Patent Publication Number: US-9896789-B2

Title: Weaving loom

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a handicraft weaving loom for use in making woven products from yarn material such as woolen yarn. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Conventionally, handicraft weaving looms for making woven products are known (see Japanese Utility Model Registration No. 3186258, for example). In the weaving loom described in Japanese Utility Model Registration No. 3186253, a pair of edges of a rectangular plate have notches (yarn catch portions) for catching a warp yarn in parallel. A bending line that extends substantially in parallel with the edges having the yarn catch portions is provided at an appropriate position on the plate. This bending line is a processed portion along which the plate can be easily bent. With this configuration, a woven fabric that has been woven between the pair of yarn catch portions can be easily released from the weaving loom. 
     However, although the thus configured weaving loom allows a woven fabric to be easily released therefrom, there is a concern that if the plate is bent along the bending line during a weaving operation, a warp yarn caught on the yarn catch portions may come off. Accordingly, such a conventional weaving loom has room for improvement in terms of usability. 
     SUMMARY OF THIS INVENTION 
     The present invention has been proposed in view of these circumstances, and it is an object thereof to provide a handicraft weaving loom with improved usability. 
     According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a handicraft weaving loom that includes: a main body having a first edge portion and a second edge portion that are spaced apart from each other in a first direction, where each edge portion extends in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction; and a first yarn catch member provided with a yarn catch portion for holding threads in parallel, where the first yarn catch member is detachably attached to the first edge portion of the main body. 
     In an embodiment, the weaving loom further includes a second yarn catch member detachably attached to the second edge portion of the main body. 
     In an embodiment, the first yarn catch member is slidable along the first edge portion. 
     In an embodiment, the main body is provided with a slide stopper to come into contact with the first yarn catch member. 
     In an embodiment, the main body includes a base plate and an inclined plate. The base plate has an upper face and a lower face, and the inclined plate is formed integral with the base plate. The above-mentioned first edge portion is formed by the inclined plate. 
     In an embodiment, the first yarn catch member is provided with a first extension and a second extension both of which are disposed opposite to the yarn catch portion. In use, the first and second extensions are caused to flank the inclined plate in the thickness direction of the inclined plate, so that the yarn catch member is detachably attached to the inclined plate. 
     In an embodiment, each extension is made up of a plurality of extending pieces spaced apart from each other in the second direction, and the extending pieces of the first extension are positioned so as not to overlap with the extending pieces of the second extension as viewed in the thickness direction of the inclined plate. 
     In an embodiment, the first yarn catch member and the inclined plate are formed with a first engagement portion and a second engagement portion, respectively, where the first and the second engagement portions are configured to come into engagement with each other. 
     In an embodiment, the first engagement portion is provided at the first extension or at the second extension. 
     In an embodiment, one of the first and the second engagement portions is formed with a recess, and the other one is formed with a protrusion to be fitted into the recess. 
     In an embodiment, the lower face of the base plate is provided with a leg that projects in the thickness direction of the base plate. 
     In an embodiment, the lower face of the base plate is provided with a mark that is located at the middle of the base plate in the first direction. 
     In an embodiment, the main body is provided with a coupling portion for coupling with another weaving loom. 
     In an embodiment, the coupling portion includes a separation preventing structure for preventing detachment of another weaving loom. 
     Other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the detailed description given below with reference to the attached drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing an example of a weaving loom according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a plan view of the weaving loom shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a front view of the weaving loom shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a left side view of the weaving room shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is a right side view of the weaving loom shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 6  is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along the line VI-VI in  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 7  is a bottom view of the weaving loom shown in FIG.  1 . 
         FIG. 8  is a plan view showing a state in which two weaving looms identical to the one shown in  FIG. 1  are coupled. 
         FIG. 9  is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view taken along the line XX-XX in  FIG. 8 . 
         FIG. 10  is a plan view illustrating a method for using the weaving loom. 
         FIG. 11  is a plan view illustrating the method for using the weaving loom. 
         FIG. 12  is a plan view illustrating the method for using the weaving loom. 
         FIG. 13  is a plan view illustrating the method for using the weaving loom. 
         FIG. 14  is a right side view illustrating the method for using the weaving loom. 
         FIG. 15  is a plan view illustrating the method for using the weaving loom. 
         FIG. 16  is a bottom view illustrating the method for using the weaving loom. 
         FIG. 17  is a view showing an example of a woven fabric formed using the weaving loom. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings. 
       FIGS. 1 to 7  show an embodiment of a weaving loom according to the present invention. A weaving loom A of this embodiment includes a main body  1  and a pair of yarn catch members  2 , and is used to manually make a woven product from yarn material such as woolen yarn. 
     The main body  1  includes a flat base plate  11 , and a pair of inclined plates  12  that continue from the base plate  11 . The base plate  11  is substantially rectangular when viewed from above. The pair of inclined plates  12  continue respectively from a pair of opposite sides (end portions) of the base plate  11  that are spaced apart from each other in a direction x. The inclined plates  12  are inclined upward away in the direction x from the end portions of the base plate  11 . As shown in  FIG. 6 , protrusions  121  are formed at appropriate positions on the outer faces of the inclined plates  12 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 to 4 , etc., the main body  1  is provided with slide stoppers  13 . In this embodiment, the stoppers  13  are arranged at end portions (two positions) of the inclined plates  12  in a direction y (direction perpendicular to the direction x), and are each in the shape of a flange that projects on both sides of the corresponding inclined plate  12  in the thickness direction thereof. The function of the stoppers  13  will be described later. 
     The base plate  11  is provided with, at both ends thereof in the direction y, coupling portions  14  and  15 . The coupling portions  14  and  15  are for coupling with the main body  1  of another weaving loom A. The coupling portions  14  and  15  will in detail. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 3 to 5 and 7 , a lower face  11   a  of the base plate  11  is provided with leg portions  16 . The leg portions  16  project in a thickness direction z (direction perpendicular to both, the direction x and the direction y) of the base plate  11 . The plurality of leg portions  16  are arranged so as to be spaced apart from each other near both ends of the base plate  11  in the direction y, and all of them are long in the direction x. The main body  1  is formed in one piece from, for example, a synthetic resin having a predetermined strength such as ABS resin (acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene resin). 
     As shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the lower face  11   a  of the base plate  11  is provided with a mark  17 . The mark  17  is positioned at the middle of the base plate  11  in the direction x and extends along the direction y. 
     The yarn catch members  2  are detachably attached to a pair of edge portions of the main body  1  in the direction x. In this embodiment, tip ends of the inclined plates  12  (of the main body  1 ) correspond to the edge portions. As shown in  FIGS. 1 to 3 , each of the yarn catch members  2  has an extension (made up of a plurality of extending pieces  21 ), another extension (made up of a plurality of extending pieces  22 ), and a yarn catch portion  23 . The yarn catch members  2  are formed in one piece from, for example, a synthetic resin having a predetermined strength such as ABS resin (acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene resin). 
     The plurality of extending pieces  21  are spaced apart from each other in the direction y, and all of them are in the shape of plates that are long in the direction y. The plurality of extending pieces  22  are also spaced apart from each other in the direction y, and all of them are in the shape of plates that are long in the direction y. The plurality of extending pieces  21  and the plurality of extending pieces  22  are positioned with a predetermined gap interposed therebetween in their thickness direction. The plurality of extending pieces  21  and  22  are arranged on the base ends of the yarn catch members  2 . As shown in  FIGS. 5, 6 , etc., when each of the yarn catch members  2  is attached, the extending pieces  21  and  22  hold the corresponding inclined plate  12  from both sides in the thickness direction thereof. As seen from a comparison between  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the plurality of extending pieces  21  and the plurality of extending pieces  22  do not to overlap when viewed in the thickness direction of the inclined plate  12 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , recesses  221  are formed at appropriate positions on the extending pieces  22 . When the yarn catch members  2  are attached, the protrusions  121  of the inclined plates  12  are fitted into the recesses  221 . 
     The yarn catch portions  23  are for catching a warp yarn in parallel, and are arranged on the tip ends of the yarn catch members  2 . Each of the yarn catch portions  23  has a comb-teeth shape in which a plurality of projections  231  are arranged side by side in the direction y, and a plurality of grooves  232  are formed between the adjacent projections  231 . When the yarn catch members  2  are attached to the inclined plates  12 , the tip ends of the projections  231  forming the yarn catch portions  23  are oriented obliquely upward. 
     When the yarn catch members  2  are attached to the inclined plates  12  (the main body  1 ), the yarn catch members  2  are movable to one side in the direction y (side indicated by the arrow N 1  in  FIG. 2 ). The yarn catch members  2  are detachable from the main body  1  by sliding the yarn catch members  2  in the direction of the arrow N 1 . On the other hand, the ends of the yarn catch members  2  at the opposite side in the direction y are abut against the stoppers  13 . Accordingly, the yarn catch members  2  are prevented by the stoppers  13  from moving to the opposite side in the direction y (side indicated by the arrow N 2  in  FIG. 2 ). 
     The coupling portion  14  is provided at one end of the base plate  11  in the direction y. The coupling portion  14  has two coupling plates  141  and  142  spaced apart from each other in the direction x, and a coupling plate  143  positioned between the coupling plates  141  and  142 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , an upper face  143   a  of the coupling plate  143  is at substantially the same position in the thickness direction z as lower faces  141   a  and  142   a  of the coupling plates  141  and  142 . Through-holes  141   b  and  142   b  are formed through the coupling plates  141  and  142 . 
     The coupling portion  15  is provided at the other end of the base plate  11  in the direction y. The coupling portion has two coupling plates  151  and  152  spaced apart from each other in the direction x, and a coupling plate  153  positioned between the coupling plates  151  and  152 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , a lower face  153   a  of the coupling plate  153  is at substantially the same position in the thickness direction z as upper faces  151   a  and  152   a  of the coupling plates  151  and  152 . Protrusions  151   b  and  152   b  projecting upward are formed on the coupling plates  151  and  152 . Two through-holes  153   b  and  153   b  are formed through the coupling plate  153 . 
       FIG. 8  shows a state in which two weaving looms A are coupled. In the two weaving looms A shown in  FIG. 8 , the base plates  11  (the main bodies  1 ) are coupled by the coupling portion of the weaving loom A positioned on the left side in the figure and the coupling portion  14  of the weaving loom A positioned on the right side in the figure. Specifically, as clearly seen in  FIG. 9 , the coupling plates  141  and  142  of the coupling portion  14  and the coupling plates  151  and  152  of the coupling portion  15  overlap each other, and the protrusions  151   b  and  152   b  are fitted into the through-holes  141   b  and  142   b . Furthermore, the coupling plate  143  of the coupling portion  14  and the coupling plate  153  of the coupling portion  15  overlap each other. The upper-lower positional relationship between the coupling plates  141  and  142  and the coupling plates  151  and  152  is opposite to the upper-lower positional relationship between the coupling plate  143  and the coupling plate  153 . With this configuration, the coupled state of the coupled base plates  11  is maintained, preventing the base plates  11  from being accidentally detached from each other. The coupling plates  141  to  143  and  151  to  153 , the through-holes  141   b  and  142   b , and the protrusions  151   b  and  152   b  constitute a separation preventing structure in the present invention. 
     Next, methods for performing a weaving operation using the weaving loom A and actions of the weaving loom A will be described with reference to  FIGS. 10 to 16 . 
     In this embodiment, a case of forming a general plain-woven fabric will be described. First, an end of a warp yarn Y 1  made of yarn material such as woolen yarn is fixed. Specifically, for example, a leading end of the warp yarn Y 1  is inserted through the through-hole  141   b  and is tied to the coupling plate  141 . Next, the operation for causing the warp yarn Y 1  to be caught around each projection  231  while being fitted into each groove  232  is repeated sequentially, starting from the left side of the pair of upper and lower yarn catch portions  23  in the figure. Accordingly, as shown in  FIG. 11 , the warp yarn Y 1  is caught in parallel between the pair of yarn catch portions  23 . After the warp yarn Y 1  is caught in parallel, for example, a trailing end of the warp yarn Y 1  is inserted through the through-hole  153   b  and is tied to the coupling plate  153 . Although  FIG. 11  shows the case in which the leading end of the warp yarn Y 1  is inserted through the through-hole  141   b  positioned at the upper left in the figure, and the trailing end of the warp yarn Y 1  is inserted through the through-hole  153   b  positioned at the lower right in the figure, the through-holes through which the leading end and the trailing end of the warp yarn Y 1  are inserted and tied may be changed as appropriate. 
     Then, the operation for passing a weft yarn is performed. As shown in  FIG. 12 , a weft yarn Y 2  is passed, for example, alternately under and over adjacent portions of the warp yarn Y 1 , from one side of the warp yarn Y 1  caught in parallel. This operation for passing the weft yarn Y 2  is performed by winding the weft yarn Y 2  in advance around a yarn holder, called a shuttle (not shown), and passing this shuttle under and over the warp yarn Y 1  in a lateral direction as described above. When the weft yarn Y 2  has been passed and completed the first row, the weft yarn Y 2  is brought back at the other side of the warp yarn Y 1 . Subsequently, in the second row, the weft yarn Y 2  is passed alternately over and under adjacent portions of the warp yarn Y 1 . In the third and following rows, the weft yarn Y 2  is repeatedly passed as in the above-described cases of the weft yarn Y 2  in the first and second rows. In this manner, a woven fabric F is formed as schematically shown in  FIG. 13 . Note that, when passing the weft yarn Y 2 , if it is difficult to directly pass the shuttle alternately under and over adjacent portions of the warp yarn Y 1  as described above, a gap through which the shuttle is allowed to pass may be formed in advance. Such a gap is formed, for example, by passing a thin plate member (not shown) alternately under and over the warp yarn Y 1  as described above, and then tilting the thin plate member upward. After the woven fabric F is formed, the tied leading end and trailing end of the warp yarn Y 1  are untied from the coupling plates  141  and  153 . 
     In the weaving loom A of this embodiment, the yarn catch members  2  are detachably attached to the inclined plates  12  (the main body  1 ). Each yarn catch member  2  attached to the corresponding inclined plate  12  is kept in a constant orientation in which the inclined plate  12  is held between the extending pieces  21  and  22 . Accordingly, the weaving operation can be performed appropriately between the pair of yarn catch portions  23 . 
     Furthermore, after the woven fabric F is formed using the weaving loom A, the woven fabric F can be easily released from the weaving loom A by detaching the yarn catch members  2  from the main body  1 . Specifically, the pair of yarn catch members  2  shown in  FIG. 13  can be detached from the main body  1  by sliding the yarn catch members  2  to one side in the direction y (side indicated by the arrow N 1  in the figure). On the other hand, the opposite ends of the yarn catch members  2  in the direction y are abut against the stoppers  13 , and, thus, the yarn catch members  2  are prevented by the stoppers  13  from moving to the opposite side in the direction y. With this configuration, the yarn catch members  2  can be easily attached to predetermined attachment positions. 
     As another method for detaching the yarn catch members  2  from the main body  1 , there is a method in which the yarn catch members  2  are pulled out upward from the inclined plates  12  as shown in  FIG. 14 . In a state where the woven fabric F has been formed, a certain level of binding force is exerted by the woven fabric F when an attempt is made to pull out the yarn catch members  2 . The yarn catch members  2  can be detached from the main body  1  by pulling up the yarn catch members  2  against the binding force exerted by the woven fabric F. As described above, the plurality of extending pieces  21  and extending pieces  22  of each yarn catch member  2  holding the corresponding inclined plate  12  from both sides in the thickness direction are arranged so as to be spaced apart from each other in the direction y. Furthermore, the plurality or extending pieces  21  and the plurality of extending pieces  22  are positioned so as not to overlap each other when viewed in the thickness direction of the inclined plates  12 . This configuration makes it relatively easy for the extending pieces  21  and  22  to elastically deform, thereby making it relatively easy to detach the yarn catch members  2 . 
     When the yarn catch members  2  are attached to the inclined plates  12  (the main body  1 ), the protrusions  121  of the inclined plates  12  are fitted into the recesses  221  of the extending pieces  22 . With this configuration, when the yarn catch members  2  are attached, the yarn catch members  2  are prevented from being accidentally displaced. Accordingly, the weaving operation using the weaving loom A can be performed appropriately. 
     When the weaving loom A is not in use, the space necessary to store or carry the weaving loom A can be reduced by detaching the pair of yarn catch members  2  from the main body  1 . Furthermore, if the yarn catch members  2  are detached when the weaving loom A is not in use, accidental damage to the yarn catch portions  23  and the like can be suppressed. 
     Next, a weaving operation using a different method for catching the warp yarn Y 1  will be described with reference to  FIGS. 15 and 16 . In the example shown in  FIGS. 15 and 16 , the warp yarn Y 1  is passed over the lower face  11   a  of the base plate  11  as well. The warp yarn Y 1  is wound around the base plate  11 , and the warp yarn Y 1  is sequentially fitted into the adjacent grooves  232 . Accordingly, the warp yarn Y 1  is caught between the pair of yarn catch portions  23  as shown in  FIGS. 15 and 16 . In  FIG. 15 , portions of the warp yarn Y 1  wound over the lower face  11   a  are indicated by the broken lines. The procedure for passing the weft yarn  22  is as described above with reference to  FIG. 12 , and thus, a description thereof has been omitted. With this weaving operation, a woven fabric (not shown) similar to that in  FIG. 13  is formed between the pair of yarn catch portions  23 . 
     The lower face  11   a  of the base plate  11  is provided with the leg portions  16  projecting in the thickness direction z. Accordingly, for example, when performing the weaving operation (operation for passing the weft yarn Y 2 ) in a state where the main body  1  (the weaving loom A) is placed on a table, the warp yarn Y 1  wound over the lower face  11   a  is not in direct contact with the table. Thus, the weaving loom A can be stably placed on the table, and the weaving operation can be easily performed. 
     After the weaving operation is ended in the state of the warp yarn Y 1  shown in  FIG. 16 , the warp yarn Y 1  wound in parallel over the lower face  11   a  of the base plate  11  is cut at the middle. The lower face  11   a  of the base plate  11  is provided with the mark  11  positioned at the middle in the direction x. The warp yarn Y 1  over the lower face  11   a  at the middle can be accurately cut along the mark  17 . Cutting the warp yarn Y 1  allows the woven fabric to be released from the pair of yarn catch portions  23 . After the cut, a large number of portions of the warp yarn Y 1  extend from the opposite sides of the woven fabric, and the lengths of these portions are substantially the same. The large number of portions of the warp yarn Y 1  may be bundled in groups each having a plurality of portions as shown in  FIG. 17 , so that a plurality of tassels M having substantially the same size is formed. 
     As shown in  FIG. 8 , the weaving looms A of this embodiment can be coupled in the direction y. Using two weaving looms A coupled as shown in  FIG. 3  allows for forming a larger woven fabric than when a single weaving loom A is used. It is also possible to couple three or more weaving looms A of this embodiment in the direction y. 
     Although a specific embodiment of the present invention has been described, the invention is not limited thereto, and various modifications can be made within the scope not departing from the spirit of the invention. Specific shapes, materials, and the like of the weaving loom according to the present invention are not limited to those in the foregoing embodiment.