United States Patent 1191
`Zaltzman
`
`4,023,245
`[1 1]
`[45] May 17, 1977
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`[54] HAND-LOOM CONSTRUCTION
`[76] memo“ Arm") Zaltzman, Canes $16
`Patriotismo 61, Mexico City, Mexico
`July 1, 1975
`[22] Filed:
`[2]] Appl. No.: 592,321
`[30]
`Foreign Application Priority Data
`July 2, 1974
`Mexico ............................. .. 152263
`
`[52] US. Cl. ................................................. .. 28/15
`[51] Int. Cl.2 ....................................... .. D03D 29/00
`[58] Field of Search ........................ .. 28/15; 139/34
`[56]
`References Cited
`UNITED STATES PATENTS
`
`8/1903 Truesdell ............................. .. 28/15
`735,177
`8/1942 Belanger
`..
`2,292,356
`2,433,307 12/1947 Thomas
`
`Phelps ................................. .. 28/15
`2,573,484 10/1951
`2,610,436
`9 1952 H
`11 ........ ..
`2s 15 x
`3,800,372 4’1974
`............................... .. l28/l5
`
`Primary Examiner-,~Louis K. Rimrodt
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Hopgood, Calimafde, Kalil,
`Blaustein & Lieberman
`
`ABSTRACT
`[5 7]
`The invention contemplates a hand-loom construction
`based upon end-to-end assembly of like pin-frame
`modules, whereby the connection of adjacent modules
`establishes an additional pin position, effective to serve
`the pin-unit spacing of both connected modules. In one
`form, interengaging formations on connected modules
`lock to retain the particular angular orientation se
`lected for a particular desired loom geometry.
`
`16 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures
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`Tristar Ex. 1012, pg. 1
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`U.S. Patent May 17, 1977
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`Sheet 1 of 2
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`4,023,245
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`Tristar Ex. 1012, pg. 2
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`US. Patent May 17, 1977
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`Sheet 2 of2
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`4,023,245
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`5:
`t @ Aim
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`Tristar Ex. 1012, pg. 3
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`1
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`IIAND-LOOM CONSTRUCTION
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`The invention relates to improved hand-loom struc
`ture, making possible the manufacture of woven prod
`ucts of a variety of different geometrical patterns and
`con?gurations.
`‘
`The traditional hand loom comprises a single-piece
`frame with plural yarn~loop pins extending at unit spac
`ing for the periphery of the frame. A single such frame
`determines the geometry and size of the woven prod
`uct, and separate additional frames must be con
`structed, each unique to desired size and geometry, if
`there is to be a corresponding variety of woven prod
`ucts.
`It is an object of the invention to provide a modular
`hand-loom frame structure lending itself to selective
`assembly, in multiple end-to-end connection, in a vari
`ety of sizes and geometrical shapes, thus enabling a
`corresponding variety of woven-product shapes and
`sizes to be produced from the same structural parts.
`A speci?c object is to achieve the above object with
`a module construction in which the same pin-unit spac
`ing may be served for the pin arrays of adjacent mod
`ules, up to and including the situs of interconnection of
`25
`these modules.
`Another speci?c object is to achieve the above ob
`jects with structure which is inherently locked against
`angular dislocation, once adjacent modules are secured
`in a desired angular orientation.
`A general object is to meet the above object with
`structure which is of inherently low cost, which is sim
`ple to assemble to a desired one of a wide variety of
`sizes and shapes, and which can be readily modi?ed or
`reassembled into a different one of such sizes and
`shapes.
`A further object is to provide a knock-down hand
`loom kit from which such various sizes and shapes can
`be selectively assembled.
`Other objects and various further features of novelty
`and invention will be pointed out or will occur to those
`skilled in the art from a reading of the following speci?
`cation in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
`In said drawings:
`‘ FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a hand-loom frame
`module of the invention;
`FIG. 1A is a sectional view taken at lA-lA in FIG.
`1;
`FIG. 2 is a plan view of one geometrical pattern of
`end-to-end assembly of plural modules of FIG. 1;
`50
`FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 to illustrate another
`geometrical pattern;
`FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 1 to illustrate a modi
`?ed module;
`FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIGS. 2 and 3 to illustrate
`a pattern constructed with modules of the FIG. 4 vari
`ety;
`FIGS. 6 and 7 are plan and elevation views of another
`modi?ed module structure;
`FIG. 8 isa fragmentary plan view of connected adja
`cent modules of FIGS. 6 and 7; and
`FIG. 9 is an exploded view of fastening means for
`module assembly as in FIG. 8.
`The frame module of FIGS. 1 and 1A comprises
`elongate plate and channel elements l—2 of equal
`length and assembled in such longitudinal overlap as
`(a) to enable one ?at end 3 of plate 1 to project beyond
`the corresponding end of channel 2 and (b) to enable
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`the other end 4 of channel 2 to project beyond the
`corresponding other end of plate 1. An array of up
`standing pins 5 is carried by the assembled parts 1-2, at
`unit-longitudinal spacings de?ned by the interval x. In
`the form shown, two such pins rise from the channel
`end 4, and the array continues to commencement of
`the projecting plate end 3, where an end aperture 6
`exists at the same unit spacing x from the adjacent end
`pin 5 of the array.
`Parts 1-2 may be of metal or plastic. They are prefer
`ably secured in their indicated relation, or they may be
`formed as a single piece, as in the case of an injection
`molded plastic article. The pins 5 of the. array may be
`integrally formed with parts 1-2 in the same plastic
`molding process, but in the fonn shown, each pin com
`prises a head 8 and stem 7 driven into permanently
`assembledrelation, as by stem insertion through open
`ings in parts 1—2 and by force-?t assembly by washer or
`nut means 8' against the base of the projecting part of
`stem 7. A smooth jacket 9 of plastic such as polyethy
`lene completes the pin structure and may be formed by
`dipping the array, upside down, into a bath of liquid
`jacket-forming material, and then allowing the same to
`cure in the shape shown.
`At the end pin 5’ of the array, the stem 7 may either
`be not coated-to form jacket 9, or such jacket 9 may be
`stripped after forming. Thus, pin 5’ may remain sized
`for insertion through aperture 6 of an adjacent module,
`in the assembled interconnection of plural modules, as
`in the case of six such modules A-B-C-D-E-F, to form
`the hexagonal pattern of the loom of FIG. 2. In the
`form of FIG. 1A, it will be seen that the outer end of
`stems 7 are threaded or otherwise ribbed at 7', for
`secured retention of a preformed jacket member 9,
`applied to secure interconnected modules, as will be
`understood.
`In the arrangement of FIG. 3., four of the same mod
`ules A-B-C-D are employed in the same end-to-end
`interconnected relation to de?ne a square loom.
`FIG. 4 will be recognized from FIG. 1 as an illustra
`tion of the same basic structure in a modi?cation
`wherein the elongation alignment of the module body
`10 and its pin array is arcuate. The module nevertheless
`incorporates the same feature of interlockability with
`like or similar adjacent modules, as to produce the
`circular frame of FIG. 1, from secured interconnection
`of six like 60°-arc modules A'-B’-C’-D’-E'.
`In the modi?cation of FIGS. 6 and 7, a single piece
`molded-plastic module is seen to comprise an elongate
`base or body 11, de?ned by a flat upper panel 12 and
`by peripherally continuous dependant reinforcement
`skirt 13. Upstanding pins 14 rise integrally from panel
`12, at the same unit spacing x, to form an array of
`preferably eleven such pins. At the skirt-reinforced end
`15, a circular aperture 16 is provided in panel 12, on
`the alignment of the pin array and at the same unit
`spacing x from the next adjacent pin 14. At the other
`end of the module, the panel portion 12’ projects be
`yond the adjacent longitudinal end of skirt l3, and a
`keying aperture 17 (for example square-shaped) is
`provided in portion 12', at effectively the unit spacing
`x from the next adjacent pin 14 of the array.
`In further description of the module structure, one or
`more downward stud formations 18 project from inte
`gral connection to panel 12 and within the included
`area of skirt 13, for selective assembly of an elasto
`meric suction cup 19 thereto. Such suction cups will be
`understood to simplify module mounting, as to a wall or
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`Tristar Ex. 1012, pg. 4
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`table surface, to free one’s hands for more efficient
`weaving operations.
`Modules of the variety of FIGS. 6 and 7 are assem
`bled to each other by lapping the panel end 12’ of one
`module over the apertured portion of the skirted end
`15 of another (adjacent) module, as for the case of
`modules M and N in FIG. 8, using the fastening-pin
`device 20-21 of FIG. 9. For such assembly, the aper
`tures 16-17 of the lapped regions are brought into axial
`registry, and the threaded lower end 22 of element 20
`is inserted downwardly therein, with the square portion
`23 ?tted and keyed to the square aperture 17; at this
`juncture, the thin base ?ange 24 of element 20 is seated
`upon the upper surface of panel member 12', with pin
`portion 14' thereof projecting upwardly, at the unit
`spacing x from adjacent pins 14 of module M and of
`module N. Element 21 is a wing nut, by means of which
`threads 22 may be engaged to removably clamp the
`overlapped body regions of modules M-N to secured
`relation.
`In accordance with another feature of the invention,
`interlocking formations 25—26 are provided at the
`overlappable surface regions of ends 12'-15, so that
`when clamped by means 20-21, a selected angular
`orientation of modules M-N is retained by keyed lock
`ing of the overlapped body parts. As shown, the forma
`tions 25 comprise a plurality of like, downward key
`projections on the underside of body region 12’, at
`equal angularly spaced locations about the axis of aper
`ture 17. And the formations 26 comprise a similar
`plurality of sockets or depressions in the upper surface
`of panel 12, and equally spaced about the axis of open
`ing 16. Preferably, such projections and sockets are at
`30° spacing, i.e., twelve in number, thus enabling se
`cured and locked angular orientations of modules M-N
`35
`at 30° increments of selection. In FIG. 8, the modules
`M-N are secured in a 60° angular orientation, as per
`mitted by local arcuate recesses 27 in the end contour
`of the panel extension 12’. Phantom outlines in FIG. 8
`suggest selective availability of eight other orientations,
`in 30° increments, from the 60° position shown, to and
`including the 60° reversed orientation suggested at N’.'
`The described modular structure will be seen to pro
`vide selective availability of a wide variety of sizes and
`shapes, for various looming purposes. The effective
`connection length between axes of openings 16-17 on
`each module is conveniently 10 inches (25 centime
`ters). Three such modules, at the 60° orientation of
`FIG. 8 will produce a small triangular frame, wherein
`pins 14 establish twelve equal spacings along each of
`three 10-inch contour edges; using two modules, inter
`connected straight (180° orientation), to de?ne each
`side, one can make a triangular frame of four-times
`larger area. When modules are fastened at 90° orienta
`tion, square and rectangular frames are realized; when
`securing modules at 120° orientation, hexagonal frames
`are realized; and when securing modules at 150° orien
`tation, octagonal frames are realized.
`In an effective commercial embodiment of the inven
`tion, utilizing modules of the FIG. 6-7 variety, I provide
`eight such modules in a kit, to enable selective assem
`bly of any of the shapes described in the foregoing
`paragraph. The kit also includes eight of the fastening
`devices of FIG. 9, and a plurality of suction cups 19,
`along with a weaving needle and suitable instructions.
`The described invention will be seen to have
`achieved all stated objects. It is found to provide a new
`‘dimension to the use of hand looms, and thus gives
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`increased opportunity for exercise of imagination, inge
`nuity, pleasure and interest on the part of the user.
`While the invention has been described in detail for
`the forms shown, it will be understood that modi?ca
`tions may be made without departure from the claimed
`scope of the invention.
`What is claimed is:
`l. A hand-loom kit, comprising a plurality of like
`structural frame modules, each frame module compris
`ing an elongate body with an array of plural upstanding
`pins spaced at the same regular longitudinal unit-space
`interval, said body having a fastening aperture at each
`end, each fastening aperture being spaced by said unit
`longitudinal interval from the next adjacent pin, the
`axis of each fastening aperture being also on an align
`ment determined by projection of the alignment of the
`axes of the pins of the array, one of said body ends at
`the apertured region being adapted to assemble over
`the apertured region at the other end upon assembly of
`two frame modules to each other, plural removable
`fastening means each of which is adapted to extend
`through axially registering apertures of such over
`lapped ends, each of such fastening means securing two
`such frame modules and retaining registry of the aper
`tures while also clamping and retaining a preselected
`angular orientation of the longitudinal alignments of
`said frame modules, each such removable fastening
`means further including upstanding pin structure serv
`ing the respective alignments of both secured frame
`elements, whereby pin structure at each secured inter
`connection of adjacent modules serves at pin-unit spac
`ing the pin array of both said modules, regardless of the
`secured angular orientation of said modules.
`2. A kit according to claim 1, in which adjacent over
`lappable surfaces at said body ends include interen
`gageable formations to retain axial alignment of the
`registering apertures, whereby said pin-unit spacing is
`retained for said upstanding pin structure with respect
`to the pins of both modules.
`3. A kit according to claim 1, in which adjacent over
`lappable surfaces at said body ends include plural like
`interengageable formations at like angular spacings
`about the respective openings, for angularly locking a
`selected one of a.plurality of discrete angular orienta
`tions of said frame modules when secured by said fas
`tening means.
`4. A kit according to claim 3, in which the number of
`said formations about each opening is 24, whereby a
`range of selected angular orientations is available at 15°
`increments.
`5. A kit according to claim 1, in which the number of
`body pins is eleven, whereby for a loop of plural end-to
`end interconnected modules, the number of unit pin
`spacings is twelve for each module.
`6. A kit according to claim 1, in which each frame
`module is a single injection-molded plastic article, inte
`grally formed with said plural pins.
`7. A kit according to claim 1, in which the body end
`which is adapted to overlap the opposite body end of
`another frame module is relatively thin at the overlapp
`able region.
`8. A kit according to claim 7, in which the relatively
`thin overlappable end is suf?ciently extensive to permit
`lapped-end assembly of adjacent frame modules in at
`least as small as 60° relative angular orientation.‘
`9. A kit according to claim 8, in which the relatively
`thin overlappable end is recessed on both lateral sides
`of the aperture of said relatively thin overlappable end,
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`Tristar Ex. 1012, pg. 5
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`such recesses being positioned to avoid body-pin inter
`tion of the alignment of the axes of the pins of said
`ference for the 60° secured orientation.
`array, said body having at at least one of said connec
`10. A kit according to claim 1, in which one of the
`tion axes a fastening aperture, the body end at the
`body apertures of each frame moduleis ‘circular and
`apertured region being adapted to assemble with con
`the other is characterized by a key-locking formation,
`nection-axis registry over the other body of another
`said fastening means including an anti-rotational for
`such module upon end-to-end assembly of two such
`mation engaged to said key-locking formation when
`modules to each other.
`secured.
`13. The module of claim 12, in which said body and
`l l. A unitary structural frame module for end-to-end
`array are straight.
`assembly into a hand-loom structure, said module com
`14. The module of claim 12, in which said body and
`prising an elongate body with an array of spaced plural
`array are generally arcuate.
`upstanding pins at the same regular unit longitudinal
`15. A knock-down hand-loom assembly kit, compris
`interval, said body extending beyond both longitudinal
`ing a plurality of like unitary structural frame modules
`ends of said array to de?ne body ends each of which
`adapted to be assembled in secured end-to-end con
`has a fastening aperture spaced by said unit interval
`tinuous-loop relation; each module comprising an elon
`from the next adjacent pin, the axis of each fastening
`gate body with an array of spaced plural upstanding
`aperture being also on an alignment determined by
`pins at the same regular unit-longitudinal interval, said
`projection of the alignment of the axes of the pins of
`body extending beyond both longitudinal ends of said
`the array, one of the said body ends at the apertured
`array to de?ne body ends each of which has a fastening
`region being adapted to assemble over the apertured
`aperture spaced by said unit interval from the next
`region at the other end upon end-to-end assembly of
`adjacent pin, the axis of each fastening aperture being
`two such frame modules to each other, whereby fasten
`also on an alignment determined by projection of the
`ing elements including an upstanding pin at assembly
`alignment of the axes of the pins of the array; each
`via registering end apertures will serve at pin-unit spac
`body end of each module being adapted for assembly in
`ing the pin array of both secured modules, regardless of
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`overlap with the adjacent body end of the adjacent
`the secured angular orientation of the secured mod
`module and with the fastening apertures in register, and
`ules.
`removable fastening means sized to pass through the
`12. A unitary structural frame module for end-to-end
`registered apertures and including at each reaction of
`assembly into a hand-loom structure, said module com
`secured overlap an upstanding pin serving the pin-unit
`prising an elongate body with an array of spaced plural
`spacing of the arrays of both adjacent modules.
`upstanding pins at the same unit longitudinal interval,
`16. The assembly of claim 15, in which the adjacent
`said body extending beyond both longitudinal ends of
`overlapped-end surfaces of all modules include interen
`said array to de?ne body ends with a connection axis at
`gaging angle-locking formations retaining the secured
`each end, the connection axes being spaced at said unit
`angular orientation of adjacent secured modules.
`interval from the next adjacent pin, the connection
`axes being also on an alignment determined by projec
`* * * * *
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`Tristar Ex. 1012, pg. 6