Patent Publication Number: US-3879823-A

Title: Weaving apparatus method of using and resulting toy

Description:
[ Apr. 29, 1975 1 1 WEAVING APPARATUS METHOD OF USING AND RESULTING TOY [76] inventor: Robert W. Lamb, 147 Ardmore Ave, Haddonfleld, NJ. 08033 [22] Filed: Jan. 22, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 325,406  
 2.311575 2/1943 Robinsonm,  
 2.373.393 4/1945 Hall 1 v 1 i 1 28/15 2.454.493 11/1948 Upstill 66/1 A 2,540.383 2/1951 Tillert et a1. v 66/1 A 2,580,088 12/1951 Gocrdelcr 28/15 2.655017 10/1953 Scott 66/1 A Primary Examiner-James Kee Chi Attorney. Agent. or F1&#39;rmPaul Maleson; Morton .1,  
 Rosenberg [57] ABSTRACT A weaving apparatus for constructing a woven toy. The weaving apparatus comprises a pair of longitudi nally extended dowel members inserted into openings formed in a pair of templates. Yarn is wrapped around both dowels. A resilient wire is longitudinally passed between the dowel members and around the wrapped yarn. Opposing ends of the resilient wire are fastened together to form a closed contour. Securing yarn is he lically looped around the resilient wire and each yarn strand. The securing yarn is fastened together on opposing ends thereof in order to secure the resilient wire to each yarn strand. The wrapped yarn is cut from the dowels and the resilient wire squeezed together to form one section of the toy.  
 14 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures WEAVING APPARATUS METHOD OF USING AND RESULTING TOY BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of Art This invention pertains to the field of toy weaving devices and methods of using. In particular this invention relates to the field of woven yarn toys produced from weaving devices. More in particular, this invention pertains to methods of producing woven yarn toys from weaving devices.  
 2. Prior Art Weaving devices are known in the art. However, some of these weaving devices are adapted to the making of rugs or other large articles and do not permit removability of yarn holding members. Search devices are not provided in kit form for use by the hobbyist. Other devices use rod or dowel members for structural spacers but do not utilize them as an aid in wrapping as well as cutting the yarn into tufted segments.  
  Other devices for weaving yarn provide various methods of interlacing yarn strands each to the other, however, such devices do not provide yarn constrained to resilient wire through securing yarn loops around both the wire and yarn passing around the dowel members. Other devices interlace yarn strands in orthogonal directions in order to provide a unitary woven article, but such are complicated in use and do not yield the tufted yarn toy of the present invention.  
 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of this invention is to provide a tufted yarn toy animal dependent on the skill of the user.  
  Another object of this invention is to provide a weaving device which can be constructed by the user in making a tufted yarn toy animal.  
  A still further object of this invention is to provide a method of constructing a tufted yarn toy animal from a weaving device which may be obtained in kit form for use as a hobby craft.  
  Another object of the instant invention is to provide a user with enjoyment over a period of time where the skill of the user is tested in the making ofa tufted yam toy.  
  A weaving apparatus for constructing a woven toy which includes a pair of longitudinally extended dowel members. A pair of templates have a plurality of openings for insertion of the dowel members. Each of the dowel members are inserted into the openings on opposing ends of the dowel members. The dowel members are positionally located substantially parallel each to the other after insertion into the openings.  
 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the toy animal;  
  FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the weaving apparatus showing yarn wrapped around dowel members;  
  FIG. 3 is a perspective view, partially in cross-section of the resilient wire passing around the yarn wrapped around the dowel members;  
  FIG. 4 is a sectional view of securing yarn being helically wound about the resilient wire and yarn;  
  FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the dowel members being cut in a longitudinal direction to release the yarn from the restraining dowels;  
  FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the securing yarn, resilient wire and yarn mounted on the dowels taken along the section line 6-6 of FIG. 4;  
  FIG. 7 is a cutaway view of a portion of the toy animal showing the joining of the body section to the legs; and,  
  FIG. 8 is an end view of the yarn after being cut and pulled together by the securing yarn.  
 DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to FIGS. I and 2 there is shown weaving apparatus 10 adapted to construct woven toy 12 through a method technique to be hereinafter described. Apparatus 10 may be provided in kit form for use by an operator or as an assembled package. In general, apparatus 10 comprises opposing templates I4, 16 relatively displaced each from the other by dowel members 18, 20 to provide a unitary structure for use in constructing woven toy 12. Use of weaving apparatus 10 provides an operator with enjoyment over a period of time while resulting in toy I2 whose general appearance takes the form of a dog. The skill and imagination of the operator is a direct function of the final appearance and form of woven toy l2.  
  Weaving apparatus 10 includes extended dowel members 18, 20 which pass in longitudinal direction 22 when securely mounted within through openings 26 of template members 14, 16. Dowels 18, 20 are parallely displaced each from the other throughout their longitudinal extension when they are mounted in respective openings 26 oftemplates l4, l6. Dowels 18, 20 may be formed of plastic, metal or other material permitting rigidity of apparatus 10 when constructed. The particular material forming dowels 18, 20 is not critical to the inventive concept with the exception that the chosen material be able to maintain the necessary rigidity under the construction and operating stresses.  
  In cross-sectional contour, dowels 18, 20 may be circular in nature as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. However, the particular cross-sectional contour is not important to the inventive concept with the exception that the dowel contours must be similar geometrically to openings 26 for insertion purposes. Dimensionally, dowels 18, 20 may have a length of approximately I foot in longitudirial direction 22 with an overall cross-sectional diameter approximating five-eighths of an inch. Both dowels 18, 20 have substantially the same length and crosssectional diameters.  
  Longitudinally displaced templates 14, 16 include a plurality of openings 26 for insertion of opposing ends of each dowel member 18, 20. Openings 26 may either be through openings or recesses within each of templates 14, 16 sufficient to provide releaseable securement of dowels 18, 20 to templates 14, 16. Three openings 26 are formed within templates 14, 16 in order to provide varying displacement distances between dowel members 18, 20 in transverse direction 24. As is seen, openings 26 are positionally located in a line substantially transverse the longitudinal extension of members 18, 20. Openings 26 have a cross-sectional contour substantially the same as that of dowel members 18, 20. Further, the dimensions of openings 26 are substantially the same but slightly greater than those of dowels 18, 20 in order to permit a force fit of dowel member opposing ends within openings 26. When dowels 18, 20 are mounted within templates 14, 16 such are positionally located in a plane substantially normal to the longitudinal extension of dowel members 18, 20 as shown in FIG. 2.  
  In construction, templates 14, 16 may be formed of plastic, metal or other material compatible with the insertion of dowels 18, 20 within openings 26. Generally, each of templates 14, 16 may be rectangular in geometrical contour and dimensionally have side lengths approximating 5 by 2 inches. However, specific geometrical contour and dimensional lengths are not important to the inventive concept as is herein described.  
  In the method of making woven toy I2, weaving apparatus is initially constructed by inserting opposing ends of dowel members 18, into respective openings 26 formed within templates 14, 16. Insertion of dowels 18, 20 is made into openings 26 in a manner such that dowels 18, 20 pass between templates 14, 16 in prede&#39; termined parallel displacement each from the other.  
  Once apparatus 10 is constructed into a unitary device, yarn 28 is wound around both dowel members 18, 20 in a helical manner substantially in transverse direc tion 24 as shown. This forms a plurality of yarn loops extending over a predetermined distance in longitudinal direction 22. Each yarn loop includes an upper 30 and lower 32 pair of transversely passing yarn strands passing over an upper surface and lower surface re spectively of dowel members 18, 20. Opposing ends of yarn 28 are tied, forming the plurality of yarn loops wound about dowels 18, 20 into a closed contour winding. In general, yarn 28 is tightened about dowels 18, 20 to remove any slack throughout the transverse distance through which dowels 18, 20 are displaced.  
  Having now wound yarn 28 about dowels 18, 20 in the manner described, the operator then constrains or secures each of upper 30 and lower 32 yarn strands to a next consecutively longitudinally positioned yarn strand. This step includes passing wire 34 in longitudinal direction 22 between dowels 18, 20 in a predetermined manner such that wire 34 passes over upper yarn strands 30 and under lower yarn strands 32 as is shown in FIGS. 3 and 6. Wire 34 is then brought back to the initial yarn loop, and the opposing ends are entwined to form securement mechanism 36. Wire 34 tied around all of the yarn loops then forms a closed contour extended in longitudinal direction 22 above and below the transversely directed yarn loops.  
  Wire 34 is then weaved to each of upper 30 and lower 32 yarn strands by helically passing securing yarn 38 around wire 34 and each upper and lower yarn strand 30, 32 as is shown in FIGS. 4 and 6. Wire 34 passes substantially normal to each of yarn strands 30, 32 thereby creating an intersecting point between each yarn strand and wire 34. Securing yarn 38 is then looped around each yarn strand 30, 32 and wire 34 at the intersection line between wire 34 and the adjacent strand 30, 32 as is shown in FIG. 4. As is seen, securing yarn 38 is looped above upper yarn strand 30 then passed under corresponding lower yarn strand 32. Yarn 38 is then above and below strands 30, 32 respectively in longitudinal direction 24. Thus, securing yarn 38 is woven through strands 30 and 32. Securing yarn 38 may be looped around each consecutive strand and wire 34 either by hand or attaching the securing yarn 38 to a needle device. Opposing ends of securing yarn 38 are then pulled together after all yarn strands 30, 32 are woven to each other and wire 34. The upper wire section is thus squeezed or compressed to the lower section of wire 34 to form one section of woven toy 12.  
  As shown in FIG. 5, the yarn loops are then severed from each of dowel members 18, 20. This step includes the step of cutting the yarn loops along each of dowel members 18, 20 in longitudinal direction 22. The cutting step is accomplished through use of cutting implement 40 such as a knife, razor blade or some like device.  
  In general, dowels 18, 20 are displaced each from the other a maximum amount to form main body section 42. This would be accomplished by inserting dowel members 18, 20 into the most transversely displaced openings 26 of templates l4, l6. Dowels 18, 20 are then mounted into transversely displaced consecutive openings 26 in order to form leg sections 44 of toy 12. Leg sections 44 are mounted to main body 42 at opposing ends of body 42 to form toy 12 as shown in FIG. 1. Wires 34 of sections 42 and 44 may be attached through tieing loop wire 46 shown in FIG. 7, intertwining or some like technique not important to the inventive concept.  
  In the manner herein described, there is constructed yarn woven toy 12 constituting an article of manufac ture. Toy 12 includes at least three sections of yarn strands providing one main body section 42 and two leg sections 44. Each set of yarn strands 30, 32 are constrained each to the other by wire 34 woven throughout each section 42 and 44. Two of the yarn sections 44 are bent into an inverted U-shape section for mounting to main body section 42.  
  Each yarn strand section 44 is tied at substantially the midpoint of each to first or main body section 42 on opposing ends thereof. Sections 44 may be tied, intertwined, stapled or otherwise attached to section 42 in order to form toy 12. As is seen in FIG. 1, first section 42 serves as an animal body whereas the other two sections 44 serve as toy leg members.  
  What has been herein described is a new and useful apparatus 10 and method of using same to produce woven toy 12. The type of toy 12 resulting from use of apparatus 10 is a direct function of the skill an operator exhibits. The scope of this invention is to be determined by the appended claims and not limited to the foregoing description and drawings which are illustrative.  
 What is claimed is:  
  l. A weaving apparatus for constructing a woven toy from yarn, comprising:  
 a. a pair of longitudinally extended dowel members extending in a straight line manner between opposing ends of each of said dowel members, said yarn being wound around said dowel members in a helical transverse direction to provide a plurality of yarn loops;  
 b. a pair of templates having a plurality of openings for insertion of said dowel members, each of said dowel members being inserted into said openings on opposing ends of said dowel members, said dowel members being positionally located substantially parallel each to the other after insertion into said openings, each of said dowels having a contour dimension substantially equal to said openings in each of said templates for providing a force of said opposing ends of each of said dowels into said openings of said templates c. wire means extending around all of said yarn loops in a closed contour, said wire means being secured to an upper strand and a lower strand of each of said yarn loops.  
  2. The weaving apparatus as recited in claim 1 where yarn is continuously looped around both of said dowel members in a direction substantially transverse said longitudinal extension to form a closed contour yarn winding about said dowel members after said dowel members are inserted into said openings within said templates.  
  3. The weaving apparatus as recited in claim 2 including means for releasably constraining one of said loops of said yarn to a next consecutive yarn loop, said releasable constraining means being extended in said longitudinal direction in an undulating fashion for passing alternatively above and below each of said yarn loops and said wire means in a consecutive manner.  
  4. The weaving apparatus as recited in claim 1 where said templates are positionally located in a plane substantially normal said longitudinal extension of said dowel members after said dowel members have been inserted into said openings of said dowel members.  
  5. The weaving apparatus as recited in claim 1 where said templates are formed of plastic for providing a substantially resilient pair of members when said dowel members are force fit into said openings, said dowel members being constructed of a material substantially harder than that of said templates.  
  6. The weaving apparatus as recited in claim 5 where each of said dowels is constructed of aluminum having a cross-sectional circular contour of sufficient diameter to provide structural rigidity, said dowels for insertion into each of said template openings.  
  7. The weaving apparatus as recited in claim 1 where each of said dowel members is releasably secured to each of said templates.  
  8. A method for making a yarn woven toy, including the steps of:  
 a. force fitting opposing ends of a pair of longitudinally extended dowel members into a pair of templates having a plurality of openings dimensionally sized to receive said dowel member opposing ends in force fit contact;  
 b. winding yarn around both of said dowel members in a helical manner forming a plurality of yarn loops in said longitudinal direction, each of said loops having an upper and lower pair of transversely directed yarn strands;  
 c. passing a flexible wire around all of said yarn loops between said dowel members, said flexible wire forming a closed contour;  
 d. securing said flexible wire to an upper strand and a lower strand of each of said yarn loops;  
 e. severing said yarn loops from each of said dowel members to form one section of said woven toy.  
  9. The method for making a yarn woven toy as recited in claim 8 where the step of passing said resilient wire is followed by the step of tieing said wire around all of said yarn loops.  
  10. The method of making a yarn woven toy as recited in claim 9 where the step of tieing said wire is followed by the step of weaving said wire to each of said yarn strands.  
  11. The method of making a yarn woven toy as recited in claim 10 where the step of weaving said wire includes the step of helically passing a length of yarn around said wire and each of said yarn strands forming said yarn loops.  
  12. The method of making a yarn woven toy as recited in claim 11 where the step of tieing includes the step of pulling said opposing ends of said length of yarn tightly thereby forcing said upper and lower yarn strands together.  
  13. The method for making a yarn woven toy as recited in claim 8 where the step of severing said yarn loops includes the step of cutting said loops along each of said dowels.  
  14. The method for making a yarn woven toy as recited in claim 13 where the step of cutting is followed by the step of compressing said wire woven through said upper yarn strands to said wire woven through said lower yarn strands to form one section of said woven toy.