, e.g., tacky film, gel or tape is provided on the top surface. The items to be handled, such as beads to be thread, are placed on top of the tape, so that they remain in place. The person then uses the needle to thread the beads. 
         [0010]    Various disclosed embodiments provide an apparatus suitable for beading, comprising: a ring part suitable for wearing on a user&#39;s finger or arm; a top work-surface part affixed to the ring part; and, a tacky film provided over the top work-surface. The ring part may be made of plastic material, elastic band, Velcro, etc. The tacky part may be a tacky layer, such as spray-on, spread, etc., a double-sided tape, a plurality of tapes staked one on top of the other, etc. For example, Scotch® 667 Removable Double-Sided Tape, marketed by 3M® can be used. 
         [0011]    A neck and a frame attached to the neck may be included, wherein the frame may support a magnifying glass, an illumination source, or both. A top cover can be removably mountable to the top work-surface and may or may not include a storage enclosure or cavity. 
         [0012]    A method of manufacturing an apparatus for beading is disclosed, comprising: fabricating a ring part; fabricating a work-surface affixed to the ring part; and providing a tacky layer over the work-surface. The tacky layer may be made by spreading or spraying tacky layer, or by using double-sided adhesive tape. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]    Other aspects and features of the invention would be apparent from the detailed description, which is made with reference to the following drawings. It should be appreciated that the detailed description and the drawings provides various non-limiting examples of various embodiments of the invention, which is defined by the appended claims. 
           [0014]    The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, exemplify the embodiments of the present invention and, together with the description, serve to explain and illustrate principles of the invention. The drawings are intended to illustrate major features of the exemplary embodiments in a diagrammatic manner. The drawings are not intended to depict every feature of actual embodiments nor relative dimensions of the depicted elements, and are not drawn to scale. 
           [0015]      FIG. 1  is a schematic illustration of a person&#39;s hand wearing an apparatus according to embodiments of the invention. 
           [0016]      FIG. 2  is a schematic of an apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 3  is an illustration showing the bottom part of the apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 4  illustrates another embodiment of the invention, which may be structured in the form of a ring or a wristband. 
           [0019]      FIGS. 5A and 5B  illustrate another embodiment according to the invention. 
           [0020]      FIG. 6  illustrates another embodiment of the invention. 
           [0021]      FIG. 7  illustrates another embodiment of the invention having a curved top. 
           [0022]      FIG. 8  illustrates another embodiment of the invention. 
           [0023]      FIG. 9  illustrate an embodiment of the invention, which may be implemented as a ring or a wristband. 
           [0024]      FIG. 10  illustrates an embodiment wherein the work surface may be rotated. 
           [0025]      FIG. 11  illustrates an embodiment wherein the cover can be used as a work surface when in the open position. 
           [0026]      FIG. 12  illustrates an embodiment wherein the working surface is provided with undulations or corrugation so as to increase the working surface. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0027]    Embodiments of the subject invention provide apparatus enabling easy handling of small items. While the apparatus may be used for handling various small items, embodiments of the invention will be described with respect to apparatus for holding beads for easier threading of the beads. However, it should be understood that the description of these embodiments is for non-limiting illustration purposes only, and that the inventive apparatus may be used for handling other small items. 
         [0028]      FIG. 1  illustrates a hand of a person wearing an apparatus  100  according to an embodiment of the invention. In the embodiment of  FIG. 1  the apparatus  100  is in the form of a ring, but as will be demonstrated in other embodiments, the apparatus may also be in the form of a wristband, etc. The apparatus  100  generally comprises a top work-surface  110  affixed to a ring portion  120 . The top work-surface  110  may be made of a rigid material, such as plastic, while the ring portion  120  may be made of a rigid material, such as plastic, or a soft material, such as elastic band or Velcro®. The top work-surface  110  has a relatively flat or somewhat curved surface  114 , which is provided with a tacky material  130 . The tacky material  130  may be, e.g., a tacky layer prayed or spread on the top surface, a two-sided tape adhered to the top surface, etc. During use, plurality of beads  140  are placed on the tacky surface  130 , to enable easy threading of the beads. 
         [0029]      FIG. 1  further illustrates an apparatus  100 A according to another embodiment of the invention wherein the apparatus  100 A is structure to fit a user&#39;s wrist. The apparatus  100 A is constructed of parts similar to apparatus  100 , and comprises a wristband part  120 A, and a top work-surface part  110 A affixed to the wristband  120 A. A tacky layer  130 A is provided over the flat or curved surface  114 A of the top work-surface part  110 A. The tacky layer  130 A may be tacky material applied directly onto the flat top part  110 A. Alternatively, the tacky layer may be provided on a two-sided tape, which is applied to the top part  110 A. Another option is to have a stack of tapes, each tape having a tacky film applied to an upper face thereof. When the embodiment having the stack of tacky tapes is used, when the upper most tape loses its tackiness, it may be removed and the one below it can be used as a fresh tacky tape. 
         [0030]      FIG. 2  illustrates an apparatus  200  according to an embodiment of the invention. In the embodiment of  FIG. 2 , a top work-surface  210  is affixed to a ring part  220 . The top work-surface  210  is made of a rigid material, which in this example is plastic, and has a top surface  214 . The ring part  220  may be made of a rigid material, such as plastic, but in this embodiment it is made of a two part Velcro® material, so that it can be fit to any size finger. A plurality of tacky tapes  230  is provided on the flat top surface  214 . The plurality of tacky tapes are arrange on top of each other, in a manner similar to Post-it® notes, so that when the tackiness is lost in one tape, it may be removed and the one below it may be used. 
         [0031]    Also shown in  FIG. 2  is a cover  250 , which may be used to cover the top part  210 , to prevent dust or other matter from sticking to the tacky tape  230 . The cover may be used when the apparatus is stored and can keep any remaining beads inside the apparatus. 
         [0032]      FIG. 3  is an illustration showing the bottom part of the apparatus  300  according to an embodiment of the invention. In  FIG. 3  the top work-surface  310  has two slits  315 . A Velcro® fabric  320  is thread through the slits  315 . In this manner, the apparatus may be used on any size finger. On the other hand, using the same construction but at a larger size, the apparatus may be used on the wrist, like a wristband. 
         [0033]      FIG. 4  illustrates another embodiment of the invention, which may be structured in the form of a ring or wristband  400 . The apparatus  400  comprises a top work-surface part  410  having a flat or curved top surface  414 , and a curved underside  412  so as to stabilize the work-surface part  414  over a user&#39;s finger or arm. Velcro bands  420  are threaded through extensions  415  to enable fit to various size fingers or wrists. The top surface  414  is provided with a tacky layer, such as a spray-on tacky layer, or a double-sided tape, as in the previous embodiments. A cover  450  is structured to fit over the top work-surface part  410 . The top  450  comprises a storage cavity  452  and a lid  454 , so that beads or other small items may be stored in the storage cavity. 
         [0034]      FIGS. 5A and 5B  illustrate another embodiment. The embodiment of  FIGS. 5A and 5B  is cheap and simple to manufacture. As illustrated in  FIG. 5A , a sheet metal is stamped to provide the flat cutout  502 , comprising a work-surface part  510  and ring extensions  520 . The cutout is then folded to provide a ring  500  comprising a work-surface  510 , having top surface  514 , sides  516 , and ring extensions  520 . A tacky layer, such as a spray-on or double-sided tape is then provided over the flat top surface  514 . 
         [0035]      FIG. 6  illustrates another embodiment, wherein the work-surface  610  of apparatus  600  is made in the form of an I-beam. This can be made by, e.g., extruding plastic. The I-bean shape provides a flat top surface  614  and a bottom cavity  612 , which can be fit over the user&#39;s finger or arm—depending on the apparatus&#39; size. Slots  615  are provided through the bottom part of body  610 , to thread Velcro strips  620  or other attachment bands therethrough. A cover  650  is provided with an elongated storage compartment  652 , having removable cap  654 . The elongated storage compartment is particularly suitable for storing needles. The cover  650  is structured to snap onto extensions  617  to be secured in place. Alternately, this can be a magnet or clasp. 
         [0036]      FIG. 7  illustrates another embodiment of the invention. In  FIG. 7 , top work-surface  710  is provided with a slightly curved top  714  and bottom cavity  712 . Slots  715  are provided for threading an elastic or other attachment band  720 . Tacky layer or tape is provided on the curved surface  714 . A cover  750  is provided to snap onto extensions  717  to be secure to the top work-surface  710 . The cover  750  is provided with a storage compartment  752  and a lid  754 . 
         [0037]      FIG. 8  illustrates another embodiment, which may be made by plastic molding to result in a top work-surface  810  having a top surface  814  for the application of the tacky layer or tape. The molding also provides ring sides or curved sections  820  which are flexible so as to fit various finger sizes. 
         [0038]      FIG. 9  illustrate an embodiment of the invention which may be implemented as a ring or a wristband. In  FIG. 9  the ring  900  may be made according to any of the embodiments described above, so as to comprise a top work-surface  910  having a top surface  914  with tacky layer or tape, and ring part  920 . Additionally, a flexible neck  905  attached to the top work-surface  910  and supports a frame  980 . The frame  980  has a magnifying glass  982 , an illumination source  984 , or both. In this embodiment, the illumination source is a white LED. 
         [0039]    In a similar manner a wristband  900 A is constructed to have a top work-surface  910 A and a wristband part  920 A. The flexible neck  905 A supports a frame  980 A, which has magnifying glass  982 A, illumination source  984 A, or both. A battery pack  970  is attached to the wristband and delivers energy to the illumination source via wire  972 . While in this embodiment the wire  972  is shown for illustration purposes, it may be hidden inside the wristband  920 A and the flexible neck  905 A. 
         [0040]      FIG. 10  illustrates an embodiment wherein the work surface  1010  is rotatable. Specifically, in this embodiment the work surface  1010  is rotatably attached to the ring or wristband attachment part  1020  via pivot  1030 . In this manner, the user can position the work surface in any radial orientation that is convenient for the user. 
         [0041]      FIG. 11  illustrates an embodiment wherein the work surface  1110  includes a cover  1120 , which, when opened, can also function as a work surface. In this specific embodiment, the cover  1120  is made of two pieces hinged to the main work surface  1110 . As illustrated by the arrows, the cover parts  120  can be closed over the work surface about hinges  1151 . When the cover pieces  1120  are in the open position, beads  1144  can be placed on the main work surface  1110  and on the inside of the cover parts  1120 . That is, adhesive is also placed on the inside of cover  1120 , so that beads can be adhered to the inner side of the cover  1120 . 
         [0042]      FIG. 12  illustrates an embodiment wherein the working surface is provided with undulations or corrugation so as to increase the working surface. In  FIG. 12  only the main working surface  1210  is provided with increased working surface, although the inner surface of the cover  1220  may also be provided with undulations or corrugations to increase its usefulness as a working surface when it is in the open position. 
         [0043]    The present invention has been described in relation to particular examples, which are intended in all respects to be illustrative rather than restrictive. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that many different combinations of hardware, software, and firmware will be suitable for practicing the present invention. Moreover, other implementations of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the invention disclosed herein. Various aspects and/or components of the described embodiments may be used singly or in any combination in the plasma chamber arts. It is intended that the specification and examples be considered as exemplary only, with a true scope and spirit of the invention being indicated by the following claims.