MATERIAL WINDER

Abstract

A material winder is used winding long, loose straps of material, such as handwraps used in boxing. Often, long, loose straps of material are awkward to store and may look unkempt if stored unwound. The material winder provides a compact and portable device for quickly and conveniently rolling up long strips of material into tight rolls for easy storage and use. The material winder may include a handle having a material guide attached thereto. A winder core may receive material through the material guide. The winder core may be rotated to wind material about the winder core while the material guide ensures the material winds in an even roll.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to material winding devices and, more particularly, to a portable device for rolling strips of material, such as boxing hand wraps.

Handwraps help protect the bones and tendons in a boxer's hands. In addition, they will help support a boxer's wrist and thumb. To help prevent injuries, it is recommended to always wrap one's hands before working out. There are several styles of handwraps available. Mexican style, popular in the gym, are made with elastic material, and contour to your hand. Handwraps may range from about 120 inches for smaller hands, to 170 inches or longer for larger hands. There is no easy and convenient way to wind these handwraps when not in use.

As can be seen, there is a need for an apparatus to conveniently wind material, such as handwraps.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, a device for winding material comprises a handle having an axle extending therefrom; a material guide attached to the handle, the material guide disposed parallel to an axis of the axle; a tube adapted to fit over the axle; a clip resiliently disposable away from the tube; and a crank attached to one end of the tube.

In another aspect of the present invention, a method for wrapping a strip of material comprises retaining an end of the material onto a tube with a clip, the clip being resiliently disposable away from the tube; sliding the tube onto an axle; passing the material through a material guide attached to the handle and disposed parallel to an axis of the axle; securing a handle with one hand of a user, the handle being attached to the axle; and turning a crank, the cranking causing the tube to rotate and material to be wound on the tube.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a material winder, in use, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the material winder of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the material winder of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a material winder according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Various inventive features are described below that can each be used independently of one another or in combination with other features.

Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a material winder for winding long, loose straps of material, such as handwraps used in boxing. Often, long, loose straps of material are awkward to store and may look unkempt if stored unwound. The material winder provides a compact and portable device for quickly and conveniently rolling up long strips of material into tight rolls for easy storage and use. The material winder may include a handle having a material guide attached thereto. A winder core may receive material through the material guide. The winder core may be rotated to wind material about the winder core while the material guide ensures the material winds in an even roll.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 through 3, a material winder 10 may include a handle 14 attached to an axle 26. The axle 26 may be disposed to extend coaxially from the handle 14, as shown in FIG. 3. An arm 16 may attach to the junction of the handle 14 and the axle 26. The arm 16 may extend orthogonally from a lengthwise axis of the handle 14 and the axle 26. A material guide 18 may be disposed on the end of the arm 16. The material guide 18 may extend parallel to and directly above the axle 26. The material guide 18 may guide material 12 as it is being wrapped.

In some embodiments, the material guide 18 may include three flexible members, extending from the arm 16. The three members may be disposed adjacent to each other, with the outer two members having a hook-shaped end. The material 12 may be threaded through the material guide 18 as shown in FIG. 1, with the hook-shaped ends preventing the material to be misaligned while wrapping. Other configurations of the material guide 18 may be within the scope of the present invention. For example, the ends may be L-shaped or may simply be straight ends. In some embodiments, the material guide 18 may include a slot (not shown) to thread material through as it is being wound.

A tube 22 may be adapted to fit over the axle 26. The tube may include a crank 20 attached to the tube 22. In some embodiments, the crank may be formed in an L-shape, with the end of the crank 20 extending in a direction opposite of the tube 22. This end may have a spinning cover disposed thereover to aid in spinning the tube 22, as discussed in greater detail below. A clip 24 may be disposed on the tube 22. The clip 24 may be attached at one end of the tube and extend over at least a portion of the tube 22. The clip 24 may be resiliently deformed away from the tube 22, thereby allowing an end of a strip of material 12 to be placed thereunder, holding the end of the material 12 as the material winder 10 begins to wind material around the tube 22 by spinning the tube 22 about the axle 26, while holding onto the handle 14. The clip 24 may be any shape, so long as the end of material may be secured to the tube 22 by the clip 24. In some embodiments, the clip 24 has an elongated S-shape.

Referring also to FIG. 4, in some embodiments, a cone 28 may be disposed over the axle 26. The cone 28 may freely spin on the axle 26. The cone 28 may receive the tube 22 and help frictionally lock the tube 22 in place during use. This optional feature may be useful to prevent the tube 22 from moving on the axle 26 during use, resulting in a well-aligned wound material.

The material winder 10 may be made of various materials, such as plastic, stainless steel, other metals, or combinations thereof. In some embodiments, the handle 14 may be coated or formed from a material that is easy to grip, such as rubber. The axle 26 and the material guide 18 may be have a length of about 5 inches, thereby allowing material up to 5 inches to be wound. Of course, the size of the material winder 10 may be sized to match a particular application.

The length of the arm 16 may be configured to the length and thickness of the material to be wound. For example, if winding shorter lengths of material, the arm 16 may be shorter than if winding longer lengths of material. Typically, the arm may extend from about 2 to about 5 inches.

The material winder 10 may be made from known methods and may be made in parts to be separately assembled. In some embodiments, the material winder may be made from injection molded plastic.

To use the material winder 10, a user may place one end of the material 12 under the clip 24. The tube 22 may then be placed on the axle 26 and the material may be disposed through the material guide 18. The user may hold the handle 14 in one hand and turn the crank 20, causing the tube 22 to rotate and wind the material therearound. Once the material 12 is fully wound on the tube 22, the tube 22 is slipped off the axle 26 and the material 12 may be slid off the tube 22.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

Claims

1. A device for winding material, comprising:

a handle having an axle extending therefrom;

a material guide attached to the handle, the material guide disposed parallel to an axis of the axle;

a tube adapted to fit over the axle;

a clip resiliently disposable away from the tube; and

a crank attached to one end of the tube.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising an arm, the arm extending orthogonally from the handle, the arm connecting the material guide with the handle.

3. The device of claim 1, further comprising a cone, the cone rotationally disposed on the axle, the cone adapted to receive an open end of the tube and frictionally retain the tube on the axle.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the clip has an elongated S-shape.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the material guide includes at least two flexible members adjacent to each other.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein at least one of the at least two flexible members has a hooked-end.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the material guide includes three flexible members adjacent to each other, where outer ones of the flexible members have hooked ends.

8. A method for wrapping a strip of material, comprising:

retaining an end of the material onto a tube with a clip, the clip being resiliently disposable away from the tube;

sliding the tube onto an axle;

passing the material through a material guide attached to the handle and disposed parallel to an axis of the axle;

securing a handle with one hand of a user, the handle being attached to the axle; and

turning a crank, the cranking causing the tube to rotate and material to be wound on the tube.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising locking the tube on the axle by inserting the tube into a cone disposed on the axle.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

removing the tube from the axle when the material is fully wound on the tube; and

removing the wound material from the tube.