Yarn carrier

Abstract

A yarn carrier is provided in the form of a yarn winding tube having a yarn catch insert. The yarn winding tube is a hollow cylindrical tube having a longitudinal axis extending lengthwise between its first and second opposite ends. The tube has a hole through its surface for receiving a yarn catch insert. The yarn catch insert includes a first member and a second member, each having an inside surface. When positioned within the hole, the inside surfaces of the first and second members face each other and form a string-up groove therebetween. After a yarn winding and unwinding process, the yarn catch insert may be removed from the hole in the tube, the first and second member may be separated, and the string-up groove may be cleaned. The yarn catch insert may then be re-inserted into the hole and the tube may be reused for winding.

1 . A yarn catch insert for a yarn winding tube, the yarn winding tube formed by a hollow tubular body having a longitudinal axis extending lengthwise between first and second opposite ends, a substantially cylindrical outer surface, and a circumferentially elongated hole extending through the tubular body from the inner hollow through to the outer surface, the yarn catch insert comprising: 
 a. a first elongated member having a first end, a second end opposite the first end and an inner surface; and    b. a second elongated member having a first end, a second end and an inner surface facing the inner surface of the first member when the first and second members are positioned in the hole,    a start-up groove formed between the inner surfaces of the first and second members, the start-up groove forming a tapered portion for catching yarn therein.    
   
   
       2 . The yarn catch insert according to  claim 1  wherein the second end of the first member is coupled to the second end of the second member.  
   
   
       3 . The yarn catch insert according to  claim 1  wherein one of the first and second members has a barb extending beyond its inner surface toward the other member.  
   
   
       4 . The yarn catch insert according to  claim 1  wherein the first and second members further comprise a bottom surface, a top surface and a flange extending outwardly from the bottom surface, the flange serving to fix the position of the insert within the hole and prevent the top surface of the insert from extending past the outer surface of the tube.  
   
   
       5 . The yarn catch insert according to  claim 1  wherein the start-up groove tapers to a pinch point.  
   
   
       6 . The yarn catch insert according to  claim 1  wherein the start-up groove further comprises a widened portion adjacent the tapered portion, the inner surfaces of the first and second members in the widened portion being spaced from one another and substantially parallel.  
   
   
       7 . The yarn catch insert according to  claim 1  further comprising an adhesive applied to an outside surface of at least one of the first and second members.  
   
   
       8 . A yarn carrier for winding yarn thereon comprising: 
 a. a hollow cylindrical winding tube having a longitudinal axis extending lengthwise between first and second opposite ends, the tube having an outer cylindrical surface and an elongated hole formed through the tube, the hole completely surrounded by the cylindrical surface and formed inwardly from the end of the tube, the elongated dimension of the hole extending in the circumferential direction of the tube; and    b. a yarn catch insert positioned within the hole formed through the tube, the yarn catch insert comprising 
 a first member having a first end, a second end opposite the first end and an inner surface, and  
 a second member having a first end, a second end and an inner surface, the inner surface of the second member facing the inner surface of the first member when the first and second members are positioned in the hole,  
 the inner surface of the first and second members forming a taper start-up groove within the outer surface of the tube.  
   
   
   
       9 . The yarn carrier according to  claim 10  wherein the hole has a width that tapers in a direction from the inside to the outside surface of the tube and the yarn catch insert comprises outer surfaces which conform to the taper of the hole.  
   
   
       10 . The yarn carrier according to  claim 10  wherein the hole has a bulbous head at one end leading to a longitudinal section that widens as it extends from the bulbous head.  
   
   
       11 . The yarn carrier according to  claim 10  wherein the first ends of the first and second members form a bulbous head on the yarn catch insert that conforms to the bulbous head of the hole.  
   
   
       12 . The yarn carrier according to  claim 11  wherein the taper of the start up groove narrows toward the bulbous first end.  
   
   
       13 . The yarn carrier according to  claim 8  wherein the first ends of the first and second members are tethered together.  
   
   
       14 . A yarn carrier according to  claim 11  further comprising a second hollow cylindrical tube formed similar to the first mentioned winding tube, the second tube having an outer surface with a diameter that is less than an inner diameter of the first mentioned tube, the holes in the tubes similarly formed and aligned when the tubes are co-axially positioned, and the insert positioned within the holes and fixing the overlapping alignment of the tubes.  
   
   
       15 . A yarn carrier for winding yarn thereon comprising: 
 a. a hollow cylindrical inner tube having a longitudinal axis extending lengthwise between first and second opposite ends thereof, the tube having substantially cylindrical inner and outer surfaces and an elongated hole positioned radially inward of one end and extending through the tube wall from the inner surface to the outer surface along a portion of a circumference of the tube;    b. a hollow cylindrical outer tube having a longitudinal axis extending lengthwise between first and second opposite ends thereof, the outer tube having a substantially cylindrical inner surface with a diameter that is greater than the diameter of the outer surface of the inner tube, and an elongated hole formed through the outer tube along a portion of a circumference of the tube,    wherein the inner tube is disposed within the outer tube and wherein the holes in the inner and outer tubes are substantially aligned; and    c. a yarn catch insert accordingly positioned within the holes in the inner and outer tubes, the yarn catch insert comprising a first end, a second end opposite the first end, and a tapered start-up groove formed in a central portion of the insert.    
   
   
       16 . A yarn carrier according to  claim 15  wherein the outer surface of the inner tube comprises ribs for securing the outer tube to the inner tube.  
   
   
       17 . A yarn carrier according to  claim 15  wherein the inner and outer tubes comprise plastic, metal, wood or combinations thereof.  
   
   
       18 . A yarn carrier according to  claim 15  wherein the outer tube comprises paper.  
   
   
       19 . The yarn carrier according to  claim 14  wherein the insert comprises: 
 a first member having a first end, a second end and an inner surface, and    a second member having a first end, a second end and an inner surface,    the first and second members positioned adjacent one another to form the insert and the inner surfaces of the first and second members aligned to form opposite sides of the tapered start-up groove.    
   
   
       20 . The yarn carrier according to  claim 19  wherein the first ends of the first and second members are tethered together.  
   
   
       21 . The yarn carrier according to  claim 15  wherein the first end of the insert comprises a bulbous head positioned at the end of the tapered portion of the start-up groove.  
   
   
       22 . The yarn carrier according to  claim 21  wherein the start-up groove further comprises a widened portion adjacent the tapered portion, opposite the bulbous head.