Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02752832 2011-09-20
HAIR REMOVAL APPARATUS AND CLIP
CROSS REFERf3NCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001;[ This application is based on U.S Pending Patent Application
No: 12/886,467, filed September 20, 2010 which is incorporated herein
by reference in its entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[00021 The present invention relates generally to the field of hair removing
apparatuses and more particularly to threading apparatuses clips and kits for
plucking
Out body hairs.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[00031 Removing of hair from various parts of the body is an ancient custom,
carried out by women as well as men throughout the history and in various
religions
and cultures all over the world. I-lair can be removed from the facial area
(e.-
eyebrows hair or hairs that grow anywhere else on a subject's face); from the
axilla
area: and from the arms, legs and groins areas, for instance.
[00041 There are various methods for removing of hairs from various areas in a
subject's body. Perhaps one of the most common n iethods of removing unwanted
hair
is to use a razor or other type of blade that shaves off the unwanted hair at
skin level.
Among the drawbacks of this method are that it is quite easy to cut oneself,
the results
are often rather short-lived and may require at least daily shaves, and this
is not a
practical method for precisely removing individual hairs.
[00051 Another method involves applying harsh chemicals to the area of the
skin
that has unwanted hair. The chemicals remain on the skin until the hair is
dissolved
or burned off. Use of this depilation method may cause chemical burns or
allergic
reactions or both. Furthermore, the results may be inconsistent or short-
lived,
requiring additional or frequent re-applications. Moreover, this method may he
too
harsh and inexact for removing facial hair.
[00061 Removing hairs from their follicles is another option. Areas where the
hair was removed from the roots remains hairless longer than if other
depilatory
CA 02752832 2011-09-20
methods have been used. Tweezers allow the user to remove each hair
individually,
but is a time-consuming and imprecise endeavor when removing all of the hairs
from
a particular area. Waxing and sugaring involve the application of a wax or
sugar
solution to the skin that, when removed, removes the hair with it. While these
methods are suitable for removing facial hair, they are also painful and the
top layer
of skin may be stripped along with the hair.
[00071 Threading is another method of removing hair from the follicles, most
frequently used for removing facial hair. This method dates back to ancient
Egyptian
times and is quite common throughout Asia and India.
[00081 Threading requires a trained practitioner to hold a twisted
intersection
point of cotton thread in her teeth and hands. The practitioner then
manipulates the
twisted section of the intersection point in order to catch and remove the
unwanted
hairs. There are many benefits to threading. This precise, delicate, and
gentle method
of removing facial hair is less painful than waxing and sugaring, there are no
chemicals or special tools required, and the practitioner has a great deal of
control
over exactly which hairs are to be removed.
[0009] However, threading is an art that requires a trained practitioner, and
is
difficult or even impossible to practice on oneself, and therefore, one must
schedule
time and spend money for the service. Furthermore, the art of threading is
held by
few skilled practitioners and in many countries, where plucking out hair is
popular,
there are hardly any people who can practice this art and skill.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] The present invention, in some embodiments thereof, provides an
apparatus for plucking out hairs of a subject using a threading method for the
removal
of the subject's hair, clips for holding the threads used in the apparatuses
and kits for
their combination.
[0011] In one embodiment the invention the invention provides an apparatus for
removing hairs from the skin of a subject, said apparatus comprising; a pair
of pincer-
parts, each part having: a distal end, a proximal end, an external surface and
an
internal surface, said pincer parts being hingedly attached and biased toward
each
other at their distal end; and a single thread having: a first end portion; a
second end
portion; a central portion extending between the first and second end
portions; and a
stopper disposed on the first and second end portions, said thread being
twisted
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together defining a twisted portion advancing the twisted portion to engage a
hair
upon repeatedly separating the distal ends of said pincer-parts by compressing
the
proximal ends toward each other.
[0012] In another embodiment, the invention provides a thread clip,
comprising: a
first thread having a first end portion, a second end portion, a central
portion
extending between the first and second end portions, and stoppers on each of
the first
and second end portions; a first thread holder defining spaced first and
second slots,
the first slot being configured not to pass the stopper of the thread, the
first thread
holder configured to allow winding of the central portion of the thread on the
thread
holder between its first and second slots; and a tray having a toothed crown
configured to releasably engage the first thread holder.
[0013] According to some embodiments, the invention provides an article of
manufacture comprising: a thread holder defining spaced first and second
slots, a
winding surface portion disposed between the first and second slots and
adapted to
receive a wound thread, two opposed sides, and a grip portion positioned and
configured to be engaged while unwinding the wound thread; and a thread
having: a
first end portion, a second end portion, a central portion extending between
the first
and second end portions, and stoppers on the first and second end portions, in
which
the central portion of the thread is wound on the winding surface portion
between the
first and second slots; in which the dimensions and the spacing of the spaced
first and
second slots are such that substantially the entire central portion of the
thread is
wound onto the thread holder, the stopper on the first end portion of the
thread is
positioned on one side of the thread holder and the stopper on the second end
portion
of the thread is positioned on the other side of the thread holder.
[0014] According to some embodiments the invention provides, in combination;
an apparatus for removing hairs from the skin of a subject, said apparatus
comprising;
a pair of pincer-parts, each part having: a distal end, a proximal end, an
external
surface and an internal surface, said pincer parts being hingedly attached and
biased
toward each other at their distal end; and a single thread having: a first end
portion; a
second end portion; a central portion extending between the first and second
end
portions; and a stopper disposed on the first and second end portions, said
thread
being twisted together defining a twisted portion advancing the twisted
portion to
engage a hair upon repeatedly separating the distal ends of said pincer-parts
by
compressing the proximal ends toward each other; and a thread clip,
comprising: a
3
CA 02752832 2011-09-20
first thread having a first end portion, a second end portion, a central
portion
extending between the first and second end portions, and stoppers on each of
the first
and second end portions; a first thread holder defining spaced first and
second slots,
the first slot being configured not to pass the stopper of the thread, the
first thread
holder configured to allow winding of the central portion of the thread on the
thread
holder between its first and second slots; and a tray having a toothed crown
configured to releasably engage the first thread holder.
[0015] According to some embodiments, the invention provides a kit comprising:
at least a first thread having a first end portion, a second end portion, a
central portion
between the first and second end portions, and stoppers on the first and
second end
portions; at least a first thread holder defining spaced first and second
slots, at least
one slot being configured to engage a stopper of the thread and allow winding
of the
central portion of the thread on the thread holder between its first and
second slots; a
tray having a holder configured to releasably engage the first thread holder;
and a
threading hair removal apparatus comprising a frame configured for receiving
two
portions of at least one thread twisted together to define a twisted portion
and for
advancing the twisted portion to engage a hair.
4
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BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016) The subject matter regarded as the invention will become more clearly
understood in light of the ensuing description of embodiments herein, given by
way of
example and for purposes of illustrative discussion of the present invention
only, with
reference to the accompanying drawings, in which
Fig. 1 is a schematic illustration of a three-dimensional isometric front view
of an
apparatus for plucking of a subject's hairs, according to some embodiments of
the
invention;
Fig. 2 is a schematic illustration of a three-dimensional isometric back view
of an
apparatus for plucking of a subject's hairs, according to some embodiments of
the
invention;
Fig. 3A and Fig. 3B schematically illustrate side views of an apparatus for
plucking of
a subject's hairs, in a closed an open positions, respectively, according to
some
embodiments of the invention;
Fig. 4A, Fig. 4B and Fig. 4C schematically illustrate the process of placing a
thread in
the apparatus to allow the apparatus to hold the thread in a predefined
configuration,
according to some embodiments of the invention;
Fig. 5 is a schematic illustration of an apparatus for plucking of a subject's
hairs
having a motor unit, according to some embodiments of the invention;
Fig. 6 shows an embodiment of the tray of the clip (6a) including a plurality
of thread
holders and an embodiment of a thread (6b);
Fig. 7 shows an embodiment of the covered clip;
Fig. 8 shows embodiments of several views a thread holder according to the
invention, in which 8a is a perspective; 8b is a side view; 8c is a top view
and 8d is a
side view including the thread as shown in Fig. 6b;
Fig. 9 shows views of an embodiment of the clip tray, where Fig. 9a shows a
top
view, 9b shows a side view and 9c shows a perspective; and
Fig 10 shows views of an embodiment of the clip cover, where Fig. 10a shows a
side
view, lob shows a top view and lOc shows a perspective
[0417] The drawings together with the description make apparent to those
skilled
in the art how the invention may be embodied in practice.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS OF SOME EMBODIMENTS OF THE
INVENTION
[0015] The present invention, in some embodiments thereof, provides an
apparatus 100 for plucking out hairs of a subject using a threading method for
the
removal of the subject's hair, clips 200 for holding the threads used in the
apparatuses
and kits for their combination and articles of manufacture 300 for holding the
threads
in the clips.
[0019] The apparatus 100 may be suited to pluck hairs of any area in the
subject's
body such as facial hair (e.g. eyebrows, mustache and the like), hairs in the
groins and
axilla (armpit) area and the like.
[0020) The subject may be a person which hairs are being plucked by the
apparatus 100. In another embodiment, the subject may be an animal.
[0021] Any user, including the subject himtherself, may use the apparatus 100
to
pluck the subject's hairs.
[0022] The apparatus 100 may be designed in various shapes and sizes to be
suited for hair plucking of different areas of subjects' bodies. For example,
an
apparatus 100 for plucking facial hairs may be smaller than an apparatus 100
for
axilla and groins hairs.
[0023] The principles and uses of the teachings of the present invention may
be
better understood with reference to the accompanying description, figures and
examples. It is to be understood that the details set forth herein do not
construe a
limitation to an application of the invention. Furthermore, it is to be
understood that
the invention can be carried out or practiced in various ways and that the
invention
can be implemented in embodiments other than the ones outlined in the
description
below.
[0024] Reference is made to Fig. I and Fig. 2, which schematically illustrate
a
three-dimensional isometric front and back view, respectively, of the
apparatus 100
for plucking of subject's hairs, according to some embodiments of the
invention.
[0025] According to these embodiments, the apparatus 100 for removing hairs
from the skin of a subject, comprises; a pair of pincer-parts .110, each part
having: a
distal end, a proximal end 111, an external surface and an internal surface,
said pincer
parts 110 being hingedly attached 120 and biased toward each other at their
distal end;
and a single thread 10 having: a first and second end portions 12; a central
portion 13
6
CA 02752832 2011-09-20
extending between the first and second end portions 12; and a stopper 11
disposed on
the first and second end portions 12, said thread 10 being twisted together
defining a
twisted portion 15 advancing the twisted portion to engage a hair upon
repeatedly
separating the distal ends of said pincer-parts 110 by compressing the
proximal ends
toward each other.
[0026] In one embodiment, proximal end 111 serve as a handle, as illustrated
in
Fig. 1, enabling a user to hold these edges, using his/her fingers, to
manually rotate
the pincer parts 110 around a predefined axis of rotation 99, by moving the
edges of
the handles 111, closer to one another. The distal end of the pincer-parts 110
may
create a pincer-like space in which the thread can be held, where the plucking
of the
subject's hairs may be carried out by approximating one side of the apparatus
100
with the thread 10 held thereby, and coupling it to a desirable area of the
subject's
body (close to the skin of that area).
[0027] According to some embodiments of the invention, the handles Ill may be
used to manually operate the apparatus 100 by alternatively pressing the
handles 111
against each other (clutching the handles 111) and releasing the handles 111,
allowing
them to retract back to an open position. To press the handles 111, the user
may be
required to use the fingers of one of his/her hands for clutching of the
handles 111.
[0028] According to some embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in Fig.
1
and Fig. 2, the pincer-parts 110 may be hingedly connected to one another 120.
The
pair of hingedly connected pincer-parts 110 may create a structure (e.g. a
pincer-
shaped structure) that is capable of opening and closing.
[0029] According to some embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in Fig.
I
and Fig. 2, the hinged connection 120 may comprise a spring 121 as the biasing
means 121 having two edges each protruding and holding the inner surface of a
pincer-pact 110, where the spring may be mounted to a pivot inserted
therethrough.
The hinge 120 may further comprise a first locker 122A and a second locker and
1228 enabling to hold the hinge and spring '121 in place.
[0030] According to some embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in Fig.
2
and 6b, the pincer-parts 110 may comprise receiving-openings 115 such as
curved
slits or holes, suited to receive and hold the stopper parts 11 of the thread
10 to allow
the thread 10 to be held tightly in the preferable configuration. The proximal
end Ill
may further define receiving-openings 115 slits that are suited to hold the
middle part
7
CA 02752832 2011-09-20
13 of the thread 10, where the receiving-openings 115 slits situated at the
distal end of
the pincer-parts 110 may be suited to receive and hold the thread's 10
stoppers 11.
[0031] According to some embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in
Fig.1,
the thread 10 ends 12 may be connected to stoppers 11, which may be objects
that are
larger in diameter than the cross sectional diameter of the thread 10. The
stoppers 11
may be made from any material known in the art such as plastic, rubber, the
thread 10
materials and the like.
[0032] As illustrated in Fig. 1, the slits receiving-openings 115 of the
distal ends
of the pincer-parts 110 may define a larger opening 116 to allow receiving the
stoppers 11 and holding them therein.
[0033] The receiving-openings 115 may hold the thread 14) in a tight
configuration to allow plucking of hairs, using thread tension.
[0034] According to some embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in Fig.
2,
the adjustable fastener 125 may comprises a coiled spring 126 and a hook 127,
where
the hook 127 is connected to one end of the coiled spring 126 and the other
end of the
spring 126 is connected to the hinged connection 120.
[0035] The adjustable stretching means 125 may be fasten to the thread 10 and
facilitate in farther stretching of the thread 10, once the thread 10 is
already held by
the receiving-openings 115.
[00361 As illustrated in Fig3a and Fig. 3B, the coiled spring 126 may enable
stretching to reach the thread 10 while the hook 127 enables fastening to the
thread 10
and allow holding the thread 10 in a more stretched manner.
[00371 According to some embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in Fig.
1,
the distal end of each pincer-part 110 may be arched, where the inner side of
those
frontal arched parts may comprise cavities 113 to facilitate the durability of
the
structure, since the actuation of the handles Ill may apply pressure that can
break
those parts in one embodiment, depending on the size, structure and materials
from
which the pincer-parts 110 are made.
[0038] Additionally, or alternatively, as illustrated in Fig. 1, the outer
parts of the
handles 111 may be made from rough materials or comprise protrusions 112 to
increase the roughness of the handles' 111 outer surface and thereby to
facilitate the
user in holding and rotating the handles 111, since a smooth surface may cause
the
user's hand to slip from the handle 111.
8
CA 02752832 2011-09-20
[0039] According to some embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in Fig.
3A
and Fig. 30, the thread 10 may be held by the pincer-parts 110 in such a
manner that
the thread 10 is wrapped around itself (twisted) creating at least one knot 17
having
intersection points 15 where parts of the thread 10 intersect. The knots 17
may be
moveably held by the pincer-parts 110 and the adjustable fastener 125. The
knot 17
may be a loop-shaped tie created by the wrapping of one part of the thread 10
on
another.
[0040] When the apparatus's 100 pincer parts 110 are in a full closed
position, as
illustrated in Fig. 3A, the knots 17 of the thread 10 may reach a predefined
first end
spot, where the knots 17 may reach another second spot when reaching the full
open
position of the pincer-parts 110, as illustrated in Fig. 3B. The movement of
the knot
17 from the open position to the closed position and vice versa defines a
movement-
path A-A. According to some embodiments of the invention, the alternatively
changing in the positions (open and closed) may correspondently alternatively
change
the tension in each of the knots 17 since once side of the movement-path A-A
may
create less tension than the other thereby enabling the knots 17 to slightly
open once
shifting to one of the sides and then tightening back when shifting to the
other side,
due to the alternating opening and closing movement of the handles 111. The
pincer-
parts 11.0 may be curved, as illustrated in Fig. I and Fig. 2 to allow the
thread to
change the tension applied on the knot 17 when the knot 17 moves from one end
of
the movement-path A-A to the other.
[0041] The opening and closing of the pincer-parts 110 may be carried out by
pressing the handles Ill toward each other and releasing the pincer-parts 110
handles
111 around the biasing hinge 121 such that the knots 17 in the thread 10
respectively
moves back and forth along the movement-path A-A, where the knots 17 enables
tightening while moving along the movement-path A-A, towards one of the
movement-path's A-A ends and slightly loosening when moving towards the
opposite
ends of the movement-path A-A.
[00421 The knot 17 may enable capturing of the subject's hairs that are
proximate
to the movement-path A-A inside the knot 17 and plucking of the hairs by
tightening
around the captured hairs when reaching one end of the movement-path A-A and
pulling them with the moving the knot 17 along the movement-path A -A towards
the
other end of the path A-A. By rotating the handles 111 back and forth with
enough
rotation speed and torque, the knots 17 of the thread 10 may tighten and
loosen
9
CA 02752832 2011-09-20
alternatively and thereby pluck whatever the knots 17 captures on their
movement
along movement-path A-A and then return to a more loosen position when
returning
back to one of the path's A ends and so forth.
[0043] As illustrated in Fig. 3A and Fig. 3B, the thread 10 may be held in
such a
manner that the knots 17 may slightly protrude one of the apparatus's 100
sides. This
side is the one that should be proximate or coupled to the subject's skin and
body area
to perform the plucking process and hair removal.
10044] According to some embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in Fig.
1,
Fig. 3A and Fig. 3B, the second lock 1225 may be connected at one side of the
biased
hinge connector 121, which is proximate to the subject body area and the first
locker
122A may be connected to the opposite side of the biased hinge connector 121.
Therefore, the second locker 122B may be positioned between the pincer-parts
110
and sunken therein, to prevent the locker 122B from interfering with the knots
17
reaching the hairs of the subject when proximate to the subject's skin.
[00451 According to some embodiments of the invention, to pluck the subject's
hairs from a predefined desirable body area, the user is required to first
position the
apparatus 100 and especially the protruding area of the knots 17 and movement-
path
A-A against the subject's selected skin area; and moving the distal ends of
the pair of
pincer-parts 110 (e.g. using the handles 111), closer to one another and apart
from one
another in an alternating manner.
[00461 The moving of the handles 111 enables the knots 17 to move back and
forth along the movement-path A-A and thereby carry out the plucking of hairs,
where subject's hairs that are positioned approximately to the movement-path A-
A are
captured inside the knot 17 and the moving of the knot 17 along the movement-
path
A-A enables tightening the knot 17 around the hairs and thereby plucking them
by
pulling the knot 17 further along the movement-path B-B.
[00471 Reference is now made to Fig. 4a, Fig. 4B and Fig. 3C, which
schematically illustrate a process for placing the thread 10 in the receiving-
openings
115 and adjusting means 125. The process may comprise:
placing each end of the thread 10 (possibly by placing the stoppers I I in the
niches 11.6) in the receiving-opening 115 situated at the edge of each pincer-
part 110, as illustrated in Fig. 4A;
CA 02752832 2011-09-20
= twisting the thread 10 around itself to create a at least one knot 17, as
illustrated in Fig. 4B; and
= stretching the thread 10 and placing parts of the thread 10 at the handles'
111
receiving-openings 115, as well as adjusting the stretching level and thereby
the tension of the thread 10 that is held by the receiving-openings 115 as
illustrated in Fig. 4C.
[00431 According to some embodiments of the invention, the adjustment may be
carried out by stretching the coiled spring 126 towards the thread 10 middle
part 13
that is held between the handles 111 and fastening the thread 10 by the hook
127.
[00491 According to some embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in Fig.
5,
the apparatus 100 may further comprise it motor unit 500, which may be
operably
associated with the biased hinge connector 121 (e.g. the spring). The motor
unit 500
may enable moving the pincer-parts 11.0 automatically, by automatically
actuating the
spring 121, while the user holds the apparatus 100 against a body area in
which hairs
are to be plucked, such that the movement-path A-A of the intersection point
15 is
situated in that area. The motor unit 500 may comprise a motor, a shaft,
rotated by the
motor and a power source operating the motor, for example, enabling to apply
torque
to repeatedly actuate the biased hinge connector 121. The motor unit 500 may
facilitate the user (which may be the subject) in operating the apparatus 100
applying
less effort.
[0050] According to some embodiments of the invention, a multiplicity of
pincer-
parts 110 pairs may be hingedly connected to the biased hinge connector 121,
each
pair may hold a different thread 10, to facilitate in enlarging the subject's
body area
from which hairs are to be plucked. The threads 10 may be of different length,
type or
thickness.
[0051] According to some embodiments of the invention, the pincer-parts 110
may be made from any solid material known in the art, such as plastic, wood,
polymeric solids, metal, etc.
[00521 According to some embodiments of the invention, the thread 10 may be
made from any materials known in the art that has high level of roughness, to
allow
high friction between the thread 10 and the subject's hairs, such as, for
instance,
cotton or any other fabric of low smoothness.
Ii
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[0053] According to some embodiments of the invention, the thread 10 may be
coated
with, impregnated with and/or comprise soothing materials, enabling to sooth
the skin
of the subject while or after the knots 17 plunk the subject's hairs. The
soothing
materials may be any liquid, gel or solid materials known in the art that can
sooth skin
such as, for example, aloe vera gel coating the thread 10, chamomile powder or
liquid
absorbed in the thread 10, a mixture of soothing materials both absorbed and
coating
the thread 10 and the like.
[0054] Reference is now made to Fig. 6, showing in 6a an embodiment of the
clip
tray 200 comprising a plurality of thread holders 300, arranged radially where
each
thread holder 300 is slidably coupled to the tooth-crown 201 protruding
axially in the
center of clip tray 200 via grip portion 310 of thread holder 300, such that
in certain
embodiments, toothed crown 201 is configured to releasably engage a first
thread
holder 300. In one embodiment, clip tray 200 is adapted to support the thread
holders
300 more closely spaced together than the combined width of two adjacent
stoppers
11, and to receive two of the stoppers 11 of the multiple threads 1.0 in
offset relation
between two adjacent thread holders 300. Figure 6b illustrates an embodiment
of the
thread 10 used with the apparatus 100 or, in another embodiment, with any
other hair
removal apparatus capable of receiving and holding thread 10 for the purpose
of hair
removal. As shown in Fig. 6b, thread 10 comprises in one embodiment, stopper
11,
attached to end portions 12, with middle portion 13 disposed therebetween.
[0055] Reference is drawn now to Figure 7, showing covered clip tray 200 with
locking cover 210.
[0056] Turning to Figure 8, showing thread 10 holder 300. As shown, thread
holder
300 in one embodiment is defining spaced first and second slots 301, 302
respectively, the first slot being configured not to pass the stopper 11 of
the thread 10,
the first thread holder configured to allow winding of the central portion 13
of the
thread 10 on the thread holder 300 between its first and second slots 301, 302
respectively. Thread holder 300 comprises a winding surface 303 portion (Fig.
8a)
adapted to receive a wound thread 10 and a grip portion 310 (Fig. 8c),
positioned and
configured to be engaged while unwinding the wound thread 10 (Fig. 8d). In one
embodiment, thread 10 is wound across winding surface 303 by inserting the end
portion 12 of one end of thread 10 to slot 301 winding the middle portion of
the
thread 13 by looping the middle portion 13 between slots 305 and 304 to the
point
where enough thread 10 is left to allow for the end point 12 not inserted to
slot 301; to
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be inserted to slot 305, thereby winding thread 10 onto thread holder 300. In
another
embodiment, the dimensions and the spacing of the spaced first and second
slots 301,
302 respectively of thread holder 300 and thread 10 are such as to allow
substantially
the entire central portion of the thread 13 to be wound onto the thread holder
300. In
another aspect, thread holder 300 has two opposed sides 303a and 303b
respectively,
defining a third and fourth slots 304, 305 respectively and the dimensions and
spacing
of the spaced third and fourth slots 304, 305 respectively; and the thread 10
are such
as to provide the stopper 11 on the first end portion 12 of the thread
positioned on one
side of the thread holder 303a and the stopper 11 on the second end portion 12
of the
thread 10 to be positioned on the other side of the thread holder 303b. In
another
aspect, the first slot 301 is positioned above the second slot 302 when the
thread
holder 300 is received by the tray 200, one stopper 11 of a thread 10 wound on
the
thread holder 300 is positioned adjacent to the first slot 301, and the other
stopper ll
of the thread 10 wound on the thread holder 300 is positioned below the one
stopper
i1 and suspended from the first slot 301 as shown for example in Fig. 6a.
[00571 Turning now to Figure 9, showing a top view of tray 200 in Fig. 9a,
illustrating the toothed crown 201 disposed axially (Fig. 9b) at the center of
clip tray
200 in which the circumference of clip tray 200 is having a wall which defines
a lip
205 configured to engage clip.cover 210 (Fig. 7) and lock clip tray 200 and
clip cover
210 to each other. In one aspect shown in Fig. 9b, in a side view cross
section, clip
tray 200 is arcuate, having two lobes and may define a torus in top view. It
should be
noted that many other configurations are possible for clip tray 200 capable of
fulfilling the requirements of the subject invention. In one aspect as shown
in Fig. 9b,
the toothed crown 201 of clip tray 200 is configured such that the position
and
spacing between the teeth of the toothed crown 201 engage the grip portion 310
of
thread holder 300 via groove 311 (Fig. 8), thereby securing each individual
thread
holder 300 to clip tray 200 (see for Example Fig 6a). In one aspect, a
downward
protrusion 312 on thread holder 300 grip portion 310 creates a hook with
dimensions
configured to tightly fit into valley 202 between two adjacent teeth 303,
enabeling
sliding engagement and disengagement between the thread holder 300 and the
toothed
crown 201 of clip tray 200.
[00581 Turning now to Figure 10. As shown in Fig. l0a, clip cover 210 may, in
one
aspect have a perimeter wall defining a lip 211 configured to engage a
complementary
lip on clip tray 200, securing clip cover 210 onto clip tray 200 and a cross
section
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CA 02752832 2011-09-20
defining a re-curve bow having three inflection points 212a, 212b and 212c. A
cylinder 220 protrudes around inflection point 212c in certain aspects, is
configured
with outer diameter dimensioned to engage the internal diameter of toothed
crown
201 and secure at least one thread holder 300 in place. In another aspect,
cylinder 220
is positioned such that its internal diameter defines an opening, eliminating
inflection
point 212c, making clip cover 210 define a torus, which, in another aspect may
be
used as a cover for a torus-shaped clip tray 200.
[0059] Clip cover 210, clip tray 200 and thread holder 300 may be made from
any
suitable resilient material, such as resin, plastic, metal, wood and the like,
based on
their mechanical and aesthetical requirements such as flexure, clarity,
durability, cost
and the like, all which are within the discerning abilities of those skilled
in the art.
[0060] In one aspect, grip portion 310 of thread holder 300 is configured to
allow
securing of the thread holder 300 to the tray 200 and a sliding engagement and
disengagement between the thread holder 300 and the toothed crown 201. In one
aspect,
[0061] While the invention has been described with respect to a limited number
of
embodiments, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the
invention, but rather as exemplifications of some of the preferred
embodiments.
Those skilled in the art will envision other possible variations,
modifications, and
applications that are also within the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the
scope of
the invention should not he limited by what has thus far been described, but
by the
appended claims and their legal equivalents.
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