Shirt Bead Tool

Abstract

A beading device is disclosed that can be used to assist users when threading beads onto clothing and accessories. The beading device comprises a handle and an elongated wire. The elongated wire is secured to the middle of the handle via threading an end of the wire through a continuous opening in the middle of the handle and then securing the ends of the wire together to form a continuous loop. Beads are then threaded onto the loop of the elongated wire. A user then opens the loop and places a piece of fringe through the wire loop. The user then moves the beads, transferring the beads from the loop of the elongated wire to the fringe. The user then pulls the end of the fringe out from the wire loop and ties a knot in the end.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE

This application claims priority from Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/527,307 filed Aug. 25, 2011.

BACKGROUND

It can be difficult to attach beads onto clothing, purses, necklaces, hair braids, or any other kind of accessory. Trying to accomplish the task of threading beads onto an article by hand can add more time onto a project, which can cause frustration and exhaustion. Additionally, some people with eye and/or dexterity problems may have difficulty threading in general. If this is the case, they may have to enlist the help of other people, which can add more time and expense to the project, which is also undesirable. An effective solution that prevents these problems is necessary.

There is a need for an improved beading device that allows people to decorate their clothing and accessories easily, quickly, and fashionably. The present invention discloses a generally T-shaped tool that can be used to attach beads to fringe on clothing and other accessories. This device can also be used to thread many other items quicker than doing so by hand. Hobbyists, clothing designers, and anyone who likes to add their own personal touch to his or her clothing and accessories will appreciate the convenience and style afforded by this device.

SUMMARY

The following presents a simplified summary in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the disclosed innovation. This summary is not an extensive overview, and it is not intended to identify key/critical elements or to delineate the scope thereof. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.

The subject matter disclosed and claimed herein, in one aspect thereof, comprises a beading device that can be used to assist users when threading beads onto clothing and accessories, eliminating the hassle of doing so by hand. The beading device comprises a handle with a continuous opening therein, and an elongated wire comprised of a first end and a second end. The elongated wire is secured to the handle via threading one of said first or second ends of the wire through the continuous opening in the handle and then securing the first and second ends of the wire together. In this manner, the elongated wire is secured to the handle to form a loop such that the ends of the wire are adjacent to one another.

Beads are then placed in the desired pattern onto the elongated wire loop by closing the loop to create one strand and threading the beads onto the strand. The loop is then opened, and a user then places a piece of fringe or other material, clothing, necklaces, hair braids, etc., through the wire loop, making a loop out of the fringe or other material. The user then moves the beads, transferring the beads from the elongated wire to the looped fringe, and then the user pulls the end of the fringe out from the loop of the elongated wire. A knot is then tied at the end of the fringe to retain the beads on the fringe.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, certain illustrative aspects of the disclosed innovation are described herein in connection with the following description and the annexed drawings. These aspects are indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principles disclosed herein can be employed and is intended to include all such aspects and their equivalents. Other advantages and novel features will become apparent from the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a beading device in accordance with the disclosed architecture.

FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of the beading device used to decorate a piece of fabric in accordance with the disclosed architecture.

FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of a beading device in use in accordance with the disclosed architecture.

FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of the beading device in use in accordance with the disclosed architecture.

FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective view of the beading device in use in accordance with the disclosed architecture.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The innovation is now described with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to refer to like elements throughout. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding thereof. It may be evident, however, that the innovation can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form in order to facilitate a description thereof.

The present invention discloses a beading device that allows users to decorate their clothing and other accessories easily, quickly, and fashionably. The beading device comprises a handle with a continuous opening therein, and an elongated wire comprised of a first end and a second end. The elongated wire is secured to the handle via threading either the first or second end of the wire through the continuous opening in the handle and then securing the first and second ends of the wire together to form a continuous loop.

Thus, the generally T-shaped tool can be used to apply beads to fringe on clothing and other accessories, eliminating the hassle of doing so by hand. This device can also be used to thread many other items quicker than doing so by hand. Hobbyists, clothing designers, and anyone who likes to add his or her own personal touch to their clothing and accessories will appreciate the convenience and style afforded by this device.

Referring initially to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates a beading device 100 that can be used to assist users when threading beads onto clothing and accessories, eliminating the hassle of doing so by hand. The beading device 100 comprises a handle 102 comprising a first end 104 and a second end 106. Typically, the handle 102 is cylindrical in shape such as a dowel rod, however any other suitable shape can be used as is known in the art without affecting the overall concept of the invention.

The handle 102 would generally be constructed of wood or plastic, such as polycarbonate, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), or acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), though any other suitable material may be used to manufacture the handle 102 as is known in the art without affecting the overall concept of the invention. The handle 102 is approximately between 3 and 6 inches long as measured from the first end 104 to the second end 106, and approximately between ¼ and ½ inches in diameter.

The beading device 100 further comprises an elongated wire 108 comprising a first end 110 and a second end 112, wherein the elongated wire 108 is preferably secured to the middle portion 114 of the handle 102. The elongated wire 108 would be secured to the middle portion 114 of the handle 102 via threading the first end 110 or the second end 112 through a continuous opening 116 in the middle 114 of the handle 102 and then securing the first end 110 and the second end 112 together to form a continuous loop. The first end 110 and the second end 112 can be secured together via gluing, tying, twisting, soldering, screwing, etc. or any other suitable fastening means as is known in the art.

Additionally, the elongated wire 108 can be secured to the middle 114 of the handle 102 via other suitable methods, such as gluing, screwing, or tying the first end 110 and the second end 112 directly to the handle 102, etc. or utilizing any other suitable fastening means as is known in the art. Furthermore, the elongated wire 108 is secured to the handle 102 to form a loop such that the first end 110 and the second end 112 are adjacent to one another. However, the formation of a loop is not meant as a limitation and the elongated wire 108 can form any other suitable shape as is known in the art as well.

Further, the elongated wire 108 would typically be made of metal, such as copper, aluminum, steel, etc. though any other suitable material may be used to manufacture the elongated wire 108 as is known in the art without affecting the overall concept of the invention. The elongated wire 108 is approximately between 2 and 5 inches long as measured from the first end 110 to the second end 112, and approximately between 0.15 inches and 0.025 inches in diameter.

The elongated wire 108 could also comprise strands of wire twisted together to form a thicker piece of wire. The strands of wire would be twisted such that the elongated wire 108 is axially uniform along its full length. Additionally, the elongated wire 108 can comprise a plastic coating disposed along a full length of the elongated wire 108, from first end 110 to second end 112. The plastic coating would generally be constructed of plastic, such as vinyl or polyvinyl chloride (PVC), though any other suitable material may be used to manufacture the coating as is known in the art without affecting the overall concept of the invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates the beading device 100 used to decorate a piece of fabric 200. The beading device 100 comprises a handle 102 with a continuous opening 116 therein, and an elongated wire 108 comprised of a first end 110 (as shown in FIGS. 4-5) and a second end 112 (as shown in FIGS. 4-5). The elongated wire 108 is secured to the handle 102 via threading either the first 110 or second 112 end of the wire 108 through the continuous opening 116 in the handle 102 and then securing the first 110 and second 112 ends of the wire 108 together to form a continuous loop.

Beads 202 are then placed in the desired pattern onto the loop of the elongated wire 108 by closing the loop to create one strand and threading the beads 202 onto the strand. The loop is then opened, and a user then places the piece of fringe 200 or other material, clothing, necklaces, hair braids, etc., through the wire loop, making a loop out of the fringe 200 or other material. The user then moves the beads 202, transferring the beads 202 from the elongated wire 108 to the looped fringe 200, and then the user pulls the end of the fringe 200 out from the loop of the elongated wire 108. A knot is then tied at the end of the fringe 200 to retain the beads 202 on the fringe 200. Once the knot is tied, the user moves onto the next piece of fringe.

FIGS. 3-5 illustrate the beading device 100 in use. In operation, a user would select a beading device 100 in a specific design and/or color. A user would then select a desired amount of beads 202 in a specific design and/or color, and would arrange these beads 202 in a desired pattern. Beads 202 are then placed in the desired pattern onto the loop of the elongated wire 108 which is comprised of a first end 110 and a second end 112. Specifically, the beads 202 are placed onto the elongated wire 108 by closing the loop to create one strand and threading the beads 202 onto the strand. The loop is then opened, and a user then places a piece of fringe 200 or other material, clothing, necklaces, hair braids, etc., through the wire loop. The piece of fringe 200 is threaded through the wire loop and the end is bent over on itself, making a loop out of the fringe 200 or other material.

The user then moves the beads 202, transferring the beads 202 from the elongated wire 108 to the looped fringe 200. The user then pulls the end of the fringe 200 out from the loop of the elongated wire 108. The end of the fringe 200 is then knotted to retain the beads 202 on the fringe 200. The user can then move onto the next piece of fringe. Once finished, the user can store the beading device 100 along with their other bead supplies and accessories.

What has been described above includes examples of the claimed subject matter. It is, of course, not possible to describe every conceivable combination of components or methodologies for purposes of describing the claimed subject matter, but one of ordinary skill in the art may recognize that many further combinations and permutations of the claimed subject matter are possible. Accordingly, the claimed subject matter is intended to embrace all such alterations, modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Furthermore, to the extent that the term “includes” is used in either the detailed description or the claims, such term is intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising” as “comprising” is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim.

Claims

1. A beading device comprising:

an elongated wire comprising a first end and a second end; and

a handle, wherein the elongated wire is secured by the first end and the second end to the handle.

2. The beading device of claim 1, wherein the elongated wire is secured to the handle to form a loop such that the first end and the second end are adjacent to one another.

3. The beading device of claim 2, wherein the elongated wire is secured to the handle via threading the first end through a continuous opening in the handle and securing the first end and the second end together to form a loop.

4. The beading device of claim 1, wherein the handle is a wooden dowel.

5. The beading device of claim 1, wherein the handle is approximately between 2.5 and 6.5 inches in length.

6. The beading device of claim 1, wherein the elongated wire is metal.

7. The beading device of claim 6, wherein the elongated wire forms a loop and the loop is approximately between 3 and 6 inches in length.

8. The beading device of claim 6, wherein the elongated wire comprises strands of wire twisted together such that the elongated wire is axially uniform along its full length.

9. The beading device of claim 1, wherein a plastic coating is disposed along a full length of the elongated wire.

10. A beading device comprising:

an elongated wire comprising a first end and a second end; and

a handle, wherein the elongated wire is secured by the first end and the second end to a middle of the handle, and wherein the elongated wire is secured to the handle to form a loop such that the first end and the second end are adjacent to one another.

11. The beading device of claim 10, wherein the handle is a wooden dowel.

12. The beading device of claim 11, wherein the handle is approximately between 2.5 and 6.5 inches in length.

13. The beading device of claim 10, wherein the elongated wire is metal.

14. The beading device of claim 13, wherein the elongated wire forms a loop and the loop is approximately between 3 and 6 inches in length.

15. The beading device of claim 10, wherein the elongated wire is secured to the handle via threading the first end through a continuous opening in the middle of the handle and securing the first end and the second end together.

16. A beading device comprising:

an elongated wire comprising a first end and a second end; and

a handle, wherein the elongated wire is secured by the first end and the second end to a middle of the handle via threading the first end through a continuous opening in the middle of the handle and securing the first end and the second end together; and wherein the elongated wire is secured to the handle to form a loop such that the first end and the second end are adjacent to one another.

17. The beading device of claim 16, wherein the elongated wire is metal.

18. The beading device of claim 17, wherein the elongated wire forms a loop and the loop is approximately between 3 and 6 inches in length.

19. The beading device of claim 17, wherein the elongated wire comprises strands of wire twisted together such that the elongated wire is axially uniform along its full length.

20. The beading device of claim 16, wherein a plastic coating is disposed along a full length of the elongated wire.