Rotatable pin loom with multi orientation base

Abstract

A disclosed loom for creating an item consisting of a series of closed loops forming links includes a base and at plurality of pins extending from the base. Each of the pins includes a flange near a top surface for holding a closed loop in a desired orientation and an access groove extends through the top surface, wherein at least some of the plurality of pins is rotatable to orientate the access groove in a desired direction.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A device for creating an item consisting of a series of closed loops forming links, the device comprising:
 a base; and   at plurality of pins extending from the base, each of the plurality of pins including a flange near a top surface for holding a closed loop in a desired orientation and an access groove extends through the top surface, wherein at least one of the plurality of pins is rotatable to orientate the access groove in a desired direction.   
     
     
         2 . The device as recited in  claim 1 , including a pin bar supported on the base, wherein each of the plurality of pins are received within the pin bar and are rotatable relative to the pin bar. 
     
     
         3 . The device as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the pin bar includes a plurality of openings for receiving the plurality of pins. 
     
     
         4 . The device as recited in  claim 3 , wherein at least one of the plurality of openings in the pin bar include a slot and groove and each of the plurality of pins includes a tab that is insertable through the slot and into the groove for securing the pin to the pin bar. 
     
     
         5 . The device as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the pin bar is supportable on the base in one of a lengthwise direction of the base and a widthwise direction of the base. 
     
     
         6 . The device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of pins includes at least three rows of pins supported on the base and evenly spaced apart. 
     
     
         7 . The device as recited in  claim 6 , wherein the at least three rows of pins includes a center row, a first side row and a second side row and pins in the center row are aligned with pins within the first side row and the second side row. 
     
     
         8 . The device as recited in  claim 7 , wherein the at least three rows of pins includes a center row, a first side row and a second side row, and pin in the center row are offset relative to the first side row and the second side row. 
     
     
         9 . The device as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the base and pin bar are separate structures that include corresponding mating features for supporting the pin bar on the base. 
     
     
         10 . The device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the base includes a plurality of openings arranged in at least three rows for receiving a corresponding one of the plurality of pins. 
     
     
         11 . A kit for creating a Brunnian linked item from a plurality of closed loop elastic bands, the kit comprising:
 a plurality of closed loop elastic bands;   a device including a plurality of pins arranged relative to each other according to a desired spatial relationship, each of the plurality of pins including a flange near a top surface for holding a closed loop in a desired orientation and an access groove extending through the top surface, wherein at least one of the plurality of pins is rotatable to orientate the access groove in a desired direction; and   a clip for securing opposing ends of a series Brunnian linked elastic bands.   
     
     
         12 . The kit as recited in  claim 11 , including a pin bar supported on the base, wherein each of the plurality of pins are received within the pin bar and are rotatable relative to the pin bar. 
     
     
         13 . The kit as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the pin bar includes a plurality of openings for receiving the plurality of pins. 
     
     
         14 . The kit as recited in  claim 13 , wherein at least one of the plurality of openings in the pin bar include a slot and groove and each of the plurality of pins includes a tab that is insertable through the slot and into the groove for securing the pin to the pin bar. 
     
     
         15 . The device as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the pin bar is supportable on the base in one of a lengthwise direction of the base and a widthwise direction of the base. 
     
     
         16 . The device as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the base includes a plurality of openings arranged in at least three rows for receiving a corresponding one of the plurality of pins. 
     
     
         17 . A method of creating a linked item from a plurality of closed loop elastic bands, the method comprising the steps of:
 orientating a plurality of pins by rotating the pins such that an access groove for at least one pin faces in a desired direction;   stretching a plurality of closed loop elastic bands across at least two adjacent pins;   capturing one end of a first one of the plurality of elastic band and pulling the captured end over and onto an adjacent pin while engaged with a second one of the plurality of elastic bands; and   capturing and pulling subsequent ends of different ones of the plurality of elastic bands onto adjacent pins while engaged to another of the plurality of elastic bands to form a series of Brunnian links.   
     
     
         18 . The method as recited in  claim 17 , including securing opposing ends of the series of Brunnian linked elastic bands with a clip. 
     
     
         19 . The method as recited in  claim 17 , wherein orientating a plurality of pins further comprises supporting at least two rows of pins transverse to each other and orientating the access groove such that an access groove of at least one of the plurality of pins is facing in a direction different than another of the plurality of pins.