PARKER TRUE TO FORM BOW MAKER

Abstract

The Parker True to Form Bow Maker is a manufactured article whose purpose is to simplify the making of decorative or ornamental ribbon bows. It is a one-piece article, used as a tool, which creates ribbon loops of uniform length and enables the loops of the bow to be held by the tool, rather than in the hand of the maker. The tool provides a slot for the purpose of tying the loops together in the center of the bow. There are no movable parts in the tool. The process to utilize the tool is specific to this tool.

Description

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

NOT APPLICABLE

REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISC APPENDIX

NOT APPLICABLE

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The traditional way to make a decorative, ornamental bow out of wire-edged ribbon for gift wrapping or other decorative purposes, is to hold all the loops of ribbon in one hand while making additional loops in the other, twisting and transferring each loop from one hand to the other hand which holds all the loops together. Holding all the loops in one hand gets tiresome and puts a strain on fingers thus limiting the number of bows a person can make in one sitting. Tools have been devised to provide an alternate way to hold all the loops while the bow is being made, frequently involving a base board and dowels. A bow making tool that puts less strain on the hand and fingers is sought for making many bows consecutively. A simple one-piece tool that is lightweight, easy to carry and to store and which requires no ruler for measuring, would further simplify and expedite the bow making experience.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The scope of this invention includes a manufactured article which serves as a tool and the process to utilize this article as a tool to make decorative, ornamental ribbon bows. The article is manufactured from a sheet of smooth, flexible, firm material, such as ⅛ ″ thick HDPE plastic or glossy cardstock, cut into a rectangular shape, the width equal to the diameter of the bow being crafted, and the length 1″ longer than the width. A narrow slot is cut from the bottom edge of the rectangle towards the top edge of the rectangle, perpendicular to the bottom edge of the rectangle, beginning exactly in the center of the width of the bottom edge, stopping 2″ short of the top edge. Width of the slot ranges from ¼ ″ wide to ½ ″ wide. Optimum width is ⅜ ″ wide. The 6 corners are rounded. The resultant article is rectangular in shape, with a vertical slot in the middle, and a bridge at the top edge which stabilizes the 2 sides of the rectangle which are equal in width.

The process involves a method of wrapping wire-edged ribbon around the article, figure-8 style with the center slot serving as a pass-through for the ribbon as it is looped alternately on the right side then on the left side of the article, coming up through the center slot as the ribbon moves from one side to the other until the desired number of loops have been formed. The article is the tool that creates loops of ribbon that are equal in length. Twisting the ribbon in the center slot gathers the ribbon and thus creates the middle of the bow. It also holds the loops firmly within the slot until all loops have been formed. The middle collection of ribbon in the slot is the middle of the bow, and is tied tightly with a tying material, such as curling ribbon, string or cord, after the loops are slipped off the article.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1. This is an overhead view of Claim 1—the manufactured article is the tool.

FIG. 2. This is a side view of Claim 1—the manufactured article which is the tool.

FIG. 3. This is a drawing of Claim 2—step 1 of the process

FIG. 4. This is a drawing of Claim 2—step 2 of the process

FIG. 5—This is a drawing of Claim 2—step 3 of the process

FIG. 6—This is a drawing of Claim 2—step 4 of the process

FIG. 7—This is a drawing of Claim 2—step 5 of the process

FIG. 8—This is a drawing of Claim 2—step 6 of the process

FIG. 9—this is a drawing of Claim 2—step 7 of the process

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention is a manufactured article rectangular in shape and the process utilizing the manufactured article as a tool to create decorative, ornamental bows from wire-edged ribbon.

The article is cut from flat, smooth, firm but flexible material such as sheet plastic or glossy, thick card stock. It is a flat, rectangular shape, whose width is equal to the diameter of the desired bow to be made, and the length is 1″ longer than the width. A slot is cut vertically up the middle of the rectangle, beginning at the bottom edge, perpendicular to the bottom edge, and ending 2″ short of the top edge, dividing the rectangle into 2 matching parts—the right side and the left side equal in width, and which are connected at the top edge by a 2″ wide bridge. The width of the slot ranges in size from ¼ ″ to ½″. Optimum is ⅜″. The 6 corners are rounded to remove sharp corners. Each article makes a bow of a particular size. Articles of various sizes would be required to make bows of corresponding sizes, and each article is relative to the diameter of the bow being made. Smooth, ⅛ ″ thick HDPE plastic sheet is appropriate for the manufacture of the article.

The detailed process to utilize this article as a tool is described as follows:

Step 1. Unroll a length of ribbon from a spool. Insert the end of the ribbon down through the slot at the top of the article, leaving approximately 3″ hanging behind the article. Pinch the ribbon in the center slot with thumb and index finger to hold in place to begin the wrapping process. See FIG. 3

Step 2. Holding the ribbon in hand, wrap ribbon away from the center slot, over and under the right side of the article and bring ribbon up through the center slot. Twist the ribbon in the center slot to gather the ribbon and bring the design side of the ribbon to the surface and keep the underside of the ribbon hidden. See FIG. 4.

Step 3. Continue the same process on the left side of the article. Wrap the ribbon over then under the left side of the article, coming up through the center slot. Twist the ribbon again, to bring the design side of the ribbon to the surface. See FIG. 5

Step 4. Repeat wrapping the ribbon over the right side, then left side of the article, bringing the ribbon through the middle slot each time, twisting in the middle each time. Gently push the center twisted ribbon up towards the top of the center slot. See FIG. 6

Step 5. When desired number of loops are on the article, cut a length of curling ribbon or other tying material approximately 15″ to 20″ long. Wrap tying material around twisted ribbon in the center slot twice, to form a noose around the material in the center slot. Pull on the noose gently to slightly squeeze ribbon in the slot together. Hold tying material in hand. See FIG. 7

Step 6. With tying material in hand, gently slide loops off the article. Tighten tying material by rocking the noose, compressing the middle of the bow until the middle is good and tight. Tie the tying material in a double knot. See FIG. 8

Step 7. Holding the tying material, adjust the location of each loop to form a circular, dome shaped bow. Use fingers to tug each loop, one at a time, so every other loop is tugged towards the middle of the bow, and every other one is tugged towards the outer rim of the bow. Round out the loops by slipping fingers in each loop to puff out. Adjust final location of loops to create an evenly shaped bow. See FIG. 9

Claims

1- The manufactured article: The article is constructed from flat, smooth, firm and slightly flexible sheet materialThe article is cut into a rectangular shape, the width being equal to the desired diameter of a decorative bow and the length being 1″ longer than the width of the rectangle and is cut from a sheet of plastic, cardstock or other suitable material approximately ⅛ ″ in thickness.The article is further shaped by cutting a ⅜ ″ slot, precisely in the center of the right and left edge of the rectangle, beginning at the bottom edge of the rectangle, and going up vertically from the bottom of the rectangle towards the top edge of the rectangle, stopping 2″ short of the top edge of the rectangle, creating a rectangular shape, with two equal sides on the right and left of the center slot, held together by the narrow, uncut top edge of the rectangle.The corners of this article are rounded to remove all 6 sharp corners for the safety and comfort of the user.

2- the Process utilizing the manufactured article in claim 1. A continuous length of wire-edged ribbon is wrapped around both the right side and the left side of the article mentioned in claim 1, in a Figure-8 configuration.The procedure begins with the end of the ribbon being inserted down through the top of center slot and held in place with thumb and index finger.The wrapping starts on the right side of the article, with the ribbon going over and under the right side of the rectangle and coming up through the center slot, twisting the ribbon 180° as the ribbon continues towards the left side of the article again going over and under the left side of the article, coming up through the middle slot on its way to the right side again. The wrapping of both sides of the article with ribbon creates the loops of the bow.When the desired number of loops have been made on each side of the article, the center is bound with a tying material, such as curling ribbon, cord, yarn, crochet thread, or twine. The material in the center slot is encircled by the tying material twice forming a noose which is then slightly tightened. With the tying material in hand, the loops are slipped off the article and the middle further compressed by pulling the tying material and finally knotted. The loops are spread apart with fingers and positions adjusted to form a round, dome shaped decorative, ornamental bow.