Patent Publication Number: US-2023145510-A1

Title: Skein Measuring and Dispensing Tool

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to apparatus which are adapted for measuring the lengths of yarn or cordage while configured as a multi-looped or wound skein. More particularly, this invention relates to such apparatus which are further adapted for dispensing the yarn or cordage from the wound skein. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Rotatable yarn swifts are known to be capable of receiving and supporting a skein of yarn, string, cordage, or light rope. (References below to yarn should be considered as being broadly representative to all such materials.) In many circumstances, it is desirable to accurately estimate the length of yarn which has been wound into such skein. However, conventional yarn swifts typically are incapable of measuring the length of yarn within a skein which has been received upon the yarn swift. 
     The instant inventive skein measuring and dispensing tool solves or ameliorates such defects and deficiencies by providing a specialized base and spindles combination incorporating special adaptations which allow the tool to perform functions of measuring the length of a skein of yarn received upon the tool, and progressively dispensing the yarn from the skein. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A first structural component of the instant inventive skein measuring and dispensing tool comprises an oblongated base, preferably having a substantially flat bottom or lower surface. In a suitable embodiment, the oblongated base may comprise a length of wood, or may be suitably alternatively composed of other materials such as plastic or metal. 
     In a preferred embodiment of the instant inventive tool, the oblongated base component has left and right ends, and has a mid-line or midpoint between such ends at which an axle channel component is presented. Such axle channel component preferably passes completely through the base from its upper side to its lower side. 
     Further structural components of the instant inventive tool comprise left and right travel slots which extend into the oblongated base. In a preferred embodiment, the left and right travel slots respectively extend leftwardly and rightwardly from the central axle channel and respectively toward the base&#39;s left and right ends. Each of the left and right travel slots preferably opens both upwardly at the upper side of the oblongated base and downwardly at its lower side, such axle channel configurations advantageously allowing vertically extending spindle mounting bolts or screws to pass vertically therethrough and to travel leftwardly and rightwardly therealong. The left and right travel channel components may suitably alternatively extend into and open at side walls of the base, such alternative channels similarly extending leftwardly and rightwardly therealong from the base&#39;s centrally positioned axle channel. 
     Further structural components of the instant inventive skein measuring and dispensing tool comprise left and right spindles which extend upwardly from the base and are slidably mounted thereon for selective movements along and positioning upon the base. In a preferred embodiment, the spindles are conical to facilitate smooth dispensation of yarn. The spindles&#39; sliding movements along the base are preferably guided by and are limited by the left and right travel slots. 
     Further structural components of the instant inventive tool comprise left and right series of graduations, each graduation among said series being fixedly attached to and displayed upon the oblongated base. The graduations in combination with numeric indicia placed in series adjacent to the graduations function as and constitute yarn length indicia. In the preferred embodiment, the left series graduations are arrayed upon a side wall of the oblongated base, such graduation array extending leftwardly from the axle channel. The tool&#39;s right series of graduations component is preferably oppositely arrayed rightwardly along said side wall. In the preferred embodiment of the instant invention, the left and right series of graduations components substantially identically mirror each other with respect to the central axle channel, such mirroring characteristic allowing both small and large skeins of yarn received by the tool to remain substantially centrally positioned upon the tool during measuring. 
     Further structural components of the instant inventive tool comprise left and right pointers which are respectively connected to or displayed upon the left and right spindles, such pointers constituting measurement indicia which necessarily move with the spindles in relation to the base and the graduation arrays. In a preferred embodiment, the left and right pointers are positioned for, upon the movements of the left and right spindles along the left and right travel slots, successively aligning with graduations among the left and right series of graduations. Centimeter or inches indicia are preferably adjacently arrayed along the graduation arrays so that, upon placement of a skein of yarn about the spindles, and upon sliding movements of the spindles away from each other within the skein of yarn, the pointers may point to inch or centimeter indicia and thereby signify the length of each loop of yarn within the skein. 
     In a preferred mode of operation of the instant inventive tool, that the spindles and their pointers are mirroringly moved away from each other within a skein to be measured, such motions being guided by the base&#39;s travel slots. Such mirroring movements of the spindles advantageously radially balances the positions of the spindles along the length of the oblongated base. Such radial balancing of the spindles advantageously allows the oblongated base and the spindles to rotate about the axle channel in a balanced fashion. The tool&#39;s facilitation of balanced rotation advantageously allows the tool to dispense the yarn from the skein in a balanced rotating fashion. 
     The sliding motions of the tool&#39;s spindles along the base&#39;s travel slots are preferably facilitated by provisions of left and right slide plates, each slide plate overlying the upper surface of the oblongated plate and respectively underlie base or lower ends of the left and right spindles. During the movements of the spindles along the travel slots, the slide plates preferably move with the spindles with lower surfaces of the plates slidably contacting the base. In a preferred embodiment, the left and right pointers are respectively formed integrally with and extend from side edges of the left and right slide plates. 
     Further structural components of the instant inventive skein measuring and dispensing tool comprise left and right screw and threaded socket combinations. In the preferred embodiment, said combinations&#39; threaded sockets are internally helically threaded, and open downwardly from the lower ends of the spindles, such sockets being respectively embedded within base or lower ends of the left and right spindles. The screw components of such combinations preferably respectively extend upwardly through the left and right travel slots to threadedly engage the helically threaded sockets. Loosening or unscrewing of such screw and threaded socket combinations allow the spindles and their slide plates to freely slidably move along the length of the oblongated base. Opposite screw tightening of such combinations advantageously fixes the spindles at selected balanced and mirroring locations along the length of the oblongated base. Fixed and mirrored positioning of the spindles with respect to the central axle channel facilities performance of the tool&#39;s balanced rotating yarn dispensation function. 
     In a preferred embodiment, second left and second right series of graduation indicia are displayed upon the opposite side of the oblongated base, such additional indicia beneficially allowing, for example, one of set of graduated indicia to signify yarn lengths in inches, and allowing the second oppositely arrayed indicia to signify the yarn lengths in centimeters. 
     Accordingly, objects of the instant invention include the provision of a skein measuring and dispensing tool which incorporates structures as described above, and which arranges those structures in relation to each other in the manners described above, for the achievement and performance of beneficial functions, as described above. 
     Other and further objects, benefits, and advantages of the instant invention will become known to those skilled in the art upon review of the Detailed Description which follows, and upon review of the appended drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the instant inventive skein measuring and dispensing tool. 
         FIG.  2    is an opposite view of the structure of  FIG.  1   . 
         FIG.  3    is a sectional view of the structure of  FIG.  1   , as indicated in  FIG.  1   . 
         FIG.  4    re-depicts the structure of  FIG.  1   , the view of  FIG.  4    showing spindle components slidably centrally moved and showing in representational view an overlying skein of yarn. 
         FIG.  5    re-depicts the structure of  FIG.  4   , the view of  FIG.  5    showing the skein of yarn downwardly placed over the spindles. 
         FIG.  6    re-depicts the structure of  FIG.  5   , the view of  FIG.  6    showing the spindles slidably oppositely moved away from each other to skein measuring positions. 
         FIG.  7    shows the instant inventive tool in use during rotating dispensation of yarn from a skein, the tool being shown rotatably mounted upon an angled base. 
         FIG.  8    presents an alternative configuration of the structure of  FIG.  3   , as indicated in  FIG.  1   . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring now to the drawings, and in particular to Drawing  FIGS.  1 ,  2 , and  3   , a preferred embodiment of the instant inventive skein measuring and dispensing tool is referred to generally by Reference Arrow  1 . The tool  1  has an oblongated base  2  which preferably has a substantially centrally located axle channel or bore  46  extending from the upper surface or side of the base  2  to its lower surface or side. 
     Left and right travel slots  4  and  6  preferably extend vertically through the oblongated base  2 , said slots respectively extending along the base  2  leftwardly and rightwardly from the axle channel  46 . As can be best seen in  FIG.  3   , each of the travel slots  4  and  6  opens upwardly at the upper side of the oblongated base  2 , and further opens downwardly at a lower end or surface of the oblongated base  2 . 
     Left and right spindles  22  and  18  are preferably slidably mounted at the upper surface of the oblongated base  2 . As indicated in  FIGS.  1 ,  4 ,  6 , and  7   , such spindles are adapted for and are capable of mirroring movements along the base  2 , alternatively or reciprocatingly toward each other. Such sliding motions are preferably guided and restricted by the left and right travel slots  4  and  6 . 
     Left and right series of graduations  14  and  12  are preferably fixedly attached to or are displayed upon a side wall of the oblongated base  2 , such graduations being mirroringly arrayed and with respect to each other so that each array radially extends along the oblongated base from the central axle channel  46 . Mirroring inches indicia are suitably adjacently displayed in relation to the graduations  14  and  12 , such indicia facilitating measurement of variously sized skeins of yarn received upon the tool  1 . Left and right pointers  26  and  28  are preferably fixedly attached to or mechanically connected for motion with the spindles  22  and  18 , such pointers progressively indicating inch indicia as the spindles  22  and  28  mirroringly move away from each other along the travel slots  4  and  6 . 
     Referring simultaneously to  FIGS.  2  and  3   , a right slide plate  20  overlies the upper surface of the oblongated base  2 , such plate spanning or bridging laterally across the right travel slot  6 . The lateral and oppositely lateral edges of the slide plate  20  present oppositely positioned retainer flanges  19  and  21 , such flanges preferably being formed wholly with lateral and oppositely lateral ends of the slide plate  20 . In the depicted preferred configuration, the retainer flanges  19  and  21  in combination with the horizontally spanning slide plate  20  form a sliding “C” bracket which is fitted for nesting and slidable receipt of the upper end of the oblongated base. Pointers  28  and  30  are preferably formed wholly with lower edges of the flanges  19  and  21 , such pointers variably pointing to and progressively indicating skein length measurements along first and second arrays of graduations or indicia  12  and  15  displayed upon the opposite side walls of the rightward end of the oblongated base  2 . As shown in  FIG.  3   , the slide plate  20  has a central bolt passage aperture  33  which allows a bolt  36  to secure both the spindle  18  and the plate  20  to the base  2 . 
     Similarly with the positioning of the right slide plate  20  beneath the right spindle  18 , a left slide plate  24  is mirroringly positioned beneath the left spindle  22 . The left slide plate is preferably configured substantially identically with the right slide plate  20 , the left slide plate similarly having “C” channel forming flanges  23  and  25 , and having oppositely positioned pointers  26  and  27 . Such pointers  26  and  27  variably align with and point to mirroring first and second arrays of graduations or measurement indicia  14  and  11  scribed or printed upon the lateral and oppositely lateral sides of the left end of the base  2 . 
     Referring to  FIG.  3   , the instant inventive tool preferably further comprises a right screw and threaded socket combination which is referred to generally by Reference Arrow  37 . Such combination has an internally helically threaded socket  32  which is embedded within and opens downwardly from the lower or base end of the right spindle  18 . The helically threaded screw component  36  of such combination extends vertically through travel slot  6  and through the slide plate aperture  33  to helically threadedly engage the socket  32 . The lower end of the screw  36  preferably forms an enlarged finger turnable head  40  which is housed within downwardly opening channel enlargement sections  8  and  10 . Upon clockwise turning of screw  36 , an annular shoulder extending from the head  40  of the screw  36  bears against a travel washer  38  which is captured within channel section  8 . Such screw turning action forcefully draws the socket  32  and the spindle  18  downwardly against slide plate  20  to securely fixedly position the spindle  18  at a selected position upon the oblongated base  2 . Opposite turning and loosening of the screw  36  releases such spindle drawing action, allowing the spindle  18  to be slidably moved and repositioned along travel slot  6 . A left or second helically threaded socket and screw combination is provided, such left combination preferably mirroring the right combination  37 , the left combination similarly facilitating mirroring and balanced positioning and repositioning of the left spindle  22 . 
     To facilitate smooth rotating yarn dispensing motion of the tool  1 , the central aperture within the base  2  is preferably enlarged to present a bearing mounting aperture  16  which nestingly receives a rotary bearing assembly. Such assembly suitably comprises a fixed radially outer sleeve  42  which rotatably receives and retains a radially inner rotating sleeve  44 . Ball bearings (not depicted within views) captured within races between sleeves  42  and  44  facilitate smooth rotating movement. Where such rotary bearing assembly is provided, the central bore  46  of the assembly comprises the tool&#39;s central axle channel component. 
     Referring simultaneously to  FIGS.  1 ,  3  and  8   , all structures appearing in  FIG.  8    which are identified by a reference numeral having a suffix “A” are configured substantially identically with similarly numbered structures appearing in other figures. In the  FIG.  8    structural alternative, the vertically extending and vertically opening travel channels  4  and  6  of  FIG.  1    are eliminated, and side wall travel channels  60  are provided in their place. In the  FIG.  8    structural alternative, the instant invention&#39;s screw and socket combinations alternatively comprise a horizontally oriented set screw  68  which threadedly extends through helically threaded socket  66 . Since such alternative screw and socket combination extends its screw parallel to the base of spindle  18 A, it will not hold such spindle upon the slide plate  20 A. To provide the needed spindle attachment, screws  63  extend through plate  20 A to fixedly attach the spindle  18 A to the upper surface of the slide plate  20 A. Clockwise turning of set screw  68  drives its inner end against a side wall mounted contact plate  64 , such screw action forcefully drawing a slide flange  62  into the alternatively configured right travel channel  60 . The left spindle attachment assembly of the  FIG.  8    structural alternative (not depicted within view) is preferably configured substantially identically and mirroringly with the configuration shown in  FIG.  8   . 
     Referring to  FIGS.  1 - 4   , in use of the instant inventive tool (in either its  FIGS.  1 - 7    configuration or its  FIG.  8    configuration) a user may apply finger pressure to turn screw heads  40  (or set screws  66 , as the case may be) counter-clockwise, freeing the left and right spindles  22  and  18  for sliding movement along their travel channels  4  and  6  (or channels  60  as the case may be). Thereafter, the user may manually slidably move the spindles  18  and  22  toward each other, as indicated by the arrows drawn on  FIG.  1   , such motion moving the spindles  18  and  22  to central positions indicated in  FIG.  4   . 
     Thereafter, as indicated by  FIGS.  4  and  5   , a looped skein of yarn  50  may be downwardly placed over the spindles  18  and  22  until the skein  50  rests upon the upper surface of the base  2 . Thereafter, the user may slidably and mirroringly move the spindles  18  and  22  away from each other, such motions being respectively rightwardly and leftwardly in the directions of the arrows drawn on  FIG.  5   . Such sliding motions preferably continue until the leftward and rightward faces of the left and right spindles  22  and  18  securely contact the opposing inner surfaces of the skein  50 . 
     Thereafter, the user may observe the positions of pointers  26  and  28  with respect to graduation arrays  14  and  12 . In the depicted example, the user may observe that such pointers extend toward and substantially overlie the mirroring 36 inches indicia. Thereafter (or preliminarily), the user may count the looped turns of the yarn within the skein  50 . For example, upon counting 40 looped turns of yarn within the skein  50 , the operator may simply multiply 40 by the pointer designated 36 inches, the product indicating that the length of yarn within the skein  50  is 1,440 inches or 120 feet. Referring further simultaneously to  FIG.  2   , a similar observation performed at the tool&#39;s oppositely lateral side may advantageously allow the user to note the positions of pointers  27  and  30  with respect to centimeter indicia overlying the oppositely lateral second graduation arrays  11  and  15 . Such oppositely lateral observation alternatively indicates that the length of the yarn within the skein is 3,658 centimeters or 36.57 meters. 
     To allow the inventive tool to perform the above described yarn skein measuring function, the lateral and oppositely lateral graduations  12 ,  14  and  11 ,  15  and their respective adjacent inch and centimeter indicia are preferably arrayed along the base&#39;s side walls at increments which are directly proportional to actual measured distances between the spindles  18  and  22  and their outer circumferences. Such measured proportionality of the graduation arrays allows each of the pointers  26 ,  28 ,  27 ,  30  to designate the length of a single loop of yarn about the spindles. 
     Following such calculated measurement of the length of yarn within skein  50  in either inches or centimeters, the operator may add to or subtract from the yarn within the skein as needed. Thereafter, the operator may re-tighten, for example, screws  36  to fix the spindles  18  and  20  at their mirroring and centrally balanced positions upon the base  2 . The centrally mirroring spindles  18  and  22 , travel slots  6  and  4 , and graduation arrays  12 ,  14  and  11 ,  15  advantageously assure that, upon completion of performance of the tool&#39;s skein measuring function, the skein  50  is substantially centrally positioned upon the tool&#39;s base  2 . Such positioning facilitates balanced rotary dispensation of the yarn, as described below. 
     Referring to  FIG.  7   , an exemplary smaller skein of yarn  52  is shown received upon the tool  1 . Skein measuring steps described above may be preliminarily performed without disrupting the skein&#39;s balanced central position upon the base  2 . In the example of  FIG.  7   , the tool is angularly and rotatably mounted upon a yarn dispensing base stand  56 . The depicted angled orientation of the tool provided by stand  56  beneficially allows the skein  52  to be retained by gravity upon the spindles  18  and  22  while allowing relatively upward dispensation of the yarn strand  53 . In mounting the tool  1  upon such stand  56 , a helically threaded bolt  54  may extend axially through bore  46 , such bolt and its washer  55  capturing the central rotating member  44  of the rotary bearing assembly without frictionally contacting such assembly&#39;s fixed outer bearing sleeve  42 . Such bolted attachment advantageously allows the tool  1  to freely rotate about the bolt  54  in the direction shown by arrows drawn upon  FIG.  7   . A relatively upwardly angled pull upon yarn strand end  53  in the direction associated with the arrow drawn at such yarn end causes the yarn to progressively dispense from the skein  52 . During such dispensation, the spindles  18  and  22  orbit the central axis of the tool in a balanced rotary fashion, advantageously allowing for smooth and uninterrupted dispensation of the yarn  53 . 
     While the principles of the invention have been made clear in the above illustrative embodiment, those skilled in the art may make modifications to the structure, arrangement, portions and components of the invention without departing from those principles. Accordingly, it is intended that the description and drawings be interpreted as illustrative and not in the limiting sense, and that the invention be given a scope commensurate with the appended claims.