U.S. patent application number 12/437602 was filed with the patent office on 2009-11-12 for method and device for threading needles.
This patent application is currently assigned to Mrs. Jane F. Heywood. Invention is credited to Beverly A. Youngman.
Application Number | 20090277934 12/437602 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 41266063 |
Filed Date | 2009-11-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090277934 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Youngman; Beverly A. |
November 12, 2009 |
METHOD AND DEVICE FOR THREADING NEEDLES
Abstract
A method and device for inserting a strand of a selected thread
or yarn through the eyelet of a needle, in which the device is made
from an elongate, unitary non-metallic monofilament having end
zones and an intermediate central zone forming a closed
strand-carrying loophole; and the method including the steps of
forming the device by bringing the end zones into a parallel
relationship and bonding them together to form a threading stem and
also form the central zone into the closed loophole, placing an end
portion of the selected strand through the loophole, inserting the
stem into the needle eyelet, and pulling the threading stem to draw
the loophole and strand entirely through the needle eyelet.
Inventors: |
Youngman; Beverly A.;
(Innsbrook, MO) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Richard G. Heywood
2104 Meadow Ridge Drive
Innsbrook
MO
63390
US
|
Assignee: |
Heywood; Mrs. Jane F.
Innsbrook
MO
|
Family ID: |
41266063 |
Appl. No.: |
12/437602 |
Filed: |
May 8, 2009 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61052489 |
May 12, 2008 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
223/99 |
Current CPC
Class: |
D05B 87/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
223/99 |
International
Class: |
D05B 87/00 20060101
D05B087/00 |
Claims
1. A threading device for threading the eyelet of a needle with
selected thread or yarn, said threading device comprising a
preselected length of non-metallic monofilament constructed and
arranged with end zones bonded together in an elongate parallel
relationship to form a threading stem, and a central zone of the
strand intermediate of said end zones being formed into a loop for
manipulating the selected thread or yarn through the needle
eyelet.
2. The threading device of claim 1, in which the bonded end zones
are of substantial length extending away from the loop.
3. The threading device of claim 2, in which the end zones are long
enough to provide a finger curling end area for pulling the
device.
4. The threading device of claim 2, in which the end zones of the
monofilament are substantially conterminous in length.
5. The threading device of claim 4, in which the end zones have
adjacent free ends that are bevel-cut to form a leading
eyelet-entering edge on one of the free ends.
6. The threading device of claim 2, in which one end zone of the
monofilament extends beyond the other end zone whereby the one end
zone has a leading needle-eye entering end and the other end zone
closes the loop and provides additional linear rigidity to the one
end zone.
7. The threading device of claim 2, in which the bonded end zones
are compressed together to form a tapered spike.
8. The threading device of claim 1 in which the end zones have a
substantial length and are twisted together.
9. The threading device of claim 8, in which the end zones have
adjacent free ends that are bevel-cut across the stem to form a
leading eyelet-entering edge thereon.
10. A needle threading device useful for threading the eyelet of a
needle with a selected sewing thread, the device comprising a
unitary length of plastic monofilament having end portions and a
central portion, the central portion being formed into a closed
loop with the end portions being joined together to extend away
from the loop and form an elongate threading spine having
substantial linear rigidity relative to the sewing thread whereby
the spine is adapted to be pushed into the eyelet of a needle
without flexing, and the spine having a length to be grasped and
pulled to draw the central loop portion through the eyelet of a
needle and thereby carry the selected sewing thread therein into an
operative threaded position.
11. The needle threading device of claim 10, in which the length of
said spine is sufficient to provide a finger curling end area
adjacent to the end of the spine.
12. The needle threading device of claim 10, in which the end
portions have adjacent free ends that are cut at an angle to form a
leading edge and a trailing edge.
13. The method of threading a needle using a needle threading
device comprising the steps of: (1) forming a needle threading
device from single length of non-metallic monofilament by bonding
the end portions together to make a semi-rigid end spike and
forming the intermediate center portion into a closed loophole; (2)
placing a selected strand of thread/yarn through the closed
loophole; (3) inserting the end spike into and through the eyelet
of a needle; and (4) moving the end spike and thread-carrying
loophole entirely through the needle eyelet to carry the
thread/yarn therethrough into threaded orientation.
14. The method of claim 13, including forming the end portions long
enough to be grasped with a finger curl for controlled manipulation
of the threading device in pulling the loophole through the needle
eyelet.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Application No. 61/052,489, filed May 12, 2008, which is hereby
incorporated by reference in its entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The invention relates generally to the domestic sewing
field, and more particularly to an improved needle threading method
and a device therefor.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] One of the properties of threads and yarns used in the
sewing field for stitching, embroidery and the like is that they
have no linear strength and tend to be limp, flimsy or pliant and
therefore bend during a needle threading exercise. Thus most
persons dampen the end of the thread strand to stiffen it enough to
be inserted into the eyelet of a needle. Even so it still requires
some eye/hand coordination and dexterity, even for a skilled
seamstress or tailor. For those of diminished eyesight or unsteady
hands, some type of sewing aide in the form of a threading device
has been found to be especially useful. In the past, such needle
threading devices have typically been made of metal wire formed as
a U-shaped or V-shaped bend to be compressed as it is pushed by one
hand through the one side of the eye of a needle held in the other
hand where it will spring apart and be re-formed as a larger loop
on the other side. The thread itself is then placed through the
expanded loop and the threader is then pulled back through the eye
to draw the thread into place through the eye. Besides the handling
sequence, the problem with all such prior needle threaders is that
the thin wire forming the loop is subject to rapid metal fatigue
after a few repeated flexings as the loop is squeezed through the
needle eye and breakage occurs. This wire breakage not only makes
the threader unusable, but creates the potential for causing the
hand of the person wielding the threader to be pierced or punctured
by the broken wire.
[0004] It is thus an overall objective of the present invention to
create a safer, long-lasting and efficient method and device for
threading needles.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The invention is embodied in a method and device for
threading the eye of a needle with a strand of a selected thread or
yarn, comprising a needle threading device made from a non-metallic
unitary monofilament having end zones bonded in an elongate
parallel relationship to thereby constitute a stiffened threading
stem and form an intermediate central zone of the monofilament into
a closed loop or loophole for carrying the selected thread or yarn.
The method of the needle threading invention includes the steps of
forming a threading device having a closed, thread carrying loop
and a needle-eyelet insertable spine, placing a selected thread or
yarn through the central loophole, inserting the spine of the
thread-carrying device through the needle eyelet, and then pulling
the threading stem entirely through the eyelet to draw the loop and
the thread or yarn therethrough.
[0006] In one aspect of the invention the end zones may be twisted
to strengthen or rigidify the spine, and, in this aspect and other
embodiments, the device may be formed from a monofilament of small
diameter. In another aspect of the invention, the device may have
the end zones bonded by pressure and/or heat; and in a further
aspect the end zones are elongated and form a spike for easier
placement into the eyelet of a needle; and in a still further
aspect the end zones have a bevel-cut free end.
[0007] In yet another aspect, a needle threading device is formed
from a unitary flexible monofilament having end zones with an
intermediate central zone that is formed into a loophole by bonding
the end zones with staggered outer free ends to form a primary
threading stem.
[0008] The principal object of the invention is to provide a
non-metallic needle threading device and method of use thereof that
is safer to use, more efficient in operation and of long
durability. These and other objects and advantages will become more
apparent hereinafter.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] The invention is further embodied in the drawings which form
a part of the disclosure and wherein like parts are identified by
like numbers.
[0010] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a needle being threaded
using the method and device of the present invention;
[0011] FIG. 2 is an enlarged elevational view of a needle threading
device embodying the invention;
[0012] FIGS. 3a and 3b are views illustrating two sizes of
monofilament strands for forming the needle threading device;
[0013] FIG. 4a is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 of
FIG. 2, and FIG. 4b is a similar view showing an alternate
cross-sectional configuration and/or compression of the adjoined
strands;
[0014] FIG. 5 is an enlarged elevational view showing a preferred
embodiment of the threading device;
[0015] FIG. 6 is an enlarged view showing a fourth embodiment of
the threading device; and
[0016] FIG. 7 is an enlarged view showing still another embodiment
of the invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0017] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, the invention in
its simplest form is embodied in a needle threading device 10 (FIG.
2) formed from a single non-metallic length of microfilament 12
(FIGS. 3a and 3b) of a selected plastic material. The monofilament
12 has a central loop-forming zone 14 and outer first and second
end zones 16, 18 with free ends 20, 22 respectively. The flexible
monofilament 12 is bent or folded to form the central zone 14 into
a closed loop or loophole or snare 24 (FIGS. 1, 2) with the end
zones or portions 16, 18 extending outwardly in a side by side or
parallel and abutting relationship to form a threading spike, spine
or stem (shown generally at 26).
[0018] FIG. 1 also illustrates the method of the invention in which
the device 10 is used to thread the elongate eyelet 40 of a typical
needle N; and it should be noted that the device and method is also
applicable to needles having round eyelets although the smaller
eyelet will of course reduce the applicable range of needle sizes.
The spine or stem 26 of the device 10 is inserted through the
eyelet 40, and it should be noted that the monofilament
material--although flexible in its length--has some degree of axial
or linear rigidity, which is further increased by being doubled to
form the spine. Thus the end (20, 22) of the spine (26) is more
easily pushed through the needle eyelet 40 without flexing or
bending. The thread T (or yarn) is placed through the loop 24
either before or after positioning the spine 26 through the eye
40let. The inserted end of the stem 26 is then grasped and pulled
to draw the thread carrying loop 24 into and entirely through the
eyelet to complete the threading operation in a simple and rapid
manner.
[0019] A feature of the invention is to form the spine 26 with an
extended body length that enables a firmer grip than simply
pinching the end of the spine, by wrapping the spine 26 around the
user's finger to provide a more positive control and purchase on
the device 10 as it is pulled or tugged through the eye 40 of the
needle N. In FIG. 1 it will be seen that the stem or spine 26 is
long enough to be curled (at 27) around the finger--this aspect
sometimes being called a "finger curl" for reference purposes. Such
feature is particularly useful to give the threading device an
extra tug when threading smaller needles with round eyelets.
[0020] Referring particularly to FIGS. 3 and 4, it will be seen
that the device 10 may be made from different sizes of monofilament
material (which can be compared to fishing line to more simply
understand the nature of the material being used). For instance the
thin monofilament of FIG. 3a may be like a 10 lb. test line having
a diameter of about 0.012 inch--and it is believed that the
filament size may be even smaller when used in the form of the
embodiment shown in FIG. 7, to be discussed. It may be noted that
larger sizes of filaments (FIG. 3b) will have greater linear
rigidity for easy insertion into the needle eye 40, but that the
application becomes more difficult when threading smaller needles
with small eye openings. It is also known that large needles N
having relatively larger eyelets 40 will be easier to thread with
the device than the smaller ones, particularly when working with
soft yarn or multiple threads.
[0021] FIGS. 4a and 4b illustrate the side-by-side parallelism of
the end portions 16, 18 in the FIG. 2, 6, 7 embodiments. The
filament 12 is usually circular in cross-section (FIG. 4a) but may
be extruded or otherwise formed with a different cross-sectional
configuration (FIG. 4b) that enables a larger surface-to-surface
abutment area along the legs 16, 18. The legs when brought together
to form the spine 26 can be bonded by fusing under heat and/or
pressure or by adhesive attachment.
[0022] Another feature of the invention is seen best in the FIG. 2
and FIG. 5 embodiments in which the end zones 16, 18 (116, 118) may
be different lengths so that the free ends 20, 22 (120, 122)
respectively, are staggered or offset (FIG. 2) or beveled (FIG. 5)
so as to provide a smaller or sharper eye-entering edge or surface
of the spine 26, 126.
[0023] FIG. 6 shows another embodiment in which the end zones 216,
218 are staggered in length and tapered to form a more pointed and
easily insertable spine 226.
[0024] FIG. 7 illustrates an embodiment of the needle threading
device 310 in which smaller diameter filament (FIG. 3a) is
utilized, but in which the end zones or legs 316, 318 are
constructed and arranged to form a stronger, more rigid spine 326.
In this embodiment the legs are twisted together or braided with a
few turns and pressed by heat and/or pressure to form a unified
spine body that is resistant to separation--even with extensive
usage. In this embodiment, the end zones are long enough to provide
a finger curl for pulling action. It should again be noted that the
bevel-cut of the face ends 320, 322 of the two spine-forming legs
316, 318 is a preferred feature as it provides the smallest entry
edge for eyelet insertion.
[0025] The method of using the threading device of the invention is
the same for each of the embodiments. The thread T (or yarn or
multiple threads--as for embroidery) is positioned through the
loophole (24, 124, 224, 324), the spine is inserted through the
eyelet 40 of the needle N and the entire device 10 (10, 110, 210,
310) is pulled completely through the eyelet 40 to draw the thread
T into place.
[0026] Having described the invention in detail, it will be
apparent that modifications and variations are possible without
departing from the scope of the invention defined in the appended
claims.
* * * * *