US2604861A - Miniature lockstitch sewing machine - Google Patents

Description

July 29, 1952 MERSQN 2,604,851

MINiATURE LOCKSTITCH SEWING MACHINE Filed Dec. 7, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 I86 190. I88 1 .1. I82 184 Z4 a 170 INVENTORS DAVID A.MERSON SIDNEY R. BELL ATTOR Y5 D. A. MERSON EI'AL MINIATURE LOCKSTITCH SEWING MACHINE July 29, 1952 Filed Dec. 7, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 N w mR-M W m .R w R ND 4 N A w Am D5 Om; Y a E July 29, D. A. MElisoN HAL MINIATURE LOCKSTITCH SEWING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 7, 1946 DAVJDA MERSON' YSIDNEY R. BELL,

INVENTORS "4 ATTORN Ys D. A. MERSON ETAL MINIATURE LOCKSTITCH SEWING MACHINE July 29, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Dec. 7, 1946 TORS INVEN DAVID A.

MERSON IDNEY R. BELL ATTdR Y5 Patented July 29, 1952 UNITED STATES ATENT orrlcs MINIATURE LOCKSTITCH SEW'ING MACHINE David A. Merson, Great Neck, N. Y., and Sidney R. Bell, Stamford, Conn., assignors to Irving J. Moritt, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application December 7, 1946, Serial No. 714,782

19 Claims.

. to provide a lockstitch' sewing machine so small and light that it may be held in one hand while being operated, and so portable that it may be carried in a ladys luggage during trips. In commercial work it may be moved to the work instead of moving the work to the machine, where the workis relatively large or for any other reason is not conveniently movable.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide such a miniature lockstitch sewing machine which is hand-operated, thus making the same useful even in the absence of a power supply, and reducing the weight and cost of the machine. However, some features of the invention are applicable to a miniature motor driven machine, as disclosed, for example, in our copending application, Serial No. 715,860, filed December 12, 1946. Ancillary objects are to make itpossible to build up power for operation under heavy load, and to ensure completion of each stitch regardless of whether or not the operating handles are moved through a full stroke each time they are operated.

Still another object is to provide in such a machine, a needle bar motion which follows a desired timing pattern, including a dwell period during upward movement of the needle, at which time a loop of the upper thread is traversed by the shuttle to lock it with a lower thread.

Still another object of the invention is to provide thread-tensioning and thread take-up mechanism, the latter being operated in very simple fashion by direct connection to the needle bar. In accordance with a feature and object of the invention,,any difference in desired timing between the needle bar and the thread take-up mechanism is taken care of simply by lost motion in the linkage between the needle bar and the thread take-up mechanism.

Still further objectsof the present invention center about the work feed mechanism, and inelude suitable mechanism to cause an oscillating feed dog to engage the work during its feed movement, and to disengage the work during its return movement; to provide means for adjusting the efiective length of the feed dog stroke and consequent stitch; to provide means for bodily raisingthe feed mechanism when supplying work to or removing work from the machine, or when threading the needle; and to so arrange the link:

2 age of the feed dog as to accommodate such bodily movement.

In accordance with still another feature and object of the invention, the handles of the manually operated machine are made readily removable so that the machine may be packed in mini+ mum space for shipment and storage. I

To accomplish the foregoing general objects and other more specific objects which will hereinafter appear, our invention resides in the miniature lockstitch sewing machine elements and their relation one to the other, as are hereinafter more particularly described in the following specification. The specification is accompanied by drawings, in which: r

Fig. l is a plan view of a manually operated sewing machine embodying features of our invention;

Fig. 1a is a similar View of a slightly modified form of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the sewing machine shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an end elevation thereof, with an optionally usable table clamp added;

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section through the machine, taken approximately in the plane of the line 3-4 of Fig. 1, and drawn to enlarged scale;

Fig. 5 is a partially sectioned horizontal view taken approximately in the plane of the line 55 of Fig. 2, and drawn to enlarged scale;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary horizontal section explanatory of the shuttle operating mechanism; Figs. 7 and 8 are top plan views explantory of the operation of the shuttle;

Fig. 9 is a. transverse section taken approximately in the plane of the line -9 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 10 is a partially sectioned end view of the machine, showing the work feed mechanism;

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary view showing the work feed mechanism at the end of its return stroke; and

work feed mechanism.

Referring to the drawings, and more particu l8 (Fig. 2). It will be understood that the. ma-

chine is very tiny, the handles i l and 16 being readily grasped in one hand. (The overall length of the machine shown is under 5 inches.) The Fig. 12 is a perspective View explanatory of the tion of gear 30.

3 machine has a relatively flat bottom and therefore may be rested on a table for support, instead of being held by the hand which operates the machine. If desired, it may even be clamped on a table, as by means of the removable clamp shown in Fig. 3, the top of the clamp being slidably received in a dove-tail shaped slot 22, best shown in Fig. 2.

The machine is of the lockstitch type, and includes not only the upper thread with its associated spool and thread tensioning and take-up mechanism shown in Fig. 2, but also a lower thread with associated shuttle and bobbin mechanism, not visible in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, but shown in Figs. 6. 7 and 8. The machine further comprises work feed mechanism best shown in Figs;

10, 11 and 12. These parts of the machine are separately described hereinafter.

Power shaft drive Referring to Fig. 5 of the drawing, it will be seen that the handle i4 is pivoted at 24, and carries an arcuate rack 26. This is eifectively a sector of an internal gear having teeth 28 which mesh with a gear 30 concentric with a vertical shaft 32. The gear 39 is coupled to a suitable over-running clutch generally designated 3-5. This may be of any standard or known type, and in the present case comprises rollers 36 operating in tapered or sloping cam passages 38.

Referring now to Fig. 4, the driven portion 34 of the over-running clutch is pinned to a bevel gear 40 meshing with a bevel pinion 42 secured to a horizontal shaft 44. This drives the cams which operate the parts of the sewing machine,

and may for convenience be referred to as the power shaft of the machine.

The gear ratios here employed are such that a single stroke of the operating handle corresponds to one rotation of the power shaft M, and consequently one complete stitch. However, this is not a necessary relation, and if the machine is to sew heavy material a greater gear reduction may be wanted, in which case a number of strokes of the handle may be used for each stitch. One of the important advantages of the present arrangement using an over-running clutch is that it is not essential to complete each stroke of the handle under penalty of otherwise spoiling the stitching operation, and instead any small or partial movement of the handle is cumulative with additional movements of the handle to produce rotation of the power shaft, and inasmuch as the power shaft works always in one direction, each stitch must be completed before another can begin.

Referring to Fig. 5, the particular layout here employed provides a 45 degree stroke of the operating handle M. The radius of gear sector 26 is four times that of the gear 39, consequently each stroke of the handle produces a half revolu- Bevel gear has twice the diameter of bevel pinion 42, hence each complete stroke of the handle produces a full revolution of the power shaft 44.

Return spring I8 is a pull spring which is disposed in a groove or channel 48 on the outside of rack 26. One end of the spring is pinned to the rack at 50, while the other end is connected to a small plate 52, best shown in Fig. 2, this plate being secured to the housing of the machine.

The handles M and it are preferably made readily removable so that the machine may be boxed, shipped and stored in knocked-down confulcrum pin 24.

dition. In Figs. 1, 3 and 5, it will be seen that the stationary handle [6 is held in position by a screw 54. A dowel 56 (Fig. 5) may be used to prevent rocking of the handle, and the handle may be shouldered at 58 for the same purpose. To remove the handle it is merely necessary to remove the single screw '54;

The handle I4 is removable by lifting out its The top or head end of pin 24 is enlarged and exposed at the top of the machine, as is best shown in Fig. 9. By pulling the pin upwardly, the handle is freed for outward movement through the slot 69 (Fig. 5) in which it operates. The plate 52 (Fig. 2) holding the outer end of restoring spring 18 is provided with a small bayonet-type slot 62, and the plate is thus readily released from the stationary pin on which it is anchored. The spring then remains with the handle when the handle is removed from the machine. Fig. 9 shows how the lower end of pin 24 is received in a mating opening in a bearing block 64 cast integrally with the base 66 of the housing. The boss 68 of handle 14 rests directly on bearing block 64.

It is not essential that the handles l4 and I6 project generally perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the machine, as shown in Fig. 1, and the small scale view of Fig. 1a. illustrates a modification in which handles M and I6 are disposed approximately 45 degrees away from the position shown in Fig. 1. This machine is otherwise the same as that shown in Fig. 1, and operates in similar fashion. It has a slight advantage in keeping the hand operating the machine further away from the work or the hand guiding the work.

Needle bar drive Referring to Fig. 2, the needle 10 is rigidly but detachably secured in a needle bar 12 by means of a set screw 14. The needle bar '12 reciprocates bodily in a vertical direction. Referring now to Figs. 4, 5 and 10,- the base of the needle bar is enlarged to form a crosshead 16 which is vertically slidable on guides or ways 18. The bearings may be Oilite or equivalent bearings. The crosshead is enlarged at inside the body of the machine and is provided with a transverse slot 82 best shown in Fig. 9, said slot receiving a crank pin 84 carried by a crank disc 86 secured to or formed integrally at one end of the power shaft 44 previously referred to. The pin 84 is preferably provided with a roller. It will be understood that rotation of the power shaft causes the cam roller 84 to move the crosshead and needle bar up and down.

The slot 82 is not horizontal, but is approximately V-shaped, as is shown in Fig. 9. Actually the shape is such as to move the needle to lowermost position, to then raise the needle slightly to form a loop of thread, to then dwell briefly to afford time for the shuttle to engage the loop, and to then raise the needle. The slot is not symmetrical, and the curvature at 83 provides the dwell period. The timing in the particular machine here shown is such that the needle is lowered in about 135 degrees rotation of the power shaft; raised about an eighth inch during the next 45 degrees; dwells for approximately 45 degrees, and is raised to the initial position in the next 135 degrees.

The shuttle drive The bobbin or spool 90 (Fig. 4) may be wound by hand, or by pressing it over the upper end of 5. shaft 32, and'then operating the handles to rotate shaft 32 and with it the bobbin. -After being wound, the bobbin or spool 90 is placed in an oscillatable'shuttle 92, which in turn is carried by a shuttle carrier 94. The shuttle is shown in somewhat greater detail in Figs. 7 and 8, but probably requires no completely detailed description because it may be and is conventional. It employs a hook 96 (Fig. 7) to engage a loop formed by the needle operating in a needle hole 98. The shuttle is oscillated a matter of 250 degrees. This is accomplished by pinion and rack mechanism, best shown in Fig. 6. The pinion I is formed beneath the shuttle carrier (see Fig. 4) and meshes with a rack I02 (Fig. 6) formed at one end of a slide I04. The other end of the slide is connected to a motion-increasing lever I06 pivoted at I98. The lever I06 carries cam follower Hi], and referring nowto Fig. 4 it will be seen that the pin H0 is received in a cam track I I2 on a cylindrical cam I I4, the latter being secured to the hub of bevel pinion 42. Thus each revolution of the power shaft 44 causes one complete reciprocation of the lever I96. This has a bifurcated end which is connected through pin H6 to the slide I 64 previously referred to.

V In connection with the shuttle shown in Figs.

'7 and 8, it will be understood that the bottom thread comes from the bobbin 98 past a spring tensioning device in the shuttle, then through a hole in the shuttle and finally upwardlythrough the regular needle hole of the needle plate. The

shuttle rests on the shuttle carrier loosely in such a manner that a loop of the upper thread may be passed entirely around the shuttle when the hook 96 engages the loop and turns another 180 degrees. As the shuttle turns still further past dead center, the loop escapes from the open side of the hook on the opposite side of the shuttle. This interlocks the upper and lower threads. The slack loop is tightened by the thread take-up mechanism. The shuttle turns back to initial position preparatory to making the next stitch, and since in the meantime the cloth has been fed a short distance, the next stitch is spaced from the previous stitch.

Thread take-up Referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings,

the upper thread is taken from a spool I20 resting I and a thread tensioning device I2 5, this being of conventional type employing two discs held together by'a spring, the tension of which may be adjusted by means of a knob I26. From the thread tensioning device the thread is run through an eye I23 to a thread take-up arm I30. The thread is then led down to an eye I32 and thence to the eye or the needle III (the thread being passed from the outside toward the inside of the needle).

The thread take-up arm I38 is operated in very simple fashion by direct connection to the needle bar 72. Specifically, the arm I 3%] is pivoted at I38. A link I36 is connected to the crosshead of needle bar 12 at I 33, and is connected to the arm I39 at Ida. Actually, a pair of links l36 may beused, one on each side of the arm I30, as is best shown in Fig. 9, but for purposes of description they may be considered a single link. It is important to note that there is" a lost motion connection between the needle bar and-.the arm I30. this being provided by slotting the end of link I36, as is shown at I42. This lost motion connection is important because the preferred timing of the take-up arm I is not the same as that of the needle bar 12. With the lost motion connection the operation is less critical in timing because there is a dwell period or duration of maximum slack of the thread when the thread take-up arm is in lowermost position, instead of only an instant of maximum slack. Instead of having a separate cam drive for the threadtake-up in order to provide the maximum slack at the proper instant, the present machine uses a 'very simple connection directly to the needle bar and provides atolerance in timingby maintaining the maximum slack of thread over a relatively long time period. This corresponds to the time when the shuttle draws the loop of thread diametrically around itself. It is after this that the thread take-up begins to tighten the loop again down to small size.

Work feed mechanism 7 The work feed mechanism is best shown in Figs. 5, 10, 11 and 12 of the drawings. Referring to Fig. 12, the Work is fed by a serrated feed dog I which is bifurcated to straddle the needle. The feed dog oscillates about a pivot I 52, it being oscillated by a rod I54 which extends vertically upwardly to the needle bar 12. Thus the motion of the feed dog is taken directly from the needle bar. In Fig. 10 the needle bar is shown in elevated position, and it will be seen that it moves against a collar I56 on the upper end of rod I54, thereby pulling the rod upwardly and so moving the feed dog I 50 in work feeding direction. This takes place while the needle 10 is raised out of the work, thus freeing the work for its forward feed movement. v v

In Fig. 11 the needle bar 5'2 is shown in lowermost position, and it will be seen that it bears against an enlargement I 58 at the bottom of rod I54, thus oscillating the feed dog I 50 in rearward direction, this taking place while the needle I0 is down through the work, thereby holding the work against rearward movement. I

The rod I54 is essentially a lost motion connection such that most of the movement of the needle bar does not affect the feed dog, but near its top and bottom positions the needle bar operates the feed dog. The movement of the feed dog, and consequently the length of the stitch, may be controlled by rotation of a bushing I60 threadedly received in an ear I62 projecting sidewardly from the needle bar I2. It will be understood that when the bushing'is screwed upwardly, the stitch is lengthened, and when the bushing is screwed downwardly, the stitch is shortened.

The work feed mechanism preferably includes means to relieve the pressure of the feed dog on the work during its return movement. For this purpose, the pivot I52 (Fig. 12) of the feed dog is preferably carried on a dog supporti'ng'rocker 7 arm I 64, pivoted at I66 on a bracket I68 which carries the entire feed mechanism. Rocker I64 is permitted a slight up and down motion, this being limited byappropriatemeans, which in the present case consists of inturned end I10 which bears against the outside of the bracket I68 when the rocker is elevated slightly as shown in Fig. l1. The lower end of rod IE4 is connected to'a dog operating lever I12 (Fig. l2) pivoted di-' rectly on bracket I68 at I14. By referring to Fig.

5.11; will be seen that althoughthe pivot I52 or the feed dog is substantially in alignment with j the pivot I14 of the lever I12, they are not a common pin, the pin I14 being immovable on bracket I68, and the pin I52 being free to rise or fall with the rocker I64. Lever I12 rigidly carries a pin I16 which engages a slot H8 in the end of the feed dog.

Referring to Fig. 10, it will be evident that downward movement of pin I76 tends to move the rocker I64 and the feed dog I50 downward, and after engagement of the work when the dog can no longer move downward, it is oscillated about its pivot I52. Referring now to Fig. 11, it will be seen that upward movement of pin I16 tends to move the rocker 164 upwardly, thus elevating the feed dog I50 from the work until the rocker can no longer rise, its motion being limited by the stop I10. Thereafter the feed dog is swung about its pivot I52.

If desired, a small leaf spring I80, best shown in Fig. 12, may be provided to normally urge the rocker I64 downwardly, thereby assuring a bias in favor of tight frictional feed of the fabric being sewn.

The entire feed mechanism so far described is carried on bracket 168, which is itself bodily movable upwardly. This movement is desirable when starting a new piece of work in the machine, or whenremoving work from the machine, or when threading the needle. In Fig. 12 it will be seen that the base end of bracket I60 forms a crosshead I02, and in Fig. it will be seen that this is slidable on a dove-tail sectioned guide I84. These parts are also clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 5. A small handle or finger piece I06 may be provided to raise or lower the bracket I60, and in Figs. 4 and 5 it will be seen that this finger piece is pivoted at I88 and is connected to a pin I90 projecting from the crosshead I82. Pin I90 is received in a slot in the finger piece, and it will be evident that by raising or swinging the finger piece in clockwise direction, as seen in Fig. 4, the bracket I68 and with it the entire feed mechanism is bodily raised. This upward motion is permitted by the slidable relation of rod I54 in bushing I60 previously referred to.

The finger piece may be designed to lock the bracket in down position, but this is not essential because of the overhung nature of the bracket, for any upward pressure at the end locks the crosshead on the guide.

Operation When first setting up the machine some of the thread from spool I is wound on the bobbin 90. 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. There is the usual slidable needle plate, and the dove-tail fit for the same is shown at I92 in Fig. 4. The upper thread is taken from the spool I20 and threaded as previously described. The work feed mechanism is elevated and then lowered after the work is inserted in the machine, following which the handles are operated until the line of stitching has been carried as far as desired.

1 The detailed operation of the machine will probably be evident from the description already given, the needle coming down to lowermost position and thus bringing the upper thread through the work, the needle then rising a little to form a loop beneath the work, whereupon the shuttle oscillates, its hook catching the loop and expanding the loop around itself. .The necessary thread is provided by lowering of the thread take-up. When the loop 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 draws the loop tight, it having meanwhile been interlocked with the bobbin thread of the shuttle. The shuttle oscillates back to initial position. After the needle has left the work and near the top of its upward stroke the feed dog moves the fabric ahead, so that when the needle again descends it enters a new point on the fabric.

If a small amount of sewing is to be performed, the machine may be held in one hand, or rested loosely on a table. If a great amount of sewing is to be performed, the machine may be clamped to the edge of the table by means of the clamp shown in Fig. 3 in the drawing. If a little stitching must be done on a large body of fabric hanging in place, or which for any reason it would be inconvenient to move to a sewing machine, the present machine may be carried to the work and there operated.

It is believed that the construction and operation of our improved, miniature, hand-operated, and hand holdable sewing machine, will be apparent from the foregoing detailed description thereof. It will also be apparent that while we have shown and described our invention in a preferred form, changes may be made in the structure disclosed without departing from the spirit of the invention, as sought to be defined in the following claims.

We claim:

1. A miniature handle-operated sewing machine, said machine comprising a stationary and a movable handle of the plier type, a drive shaft, and an overrunning clutch, said movable handle being geared to said drive shaft through said overrunning clutch, whereby cumulative partial movement of said handle provides continued motion of the shaft, and lockstitch sewing mechanism continuously operatively connected to and operated by said shaft, said mechanism including a needle and thread-tensioning and thread take-up mechanism for an upper thread passing through said needle, a shuttle and bobbin for interlocking a lower thread with said upper thread, and work feed mechanism to feed the work relative to the machine.

2. A miniature handle-operated sewing machine which may be held in one hand during operation, said machine comprising a stationary handle and a movable handle, a drive shaft, an overrunning clutch, the movable handle being geared to said drive shaft through said overrunning clutch, the stationary handle being fixedly but readily detachably secured to the body of the machine by a single screw, a removable pivot pin, the movable handle being secured to the machine by said removable pivot pin, whereby the machine may be knocked down to compact dimension for packaging and shipment by removal of both handles, and lockstitch sewing mechanism operated by said drive shaft.

3. A miniature handle-operated sewing machine, said machine comprising a drive shaft, an overrunning clutch, relatively movable handles geared to said drive shaft through said overrunning clutch, and lockstitch sewing mechanism operated by said shaft, said mechanism including an overhung normally horizontal needle bar extending longitudinally of the machine and replacing the arm of a conventional sewing-machine, a normally vertical needle rigidly secured lever pivoted above the work aooaeei to one end of said needlebar, a crosshead at the opposite end of said-needle bar, guidesor ways on which, said crosshead is vertically. slidable,

and a crank pin driven by said drive shaft, said crosshead' having a generallytransverse slot cooperating with said crank pin.

4. A miniature sewing maohinejsaid machine comprising an overhung normally horizontal needle bar extending longitudinally of the machine and replacing. the arm of f a conventional sewing machine, a, normally vertical needle rigidly secured to one end or said'needlebarfa cross head at the opposite end of said needle bar, guides or ways on which said crosshead is vertically slidable, saidgcrosshead being'substantialin vertical dimension and having a generally transverse but approximately V-shaped slot, a drive; shaft, a crank pin carried thereby and received'in said slot, said slot being so shaped as to" cause the needle to descend to "lowermost position, then rise a small distance, then dwell, 'and' then rise to topmost. position.

V 5(A miniature handle-operated sewing machine, said machine comprising a drive shaft, an overrunning clutch, a stationary handle, a movable handle geared to said driveishaftthrough said overrun'ning' clutch, andlo'ckstitch sewing ,rnechanism'operated by said shaman mechanism including an overhung normallyhorizont'al needle bar extending"longitudinally of the machine and replacing the arm of a conventional or sewingmachine, a'nor nally vertical needle rigidly secured to one end oisaid needle bar, 'a crosshead at, the opposite end offsaid needle bar, said crosshead being substantial in vertical dimension, guides or ways onwhich said crosshead is vertically slidable, anda crank pin driven by said drive shaft, said crosshead having a generally, transverse but approximately V-shapedslot receiving said crank pin, said slot being so shaped as l to cause the needle to descend to lowermost position,

then rise a small distance, then dwell, and then 'riselto topmost position.

n In a miniature hand-operated sewing machine, a work support; work feed mechanism including a feed dog shaped to act as an angle lever pivoted above the work support, a generally horizontal dog-supporting rocker arm carrying the pivot of 'saiddog, the rocking movement of said rocker arm affording up and down movement of said pivot and dog, and linkage connected to said dog'lf or operating said dog, one part of said linkage extending upwardly to a' source of motion andbeing given solely alongitudina l motion by said source, wherebythe linkagegivesthe dog a forward and a return movement, and at the same time tends to cause a lifting of the'dog during its return movement, and a lowering of thedog into contact with the work during its'forwardfor work- I feed'movement, the aforesaid rocker arm affording the desired lifting and lowering of the feed '7. In a miniature hand-operated sewing machine which may be held in one hand while'being operated, a work support, work feed mechanism including a feed dog shaped to act as an angle support, a generally horizontal dog supporting rocker arm carrying the pivot of said dog, the rocking-movement of said rocker arm affording up and down movement of said pivot and dog, a direction reversing lever connected to said dog, and means connected to said lever for operating said dog, said means extending upwardly to a source of motion and being given solely a longitudinal motion by said source, whereby the aforesaid linkage gives the dog a forward and a return movement, and at the same time tends to cause a lifting of the dog during its return movement, and'a lowering of the dog into'contact with the work during its forward or work feed movement, theaforesaid rocker arm affording the desired lifting and lowering of the feed dog.

8.111 a miniature hand operated sewing machine which may be held in'one handwhile being operated, a work support, work feed mechanism including a feed dog pivoted'above the work support, an overhung normally horizontal butvertically movable needle bar extending longitudinally of the machine and replacing the arm of a conventional machine, a normally vertical needle carried by one end of said needle bar, means to actuate said feed dog, said means including a direction reversing lever and a rod extending upwardly from the lever through the needle bar for actuation thereby, said needle bar slidably receiving said rod, and spaced stops on said rod to provide a lost-motion connection between the needle bar and the rod.

9. In a 'miniaturehand-operated sewing machine which may be held in one hand while being operated, a work'support, Work feed mechanism including a feed dog pivoted above the work support, a vertically movable needle bar, a needle carried by said needle bar, a rod extending upwardly from the. feed dog mechanism through the needle bar for actuation'thereby', a bushing slidably receiving said rod, said bushing being threadedly carried by said needle bar, and spaced stops on said rod to provide a lost-motion connection of a conventional machine, a' norinally vertical needle carried by one end or" the needle bar, a rod extending upwardly from the feed dog mechanism through the needle bar for actuationthereby, said bar slidablyreceivingsaid rod, and spaced stops on said rod to provide a lost-motion connection between the needle bar and the rod, the slidable re'lationof the rod to the needle bar also accommodating the raising of the bracket when lifting the feed mechanismbodily from the work.

11. In a miniature hand-operated sewing machine which may be held in one hand while being operated, a work support, work feed mechanism including a feed dog pivoted above the Work support, a bracket carrying said feed dog, a vertical way Or guidelon which said bracket may be moved,

a finger piece ior raising said bracket to disengage the feedldog from the work,an overhung normally horizontal but vertically movable needle bar extending longitudinally of the machine and replacing the arm of a conventional machine, a normally vertical needle carried by said needle barQa rod extending upwardly from thefeed'dog'mechanism to the needle bar for actuation thereby, said needle bar slidably receiving said rod, and spaced stops on said rod to provide a lost-motionconnection between the needle bar and'the fed, the slidable 1 1 relation of the rod to the needle bar also accommodating the raising of the bracket when lifting the feed mechanism bodily from the work.

12. In a miniature hand-operated sewing machine which may be held in one hand while being operated, a Work support, Work feed mechanism including a feed dog pivoted above the work support, a bracket carrying said feed dog, a vertical way or guide on which said bracket may be moved, a finger piece for raising said bracket to disengage the feed dog from the work, a vertically movable needle bar, a needle carried by said needle bar, a rod extending upwardly from the feed dog mechanism to the needle bar for actuation thereby, a bushing slidably receiving said rod, said bushing being threadedly carried by said needle bar, and spaced stops on said rod to provide a lostmotion connection between the needle bar and the rod, whereby rotational adjustment of the threaded bushing changes the effective stroke of the feed dog and consequently the length of the stitch, the slidable relation of the rod to the bushing also accommodating the raising of the bracket when lifting the feed mechanism bodily from the work.

13, In a miniature hand-operated sewing machine which may be held in one hand while being operated, a vertically movable needle bar, a needle carried thereby, a work support, work feed mechanism including a feed dog pivoted above the work support, linkage including a generally horizontal supporting rocker arm carrying the pivot of said dog, a direction reversing lever, and a rod extending upwardly to the needle bar for actuation thereby, the rocking movements of said rocker arm affording up and down movement of said pivot and dog, said needle bar slidably receiving said rod, and spaced stops on said rod to provide a lost-motion connection between the needle bar and the rod, the aforesaid linkage being so arranged that the linkage gives the dog a forward and return movement, and at the same time tends to cause lifting of the dog during its return movement and lowering of the dog during its forward or work feed movement, the aforesaid rocker arm affording the desired lifting and lowering of the feed dog, a bracket carrying the aforesaid linkage, means for raising said bracket in order to disengage the feed dog from the work, the slidable relation of the aforesaid rod and needle bar accommodating the raising of the bracket when bodily lifting the feed mechanism.

14. In a miniature hand-operated sewing machine which may be held in one hand while being operated, a needle and a vertically movable needle bar, a work support, work feed mechanism including a feed dog pivoted above the work support, linkage including a dog supporting rocker arm pivotally carrying said dog, a dog operating and direction reversing lever, a rod extending upwardly from said lever through the needle bar for actuation thereby, a bushing threadedly carried by said needle bar and slidably receiving said rod, and spaced stops on said rod to provide a lostmotion connection between the needle bar and the rod, rotational adjustment of said threaded bushing changing the effective stroke of the feed dog and consequently the length of the stitch, the aforesaid linkage being so arranged that the linkage gives the dog a forward and a return movement, and at the same time tends to cause lifting of the dog during its return movement and lowering of the dog during its forward or work feed movement, the aforesaid rocker arm affording the desired lifting and lowering of the feed dog, the

aforesaid linkage being carried by a bracket, 9, vertical way or guide on which said bracket may be moved, and a finger piece for raising or lowering said bracket'in order to disengage the feed dog from the work, the slidable relation of the aforesaid rod and bushing accommodating the raising of the bracket when bodily lifting the feed mechanism.

15. A miniature handle-operated sewing machine, said machine comprising a drive shaft, an overrunning clutch, a stationary handle, and a movable handle geared to said drive shaft through said overrunning clutch, whereby cumulative partial movement of said handle provides continued motion of the shaft, lockstitch sewing mechanism operated by said shaft, and gearing continuously operatively connecting said shaft to said sewing mechanism.

16. In a miniature hand-operated sewing machine which may be held in one hand while being operated, an overhung normally horizontal but vertically movable needle bar extending longitudinally of the machine and replacing the arm of a conventional machine, a normally vertical needle carried thereby, a work support, work feed mechanism including a feed dog pivoted above the work support, linkage including a generally horizontal dog supporting rocker arm carrying the pivot of said dog, a direction reversing lever, and a rod extending upwardly through the needle bar for actuation thereby, the rocking movement of said rocker arm affording up and down movement of said pivot and dog, said needle bar slidably receiving said rod, and spaced stops on said rod to provide a lost-motion connection between the needle bar and the rod, the aforesaid linkage being so arranged that the linkage tends to cause lifting of the dog during its return movement and lowering of the dog during its forward or work feed movement, the aforesaid rocker arm affording the desired lifting and lowering of the feed dog, a bracket for carrying the aforesaid linkage, means for raising said bracket in order to disengage the feed dog from the work, the slidable relation of the aforesaid rod and needle bar accommodating the raising of the bracket when bodily lifting the feed mechanism.

1'7. A miniature sewing machine comprising a needle and thread take-up mechanism including a horizontal overhung needle bar which extends longitudinally of the machine and replaces the arm of a conventional sewing machine, a vertical needle secured at the forward free end of the needle bar, vertical guides or ways, a crosshead which is substantial in vertical dimension and which is vertically slidable on said guides or ways, the inner or rear end of said needle bar being rigidly secured to said crosshead, a thread take-up arm pivoted at one end to the body of the machine and extending forward and carrying the thread at its forward end, and linkage connecting the needle bar to said arm.

18. A miniature handle-operated sewing machine, said machine comprising a drive shaft, an overrunning clutch, relatively movable handles geared to said drive shaft through said overrunning clutch, and sewing mechanism operated by said shaft, said mechanism including a horizontal overhung needle bar which extends longitudinally of the machine and replaces the arm of a conventional sewing machine, a vertical needle secured at the forward free end of the needle bar, vertical guides or ways, a crosshead which is substantial in vertical dimension and vertically slidable on said guides or ways, the rear end of said 13 needle bar being rigidly secured to said crosshead, a thread take-up arm pivoted at its rear end to the body of the machine and extending forward and carrying a thread for the needle at its other end, and alink connecting the needle bar to said arm to oscillate the arm.

19. A miniature handle-operated sewing machine, said machine comprising a drive shaft, an overrurining clutch, a stationary handle,am0vable handle geared to said drive shaft through said overrunning clutch, and lookstitch sewing mechanism'operated by said shaft, said mechanism including a needle and thread take-up mechanism for anupper thread, a shuttle and bobbin for a lower thread, and work feed mechanism, said upperthread mechanism including a horizontal overhung needle bar which extends longitudinally of the machine and replaces the arm of a conventional sewing machine, a vertical needle secured at the forward free end of the needle bar, vertical guides or ways, a crosshead which is sub-1. stantial-in vertical dimension and vertically slidable on guides or ways, the rear end of said needlebar being rigidly secured to said crosshead, a thread take-up arm pivoted at one end to the body of the machine and extending forward above the needle bar and carrying the thread '14 at its forward end, and linkage connecting the needle bar to said arm, said linkage including a lost-motion connection, and said lost motion compensating for any difference in desired timing of the thread take-up arm and the needle bar.

DAVID A. MERSON. SIDNEY R. BELL.

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

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 25,968 Hudson Nov. 1, 1859 42,336 Ashe Apr. 19, 1864 98,409 Pratt et a1. Dec. 28, 1869 127,675 Braundbeck June 11. 1872 268,161 Willhelm Nov. 28.1882 559,637 Tracy May 5, 1896 7 615,436 Diamond Dec. 6, 1898 668,481 Benoit Feb. 19, 1901 1,009,065 Hahn et a1. Nov. 21, 1901 1,368,245 De Voe Feb. 15, 1921 1,500,969 Venditti July 8, 1924 1,892,592 I Westcott Dec. 27, 1932 1,917,162 Smith July 4, 1933

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