Patent Publication Number: US-9850602-B2

Title: Braiding disk handle

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/953,087, entitled “Braiding Disk Handle” and filed Mar. 14, 2014, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     This disclosure relates to a braiding apparatus, and more particularly, to a handle for holding a braiding disk. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Kumihimo is a form of Japanese braiding using strands of yarn to form ribbons or cords. A kumihimo disk is a specialized tool that can be used as a hand-held frame for forming a kumihimo braid. Kumihimo disks are commonly made of a firm but flexible self-healing foam material about six inches in diameter with an opening or hole in the center, although other materials and sizes can be used. The disk has notches formed around the circumference to temporarily retain and provide tension on the strands, or warps, during braiding. Numbers or symbols may be printed on the upper face of the disk adjacent to each notch as a guide. During braiding, the yarn or yarns pass through the hole in the disk. While one end of the yarn is held in tension below the disk (e.g., by pulling on the yarn or tying weights to the end), the warps are alternately drawn in sequence from one notch to another across the upper face of the disk to create the desired braid. In some cases, beads or other decorations may be incorporated into the braid as well. Generally, the disk is alternately held with one hand, while a portion of the braid is formed with the other hand by drawing a warp across the disk (e.g., left hand holds disk while right hand forms a braid, followed by right hand holds disk while left hand forms braid, and so on in an alternating pattern). However, handling kumihimo disks in this manner can be rough on one&#39;s hands and may cause cramps or other physical discomfort, especially in those with arthritis or advanced age. 
     SUMMARY 
     According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a braiding disk handle includes a tubular grip having a proximal end, a distal end, and a chamber extending between and through the proximal and distal ends. The grip is configured and adapted to receive a length of yarn through the extent of the chamber. The handle further includes a hollow shank attached to the distal end of the grip such that the chamber of the grip is in communication with the hollow of the shank. The shank is configured and adapted to cooperatively and detachably mate with an opening of a braiding disk. The handle further includes a shoulder formed at the distal end of the grip adjacent and perpendicular to the shank. The shoulder is configured and adapted to support at least a portion of the braiding disk while the shank is mated with braiding disk. 
     In some embodiments, the tubular grip has a contoured outer surface. In some embodiments, an overall diameter of the handle is greatest at the shoulder. In some embodiments, the shank has a length of about three-eighths of one inch. In some embodiments, the shoulder has a width of about one-half of one inch. In some embodiments, the chamber has a diameter of less than about one inch. In some embodiments, the shank has a circular cross-section. In some embodiments, the shank has a polygonal cross-section. In some embodiments, the grip, the shank and the shoulder are formed of a rigid material as a unitary structural member. 
     According to another embodiment, a braiding device includes a braiding disk and a braiding handle removably coupled to the braiding disk. The braiding disk has a center and a circumference, an opening in the center, and a plurality of notches around the circumference for receiving strands or threads of a yarn. The braiding handle includes a tubular grip, a hollow shank, and a shoulder. The tubular grip has a proximal end, a distal end, and a chamber extending between and through the proximal and distal ends. The grip is configured and adapted to receive a length of the yarn through the extent of the chamber. The hollow shank is attached to the distal end of the grip such that the chamber of the grip is in communication with the hollow of the shank. The shank is detachably mated with the opening of the braiding disk. The shoulder is formed at the distal end of the grip adjacent and perpendicular to the shank. The shoulder is configured and adapted to support at least a portion of the braiding disk while the shank is mated with braiding disk. 
     According to yet another embodiment, a kit includes a braiding disk and a braiding disk handle as variously described in this disclosure. 
     According to yet another embodiment, a method of braiding a yarn includes mounting a braiding disk handle to a braiding disk, where the braiding disk has an opening therethrough and the braiding disk handle has a chamber extending therethrough. The method further includes threading a yarn through the opening in the braiding disk and through the chamber in the braiding disk handle. 
     Numerous configurations and variations will be apparent in light of this disclosure. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings are not intended to be drawn to scale. In the drawings, each identical or nearly identical component that is illustrated in various figures is represented by a like numeral. 
         FIG. 1  is a side view of an example braiding disk handle, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is a partial cross-sectional side view of the example braiding disk handle of  FIG. 1 , in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIGS. 3A-3D  show top views of several example braiding disk handles, in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 4  is a top view of the example handle of  FIG. 1  and a braiding disk, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 5  is a side perspective view of the example handle of  FIG. 1 , in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional side view of an example braiding disk handle, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 7  is a flow diagram of a method of braiding a yarn, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Kumihimo braiding techniques have existed since at least the Nara Period of Japanese history, and possibly earlier (c. 645-784 AD). Kumihimo disks simplify the braiding process and have been popular among crafters for many years. As noted above, kumihimo disks are typically held in one hand with the disk generally facing upward, while the other hand is used for braiding. 
     However, such handling of the disk often requires the user to hold or pinch the disk between several fingers, which can cause physical discomfort for some people. Furthermore, direct handling of the disk during braiding requires repetitive twisting of the hand, wrist and arm, which is an ergonomically incorrect design that can lead to repetitive strain injuries or other physical disorders. Thus, techniques for improving the ergonomics and comfort of using kumihimo disks are needed. 
     To this end, a detachable, elongated handle is disclosed for holding a braiding disk, such as a kumihimo disk.  FIG. 1  is a side view of an example braiding disk handle  100 , in accordance with an embodiment.  FIG. 2  is a partial cross-sectional side view of the example braiding disk handle  100  of  FIG. 1  inserted into a braiding disk  110 . The braiding disk  110  has an opening  112  (e.g., a hole) at or near its center. The handle  100  has a generally tubular grip  102  and a hollow shank  104  (shown in cross-section in  FIG. 2 ) at a distal end  130  of the grip  102 . The shank  104  is configured and adapted to cooperatively and detachably mate with the center opening  112  of the braiding disk  110  (such as shown in cross-section in  FIG. 2 ). The grip  102  includes a shoulder portion  106  adjacent and perpendicular to the shank  104  that lies flush with the underside of the disk  110  when the shank  104  is mated with the disk  110  and provides additional support of the disk  110  during use. The grip  102  has a chamber  108 , or aperture, (shown in  FIGS. 2, 3A -D,  4  and  6 ) extending longitudinally through the handle  100  between and through the distal end  130  and a proximal end  132 . The chamber  108  is in communication with the hollow of the shank  104  such that an opening extends along the entire length of the handle from end-to-end for receiving a length of yarn  120 . 
     In use, the shank  104  of the handle  100  is inserted into the opening  112  of the braiding disk  110  such that the grip  102  extends perpendicularly outward from the disk. The handle  100  can then be held with one hand, with the disk  110  facing upward, at a more comfortable wrist angle than holding the disk  110  directly. Rotating the handle  100  causes the disk  110  to rotate accordingly. Yarn  120  or other braiding material (e.g., strings, threads, or other flexible strands of material) can be threaded through the opening  112  in the braiding disk and through the entire length of the chamber  108  from top to bottom, such that one end of the yarn can be accessed through the bottom of the handle  100 , and the other end of the yarn can be separated into warps  122 , extended over the upper face  124  of the disk  110  and retained in the circumferential notches  114  (see, e.g.,  FIG. 4 ). Thus, when using the handle  100 , the user can hold the handle  100  in one hand continuously while braiding with the other hand continuously. This eliminates the need to alternate the braiding and disk holding hands during the braiding process, such as done when using a braiding disk without the handle  100 . Note that  FIG. 2  is not necessarily drawn to scale and that in practice the warps  122  can be stretched tightly across the face  124  of the disk  110  without slack. 
     In some cases, the grip  102  of the handle  100  can be contoured in any number of ways for further comfort and feel. Further, the cross-section of the shank  104  can be round, square, rectangular, star-shaped, or any other shape that conforms to the shape of the opening in the disk  110 , such as described with respect to  FIGS. 3A-3D . In some embodiments, the braiding disk  110  is round, square, hexagonal, octagonal, or other polygonal shape of varying diameter. 
     The handle  100  can be made of plastic, rubber, wood, metal or any other suitable material or combination of such materials. In some cases, the grip  102 , the shank  104 , the shoulder  106 , or any combination of these, are formed of a rigid material as a unitary structural member (e.g., a single piece or a combination of pieces that are molded, bonded, welded or otherwise joined together during or subsequent to manufacture). Chamber  108  can be molded into handle  100  or may be formed in a secondary process such as machining out chamber  108  from a solid piece. The materials used to form the handle  100  may, for example, be lightweight and inexpensive yet sufficiently rigid and sturdy to prevent bending, folding, crushing or breaking under normal use as a braiding tool. 
       FIGS. 3A-3D  show top-down views of several example braiding disk handles  310 ,  320 ,  330 ,  340 , in accordance with various embodiments.  FIG. 3A  shows an example handle  310  having a round shank  104 .  FIG. 3B  shows an example handle  320  having a square shank  104 .  FIG. 3C  shows an example handle  330  having a rectangular shank  104 .  FIG. 3D  shows an example handle  340  having a star-shaped shank  104 . As will be apparent in view of this disclosure, the shank  104  can have other shapes without departing from the scope of the invention. 
       FIG. 4  is a top view of the example braiding disk handle  100  and braiding disk  110  of  FIG. 1 , in accordance with an embodiment.  FIG. 4  is not necessarily drawn to scale. For clarity of description, a small gap is shown in  FIG. 4  between the shank  104  of the handle  100  and the opening  112  of the disk  110  to show the elements distinctly; however, it will be understood that in some embodiments the shank  104  has a size and shape such that it fits snugly into the opening  112  without any substantial gap between the two. 
       FIG. 5  is a side perspective view of the example braiding disk handle  100  of  FIG. 1 . In some embodiments, the handle  100  is substantially cylindrical and includes a tapered portion  402  below the shoulder  106  and a contoured grip  102  for improved comfort and appearance. It will be understood that the handle  100  can have other suitable shapes or contours. For example, the handle may be substantially T-shaped. In some cases, the surface of the grip  102  can be textured, such as with a ribbed or pebbled surface, or with a rubberized material to improve grip. The surface of the grip  102  may include substantially horizontal ridges or grooves having widths that approximate the width of the user&#39;s fingers. For example, one, two, three or more ridges and/or grooves may be coaxial around the handle and may be separated by about a fingers width, for instance, 1 centimeters (cm), 1.5 cm or 2 cm. Aside from the chamber  108 , the remainder of the handle  100  may be solid, hollow or partially hollow. 
       FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional side view of the example braiding disk handle  100  of  FIG. 1 , showing dimensions in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. It will be appreciated that the dimensions described in this paragraph are only examples, and that any one or more of these dimensions can be varied without departing from the scope of the invention, as will be apparent in view of this disclosure. Certain examples are given in the table below; each example value is approximate and is not intended to be limiting to the exact values given. 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
             
               
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 Example Values 
               
               
                 Dimension 
                 Description 
                 (approximate) 
               
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                 A 
                 Diameter, shank (104), minimum 
                 1 inch, 
               
               
                   
                   
                 20 millimeters, 
               
               
                   
                   
                 35 millimeters 
               
               
                 B 
                 Diameter, chamber (108), minimum 
                  29/32 inches 
               
               
                 C 
                 Width, overall 
                 2 inches 
               
               
                 D 
                 Width, grip (102), minimum 
                 1⅛ inches 
               
               
                 E 
                 Width, grip (102), maximum 
                 1¼ inches 
               
               
                 F 
                 Width, base 
                 1 inch 
               
               
                 G 
                 Width, shoulder (106) 
                 ½ inch 
               
               
                 H 
                 Height, overall 
                 4½ inches 
               
               
                 J 
                 Height, shank (104) 
                 ⅜ inch, 
               
               
                   
                   
                 12 millimeters, 
               
               
                   
                   
                 thickness of a 
               
               
                   
                   
                 kumihimo disk 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
       FIG. 7  is a flow diagram of a method of braiding a yarn, in accordance with an embodiment. The method includes mounting a braiding disk handle to a braiding disk, and threading a yarn through an opening in the braiding disk and through a chamber in the braiding disk handle. In some cases, the braiding disk handle is held by a user in one hand while a braid is formed using the braiding disk using the other hand. In this manner, the user does not need to alternate hands when holding the disk and braiding, as is done when using the disk without the handle. The method may be used, for example, in conjunction with various embodiments of a braiding disk handle and braiding disk, such as those described throughout this specification. 
     The foregoing description and drawings of various embodiments are presented by way of example only. These examples are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Alterations, modifications, and variations will be apparent in light of this disclosure and are intended to be within the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims.