Guard inserts and systems and methods of using same

Abstract

A guard insert having a body and a guide. The body can include a top surface, an opposed bottom surface, and a plurality of side edges extending between the top and bottom surfaces and including a front side edge. The body can define a slot and a plurality of fastener-receiving openings. The slot can extend inwardly from the front side edge. The plurality of fastener-receiving openings can extend through the top and bottom surfaces, with each opening of the plurality of fastener-receiving openings being configured to receive a fastener. The guide can be securely received within the slot of the body. The guide can have an outer peripheral wall and an inner peripheral wall. The outer peripheral wall can have a shape complementary to the slot, and at least a portion of the inner peripheral wall can define a channel configured for receiving yarn.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A guard insert for use in a yarn twisting apparatus, comprising:
 a body having a top surface, an opposed bottom surface, and a plurality of side edges extending between the top surface and the bottom surface, the plurality of side edges comprising a front side edge, the body defining a slot and a plurality of fastener-receiving openings, the slot extending inwardly from the front side edge, and the plurality of fastener-receiving openings extending through the top and bottom surfaces, wherein each opening of the plurality of fastener-receiving openings is configured to receive a fastener; and   a guide securely received within the slot of the body, the guide having an outer peripheral wall and an inner peripheral wall, the outer peripheral wall having a shape complementary to the slot, and at least a portion of the inner peripheral wall defining a channel configured for receiving yarn.   
     
     
         2 . The guard insert of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of side edges further comprises a back side edge and first and second end edges extending between the front and back side edges, wherein the body has a width corresponding to a distance between the first and second side edges along a first axis, wherein at least one opening of the body is positioned on each side of a reference plane oriented perpendicular to the first axis, and wherein the reference plane divides the body into a first body portion and a second body portion. 
     
     
         3 . The guard insert of  claim 2 , wherein the reference plane bisects the width of the body. 
     
     
         4 . The guard insert of  claim 2 , wherein the first body portion and the second body portion have unequal widths relative to the first axis. 
     
     
         5 . The guard insert of  claim 2 , wherein the body comprises an upper body portion and a lower body portion, the upper body portion overlying at least a portion of the lower body portion, and wherein the upper body portion and the lower body portion have respective outer edge portions and respective slot portions that cooperate to define the slot of the body. 
     
     
         6 . The guard insert of  claim 5 , wherein each of the upper and lower body portions comprise a top surface and an opposed bottom surface, and wherein the bottom surface of the upper body portion is securely coupled to the top surface of the lower body portion. 
     
     
         7 . The guard insert of  claim 5 , wherein the lower body portion comprises a pair of legs extending in opposite directions relative to the first axis, and wherein each leg of the pair of legs extends beyond a respective outer edge portion of the upper body portion. 
     
     
         8 . The guard insert of  claim 7 , wherein each leg of the pair of legs defines at least one opening of the plurality of fastener-receiving openings of the body. 
     
     
         9 . The guard insert of  claim 7 , wherein at least a portion of the upper body portion projects upwardly relative to the pair of legs of the lower body portion. 
     
     
         10 . The guard insert of  claim 2 , wherein the first and second body portions comprise respective front edge portions positioned on opposite sides of the slot. 
     
     
         11 . The guard insert of  claim 10 , wherein the front edge portions are positioned on opposite sides of the slot at a selected obtuse angle relative to the reference plane. 
     
     
         12 . The guard insert of  claim 2 , wherein the first body portion and the second body portion define a central body portion of the body, and wherein the body further comprises a pair of legs extending in opposite directions relative to each other away from the central body portion. 
     
     
         13 . The guard insert of  claim 12 , wherein the central body portion comprises a thickness greater than a thickness of each leg of the body. 
     
     
         14 . The guard insert of  claim 12 , wherein each leg of the body defines at least one opening of the plurality of fastener-receiving openings. 
     
     
         15 . The guard insert of  claim 12 , wherein the central portion of the body defines the slot. 
     
     
         16 . The guard insert of claim  24 , wherein the first and second body portions of the central body portion comprise respective front edge portions positioned on opposite sides of the slot at a selected obtuse relative to the reference plane. 
     
     
         17 . The guard insert of  claim 1 , wherein the guide comprises a ceramic material, a plastic material, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         18 . The guard insert of  claim 1 , wherein the guide comprises an at least partially arcuate shape. 
     
     
         19 . A guard system for a yarn twisting apparatus, comprising:
 a cover having an interior surface and an opposed exterior surface, the cover defining at least one opening configured to overlie a yarn twisting zone of the yarn twisting apparatus and a plurality of fastener-receiving openings configured to receive respective fasteners;   a guard insert securely affixed to the interior surface of the cover, the guard insert comprising,
 a body having a top surface, an opposed bottom surface, and a plurality of side edges extending between the top surface and the bottom surface, the plurality of side edges comprising a front side edge, the body defining a slot and a plurality of fastener-receiving openings, the slot extending inwardly from the front side edge, and the plurality of fastener-receiving openings extending through the top and bottom surfaces, wherein each opening of the plurality of fastener-receiving openings is configured to receive a fastener, and 
 a guide securely received within the slot of the body, the guide having an outer peripheral wall and an inner peripheral wall, the outer peripheral wall having a shape complementary to the slot, and at least a portion of the inner peripheral wall defining a channel configured for receiving yarn passing through a yarn twisting zone of the yarn twisting apparatus; and 
   a plurality of fasteners configured to securely affix the guard insert to the interior surface of the cover, each fastener being configured to be operatively received through aligned openings of the plurality of fastener-receiving openings of the guide insert and the cover, wherein the guide and at least a central portion of the body are received within the at least one opening of the cover, thereby permitting yarn passing through the yarn twisting zone to be received through the channel of the guide while substantially enclosing the at least one opening of the cover.   
     
     
         20 . A method of installing a guard insert, comprising:
 operatively positioning a guard insert relative to an interior surface of a cover for a yarn twisting apparatus, the guard insert comprising:
 a body having a top surface, an opposed bottom surface, and a plurality of side edges extending between the top surface and the bottom surface, the plurality of side edges comprising a front side edge, the body defining a slot and a plurality of fastener-receiving openings, the slot extending inwardly from the front side edge, and the plurality of fastener-receiving openings extending through the top and bottom surfaces, wherein each opening of the plurality of fastener-receiving openings is configured to receive a fastener; 
 a guide securely received within the slot of the body, the guide having an outer peripheral wall and an inner peripheral wall, the outer peripheral wall having a shape complementary to the slot, and at least a portion of the inner peripheral wall defining a channel configured for receiving yarn passing through a yarn twisting zone of the yarn twisting apparatus, wherein the guard extends substantially across at least one opening of the cover, 
   aligning each opening of the plurality of fastener-receiving openings of the body of the guard insert with a respective opening of the cover;   securing a fastener through each of the aligned openings of the body of the guard insert and the cover.