AU604609B2

AU604609B2 - Foot control assembly

Info

Publication number: AU604609B2
Application number: AU35052/89A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Ilan Skornicki
Original assignee: SINGER FURNITURE Pty Ltd
Current assignee: SINGER FURNITURE Pty Ltd
Priority date: 1988-04-27
Filing date: 1989-05-22
Publication date: 1990-12-20
Anticipated expiration: 2009-05-22
Also published as: AU3505289A

Description

C~-irll '4 Ir Si S F Ref: 57229 FORM COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIAJ PATENTS ACT 1952 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION This documnt contains the amendments made under S(ction 49 and is correct for printing.

(ORIGINAL)

FOR OFFICE USE: Class Int. Class Application Number: Lodged: Priority: PI7918 27 April 1988 Accepted: Published: t i c 4 1 4 t 44 4 s 4 t t c t 4 t 4 '44 Related Art: Name and Address of Applicant: Actual Inventor: Address for Service: Singer Furniture Pty Limited Unit 1 277 Lane Cove Road North Ryde New South Wales 2113

AUSTRALIA

NOT KNOWN Spruson Ferguson, Patent Attorneys, Level 33 St Martins Tower, 31 Market Street, Sydney, New South Wales, 2000, Australia Complete Specification for the invention entitled: Foot Control Assembly The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us 5815/2 2 The present invention relates to control mechanisms which control vertical movement of a work platform.

It is common for sewing machines used in the home, to be mounted in a cabinet. The sewing machine is mounted on a work platform. The work platform is vertically movably mounted so as to be movable between a retracted position with the sewing machine contained within the cabinet, to a raised position, with the sewing machine mounted located at the top work surface of the cabinet. The platform is raised and lowered with the aid of pneumatic rams which receive gas under pressure. A reservoir has a store of the gas. The platform is vertically guided by means of raised mounted in the cabinet. In use of this particular type of cabinet, when the work 0 platform, with the sewing machine mounted thereon, is to be raised, the user needs to apply a downward force to the platform and simultaneously So°°o operate a lever located within the cabinet. However due to the location of 00 0 -Oo 1l5 the lever this c-peration is generally difficult, with the problem being exacerbated if the user is disabled in any manner.

It is the object of the present invention to overcome or substantially ameliorate the above disadvantage.

Soooo There is disclosed herein a cabinet assembly having a hollow cabinet 20 body and a work platform to receive and support a sewing machine, said 0 00 00 cabinet assembly further including motor means to aid in raising and o:o' lowering of the work platform between a rttracted position wherein the sewing machine is contained within the cabinet body, and a raised position wherein the sewing machine is located adjacent to an upper work surface of 23 the cabinet body, foot operable mean: mounted adjacent a lower portion of said cabinet which is positioned to be manipulated by the foot of a user to operate said motor means during raising and/or lowering of said platform, and wherein said foot operable means Includes a pivotally mounted lever, a cable extending from and operatively associated with said lever, and a link assembly attached to said cable and operated thereby, which link assembly actuates said motor means.

A preferred forip of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Fig. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a portion of a cabinet which receives a sewing machine; and Fig. 2 Is a schematic side elevation of a control mechanism employed in the cabinet of Fig. I.

W I ANtZ 1 TO: THE COMMISSIONER OF PATENTS SD/23T '4 -3- In the accompanying drawing there is schematically depicted a sewing machine cabinet 10. The cabinet 10 has an upper platform member 11 with an aperture 12. Movably mounted in the cabinet 10 is a work platform 13 which receives and supports a sewing machine 14. The platform 13 is vertically movable so that the sewing machine 14 can be located in a ee 4 0 0 t a e 000 0 o 4 o o e 00 0 00 0 0 000 0 4 000 o o o 0 00 0 0 00 00 0 0 0* 0 0 o 4 1 lowered position contained within the cabinet 10, or a raised position whereat the sewing machine is located at the top surface of the platform member 11. The work platform 13 closes the aperture 12 when the sewing machine is located at its upper position.

The work platform 13 is moved by means of a pneumatic motor assembly which is of a conventional structure. The motor assembly 15 includes a reservoir which contains a gas under pressure, and one or more pneumatic rams which receive the gas under pressure. The rams have one end engaging the carriage 16 and the other end engaging the vertical rails 17. The carriage 16 supports the platform 13. A valve assembly is operated by means of a lover 18, which valve assembly governs the flow of gas from the reservoir to the pneumatic rams.

The carriage 16 slidably engages the rail 17 so as to be guided in its vertical movement thereby. In normal operation of the motor assembly 15, the user needs to apply a downward force on the platform 13 while simultaneously actuating the lever 18. However, there is further provided Sa foot control assembly 19 which overcomes the requirement of the user o having to hand manipulate the lever 18, The assembly 19 includes a oC.o C pivotally mounted lever 20 having one extremity provided with a foot pad 20 21. The other end of the lever 20 is pivotally mounted by means of a pivot 00 assembly 22, The assembly 19 also includes a cable 23 having an outer o cable conduit 24 through which there extends a flexible elongated element The element 25 has one end secured to the lever 20, while the other Oooo end of the element 25 extends to a further lever 26. The lever 26 being pivotally mounted by means of an arm 27 and a pivot 28. The lever 26 Is also pivotally attached to a link 29 which causes operation of the valve ,o traditionally operated by the lever 18. The lever 26 is biased in an upward direction by means of a spring 30. The lever 26 is pivotally mounted on the carriage 16 so as to be moved therewith.

As can be seen from the above, with the provision of the foot pad 21, the lever 18 may be removed.

Claims

1. A cabinet assembly having a hollow cabinet body and a work platform to receive and support a sewing machine, said cabinet assembly further including motor means to aid in raising and lowering of the work platform between a retracted position wherein the sewing machine is contained within the cabinet body, and a raised position wherein the sewing machine is located adjacent to an upper work surface of the cabinet body, foot operable means mounted adjacent a lower portion of said cabinet which is positioned to be manipulated by the foot of a user to operate said motor means during raising and/or lowering of said platform, and wherein said foot operable means includes a pivotally mounted lever, S.a cable extending from and operatively associated with said lever, and a 0000 link assembly attached to said cable and operated thereby, which link 0o°° assembly actuates said motor means. 000ooo 0°°0

2, The cabinet assembly of claim 1 further comprising a hand 0 0 operated lever operable to actuate said motor means, and wherein operation of said hand operated lever being selectively overriden by operation of said foot operable means. 0oO0

3, A cabinet assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with 0000oooo reference to the accompanying drawings. DATED this TWENTY-SEVENTH day of AUGUST 1990 Singer Furniture Pty Limited Patent Attorneys for the Applicant SPRUSON FERGUSON 4N/25191 i