Mobile creel

Abstract

A mobile creel for organizing yarn packages and directing yarn is disclosed. In one aspect, the mobile creel has a plurality of support frames and an upright creel docking post. The front portion of the base of each support frame can be configured for engagement with the lower portion of the upright creel docking post. The creel docking post can simultaneously engage one, two, three, or four support frames.

1 . A mobile creel for organizing yarn packages and directing yarn, the mobile creel comprising:
 an upright creel docking post having a lower portion and an upper portion; and   at least one support frame, each support frame comprising:
 a base having a front portion and a rear portion; 
 a plurality of substantially upright support members extending upwardly therefrom the rear portion of the base; and 
 a plurality of spaced creel mounts positioned thereon at least one support member of the plurality of substantially upright support members, each creel mount configured to selectively hold a yarn package, 
   wherein the front portion of the base of each support frame is configured for engagement with the lower portion of the upright creel docking post, and wherein each creel mount of the plurality of spaced creel mounts is oriented toward the upright creel docking post.   
     
     
         2 . The mobile creel of  claim 1 , wherein the base of each support frame has a substantially triangular shape. 
     
     
         3 . The mobile creel of  claim 1 , wherein each spaced creel mount of the plurality of spaced creel mounts comprises a tempered bent-wire package holder. 
     
     
         4 . The mobile creel of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of substantially upright support members comprises two outer support members and a central support member, and wherein the plurality of spaced creel mounts are positioned thereon the two outer support members. 
     
     
         5 . The mobile creel of  claim 4 , wherein each support frame of the at least one support frame further comprises means for allowing the support frame to be moved relative to the upright creel docking post. 
     
     
         6 . The mobile creel of  claim 4 , wherein the means for allowing the support frame to be moved comprises a plurality of casters coupled to a bottom surface of the base. 
     
     
         7 . The mobile creel of  claim 6 , wherein the plurality of casters comprises:
 at least one lockable caster mounted underneath the rear portion of the base; and   a center pivoting caster mounted underneath the front portion of the base.   
     
     
         8 . The mobile creel of  claim 4 , wherein the plurality of spaced creel mounts are substantially evenly spaced along the longitudinal length of the outer support members to create a plurality of levels for securing yarn packages, and wherein adjacent creel mounts on the respective outer support members are substantially co-planar. 
     
     
         9 . The mobile creel of  claim 8 , wherein each support frame of the at least one support frame further comprises a plurality of substantially horizontal creel package separators mounted thereon the plurality of substantially upright support members to divide the levels for securing yarn packages. 
     
     
         10 . The mobile creel of  claim 1 , wherein the lower portion of the upright creel docking post comprises a guide plate having a plurality of slots configured to receive the front portion of the base of each support frame. 
     
     
         11 . The mobile creel of  claim 1 , wherein the lower portion of the upright creel docking post comprises at least one magnet, and wherein the at least one magnet is configured to maintain the engagement of the front portion of the base of each support frame with the lower portion of the upright creel docking post. 
     
     
         12 . The mobile creel of  claim 1 , wherein the upper portion of the upright creel docking post comprises means for directing at least one path of yarn therefrom the at least one support frame. 
     
     
         13 . The mobile creel of  claim 12 , wherein the means for directing at least one path of yarn therefrom the at least one support frame comprises a series of spaced pre-guide rings positioned along the upper portion of the upright creel docking post. 
     
     
         14 . The mobile creel of  claim 13 , wherein the means for directing at least one path of yarn therefrom the at least one support frame further comprises a series of spaced ball tension controllers positioned along the upper portion of the upright creel docking post, and wherein the series of spaced pre-guide rings and the series of spaced ball tension controllers are positioned in an interdigitated relationship. 
     
     
         15 . The mobile creel of  claim 14 , wherein the means for directing at least one path of yarn therefrom the at least one support frame further comprises a plurality of yarn guides mounted thereto the upper portion of the upright creel docking post, wherein each yarn guide of the plurality of yarn guides is configured to guide the at least one path of yarn into a predetermined yarn formation. 
     
     
         16 . The mobile creel of  claim 1 , wherein the front portion of the base of each support frame of the at least one support frame is engaged with the lower portion of the upright creel docking post. 
     
     
         17 . The mobile creel of  claim 16 , wherein the at least one support frame comprises a plurality of support frames. 
     
     
         18 . The mobile creel of  claim 17 , wherein the plurality of support frames is selected from a group consisting of two, three, and four support frames. 
     
     
         19 . The mobile creel of  claim 1 , wherein each creel mount of the plurality of spaced creel mounts is operably positioned to substantially face the upright creel docking post. 
     
     
         20 . A support frame for engagement with an upright docking post of a mobile creel for organizing yarn packages and directing yarn, the support frame comprising:
 a substantially triangular base having a vertex and a rear portion;   a plurality of substantially upright support members extending upwardly therefrom the rear portion of the substantially triangular base; and   a plurality of spaced creel mounts positioned thereon at least one support member of the plurality of substantially upright support members, each creel mount configured to selectively hold a yarn package,   wherein the vertex of the base is configured for engagement with the upright creel docking post, wherein each creel mount of the plurality of spaced creel mounts is operably positioned to extend along a mount axis, wherein the mount axis of each respective spaced creel mount is oriented toward the vertex of the substantially triangular base.   
     
     
         21 . A method for organizing yarn packages and directing yarn, the method comprising:
 providing a mobile creel, the mobile creel comprising:
 an upright creel docking post having a lower portion and an upper portion; and 
 a plurality of support frames, each support frame comprising:
 a base having a front portion and a rear portion; 
 a plurality of substantially upright support members extending upwardly therefrom the rear portion of the base; and 
 a plurality of spaced creel mounts positioned thereon at least one support member of the plurality of substantially upright support members, each creel mount configured to selectively hold a yarn package, 
 
 wherein the front portion of the base of each support frame is configured for engagement with the lower portion of the upright creel docking post, wherein each creel mount of the plurality of spaced creel mounts is oriented toward the upright creel docking post, and wherein the upper portion of the upright creel docking post comprises means for directing at least one path of yarn therefrom the plurality of support frames; 
   securing a yarn package thereon at least one spaced creel mount of the plurality of spaced creel mounts;   positioning the front portion of the base of at least one selected support frame of the plurality of support frames in engagement with the lower portion of the upright creel docking post; and   positioning the yarn of at least one yarn package secured thereon the at least one selected support frame in communication with the means for directing at least one path of yarn therefrom the plurality of support frames.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the plurality of spaced creel mounts are substantially evenly spaced along at least two support members of the plurality of substantially upright support members to create a plurality of levels for securing yarn packages, wherein adjacent creel mounts on the respective support members are substantially co-planar, wherein the step of securing a yarn package thereon at least one spaced creel mount further comprises securing at least two yarn packages thereon respective spaced creel mounts within a selected level of the plurality of levels for securing yarn packages, and wherein the step of positioning the yarn of at least one yarn package further comprises serially tying yarn from a first yarn package secured thereon a first spaced creel mount within the selected level to yarn from a second yarn package secured thereon a second spaced creel mount within the selected level.