Patent Grant
9433249
Bows are seen on a wide variety of items, including but not limited to, bags, pins, clothes (such as sweaters, dresses, shoes, and hats), gifts, backpacks, magnets, books, and home décor items. While bows can be used merely as decorations, they can also be used as in a functional manner. For example, bows may adorn and decorate hair accessories or they may be used as hair accessories themselves. Although a wide variety of uses for bows are known, uniform methods of constructing bows by hand are not well known.
The art of constructing bows by hand can be difficult to learn, especially when learning how to construct bows of different styles, shapes, and sizes. Moreover, the process of constructing bows of uniform shape and size can be a difficult and time-consuming process in which mistakes are common. Thus, ongoing needs exist for devices and methods to enhance the ability of a user to learn the art of constructing bows, to enhance the efficiency of constructing bows, and to enhance the uniformity of construction of bows.
These needs are met, at least in part, by embodiments of the present disclosure, which provides bow making tools and methods of using the same. Such tools and methods are particularly useful for the construction of bows by hand.
In some of the various embodiments, provided are templates for crafting bows. Such templates may, in some embodiments, comprise a non-rectangular body having (i) a front face, (ii) a back face, and (iii) a plurality ribbon positioning surfaces; a plurality of ribbon securing elements; and optionally, one or more apertures defined within the body.
In some of the various embodiments, also provided are size guides for making bows. A provided size guide may, in some embodiments, comprise a non-rectangular body having (i) a front face, (ii) a back face, and (iii) a plurality sides; a plurality of ribbon positioning surfaces; optionally, at least one slot defined within the body; and optionally, a combination element comprising at least one ribbon positioning surface and at least one slot.
In some of the various embodiments, further provided are methods of using the provided templates, size guides, or combination thereof, to construct bows.
A more complete appreciation of the invention and the many embodiments thereof will be readily obtained as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Specific embodiments of the present invention will now be described. The invention may, however, be embodied in different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art.
Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. The terminology used in the description of the invention herein is for describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used in the specification and appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Unless otherwise indicated, all numbers used in the specification and claims are to be understood as being modified in all instances by the term “about.”
In various embodiments of the present disclosure, provided are bow crafting templates, size guides, and methods of using of the same, individually or in combination, to construct bows.
I. Bow Crafting Templates
In some of the various embodiments of the present disclosure, provided are templates for crafting bows. Without being limited as to function, said templates may guide a user to properly fold and otherwise configure bows, including how to make symmetrical ribbon loops; how to make loops having proper angles; how to make ribbon loops of one or more sizes; or combinations thereof. As will be discussed in relation to
As illustrated in
Another embodiment of bow crafting template may include a body, optional aperture, a plurality of ribbon positioning surfaces, and a plurality of ribbon securing elements, said elements not being limited with respect to shape, size and number. For example, as depicted in
As depicted in
In some embodiments, a provided template comprises an aperture. In other embodiments, a provided template may lack an aperture. In yet other embodiments, a body of the provided templates may comprise more than one aperture. When present, an aperture may be circular, square, rectangular, triangular, or have any other suitable shape or size. Non-limiting examples of variations in aperture shape and size are illustrated in
As described herein, the body of a provided template is non-rectangular but can have variable size and shape. In one non-limiting example, a body of the provided templates may be substantially hexagonal in shape, said body comprising a front face, a back face, and six (6) sides. Each of said sides defines a ribbon positioning surface, thereby providing the template with six (6) ribbon positioning surfaces. However, as illustrated in
In some embodiments, the provided templates may be constructed of paper, cardboard, plastic, wood, or metal. Good results have been achieved with plastic.
II. Size Guides
In some of the various embodiments of the present disclosure, additionally provided are size guides for crafting bows. Such size guides may be used alone, or in combination with a provided bow crafting template, to configure a ribbon (or other suitable elongated material) into a bow. Without being limited as to function, the provided size guides may guide a user to properly fold and otherwise configure bows, including how to make symmetrical ribbon loops; how to make ribbon loops of one or more sizes; or combinations thereof. As will be discussed in relation to
As illustrated in
As further illustrated in
In some embodiments, a provided size guide 300 may comprise one or more primary slots 320 but not a combination element 360. In other embodiments, a provided size guide 300 may comprise one or more primary slots 320 and one or more combination elements 360. In further embodiments, a provided size guide 300 may comprise one or more combination elements 360 but lack primary slots 320.
As described herein, a body of a provided size guide generally has a multi-sided, non-rectangular shape. As one non-limiting example, a body may have a thirteen (13)-sided shape, such as that depicted in
A provided size guide may, in some embodiments, comprise one or more primary slots defined within the body. A primary slot may generally be oval, square, or rectangular in shape, or have any other suitable shape or size. In some embodiments, a size guide may comprise one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, or more primary slots.
In some embodiments, a provided size guide may comprise one or more combination elements, each comprising a secondary slot. A secondary slot may generally be oval, square, or rectangular in shape, or have any other suitable shape or size. Moreover, a combination element may have any suitable size or shape, including generally V-shaped or Y-shaped. A combination element may comprise one or more ribbon positioning surfaces. In some embodiments, a combination element has two ribbon positioning surfaces.
A provided size guide may optionally comprise one or more reference lines indicating a pre-determined distance between two ribbon positioning surfaces. In some embodiments, a provided size guide tool may optionally comprise a ruler. One example is depicted in
In some embodiments, the provided size guide tools may be constructed of paper, cardboard, plastic, wood, or metal. Good results have been achieved with plastic.
III. Methods of Crafting Bows Using Bow Crafting Templates
In some of the various embodiments of the present disclosure, provided are methods of crafting bows using one or more provided bow crafting templates. Referring to
As depicted in
One or more fasteners may be utilized to secure the ribbon into a desired configuration. Fasteners may be staples, stitching, rivets, glue, any other conventional fastener, or any combination thereof. Fastening the ribbon in a particular configuration may also be accomplished by the application of heat (such as from a wood burning device). The application of heat may melt the ribbon in specific areas, thereby securing the ribbon in a particular configuration. In some embodiments, as depicted in
Once removed from the template, the configured ribbon may be further modified to achieve the desired bow type. For example, configured ribbon may be tied and/or cinched in the middle through employment of a tying element, such as a length of thread, string, ribbon and/or wire.
IV. Methods of Crafting Bows Using Bow Crafting Size Guides
In some of the various embodiments of the present disclosure, provided are methods of crafting bows using one or more provided bow crafting size guides, alone or in combination with a provided template. Referring to
As depicted in
Once removed from the size guide, configured ribbon may be further modified to achieve the desired bow type. For example, configured ribbon may be tied and/or cinched in the middle through employment of a tying element, such as a length of thread, string, ribbon and/or wire. As another example, configured ribbon may be transferred to a provided bow crafting template and further folded to form a bow.
V. Methods of Crafting Bows Using Bow Crafting Template and Bow Crafting Size Guide
As illustrated and described herein and in
For illustrative purposes, certain embodiments of how ribbon (or any other suitable elongated article) may be manipulated and secured into a bow structure using the provided tools are described. However, one of skill will appreciate that a variety of steps and combinations thereof may be used to craft a bow using the provided tools, and that the selection of steps will depend upon the particular bow design desired.
As one example, a length of ribbon may be provided and positioned across the provided size guide body between two ribbon positioning surfaces. In some embodiments, a length of ribbon may be positioned across only a portion of the size guide body, said positioning aided by one ribbon positioning surface. In some embodiments, a combination of the aforementioned steps are used to fold the ribbon such that loop size, loop angle, loop symmetry, or combinations thereof, are in the correct configuration for the intended bow type. One or more fasteners may be utilized to secure the ribbon in such configuration. Fasteners may be pins, staples, stitching, rivets, glue, any other conventional fastener, or any combination thereof. Fastening the ribbon in a particular configuration may also be accomplished by the application of heat (such as from a wood burning device). The application of heat may melt the ribbon in specific areas, thereby securing the ribbon in a particular configuration. In some embodiments, the fastening of ribbon occurs in an area over a slot in the size guide. Therefore, ribbon is secured to itself, but is not secured to the size guide, and may be easily removed from the size guide.
Once removed from the size guide, configured ribbon may be further modified to achieve the desired bow type. For example, configured ribbon may be transferred to a provided bow crafting template and further folded to form a bow. The transferred configured ribbon may be positioned across the template body between two ribbon positioning surfaces, and loosely held in such position by two pair of ribbon securing elements. In some embodiments, a length of the transferred configured ribbon may be positioned across only a portion of the template body, said positioning aided by one positioning surface and one pair of ribbon securing elements. In some embodiments, a combination of the aforementioned steps is used to form the ribbon into a bow configuration. One or more fasteners may be utilized to secure the ribbon in such configuration. In some embodiments, the fastening of ribbon occurs in an area over an aperture of the template. Therefore, ribbon is secured to itself, but is not secured to the template, and may be easily removed from the template.
Once removed from the template, configured ribbon may be further modified to achieve the desired bow type. For example, configured ribbon may be tied and/or cinched in the middle through employment of a tying element, such as a length of thread, string, ribbon and/or wire.
The foregoing description of various embodiments of the invention has been presented for the purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art of the above teaching. Accordingly, while some of the diverse embodiments of the tools have been discussed specifically, other embodiments will be apparent or relatively easily developed by those of ordinary skill in the art. Accordingly, this invention is intended to embrace all alternatives, modifications and variations that have been discussed herein, and others that fall within the spirit and broad scope of the claims.
This application claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. Section 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/508,451, filed on Jul. 15, 2011.
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| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20130015214 A1 | Jan 2013 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61508451 | Jul 2011 | US |
