Apparatus for tying knot and method thereof

• US 20040164556A1
• Filed: 02/20/2003
• Published: 08/26/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Shree G. Khaitan
• Original Assignee: Shree G. Khaitan
• Inventors: Khaitan, Shree G.
• Granted Patent: US 6,834,894 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 289/18.1
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 69/04 by knotting

Abstract

A knot tying apparatus includes a thread holding frame having a longitudinal axis. The thread holding frame includes an engaging arm having a catch end positioning aligned with the longitudinal axis for slidably engaging a tying thread in position; a thread holder having a rounded bottom end axially extended from the longitudinal axis and an arc-shaped holding groove communicating with the rounded bottom end for slidably holding the tying thread to form a loop thereof while the tying thread is capable of being released at the rounded bottom end of the thread holder, and a resilient element provided between the thread holder and the engaging arm such that the engaging arm is capable of bending towards the thread holder to reduce a distance between the catch end and the holding groove for providing a tension force on the loop of the tying thread.

Claims

1. A knot tying apparatus, comprising:

a thread holding frame having a longitudinal axis and comprising;

an engaging arm having a catch end positioning aligned with said longitudinal axis for slidably engaging a tying thread in position;

a thread holder, which is extended from said engaging arm, having a rounded bottom end axially extended from said longitudinal axis and an arc-shaped holding groove communicating with said rounded bottom end wherein said holding groove is adapted for slidably holding said tying thread to form a loop thereof while said tying thread is capable of being released at said rounded bottom end of said thread holder; and

a resilient element provided between said thread holder and said engaging arm such that said engaging arm is capable of bending towards said thread holder to reduce a distance between said catch end of said engaging arm and said holding groove of said thread holder for providing a tension force on said loop of said tying thread.

2. A knot tying apparatus, as recited in claim 1, wherein said resilient element is a coil spring having two ends extended from said engaging arm and said thread holder respectively in such a manner that said resilient element provides an urging force against said engaging arm to bend towards said thread holder.

3. A knot tying apparatus, as recited in claim 1, wherein said thread holder comprises a first holder arm extended from said resilient element and a second holder arm integrally extended from said first holder arm to form a U-shaped structure with said rounded bottom end of said thread holder, wherein said second holder arm is bent to form said holding groove to communicate with said rounded bottom end of said thread holder.

4. A knot tying apparatus, as recited in claim 2, wherein said thread holder comprises a first holder arm extended from said resilient element and a second holder arm integrally extended from said first holder arm to form a U-shaped structure with said rounded bottom end of said thread holder, wherein said second holder arm is bent to form said holding groove to communicate with said rounded bottom end of said thread holder.

5. A knot tying apparatus, as recited in claim 1, wherein said engaging arm is frontwardly extended from said thread holder while said catch end of said engaging arm is shaped as a hook for securely engaging with said tying thread in position.

6. A knot tying apparatus, as recited in claim 2, wherein said engaging arm is frontwardly extended from said thread holder while said catch end of said engaging arm is shaped as a hook for securely engaging with said tying thread in position.

7. A knot tying apparatus, as recited in claim 4, wherein said engaging arm is frontwardly extended from said thread holder while said catch end of said engaging arm is shaped as a hook for securely engaging with said tying thread in position.

8. A knot tying apparatus, as recited in claim 1, further comprising a handle frame rearwardly extended from said thread holding frame and aligned with said longitudinal axis, whereby, when said loop of said tying thread is tensely formed at said catch end of said engaging arm and said holding groove of said thread holder, said thread holding frame is rotated about an object via said handle frame such that said tying thread is coiled around said object with predetermined number of turns in a tensely tight manner, so that said loop of said tying thread is adapted to be released at said holding groove of said thread holder through said rounded bottom end thereof while said loop of said tying thread is retained by said engaging arm until said tying thread is released as said tying thread is drawn tight to form a final knot on said object.

9. A knot tying apparatus, as recited in claim 2, further comprising a handle frame rearwardly extended from said thread holding frame and aligned with said longitudinal axis, whereby, when said loop of said tying thread is tensely formed at said catch end of said engaging arm and said holding groove of said thread holder, said thread holding frame is rotated about an object via said handle frame such that said tying thread is coiled around said object with predetermined number of turns in a tensely tight manner, so that said loop of said tying thread is adapted to be released at said holding groove of said thread holder through said rounded bottom end thereof while said loop of said tying thread is retained by said engaging arm until said tying thread is released as said tying thread is drawn tight to form a final knot on said object.

10. A knot tying apparatus, as recited in claim 4, further comprising a handle frame rearwardly extended from said thread holding frame and aligned with said longitudinal axis, whereby, when said loop of said tying thread is tensely formed at said catch end of said engaging arm and said holding groove of said thread holder, said thread holding frame is rotated about an object via said handle frame such that said tying thread is coiled around said object with predetermined number of turns in a tensely tight manner, so that said loop of said tying thread is adapted to be released at said holding groove of said thread holder through said rounded bottom end thereof while said loop of said tying thread is retained by said engaging arm until said tying thread is released as said tying thread is drawn tight to form a final knot on said object.

11. A knot tying apparatus, as recited in claim 7, further comprising a handle frame rearwardly extended from said thread holding frame and aligned with said longitudinal axis, whereby, when said loop of said tying thread is tensely formed at said catch end of said engaging arm and said holding groove of said thread holder, said thread holding frame is rotated about an object via said handle frame such that said tying thread is coiled around said object with predetermined number of turns in a tensely tight manner, so that said loop of said tying thread is adapted to be released at said holding groove of said thread holder through said rounded bottom end thereof while said loop of said tying thread is retained by said engaging arm until said tying thread is released as said tying thread is drawn tight to form a final knot on said object.

12. A knot tying apparatus, as recited in claim 1, wherein said resilient element is integrally extended from said engaging arm to said thread holder so as to form a one-piece integral member of said thread holding frame.

13. A knot tying apparatus, as recited in claim 2, wherein said resilient element is integrally extended from said engaging arm to said thread holder so as to form a one-piece integral member of said thread holding frame.

14. A knot tying apparatus, as recited in claim 4, wherein said resilient element is integrally extended from said engaging arm to said thread holder so as to form a one-piece integral member of said thread holding frame.

15. A knot tying apparatus, as recited in claim 7, wherein said resilient element is integrally extended from said engaging arm to said thread holder so as to form a one-piece integral member of said thread holding frame.

16. A knot tying apparatus, as recited in claim 11, wherein said resilient element is integrally extended from said engaging arm to said thread holder so as to form a one-piece integral member of said thread holding frame.

17. A method of tying a knot on an object by using a knot tying apparatus, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a thread holding frame which has a longitudinal axis and comprises an engaging arm having a catch end aligned with said longitudinal and a thread holder, which is axially extended from said longitudinal axis, having a holding groove formed thereon;

(b) forming a loop of a tying thread by slidably engaging the tying thread at said catch end of said engaging arm and slidably holding at said holding groove of said thread holder;

(c) axially aligning said longitudinal axis of said thread holding frame with respect to said object;

(d) rotating said thread holding frame such that said tying thread is coiled around said object;

(e) applying a tension force on said loop of said tying thread in such a manner that while coiling said tying thread around said object, said catch end of said engaging arm is pulled towards said holding groove of said thread holder to reduce a size of said loop of said tying thread while said loop of said tying thread is retained in a tensely tight manner;

(f) slidably releasing said tying thread at said holding groove of said thread holder while said catch end of said engaging arm still retains said loop of said tying thread; and

(g) pulling a supply end of said tying thread away from said thread holding frame to gradually disappear said loop of said tying thread held at said catch end of said engaging arm, wherein once said catch end of said engaging arm is pulled close to said object, said catch end of said engaging arm is disengaged with said tying thread such that said coils of said tying thread are tightened by pulling said supply end of said tying thread along said object to complete said knot on said object.

18. The method, as recited in claim 17, wherein said thread holding frame further comprises a resilient element provided between said engaging arm and said thread holder such that said engaging arm is capable of bending towards said thread holder to reduce a distance between said catch end of said engaging arm and said holding groove of said thread holder for providing said tension force on said loop of said tying thread.

19. The method, as recited in claim 17, wherein said thread holder further has a rounded bottom end axially communicating with said holding groove such that said tying thread is released from said holding groove of said thread holder through said rounded bottom end thereof.

20. The method, as recited in claim 18, wherein said thread holder further has a rounded bottom end axially communicating with said holding groove such that said tying thread is released from said holding groove of said thread holder through said rounded bottom end thereof.

21. The method as recited in claim 19, in step (f), wherein said thread holding frame is pivotally moved with respect to said longitudinal axis thereof until said tying thread is slid to said rounded bottom end of said thread holder.

22. The method as recited in claim 20, in step (f), wherein said thread holding frame is pivotally moved with respect to said longitudinal axis thereof until said tying thread is slid to said rounded bottom end of said thread holder.