Patent ID: 12202698

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The invention is described in detail below with reference to several embodiments and numerous examples. Such discussion is for purposes of illustration only. Modifications to particular examples within the spirit and scope of the present invention, set forth in the appended claims, will be readily apparent to one of skill in the art. Terminology used herein is given its ordinary meaning consistent with the exemplary definitions set forth immediately below.

With respect to the various ranges set forth herein, any upper limit recited may, of course, be combined with any lower limit for selected sub-ranges.

InFIGS.1-6, bobbin topper20comprises central disc22having upwardly extending peripheral rim24disposed thereabout encompassing upper surface26of central disc22. Bobbin shaft30of bobbin stanchion projects upwardly from central disc22and has bobbin collar32medially disposed thereabout and being surmounted by mushroom cap34. Spool stanchion38projects downwardly from central disc22and has medially disposed spool collar42thereabout terminating in frustoconical foot44. Bobbin topper20is preferably comprised of an elastomeric material such that bobbin stanchion28will enter into and be frictionally retained with a cylindrical bore having a diameter of between about 5.5 and 6.4 mm which encompasses many, if not almost all, bobbins presently on the consumer market in the United States. Table 1 sets forth approximate dimensions on many of the bobbins sold in the United States as measured. It appears that the exact dimensions of bobbins are considered to be confidential by manufacturers as they are not easily ascertained by internet search.

TABLE 1Approximate Measured Dimensions of a Variety of Retail BobbinsIDODHeightunitsclass(mm)(in)(mm)(in)(mm)(in)Class 156.040.237795210.82677211.70.46063Class 666.30.24803119.60.77165410.70.42126Class 15J6.210.24448820.60.81102411.130.438189Class M6.060.23858325.51.00393710.930.430315Style L6.30.24803120.80.8188988.90.350394Bernina6.060.23858320.50.80708711.770.463386Brother SA15560.23622210.8267729.20.362205Brother SA1566.40.25196920.50.80708711.550.454724Brother SA15960.23622210.8267729.030.355512Juki60.23622210.8267728.970.35315Pfaff5.880.23149622.080.8692918.60.338583unbranded5.910.232677220.8661427.550.297244″5.550.21850421.680.85354310.360.407874″6.060.23858320.40.8031511.540.454331″5.860.23070921.80.8582688.770.345276″5.980.23543321.060.8291349.090.357874″6.020.23700821.50.8464579.130.359449range5.55-6.419.6-25.58.6-12

In addition, Singer makes at least three varieties of “Touch & Sew” bobbins without bores that are, accordingly, not suited for use with the bobbin topper of the present invention. It should be noted that apparently manufacturers are reluctant to publish details concerning the exact dimensions of bobbins, so all dimensions present herein are more or less inexact having been determined using a digital micrometer, and thus, even though dimensions are presented to the hundredth of a millimeter, it is entirely questionable whether the reported measurements are truly accurate to a hundredth of a millimeter.

Desirably, the diameter of bobbin stanchion30on bobbin topper20will be from about 4 mm up to about 5.5 mm while bobbin collar32on the bobbin-stanchion30will have a diameter of from about 6.5 mm up to about 8 mm with the length of bobbin collar32ranging from about 1.5 mm to about 5 mm while mushroom cap34will have a diameter of from about 6 mm up to about 8 mm whilst the portion of mushroom cap34having a diameter greater than about 2 mm will have a length of from 1 mm up to about 5 mm. It is highly desirable that bobbin collar32have a diameter of about 6.45 mm up to about 6.65 mm whilst mushroom cap34has a diameter of between about 5.65 mm and about 6.35 mm. Surprisingly, it has been found that stanchions with these dimension when fabricated from an elastomer as described herein will readily accommodate and retain bobbins having a through bore of between about 5.55 mm and 6.4 mm. Preferably, lower surface31of mushroom cap34will be displaced from about 8 mm to about 12 mm above upper surface26of central disc22to allow mushroom cap34to penetrate securely into the bore of the bobbin. The diameter of central disc22, excluding peripheral rim24, is preferably between about 19 mm-27 mm, more preferably between about 19.2 mm-26 mm, and most preferably about 19.7-25.5 mm. The thickness of peripheral rim24is preferably between about 1-3 mm, more preferably 1.5 to 2.5 mm, most preferably about 2 mm as is the thickness of central disc22and the height of peripheral rim24. Preferably, the diameter of spool stanchion38will be between about 5 mm and 6.85 mm, most preferably between about 5.5 and 6.8 mm and most preferably between about 5.75 and 6.7 mm, whilst the length of spool stanchion38will be between about 10 and 35 mm, more preferably between about 10 and 25 mm and most preferably from about 12 to about 15 mm. The diameter of frustoconical foot44and spool collar42will be between about 7.8 and 8.5 mm, most preferably between 7.9 and 8.3 mm. In some instances spool collar42will be about 0.5 mm greater in diameter than frustoconical foot44. Most importantly, the particular dimensions are chosen so that bobbin stanchion28as well as bobbin collar32and mushroom cap34will easily enter and be frictionally retained within the throughbore of the various styles of bobbins with which it is intended to be used but can be readily removed therefrom as desired by the user while spool stanchion38, frustoconical foot44and spool collar42will easily enter the central throughbore in the desired spools of thread. The dimensions illustrated inFIGS.11and12have been found to meet these criteria well for the bobbins described in Table 1 above as well as for the spools described in Table 2 below. Preferred dimensions and angles not explicitly called out onFIGS.11and12may be determined from the drawing by scaling from explicitly referenced dimensions and the angles displayed. Whilst it is easiest to manufacture the mold for bobbin topper20as a body of rotation, it is not strictly necessary to do so. If it is desired that various features such as bobbin collar32, mushroom cap34, spool collar42, frustoconical foot44or any other feature described as a body of rotation vary from strict circularity, suitable performance can be obtained so long as the maximum width of the feature conforms to the guidelines given herein for diameter. It should also be noted that whilst thread retention slit46is depicted with considerable width inFIGS.1and11for ease in visualization, the width of thread retention slit46should be less than the diameter of a typical sewing thread and in most cases, the walls of thread retention slit46will normally bear against each other unless an object is interposed.

Approximate measured dimensions of a variety of spools of thread sold at retail in the United States are set forth in Table 2.

TABLE 2Approximate Measured Dimensions of a Variety of Retail SpoolsSpool IDODHeight(mm)(in)(mm)(in)(mm)(in)American Quilting7.70.3031538.61.51968544.341.745669Coats & Clark7.470.294094301.18110253.112.090945Coats & Clark7.30.28740230.111.185433361.417323Coats & Clark7.550.297244301.18110236.141.422835Coats & Clark7.430.2925230.21.18897643.81.724409Coats & Clark7.20.28346530.161.187402361.417323Gutterman7.20.28346519.30.75984355.82.19685Gutterman6.90.27165441.231.623228552.165354metrosene7.090.27913426.51.04330757.52.26378Sulky7.30.287402200.787402552.165354Sulky7.750.30511833.651.324803451.771654range6.9-7.7519.3-41.2336-57.5

FIGS.7through10illustrate spool organizer60suitable for use in the practice of the present invention having lower end receptacles64formed in upper surface65thereof while bobbin receptacles66and upper end receptacles68are formed in lower surface67thereof. Centrally located spool posts62extend into spool lower end receptacle64and are adapted to engage the central throughbores in spools of thread commonly sold at retail in the United States. Accordingly the maximum width thereof is preferably no more than 7.2 mm, more preferably no more than 7 mm and most preferably no more than 6.9 mm whilst the minimum width of spool lower end receptacle64, as well as that of spool upper end receptacle68, is at least about 19.5 mm, more preferably at least about 29 mm, still more preferably about at least about 35 mm, more preferably at least about 40 mm and most preferably at least about 42.5 mm. InFIG.8, spool organizer60is illustrated with spools90retained therein, with bobbin toppers20having bobbins80mounted thereupon enabling the user to keep each supply spool associated with the bobbin having suitable thread85for it with free end86of thread on each bobbin80being retained in thread retention slit46in peripheral rim24of its associated bobbin topper20.FIG.9illustrates two spool organizers60,61having bobbins80and spools90stored therein, with spool organizer61being placed atop spool organizer60with upper ends of spools90resting in spool organizer60being nested within upper end receptacles68formed in lower surface65of spool organizer61and bobbins80lodged atop spools90in spool organizer60being received in bobbin receptacles66also formed in lower surface65of spool organizer61. As shown inFIG.10, the intersection between the larger-diameter upper end receptacle retention portion68and the smaller-diameter bobbin receptacle66forms a shoulder69.