Thread coloring apparatus

An apparatus for coloring threaded material, comprising:

• a housing;
• a shield at to the housing;
• a payout support member configured to support a payout spool;
• a drive member configured to rotate a takeup spool;
• and
• a coloring assembly comprising
• A) a colorant applicator holding portion configured to receive a colorant applicator, and
• B) a passage configured to receive a thread and to dispose the thread against the colorant applicator as the thread is wound onto the takeup spool,
• wherein the coloring assembly is positioned to direct the thread drawn through the passage toward a portion of the takeup spool;
• wherein the shield is positioned to provide a protective covering over the drive member;
• wherein a portion of the shield forms an aperture positioned such that the aperture accepts the colorant applicator when the colorant applicator is inserted into the colorant applicator holding portion.

An apparatus for coloring a thread material, comprising:

• a housing;
• a cover affixed to the housing;
• a rotatable member mounted in the housing, wherein the housing includes a drive that rotates the rotatable member,
• a holding member protruding from the rotatable member, wherein the holding member is configured to receive a takeup spool;
• a payout support member configured to rotatable support a payout spool comprising the thread material;
• a primary thread guide comprising a passage configured to receive the thread material, the primary thread guide positioned to direct the thread material toward a potion of the takeup spool as the thread material is unwound from the payout spool and wound onto the takeup spool, wherein the primary thread guide comprises a receptacle configured to receive a marking device, and further wherein the passage is configured to dispose the thread material against a colorant delivering portion of the marking device;
• and
• a payout thread guide configured to guide the thread material toward the primary thread guide as the thread material is unwound from the payout spool;
• wherein the cover at least partially encases the holding member, and wherein the cover is positioned as a protective guard between a user and one or more moving components of the apparatus;
• and
• wherein a portion of the cover forms an aperture positioned such that the aperture accepts the marking device when the marking device is inserted into the receptacle of the primary thread guide.

An apparatus for coloring threaded material, comprising:

• a drive member configured to rotate a takeup spool;
• a primary thread guide comprising a passage configured to guide a threaded material as the threaded material is wound onto the takeup spool;
• and
• the primary thread guide further comprising a receptacle configured to receive a marker that is inserted into the receptacle, wherein the marker includes a marker nib that delivers a colorant, and wherein the receptacle is configured to position the marker nib in contact with the threaded material such that the marker nib delivers the colorant onto the threaded material.

An apparatus for coloring a thread material, comprising:

• a housing;
• a rotatable member mounted M the housing, wherein the housing includes a drive that rotates the rotatable member;
• a holding member protruding from the rotatable member, wherein the holding member is configured to receive a takeup spool;
• a payout support member configured to rotatably support a payout spool comprising the thread material;
• a primary thread guide comprising a passage configured to guide the thread material as the thread material is wound onto the takeup spool;
• the primary thread guide farther comprising a receptacle configured to receive a marker that is inset ted into the receptacle, wherein the marker includes a marker nib that delivers a colorant, and wherein the receptacle is configured to position the marker nib in contact with the thread material such that the marker nib delivers the colorant onto the thread material;
• and
• a payout thread guide configured to guide the thread material toward the primary thread guide as the thread material is unwound from the payout spool.