Patent Abstract:
A loom includes a first fork, having a first interchangeable anchor point for a cord; a second fork, having a second interchangeable anchor point for the cord; and a base to retain the first fork and the second fork at generally perpendicular angles to the base. The first and second anchor points are positioned so as to provide an area for a user&#39;s hands to be inserted underneath the cord and between the forks to allow the hands to manipulate jewelry items into the cord. A tall fork and a short fork support the attachment points perpendicular to the base. The interchangeable anchor points are selectable between dowels and threaded warp bolts.

Full Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of the filing date of U.S. Patent Application No. 61/173,529, filed Apr. 28, 2009, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention generally relates to looms and more specifically to a tool for making cloth and jewelry. 
         [0003]    Existing looms lack angles to enable the user to sit in a comfortable position. Users must sit bent over the loom, which causes back pain and discomfort. Existing looms limit the use of jewelry making techniques to one technique. Further more, other looms cause back pain and discomfort while using them. 
         [0004]    It would be desirable to have a loom for multiple uses that is comfortable to use. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    In one aspect of the present invention, a tool for a cord includes a first fork, having a first anchor point for the cord; a second fork, having a second anchor point for the cord; and a base to retain the first fork and the second fork; wherein the second anchor point is retained at a distance further from the base than the second anchor point, so that the cord lies at a non-zero angle relative to the base. 
         [0006]    In another aspect of the present invention, a loom includes a first fork, having a first interchangeable anchor point for a cord; a second fork, having a second interchangeable anchor point for the cord; and a base to retain the first fork and the second fork at generally perpendicular angles to the base, the first and second anchor points positioned so as to provide an area for a user&#39;s hands to be inserted underneath the cord and between the forks to allow the hands to manipulate jewelry items into the cord. 
         [0007]    In yet another aspect of the present invention, a method utilizing a cord, includes anchoring a first portion of the cord to a first anchor point; and anchoring a second portion of the cord to a second anchor point, the second anchor point at a distance from a base that is further than the first anchor point so that the cord lies at a non-zero angle relative to the base. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]      FIG. 1  depicts the components of an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  depicts a side view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 ; and 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  depicts a front view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0011]    The preferred embodiment and other embodiments, including the best mode of carrying out the invention, are hereby described in detail with reference to the drawings. Further embodiments, features and advantages will become apparent from the ensuing description or may be learned without undue experimentation. The figures are not drawn to scale, except where otherwise indicated. The following description of embodiments, even if phrased in terms of “the invention,” is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but describes the manner and process of making and using the invention. The coverage of this patent will be described in the claims. The order in which steps are listed in the claims does not indicate that the steps must be performed in that order. 
         [0012]    The present invention relates to a 3-in-1 bead weaving, macramé, and braiding loom with comfort angled design for jewelry making projects. 
         [0013]    An embodiment of the present invention generally provides a multi use jewelry making, art and craft tool. Embodiments may include a stable anchor attachment point for the purpose of macramé jewelry making along with braiding and thread weaving. Embodiments may also serve as a seed bead-weaving loom. An embodiment of a tool may be angled to enable the user to sit in a comfortable position instead of having to sit bent over the loom, thereby helping avoid back pain and discomfort. A loom may give the user the ability to sit in a comfortable position eliminating back discomfort and pain. A loom may also serve as a multi purpose tool for three or more different jewelry making techniques. 
         [0014]    A “loom” is generally a frame for interlacing or combining cords, such as threads or yarns, to form a cloth or decorative item. An embodiment of the present invention may include a loom with a universal adaptation to support macramé, weaving, and braiding, with features for the user to comfortably include jewelry into the item. Embodiments may include a tool for seed bead weaving and macramé knot tying and braiding. 
         [0015]    As depicted in  FIG. 1 , an embodiment of the present invention may include a loom  10  with a loom base  20  to support a tall fork  12  and a short fork  14 . The forks  12 ,  14  may each include a plain macramé dowel  16  that may be replaceably interchanged with a threaded warp bolt  18 . Each fork may have an anchor point  22  that is an adjustable thread/cord attachment. Tall fork  12  may have a tall fork cross support  24 , and short fork  14  may have a short fork cross support  26 . Rubber O ring stoppers  28  may help retain either the warp bolt  18  or macramé dowel  16  when not in use. A fork support bolt  32  with a wing nut  30  may be used to hold the anchor points  22  or fork cross supports  24 ,  26  to provide a tool that can be assembled and disassembled. 
         [0016]    As depicted in  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  3 , a loom  10  may include a 3-in-1 bead weaving, macramé, and braiding loom with comfort angled design for jewelry making projects. The tall fork  12  may include a surface, which holds the plain macramé dowel  16  or the threaded warp bolt  18  while a person is macramé/weaving/braiding a cord  40  having jewelry  42 , depending on the jewelry technique being used on the loom  10 . Tall fork  12  may have an upper surface that may be rounded or square. The tall fork  12  may include a hard, supportive material, including but not limited to wood, metal and plastic. The tall fork  12  may be shaped as a rectangle. Tall fork  12  may be sized to accommodate the comfortable, working angle, and may have a height of 7-9 inches and a depth of 1¼-1½ inches. 
         [0017]    The short fork  14  may include a surface, which holds the plain macramé dowel  16  or the threaded warp bolt  18  while a person is macramé/weaving/braiding depending on jewelry technique being used on the loom  10 . Short fork  14  may have an upper surface that may be rounded or square. The short fork  14  may include a hard, supportive material, including but not limited to wood, metal and plastic. The short fork  14  may be shaped as a rectangle. Short fork  14  may be sized to accommodate a comfortable, working angle, and may have a height of 4½-5½ inches and a depth of 1¼-1½ inches. 
         [0018]    The plain macramé dowel  16  may include a surface, which attaches cord or thread by looping or tying, to be used as an anchor, for cord/thread to macramé/weave/braid depending on the jewelry technique being used. The plain macramé dowel  16  may include a hard, supportive material, including but not limited to wood, metal and plastic. The plain macramé dowel  16  may be shaped as round, but can take any other shape, such as square, rectangle, or triangle. It may be sized to accommodate the making of jewelry and may have a length of 6-7 inches and a diameter of ½-¾ inch 
         [0019]    The threaded warp bolt  18  may include a surface for accurate spacing between threads for a technique known as warping for loom weaving. The threaded warp bolt  18  may include a hard, supportive material, including but not limited to wood, metal and plastic. The threaded warp bolt  18  may be shaped as round, but can take any other shape, such as square, rectangle, or triangle. It may be sized to accommodate accurate thread spacing and may have a length of 6-7 inches and a diameter of ½-1 inch. 
         [0020]    The loom base  20  may include a surface to provide support for the loom fork assemblies  12  and  14 . It may be sized to accommodate the making of jewelry using a variety of techniques and may have a length of 19 to 22 inches and a width of 3-5 inches and a thickness of ½-1 inch. The loom base  20  may include a hard, supportive material, including but not limited to wood, metal, and plastic. The loom base  20  may be shaped in a rectangle but could take on any other shape such as an oval or square. It may be sized to accommodate a human posture comfortably. 
         [0021]    The adjustable thread/cord attachment  22  may create tension on threads/cords as needed during jewelry making to free a person&#39;s hands while working on creating jewelry and proving a support system for the jewelry making process. The adjustable thread/cord attachment  22  may have a round shape, but can take any other shape, such as square, rectangle, or triangle. The adjustable thread/cord attachment  22  may be sized to accommodate the inside width of the tall fork assembly  12  and the short fork assembly  14  with a length of 3½-4½ inches and a thickness of 1 inch in diameter. The adjustable thread/cord attachment  22  may be comprised of a hard, supportive material, including wood, metal, and plastic. 
         [0022]    The tall fork cross support  24  may include a device configured and designed to allow for support to the cross section of the tall fork assembly  12  and measures 4 inches in length and 1¾ to 2 inches high and ½ to 1 inches thick and may comprise of any hard supportive material known to the art including but not limited to wood, metal, and plastic. The tall fork assembly  24  and may be rectangle in shape, but could take any other shape such as square or round. 
         [0023]    The short fork cross support  26  may include a device configured and designed to allow for the best possible support to the cross section of the short fork assembly  14  and may measure 4 inches in length and ½ to ¾ inches high and ½ to 1 inches thick and may comprise of any hard supportive material known to the art including but not limited to wood, metal, and plastic. The short fork assembly  26  may be rectangle in shape, but could take any other shape such as square or round. 
         [0024]    The rubber “O” ring stoppers  28  may apply to the ends of the plain macramé dowel  16  and the threaded warp bolt  18  to secure into place while resting in the short and tall fork assemblies ( 12  and  14 ) and may be ¾ inch in diameter, but can be adjusted to different sized macramé dowel  16  and the threaded warp bolt  18  and may be comprised of any stretchy material known to the art including but not limited to rubber. The rubber “O” ring stoppers may be shaped as a circle, but could take any other shape, such as an oval or square. 
         [0025]    The wing nut  30  may attach to the ends of the fork support bolt  32  to accommodate tightening and hold in place the tall and short fork assemblies ( 12  and  14 ) and the adjustable thread/cord attachment  22 . This tightening will pull the thread/cord to the desired tension to work on the project. The wing nut  30  may include a hard, supportive material, including but not limited to wood, metal and plastic. 
         [0026]    The fork support bolt  32  may give the loom  10  the option to be disassembled for storage. It may include a bolt with a flat head on one end and threaded on the other end which slides through the fork assemblies ( 12  and  14 ) to connect them to the loom base  20 . It may be comprised of a hard material, including but not limited to wood, plastic and metal. The fork support bolt  32  may be sized and shaped to accommodate the length of the fork assemblies ( 12  and  14 ) with a length of 5½-6 inches and a diameter of ¼ inches. 
         [0027]    The tall fork assembly  12  may connect to the adjustable thread/cord attachment  22  in the upper portion of the fork assemblies ( 12  and  14 ) with the fork cross support ( 24  and  26 ) with the other fork connected to the other side (creating an H shape) with the fork cross support ( 24  and  26 ) connecting between the fork assemblies ( 12  and  14 ), fork  12  paired with  12  and fork  14  paired with  14  connecting an inch from the bottom of each fork ( 12  and  14 ) (the bottom being the end not drilled with a hole.) This creates two fork assemblies—one for each end of the loom base  20 . Any connection may include screws, bolts, and adhesives, or other connectors. 
         [0028]    The tall fork assembly  12  may attach at either end of the loom base  20  using the fork support bolt  32  and wing nuts  30  but may use any other nut to tighten at each end of the bolt which will hold the tall fork assembly  12  in place. The short fork assembly  14  may be attached in the same manner at the other end of the loom base  20 . The plain macramé dowel  16  may attach by sliding through both fork assembly holes and securing in place by using the rubber O ring stoppers  28  but may use other ring style stoppers by applying each one to the end of the macramé dowel  16 . The threaded warp bolt  18  may slide into place through the ¾ inch holes in the assembly forks ( 12  and  14 ) at each end of the loom and secured into place by using rubber O ring stoppers  28  but may use other ring stoppers at each end of the threaded warp bolts  16 . The adjustable thread/cord attachment  22  may be permanently or detachably connected and may twist to create thread/cord tension by attaching the threads or cord to the screw in the adjustable thread/cord attachment  22  and twisting to desired tension and tightening into place by using the wing nuts  30  or other nuts on one or both sides. 
         [0029]    An embodiment of the loom  10  may be assembled by sliding metal support bolt  32  through each set of loom forks ( 12  and  14 ) after being placed over each end of the loom base  20  then attaching wing nuts  30  on each end of the metal support bolts  32  and tighten. Once assembly is done the user may choose the plain macramé dowel  16  to create macramé jewelry and braiding or thread weaving and craft items. The dowel  20  may be replaced with the threaded warp bolt  30  and may create seed bead loomed jewelry and craft items. 
         [0030]    An embodiment may be held comfortably between the knees or on the lap of the user while sitting in a comfortable place. Its angled design may allow easy to reach access, with plenty of work space under the project, to help provide proper tension control and easy view of the project. Embodiments may also offer the user multiple jewelry making technique options. 
         [0031]    To use an embodiment, one may begin work on the loom  10  by placing the short fork  14  closest to your body. The tall fork end  12  furthest from the user&#39;s body would be the proper working direction. To use loom  10  for macramé jewelry, one may place the plain macramé dowel  16  into both fork ends of the loom  10 . The user may cut a desired length of cord, and create loop or tie cord to macramé dowel, which becomes the anchor point for the cord to be braided, tied, or woven. One or more cords may be tied to the end of the loom  10  at the thread/cord attachment  22  to create the desired tension by twisting the thread/cord attachment  22 , and then the wing nuts  30  tightened to hold in place while working on the project. The plain macramé dowel  16  can then be changed to the threaded warp bolt  18  for the purpose of seed bead loom weaving. One may tie a desired thread to the thread/cord attachment  22  then begin stringing threads over each threaded warp bolt  18 , allowing each thread to lay in a separate groove in the warp bolt  18 . One may then tie the threads onto thread/cord attachment  22  located at the other end of the loom  10  continuing until the desired amount of thread is in place, and then tying the thread end onto one of the thread/cord attachments. 
         [0032]    To use an embodiment, a person may provide the loom  10  and choose either the plain macramé dowel  16  or the threaded warp bolt  18  to use for her desired jewelry, art or craft project. She would then attach her desired cords or threads to the adjustable thread/cord attachment  22 . She would then find a comfortable place and position to sit and begin work on her desired project utilizing the comfortable angled design and easy to hold size in a manner that would suite her and give her accurate full view of her project as she works. 
         [0033]    An embodiment of a seed bead looming technique may include the following steps. Place thread bolts in the loom and secure with rubber O rings at each end. Tie threads over screws at each end of loom with a slip knot. Wrap around screw several times to anchor the thread and then go across the loom to the screw on the opposite side and wrap around screw to anchor thread. Go back across loom placing threads into the thread guide and continue the process until enough thread is in place for your desired project. If more tension on threads is desired place wood braiding dowel behind threads at the end of the loom just above the screw. 
         [0034]    An embodiment of a macramé technique may include the following steps. Place wood dowels in loom. Measure cord to desired length for your project and tie loop at the end of the cord. Slip loop onto dowel at the higher end of the loom. Pull center cord out and place beads onto cord then tie to the screw at the end of the loom. Use remaining cords to begin macramé knot tying of desired design. A paper clip can also be used as a hook for projects like braiding. Just bend into a hook shape and hook onto wood dowel as an anchor.

Technology Classification (CPC): 3