US2321747A

US2321747A - Overcasting device for sewing machines

Info

Publication number: US2321747A
Application number: US401074A
Authority: US
Inventors: Hickey James
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1941-07-05
Filing date: 1941-07-05
Publication date: 1943-06-15
Anticipated expiration: 1960-06-15

Description

11g 0 Z JE BY June 15, 1943. J. HICKEY 2,321,747

OVERCASTING DEVICE FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed Ju1y'5, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 1' JAMES HICKEY INVENTOR QMQTOW June 15, 1943. J. HICKEY 2,321,747

OVERCASTING DEVICE FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed July 5, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 1 I mum 1 53 56 ATTORNEYS June 15, 1943. c Y 2,321,747

OVERCASTING DEVICE FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed July 5, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 JAMES HICKEY l N VE NTO R BY L4%@.

ATTORNEYS Patented June 15, 1943 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE OVERCASTING DEVICE FOR SEWING MACHINES James Hickey, Portland, Oreg.

Application July 5,- 1941, Serial No. 401,074

Claims.

This invention relates to an attachment for sewing machines of the customary type whereby an additional overcasting stitch, or so-called whip-stitch border seam, can be sewn in conjunction with, and in addition to, the regular sewing machine stitch or seam.

The object of this invention is to provide a simple device which may quickly and easily be attached to an ordinary sewing machine and which will perform the overcasting stitch in cooperation with the sewing of the regular stitch with the operation of the sewing machine.

Another object of tlL's invention is to provide a simple overcasting device which will be selfregulating and will adjust itself to any length or change of length in the regular machine stitch.

A further object of this invention is to provide an overcasting device by which the overcasting thread will be caught by the regular machine stitch alternately on opposite sides of the cloth, but which will not require any up and down movement of the cloth other than that required by the usual feeding mechanism in the ordinary sewing machine.

A still further object is to provide an attachment of the nature above described which will be compact in form, requiring but little space when attached to the sewing machine, and thus not inconveniencing the operator engaged in stitching the cloth.

These and other objects I attain by making my overcasting attachment in the manner hereinafter described and functioning as hereinafter explained in the following description, in which description reference is to be made to the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my device showing the same in place on a sewing machine;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the overcasting device alone; the side shown in elevation being the same as that shown in perspective in Figure 1, and the position of the elements in the device being the position which they occupy when the feeder for the overcasting thread is passed above the cloth which is being sewed;

Figure 3 is a side elevation similar to Figure 2 but showing the position of the elements when the overcasting thread feeder has been retracted from the cloth;

Figure 4 is a similar slide elevation showing the position of the elements when the overcasting thread feeder is in position under the cloth;

Figure 5 is a plan view of the overcasting de- Figure 6 is a side elevation taken from the side opposite that shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4, the elements being in the same position as that shown in Figure 2;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary perspective of part of the device of Figure 1 drawn to a larger scale and with most of the elements omitted for the sake of clarity;

Figures 8, 9, 10 and 11 are diagrammatic views illustrating the position of the feeder for the overcasting thread and the position of the machine needle and the combining of the machine stitching overcasting stitch in the four stages which make up one complete cycle of operation; and

Figure 12 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view, shown partly in section, of the adjustable tightener and holder for the spool carrying the overcasting thread. 7

The device includes a main frame piece comprising a vertical portion l0 and an integral bottom horizontal flange or base II. The forward end of the vertical portion I0, that is the, end adjacent the reciprocating sewing machine needle, is formed into an offset U-shaped bracket I3 adapted to be attachedto the vertical bar M (Figure 1) of the sewing machine in place of the customary "pressure foot which is ordinarily used to hold the cloth in place during the sewing. The overcasting device is attached to the bar M by a knurled thumb screw [5 and is supported entirely on the bar 14. No other means of attaching the overcasting device to the sewing machine is required.

The forward end of the base II is extended so as to form a cloth guide, and thisend of the baseis first downwardly offset at l6 (Figures 1 and 2) placing the cloth guide in a lower horizontal plane. The guide continues with an intermediate horizontal section I! having upwardly-sloping tongue [8, a vertical, longitudinally-extending side wall 2|, a horizontal guard I9 and a horizontal guide bar 20 extending from the bottom edge of the side wall 2| (see also Figure 5). The guard I9 is formed with a slot I9, as shown in Figure 5, for the purpose of accommodating the moving thread-feeding arm, as will'be explained later. And the vertical side wall 2! of the cloth guide has a cut-out section'l2 (see Figures 4 and 6) inregistration with the cut-out portion l9"for the same reason. The guard [9 also has a notch 55 (Figure 5) at one side through which the needle of the sewing machine passes when the needle is reciprocated up and down during the operation of the machine.

The position of the cloth during the stitching and overcasting is shown by the broken lines 56 in Figures 2, 3 and 4. Thus the cloth is passed under the horizontal section I! and tongue I8, over the guard I9, and under the horizontal bar 20. The cloth is pulled along through the guide by the customary cloth-feeding means of the sewing machine, which is not shown and which need not be described, since such cloth-feeding means is common to all sewing machines.

The overcasting thread is fed to the cloth by a feeding element which has a sickle-shape feeding end 22. This feeding element is shown more clearly in Figure 5. The sickle-shaped end 22 is downwardly-offset from a horizontal crossarm 22, and the shape of the entire feeding element is shown clearly in Figures 8 to 11.

The other end of the cross-arm 22' extends upwardly a short distance and then above and parallel to the main portion, forming a U-shaped loop 51 (see Figures 2 and 4).

This feeding element for the overcasting thread is supported on a positioning arm 23 which is hinged at one end to the main frame of the device by means of a hinge shaft 29, and which has its other end formed into a U-shaped loop 58, similar in shape to, but larger than the loop 51 of the cross-arm 22' of the feeding element and adapted to extend around the loop 51 as shown in Figures. 1, 2, 3 and 4. A pair of screws 59 support the cross-arm 22' for pivotal movement on the free end of the positioning arm 23. A spring toggle connection, including a snapover spring 23 (Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 5), also joins the cross-arm 22 and the positioning arm 23.

A bell crank 31 (Figures 1 to 4), is pivotallymounted on the main frame piece In by means of a shouldered screw 38. The upper arm of the bell crank 31 is bifurcated at its free end as shown at 39 in order slidably to engage the set' screw 60 (Fig. 1) in the needle spindle 43 of the sewing machine. A slotted link 45 (Fig. 6) is pivotally-connected to the other arm 42 of the bell crank 31 and slides on a screw 41 extending from the main frame 10. The slotted link 45 has a pair of spaced downwardly-extending

lugs

48 and 48 adapted to engage opposite edges of the cross-arm 22'. Thus up and down move ment of the upper arm of the bell crank 31, when the sewing machine is operated, produces reciprocal, substantially horizontal movement of the slotted link 45 which in turn causes thesickle-shaped end 22 of the feeding element to swing back and forth between the full line and dotted line positions shown in Figure 5. The spring toggle 28 acts to accelerate the movement of the feeding element in either direction and to retain the feeding element in either of the two extreme positions shown in Figure 5 when it is notv being actuated by the operation of the sewing machine.

The positioning arm 23, on which the crossarm 22' of the feeding element is supported has an upwardly-deformed ear 33 which engages the free end of a torsion spring '32 (see Figure '7), which is so-arranged as to urge the positioning arm 23 upwardly and against the periphery of a cam wheel 34 mounted for rotation on the main frame Ill. The cam wheel 34 is formed with a plurality (the number in the device illustrated being six) of projections or cam surfaces. 35 on its periphery, and the rotation of the cam wheel 34 (in clockwise direction as. viewed in Figures 2, 3, 4-; and 7.), causing each cam projection 35 in succession to press the positioning arm 23 downwardly against the force of the torsion spring 32, produces up and down reciprocal movement of the free end of arm 23.

A ratchet wheel 35, secured to the rear side of cam wheel 34 (as viewed in Figure 3), is formed with twice as many teeth on its periphery as there are cam projections 35 on the cam wheel. A pawl 4|, mounted on the lower arm 42 of the bell crank 31, engages the teeth of the ratchet wheel 35, the pawl 4| being held in engagement with the ratchet teeth by a spring 43. Thus, as the upper arm of the bell crank 31 is reciprocated by the needle spindle of the sewing machine, intermittent rotation is imparted to the ratchet wheel 36 and thereby to the cam wheel 34. But, as will be apparent from Figure 3, since each ratchet tooth is engaged in turn with one down and upstroke of the upper arm of the bell crank 31, and since there are twice as many ratchet teeth on the ratchet wheel 35 as there are cam projections on the cam wheel 31, the cam wheel will act to press the arm 23 down only with every other stroke of the bell crank. With the up. and down movement of the positioning arm 23, the overcasting thread-feeding element for the overcasting thread, which feeding element is mounted on the arm 23, will also be moved up and down.

As previously explained, with reference to Figures 5 and 6, up and down movement of the upper arm of bell crank 31 will cause the overcasting thread-feeding element to swing back and forth horizontally. At the same time this feeding element will be raised and lowered alternately. Thus, assuming the members to be in the position shown in Figures 2 and 6, the sickleshaped end 22 of the feeding element will extend over the top of the cloth in raised position. Then downward stroke of the needle spindle, and, with it, of the upper arm of bell crank 31, will cause the overcasting thread-feeding element to swing out away from the cloth into the position shown in Figures 3 and 5. Next,

' the upward stroke of the needle spindle will cause this feeding element to swing back, by this time the feeding element will swing under the cloth and will be brought into the position shown in Figure 4 and also shown by the broken lines in Figure 5.

The overcasting thread is contained on a spool 24 (Fig. 1) supported on an adjustable spool holder 59 (Figure 5). The spool holder comprises a shaft 53, secured to the frame of the device, and a sleeve 5| adjustable thereon. The sleeve 5| is beaded on its inner surface as at 52 (Figure 12), or otherwise deformed slightly, so as to engage the shaft 53 frictionally and thereby hold the sleeve in place, and the sleeve has a flange at its outer end adapted to bear against an end of the spool. A felt washer 54 (Figure 5) is preferably placed adjacent a corresponding flange at the inner end of the holder as an aid in restraining the'spool from rotating too freely. The friction sleeve 5| makes it possible to. impose suflicient brake on the spool to prevent the overcasting thread from becoming too loose without, however, restraining the spool sufficiently to cause the thread to be pulled too tight.

The overcasting thread passes from the spool through an eyelet 2.5 and a loop 25 (Figure 5) on the outside. edge. of the sickle-shaped end 22. of the feeding element, and the overcasting thread is finally passed through an eye. 21 at the tip of the feeding element.

The Operation of my device will now be understood by. referring to Figures 8, 9, and 11'. In these'figllres'the regular machine stitch, made in the cloth 56 by the sewing machine needle 3|, is indicated at Bl. The result produced by my device is the joining of the overcasting stitch with the regular stitch on the opposite side of the cloth alternately. With each upstroke of the machine needle 3| the overcasting feeder pushes the overcasting thread either above or below the cloth in position to be engaged by the next downstroke of the machine needle. Thus, assuming first that the machine needle and the overcastingthread feeder are in the positions showninFigure 8, with the next upstroke of the needle 3!, the end of the feeder 22 will be moved above the cloth into the position shown in Figure 9. Then as the machine needle moves downwardly to pierce the cloth, the end of the feeder 22 moves outwardly and into the position of Figure 10, the overcasting thread being caught around the needle and under the regular machine stitch 6| as shown. Again as the machine needle 3| moves up the overcasting feeder moves into position, but this time below the cloth, as shown in Figure 11. Upon the next downward stroke of the machine needle the overcasting thread will be caught by the needle and by the regular machine stitch on the top side of the cloth and the elements will now be back in the position illustrated in Figure 8, thus completing one complete cycle of the overcasting stitch operation.

lclaimz I 1. An overcasting device adapted to be used on an ordinary sewing machine comprising a frame, means for attaching said frame to the bar of the pressure foot of the sewing machine, a bell crank rotatably mounted on said frame, means for connecting said bell crank to the needle spindle of the sewing machine, a cam disc rotatably mounted on said frame, said cam disc rotated by said bell crank, a positioning arm pivotally mounted on said frame below said disc for up and down movement, a spring pressing said arm upwardly against the bottom of the perimeter of said cam disc, whereby said spring and said cam disc will operate to produce vertical reciprocation of said arm when said cam disc is rotated, an overcasting thread feeder, one end of said feeder supported on said arm and mounted to permit the other end to oscillate in a substantially horizontal are, means connected with said bell crank for causing the free end of said feeder to'oscillate, whereby said free end will swing into position alternately above and below the material being stitched when said positioning arm is raised or lowered.

2. An overcasting device adapted to be used on an ordinary sewing machine comprising a frame, means for attaching said frame to the bar of the pressure foot of the sewing machine, a cam disc rotatably mounted on said frame, said cam disc rotated by the sewing machine, a positioning arm pivotally mounted on said frame below said disc for up and down movement, a spring pressing said arm upwardly against the bottom of the perimeter of said cam disc, whereby said spring and said cam disc will operate to produce vertical reciprocation of said arm when said cam disc is rotated, an overcasting thread feeder pivotally mounted on said arm so as to oscillate horizontally with respect to said positioning arm for introducing continuous overcasting thread a1- stitched, means actuated by the sewing machine for causing the thread-carrying end of, said feeder to oscillate, whereby said thread-carrying end will swing into position alternately above and below the. material being stitched whensaid positioning arm is raised or lowered.

3. An overcasting device adapted to be used on an ordinary sewing machine comprising a frame, means forattaching said frame to the sewing machine, said frame supported parallel to the ordinary line of stitch of thesewing machine, a bell crank rotatably mounted on said frame, means for connecting said bell crank to the needle spindle of the sewing machine, a cam disc rotatably mounted on; said frame, said cam disc rotated by said bell crank, a positioning arm pivotally mounted on said frame below said disc for up and down movement, a spring pressing said arm upwardly against the bottom of the perimeter of said cam .disc, whereby said spring and said cam disc will operate to produce vertical reciprocation of said arm when said cam disc is rotated, an overcasting thread feeder, said feeder pivoted on said arm and mounted to oscillate in a substantially horizontal arc, the thread guiding end of said feeder being sickle-shaped, means connectedwith said bell crank for causing the sickle-shaped end of said feeder to oscillate, whereby said sickle-shaped end will swing into position alternately above and below the material being stitched when said positioning arm is raised or lowered.

4. An overcasting device adapted to be used on an ordinary sewing machine comprising a frame, means for attaching said frame to the bar of the pressure foot of the sewing machine, said frame supported parallel to the ordinary line of stitch of'the sewing machine, a positioning arm pivotally mounted on said frame for up and down movement, means for reciprocating said arm in a vertical plane, an overcasting thread feeder, said feeder pivoted on said arm and mounted to oscillate in a substantially horizontal arc, so as to cause the thread-carrying end of said feeder to oscillate laterally with respect to the sewing machine needle, means actuated by the sewing machine for causing the thread-carrying end of said feeder to oscillate, whereby said thread-carrying end will swing into position alternately above and below the material being stitched when said positioning arm is raised or lowered, a spool holder for the overcasting thread attached to said frame, means on said holder for restraining the rotation of the spool whereby to control the tension on the overcasting thread.

5. An overcasting device adapted to be used on an ordinary sewing machine comprising a frame, said frame supported parallel to the ordinary line of stitch of the sewing machine, a positioning arm pivotally mounted on said frame for up and down movement, means for reciprocating said arm in a vertical plane, an overcasting thread ternately above and below the material being feeder, one end of said feeder supported on said arm and mounted to permit the other end to oscillate in a horizontal are, a snapover toggle spring connecting the pivoted end of said feeder and said positioning arm, the thread-carrying end of said feeder being sickle-shaped, means actuated by the sewing machine for causing the free thread-carrying sickle-shaped end of said feeder to oscillate, whereby said free thread-carrying sickle-shaped end will swing into position alternately above and below the material being stitched When said positioning arm is raised or lowered, and said toggle spring will accelerate the lateral movement of said feeder.

6. In an overcasting device of the character described, a frame, means for attaching said frame to the bar of the pressure foot of a sewin machine, a positioning arm pivotally mounted on said frame for up and down movement, means for reciprocating said arm in a vertical plane, an overcasting thread feeder, a pivotal mounting on said arm for said feeder, said pivotal mounting permitting said feeder to oscillate in a substantially horizontal are.

'7. In an overcasting device of the character described, a frame, said frame supported parallel to the ordinary line of stitch of a sewing machine, a positioning arm pivotally mounted on said frame for up and down movement, means for reciprocating said arm in a vertical plane parallel to said ordinary line of stitch, an overcasting thread feeder, said feeder pivotally supported on said arm fo swinging horizontally, the thread guiding end of said feeder being sickle-shaped.

8. In an overcasting device of the character described adapted to be used on an ordinary sewing machine, an overcasting thread feeder having a thread-guiding end, said feeder mounted to swing horizontally so as to permit the threadguiding end of said feeder to oscillate laterally with respect to the sewing machine needle, the thread-guiding end of said feeder being sickleshaped, means for alternately raising and lowering said feeder, and means for causing said thread-guiding end of said feeder to swing in and out horizontally when said feeder is in raised position and when said feeder is in lowered position.

9. In an overcasting device of the. character described adapted to be used on an ordinary sewing machine, a frame, said frame supported parallel to the ordinary line of stitch of the sewing machine, a cam disc rotatably mounted on said frame, said cam disc rotated by the sewing machine, a positioning arm pivotally mounted on said frame below said disc for up and down movement, a spring pressing said arm upwardly against the bottom of the perimeter of said cam disc, whereby said spring and said cam disc will operate to produce vertical reciprocation of said arm when said cam disc is rotated, an overcasting thread feeder, one end of said feeder supported on said arm and mounted to permit the other end to swing in a horizontal arc, and means actuated by the sewing machine for causing said feeder to oscillate laterally with respect to the sewing machine needle.

10. In an overcasting device of the character described adapted to be used on an ordinary sewing machine, a frame, said frame supported parallel to the ordinary line of stitch of the sewing machine, a positioning arm pivotally mounted on said frame for up and down movement, means for reciprocating said arm in a vertical plane, an overcasting thread feeder, one end of said feeder supported on said arm and mounted to permit the other end to swing in a horizontal arc, means for causing said other end to oscillate laterally with respect to the sewing machine needle, a snapover toggle spring connecting the pivoted end of said feeder and said positioning arm to accelerate the horizontal movement of said feeder in either direction, the thread-carrying end of said feeder being sickle-shaped.

JAMES HICKEY.