FIELD OF INVENTION
The invention relates to a yarn holder, knitting station, and kit which rotatably supports a ball of yarn, mounted around a rod to provide an improved automatic feed for unwinding the yarn as it is used for knitting.
BACKGROUND
Numerous approaches have been tried in the past to support yarn during knitting in a manner which makes it easy to feed the yarn with a simple arrangement without having the yarn fall and/or unravel.
Such prior attempts have generally involved the construction of complex mechanisms to feed the yarn. However, none allow for easy feed of yarn in a controlled and stable manner, and which further provides means for temporarily holding already partially knitted items and knitting needles during a pause in knitting.
These problems are addressed and overcome in accordance with the invention as will be further evident from the following discussion.
SUMMARY
In accordance with the invention, a yarn knitting station and yarn holder is provided which allows easy feed of yarn and accommodates different size rolls of yarn for use during knitting.
A yarn holder, kitting station, and kit includes a base having suction cups positioned to be secured to a solid surface. A first yarn support spinning plate is provided for being supported on and spinning on the base. A yarn rod is connected to the yarn support spinning plate for holding yarn around the rod to allow the yarn to be unwound therefrom and the spinning plate to turn as the yarn is unwound.
In one embodiment the yarn rod has a hollow interior and open top for holding items used for knitting therein
The base and plate are connected together through an O-ring and bearing arrangement to allow free movement of the spinning plate relative to the base. The O-ring serves as a support base for the bearing allowing the spinning plate to turn much more easily as a result of separating the spinning plate from the base.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Having thus briefly described the invention, the same will become better understood from the following detailed description made with reference to the appended drawings wherein:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the yarn holder of the invention including a rod around which is wound a roll of yarn;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the yarn holder of the invention, including the rod in the shape of a hollow tube, replacing the rod of FIG. 1, around which yarn is held, and wherein the hollow interior is used for holding, for example, knitting needles;
FIG. 3 is a top plan view of a base for the yarn holder of the invention shown with a tubular extension, having an “O” ring seated around the tubular extension, having an O-ring seated around the tubular extension, and serving as a support and spacer for the bearing;
FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the base of the yarn holder of the invention shown with an O-ring and bearing mounted thereon;
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the base of the yarn holder of the invention shown in FIG. 4, with the bearing mounted thereon;
FIG. 6 is a bottom plan view of two rotatable yarn support spinning plates shown in two sizes for the yarn holder of the invention;
FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the base of the rotatable yarn support plate shown in FIG. 6;
FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the base of the yarn holder of the invention shown with a yarn support plate mounted thereon;
FIG. 9 is a disassembled view showing various components of the invention;
FIG. 10 is a bottom plan view of the base of the yarn holder of the invention.
FIG. 11 is perspective view of the yarn knitting station and yarn holder of the invention shown with a smaller yarn support plate with yarn supported thereon;
FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the yarn holder of the invention shown with a yarn support plate with yarn supported around a hollow tubular yarn spike with the knitting needles supported within the hollow yarn spike.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS
FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of the yarn knitting station 11 in accordance with the invention. A knitting station base 13 includes suction cups 15 to be secured to a solid surface through the suction cups 15. The knitting station base 13 supports a yarn support spinning plate 17 in rotational relationship with respect to the base 13. A yarn rod 19 is connected to and extends upwardly from the yarn support spinning plate 17 to allow yarn to be wrapped around the yarn rod 19, and unwound by pulling on the yarn, causing the yarn support spinning plate 17 to turn.
FIG. 2 is an alternative embodiment of the invention, in this case showing a hollow yarn rod 21. The yarn rod 21 can house an assortment of things within it such as knitting needles while the knitting station 11 is not in use, without having to remove the knitting needles and partially completed knitting work product.
FIG. 3 is a top perspective view illustrating a knitting station base 13 in accordance with the invention, showing a raised tubular extension 23 with an “O” ring mounted around the extension 23. This “O” ring is very important to the operation. More specifically, it serves as a base and support for a bearing 25, providing spacing between the bearing 25 and the top of the base 13 allowing the yarn support and spinning plates 17 to turn more easily. As the yarn knitting station 11 is assembled as shown in FIG. 4, the bearing 25 is placed onto the raised tubular extension 23, and held thereon. This is illustrated more clearly in FIG. 5, which is a perspective view of the knitting station base 13. FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate the bottom and top views of yarn support spinning plates 17, which come preferably in two sizes, one large and one small relative to each other, depending on the amount of yarn to be supported. FIG. 8 is an alternative view of the yarn knitting station 11 partially assembled with a post 27 extending from spinning plate 17 on which a yarn rod 19 can be supported.
FIG. 9 shows the various components of the yarn knitting station 11 of the invention in disassembled form.
FIG. 10 shows the bottom of the knitting station base 13 showing the suction cups 15 mounted thereon.
FIG. 11 shows the yarn knitting station 11 of the invention shown with yarn mounted thereon.
FIG. 12 shows an embodiment of the yarn knitting station 11 with the hollow yarn rod 21 mounted thereon and with a partially knitted article attached to knitting needles which in turn are mounted within the hollow interior of the tubular yarn rod 21.
To further understand the invention attached hereto, with the disclosure thereof incorporated by reference herein in its entirety, is an Appendix comprised of mechanical drawings of the various components making up the invention previously described.
Having thus specifically described the invention, it will be understood to those of ordinary skill that various alternative embodiments can be implemented in place of the specific components described herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
Patent Application
20190263624
