US1033997A - Presser-foot-operating device for sewing-machines. - Google Patents

Description

E. A. DRAKE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 12, 1912.

Patented July 30, 1912.

PRESSER FOOT OPERATING DEVICE EOE SEWING MACHINES.

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FREDERICK A. BRAKE, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, yASSIG1\1'O1R, OF ONE-HALF TO LEWIS PI. WELLS, OF WEST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY.

PRESSER-FOOT-OPERATING DEVICE FOR SEWING-MACHINES.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Fatented July 30, 191,2.

Application filed February 1'2, 1912. Serial No. 677,081.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that l, FREDERICK A. BRAKE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful -Improvements in Presser-Foot- Operating Devices for Sewing-Machines; and l do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invent-ion, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

rlhis invention relates to a mechanism for operating the presser-foot of a sewing-machine so that the hands that are employed in guiding the material through the machine do not have to be taken from the cloth or material that is being sewed to operate the presser-foot.

As now operated as a rule the presser-foot is manipulated by means of a small lever on the frame, and this operation of t-he presserfoot necessitates the taking of one of the hands from the material that is being sewed. This is sometimes inconvenient and causes a loss of time and a readjustment of the material when the sewing is resumed. To overcome this l have provided a knee-plate which is pressed by theknee, the knee-plate being connected by a suitable mechanism to the presser-foot so that when the knee presses the knee-plate the presser-foot is raised, and when the pressure on the kneeplate is released the presser-foot falls, being usually forced down by a spring which is customary in sewing-machines. The kneeplate can be so disposed so that it acts as a guard, particularly in the case of a foot power' machine, the knee-plate being preferably placed on the side of the iy-wheel and giving additional protection against said rotating fly-wheel.

The invention further consists-of a connection between the presser-foot rod and the knee-plate in the shape of a universal joint so that the device can be used on machines that are fitted to cases that have a drop or folding top so that any folding or turning of the machine in its case is provided for in the connection.

The mechanism is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure 1 is a front view of the presserfoot operating mechanism showing a sewing-machine frame and part of its case in rdot-ted outline, and Fig. 2 is anend view of the presser-foot operating mechanism shown in Fig. 1.

The device is used on any form of sewingmachine having a frame 10, which frame is mounted on a case 11. The machine is provided with a presser-foot 12 which is mounted on a suitable presser-foot rod 13 which can be forced downward by any suitable mechanism such as the spring 14 which abuts on -the frame and also on the collar 15 on the presser-foot rod. The presser-foot rod is provided with a nose 16 which is engaged by the end 17 of a lever 18, which lever is pivo-ted as at 19 to the machine frame at any suitable point. The lever 18 is formed according to the shape of the machine frame, being made of a shape best adapted to fit the frame without being in the way, and being formed to substantially conform to the formation of the frame. rlhe lever can be placed on the out-side of the frame or it can be placed within the frame, according to which position is most convenient for its installation. 1he end of the lever 18 opposite the end 17 is formed into an eye 19, the lever 18 extending with it-s eye down through the case 11, passing through a suitable slot.

On the case 11 is arranged a bracket 20 having a bearing-plate 21 and a pivotal pin 22. On the pivotal pin 22 is arranged an arm 23 which swings on the pin 22, the arm terminating in a hook 24, the hook having a suitable curve and fitting in the eye 19. The end of the arm 23 opposite the hook 24 is provided with a knee-plate 25 of suitable conformation, being preferably a substantially broad plate so that the operator can engage it with his or her knee without paying particular attention to its location. lt will be seen that when the kneeplate is pressed the arm 23 is swung and its hook 2l engages the eye 19 to swing the lever 18 so that the nose 16 is lifted and with it the presser-foot, and when the knee-plate is released the presser-foot falls, and the connecting mechanism between the kneeplate and the presser-foot is operated to the case of machines where the machine frame is dropped or permitted to swing within lthe case, and whether it is swung downward to one side or swung downward to the front or to the rear, the universal connection permits this swinging,4 the eye swinging on the hook both sidewise and fore and aft. Ofcourse it will be understood that in the different types of machine the mechanism will be constructed so as to bring the joint substantially in line with the pivotal connection on which the frame swings when it is dropped.

This device saves time and labor, provides I for a more steady feeding of the material by l the hands of the operator, and leaves both hands at all times free for the manipulation of the material.

Having thus described my invention, whatA knee-plate swinging on the machine, an eye in the end of the lever, and an arm extendjing from the knee-plate, a curved hook on the arm and extending into the eye whereby the connection so formed between the hook and the eye permits the frame to be droppedl either sidewise or forward.

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing, I have hereunto set my hand this 9th day of February, 1912.

FREDERICK A. DRAKE. Witnesses:

WM. H. CAMFIELD, Louis H. WILLs.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

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