Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02867677 2016-04-01
THREAD STORAGE ASSEMBLIES AND SYSTEMS
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit and priority of India Patent
Application No. 3381/CHE/2014 filed July 8, 2014. This application claims the
benefit
and priority of U.S. Patent Application No. 14/471,139 filed August 28, 2014.
FIELD
[0002] The present disclosure generally relates to thread storage
assemblies
and systems.
BACKGROUND
[0003] This section provides background information related to the
present
disclosure which is not necessarily prior art.
[0004] Thread is generally stored on spools. Different spools may be
stored
together to provide a user with options of using different types of thread
(e.g., different
thread colors, different thread materials, different thread thicknesses, etc.)
and/or to
access additional thread after a spool runs out. Spools may have holes in the
center for
inserting the spool on a spindle, which may allow for the spool to be rotated
as thread is
unwound and removed from the spool.
SUMMARY
[0005] This section provides a general summary of the disclosure, and is
not
a comprehensive disclosure of its full scope or all of its features.
[0006] According to various aspects, exemplary embodiments are provided
of
thread storage assemblies, systems, and/or cabinets. In an exemplary
embodiment, a
thread storage assembly generally includes multiple vertical shelves that are
arranged
in parallel with each other. The vertical shelves may be pull-out shelves
configured to
slide forward and backward. Each vertical shelf may include multiple
horizontal shelves
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or racks that include multiple removable spindles and/or that are rotatable
between a
horizontal position and a tilted position.
[0007] Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the
description
provided herein. The description and specific examples in this summary are
intended for
purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the
present
disclosure.
DRAWINGS
[0008] The drawings described herein are for illustrative purposes
only of
selected embodiments and not all possible implementations, and are not
intended to
limit the scope of the present disclosure.
[0009] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an example embodiment of a
thread
storage assembly according to aspects of the present disclosure;
[0010] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the thread storage assembly
shown in
FIG. 1 with one of the vertical shelves shown in an extended or open position;
[0011] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an example vertical shelf of
the thread
storage assembly shown in FIG. 2;
[0012] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the vertical shelf shown in
FIG. 3 with
one of the horizontal shelves rotated about its longitudinal axis;
[0013] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the vertical shelf shown in
FIG. 3 with
the top horizontal shelf removed from the vertical shelf; and
[0014] FIG. 6 is perspective view of an example horizontal shelf of
the thread
storage assembly shown in FIG. 1 where one of the removable spindles has been
removed from the horizontal shelf.
[0015] Corresponding reference numerals indicate corresponding parts
throughout the several views of the drawings.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0016] Example embodiments will now be described more fully with
reference
to the accompanying drawings.
[0017] FIG. 1 illustrates an example embodiment of a thread storage
assembly, system, or cabinet 100 according to aspects of the present
disclosure. The
thread storage assembly 100 generally includes multiple (e.g., a plurality,
plural, etc.)
vertical shelves 102. Each vertical shelf 102 is substantially parallel with
the other
vertical shelves. Although FIG. 1 illustrates five vertical shelves 102
aligned with one
another, other exemplary embodiments may include more or less vertical
shelves, some
vertical shelves that are not aligned with one another, and/or some shelves
that are not
substantially parallel, etc.
[0018] Each vertical shelf 102 is configured to slide along an axis
substantially
perpendicular to a vertical axis of the vertical shelf 102. Each vertical
shelf 102 may be
configured to slide using any suitable sliding hardware, such as, for example,
track
system, guides, rollers, ball bearings, wheels, combinations thereof, etc.
[0019] As shown in FIG. 1, each vertical shelf 102 may extend from
substantially a top portion of the assembly 100 to substantially a bottom
portion of the
assembly 100 (e.g., not including the bottom drawer below the vertical
shelves). Each
vertical shelf 102 may comprise any suitable shelving material, such as, for
example,
metal (e.g., steel, aluminum, etc.), plastic, wood, etc. The height of the
assembly 100
may be designed for a user to access the vertical shelves 102 while standing,
sitting in
a chair, etc.
[0020] FIG. 2 illustrates the thread storage assembly 100 with a
vertical shelf
102 in an extended or open position. As shown, the vertical shelf 102 includes
multiple
horizontal shelves or racks 104. Each horizontal shelf 104 includes multiple
spindles,
pins, posts, or pegs 106, which may be disposed substantially perpendicular
with
respect to the horizontal shelf 104. Each spindle 106 is configured to store
one or more
thread spools.
[0021] Each vertical shelf 102 may be a pull-out shelf configured to
slide
forwards and backwards along the axis substantially perpendicular to the
vertical shelf
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102. Each vertical shelf 102 may be a full extension vertical shelf configured
to allow
access to all spindles 106 of the vertical shelf 102 when the vertical shelf
102 is in a
fully extended or open position (as shown in FIG. 2). For example, a user may
pull out a
vertical shelf 102 to access one or more spools stored on spindles 106 of the
vertical
shelf 102. In a fully extended or open position, the user may be able to
access all
spindles 106 of the vertical shelf 102. The user can selectively slide
vertical shelves 102
in and out depending on the location of the desired spools of thread. When the
vertical
shelves 102 are in a non-extended or closed position, the vertical shelves 102
may be
flush with one another (as shown in FIG. 1). When in a fully extended or open
position,
a user may be able to access both sides of a vertical shelf 102.
[0022] FIG 3 illustrates an example vertical shelf 102. The vertical
shelf 102
includes multiple horizontal shelves 104. Each horizontal shelf 104 may be
sized to
extend from one end of vertical shelf 102 to the other. Each horizontal shelf
104 may be
spaced from adjacent horizontal shelves 104 to allow room for spindles 106
and/or
stored spools of thread. Each horizontal shelf 104 may comprise any suitable
material
for supporting spindles 106 and/or spools of thread, such as, for example,
metal (e.g.,
steel, aluminum, etc.), plastic, wood, composite materials, combinations
thereof, etc.
Although FIG. 3 illustrates six horizontal shelves 104, other exemplary
embodiments
may include more or less than six horizontal shelves 104 for each vertical
shelf 102.
[0023] FIG. 3 also illustrates a spool of thread stored on a spindle
106. Spools
of thread may be stored by positioning the spool relative to a spindle 106
such that the
spindle 106 is within the center hole or opening through the spool. The
horizontal
shelves 104 and/or spindles 106 may be configured to store different sizes of
spools of
thread (e.g., different heights, widths, amount of thread wound on a spool,
etc.),
different colors of thread, different thread materials, other spooled material
besides
thread, etc.
[0024] As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, each vertical shelf 102 may include
multiple pairs of slots 108. Each pair of slots 108 includes first and second
slots that are
vertically aligned and positioned directly across from each other. As
disclosed herein,
the slots 108 allow a horizontal shelf 104 to be rotated or tilted about a
longitudinal axis
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of the horizontal shelf 104, be removed from the vertical shelf 102 to be
repositioned or
adjusted to a new position in the vertical shelf 102, etc.
[0025] FIG. 4 illustrates a vertical shelf 102 having a top horizontal
shelf 104
that has been rotated or tilted about a longitudinal axis of the horizontal
shelf 104. As
shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, each horizontal shelf 104 includes two knobs or
protruding
portions 116 at each of the shelf's opposite ends 105, 107. The pair of knobs
116 at
each shelf end are horizontally spaced apart and vertically aligned when the
shelf 104 is
horizontal.
[0026] The knobs 116 are configured to be slidably received in open
end
portions 124 (FIG. 5) of a corresponding pair of slots 108. The knobs 116 may
be slid
horizontally along horizontal portions of the slots 108. Then, the knobs 116
may be
lowered vertically downward into bottom or lower portions 118 of the slots
108. The
positioning of the knobs 116 into the lower slot portions 118 helps to hold
the horizontal
shelf 104 in place during storage of spools of thread.
[0027] As shown in FIG. 4, the horizontal shelf 104 may also be
rotated or
tilted by twisting the horizontal shelf 104 such that a corresponding one of
the knobs
116 at each end is received within an upper portion 120 of the vertical
shelf's slots 108.
The upper slot portion 120 extends generally upwardly but then extends or
curves
downwardly to its closed end 122. The knobs 116 may rest or abut against the
closed
ends 122 of the slots 108 to help hold the shelf 104 in the tilted position.
[0028] Rotation or tilting of the horizontal shelf 104 may allow
thread spools to
be added and removed from one or more spindles 106 of the horizontal shelf 104
without interfering with another horizontal shelf. For example, a user may
rotate or tilt
the horizontal shelf 104 to access a thread spool stored on a spindle 106 of
the
horizontal shelf 104. The user can then slide the thread spool off the spindle
106 without
hitting a horizontal shelf 104 above the spindle 106. Although FIG. 4
illustrates the
horizontal shelf 104 as rotating through use of knobs 116 and slots 108, other
rotating
mechanisms (e.g., wheels, gears, pins, etc.) may be used in other exemplary
embodiments without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.
CA 02867677 2014-10-09
[0029] FIG. 5 illustrates a vertical shelf 102 having a horizontal
shelf 104
removed from the vertical shelf 102. As described above, each vertical shelf
102 may
include multiple slots 108 along the vertical axis of the vertical shelf 102.
Each
horizontal shelf 104 may be adjustable at set increments along the vertical
axis of the
vertical shelf 102. The set increments may correspond to the horizontal shelf
104 being
received in at least one of the multiple slots 108. For example, a user may
remove a
horizontal shelf 104 by sliding its knobs 116 out through the open ends 124 of
a pair of
slots 108. The user may then reposition the horizontal shelf 104 at a
different position in
the vertical shelf 102 by slidably inserting the knobs 116 of the horizontal
shelf 104 into
the open ends 124 of a higher or lower pair of slots 108.
[0030] Each horizontal shelf 104 may be adjustable to allow taller
spools of
thread to be stored on one or more spindles 106 on the horizontal shelf 04.
For
example, a horizontal shelf 104 may be removed or repositioned to a higher
location
(e.g., slid into place into higher slots 108) to allow taller spools of thread
to be stored on
a shelf below. The vertical shelf 102 includes twelve pairs of slots 108
though only six
pairs of the slots 108 are being used in FIG. 4. Other exemplary embodiments
may
include more or less than twelve slots.
[0031] FIG. 6 illustrates an example horizontal shelf 104 having
spindles 106.
The spindles 106 may be removable from the horizontal shelf 104. For example,
the
horizontal shelf 104 may include one or more holes 110. Each spindle 106 may
be
received in a spindle hole 110 of its respective horizontal shelf 104. Thus,
each spindle
106 may be mounted to the horizontal shelf 104 by inserting the spindle 106
through the
hole 110 from the bottom side of the horizontal shelf 104. For example, a user
may
insert a spindle 106 by inserting it through a hole 110 on the bottom side of
the
horizontal shelf 104, such that the spindle 106 extends substantially
perpendicularly
upwards from a top side of the horizontal shelf 104.
[0032] Each spindle 106 may be removable to accommodate a larger or
wider
spool of thread being stored on an adjacent spindle along the horizontal shelf
104. For
example, a user may remove a spindle 106 by pulling and/or pushing it through
the hole
110 so that it comes out of the bottom side of the horizontal shelf 104. If a
spool of
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thread is too large to fit between adjacent spindles 106, a user may remove
one or more
spindles to allow the spool of thread to be stored.
[0033] Each spindle 106 comprises any material suitable for storing
spools of
thread, such as, for example, metal (e.g., steel, aluminum, etc.), plastic,
wood,
composite materials, combinations thereof, etc. Each spindle 106 may engage a
horizontal shelf 104 using any suitable mechanism (e.g., snapping in place,
interference
friction fit, etc.). Although FIG. 6 illustrates ten spindles 106, horizontal
shelves in other
exemplary embodiments may include more or less than ten spindles.
[0034] Referring back to FIG. 1, the thread spool assembly 100 may
include
at least one bin opening 112 disposed adjacent to at least one vertical shelf
102. Each
bin opening 112 may be configured to store additional items, which may or may
not be
related to the use of stored thread spools. Each bin opening 112 may be
disposed along
one side of a vertical shelf. The front of the bin opening 112 may be
substantially flush
with the front side of the vertical shelves 102. Although FIG. 1 illustrates
eight bin
openings 112, other exemplary embodiments may include more or less than eight
bin
openings (including none).
[0035] The thread spool assembly 100 may also include one or more drawers
114 disposed below at least one vertical shelf 102. The drawer 114 may be
configured
to store additional items, which may or may not be related to the use of
stored thread
spools. The drawer 114 may be configured to slide in and out to allow a user
to access
the drawer 114. The drawer 114 may include a handle to assist a user in
opening the
drawer. When the drawer 114 is in a closed position as shown in FIG. 1, the
front of the
drawer 114 may be substantially flush with the front side of the vertical
shelves 102.
Although FIG. 1 illustrates a single drawer 114, other exemplary embodiments
may
include more than one drawer, no drawers, and/or one or more drawers located
in other
positions relative to the vertical shelves 102 (e.g., above the vertical
shelves, along a
side of the vertical shelves 102, etc.).
[0036] Some of the example embodiments described herein may provide one
or more (but not necessarily any or all) of the following advantages:
efficient storage of
spools of thread, ease of access to the stored spools of thread, size savings
from the
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compactness of the assembly, improved aesthetic appearance from the design of
the
assembly, etc.
[0037]
Example embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be
thorough, and will fully convey the scope to those who are skilled in the art.
Numerous
specific details are set forth such as examples of specific components,
devices, and
methods, to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the present
disclosure. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that specific
details need not be
employed, that example embodiments may be embodied in many different forms,
and
that neither should be construed to limit the scope of the disclosure. In some
example
embodiments, well-known processes, well-known device structures, and well-
known
technologies are not described in detail. In addition, advantages and
improvements that
may be achieved with one or more exemplary embodiments of the present
disclosure
are provided for purposes of illustration only and do not limit the scope of
the present
disclosure, as exemplary embodiments disclosed herein may provide all or none
of the
above mentioned advantages and improvements and still fall within the scope of
the
present disclosure.
[0038] Specific dimensions, specific materials, and/or specific shapes
disclosed herein are example in nature and do not limit the scope of the
present
disclosure. The disclosure herein of particular values and particular ranges
of values for
given parameters are not exclusive of other values and ranges of values that
may be
useful in one or more of the examples disclosed herein. Moreover, it is
envisioned that
any two particular values for a specific parameter stated herein may define
the
endpoints of a range of values that may be suitable for the given parameter
(i.e., the
disclosure of a first value and a second value for a given parameter can be
interpreted
as disclosing that any value between the first and second values could also be
employed for the given parameter). For example, if Parameter X is exemplified
herein to
have value A and also exemplified to have value Z, it is envisioned that
parameter X
may have a range of values from about A to about Z. Similarly, it is
envisioned that
disclosure of two or more ranges of values for a parameter (whether such
ranges are
nested, overlapping or distinct) subsume all possible combination of ranges
for the
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value that might be claimed using endpoints of the disclosed ranges. For
example, if
parameter X is exemplified herein to have values in the range of 1 ¨ 10, or 2
¨ 9, or 3 ¨
8, it is also envisioned that Parameter X may have other ranges of values
including 1 ¨
9, 1 ¨ 8, 1 ¨ 3, 1 - 2, 2 ¨ 10, 2 ¨ 8, 2 ¨ 3, 3 ¨ 10, and 3 ¨ 9.
[0039] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing
particular
example embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. As used herein,
the
singular forms "a," "an," and "the" may be intended to include the plural
forms as well,
unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. The terms "comprises,"
"comprising,"
"including," and "having," are inclusive and therefore specify the presence of
stated
features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not
preclude
the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps,
operations,
elements, components, and/or groups thereof. The method steps, processes, and
operations described herein are not to be construed as necessarily requiring
their
performance in the particular order discussed or illustrated, unless
specifically identified
as an order of performance. It is also to be understood that additional or
alternative
steps may be employed.
[0040] When an element or layer is referred to as being "on," "engaged
to,"
"connected to," or "coupled to" another element or layer, it may be directly
on, engaged,
connected or coupled to the other element or layer, or intervening elements or
layers
may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being "directly
on,"
"directly engaged to," "directly connected to," or "directly coupled to"
another element or
layer, there may be no intervening elements or layers present. Other words
used to
describe the relationship between elements should be interpreted in a like
fashion (e.g.,
"between" versus "directly between," "adjacent" versus "directly adjacent,"
etc.). As used
herein, the term "and/or" includes any and all combinations of one or more of
the
associated listed items.
[0041] Although the terms first, second, third, etc. may be used
herein to
describe various elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections, these
elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections should not be limited by
these
terms. These terms may be only used to distinguish one element, component,
region,
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layer or section from another region, layer or section. Terms such as "first,"
"second,"
and other numerical terms when used herein do not imply a sequence or order
unless
clearly indicated by the context. Thus, a first element, component, region,
layer or
section discussed below could be termed a second element, component, region,
layer
or section without departing from the teachings of the example embodiments.
[0042]
The foregoing description of the embodiments has been provided for
purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive
or to limit the
disclosure. Individual elements, intended or stated uses, or features of a
particular
embodiment are generally not limited to that particular embodiment, but, where
applicable, are interchangeable and can be used in a selected embodiment, even
if not
specifically shown or described. The same may also be varied in many ways.
Such
variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the disclosure, and all
such
modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the disclosure.
