Heddle frame with multi-directional adjustable brace

Abstract

A heddle frame for supporting a plurality of heddles comprises a top rail separate from a bottom rail Each of the rails defines a front wall and a rear wall opposed to the front wall A carrying flange extends from the front wall of the top rail and toward the bottom rail Each of the rails carries a heddle bar disposed toward the back of the respective rail, and the top heddle bar is connected to the carrying flange The top rail defines a first cut out portion extending through a section of the carrying flange The heddle frame further includes at least one intermediate brace extending between the top rail and the bottom rail at a position aligned with the first cut out portion and configured for assisting in maintaining parallelism of the top and bottom rails.

1 . A heddle frame for supporting a plurality of heddles, comprising:
 a top rail extending longitudinally relative said frame and defining opposed top rail ends thereof, the top rail defining a front wall and a rear wall opposed to said front wall of said top rail;   a top heddle bar configured for slidably carrying the plurality of heddles, said top heddle bar being carried by said top rail and disposed toward said back of said top rail;   a bottom rail extending longitudinally relative said frame and parallel to said top rail and defining opposed bottom rail ends thereof, the bottom rail defining a front wall and a rear wall opposed to said front wall of said bottom rail;   a bottom heddle bar configured for slidably carrying the plurality of heddles, said bottom heddle bar being carried by said bottom rail and disposed toward said back of said bottom rail;   a first end member connecting a first top rail end of said top rail to a first bottom rail end of said bottom rail so as to form part of a generally rectangular frame structure therewith;   a second end member connecting a second top rail end of said top rail to a second bottom rail end of said bottom rail so as to form part of a generally rectangular frame structure therewith;   a carrying flange extending from said front wall of said top rail and toward said bottom rail, said top heddle bar being connected to said carrying flange;   said top rail defines a first cut out portion extending through a section of said carrying flange; and   at least one intermediate brace extending between said top rail and said bottom rail at a position aligned with said first cut out portion and configured for assisting in maintaining parallelism of said top and bottom rails, said intermediate brace having a first end connected to said top rail, said intermediate brace having a second end connected to said bottom rail.   
   
   
       2 . A heddle frame as in  claim 1 , wherein said intermediate brace is configured to permit the heddles unimpeded longitudinal movement past said intermediate brace. 
   
   
       3 . A heddle frame as in  claim 1 , wherein said first end of said intermediate brace is disposed between said top heddle bar and said front of said top rail. 
   
   
       4 . A heddle frame as in  claim 1 , wherein at least one end of said intermediate brace is configured with a transition region having a ninety degree twist to permit heddles unimpeded longitudinal movement past said intermediate brace. 
   
   
       5 . A heddle frame as in  claim 4 , wherein:
 said intermediate brace defines a rigid elongated rod having a main body portion defining a relatively narrow front edge and a pair of opposed, relatively wider side surfaces, said intermediate brace further defining on each opposite end thereof, a relatively flattened, thin-profiled paddle portion, each paddle portion defining a relatively wide rear surface and relatively wide front surface disposed opposite said rear surface, each said paddle portion defining relatively narrow side edges, each said main body portion of the intermediate brace extending generally to a transition portion that tapers from narrow to wide when moving in the direction away from the end of the main body portion and toward each respective paddle portion.   
   
   
       6 . A heddle frame as in  claim 1 , wherein the pitch of the generally rectangular frame structure is no more than 20 millimeters. 
   
   
       7 . A heddle frame as in  claim 1 , wherein the pitch of the generally rectangular frame structure is no more than 12 millimeters. 
   
   
       8 . A heddle frame as in  claim 1 , wherein said intermediate brace is configured so as to be selectively, detachably connected to said top rail. 
   
   
       9 . A heddle frame as in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a locking clamp block selectively, detachably attached to said top rail and said intermediate brace to connect said intermediate brace to said top rail, said clamp block defining a first section and a second section, said second section of said clamp block defining a chamber internally thereof, said first section defining an entrance slot communicating with said chamber;   a top pin defining a first free end and a second free end opposite said first free end, said top pin defining a head on said first free end thereof and a keyed section on said second free end thereof, said keyed section being configured to be received in said entrance slot and said chamber and slideably disposed in said entrance slot and said chamber, said keyed section defining a tip configured to be slideably disposed in said chamber and incapable of passing through said entrance slot so as to selectively, slideably connect said top pin to said locking clamp block and said intermediate brace.   
   
   
       10 . A heddle frame as in  claim 1 , wherein said first end of said intermediate brace being non-rotatably connected to said top rail. 
   
   
       11 . A heddle frame as in  claim 10 , wherein:
 said top rail defines a hollow extrusion between said front and rear walls, said hollow extrusion having a plurality of internal webs that extend between the front wall and the rear wall, one of said internal webs defining a top-most web, one of said internal webs defining a bottom-most web and another of said internal webs defining a penultimate web, said bottom-most web being said internal web disposed nearest to said penultimate web and farthest from said top-most web; and   said first cut out portion in said top rail extending through said bottom-most internal web and defining a relatively shallow pocket between said bottom-most internal web and said penultimate internal web, said first cut out portion defining a pair of opposed skirt flange portions extending beneath said penultimate internal web, said pair of opposed skirt flange portions and the penultimate internal web defining a groove therebetween.   
   
   
       12 . A heddle frame as in  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a locking clamp block being configured to selectively, detachably connect said top rail and said intermediate brace, said locking clamp block defining a first section and a second section, said first section of said locking clamp block defining a pair of opposed flanges, said flanges of said first section of said locking clamp block being configured to be selectively received non-rotatably in said groove of said shallow pocket.   
   
   
       13 . A heddle frame as in  claim 12 , wherein:
 each flange of said locking clamp block having an interior-facing surface, said interior-facing surfaces defining an entrance slot, said locking clamp block further defining a chamber internally thereof, said chamber communicating with said entrance slot.   
   
   
       14 . A heddle frame as in  claim 13 , further comprising:
 a top pin having a first free end and a second free end disposed opposite said first free end, said first free end of said top pin defining a head, said second free end defining a keyed section, said keyed section being configured to be received in said entrance slot and said chamber and slideably disposed in said entrance slot and said chamber, said keyed section defining a tip configured to be slideably disposed in said chamber and incapable of passing through said entrance slot so as to selectively, slideably connect said top pin to said locking clamp block.   
   
   
       15 . A heddle frame as in  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a sealing block connected to the top rail; and   wherein said top rail defines a second cut out portion extending through a second section of said carrying flange, said second cut out portion being disposed in communication with said first cut out portion, said sealing block being received by said second cut out portion.   
   
   
       16 . A heddle frame as in  claim 1 , wherein said second end of said intermediate brace being disposed between said bottom heddle bar and said front of said bottom rail. 
   
   
       17 . A heddle frame as in  claim 9 , wherein:
 said top rail defines a hollow extrusion between said front and rear walls, said hollow extrusion having a plurality of internal webs that extend between the front wall and the rear wall, one of said internal webs defining a top-most web, one of said internal webs defining a bottom-most web and another of said internal webs defining a penultimate web, said bottom-most web being said internal web disposed nearest to said penultimate web and farthest from said top-most web, each said internal web defining a hole through said web and each said hole through said internal web being aligned with each other said hole through each said other internal web, each said hole through said internal web being configured to allow the passage therethrough of said top pin, said head of said top pin being detachably connected to said top-most web of said top rail.   
   
   
       18 . A heddle frame as in  claim 10 , wherein:
 said top rail defines a hollow extrusion between said front and rear walls, said hollow extrusion having a plurality of internal webs that extend between the front wall and the rear wall, one of said internal webs defining a top-most web, one of said internal webs defining a bottom-most web and another of said internal webs defining a penultimate web, said bottom-most web being said internal web disposed nearest to said penultimate web and farthest from said top-most web;   each said internal web defining a first hole through each said internal web, each said first hole through said internal web being aligned with each other said first hole through each other said internal web; and   each said internal web defining a second hole through each said internal web, each said second hole through each said internal web being aligned with each other said second hole through each other said internal web.   
   
   
       19 . A heddle frame as in  claim 18 , further comprising:
 a locking clamp block connected to one end of said intermediate brace, said intermediate brace defining a rigid elongated rod having a main body portion defining a relatively narrow front edge and a pair of opposed, relatively wider side surfaces, said intermediate brace further defining on each opposite end thereof, a relatively flattened, thin-profiled paddle portion, each paddle portion defining a relatively wide rear surface and relatively wide front surface disposed opposite said rear surface, each said paddle portion defining relatively narrow side edges, each said main body portion of the intermediate brace extending generally to a transition portion that tapers from narrow to wide when moving in the direction away from the end of the main body portion and toward each respective paddle portion; and   said locking clamp block defining a top plate and a connector plate, the top plate being fixed to the end of the paddle portion of the intermediate brace, the top plate having opposed end portions, near each of the opposed end portions of the top plate is defined an elongated slot that elongates in the longitudinal direction, the connector plate is connected to at least one of the side surfaces of the paddle member of the intermediate brace, the connector plate defines a threaded opening near each opposite end of the connector plate.   
   
   
       20 . A heddle frame as in  claim 19 , further comprising:
 a first top pin having a first free end and a second free end disposed opposite said first free end, said first top pin being disposed through said aligned first holes that are defined in the internal webs of the top rail, said first free end of said first top pin defining a head that is selectively, detachably connected to the top rail, said second free end of said first top pin defining a threaded tip that is selectively, detachably screwed into one of said separate threaded openings that is defined in the connector plate so as to selectively connect said first top pin to said locking clamp block and said intermediate brace; and   a second top pin having a first free end and a second free end disposed opposite said first free end, said second top pin being disposed through said aligned second holes that are defined in the internal webs of the top rail, said first free end of said second top pin defining a head that is selectively, detachably connected to the top rail, said second free end of said second top pin defining a threaded tip that is selectively, detachably screwed into the other one of said separate threaded openings that is defined in the connector plate so as to selectively connect said second top pin to said locking clamp block and said intermediate brace.