Segmented variable height basket body form

Details Segmented variable height basket body form Segmented variable height basket body form

1999-07-30

2001-01-02

Tolan, Ed (Department: 3725)

Coopering

Basket-forming

Utility Patent

active

06167930

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to basket making apparatus and more particularly to a form which facilitates construction of the walls and upper portions, or body, of a hand woven basket.
Typically, there are at least two principal stages or stations in manufacturing a basket by hand. In the first stage, the operator constructs the basket bottom, and in the second stage, the body, i.e., the walls and upper portions, of the basket are constructed. A bottom form, such as that disclosed in applicants' U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/126,822, filed Jul. 31, 1998 and titled “Apparatus and Method for Forming a Basket Bottom,” may be used to advantage in the first step. The bottom which is formed thereby includes a plurality of splints extending laterally outwardly from the bottom in various directions controlled in principal part by the bottom form. In the second stage, and as more fully described herein, the laterally extending splints are bent or otherwise turned to define the generally vertically extending upsplints of the basket walls. A basket body form is employed in the second stage to assist the operator in shaping the upsplints, in weaving the generally horizontally disposed cross splints therebetween, and in affixing a rim, reinforcing members, handle and/or other accessories to the upper open end of the basket wall or body. In this second stage, the basket bottom is sandwiched and clamped between one end of the body form and a generally disc shaped member known as a screw-down by means of a variable position standing vise or other support which suspends the assembly at a suitable height and orientation for the operator to manipulate the upsplints, cross splints and other basket members.
In the past, the basket body forms with which the present inventors are familiar were of unitary construction and nonadjustable. While such forms were very useful, each was limited to use in making one particular shape and size of basket. As may be appreciated, commercial advantage is derived from having many shapes and sizes of baskets to offer, and further advantage obtains from periodic creation and implementation of new basket designs. Given the foregoing limitation of nonadjustable and unitary basket body forms and the need for a large and periodically expanding array of basket models, the present inventors were faced with substantial equipment inventory problems, namely, constructing, maintaining, storing, locating, distributing and generally accounting for a multiplicity of basket body forms.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The form described herein for use in constructing a basket basically comprises a plurality of separate sections, each section having at least two spaced apart passageways, each of the passageways in one section having corresponding passageways in the other sections and all of the passageways in one section being simultaneously alignable with the corresponding passageways in the other sections.


REFERENCES:
patent: 1724293 (1929-08-01), Lawrence
patent: 2609958 (1952-09-01), Mzik
patent: 4678016 (1987-07-01), Hall
patent: 4832097 (1989-05-01), Thomas

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