Patent Publication Number: US-6904773-B1

Title: Knitting needle and storage container combination

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   The present invention was first described in Disclosure Document Registration 546,248 filed on Jan. 14, 2004 under 35 U.S.C. §122,37 C.F.R. §1.14 and MPEP § 1706. There are no previously filed, or currently any co-pending applications, anywhere in the world. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates generally to knitting needles and, more particularly, to a combination knitting needle and storage container, wherein the a longest knitting needle accommodates nesting of a plurality of smaller knitting needles therein for convenient and organized storage of a set of needles. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   The hobby of knitting has remained popular throughout time. Not only do many people find it relaxing and enjoyable, but the resulting clothes and products can save a great deal of money for the benefit of household budgets. The most common, if not the only tool used in knitting, is the knitting needle. Such needles are made in varying widths to produce the multitude of intricate stitches used in knitting. However, keeping track of and storing such needles quickly becomes a chore. Those who carry their knitting with them throughout their day are burdened with carrying multiple needles, and if they only carry a few, the quality of their work may suffer. Accordingly, there is a need for a means by which one can store, transport and organize multiple sized knitting needles. 
   A search of the prior art did not disclose any patents that read directly on the claims of the instant invention; however, the following references were considered related:
         U.S. Pat. Nos. Des. 271,062 and 298,698, each issued in the name of Okada, disclose an ornamental design for a knitting needle;   U.S. Pat. No. 2,443,540, issued in the name of Lewis, discloses a knitting pin having a cylindrical rod with a head that includes two flat parallel front and rear faces;   U.S. Pat. No. 2,246,254, issued in the name of Johnston, discloses a crochet set having an elongated hollow member open at one end, a removable cap, an outer portion of the cap having a restricted opening, and a crochet hook insertible through aligned openings;   U.S. Pat. No. 2,341,403, issued in the name of Williams, discloses a luminous knitting needle comprised of a plastic material impregnated with luminous material;   U.S. Pat. No. 4,494,387, issued in the name of Phipps et al., discloses an interchangeable kitting needle system having kitting needles with engageable and releasably securing locking means capable of resilient securement with tube adaptor means; and       

   U.S. Pat. No. 4,846,351, issued in the name of Gardiner, discloses a knitting and crochet needle kit having at least two kitting needle shafts, two primary short shafts, two secondary short shafts and a container holding the shafts. 
   Consequently, there exists a continuous need for new ideas and enhancements for existing products in the knitting industry. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved knitting needle system or combination of knitting needle with storage cavities for nesting a plurality or set of needles therein. 
   It is a feature of the present invention to provide a longest needle with a hollow shaft for receiving a smaller needle, and wherein subsequently smaller needles also include hollow shafts for receiving sequentially descending needle sizes therein, thus conveniently storing an entire set of knitting needles within a longest needle. 
   Briefly described according to one embodiment of the present invention, a combination knitting needle and storage container is a set of knitting needles which are stored inside of one another by nesting of subsequently smaller needles within the larger needles. This feature is intended to aid in the storage of knitting needles as well as reduce storage space. The invention is envisioned to hold a total of six needles from smallest to largest. If additional sizes are needed, two or more sets will be utilized. The largest needle in each set is equipped with a removable threaded cap, while the remaining needles in the set are equipped with an open ring on their top end. The ring allows for the detainment of the knitted article, yet allows smaller needles to be inserted inside of another. The use of the combination knitting needle and storage container allows users to store, transport, and keep track of their knitting needles in a manner, which is quick, easy and effective. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The advantages and features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following more detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which: 
       FIG. 1  is perspective view of a knitting needle system or knitting needle and storage container combination, wherein subsequently smaller needles are nested within the larger needles and sealed or enclosed with a cap on the largest/longest needle; 
       FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective of a longest needle, at least one intermediate needle and a shortest needle; 
       FIG. 3  is a front view of the longest and/or intermediately sized needles; 
       FIG. 4  is a top view of  FIG. 3  indicating the cavity formed by the shaft of the needle; 
       FIG. 5  is a front view of the shortest needle having a solid shaft and an eyelet for detaining thread after use; 
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view depicting measurement markings along the shaft; 
       FIG. 7  is a front view depicting numerical indicia and/or color indicia for identifying particular needles or needle sets; and 
       FIG. 8  is a sectional view of  FIG. 1  taken along line XIII—XIII. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   The best mode for carrying out the invention is presented in terms of its preferred embodiment, herein depicted within  FIGS. 1 through 8 . 
   1. Detailed Description of the Figures 
   Referring to FIG.  1  through  FIG. 8 , a knitting needle system  10  (hereinafter “system”) is shown in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The system  10  may be described as a system of nestable knitting needles or a combination of knitting needles and storage containers for achieving nestability between subsequent knitting needles. The system  10  comprises a plurality of knitting needles having a longest needle  12  and incrementally shorter (or descending in size from largest and longest to smallest and shortest) needles  14 . In one envisioned embodiment, the longest needle is of the standard size for knitting needle (14 inches) and descending in size by approximately one-half inch sequentially in the series. The incremental reduction in size (diameter and length) permits subsequently smaller and shorter needles to nest within the next larger and longer needle, thus permitting nestability of the entire plurality of needles provided into a convenient large needle storage system  10 , providing organized storage and optimal transportability. The system  10  includes at least one removable cap  16  selectively secured or removed from an end of the largest/longest needle  12 . The cap  16  operates to enclose the smaller, nested needles  14  of the series or set within the largest/longest needle  12  for secure storage and organization. 
   The plurality of needles comprises a longest needle  12 , a plurality of intermediate needles  14  and a shortest needle  18  (see FIG.  2 ). Referring specifically to FIG.  3  and  FIG. 4 , the longest needle  12  and each one of the intermediate needles  14  have a shaft  20  having a hollow or longitudinal storage cavity  22  defined by an annular head  24  providing ingress and egress to the hollow or cavity  22 . The hollow or cavity  22  accommodates a smaller/shorter needle for nesting or storage therein. The shaft  20  terminates in a tapered end  26  opposite the annular head  24 . Each of the intermediate needles  14  may have an annular ring  28  for allowing a needle  14  to insert therethrough and nest within the larger needle. As depicted in  FIG. 5 , the ring  28  is provided at the ends for detainment of the threading  32  during and after use. The shortest needle  18  has a solid shaft  34  terminating at a tapered end  36  and having a ring  28  (see  FIG. 5 ) or a solid head  30  (see FIG.  2 ). The plurality of needles may comprise a variety of sets or series, including the common knitting needle series of 15, 13, 11, 9, 7 and 5 gauge needle sizes. It is also envisioned that a series of 16.5, 14.5, 12.5, 10.5, 8.5 and 6.5 gauge needle sizes, among other variations. 
   Referring specifically to  FIG. 6 , the longest needle  12  may have measurement markings  38  imprinted along a length thereof (such as along the shaft). The markings  38  may be imprinted at increments  38   a  of 0.25 inches up to 12 inches of length. Likewise, the markings  38  may be imprinted at increments  38   b  of one millimeter up to 30 centimeters in length. The markings  38  provide the user an easy and convenient method of measuring fabric for cutting, measuring the dimensions of an article of clothing, or other items that require measuring during the knitting process. 
   Referring specifically to  FIG. 7 , the needles  12 ,  14  and  18  may have numerical indicia  40  imprinted on the needle for convenient identification of the needle gauge/size. Alternatively, color indicia  42  may be imprinted on the needle for identifying a specific needle gauge/size or for identifying a common series or set of needles. Any color(s) may be incorporated into this identification method. The numerical indicia  40  and the color indicia  42  may be used separately or in combination. 
   It is envisioned that other styles and configurations of the present invention can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present invention, and only one particular configuration shall be shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope. 
   2. Operation of the Preferred Embodiment 
   To use the preferred embodiment of the present invention, a user will select the appropriately gauge/size of knitting needle, and (if necessary) remove the cap  16  and locate the appropriate size among the needles  14  or  18  nested within the largest/longest needle  12  (the storage needle). After use, the needle  14  or  18  is returned to the appropriate nesting location, with the cap  16  returned to the largest/longest needle  12  for enclosing the needles  14  and  18  therein. 
   The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the claims appended hereto and their equivalents. Therefore, the scope of the invention is to be limited only by the following claims.