Patent ID: 7438010

Claim:
A thread spool and cap assembly, comprising: a thread spool, wherein said thread spool includes: a thread support configured to receive thread therearound, said thread support extending in a first direction and having opposing first and second ends; and a single base integrally formed with said thread support and extending from said first end of said thread support, said base including a substantially flat end surface said substantially flat end surface extending substantially perpendicularly to said thread support, and said base further including an intermediate surface disposed between said thread support and said substantially flat end surface, said intermediate surface extending substantially perpendicularly from said substantially flat end surface, and substantially parallel to said first direction, wherein said substantially flat end surface and said intermediate surface each have a width greater than a width of said thread support; an integrally formed hollow shell selectively mounted to said thread spool, said integrally formed hollow shell including an exterior surface and an interior surface, said integrally formed hollow shell further including a substantially flat end surface at a first end of said hollow shell, and a width of said hollow shell at said interior surface being greater than said width of said thread base, and wherein said integrally formed hollow shell fully extends around said thread spool proximate said second end of said thread support; and a retention structure integrally formed on said interior surface of said hollow shell and proximate said substantially flat end surface, said retention structure being configured to selectively mount said integrally formed hollow shell to said thread spool such that said integral hollow shell substantially encloses said vertical thread support within a space defined by said interior surface of said integral hollow shell, and wherein said retention structure causes said substantially flat end surface of said hollow shell to rest upon said substantially flat end surface of said single base, and such that at least a portion of said substantially flat end surface extends from, and is not enclosed within, said integrally formed hollow shell.