GB2117632A

GB2117632A - Cabinet for a sewing machine

Info

Publication number: GB2117632A
Application number: GB08209673A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Giorgio Scaltrini
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1982-04-01
Filing date: 1982-04-01
Publication date: 1983-10-19
Also published as: GB2117632B

Abstract

In a combined storage compartment and a work-table for a sewing machine, the machine is supported on a frame which at its rearward edge 4 is pivotally mounted between two parallel crank arms 3' and has at opposite ends of its forward edge 5 two bolts which project into arcuate guide slots, in the sides of the compartment. The upper portion 8 of each guide slot extends in an arc parallel to that of movement of the rear edge 4 owing to the crank arms 3', and the bolts are spring-loaded to engage in recesses N, N1 at the top and bottom ends of the slot portions 8 to selectively locate the machine in either of two operating positions at different heights relative to the work-table. The bolts are disengageable from the recesses N, N1 by means of a lever C and the machine can be lowered into its storage position by movement of the bolts along the lower arcuate portions 7 of the guide slots. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Cabinet for a sewing machine This invention relates to a cabinet for a sewing machine and incorporating means whereby the machine can be located selectively in a first or a second operating position at different heights with respect to a work table, and in rest position. The two operating positions may conveniently be with the arm of the machine respectively at and above table level.

According to the invention there is provided a cabinet for a sewing machine having a compartment for housing the machine, and providing a work table, a support orframefor supporting the machine one edge of which support or frame is guided for movement in an up and down direction in guide means at opposite sides of the compartment, the opposite edge of the support or frame being pivotally mounted on arms which are coaxially pivotally supported in fixed mounting at the sides of the compartment, the arrangement being such that the support or frame can be lowered into a rest position in the compartment and can be raised therefrom into a substantially horizontal attitude in either of two operating positions at different heights relative to the table, and releasable means for locating the machine selectively in either of said operating positions.

The invention also provides the combination with a cabinet as set forth in the preceding paragraph of a sewing machine having a base which is attached to said support or frame or which constitutes said support.

According to a preferred feature of the invention the guide means comprises parallel tracks at said sides respectively of the compartment, said tracks comprising an upper portion in the shape of an arc extending in an up and down direction and substantially parallel to part of the arc of movement of said arms about their mounting such that the support frame remains in a substantially horizontal attitude throughout its movement along said upper portion of the track, said locating means serving to locate the support or frame selectively at the upper and lower ends of said upper portion.

According to another preferred feature of the invention said guide means further comprises a lower portion which is an arcuate downward continuation of said upper portion and which extends in an arc of greater radius than said upper portion.

Conveniently, the locating means comprises bolts mounted on the support orframe and engageable in respective recesses which are fixed with respect to Preferably the bolts are mounted to extend along said one edge of the support or frame and are spring-loaded to urge them into engagement with resepctive recesses which are fixed with respect to the cabinet.

In a preferred form of the cabinet the guide means are in the form of guide channels in which said bolts are permanently engaged, serving to guide the movement of the support or frame, said recesses being formed in the bases of the guide channels.

Preferably the guide channels are made from a plastics material and are mounted in respective grooves formed in opposite side walls of the compartment.

One embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which: Figure lisa top view, on the section line I-I of Figure 2, of the mechanism by means of which the sewing machine can be lowered into and raised out of its cabinet, Figure 2 is a sectional side view taken on the line Il-Il of Figure 1 and shows the sewing machine in an operating position with its arm free, Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 but shows the sewing machine in an alternative operating position with its arm at table level, Figure 4 is similar to Figure 2 but shows the sewing machine in its lowered position in the cabinet;; Figures 5 and 5A are sectional views on line V-V of Figure 1, respectively showing a release bolt in its two positions of operation, and Figure 6 shows a detail of the mechanism.

Referring to the drawings, the sewing machine S is carried by a cabinet M and a mechanism is provided for enabling the machine to be raised into an operative position shown in Figure 2 and lowered into a storage position in a compartment V in the cabinet. The compartment V is partly covered by a swing-down table U. The arm of the machine is indicated at T. The mechanism includes a frame Z and two side guides G,G'.

Frame Z comprises a front tubular member 5, two channel members 6 which are perpendicular to and secured to member 5 and which support base B of the sewing machine S, and a cylindrical shaft 4 on which the rearward ends of channel members 6 are pivotally mounted. Members 6 are located against axial movement along shaft 4 by respective sleeves 17 dowelled on the shaft and disposed between the side walls of the members 6. Shaft 4 has its ends secured to crank levers 3, 3' having pivot pins 1, 1' rotatably mounted in bushings 18 which seat in respective recesses 19 provided in sidewall F F' of cabinet M.

Shaft 4 and levers 3, 3' and pins 1,1' are therefore, rotatable about the common axis Y-Y of the pins.

Tubular member 5 is provided at its ends with two axially sliding bolts 2, 2' (see Figures 5, 5A) the tips of which are engaged in slots in respective guides G, G'. Each of the guides is in the form of a channel-section member made from a plastics material and secured in a groove of corresponding shape formed in the side wall of the compartment, and the open side of the channel constitutes the slot. Each guide slot extends in a first arc 7 and continues in a second are 8 of different radius. At the upper end of arc 8, and where the two arcs meet, recesses N,N1 are formed in the bottoms of the slots and springs 14 acting on the bolts 2, 2' cause the bolts to engage in the recesses as the bolts move along the slots.

A lever C pivoting about a pin R on member 5 releases pins 2, 2' from recesses N, N1 as it is connected by means of steel wires 9to two screws 15 fastened to the pins 2, 2' respectively and sliding in slots 16 in member 5. The length of slots 16 is such as to prevent the bolts from being withdrawn from the guide slots.

Operation of the mechanism will be clear from a consideration of Figures 2, 3 and 4. Thus, by withdrawing the bolts 2, 2' from recesses N, using lever C, the machine is lowered from its operating position shown in Figure 2 in which the arm is above the level of the table, moving bodily in an arcuate path guided by cranks 3 and the engagement of bolts 2,2' in slots 8 into the alternative operating position shown in Figure 3 in which the bolts 2, 2' engage in recesses N1 to fix the machine in its alternative operating position with arm Tat table level. When the bolts are released from recesses N1 the machine can be lowered again and swivels about member 4 and the axis Y-Y, guided by the sliding movement of bolts 2, 2' along the arcuate slots 8 into the rest or storage position, within compartment V as shown in Figure 4. The machine can be lifted into either of its operating positions by a similar procedure.

Claims

1. A cabinet for a sewing machine having a compartment for housing the machine, and providing a work table, a support or frame for supporting the machine one edge of which support or frame is guided for movement in an up and down direction in guide means at opposite sides of the compartment, the opposite edge of the support or frame being pivotally mounted on arms which are coaxially pivotally supported in fixed mountings at the sides of the compartment, the arrangement being such that the support or frame can be lowered into a rest position in the compartment and can be raised therefrom into a substantially horizontal attitude in either of two operating positions at different heights relative to the table, and releasable means for locating the machine selectively in either of said operating positions.

2. A cabinet as claimed in claim 1, wherein the guide means comprises parallel tracks at said sides respectively of the compartment, said tracks comprising an upper portion in the shape of an arc extending in an up and down direction and substantially parallel to part of the arc of movement of said arms about their mounting such that the support or frame remains in a substantially horizontal attitude throughout its movement along said upper portion of the track, said locating means serving to locate the support or frame selectively at the upper and lower ends of said upper portion.

3. A cabinet as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein said guide means further comprises a lower portion which is an arcuate downward continuation of said upper portion and which extends in an arc of greater radius than said upper portion.

4. A cabinet as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the locating means comprises bolts mounted on the support or frame and engageable in respective recesses at the sides of the compartment.

5. A cabinet as claimed in claim 4, wherein the bolts are mounted to extend along said one edge of the support or frame and are spring-loaded to urge them into engagement with respective recesses which are fixed with respect to the cabinet.

6. A cabinet as claimed in claim 4 or claim 5, wherein the guide means are in the form of guide channels in which said bolts are permanently engaged, serving to guide the movement of the support or frame, said recesses being formed in the bases of the guide channels.

7. A cabinet as claimed in claim 6, wherein the guide channels are made from a plastics material and are mounted in respective grooves formed in opposite side walls of the compartment.

8. A cabinet as claimed in claim 6 or claim 7 wherein a release lever is mounted on the support or frame and is linked to the two bolts in a manner whereby the lever can be operated to withdraw both of said bolts simultaneously from engagement in said recesses.

9. A cabinet for a sewing machine substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

10. The combination, with a cabinet as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, of a sewing machine having a base which is attached to said support or frame or which constitutes said support.