Textiles: spinning – twisting – and twining – Apparatus and processes – Covering or wrapping
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-19
2001-07-17
Calvert, John J. (Department: 3741)
Textiles: spinning, twisting, and twining
Apparatus and processes
Covering or wrapping
C087S008000, C428S007000, C428S010000, C428S017000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06260342
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to decorative garlands and, in particular, to techniques for forming such garlands.
Various types of decorative garlands, used for decorating Christmas trees, wreathes, and the like, have been heretofore provided. Generally, for purposes of mass production of such garlands specialized machinery is developed specific to each particular type of garland. Also, for many such garlands, the garland material must first be prepared in a specialized form for processing by the garland-making machinery. One such type of preparation involves the slitting of sheets of material to produce a desired effect in the finished garland, garlands of this type being disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,484,329, 4,789,571 and 5,201,699.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is a general object of the invention to provide a method of forming a novel type of decorative garland from standard supplies of commonly available materials, such as ribbons, wires and filament strands, which materials require no special processing or preparation before formation of the garland.
Another feature of the invention is the provision of a method of the type set forth, which is capable of forming a variety of different garland designs having different appearances, from the same starting materials.
In connection with the foregoing features, another feature of the invention is provision of an apparatus for performing a method of the type set forth.
More specifically, applicant has devised a novel garland design, details of which are disclosed in applicant's co-pending application Ser. No. 09/444,228, filed on even date herewith and entitled “Twisted Spiral Garland” (case 117). The garland is formed essentially by generating loops of ribbon and twisting the ribbon loops together with a pair of wires to produce a number of different unique garland designs, depending upon the amount of twist imparted to the materials. The present invention is directed to the method and apparatus for forming that garland.
Certain ones of these and other features of the invention may be attained by providing an apparatus for forming a decorative twisted spiral garland from at least one continuous ribbon web from a ribbon supply, and a pair of continuous wires from a wire supply, the apparatus comprising: structure establishing an axis, a loop frame including a pair of spaced elongated rods extending alongside the axis, ribbon guide mechanism for guiding the at least one ribbon web from the ribbon supply to the outside of the loop frame, a loop-forming drive assembly rotating at least one of the loop frame and the ribbon supply about the axis for wrapping the ribbon web around the loop frame to form a series of ribbon loops, a wire guide assembly for guiding the wires from the wire supply respectively into paths substantially parallel to the axis and outside of and respectively along opposite sides of the ribbon loops, a twist drive assembly for twisting the wires together in a spiral along the axis thereby to twist the ribbon loops, and a withdrawal mechanism engageable with the twisted wires and ribbon loops for advancing them along the axis simultaneously with forming of the loops and twisting of the wires to withdraw the loops from the loop frame and form an elongated twisted spiral garland.
Other features of the invention are attained by providing an apparatus of the type set forth which forms a garland including at least one filament guided along a path parallel to the main axis.
Still other features of the invention are attained by providing an apparatus of the type set forth, wherein the wire supply includes a ring coaxial with the main axis, and wherein wire supply reels are mounted on the ring for rotation respectively about parallel reel axes disposed on opposite sides of the main axis and defining a plane substantially perpendicular to the main axis, the twist drive assembly rotating the ring to twist the wires.
Other features of the invention are attained by providing a method of forming a decorative twisted spiral garland from at least one continuous ribbon web from a ribbon supply and a pair of continuous wires from a wire supply, the method comprising: wrapping the at least one ribbon web from the ribbon supply around a loop frame to form a series of ribbon loops about an axis, guiding the wires from the wire supply respectively into paths extending substantially parallel to the axis and outside of and respectively along opposite sides of the ribbon loops, twisting the wires together in a spiral along the axis thereby to twist the ribbon loops, and advancing the twisted wires and ribbon loops along the axis to withdraw the loops from the loop frame and form an elongated twisted spiral garland.
The invention consists of certain novel features and a combination of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that various changes in the details may be made without departing from the spirit, or sacrificing any of the advantages of the present invention.
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Calvert John J.
Emrich & -Dithmar
Hurley Shaun R
Santa's Best
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