CROCHET HOOK COVER

Description

CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority from Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 63/724,360, filed Nov. 24, 2024, titled “Crochet Hook Enclosure”, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to crochet equipment, and more particularly to devices for making the process of crocheting easier and safer.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Crochet hooks are essential for creating various textile items, but they often pose challenges due to their tendency to snag and entangle yarn, project bags, or other items near the hook when the hook is not actively in use. This can lead to frustration and damage to the yarn, the ongoing project, and other nearby objects.

Existing solutions for managing crochet hooks, such as cases and pouches, while effective in isolating the hook from its surroundings, can be bulky and inconvenient. They require the hook to be removed from the project when an unfinished project is laid aside to be continued at a later time. They take up space in a project bag, and they are not universal, as they need to be shaped and sized to accommodate the crochet hook handle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The crochet hook cover of the invention provides a compact convenient solution to these problems. It includes a molded narrow short cylindrical low shore hardness piece of silicone rubber with at least one slit at a proximal end. A hook end of a crochet hook device can be inserted into the at least one slit to be enclosed and captured within the low shore hardness silicone rubber. The flexibility of the silicone rubber allows the piece of silicone rubber to fit over a large range of hook sizes, such as from 0.6 mm to 7 mm.

The low shore hardness properties of the silicone rubber with the at least one slit opening enable the silicone rubber to grip the crochet hook end, holding it snuggly, thereby preventing the hook end from coming out until pulled by out the crafter.

The small size of the crochet hook cover of the invention allows the crochet hook to be inserted while a stitch is still on the crochet hook, thereby preventing the stitch from unraveling when pausing work.

Although the hook end of a crochet hook device comes in a range of known standardized sizes, the handle end of a crochet hook device can come in a large and unpredictable variety of lengths, diameters, and textures. Nevertheless, the short size of the cover of the invention allows it to be used with any crochet hook, regardless of the type of handle or overall length.

With a crochet hook inserted into the crochet hook cover (with or without a last stitch in place) the crochet hook device can be placed in a project bag, inserted into the ball of yarn, or laid on the partially completed work without risk of snag or entanglement. Molded silicone results in a smooth enclosure with no hard or sharp edges or seams, thereby ensuring the crochet hook cover does not introduce a surface that could cause a snag or an entanglement.

Being of one piece, the crochet hook cover of the invention has no moving parts, making it robust for use.

A general aspect of the invention is a crochet hook cover for enclosing a hook end of a selected crochet hook device. The crochet hook cover includes: a substantially solid body formed from a low shore hardness elastic polymer, the substantially solid body having a length configured to be less than a length of a selected crochet hook device, and configured to be greater than a length of the hook end of the selected crochet hook device; and at least one slit formed in a proximal end of the substantially solid body, the at least one slit configured to allow manual insertion and removal of the hook end of the selected crochet hook device, the at least one slit having a depth less than the length of the substantially solid body, the depth greater than the length of the hook end of the selected crochet hook device.

In some embodiments, the low shore elastic polymer has a shore hardness configured to stretch and frictionally grip crochet hook ends of a range of sizes from 0.6 mm to 7 mm, thereby securely retaining the hook end within the body.

In some embodiments, the elastic polymer is silicone rubber with a shore hardness of approximately 15A.

In some embodiments, the at least one slit includes two intersecting slits at 90 degrees to each other.

In some embodiments, the substantially solid body has a diameter of approximately ⅜ inches and a length of approximately 1 inch.′

In some embodiments, the substantially solid body has a substantially smooth outer surface with no sharp edges or seams to prevent snagging of yarn by the outer surface.

In some embodiments, the crochet hook cover further includes: a decorative element selected from the group consisting of a logo, a phrase, a printed pattern, or an image molded or attached to an outer surface of the substantially solid body.

In some embodiments, the substantially solid body is formed in a shape selected from the group consisting of: a cylinder, a sphere, a gemstone, an animal, a fantasy character, a commercial character.

In some embodiments, the low shore hardness elastic polymer includes: a colored pigment or mica finish integrated during a molding process.

In some embodiments, the crochet hook cover further includes: a clip or clasp permanently or removably attached to the substantially solid body for securing the crochet hook cover to an object for convenience.

In some embodiments, the slit is replaced by a bored hole configured to receive and securely hold the hook end of the typical crochet hook.

In some embodiments, multiple protector devices are integrated into a single container or linked together to accommodate a plurality of crochet hook insertions.

In some embodiments, the low shore hardness elastic polymer is selected from the group consisting of: silicone rubber, an alternative elastic polymer with sufficient flexibility to accommodate a range of crochet hook sizes.

Another general aspect of the invention is a crochet hook cover including: a single-piece body made of silicone rubber with a shore hardness of approximately 15A, the body having a rounded end and a flat end; and a cross-cut slit formed in the flat end, the slit extending longitudinally along a centerline of the body to a depth less than a length of the single-piece body, the cross-cut slit configured to receive and securely hold a hook end of a crochet hook device ranging in size from 0.6 mm to 7 mm, allowing the hook end to remain inserted with an active stitch on the hook end to prevent unraveling, the single-piece body configured to fit over the hook end of a variety of crochet hook devices having varying handle sizes and lengths.

In some embodiments, the single-piece body is either molded individually, or is cut from a block of elastic polymer.

In some embodiments, the crochet hook cover further includes a fabric housing or plastic housing surrounding the single-piece body.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Many additional features and advantages will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the following detailed description, when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of fingers holding an embodiment of the cover of the invention, and a crochet hook being inserted into the cover.

FIG. 1B is a perspective view of a crochet hook inserted into the cover of FIG. 1, with the last stich still on the crochet hook, and the in-progress work placed down onto a surface to be picked up and restarted at a later time.

FIG. 2A is a perspective view of the device showing relative dimensions, the cover having a cross-cut slit for receiving a crochet hook.

FIG. 2B is a side view of a crochet hook to be inserted into the cover of FIG. 2A.

FIG. 3A is a longitudinal cross section view of the device, showing exemplary longitudinal dimensions.

FIG. 3B is crosswise cross-sectional view of the device, showing the distal solid portion, and the proximal portion with the cross-cut slit.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment with a round channel configured to receive a hook inserted therein.

FIG. 5 is a side view showing a cover able to accommodate various hook sizes. FIG. 6A is perspective view showing a cover with a logo imprinted thereon.

FIG. 6B is a perspective view of an embodiment of the cover having a rectilinear outer surface, such as to prevent rolling of the cover.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of three different outer surface shapes of the cover. FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing various surface finishes of the cover.

FIG. 9A is a perspective view of the cover having an attachment device threaded through the distal end of the cover.

FIG. 9B is a perspective view of the cover having an attachment ring threaded through the distal end of the cover.

FIG. 10A is a perspective view of a solid block having a plurality of covers embedded therein.

FIG. 10B is a perspective view of the solid block of FIG. 10A, showing a crochet hook inserted in each of three of the plurality of covers embedded therein.

FIG. 10B 10C is a perspective view of a rod extending through the distal portion of a plurality of covers, showing a crochet hook inserted in one of the plurality of covers.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With reference to FIG. 1A, an embodiment 100 of the crochet hook cover is shown grasped by fingers 102 of a first hand so that a shaft 104 of a crochet hook grasped by fingers 106 of a second hand can be inserted into the crochet hook cover 100.

Referring to FIG. 1B, the hook end of the shaft 104 of the crochet hook is shown inserted into the crochet hook cover 100, with the last stich still 108 on the shaft 104 of the crochet hook device, and the in-progress work 110 placed down onto a surface to be picked up and restarted at a later time.

With reference to FIGS. 2A and 2B, the crochet hook cover 100 includes a solid segment of round cross-section along its length. This embodiment 100 is of an exemplary length (e.g., 1 inch) 200 that is less than the typical length 210 of a crochet hook 220, and is longer than the length of the hook portion 230 of a hook of the greatest width 240 (e.g., 7.0 mm) that can be accommodated. The crochet hook cover 100 is made from silicone rubber of 15A shore hardness. The distal end 250 of the crochet hook cover 100 is rounded, and the proximal end 260 is flat. Using a thin blade, two slits 270 are cut longitudinally at 90 degrees to each other into the flat end 260 towards but not reaching the rounded end 250.

The diameter/width 280 of the crochet hook cover 100 is of any nominal size that allows the silicone to stretch around the largest hook width 240 desired. The current exemplary embodiment 100 has a diameter of ⅜ inch.

The crochet hook cover 100 can be individually molded or cut/stamped out of a block of elastic polymer, or the like.

The shore hardness can be greater or less than 15A to allow the nominal diameter 280 (e.g., ⅜ inch) of the crochet hook cover 100 to accommodate a desired range of hook sizes 240 to be inserted.

Referring to FIGS. 3A and 3B, the depth 300 of the slits 270 cut into the flat end 260 and along a central axis 302 is less than the length 200 of the crochet hook cover 100, such that the slits 270 of FIG. 2A do not extend all the way to the rounded end 250. With reference to FIG. 4, in an alternate embodiment 400, a small round hole 402 is longitudinally bored or molded into the crochet hook cover 100 as an alternative to the cross slits 270 of embodiment 100 (see FIGS. 2A and 3B). This embodiment 400 is limited for use with a lower range of hook sizes 240 than the embodiment 100 with cross slits 270 because the opening 402 must be sufficiently narrow to securely hold the inserted hook over the desired width range, e.g., hooks of width 0.6 mm to 7 mm, as shown in FIG. 5.

Further, the material of the embodiment 400 must be able to stretch to accommodate the desired largest hook size, as shown in FIG. 5. Another elastic polymer can be used as an alternative to silicone rubber. Alternative embodiments are contemplated, such as fabric with elastic on one end.

Referring to FIG. 6A, any pattern/image/design 600 can be printed, molded, or otherwise attached to the outside of the crochet hook cover 100, including a logo or a phrase, for example. FIG. 6B shows a plastic molded housing 610 enclosing all but the flat end 260 having the crossed slits 270. The plastic molded housing 610 could also be covered with decorative fabric.

With reference to FIG. 7, any outer shape can be used for the crochet hook cover 100 instead of a shape with a round cross-section, including various geometric shapes 700 (e.g., a sphere or a gemstone), various animal shapes 710 (e.g., a bear or a cat), fantasy shapes (not shown) (e.g., a gnome or a unicorn), or commercial characters (not shown) (e.g., Micky Mouse or Pooh Bear), as long as the shape includes a flat end with the cross slits 270.

Referring to FIG. 8, any color or finish can be added to the elastic polymer, such as pigment or mica in any manner consistent with the base molding/forming process.

For example, if a single cavity mold is used, half the mold can be filed with uncured silicone rubber tinted with a pigment 800, and then uncured silicone rubber mixed with mica can be used to complete the fill 810.

With reference to FIG. 9A, a clasp or clip apparatus 900 can be permanently attached to the crochet hook cover 100 using a closed loop of wire 910. Alternatively, FIG. 9B shows a connection ring 920 that is attached to the round end 250 of the crochet hook cover 100, which ring 920 can receive various attachment devices.

Referring to FIGS. 10A and 10B, the crochet hook cover 100 is not limited to single hook use. Two or more crochet hook covers 100 can be incorporated into a single block 1000. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 10C, two or more crochet hook covers 100 can be joined together via a rod arrangement 1010, the rod extending through the round end 250 of each crochet hook cover 100.

Other modifications and implementations will occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention as claimed. Accordingly, the above description is not intended to limit the invention, except as indicated in the following claims.