United States Patent [191
[11]
Armstrong
[45] Aug. 6, 1974
[54]
YARN CADDY
3,018,067-
1/1962
3,827,654
Vandervoort ..................... .. 242/137
[76] Inventor: Fern E. Armstrong, 11 Edgewood
Dr., Baldwinsville, NY.’ 13027 Y
[22] Filed:
Dec. 16, 1971
Primary Examiner-Leonard D. Christian
Attorney, Agent, or Firm—-Cumpst0n, Shaw &
Stephens
‘
[2]] Appl. No.: 208,681
[5 7]
[52]
US. Cl. ............................... .. 242/146, 242/134
[51] ' Int. Cl ........................................... .. B65h 49/36
[58]
Field of Search ........................... .. 242/134-146
[56]
1,364,987
1,768,030
References Cited
UNITED STATES PATENTS
1/1921
6/1930
Fleming‘. ........................... .. 242/146
Burzi.....= ........................... .. 242/134
ABSTRACT
A yarn caddy holds a skein of yarn in each of several
upright tubes for paying yarn out of the open top ends
of the tubes for multi yarn, manual ‘knitting. The tubes
are supported on a ?at disk that is preferably mounted
for rotation on a support for twisting the yarns as they
pay out of the tubes.
5 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures
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SHEET 1 [1F 2
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1
3,827,654
2
YARN CADDY
Caddy 15 of FIGS. 2 and 3 is a rotatable variation of
caddy 10 with similar tubes 16 mounted on a ?at disk
17 that has small radial projections 18 useful for rotat
ing disk 17. A support 19 also formed as a ?at disk, car
THE INVENTIVE IMPROVEMENT
Manual knitting has been a well-developed art for
generations, and the tools and utensils for this craft
have become well standarized. Multi yarn knitting to
achieve multi colored effects has also been well known,
and some special needles have been developed for this.
Knitting work in process has customarily been carried
about in a bag, with the yarn being withdrawn from the
bag as the work proceeds.
The invention involves recognition of the special
ries a central bearing block 20 for rotatably supporting
disk 17 over support 19. A handle 21 has a long shaft
22 that extends through a central aperture in disk 17
and is secured in place in bearing block 20 on support
19. Disk 17 loosely ?ts around shaft 22 so that tubes 16
can be rotated on support 19. In practice, this is often
accomplished with the knitter’s toe engaging and turn
ing projections 18 as yarn is paid out of tubes 16. Of
course, manual or other means can be used to turn
problems encountered in handling and transporting
tubes 16. The rotation of tubes 16 as the yarn is with
drawn sets the desired twist in the strands of yarn be
fore they are knitted into a fabric. Some multi-strand
several skeins of yarn used in multi yarn, manual knit
ting. For example, the yarns become tangled and un
knitting does not require any yarn twisting so that
caddy 15 can be left motionless, or simpler caddy 10
can be used. Handle 21 is useful for transporting the
manageable when transported in the usual knitting bag,
and it is difficult to apply a desired twist to the yarn as
it is knitted. The invention not only recognizes these
caddy about without disturbing or disarranging the
problems, but proposes a simple solution in an econom
ical and efficient yarn caddy that stores and pays out
yarn from several skeins at a time without tangling and
skeins of a work in progress, and it can also be attached
to disk 11 for carrying caddy 10 as shown in FIG. 1.
Also, handle 21 is preferably removably attached to the
allows any desired twist to be easily applied to the
yarns. The invention aims at convenience, efficiency,
economy and reliability in a caddy for multi yarn, man
caddy so that it can be taken out of either caddy 10 or
caddy 15 when desired. This clears a central region in
side tubes 13 or 16, and such a central region is prefer
ual knitting.
ably about the size of one of the tubes 13 or 16 so that
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The inventive yarn caddy includes a generally ?at
disk from which a plurality of tubes extend upward.
it also loosely holds a skein of yarn whenever an addi- _
tional yarnholding space is desired. The spacing of
tubes 13 and 16 around the central region is preferably
close enough to retain such an extra skein of yarn in the
Each of the tubes has a smooth interior wall and an
central region for payout in the same way that yarn is
paid out from one of the tubes.
Persons wishing to practice the invention should re
member that other embodiments and variations can be
adapted to particular circumstances. Even though one
open top end, and each is sized for loosely holding a
skein of yarn to allow the yarn to be paid out of the top
end of the tube. Preferably the disk is rotatably
mounted on a support so that the tubes can be rotated
for twisting the yarn as it pays out.
point of view is necessarily chosen in describing and de
?ning the invention, this should not inhibit broader or
DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodi 40 related embodiments going beyond the semantic orien
tation of this application but falling within the spirit of
ment of the inventive yarn caddy;
the invention. For example, those skilled in the art will
FIG. 2 is an elevational view of another preferred em
appreciate that tubes, disks and bearing supports can
bodiment of the inventive yarn caddy; and
be made in many ways within the spirit of the invention.
FIG. 3 is a plan view of the caddy of FIG. 2.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
45
I claim:
.
l. A yarn caddy for holding a plurality of yarns for
The simplest, preferred form of yarn caddy 10 is illus
manual knitting, said yarn caddy comprising:
trated in FIG. I. It is formed of a generally ?at disk 11
serving as a base, with tubes 12 secured to base 11 and
vextending upright as shown. Tubes 12 are preferably
a. a generally ?at disk;
b. a plurality of tubes extending upward from said
disk;
formed of extruded plastic material and are preferably
c. each of said tubes having a smooth interior wall
and an open top end;
circular in cross section. When secured to base 11,
tubes 12 are closed at their bottoms, and have open top
ends 13. Each of the tubes 12 has a smooth interior wall
to avoid snagging the yarn, and each tube 12 is sized 55
d. each of said tubes being sized for loosely holding
slightly larger than the average yarn skein for loosely
e. a support and means for mounting said disk for ro
holding the skein to allow the yarn to be paid out of
open top end 13. Each full skein of yarn is about 6 to
8 inches long and formed in a loose coil having an aver
tation on said support for twisting a plurality of
yarns paid out of said tubes.
2. The caddy of claim 1 including a plurality of radial
projections on said disk for aiding in rotating said disk
age diameter of about 2 to 3 inches or so, and each tube
is then preferably about 8 inches long and 3 inches in
diameter. The yarn loosely held in each tube 12 is un
coiled from the center of the skein to be paid out freely
through open top ends 13 for manual knitting. Tubes
12 keep the several skeins separate and clear of any en
tanglements and allow easy withdrawal of the yarn
without any mess or special attention required.
a skein of yarn to allow said yarn to be paid out of
said top end during said manual knitting; and
as desired.
3. The caddy of claim 2 including a handle extending
from said support to above said top ends of said tubes
65
for carrying said caddy.
4. The caddy of claim 3 wherein said handle is re
movable and said tubes are arranged around a central
region sized for loosely holding a skein of yarn.
3
3,827,654
5. A yarn caddy _for holding a plurality. of yarns for
4
(1. each of said tubes being sized for loosely holding
manual kmmng, 531d yam caddy comprlsmgi
a. a generally ?at disk",
a skein of yarn to allow said yarn to be paid out of
b. a plurality of tubes extending upward from said
Sal‘? top end dunng said manual knmmg; and .
disk.
e. said tubes are arranged around a central region
c. each of said tubes having a smooth interior wall
Sized for loosely holding a skein of yarn
and an open top end;
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