SPINEEDLE
A sewing needle includes an elongated portion having a coiled portion. A method of operating a sewing needle including an elongated portion having a coiled portion with a fabric material and a thread, and the method including: (A) installing the thread to the elongated portion; (B) piercing the fabric material with the elongated portion; (C) gripping the coiled portion of the elongated portion; and (D) rotating the coiled portion of the elongated portion while the fabric material is pierced with the elongated portion.
Aspects generally relate to (and are not limited to) sewing needles, sewing machines, and methods thereof.
SUMMARYProblems associated with sewing needles were researched. After much study, an understanding of the problem and its solution has been identified, which is stated below.
Since inception, the sewing needle has gone virtually unchanged in design; save for length, the eye or opening end, and materials used in manufacturing of the sewing needle. This has limited and constrained those wishing to sew or perform simple stitching of materials together, especially when time to perform the stitching may be an issue. Limiting time as passing traditional sewing needles through fabric materials is typically performed one stitch at a time, depending on the sewer's skill and patience. This also means the spacing between each stitch was dependent on the skill and patience of the sewer.
In order to mitigate, at least in part, the problem(s) identified above, in accordance with an aspect, there is provided a sewing needle, comprising an elongated body having a coiled portion.
In order to mitigate, at least in part, the problem(s) identified above, in accordance with an aspect, there is provided a sewing machine (an automated sewing machine) having a sewing needle including an elongated body having a coiled portion.
In order to mitigate, at least in part, the problem(s) identified above, in accordance with an aspect, there is provided a method of operating a sewing needle including an elongated body having a coiled section with a fabric material and a thread, and the method including: (A) installing the thread to the elongated body; (B) piercing the fabric material with the elongated body; (C) gripping the coiled section of the elongated body; and (D) rotating the coiled section of the elongated body while the fabric material is pierced with the elongated body .
In order to mitigate, at least in part, the problem(s) identified above, in accordance with an aspect, there is provided other aspects as identified in the claims.
Other aspects and features of the non-limiting embodiments may now become apparent to those skilled in the art upon review of the following detailed description of the non-limiting embodiments with the accompanying drawings.
The non-limiting embodiments may be more fully appreciated by reference to the following detailed description of the non-limiting embodiments when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
The drawings are not necessarily to scale and may be illustrated by phantom lines, diagrammatic representations and fragmentary views. In certain instances, details not necessary for an understanding of the embodiments (and/or details that render other details difficult to perceive) may have been omitted.
Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding components throughout the several figures of the Drawings. Elements in the several figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be emphasized relative to other elements for facilitating an understanding of the various presently disclosed embodiments. In addition, common, but well-understood, elements that are useful or necessary in commercially feasible embodiments are often not depicted in order to facilitate a less obstructed view of the various embodiments of the present disclosure.
LISTING OF REFERENCE NUMERALS USED IN THE DRAWINGS
- 100 sewing needle
- 102 elongated portion
- 104 coiled portion
- 106 pointed portion
- 108 thread-coupling portion
- 110 eye
- 112 first coiled portion
- 114 second coiled portion
- 116 third coiled portion
- 118 set of coils
- 120 coil-to-coil pitch spacing
- 122 outer coil diameter
- 123 inner coil diameter
- 124 coil length
- 126 body diameter
- 200 fabric material
- 202 fabric material
- 204 user
- 206 gripping force
- 208 rotation direction
- 211 translation direction
- 212 thread
- 214 spool
- 216 stitch pattern
- 218 sewing-machine roller portion
The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the described embodiments or the application and uses of the described embodiments. As used herein, the word “exemplary” or “illustrative” means “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any implementation described herein as “exemplary” or “illustrative” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other implementations. All of the implementations described below are exemplary implementations provided to enable persons skilled in the art to make or use the embodiments of the disclosure and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure, which is defined by the claims. For purposes of the description herein, the terms “upper,” “lower,” “left,” “rear,” “right,” “front,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” and derivatives thereof shall relate to the examples as oriented in the drawings. Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any expressed or implied theory presented in the preceding technical field, background, brief summary or the following detailed description. It is also to be understood that the specific devices and processes illustrated in the attached drawings, and described in the following specification, are simply exemplary embodiments (examples), aspects and/or concepts defined in the appended claims. Hence, specific dimensions and other physical characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosed herein are not to be considered as limiting, unless the claims expressly state otherwise. It is understood that “at least one” is equivalent to “a”. The aspects (examples, alterations, modifications, options, variations, embodiments and any equivalent thereof) are described with reference to the drawings. It should be understood that the invention is limited to the subject matter provided by the claims, and that the invention is not limited to the particular aspects depicted and described.
With reference to
The sewing needle 100 may be made of any suitable material, such as plastic, high carbon steel wire, with or without nickel plating and/or 18 karat gold plating for corrosion resistance, platinum and/or titanium alloy, etc. as may be required. Persons of skill in the art will understand the ways to manufacture the sewing needle 100, so that the sewing needle 100 may have an appropriate amount or quality of stiffness, rigidity and/or hardness to suit a specific application or operating environment. The sewing needle 100 may be wound (formed) from pre-hardened stock and/or may be made from annealed steel and hardened after fabrication, etc. Depending on the design and required operating environment, any material may be used to construct the sewing needle 100.
In accordance with an example, the sewing needle 100 is adapted such that the elongated portion 102 includes a pointed portion 106 (also called a sharp end). The pointed portion 106 is configured to pierce a fabric material 200 (depicted in
In accordance with an example, the sewing needle 100 is further adapted such that the coiled portion 104 includes (and is not limited to): (A) a first coiled portion 112 (loop or coiled loop); (B) a second coiled portion 114 (loop or coiled loop) extending from the first coiled portion 112; and (C) a third coiled portion 116 (loop or coiled loop) extending from the second coiled portion 114. It will be appreciated that the coiled portion 104 may include any number of coiled portions (coiled loops). It will be appreciated that more or additional instances of the coiled portions (coiled loops) may increase the amount of friction between the fabric material 200 and the sewing needle 100, and therefore anti-friction coatings may be applied to the outer surfaces of the sewing needle 100 to counteract increase in friction when increasing the instances of the coiled positions (coiled loops).
In accordance with an example, the sewing needle 100 is further adapted such that the coiled portion 104 includes: (A) the first coiled portion 112; (B) the second coiled portion 114 extending from the first coiled portion 112; and (C) the third coiled portion 116 extending from the second coiled portion 114; and, in addition, the elongated portion 102 includes: (A) the pointed portion 106; and (B) the thread-coupling portion 108.
Referring to
In accordance with an example, the sewing needle 100 is further adapted such that the set of coils 118 has a coil-to-coil pitch spacing 120. For instance, the coil-to-coil pitch spacing 120 (pitch dimensions) is about 5.5 millimeters (mm).
In accordance with an example, the sewing needle 100 is further adapted such that the set of coils 118 have: (A) an outer coil diameter 122; and (B) an inner coil diameter 123. For instance, the outer coil diameter 122 (diameter dimension) is about 7 millimeters.
In accordance with an example, the sewing needle 100 is further adapted such that the set of coils 118 have a coil length 124.
In accordance with an example, the sewing needle 100 is further adapted such that the elongated portion 102 has a body diameter 126. For instance, the body diameter 126 (needle diameter) is about 1 millimeter. It will be appreciated that the body diameter 126 may be relatively smaller as in closer to a diameter of a standard (known) sewing needle, if desired.
In accordance with an example, the sewing needle 100 is further adapted such that the coiled portion 104 includes the set of coils 118 having: (A) the coil-to-coil pitch spacing 120; (B) the outer coil diameter 122; (C) the inner coil diameter 123; and (D) the coil length 124; in addition, the elongated portion 102 has the body diameter 126.
In accordance with an example, the sewing needle 100 is further adapted such that the coiled portion 104 includes a set of coils 118; in addition, the elongated portion 102 includes: (A) the pointed portion 106 extending from a first end of the set of coils 118; and (B) the thread-coupling portion 108 extending from a second end of the set of coils 118.
Referring to
A method of operating the sewing needle 100 with the fabric material 200 and the thread 212 includes operation (A), operation (B), operation (C), and operation (D). Operation (A) includes installing the thread 212 to the elongated portion 102 (specifically to the eye 110 defined by the thread-coupling portion 108). Operation (B) includes piercing the fabric material 200 with the elongated portion 102 (specifically with the pointed portion 106). Operation (C) includes gripping the coiled portion 104 of the elongated portion 102. Operation (D) includes rotating the coiled portion 104 of the elongated portion 102 while the fabric material 200 is pierced with the elongated portion 102. The coiled portion 104 is rotated in such a way that as the coiled portion 104 is rotated, the coiled portion 104 translates and couples the thread 212 along the fabric material 200, and the thread 212 that couples the fabric material 200 forms a stitch pattern 216 on the fabric material 200.
In accordance with the inventor, one day as the inventor was stitching together a small tear in his clothing, the inventor realized a spiral pattern of his sewing movements. This gave way to the birth of his invention, which he called the apparatus a “Spineedle”, which is a sewing needle 100 (depicted in
Once threaded, the sewing needle 100 works (is operated) by first piercing the intended fabric(s) (fabric materials), then spinning the sewing needle 100, while continuing to pierce the fabric material 200 (depicted in
There are several possible advantages of the coil shape of the sewing needle 100: (A) minimal user skill is required to achieve evenly proportioned stitches (as depicted by the stitch pattern 216 of
The sewing needle 100 provides an ingenious new shape relative to known sewing needles, which because of the coiled shape of the sewing needle 100 minimizes sewing time, while simultaneously allowing for evenly spaced stitches to be formed in the fabric material 200.
The sewing needle 100 has: (A) a pointed portion 106 configured to pierce and enter materials (fabric materials) intended for sewing; (B) an elongated portion 102 configured to travel through the materials, and to rotate a way through the materials for sewing, and (C) a thread-coupling portion 108 with the eye 110 (opening) configured to attach (hold) the thread 212 which is fed through the eye 110. The user 204 spins (rotates) the spiral shaped instance of the sewing needle 100 through the materials for stitching once the thread 212 has been attached to the sewing needle 100. Because of the coiled body of the sewing needle 100, the sewing needle 100 keeps each stitch evenly spaced as the stitches are formed to the fabric material 200, and may achieve this operation in less time when compared to sewing with traditional (known) straight-shaped sewing needles.
The sewing needle 100 provides a revolutionary shape for sewing needles, which enables most any user to easily stitch pieces of materials together without the need of great patience or great sewing skills. The coil shape of the sewing needle 100 is designed with the direction of traditional sewing action in mind, thus eliminating or reducing the need to examine the spacing between each stitch. While holding the pieces of materials together, the sewer (the user 204) need only enter the materials with the sewing needle 100, and continuously re-enter the materials while spinning the sewing needle 100 through the materials to be stitched together along the desired path (translational direction).
Completing the stitch as typically done with a traditional (known) sewing needle can end the stitch; alternatively, the sewer may simply turn the materials in the opposite direction and continue another pass with the sewing needle 100 to reinforce the stitch as needed.
The sewing needle 100 is configured to provide relatively easier facilitation of stitching thread or other materials intended for sewing with, in equal proportions in sequentially spaced intervals. The sewing needle 100 includes a spiral shape and/or a spring shaped, with an elongated portion 102 following several coils (such as, the set of coils 118).
The sewing needle 100 includes the pointed portion 106 configured to puncture (pierce) one, two or more pieces of materials, such as cloths and/or fabrics, for the purpose of stitching and/or sewing the pieces of materials together. The elongated portion 102 includes a spring shape and/or a spiral shape, following several coils.
The sewing needle 100 includes the thread-coupling portion 108 defining or having the eye 110 which when the thread 212 (or other materials are affixed) is configured to be passed through the materials (such as cloth or fabrics) intended for sewing, by means of continuously spinning or rotating the sewing needle 100, thus achieving evenly spaced stitches.
The sewing needle 100 includes a coiled shape. With the sewing needle 100, the sewer need not perform the movements of traditional (known) sewing, or the need to pull the thread 212 through a full length of the known sewing needle out after each stitch, and then repeating this step after each stitch. The sewing needle 100 achieves improved operation with the coiled shape, and the sewing needle 100 needs to be fully pulled through only when the stitching operation is competed, or to change direction of the stitch.
It will be appreciated that, in accordance with an option, the sewing needle 100 may be integrated or used in an automated sewing machine if so desired; for this case, the automated sewing machine includes a sewing-machine roller portion 218 (or a set of roller portions, as depicted). The sewing-machine roller portions 218 are used in place of the user 204 of
Any one or more of the technical features and/or any one or more sections of the technical features of the sewing needle 100 may be combined with any other one or more of the technical features and/or any other one or more sections of the technical features of the sewing needle 100 in any combination and/or permutation. Any one or more of the technical features and/or any one or more sections of the technical features of the sewing needle 100 may stand on its own merit without having to be combined with another other technical feature.
This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the invention. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal languages of the claims. It may be appreciated that the assemblies and modules described above may be connected with each other as may be required to perform desired functions and tasks that are within the scope of persons of skill in the art to make such combinations and permutations without having to describe each and every one of them in explicit terms. There is no particular assembly, or components, that are superior to any of the equivalents available to the art. There is no particular mode of practicing the disclosed subject matter that is superior to others, so long as the functions may be performed. It is believed that all the crucial aspects of the disclosed subject matter have been provided in this document. It is understood that the scope of the present invention is limited to the scope provided by the independent claim(s), and it is also understood that the scope of the present invention is not limited to: (i) the dependent claims, (ii) the detailed description of the non-limiting embodiments, (iii) the summary, (iv) the abstract, and/or (v) the description provided outside of this document (that is, outside of the instant application as filed, as prosecuted, and/or as granted). It is understood, for the purposes of this document, that the phrase “includes” is equivalent to the word “comprising.” It is noted that the foregoing has outlined the non-limiting embodiments (examples). The description is made for particular non-limiting embodiments (examples). It is understood that the non-limiting embodiments are merely illustrative as examples.
Claims
1. A sewing needle, comprising:
- an elongated portion having a coiled portion.
2. The sewing needle of claim 1, wherein:
- the elongated portion includes: a pointed portion being configured to pierce a fabric material once positioned and moved to do just so; and a thread-coupling portion being spaced apart from the pointed portion, the thread-coupling portion defining an eye, and the eye being configured to carry thread through the fabric material after the pointed portion is made to pierce the fabric material.
3. The sewing needle of claim 1, wherein:
- the coiled portion includes: a first coiled portion; a second coiled portion extending from the first coiled portion; and a third coiled portion extending from the second coiled portion.
4. The sewing needle of claim 1, wherein:
- the coiled portion includes: a first coiled portion; a second coiled portion extending from the first coiled portion; and a third coiled portion extending from the second coiled portion; and
- the elongated portion includes: a pointed portion extending from the first coiled portion, and the pointed portion being configured to pierce a fabric material once positioned and moved to do just so; and a thread-coupling portion extending from the third coiled portion, and the thread-coupling portion being spaced apart from the pointed portion, the thread-coupling portion defining an eye, and the eye being configured to carry thread through the fabric material after the pointed portion is made to pierce the fabric material.
5. The sewing needle of claim 1, wherein:
- the coiled portion includes: a set of coils having a coil-to-coil pitch spacing.
6. The sewing needle of claim 1, wherein:
- the coiled portion includes: a set of coils having: an outer coil diameter; and an inner coil diameter.
7. The sewing needle of claim 1, wherein:
- the coiled portion includes: a set of coils having a coil length.
8. The sewing needle of claim 1, wherein:
- the elongated portion has a body diameter.
9. The sewing needle of claim 1, wherein:
- the elongated portion has a body diameter; and
- the coiled portion includes: a set of coils having: a coil-to-coil pitch spacing; an outer coil diameter; an inner coil diameter; and a coil length.
10. The sewing needle of claim 1, wherein:
- the coiled portion includes: a set of coils; and
- the elongated portion includes: a pointed portion extending from a first end of the set of coils, and the pointed portion being configured to pierce a fabric material once positioned and moved to do just so; and a thread-coupling portion extending from a second end of the set of coils, and the thread-coupling portion being spaced apart from the pointed portion, the thread-coupling portion defining an eye, and the eye being configured to carry thread through the fabric material after the pointed portion is made to pierce the fabric material.
11. The sewing needle of claim 1, wherein:
- the coiled portion includes: a set of coils; and
- the elongated portion includes: a pointed portion being configured to pierce a fabric material once positioned and moved to do just so; and a thread-coupling portion being spaced apart from the pointed portion, the thread-coupling portion defining an eye, and the eye being configured to carry thread through the fabric material after the pointed portion is made to pierce the fabric material; and the pointed portion and the thread-coupling portion are positioned one over the other on a circumference of the set of coils.
12. The sewing needle of claim 1, wherein:
- the coiled portion includes: a helix-shaped structure.
13. The sewing needle of claim 1, wherein:
- the coiled portion includes: a continuous series of loops.
14. The sewing needle of claim 1, wherein:
- the coiled portion includes: a continuous series of loops including loops each having the same diameter.
15. An automated sewing machine, comprising the sewing needle of any one of claims 1 to 14.
16. The automated sewing machine of claim 15, further comprising:
- a sewing-machine roller portion 218 configured to: contact the sewing needle 100; and impart a rotational force to the sewing needle 100.
17. A method of operating a sewing needle including an elongated portion having a coiled portion with a fabric material and a thread, the method comprising:
- installing the thread to the elongated portion;
- piercing the fabric material with the elongated portion;
- gripping the coiled portion of the elongated portion; and
- rotating the coiled portion of the elongated portion while the fabric material is pierced with the elongated portion.
18. The method of claim 17, wherein:
- the coiled portion is rotated in such a way that as the coiled portion is rotated, the coiled portion translates and couples the thread along the fabric material, and the thread that couples the fabric material forms a stitch pattern on the fabric material.
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 30, 2014
Publication Date: Nov 5, 2015
Inventor: DANIEL WON CHO (BRAMPTON)
Application Number: 14/265,873