US2345680A - Step construction for embroidery machines - Google Patents

Description

April 4, 1944. MAJQRIE Y I 2,345,680

STEP CONSTRUCTION-FOR EMBROIDERY MACHINES I Filed Aug. 1, 1942 'Z ShQQcS-Sheet 1 1 INVIVENTOR.

flat/zany Mq bn'e HT'TURIVE Y Patented Apr. 4, 1944 STEP CONSTRUCTION FOR EMBROIDERY MACHINES Anthony Majorie, Fort Lee, NJ. Application August 1, 1942, Serial No. 453,157

' 1 Claim.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in a step construction for embroidery machines and the like.

I-Ieretofore, when working on high machines having high parts which could not be reached while standing on the ground, the operators positioned benches, boxes and other similar articles in front of the machine on which to stand to reach the high parts. This invention proposes overcoming this objection by providing the machine with a step construction having a normal inoperative raised position and which may be lowered when needed to form a step upon which the operator may stand to reach the high parts of the machine.

Another object of the invention proposes to characterize the step construction by a support for attachment on the machine to support spaced brackets upon which a step is pivotally mounted in a manner to be movable from an operative horizontal position to an inoperative vertical position and vice versa.

It is a further object of the invention to limit pivoting of the step between the horizontal oper-. ative position and an upwardly slightly rearwardly inclined in a manner to retain its inoperative vertical position against the force of gravity.

Still another object of this invention proposes to characterize the step construction by a pair' of steps pivotally supported to move in unison with the lower step being slightly to the front of the top step when the steps are in their horizontal position in a manner to permit the operator to walk up the steps to reach high portions of the ma- 3 chine.

A still further object of the invention proposes the construction of a step construction for embroidery machines which are simple and durable and which may be manufactured and sold at a reasonable cost to be applied as standard equip- 4o ment on new machines or to be applied to machines now in use.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claim in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure Fig. 1 is the schematic illustration of an embroidery or the like machine having a step construction in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

5 bolts I1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detailed view of a portion of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of a portion of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detailed view of another portion of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a schematic illustration of an embroidery or the like machine having a step construction in accordance with a modification of this invention.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged end elevational view looking in the direction of the line 1-! of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged detailed view of a portion of Fig. 6.

Fig. 9 is a plan view of Fig. 8.

The step construction, according to this invention, is to be used on an embroidery machine or the like which is schematically illustrated by the dot and dash lines III on the figs. The step construction includes a pair of spaced posts II arranged vertically of the height of the machine Ill. The bottom of each post II continues into a foot I2 which engages the floor upon which the machine I 0 rests.

A support I3 is extended between the posts II. The support I3 is formed of tubular stock having a square cross-section and is attached to the front of the machine by bolts I 4. The bolts I4 extend through the back wall of the support I3, and the front wall of the support I3 is formed with enlarged openings I5 aligned with the bolts I4 for facilitating the engagement of the bolts I4 in position.

Spaced brackets I6 are mounted in position upon the front wall of the support I 3 by means of Each bracket I6 has a forwardly extending vertical lug I8. An arm I9 is mounted on the front end of each of the lugs I8. Each of the arms I9 is formed of L-shaped material which is inverted to have a vertical portion I9 and a horizontal portion I9 continuing from the top edge of the vertical portion I9 The rear end of the vertical portion IS of each arm I9 is bifurcated to have the front end of the lug I8 engaged therebetween. A bolt 20 is engaged through the overlapped portion of the lug I8 and the bifurcated rear end of the vertical portion of the arm I9 to pivotally support the arm on the lug I8. The bottom of the bifurcated rear end of the vertical portion I9 is closed by means of a wall 2| to engage the bottom edge of the lug I8 in the horizontal position of the arm I9 to limit the arm against pivoting downwards past the horizontal.

A step 22 is engaged across the top faces of certain adjacent arms I 9. As shown there is preferably a step 22 for each three arms l9. These steps 2'2 are constructed of wood and are secured in position upon the horizontal portions N of the arms l9 by screws 23.

On the inner face of each vertical post ll beneath the steps 22 a step 25 is mounted. This step 25 is constructed of a piece of material 25 having an edge secured to the post H by a bolt 21. The piece of material 25 is retained in a horizontal position on the post II by a diagonal bracket 28; The top end of the bracket 23 is secured to the piece of material 26 by a rivet 29 and the bottom end of the bracket'28 is secured precise constructions herein disclosed and the to the post H at a point below the bolt 2'! by a.

bolt 30. The operation of the device is as follows: When it becomes necessary toreach high parts on the machine W the steps 22 are pivoted to their horizontal position. walls 21 will strike the bottom edge of the lug i8 and hold the arms l9 against pivoting down-- wards beyond the horizontal. The operator then steps upon the step 25 and up onto the step 22 to reach the aforementioned high part.

When finished the operator comes down off the step 22 by first stepping on the step 25 and then down to the ground. The step 22 is pushed vertically upwards to assume a position as shown in Fig. 2 in which it will be inclined slightly rearwards and restagainst the top corner of the support 13. This rearward inclination will hold the step 22 in its inoperative position, against the force of gravity which will tend to tilt the step slightly forward.

In the modification of the invention shown in Figs. 6' to 9, the step construction is formed with, an auxiliary step beneath the step 22 to replace the step, 25 used in the previous form of the. invention.

Eachof the lugs i8, is formed; with a forwardly and downwardlyextended projection 3! upon the bottom end of which a bottom arm 32 is pivotally supported by a pin 33, An auxiliary step 33- is extended across the top face of the bottom arms: 32.

step 22.

IS with the front ends of the arms, 32.

lug 35 formed on the front end of its respective arm l9 by means, of a.pin 36. The bottom end of; each link 34. ispivota-lly connected-by an.-up'-= wardly. extending lug, 31 formed onitsrespectiva bottom arm 32 by apin 38.

The links 34 act to. support the bottom arms 32 with relation to. the arms l9, and. prevent the- In this position the- Theauxiliary step 33 is positioned slightly to the front of the front edge of the,

arms 32 from pivoting downwards past a horizontal. These links 34 also cause the steps to move in unison from an inoperative to an operative position and vice versa. The inoperative position of the steps 22 and 33 is illustrated by dot and dash lines in Fig. '7.

In other respects this form of the invention is similar to that previously described and like reference numerals identify like parts in each of the several views.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to beunderstood that I do not limit myself to the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming" within the scope of the invention as defined in, the appended claim.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

A step construction for an embroidery machine, comprising a bracket fixedly mounted on the side of said machine and having a forwardly projecting, vertical lug, a top arm pivotally mounted on said lug to move in vertical planes forwards and rearwards of said machine, a step mounted on said arm, means for limiting pivoting of said arm from a horizontal; position on one side. of the pivot ofsaid arm upwards to a rearwardly inclined position inwhich the center ofv gravity of said arm and step will be on the other side, off-the. pivot of said, arm, a downwardly and forwardly extending projection formed on said bracket, a bottom arm pivotally mounted on said projection to move in a vertical plane forwards and rearwards of said machine, a bottom stem mounted on said bottom arm, a rearwardly inclined link having its ends pivotally connected to thev outer extremities ofsaid arms, said pivot of saidbottom arm. being forwards of the pivot of said top arm and the combined length of the distance between the pivot of said bottom arm and the pivot of the bottom end of said link plus the length of said link is greater than the combined length of thedistance between the pivots. of. said arms plus. the distance betweenthe, pivot of said top armand the pivot of the top end of. said link, so that,

when said top arm israised to its rearwardly inclined position said. bottom arm will be raised to a substantially. vertical, position over its respective pivotso. that the, weight. of said. bottom arm and bottom: step, will exert itself substantially vertically downwards so that the greater portion of the weightwill be, supported by the pivot of. said; bottom. arm.

ANTHONY MAJ ORIE.

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