GB2303644A - Device for controlling sewing-machine - Google Patents

Device for controlling sewing-machine Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2303644A
GB2303644A GB9515409A GB9515409A GB2303644A GB 2303644 A GB2303644 A GB 2303644A GB 9515409 A GB9515409 A GB 9515409A GB 9515409 A GB9515409 A GB 9515409A GB 2303644 A GB2303644 A GB 2303644A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
switch
sewing machine
tube
user
bellows
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
GB9515409A
Other versions
GB9515409D0 (en
Inventor
Philip Shad
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Priority to GB9515409A priority Critical patent/GB2303644A/en
Publication of GB9515409D0 publication Critical patent/GB9515409D0/en
Publication of GB2303644A publication Critical patent/GB2303644A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H3/00—Mechanisms for operating contacts
    • H01H3/02—Operating parts, i.e. for operating driving mechanism by a mechanical force external to the switch
    • H01H3/14—Operating parts, i.e. for operating driving mechanism by a mechanical force external to the switch adapted for operation by a part of the human body other than the hand, e.g. by foot
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61F—FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS
    • A61F4/00—Methods or devices enabling patients or disabled persons to operate an apparatus or a device not forming part of the body 
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D05—SEWING; EMBROIDERING; TUFTING
    • D05B—SEWING
    • D05B69/00—Driving-gear; Control devices
    • D05B69/14—Devices for changing speed or for reversing direction of rotation
    • D05B69/18—Devices for changing speed or for reversing direction of rotation electric, e.g. foot pedals

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Heart & Thoracic Surgery (AREA)
  • Human Computer Interaction (AREA)
  • Textile Engineering (AREA)
  • Biomedical Technology (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Vascular Medicine (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Public Health (AREA)
  • Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
  • Sewing Machines And Sewing (AREA)

Abstract

A device for controlling a sewing machine suitable for use by a disabled person comprises an air-pressure actuator (8,10) for actuating a switch (9) controlling a motor of the machine. The actuator may comprise a bellows (10) which may be taped to a user's armpit or a mouthpiece into which the user blows. The switch (9) may be associated with a motor speed control (11) and an isolation transformer.

Description

The present invention relates to improvements to sewing machines, and more particularly to a device to enable a sewing machine to be operated by a person with restricted foot movement.
Many sewing machines are controlled by a foot pedal so that the user's hands are free to support the material to be sewn. The foot pedal, inter alia, is used to control the speed of the sewing machine and to turn the machine on or off. Some people have restricted foot movement, e.g. through arthritis, injury or being disabled for some other reason, and cannot use a sewing machine foot pedal. The invention seeks to provide a device for controlling a sewing machine without the use of a foot.
According to the present invention there is provided a device for controlling a sewing machine comprising an electrical switch sensitive to changes in air pressure for connection to the motor of a sewing machine.
In one embodiment of the invention the switch is supported in a housing with a lead extending therefrom to connect the switch to the sewing machine.
The housing may include a power supply for a sewing machine, with the switch being adapted to connect or disconnect the sewing machine from the power supply. Preferably the power supply includes an electrical isolating transformer to isolate the switch from mains power. The device may further include at least one switch, such as a toggle switch, which, when operated, adjusts the speed of the sewing machine. The switch may adjust the speed of the sewing machine by changing electrical voltage to the sewing machine.
Preferably the switch sensitive to changes in air pressure is connected to a tube, and the air pressure inside the tube can be changed to operate the switch. Air pressure inside the tube may be changed by the user blowing down or sucking air from the tube, or by attaching bellows or other chamber variable in size to the tube which can change the air pressure in the tube.
The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a schematic diagram of the device of the invention connected to a sewing machine, and Figure 2 shows a circuit diagram of the device of Figure 1.
Referring to Figure 1, the device of the invention comprises a housing in the form of a box 1 which incorporates a power supply circuit (see Figure 2) for supplying power and operating a sewing machine 2. Box 1 has a first electrical lead 3 with a plug 4 at one end thereof for connection to a mains electrical wall socket (not shown). A second electrical lead 5 extends from box 1 having a plug 6 adapted to be inserted into the standard socket 7 of the sewing machine 2 (which socket normally receives the mains electrical lead and foot control lead).
Also extending from box 1 is a flexible hollow tube 8 connected to operate a switch 9 (see figure 2) in box 1, which switch 9 is sensitive to changes in air pressure. Bellows 10 provides a chamber variable in size to alter the pressure of air in the tube 8 and hence operates the switch.
The bellows may be formed of resilient material, such as a bulb of rubber material, so that after being deformed under pressure, return to their original shape. The switch turns the sewing machine "off' or "on" and a toggle switch 11 enables the speed of the sewing machine to be controlled.
In use, a person can turn the sewing machine "on" by compressing bellows 10 which increases the pressure in the tube 8 which operates the switch 9. The bellows can be compressed by any part of the body, and thus can be used by persons with different disabilities. For example it could be taped in the armpit and compressed using the arm. When it is desired to turn the sewing machine "off', the pressure compressing bellows can be released and the bellows will conform to their original shape thus reducing the pressure in the tube to operate the switch.
Instead of bellows 10, the tube 8 could be connected to the mouth, e.g. using a mouthpiece similar to a snorkel mouthpiece, and the user can operate the switch by blowing and sucking.
Referring to Figure 2, a circuit is shown for the device of the invention in the the box 1 as described above. A transformer 12 has its primary winding connected with a two wire lead 3 to a plug 4 for insertion in a mains supply wall socket (not shown). The secondary winding of the transformer is connected with a three wire lead 5 to a plug 6, which plug 6 is inserted into the socket 7 of the sewing machine 2. Connected to socket 7 is the sewing machine motor 13 IL and light 14. Four tappings are provided on the secondary winding of transformer dye), Namely Tl,T2,T3 and T4. Tapping T1 provides a common supply to the motor and light via a resistor 15 and the switch 9, whereby switch 9 can turn the sewing machine "on" or "off'. Tapping T2 provides a 240v supply to the light 14. Tappings T3 and T4 supply 1 40v and 1 60v respectively, and at any one time one of these tappings can be connected selectively to motor 13 using toggle switch 11, the different voltages turning the motor at different speeds.
The transformer isolates the switch 9 from the mains as a safety feature.
The device of the invention may be provided as a separate unit to the sewing machine for connection to standard sewing machines. Alternatively it could be built into the sewing machine.
The method of operating the switch 11 could be different to that shown, and other circuits to that described above could be used.
Further modifications of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims (7)

1. The present invention provides a device for controlling a sewing machine comprising an electrical switch sensitive to change in air pressure for connection to the motor of a sewing machine.
2. In use, a person can turn the sewing machine on by compressing bellows FIG 1(10) which increases the pressure in the tube (8) which operates the switch (9).
The bellows can be compressed by any part of the body, and thus can be used by able and by persons with different disabilities. For example the bellow could be taped on the arm (8a) and compressed by the armpit.
3. The user can operate this system as well with a mouth piece attach to the tube by blowing through.
4. Due to a variable speed control switch on device FIG (3) 1. The user will have a constant speed without blowing harder into the mouth piece or increasing more pressure into the compress bellow.
5. The device comprises of FIG (3) 1 variable speed switch, 2 Transformer inside box. 3 switch senitive to air pressure 4, tube 5, mains supply 6, on and off power supply.
The electrical isolating transformer isolates the switch from mains power.
6. The user has full control when operating the sawing machine, in the case of FIG (4) having both hands on the material.
7. FIG 2 View point.
GB9515409A 1995-07-27 1995-07-27 Device for controlling sewing-machine Withdrawn GB2303644A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9515409A GB2303644A (en) 1995-07-27 1995-07-27 Device for controlling sewing-machine

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9515409A GB2303644A (en) 1995-07-27 1995-07-27 Device for controlling sewing-machine

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB9515409D0 GB9515409D0 (en) 1995-09-27
GB2303644A true GB2303644A (en) 1997-02-26

Family

ID=10778349

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB9515409A Withdrawn GB2303644A (en) 1995-07-27 1995-07-27 Device for controlling sewing-machine

Country Status (1)

Country Link
GB (1) GB2303644A (en)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
ES2318970A1 (en) * 2006-06-20 2009-05-01 Componosollertia S.A.L. Interactive device (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding)
GB2469275A (en) * 2009-04-06 2010-10-13 Rowlson Ind Sewing Engineers L Blow and suck control system for industrial sewing machines for use by disabled operators

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB989691A (en) * 1963-01-15 1965-04-22 Ivan Alexander Leslie Improvements relating to foot or knee operable speed-control means for electrically-driven sewing machines
US4298863A (en) * 1980-02-10 1981-11-03 St. Anthony Hospital Systems Portable patient call
US4562432A (en) * 1982-08-19 1985-12-31 Steve Sremac Voice or blow-controlled switchboard
WO1988005092A1 (en) * 1987-01-08 1988-07-14 Philippe Camus Control device for a sewing machine having a variable speed motor making it usable by a handicapped operator
US4865610A (en) * 1983-04-12 1989-09-12 Clayton Foundation For Research Devices for controlling electrically operated appliances
US5126731A (en) * 1990-06-15 1992-06-30 Cromer Jr Jerry E Pneumatically-controlled, user-operated switch interface

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB989691A (en) * 1963-01-15 1965-04-22 Ivan Alexander Leslie Improvements relating to foot or knee operable speed-control means for electrically-driven sewing machines
US4298863A (en) * 1980-02-10 1981-11-03 St. Anthony Hospital Systems Portable patient call
US4562432A (en) * 1982-08-19 1985-12-31 Steve Sremac Voice or blow-controlled switchboard
US4865610A (en) * 1983-04-12 1989-09-12 Clayton Foundation For Research Devices for controlling electrically operated appliances
WO1988005092A1 (en) * 1987-01-08 1988-07-14 Philippe Camus Control device for a sewing machine having a variable speed motor making it usable by a handicapped operator
US5126731A (en) * 1990-06-15 1992-06-30 Cromer Jr Jerry E Pneumatically-controlled, user-operated switch interface

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
ES2318970A1 (en) * 2006-06-20 2009-05-01 Componosollertia S.A.L. Interactive device (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding)
GB2469275A (en) * 2009-04-06 2010-10-13 Rowlson Ind Sewing Engineers L Blow and suck control system for industrial sewing machines for use by disabled operators

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB9515409D0 (en) 1995-09-27

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WAP Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1)