Yarn carrier tube

Abstract

A stackable dye tube for dyeing yarn has a first end, an opposing second end and a generally tubular lattice structure extending therebetween. An inner diameter and an outer diameter are defined by the tube body. The lattice structure comprises a plurality of rib portions and ring portions disposed generally perpendicular to the rib portions, each rib and ring portion being tapered from inside to outside. Projections extend outwardly from the lattice structure and have a projection length, extending away from the lattice structure, that is greater than a projection width that is measured in a direction perpendicular to the projection length.

1 . A dye tube for dyeing yarn, the dye tube comprising:
 a hollow tubular body having a first end, an opposing second end, and a lattice structure extending between the first and second ends, the lattice structure defining inner and outer diameters of the dye tube, the lattice structure comprising a plurality of longitudinal ribs and a plurality of rings disposed generally perpendicular to the ribs, the ribs and rings being tapered from inside to outside, such that the portion of the ribs and rings adjacent the inner diameter is thicker than the portion of the ribs and rings adjacent the outer diameter; and   the lattice structure further having projections extending outwardly from the ribs and rings, the projections having a projection length extending away from the lattice structure that is greater than a projection width that is measured in a direction perpendicular to the projection length.   
   
   
       2 . The dye tube of  claim 1 , wherein the projection length is at least double the projection width. 
   
   
       3 . The dye tube of  claim 1 , the first end being a female end comprising a generally cylindrical portion having an inner diameter larger than the inner diameter of the dye tube and an outer diameter that is substantially equal to the outer diameter of the dye tube and a plurality of ribs and rings disposed generally perpendicularly to the rib portions, each of the rib and ring portions extending outwardly from the first end to a circumferential terminus that is generally equal to the outer diameter of the lattice structure and being tapered from inside to outside and including at least one outer projection extending generally outwardly therefrom; and
 the second end further being a male end portion comprising a generally cylindrical end portion having an inner diameter that is generally the same as the inner diameter defined by the tubular lattice structure and an outer diameter that is structured to fit within the inner diameter of the female end portion.   
   
   
       4 . The dye tube of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the ribs or rings has more than one angle of taper. 
   
   
       5 . The dye tube of  claim 3 , wherein at least one portion of the ribs or rings has a steeper taper than another portion of said ring or rib. 
   
   
       6 . The dye tube of  claim 5 , wherein the steeper taper portion of the ribs or rings is disposed between portions of the ribs or rings having less of a taper than the steeper portion. 
   
   
       7 . The dye tube of  claim 1 , wherein the second end portion is sized to be inserted into the first end portion during stacking. 
   
   
       8 . The dye tube of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second end portions are adapted to engage respectively second and first end portions of other generally identical dye tubes to present a stacked arrangement of dye tubes having a substantially uniform inner diameter and an outer diameter defined entirely by outer projections extending from ribs and rings 
   
   
       9 . A dye tube for dyeing yarn, the dye tube comprising:
 a hollow, generally cylindrical, body defined by a plurality of generally tapered longitudinal ribs and radial rings, the body having opposing ends and a plurality of perforating openings defined between the ribs and rings for passage of a coloring dye therethrough, the body defining an inner diameter and an outer diameter;   the ribs and rings having an inside edge and an outside edge, at least one of the ribs or rings being tapered from inside to outside;   the ribs and rings further having outwardly projecting protrusions, the protrusions having a length that is substantially parallel to the ribs and rings, and a width that is substantially perpendicular to the length, the length being greater than the width; and   a first end portion having a substantially cylindrical female ring portion connected thereto, the female ring portion having an inner diameter that is larger than the inner diameter of the body and an outer diameter that is substantially equal to the outer diameter of the body, the lattice structure extending across the first end portion;   a second end portion having a substantially cylindrical male ring portion, the male ring portion having an inner diameter that is substantially equal to the inner diameter of the body portion and an outer diameter that not substantially larger than the inner diameter of the female ring portion; and   the first and second ends adapted to engage respectively second and first ends of other generally identical dye tubes to present a stacked arrangement of dye tubes having a substantially uniform inner diameter and an outer diameter defined entirely by outward projections extending from ribs and rings.   
   
   
       10 . The dye tube according to  claim 9 , where at least one portion of each rib has a different angle of taper than another portion of the same rib. 
   
   
       11 . The dye tube according to  claim 9 , where at least one portion of each ring has a different angle of taper than another portion of the same ring. 
   
   
       12 . The dye tube according to  claim 9 , wherein each of the ribs and rings have more than one outwardly projecting protrusion. 
   
   
       13 . The dye tube according to  claim 9 , wherein the length of the projections is at least twice the width of the projections. 
   
   
       14 . A dye tube for dyeing yarn, the dye tube comprising:
 a tubular body, having:
 a first end and a second end; 
 a lattice structure extending between the first and second ends and defining inner and outer diameters of the dye tube, the lattice structure comprising a plurality of longitudinal ribs and a plurality of rings disposed generally perpendicular to the ribs; and 
 projections extending outwardly from the lattice structure, the projections being structured to deform towards the ribs and rings in response to centripetal pressure resulting from contraction of a yarn wound around the dye tube. 
   
   
   
       15 . The dye tube according to  claim 14 , wherein the projections have a length in a direction outward from the lattice structure and a width substantially perpendicular to the length, the length being greater than the width. 
   
   
       16 . The dye tube according to  claim 15 , wherein the length of the projections is at least about double the length of the width of the projections. 
   
   
       17 . The dye tube according to  claim 14 , wherein:
 the tube defines an inner diameter and an outer diameter;   the ribs and the rings are tapered from inside to outside, having an end adjacent to the inside diameter that has a width greater than a width of an end that is proximate to the outside diameter.   
   
   
       18 . The dye tube according to  claim 17 , wherein at least one portion of the rings or ribs has a steeper taper than another portion of the rings or ribs. 
   
   
       19 . The dye tube according to  claim 14 , wherein the first end is a female end and the second end is a male end structured to fit within a female end of an adjacent dye tube. 
   
   
       20 . The dye tube according to  claim 19 , wherein the lattice structure extends across the first end of the tube.