Thread coloring apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016010254-A1
Application number	US-201514701174-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 30, 2015
Priority date	Jul 14, 2014
Publication date	Jan 14, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

An apparatus is provided for coloring threaded material. A payout support member of the apparatus is configured to support a payout spool. A drive member is configured to rotate a takeup spool. A coloring assembly comprises a colorant applicator holding portion that is configured to receive a colorant applicator. The coloring assembly also includes a passage configured to receive a thread and to dispose the thread against the colorant applicator as the thread is wound onto the takeup spool. The coloring assembly is positioned to direct the thread drawn through the passage toward a portion of the takeup spool.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1 . An apparatus for coloring threaded material, comprising:
a drive member configured to rotate a takeup spool; a primary thread guide comprising a passage configured to guide a threaded material as the threaded material is wound onto the takeup spool; the primary thread guide further comprising a receptacle adapted to receive a marking device, wherein the receptacle is configured to dispose a colorant-delivering portion of the marking device against the threaded material.

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the primary thread guide is movably mounted on a primary guide support member and is configured to move between a location nearer a first end of the takeup spool and a location nearer a second end of the takeup spool.

3 . The apparatus of claim 2 , further comprising a payout support member configured to rotatably support a payout spool.

4 . The apparatus of claim 3 , further comprising a payout thread guide configured to guide the threaded material toward the primary thread guide as the threaded material is unwound from the payout spool.

5 . The apparatus of claim 4 , further comprising a housing having a face, wherein the drive member, the primary guide support member, the payout support member, and the payout thread guide protrude from the face of the housing.

6 . The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the face is removable from the housing.

7 . The apparatus of claim 5 , further comprising a cover affixed to the housing, the cover at least partially encasing the drive member, the primary guide support member, the primary thread guide, the payout support member, and the payout thread guide, and wherein the cover is positioned as a protective guard against rotating components of the apparatus.

8 . The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein a portion of the cover forms an aperture positioned such that the aperture accepts the marking device when the marking device is inserted into the receptacle of the primary thread guide.

9 . The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the aperture is sized to permit movement of the marking device with respect to the primary guide support member when the primary thread guide moves longitudinally with respect to the takeup spool.

10 . The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the cover is at least partially transparent.

11 . An apparatus for coloring threaded material, comprising:
a payout support member configured to support a payout spool; a drive member configured to rotate a takeup spool; and a coloring assembly comprising
A) a colorant applicator holding portion configured to receive a colorant applicator, and
B) a passage configured to receive a thread and to dispose the thread against the colorant applicator as the thread is wound onto the takeup spool,
wherein the coloring assembly is positioned to direct the thread drawn through the passage toward a portion of the takeup spool.

12 . The apparatus of claim 11 , further comprising a support member configured to movably support the coloring assembly, such that movement of the coloring assembly changes the portion of the takeup spool toward which the thread is directed.

13 . The apparatus of claim 11 , further comprising a payout thread guide configured to guide the thread toward the coloring assembly as the thread is unwound from the payout spool.

14 . The apparatus of claim 13 , further comprising a shield positioned to provide a protective covering over one or more of the drive member, the coloring assembly, the payout support member, and the payout thread guide.

15 . The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the coloring assembly comprises a marking device that includes the colorant applicator.

16 . An apparatus for coloring a thread material, comprising:
a housing; a rotatable member mounted in the housing, wherein the housing includes a drive that rotates the rotatable member; a holding member protruding from the rotatable member, wherein the holding member is configured to receive a takeup spool; a payout support member configured to rotatably support a payout spool comprising the thread material; a primary thread guide comprising a passage configured to receive the thread material, the primary thread guide positioned to direct the thread material toward a portion of the takeup spool as the thread material is unwound from the payout spool and wound onto the takeup spool, wherein the primary thread guide comprises a receptacle adapted to receive a marking device, and further wherein the passage is configured to dispose the thread material against a colorant delivering portion of the marking device; and a payout thread guide configured to guide the thread material toward the primary thread guide as the thread material is unwound from the payout spool.

17 . The apparatus of claim 16 , further comprising a primary guide support member configured to movably support the primary thread guide, such that movement of the primary thread guide along an axis of the primary guide support member changes the portion of the takeup spool toward which the thread is directed.

18 . The apparatus of claim 17 , further comprising a cover affixed to the housing, the cover at least partially encasing the holding member, the primary guide support member, the primary thread guide, the payout support member, and the payout thread guide, and wherein the cover is positioned as a protective guard between a user and one or more moving components of the apparatus.

19 . The apparatus of claim 19 , wherein a portion of the primary thread guide extends beyond the cover.

20 . The apparatus of claim 19 , wherein the portion of the primary thread guide that extends beyond the cover comprises a notch that engages an edge of the cover.

Assignees

• Crayola Llc

Inventors

• Laguatan Roseld V
• Allen James
• Morris Oliver

Classifications

• A63H33/3088 Primary

  Textile-machines (toy looms D03D29/00) · CPC title

• D06B1/10 Primary

  by contact with a member carrying the treating material · CPC title

• B65H57/00

  Guides for filamentary materials; Supports therefor · CPC title

• B05C1/06

  by rubbing contact, e.g. by brushes, by pads {(brushes in general A46B)} · CPC title

• B05C13/00

  Means for manipulating or holding work, e.g. for separate articles {(B05C1/0821 takes precedence)} · CPC title