US2594534A - Miniature lock stitch sewing machine - Google Patents

Description

S. R. BELL MINIATURE LOCK STITCH SEWING MACHINE April 29, 1952 Y 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 SIDNEY RBELL ATTORNEYS April 29, 1952 s. R. BELL 2,594,534

l MINIATURE Locx STITCH SEWING MACHINE Filed May 14, 1947 5 sheets-sheet z ATTORNEYS April 29, 1952 s. R. BELL MINIATURE LOCK STITCH SEWING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet :5

Filed May 14, 1947 l 1 l la) OOM OON Q OR dal; SIDNEY R, BELL ATTORNEYS April 29, 1952 5. R. BELL i 2,594,534

MINIATURE LOCK STITCH SEWING MACHINE Filed May 14, 1947 v5 Sheets-'sheet 4 INVENTOR rDNEY R. BELL ATToR EY April 29, 1952 s. R. BELL MINIATURE LOCK STITCH SEWING MACHINE ssneets-sheet 5 Filed May 14, 1947 INVENTOR 5\DNEY R. BELL BY l j ATTO R6: EYS

Patented Apr. 29, 1.952

MINIATURE LOCK STITCH SEWING MACHINE Sidney R. Bell, Stamford, Conn., assigner, by

mesne assignments, to Irving J. Moritt, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application May 14, 1947, Serial No. 748,106

` 17 Claims. (Cl. 112--169) This invention relates to sewing machines, and more particularly to a miniature portable lockstitch sewing machine which may be held in one hand while being operated.

Miniature hand-held sewing machines are disclosed in prior applications of David A. Merson and the present inventor, Serial No. 714,792, led December 7, 1946, and ASerial No. 715,860, led December 12, 1946. One object of the present invention is to generally improve the operating mechanism or drive mechanism of such sewing machines. Another and more specific object is to improve thework feed mechanism of such sewing machines.

The particular sewing machine disclosed herein is handle-operated, rather than power-driven. This is not in itself new, and one of the aforesaid two co-pending applicationsv discloses an improvement in such a machine, whereby the handles operate the sewing mechanism through the intermediary of an over-running clutch, thereby ensuring completion cf each `stitching cycle regardless of whether the handles are operated through full or partial strokes. However, inr that machine, the handles are disposed in a horizontal plane and extend transversely of the machine, said machine including a housing of substantial transverse dimension. In accordance with a specific object and feature of the present invention, I provide a handle-operated machine having a relatively flat upright housing, with the operating handles extending from one end of the housing, and being operable in the vertical plane of the housing, and witha needle bar and work feed mechanism extending from the other end of the housing in substantially the plane of the housing, so that the entire machine is relatively iiat and compact in a transverse direction, somewhat like a pair of pliers. This machine, despite its flat compact nature, includes over-running clutch mechanism between the handles and the drive mechanism of the sewing machine, with all of the advantages attendant upon such an arrangement, as explained in the aforesaid co-pending application,V Serial No. 714,792.

To accomplish the foregoing general objects, and other more specific objects which will hereinafter appear, my invention resides in the miniature hand-holdable sewing machine elements and their relation one to another, as are hereinafter more particularly set forth in the following specication. The specification is accompanied by drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a sewing machine embodying features ofmy invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken longitudinally of the machine;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken approximately in the plane of the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section taken approximately in the plane of the line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a transverse section taken approximately in the plane of the line 5-5 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a transverse section taken approximately in the plane of the line 6--6 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 7 is an exploded perspective view showing the method ofy assembly of the parts of the drive mechanism;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary vertical section taken approximately in the plane of the line 8--8 of Fig. 4;

' Fig. 9 is a section through the thread spool;

Fig. 10 shows a method of winding a bobbin for use in the machine; and

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of a modication.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to Fig. 1, the sewing machine there shown is a miniature handle-operated sewing machine which may be held in one hand during operation. The said machine comprises a relatively fiat housing I2, with a stationary handle I4, and a movable handle I6 projecting from one end oi the housing substantially in the plane of the housing. The machine further comprises a needle bar I8, and a thread take-up arm 20 for an upper thread. There is also a shuttle and bobbin, not visible in Fig. 1, for a lower thread. A work feed member is disposed beneath a presser foot 22. All of this sewing mechanism is disposed at the opposite end of the housing I2, and in the fiat plane of the-housing. It will be evident that the entire sewing machine is very compact in transverse direction, and in that respect resembles what may be called a plier-type sewing machine. However, the drive mechanism within the housing I2 includes an overrunning clutch, so that cumulative partial movement of the handle I6 will provide continuous rotation of the drive mechanism.

Considering the machine in greater detail, aand referring next to Fig. 2 of the drawing, the movable handle I6 is pivoted at 24, and is rigidly connected by means of pins 26 to the arm 28 of a gear sector Sil. The handle I6 is normally urged to downward position by means of a pull spring 32, the lower end of which is connected to the free end of the gear sector, -and the upper end of which is connected to a lug 34 on the top wall of housing I2. The outer surface of the gear sector may be recessed or channeled, as is indicated at 36, to receive the spring 32.

The gear sector 30 meshes with pinion 36, which in turn drives the various cams which produce the desired motions. Referring now to Fig. '7, the point of view is opposite the point of view of Fig. 1, that is, it is along the handle I6 looking from the free end of the handle toward the pivoted end of the handle. In Fig. 7 it will be seen that the inner end or hub end of handle I is provided with pins 26, which in turn mate with holes 40, on the inner end of arm 28, of gear sector 30. It will be understood that the bearing holes 42 and 44 are arranged in axial alignment on a bearing pin which is offset substantially from the :axis of the pinion 38. The teeth of gear sector 30 mesh with the pinion 36, and the latter is in turn splined, as by means of splines 46, to the inner or driving member 40 of an overrunning clutch. The splines 46 may be and preferably are formed by simply cutting the teeth of pinion 3B down to a desired dimension, such as the pitch line.

The driving member 48 of the clutch is surrounded by a driven member 50, which includes a face wall 52, having a sleeve or hub portion 54. Clutch rollers 56 are disposed between the driving and driven parts of the clutch in conventional manner. The clutch rollers are retained in position by means of a cover plate 58, whi-ch too may be splined to the pinion 38, as by means of the teeth 60.

The driven part 50 of the over-running clutch drives the operating cams of the sewing machine. For this purpose there is a cam wheel 62, having a cam groove or track on each face, and an additional cam 64 formed directly on the driven part of the clutch. The far cam groove, not visible in Fig. 7 (though clearly shown at '|6 in Fig. 2), operates on the cam follower 65 of a generally upright lever 68 for driving the shuttle. The nearer cam groove 'l0 operates on a cam roller 72 of :a lever 14, which drives the needle bar. The cam 64 is both an axial and a radial cam, and provides a four-way movement for the work feed member of the sewing machine.

Referring to Figs. 2 and 4, a brake shoe 0| may be provided, this bearing against the periphery of cam wheel 62. The brake shoe 6| is carried by a spring arm 03, secured to the bottom of the housing by screw 65. The brake prevents any backlash or tendency toward reverse movement of the parts, during the return of the handleY |6 to bottom position.

Referring now to Figs. l, 2 and 6, the needle 80 is carried by needle bar |55 which, like most of the sewing machine, may be made of lightweight metal such as aluminum. The inner end of the needle bar is provided with a steel head 82, which slides on vertical ways or guides 84. The latter are preferably made or" steel, and are screwed to the aluminum housing i2. The ways 84 are received in mating grooves in the sides of the head 82.

Referring now to Figs. 2 and 3, the horizontal lever 'I4 is fulcrumed at 66, and the action of the cam groove 'l0 on cam roller 'l2 causes the free end 88 to move up and down. The fulcrum 86 is formed at the free end of a boss or pedestal 81. The free end 88 of the lever is provided with a pair of rollers 80, best shown in Fig. 7, the said rollers being received in a mating slot or recess 92 formed in the head 82 and best shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing. It will be evident that rotation of the cam wheel 62 causes vertical reciprocation of the needle bar |8 and the needle 00.

Referring now to Fig. 3 of the drawing, the f oscillatable shuttle 94 carries a bobbin 96, and is provided with a hook 98 engaging -a loop of thread on the inside of the needle 80. The shuttle is oscillated by means of a pinion therebeneath, clearly shown at |00 in Fig. 4. The said pinion is oscillated by means of a gear rack |02. which is reciprocable longitudinally of lthe machine, the said gear rack being housed in the base of the machine, and being guided between guide walls E04 and |06. The rack |02 is operated by the lower end of generally upright lever 68, said lever carrying a roller |08 at its lower end. These parts are also shown in Fig. 5, and are still more clearly shown in Fig. 2, reverting to which it will be seen that the roller |08 is received in the enlarged end ||0 of rack |02, the latter driving pinion |00 which, through shaft 2, is connected to a suitable shuttle carrier ||4, which in turn carries the shuttle 94 previously referred to. In Fig. 2 the fulcrum |6 for the lever 68 is also clearly shown. This fulcrum projects from the side wall ||8 ofthe-housing l2, as is best shown in Fig. 5.

The work feed member is a generally upright slide |20, clearly shown in Fig. 6. It has serrations or teeth |22 at the top, said teeth projecting through a cover plate |24 which is slid into position over Vthe shuttle. There are preferably two rows of teeth on opposite sides of the needle, and Fig. 8 clearly shows the second row |26 parallel to the rst row |22, and movable with the main feed member |20. Referring to Figs. 3 and 11, it will be seen that while the row of teeth |22 is continuous, the teeth |26 are interrupted, this being done in order to provide clearance for the shuttle S8 to come adjacent the needle 80.

The slide |20 is reciprocated by the forward end |28 (Figs. 2, 4, 6 and 8), of a lever |30, the opposite end |32 of which is provided with cam follower rollers |34. These parts are shown in Figs. 2, 4 and 8. The cam rollers |34 straddle the cam :64 previously referred to, and it will be evident that axial displacement of the cam 64 (best shown in Fig. 3) will cause the end |32 of lever |30 to oscillate, and thus cause reciprocation of the feed member. The lever is connected to the feed member |20 by means of a pin |36. The lower end or head |38 of this pin preferably rides in a groove |40 in the base of the machine.

The fulcrum of lever |30 consists of the square end |42 of a suitable screw, the said square end being received in a mating slot |44, as is best shown in Fig. 4. It will be evident that by moving the fulcrum |42 longitudinally of the lever,

\ the stroke at the free end of the lever, and consequently the length of the stitch, may be varied. To lock the fulcrum in place, it is preferably received within a hollow screw |46, having an enlarged slotted head |48 recessed into the base of the machine, as is best shown in Fig. 8. The fulcrum screw |42 passes -through a plate or slide whichunderlies the lever 30, and which rests on asuitable bearing surface. This is in a slot which provides guide walls at the sides, so that the plate cannot turn, although it is slidable longitudinally. It will be evident that the fulcruin .may be locked into desired position by tightening the hollow screw |48 with the aid of a pocket coin. The lever |30 is held against bodily movement in a longitudinal direction during any change in the position of the fulcrum, because the head |38 of pin |36 is received in transverse slot |40, as was previously mentioned.

The feed member is given an up and down Y movement in addition to its back and forth move- 'nent, these movements being so relatively timed as to add up to the desired four-way feed for feeding the cloth being sewn. In the present machine the same lever |30 that produces the back and forth movement of the feed member also produces the up' and down movement. In Figs. 2, 4 and 8, attention is directed to the cam roller |52. This is carried by the end |32 of lever |30, and rides on the periphery of the cam 64 previously referred to. Cam 64 is a radial cam as well as an axial cam, its rise being clearly shown in Fig. 8. This raises the feed member at the time of its forward movement. The plate |50 is sloped or cut away, as is best shown at |54 in Fig. 8, to provide clearance for the desired up and down movement of the lever |30. The cam roller |52 is normally urged upwardly against the cam 64 by means of a leaf spring |5|, best shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 8. This spring is struck upwardly from a spring plate |53, received in a recess |55, and secured in place by means of a screw |51.

The work feed mechanism is completed by means of presser foot 22, which holds the cloth down against the teeth of the feed member. The presser foot 22 is carried at the end of an arm |56, which is pivoted at |58. The arm |56 is extended inside the housing, and is there connected to the bifurcated end |60 of a springpressed rod |62, the latter being slidable in and oscillatable on a pin |64, carried in a bearing |66. These parts are perhaps best shown in Figs. 2

and 3. The latter shows how pin |64 is carried between bearing |66 and cover plate |68 of the housing. The compression spring extends between the fork |60, and the pin |64.

It will be evident from a study of Fig. 2, and particularly from the change of the solid line positions |56 and |60, and the broken line positions |56' and |60', that the presser foot 22 is urged either downwardly to the solid line position against the work feed member, or upwardly to the raised position shown at 22'. In other words, there is a toggle action, with the compression spring |10 forcing the parts to either one side of dead center or the other, so that the presser foot assumes either a raised or a lowered position, but cannot assume an intermediate position.

It may be mentionedthat the disposition of the parts is such that if the operator of the machine should attempt to sew without remembering to lower the presser foot, the descent of the needle bar will itself lower the presser foot below dead center, whereupon the spring action will complete the movement of the presser foot to proper working position. This may be aided, if desired, by a pin |51 (Fig. 2).

The thread take-up mechanism includes the arm 20 previously referred to. This may be struck out of sheet metal, and is pivoted to a bearing |12 formed integrally with the housing, by means of a bearing screw |14. The arm 20 is actuated by links |16, the upper ends of which are connected to the arm 20, and the lower ends of which are connected to the head 32 of the needle bar |8. It will thus be evident that the reciprocation of the needle bar causes a corresponding reciprocation of the thread take-up arm 20.

The thread tensioning means is relatively conventional, it comprises a pair of discs |18 pressed together by means of a springthe tension of which may be adjusted. by means of suitable thumb nut |80. The thread is drawn from a 6. spool |82 (Fig. 1), rotatable on a stationary post |84 (Fig. 2), and is then passed through an eyelet |84, and thence over and around the spindle of the thread tensioning means |18, back to another eyelet |86, and then upwardly to the hole in the end of arm 20. The thread then passes through an eye |88, formed on the end of the needle bar |8. The thread is finally passed through the eye in the end of the needle, it being passed from the outer side toward the inner side of the needle, so that when a loop of thread is formed it will be on the inside, where it can be picked up by the hook 98 (Fig. 3) of the shuttle. There is also a conventional thread-tension means in the shuttle;

The reason for this is that mercerized thread is spun in opposite direction from ordinary thread.

The b,housing of the sewing machine may be cast of aluminum, or other light-weight metal. Speaking generally, the body portion of the housing consists of a face wall and edge walls,` the said housing being completed by a cover plate held in position by three screws. In Figs. ,3, 4, and 5, note the cover plate |68 which completes the housing. Ito assemble the working parts within the housing, the stationary shaft |90, `best shown in Fig. 5, is inserted. The upright lever 68 is dropped in position. The cam and clutch assembly is then slid over the shaft |90, the generally horizontal lever 14 being moved into position at the same time. that the hub or sleeve portion 54 of the driven clutch member is keyed to the cam Wheel 62 by means of a pin |92 acting as a key. The gear sector and movable handle are then put into position, these being carried on another stationary shaft |94, best shown in Fig. 3 of the drawing. The pin |64 for the presser foot mechanism is put in place, and finally the cover plate |68 is added, it having bearing holes for the various shafts and pin referred to. The upper part |96 of the table of the sewing machine is cast integrally withthe housing. The lower part |98 is added subsequently, and is screwed in position. The longitudinally reciprocable gear rack for the shuttle, and the lever for the feed member are dropped in position in the bottom member |98 before 'it vis secured to the housing. The outer end of the part |98 is held upwardly on the part |96 by means of four screws passing upwardly, the said screws being located as indicated at 200 in Fig. 4.

, The rear end of the bottom member is held in position by means of a long screw 202, best shown in Figs. 2 and 4 of the drawing.

Because of the hand-held nature of the sewing machine, the spool |82 is preferably held. on to the post |84. The manner in whichR this is done will be clear in Fig. 9, in which it will be seen that a headed sleeve 204 is pressed over the upper end of the post |84, the post and sleeve both being freely received within the hole in the spool. To provide the desired springy t, the lower end of the sleeve may be slit at several points.

To facilitate winding the bobbin With thread, the upper end of post |64 may be reduced in diameter, as is best shown at 206 in Fig. 10. The hole in the bobbin 06 is received over the reduced end 206, but is too small to pass the shoulder at the top of the main body |84 of the post. The spool |82 may be held loosely in one hand, as indicated in the drawing, while the thread 208 is wound on the bobbin 96, the latter being spun by means of a finger of the other hand of the operator.

In Figs. 1 through 8 of the drawing, an ordinary It will be understood 7 needle-plate or cover plate I 24. is shown, this being just large enough to fit across the top of the table of the sewing machine. A modication is shown in Fig. 11, in which the single cover plate is replaced by a pair of enlarged plates 2I0 and 2 I2, the said plates coming together on lines 2 I4 and 2 I 6 with a needle hole therebetween. The plates are cut away at 218, and are shaped to iit the undercuts or dovetail edges previously shown for the small needle plate. The large plates are also slotted or cut away for passage of the teeth of the feed member. The plates are curved downwardly, preferably to the plane where the periphery of the plates is at substantially the same level as the bottom of the sewing machine. This provides the equivalent of the large worktable of a conventional sewing machine, and is more convenient for some purposes than the small work-table.

-It is believed lthat the construction and operation, as well as the advantages of my improved miniature sewingmachine, will be apparent from the foregoing detailed description. When first setting .up the machine some of the thread from the spool is Wound on the bobbin. The bobbin is then placed in the shuttle, and the thread is appropriately threaded from. the bobbin in conventional fashion, ending upwardly through the needle plate. Theupper thread is taken from` the spool and threaded as previously described. The work is placed on the worktable, and the presser foot lowered to hold the work in engagement with the feed member.

The detailed operation of the machine will probably be evident from the description already given, it being understood that the cam tracks are: so designed that the needle comes down to lowermost position, thus bringing the upper thread through the work, whereupon the needle rises a little to form-a loop of thread beneath the work. Meanwhile, the shuttle advances, so that its hook catches the loop and expands the loop around itself. The shuttle rests loosely on the shuttle carrier, thus permitting the loop of thread to pass entirely around the shuttle, the necessary thread being provided at this time by appropriate lowering of the take-up arm. When the loop of thread is carried more than half-way around the shuttle, it slides from the open end of the hook around the opposite side of the shuttle, and raising of the needle and thread take-up at this time draws the loop tight, it having meanwhile been interlocked with the bobbin thread of the shuttle. The shuttle turns back to initial position. After the needle has left the work, and near the top of its upward stroke, the feed memberY moves the fabric ahead, so that when the needle again descends it enters a new point on the fabric.

The-machine may be held in one hand, or the-machine may be rested on a table. lf a small amount of stitching must be done on a large body of fabric hanging in place, orY which for any reason it would be inconvenient to to a sewing machine, the present machine solves thel problem for it may be carried to the work and there operated.

Although I have illustrated a sewing machine which is manually operated by means of a pair of handles, many of the features of the present invention are applicable to a machine driven by a miniature electric motor which itself acts as a handle for the machine, as described the aforesaid co-pending application, Serial No. 715,860. The electric motor there shown has a horizontal shaft extending longitudinally of the machine, and it is evident that by providing suitable gearing, for example, including a worm meshing with aworm gear on the cam shaft,

the motor drive is readily applied to the mechanism here disclosed. If desired, lesser parts of the mechanism may be applied to the motordriven machine there shown.

It will be apparent that While I have shown and described my invention in a preferred form, changes may be made in the structures disclosed without departing from the spirit of the invention,as sought to be defined in the following claims. In the claims such terms as verticaL horizontaL and perpendicular are used in a relative sense, for the machine is hand held, and may be bodily oriented in different directions.

I claim:

1. A miniature hand holdable handle-operated sewing machine comprising a relatively dat upright housing, a stationary handle and a movable handle projecting in generally horizontal direction from one end of said housing in the plane of the housing, rotatable drive mechanism enclosed in said housing, said movable handle being geared to said mechanism through an overrunning clutch turning on a horizontal shaft disposed transversely of the housing, whereby successive partial movements of said handle provide continued cumulative motion of the shaft, and lockstitch sewing mechanism including a needle and thread take-up mechanism for an upper thread, means to move the needle with a rectilinear vertical movement, a shuttle and bobbin for a lower thread, a horizontal arm-like table enclosing said shuttle and bobbin, said sewing mechanism extending from the end of the housing opposite the handles and being driven by the aforesaid drive mechanism.

2. A miniature handle-operated sewing machine which may be held in one hand during operation, said machine comprising a relatively flat upright housing, a stationary handle and a movable handle projecting in generally horizontal direction from one end of said housing in the plane of the housing, rotatable drive mechanism including a shaft having an axis extending transversely of the plane of said housing, said movable handle being geared to said mechanism through an over-running clutch, whereby successive partial movements of said handle provide continued cumulative motion of the shaft, and lockstltch sewing mechanism including a needle and needle bar and thread take-up mechanism for an upper thread, means to move the needle with a rectilinear vertical movement, a shuttle and bobbin for a lower thread, a horizontal arm-like table enclosing said shuttle and bobbin, and work feed means arranged to feed the work in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the housing and handles, said sewing mechanism extending from the end of the housing opposite the handles and being disposed generally in the plane of the housing and handles, and being driven by the aforesaid drive mechanism.

3. A miniature sewing machine comprising a vertical needle, a generally horizontal needle bar carrying the needle at one end'and terminating at its other end in a head slidable on generally vertical Ways, a lever having one end coupled to said head and its opposite end fulcrumed, a cam'follower at an intermediate point on said lever cooperating with a cam rotatable on an axis extending transversely of the lever, and means to drive said cam.

4. A miniature handle-operated sewing machine comprising a vertical needle, a horizontal needle bar carrying the needle at one end and terminating at its other end in a head slidable on ways, a lever having one end coupled to said head and its opposite end fulcrumed, a cam follower at an intermediate point on said lever cooperating with a rotatable cam, a pair of handles extending generally horizontally in a direction away from said needle bar, and an over-running clutch having a driven part connected to said cam and having a driving part actuated by said handles.

5. A miniature handle-operated sewing machine comprising a vertical needle, a generally horizontal needle bar terminating in a head slidable on vertical ways, a generally horizontal lever having one end coupled to said head and its opposite end fulcrumed, a cam follower at an intermediate point on said lever cooperating with a cam rotatable on an axis extending transversely of the lever, a pair of handles extending generally horizontally away from the needle bar and disposed in the approximate plane ofsaid lneedle bar, lever and cam, and an overrunning clutch having a driven part connected to said cam and having a driving part actuated through a pinion and gearlsector by 4said handles.

6. A miniature handle-operated sewing machine comprising an oscillatable shuttle, a pinion connected thereto, a longitudinally reciprocable gear rack for oscillating said pinion, a horizontal arm-like table enclosing said shuttle, pinion and rack, a lever having one end connected to said gear rack and having its other end fulcrumed, a cam follower Iat an intermediate point on said lever cooperating with a rotatable cam, a pair of handles extending generally horizontally in a direction away from said table, and an overrunning clutch having a driven part connected to said cam and a driving part actuated by said handles.

7. A miniature handle-operated sewing machine comprising an oscillatable shuttle, a pinion connected thereto, a generally horizontal longitudinal reciprocable gear rack for oscillating said pinion. a horizontal arm-like table enclosing said shuttle, pinion and rack, a generally vertical lever having its lower end connected to said gear rack and having its upper end fulcrurned, a pair of generally horizontal handles, a cam follower at an intermediate point on said lever cooperating with a cam rotatable on an axis extending transversely of saidlever and handles, a pair of said handles extending away from said table in the approximate plane of said lever and cam, and an over-running clutch having a driven part connected to said cam, and having a driving part actuated through a pinion and `gear sector by said handles.

8. A miniature sewing machine comprising a Vertical needle, a horizontal needle bar terminating in a head slidable on vertical ways, a lever having one end coupled to said head and its opposite end fulcrumed, a cam follower at an intermediate point on said lever cooperating with a cam rotatable on an axis extending transversely of the lever, an oscillatable shuttle, a pinion connected thereto, a longitudinally reciprocable gear rack for oscillating said pinion, a horizontal arm-like table enclosing said shuttle, pinion and rack, a lever having one end connected to said gear rack and having its other end fulcrumed, a cam follower at an intermediate point on said lever cooperating with a sec- 110 ond cam rotatable on the aforesaid transverse cam axis, and means to rotate said cams.

9. A miniature handle-operated sewing machine comprising a Vertical needle, a horizontal needle bar terminating in a head slidable on vertical ways, a lever having one end coupled to said head and its opposite end fulcrumed, a cam follower at an intermediate point on said lever vcooperating with a rotatable cam, an oscillatable shuttle, a pinion connected thereto, a longitudinally reciprocable gear rack for oscillating said pinion, a horizontal arm-like table enclosing said shuttle, pinion and rack, a lever having one end connected to said gear rack and having its other end fulcrurned, a cam follower at an intermediate point on said lever cooperating with a rotatable cam, a pair of handles, and an overrunning clutch having a driven part connected to said cams and a driving part actuated by said handles.

10. A miniature handle-operated sewing machine comprising a verticalneedle, a generally horizontal needle bar terminating in a head slidable on vertical ways, a generally horizontal lever having one end coupled to said head and its opposite end fulcrumed, a cam follower at an intermediate point on said lever cooperating with a cam rotatable on an axis extending transversely of the lever, an oscillatable shuttle, a pinion connected thereto, a generally horizontal longitudinally reciprocable gear rack for oscillating said pinion, a horizontal arm-like table enclosing said shuttle, pinion and rack, a generally verticalv lever having its lower end connected to said gear rack and having its upper end fulcrumed, a cam follower at an intermediate point on Said lever cooperating with a 'carnrotatable on theiaforesaid cam axis, a pair of handles extending generally horizontally in a direction away yfrom said table, and an overrunning clutch having a driven part connected to said cams and a driving part actuated through a pinion and gear sector by said handles.

l1. A miniature handle-operated sewing machine comprising a. vertical needle, a generally horizontal needle bar terminating in a head slidable on vertical ways, a generally horizontal lever having one end coupled to said head and its opposite end fulcrumed, a cam follower at an intermediate point on said lever cooperating with a cam rotatable on an axis extending transversely of the lever, an oscillatable shuttle;

a pinion connected thereto, a generally horizontal longitudinally reciprocable gear rack for oscillating said pinion, a horizontal arm-like table enclosing said shuttle, pinion and rack, a

` generally vertical lever having its lower end connected to said gear rack and having its upper end fulcrumed, a cam follower at an intermediate point on said lever cooperating with a cam vrotatable on the aforesaid cam axis, a pair of handles, and an over-running clutch having a driven part connected to said cams and a driving part actuated through a pinion and gearsector by said handles, said cams being in the formA f of grooves formed on opposite faces of a single cam wheel.

l2. A miniature sewing machine including a table, a vertical work feed plate beneath said table having teeth projecting through said table, vertical guide walls between which said plate is slidable, a presser foot above said table, and means to give said slidable work feed plate a four-way motion, said means including a main lever extending generally horizontally, said lever being pivoted for both horizontal and vertical l movement, cam followers on the rear end of said lever, radial and axial cam mechanism engaging said cam followers for producing both the desired horizontal and vertical movements of the lever, and means operatively connecting the forward end of said pivoted lever to said slidable plate, said means affording changing 'angularity between said pivoted lever and said anism engaging said cam followers for producing both the desired horizontal and vertical movements of the lever, the vertical fulcrum of said lever being adjustable longitudinally of the lever in order to vary the feed and consequently t-he length of stitch.

14. A miniature handle-operated sewing machine including a horizontal arm-like table, a

work feed member beneath said table having teeth projecting through said table, a presser. foot above said table, and means to give said .work feed member a four-way motion Vfor work feed in a direction transversely of said table, said means including a main lever extending generally horizontally, said lever being pivoted for both horizontal and vertical movement, cam followers on the rear end of said lever, radial and axial cam mechanism engaging said cam followers for producing both the desired horizontal and vertical movements of the lever, a pair of handles'extending generally horizontally in a direction away from said table, and an over-running clutchhaving a driven part connected to said cam mechanism, and having a driving part lactuated through a pinion and gear sector by said handles.

15. A miniature handle-operated sewingmachine which may be held in one hand during operation, said machine comprising a relatively at upright housing, a stationary handle and a movable handle projecting in generally hori-L zontal direction from one end of said housing in the plane of the housing, rotatable drive mechanism on an axis extending transversely of the plane of said housing. said movable handle being geared `to said mechanism through an over-running clutch, whereby successive partial move- .ments of said handle provide continued cumulative motion of the shaft, and lockstitch sewing mechanism extending from the end of the housing opposite the handles and being disposed generally in the plane of the housing and handles, said sewing mechanism being driven by the aforesaid drive mechanism and including a needle and needle bar and thread take-up mechanism for an upper thread, means to move the needle with a rectilinear vertical movement, a shuttle and bobbin for a lower thread, .Work feed means ar- 12 ranged tofeedthe work in a direction perpendicularto the plane of the housing and handles, andi a.horizontal arm-like table enclosing said shuttle and bobbinand work feed means.

16. A miniature sewing machine having a table, a vertical work feed plate beneath said table, the top edge of said plate having teeth projecting through said table, vertical guide walls between which said plate is slidable, a presser foot above saidV table, and means to give said slidable work feed plate a four-way motion, said means including a main lever extending generally horizontally, said lever being pivoted for both horizontal and vertical movement, cam followers on the rear end of said lever, vradial and axial cam mechanism engaging said cam followers for producing both the desired horizontal and vertical movements of the lever, means operatively connecting the forward end of said pivoted lever to said slidable plate,.said means affording changing angularity between said pivoted lever and said slidable plate, the vertical fulcrum of said lever being adjustable longitudinally of the lever in order to Vary the feedand consequently the length of stitch.

17. A miniature sewing machine including a table, a vertical work feed plate beneath said table, the top edge of said plate having teeth projecting through said table, vertical guide walls between which said plate is slidable, a presser foot above said table, and means to give said slidable work feed plate an up and down motion, said means including a generally horizontally movable bar extending longitudinally of the sewing machine and transversely of the work feed -plate and having a relatively broad forward end which supports said vertical work feed plate with its toothed edge substantially horizontal, a

lcam vfollower at the rear end of said bar, and

cam mechanism engaging said cam follower at the'rear end of thebar for so moving the forward end of said bar in relation to said plate as to produce the desired vertical movement of the plate, while maintaining the horizontality of the toothed edge.

SIDNEY R. BELL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the f file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 42,336 Ashe Apr. 19, 1864 220,052 Bourcay Sept. 30, 1879 542,220 Hedge July 2, 1895 558,437 Tivey et al. Apr. 14, 1896 558,663 Richards Apr. 21, 1896 582,382 Ammerman et al. May 11, 1897 1,109,989 Hohmann Sept. 8, 1914 1,258,594 Miller Mar. 5, 1918 1,385,363 Corrall et al July 26, 1921 1,467,473 Bussiere Sept. 11, 1923 1,500,969 Venditti July 8, 1924 1,620,249 Corrall et al Mar. 8, 1927 2,065,885 Briggs et al Dec. 29, 1936

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