Reusable yarn tube

Abstract

A reusable yarn tube includes a hollow tube having a substantially cylindrical wall and an outer surface adapted to carry a yarn on the tube surface. The tube includes a starting groove in the outer surface near one end of the tube and an opposite, yarn-unwinding end. A pre-formed sleeve having a smooth surface is form-fitted about a portion of the outer surface of the tube and an end of the tube. In this manner, the sleeve provides a smooth surface for the yarn to be wound onto and unwound from the tube. Preferably, the sleeve is formed about the yarn-unwinding end of the tube and across the thickness of the cylindrical wall without contacting the inside surface of the tube. Such a reusable yarn tube is useful for preventing yarn snags on defects in and about the ends of the tube.

1 . A reusable yarn tube, comprising: 
 a hollow tube having a substantially cylindrical wall, an outer surface adapted to carry a yarn thereon, a starting groove in the outer surface proximate one end of the tube, and an opposite, yarn-unwinding end; and    a pre-formed sleeve having a smooth surface adapted to fit about a portion of the outer surface of the tube and the yarn-unwinding end of the tube;    wherein the sleeve provides a smooth surface for the yarn to be wound onto and unwound from the tube.    
   
   
       2 . The reusable yarn tube of  claim 1 , the hollow tube further comprising an inside surface and the cylindrical wall further comprising a thickness, wherein the sleeve is fitted about the yarn-unwinding end of the tube and across the thickness of the cylindrical wall without contacting the inside surface of the tube.  
   
   
       3 . The reusable yarn tube of  claim 1 , wherein the sleeve is thermosettable.  
   
   
       4 . The reusable yarn tube of  claim 1 , wherein the sleeve comprises a thickness and a composition adapted to withstand pressure from yarn wound thereon.  
   
   
       5 . The reusable yarn tube of  claim 1 , wherein the sleeve comprises s composition adapted to avoid absorption of moisture and oils from the yarn and the tube.  
   
   
       6 . The reusable yarn tube of  claim 1 , wherein the sleeve comprises polyvinyl chloride.  
   
   
       7 . The reusable yarn tube of  claim 1 , wherein the tube has a color to identify a particular yarn wound thereon.  
   
   
       8 . The reusable yarn tube of  claim 1 , wherein the sleeve has a color to identify a particular yarn wound onto the tube.  
   
   
       9 . The reusable yarn tube of  claim 1 , wherein the tube comprises paper.  
   
   
       10 . The reusable yarn tube of  claim 1 , wherein the sleeve is slidably removable from the tube.  
   
   
       11 . A reusable yarn tube, comprising: 
 a hollow, paper tube having a substantially cylindrical wall, an outer surface adapted to carry a yarn thereon, a starting groove in the outer surface proximate one end of the tube, and an opposite, yarn-unwinding end of the tube having a smooth surface; and    a pre-formed, thermosettable sleeve having a smooth surface adapted to fit about a portion of the outer surface of the tube and the yarn-unwinding end of the tube;    wherein the sleeve provides a smooth surface for the yarn to be wound onto and unwound from the tube;    wherein the sleeve has a color to identify a particular yarn wound onto the tube;    wherein the sleeve further comprises a thickness and a composition adapted to withstand pressure from yarn wound thereon and adapted to avoid absorption of moisture and oils from the yarn and the tube; and    wherein the sleeve is slidably removable from the tube.    
   
   
       12 . The reusable yarn tube of  claim 11 , the hollow tube further comprising an inside surface and the cylindrical wall further comprising a thickness, wherein the sleeve is fitted about the yarn-unwinding end of the tube and across the thickness of the cylindrical wall without contacting the inside surface of the tube.  
   
   
       13 . A method of making a reusable yarn tube, comprising: 
 providing a hollow tube having a substantially cylindrical wall, an outer surface adapted to carry a yarn thereon, a starting groove in the outer surface proximate one end of the tube, and an opposite, yarn-unwinding end;    fitting a pre-formed sleeve having a smooth surface about a portion of the outer surface of the yarn-unwinding end; and    forming the sleeve about the yarn-unwinding end of the tube so that the sleeve provides a smooth surface for the yarn to be wound onto and unwound from the tube.    
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13 , the hollow tube further comprising an inside surface and the cylindrical wall further comprising a thickness, wherein fitting the sleeve about the yarn-unwinding end of the tube further comprises extending the sleeve a distance beyond the yarn-unwinding end such that when the sleeve is formed about the yarn-unwinding end, the sleeve extends across the thickness of the cylindrical wall without contacting the inside surface of the tube.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising placing the yarn-unwinding end of the tube having the sleeve fitted thereabout onto a sleeve-forming mold comprising a substantially cylindrical outer surface having an outside diameter sized to fittingly receive the tube and a ring projecting outwardly from the outer surface of the mold for supporting the tube.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the outwardly projecting ring has a thickness such that the sleeve will not contact the ring when the sleeve is formed about the yarn-unwinding end of the tube.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the mold is spaced a distance from a surface below the mold sufficient to allow the sleeve extending beyond the yarn-unwinding end of the tube to move freely above the surface below the mold during forming the sleeve about the yarn-unwinding end.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein fitting the sleeve about the yarn-unwinding end of the tube further comprises expanding the sleeve with a cup device and placing the cup device and expanded sleeve onto the yarn-unwinding end of the tube.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the sleeve is thermosettable.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the sleeve comprises polyvinyl chloride.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the sleeve has a color to identify a particular yarn wound onto the tube.  
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the sleeve is slidably removable from the tube.  
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the method is automated.  
   
   
       24 . A method of making a reusable yarn tube, comprising: 
 providing a hollow tube having a substantially cylindrical wall, an inside surface, an outer surface adapted to carry a yarn thereon, a starting groove in the outer surface proximate one end of the tube, and an opposite, yarn-unwinding end, the wall having a thickness;    inspecting the tube for defects;    fitting a pre-formed sleeve having a smooth surface about a portion of the outer surface of the yarn-unwinding end;    extending the sleeve a distance beyond the yarn-unwinding end of the tube;    placing the yarn-unwinding end of the tube having the sleeve fitted thereabout onto a sleeve-forming mold; and    forming the sleeve about the yarn-unwinding end of the tube,    wherein when the sleeve is formed about the yarn-unwinding end of the tube, the sleeve extends across the thickness of the cylindrical wall without contacting the inside surface of the tube, and    wherein the sleeve provides a smooth surface for the yarn to be wound onto and unwound from the tube.    
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein fitting a sleeve about a portion of the outer surface of the yarn-unwinding end comprises expanding the sleeve with a cup device and placing the cup device and expanded sleeve onto the tube.  
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein forming the sleeve about the yarn-unwinding end of the tube comprises applying heat to the sleeve at a pre-determined temperature and time.  
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the method is automated.