Hand loom

Abstract

A loom that includes a first elongated beam having upper and lower surfaces; a second elongated beam having upper and lower surfaces parallel to and spaced from the first beam; a first transverse roller having a first longitudinal axis rotatably mounted on and extending between the first and second beams; a second transverse roller having a second longitudinal axis parallel to and spaced from the first transverse roller rotatably mounted on and extending between the first and second beams; each transverse roller having a peripheral surface formed with a plurality of equally sized and spaced annular grooves, each groove lying in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of its associated roller; and a disk-shaped thumb wheel having a textured peripheral edge surface fixed to each roller with a center aligned with the longitudinal axis of the roller.

1 . A loom comprising:
 a first elongated beam having upper and lower surfaces;   a second elongated beam having upper and lower surfaces parallel to and spaced from the first beam;   a first transverse roller having a first longitudinal axis rotatably mounted on and extending between the first and second beams;   a second transverse roller having a second longitudinal axis parallel to and spaced from the first transverse roller rotatably mounted on and extending between the first and second beams;   each transverse roller having a peripheral surface formed with a plurality of equally sized and spaced annular grooves, each groove lying in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of its associated roller;   a disk-shaped thumb wheel having a textured peripheral edge surface fixed to each roller with a center aligned with the longitudinal axis of the roller, portions of the textured edge surface of each thumb wheel projecting beyond the planes of the upper and lower surfaces of the beams enabling rotation of the thumb wheel caused by a user applying tangential frictional force to the textured edge surface to also rotate the associated roller;   enabling warp threads to be produced by tying an end of elongate material to itself after drawing the elongate material over the top plane of, and partially encircling, a first groove of the first roller adjacent the first beam and drawing it to the bottom plane of, and partially encircling, a first groove of the second roller adjacent and parallel to the first beam, such length of elongate material being an initial warp loop, then to and around a second groove of the first roller adjacent the first groove, then to and around a second groove of the second roller adjacent the first groove, and continuing the process to successive adjacent grooves, then tying an end of the elongate material to itself after partially encircling a last groove of the second roller adjacent the second beam, this final length of elongate material being a final warp loop, such that the entire region between the initial warp loop and the final warp loop is occupied by a plurality of generally parallel loops of the elongate material; and   then, with a location intermediate the first and second rollers as a point of entry, enabling weft threads to be produced by weaving elongate material as a first weft thread successively over and under the parallel warp threads toward and substantially perpendicular to the second beam, then back as a second weft thread successively over and under the parallel warp threads adjacent the first weft thread to the first beam, and continuing the process again and again until a resultant woven fabric of desired size results in an upper plane of the loom generally aligned with the upper surfaces of the first and second beams;   rotation of the thumb wheel for the first roller effecting movement of the woven fabric in the direction of the first roller to retain the point of entry of each successive weft thread substantially intermediate the first and second rollers and enabling the woven fabric, as it is produced, to proceed over the first roller to a lower plane of the loom generally aligned with the lower surfaces of the first and second beams.   
   
   
       2 . A loom as set forth in  claim 1 :
 wherein the first roller has first and second ends;   wherein the second roller has first and second ends;   wherein the first beam includes:   a first leg including a mounting end to which the first end of the first roller is rotatably mounted and an extension end;   a second leg including a mounting end to which the first end of the second roller is rotatably mounted and an extension end; and   fastening members to releasably fix the extension end of the first leg to the extension end of the second leg over a range of lengths of the first beam between a retracted condition and an extended condition; and   wherein the second beam includes:   a first leg including a mounting end to which the second end of the first roller is rotatably mounted and an extension end;   a second leg including a mounting end to which the second end of the second roller is rotatably mounted and an extension end; and   fastening members to releasably fix the extension end of the first leg to the extension end of the second leg over a range of lengths of the first beam between a retracted condition and an extended condition;   whereby a variety of sizes of fabric can be woven on the loom.   
   
   
       3 . A loom as set forth in  claim 2 :
 wherein each extension end has a series of holes disposed therealong with each hole dimensioned to receive a fastening member therethrough.   
   
   
       4 . A loom as set forth in  claim 3 :
 wherein each hole of the series of holes is equally spaced from hole to hole.   
   
   
       5 . A loom as set forth in  claim 4 :
 wherein each fastening member comprises a bolt and nut.   
   
   
       6 . A loom as set forth in  claim 1 :
 wherein the annular grooves in the roller are all equally spaced from one to an adjacent one thereof.   
   
   
       7 . A loom as set forth in  claim 1 :
 wherein there are separate disk-shaped thumb wheels, one at each end of each roller.   
   
   
       8 . A loom comprising:
 a first elongated beam having upper and lower surfaces;   a second elongated beam having upper and lower surfaces;   said first and second elongated beams being constructed and arranged so that the second elongated beam is disposed in parallel to and spaced from the first elongated beam;   a first transverse roller having a first longitudinal axis;   means for rotatably mounting the first transverse roller on and extending between the first and second elongated beams and at a first mounting end thereof;   a second transverse roller having a second longitudinal axis;   means for rotatably mounted the second transverse roller on and extending between the first and second elongated beams and at a second opposite mounting end thereof;   said first and second transverse rollers being constructed and arranged so that the second transverse roller is disposed in parallel to and spaced from the first transverse roller;   each transverse roller having a peripheral surface formed with a plurality of equally sized and spaced annular grooves, each groove lying in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of its associated roller;   at least one disk-shaped thumb wheel having a textured peripheral edge surface and fixed to each roller with a center aligned with the longitudinal axis of the roller, portions of the textured edge surface of each thumb wheel projecting beyond the planes of the upper and lower surfaces of the beams enabling rotation of the thumb wheel caused by a user applying tangential frictional force to the textured edge surface to also rotate the associated roller.   
   
   
       9 . A loom as set forth in  claim 8 :
 wherein the first roller has first and second ends;   wherein the second roller has first and second ends;   wherein the first elongated beam includes:   a first leg including a mounting end to which the first end of the first roller is rotatably mounted and an extension end;   a second leg including a mounting end to which the first end of the second roller is rotatably mounted and an extension end; and   fastening members to releasably fix the extension end of the first leg to the extension end of the second leg over a range of lengths of the first beam between a retracted condition and an extended condition.   
   
   
       10 . A loom as set forth in  claim 9 :
 wherein the second beam includes:   a first leg including a mounting end to which the second end of the first roller is rotatably mounted and an extension end;   a second leg including a mounting end to which the second end of the second roller is rotatably mounted and an extension end; and   fastening members to releasably fix the extension end of the first leg to the extension end of the second leg over a range of lengths of the first beam between a retracted condition and an extended condition;   whereby a variety of sizes of fabric can be woven on the loom.   
   
   
       11 . A loom as set forth in  claim 10 :
 wherein each extension end has a series of holes disposed therealong with each hole dimensioned to receive a fastening member therethrough.   
   
   
       12 . A loom as set forth in  claim 11 :
 wherein each hole of the series of holes is equally spaced from hole to hole.   
   
   
       13 . A loom as set forth in  claim 12 :
 wherein each fastening member comprises a bolt and nut.   
   
   
       14 . A loom as set forth in  claim 8 :
 wherein the annular grooves in the roller are all equally spaced from one to an adjacent one thereof.   
   
   
       15 . A loom as set forth in  claim 8 :
 wherein there are separate disk-shaped thumb wheels, one at each end of each roller.   
   
   
       16 . A method of using the loom of  claim 8  including:
 enabling warp threads to be produced by tying an end of elongate material to itself after drawing the elongate material over the top plane of, and partially encircling, a first groove of the first roller adjacent the first beam and drawing it to the bottom plane of, and partially encircling, a first groove of the second roller adjacent and parallel to the first beam, such length of elongate material being an initial warp loop, then to and around a second groove of the first roller adjacent the first groove, then to and around a second groove of the second roller adjacent the first groove, and continuing the process to successive adjacent grooves, then tying an end of the elongate material to itself after partially encircling a last groove of the second roller adjacent the second beam, this final length of elongate material being a final warp loop, such that the entire region between the initial warp loop and the final warp loop is occupied by a plurality of generally parallel loops of the elongate material.   
   
   
       17 . A method as set forth in  claim 16  including:
 then, with a location intermediate the first and second rollers as a point of entry, enabling weft threads to be produced by weaving elongate material as a first weft thread successively over and under the parallel warp threads toward and substantially perpendicular to the second beam, then back as a second weft thread successively over and under the parallel warp threads adjacent the first weft thread to the first beam, and continuing the process again and again until a resultant woven fabric of desired size results in an upper plane of the loom generally aligned with the upper surfaces of the first and second beams.   
   
   
       18 . A method as set forth in  claim 17  including:
 rotation of the thumb wheel for the first roller effecting movement of the woven fabric in the direction of the first roller to retain the point of entry of each successive weft thread substantially intermediate the first and second rollers and enabling the woven fabric, as it is produced, to proceed over the first roller to a lower plane of the loom generally aligned with the lower surfaces of the first and second beams.