Fiber and yarn sample holder

Abstract

A fiber sample holder and fiber sample system are provided, in which a thin card member, preferably made of injection moldable plastic, is provided with opposing broad faces across which a fiber sample is wound, and the broad faces are bounded laterally by converging edges which themselves are bounded by upper and lower pairs of shoulders which operate to retain the wound fibers in position between the shoulders.

What is claimed:  
     
         1 . A fiber sample holder comprising: 
 a card having first and second broad faces which are substantially parallel to one another over a portion of the faces;    said card having a waist portion comprising first and second edges at a lateral outward extent of said first and second broad faces, said first and second edges converging toward a top or bottom end of said card, said first and second edges being bounded by a first pair and a second pair of shoulder elements which protrude laterally outwardly from said edges,    said first and second pair of shoulders being operable to retain at least one fiber wound around said first and second broad faces and around said first and second edges in position between said first and second pair of shoulders.    
     
     
         2 . A fiber sample holder as recited in  claim 1  wherein said thin card further comprises a tongue protruding axially outwardly to a location above said first pair of shoulders, and a complementary shaped recess cutout extending axially inwardly to a location above said second pair of shoulders, whereby said recess cutout is operable to receive therein a tongue of a second fiber sample holder.  
     
     
         3 . A fiber sample holder as recited in  claim 2  wherein said tongue and said recess cutout each has means for releaseably joining said fiber sample holder to a second fiber sample holder.  
     
     
         4 . A fiber sample holder as recited in  claim 3 , wherein said tongue has a slot provided therein, and said recess cutout has a complementary shaped tab extending therefrom, whereby said slot is operable to frictionally engage a tab of a second fiber sample holder.  
     
     
         5 . A fiber sample holder as recited in  claim 1  wherein said first broad face has a laterally outward portion that converges toward said second broad face, and, on an opposite lateral portion, said second broad face has a laterally outward portion that converges toward said first broad face.  
     
     
         6 . A fiber sample holder as recited in  claim 2  wherein said first broad face has a laterally outward portion that converges toward said second broad face, and, on an opposite lateral portion, said second broad face has a laterally outward portion that converges toward said first broad face.  
     
     
         7 . A fiber sample holder as recited in  claim 6 , wherein a pair of oppositely facing notches are provided on said thin card adjacent to said recess cutout, said pair of notches being sized to receive laterally outward portions of said first and second broad faces therein.  
     
     
         8 . A fiber sample holder as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a slit extending along one of said first and second broad faces for receiving a cutting instrument therein.  
     
     
         9 . A fiber sample holder as recited in  claim 1  wherein said card is substantially rigid.  
     
     
         10 . A fiber sample holder as recited in  claim 9  wherein said card is constructed of a thermoplastic polymer.  
     
     
         11 . A fiber sample holder as recited in  claim 10  wherein said card is constructed of an injection moldable plastic.  
     
     
         12 . A fiber sample system comprising: 
 a plurality of fiber sample holders, each of said plurality of fiber sample holders comprising: 
 a card having first and second broad faces which are substantially parallel to one another over a portion of the faces;  
   said card having a waist portion comprising first and second edges at a lateral outward extent of said first and second broad faces, said first and second edges converging toward a top or bottom end of said card, said first and second edges being bounded by a first pair and a second pair of shoulder elements which protrude laterally outwardly from said edges,    said first and second pair of shoulders being operable to retain at least one fiber wound around said first and second broad faces and around said first and second edges in position between said first and second pair of shoulders.    
     
     
         13 . A fiber sample system as recited in  claim 12  wherein each of said thin cards further comprises a tongue protruding axially outwardly to a location above said first pair of shoulders, and a complementary shaped recess cutout extending axially inwardly to a location above said second pair of shoulders, whereby said recess cutout is operable to receive therein a tongue of another of said plurality of fiber sample holders.  
     
     
         14 . A fiber sample system as recited in  claim 13  wherein said tongue and said recess cutout of each of said plurality of fiber sample holders have means for releaseably joining one of said plurality of fiber sample holders to another of said plurality of fiber sample holders.  
     
     
         15 . A fiber sample system as recited in  claim 14 , wherein said tongue has a slot provided therein, and said recess cutout has a complementary shaped tab extending therefrom, whereby said slot disposed on one fiber sample holder is operable to frictionally engage a tab disposed on another of said plurality of a fiber sample holders.  
     
     
         16 . A fiber sample system as recited in  claim 12  wherein, on each of said plurality of fiber sample holders, said first broad face has a laterally outward portion that converges toward said second broad face, and, on an opposite lateral portion, said second broad face has a laterally outward portion that converges toward said first broad face.  
     
     
         17 . A fiber sample system as recited in  claim 13  wherein, on each of said plurality of fiber sample holders, said first broad face has a laterally outward portion that converges toward said second broad face, and, on an opposite lateral portion, said second broad face has a laterally outward portion that converges toward said first broad face.  
     
     
         18 . A fiber sample system as recited in  claim 17 , wherein, on each of said plurality of fiber sample holders, a pair of oppositely facing notches are provided on said thin card adjacent to said recess cutout, said pair of notches being sized to receive laterally outward portions of said first and second broad face therein.  
     
     
         19 . A fiber sample system as recited in  claim 12 , wherein each of said plurality of fiber sample holders further comprises a slit extending along one of said first and second broad faces for receiving a cutting instrument therein.  
     
     
         20 . A fiber sample system as recited in  claim 12  wherein each of said cards is substantially rigid.  
     
     
         21 . A fiber sample system as recited in  claim 20  wherein each of said cards is constructed of a thermoplastic polymer.  
     
     
         22 . A fiber sample system as recited in  claim 21  wherein each of said cards is constructed of an injection moldable plastic.