US2692569A - Needle stabilizer - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 26, 1954 s. J. KETTERER 2,692,569

NEEDLE STABILIZER Filed Sept. 14, 1949 2 Shee'tS-Shet l QT To PNE/5.

0d. 26, 1954 s, 1 KETTERER 2,692,569

NEEDLE STABILIZER Filed Sept. 14, '1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Oct. 26, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE NEEDLE STABILIZER Stanley J. Ketterer, St. Louis, Mo.

Application September 14, 1949, Serial No. 115,589

Claims.

The present invention relates generally to stabilizing devices, and more particularly to a needle stabilizer adapted to be attached to a sewing machine.

In general, the present invention comprises an elongated stabilizer member which includes a shaft disposable against a needle bar and having a formed lower end in engagement with the needle of the sewing machine. At its upper end, the stabilizer is linked to the same crank stud to which the upper end of the needle bar is linked so that there is relative reciprocal movement between the stabilizer and the needle bar as the needle bar is reciprocated in its well known sewing action. The relative reciprocal movement between the stabilizer and needle bar is such that, at the lowest point of the needle bar, the stabilizer is in its highest position in relation thereto so that the needle engaging portion of the stabilizer contacts the upper portion of the needle when the needle is at the bottom of its stroke. Similarly, as the needle is raised on the upstroke, the needle engaging portion of the stabilizer, even though being raised, in eiect is moved toward the free end of the needle, the over-all travel vertically of the needle bar and needle being greater than that of the stabilizer.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a needle stabilizer which is mounted in respect to the needle and its supporting needle bar to eiectively dampen vibrations of the needle in sewing operations.

Another object is to provide a novel needle stabilizer which engages the needle of a sewing machine during the downward and upward strokes and which is moved with and relative to the needle during the sewing operation to eliminate vibrations, thereby rendering the needle more accurate in stitching and reducing the needle breakage caused from vibration to a minimum.

Another object is to provide a needle stabilizer which may be readily adapted to various types of sewing machines to substantially eliminate vibration in the needle thereof during the sewing operation;

Another object is to provide a needle stabilizer which acts as a pilot for and braces the needle as it penetrates work, thereby keeping it from deilecting caused by various materials;

Another object is to provide a needle stabilizer which moves with and relative to the needle and needle bar of the sewing machine, and is disposed out of engagement with the needle at the uppermost positions of the needle and the stabilizer;

Other objects are to provide a novel needle stabilizer which positively eliminates dangerous and costly vibration in a sewing machine needle, which is sturdy in construction and readily applicable to sewing machines, which does not interfere with any of the normal operations of the sewing machine to which it is connected, which is simple in construction and requires minimum maintenance to keep it in effective vibration dampening operation, and which eiiiciently performs its function of reducing vibration in a sewing machine needle during the sewing operation to a negligible minimum.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages are apparent from the following description taken with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical fragmentary cross-sectional view through the head of a sewing machine to which is connected a needle stabilizer constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention, the needle bar being shown in the uppermost position of movement;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, additional details being shown in section, the needle bar being shown in the lowermost position of movement;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of the needle of the sewing machine and the needle engaging portion of the stabilizer in the relative positions of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal cross-sectional view on substantially the line 4 4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is an elevational view similar to Fig. 3, and illustrating the relationship of the needle engaging portion of the stabilizer with some needles when the latter are in lowermost positions of movement;

Fig. 6 is a vertical transverse cross-sectional View on substantially the line 6--6 of Fig. 2, illustrating the relationship of the stabilizer and needle bar links when the stabilizer and needle bar are in their lowermost positions;

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6, illustrating the relationship of the stabilizer and needle bar links at ninety degrees rotation of the connection of the needle bar link from the position shown in Fig. 6 on the upstroke of the machine;

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Figs. 6 and 7, illustrating the relationship of the stabilizer and needle bar links with the stabilizer and needle bar in uppermost positions, the connection of the needle bar link being at one hundred and eighty degrees from the position of Fig. 6;

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Figs. 6 through 8, illustrating the relationship of the stabilizer and needle bar links when the connection of the 3 needle bar link is at two hundred and seventy degrees from the position of Fig. 6;

Fig. 10 is an enlarged horizontal cross-sectional view on substantially the line lU-l of Fig. 2;

Fig. 11 is an exploded view, partially in section, showing the upper end of the stabilizer, the stabilizer link, and the crank stud;

Fig. 12 is an enlarged front elevational view of the lower end of the stabilizer;

Fig. 13 is a vertical cross-sectional view on substantially the line |3-I3 of Fig. '12; and

Fig. 14 is a front elevational view of the thread eyelet and lower stabilizer retainer.

Referring to the drawings more particularly by reference numerals, 28 indicates a needle stabilizer shown in operative relationship with a needle bar 22 and needle 24. The needle bar 22 is mounted for reciprocation in guide bosses 26 and 28 forming part of a housing 30 of a sewing machine 32, a portion of which is illustrated in the drawings. A removable cover 34 closes the end of the housing 30.

rPhe needle bar 22 is of round cross section, clearly shown in Fig. 10, and includes a channel 3G opening at one side which receives the main body 68 of the stabilizer 20 for relative reciprocable movement.

A combined thread eyelet and lower stabilizer retainer 40 is secured to the lower end of the needle bar 22 by a suitable setcrew 42, which also engages the shank portion 21 of the needle 24 to maintain it in position in the end of the needle bar 22. Thread 44 is fed through openings 46 and 4l in the eyelet retainer 40 to thread portion 25 of the needle 24, as is clear from Figs. 3, l and 14.

Toward its upper end, the needle bar 22 is securelg.T engaged by the split head 49 of a split clamp 48 having a shaft extension 52 disposed in a bearing 52 formed at the lower end of a needle bar connecting link 54 having an upper bearing portion 56 rotatably mounted on the main body 58 of a crank stud 60. The main body B is secured by a setscrew S2 in an off-center opening 63 in a driven hub 64 secured to the end of a driven shaft 66 which forms part of the sewing machine 32. The split clam 48 also serves as an upper retainer for the stabilizer 28.

The crank stud 88 is formed at its free end as a plate 58, to which is secured in radially offset relation to the axis of rotation of the crank stud 68 a threaded projection l0. Between the plate 68 and the main body 58 of the crank stud 88 is a reduced portion 'i 2 which is thus formed to accommodate conventional take-up mechanism 14 forming part of the sewing machine 32.

At its upper end, the stabilizer 20 includes a right angularly bent portion l which receives a bearing sleeve E8 disposed in an opening 8G at one end of a stabilizer link 82. At the other end of the stabilizer link 32 is a frusto-conical shaped opening 84 which receives a irusto-conical shaped member 86 having a threaded central opening which threadedly engages the projection lli, thereby connecting the stabilizer link 22 to the plate 6B formed at the end of the crank stud 60.

At its lower end, the stabilizer 26 includes a reduced needle engaging portion 88, the free end of 'which includes a channel 9D (Figs. 12 and 13), the lower edge of which is adapted to engage the needle 2S in the manner illustrated in Fig. 3 during the stitching action of the needle 24. Hence, there is, in effect, a line engagement between the lower end of the channel and the needle 24 which reduces friction. The free end of the reduced portion 88 is arcuate as shown. At the juncture of the main body 38 and the reduced portion 88 is a slanting shoulder 92 for a purpose described below.

Operation It is manifest from the foregoing description taken with the drawings that the channel 90 at Athe lower free end of the reduced portion 88 of the stabilizer 20 engages the thread portion 25 of the needle 24 during the major portion of the stitching operation. For some needles 24, the channel 98 of the stabilizer 20 engages the shank portion 2'1 during the extreme lower increments of movement of the needle 24, the slanting shoulder 92 assuring a ready return of the stabilizer 2D to engagement of the channel 90 with the thread portion 25, as is clear from Fig. 5. The reduced portion 38 of the stabilizer 20 is of lesser depth than the channel 36 in the needle bar 22, hence, the lower end of the stabilizer 20 may move outwardly to the position shown in Fig. 5 when necessary.

The relative vertical movement between the stabilizer 28 and the needle bar 22 and its needle 24 is clearly shown by an inspection of Figs. 6 through 9 taken with Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4. When the needle bar 22 is in its lowermost position, as indicated in Figs. 2 and 6, the engagement of the channel 88 with the needle 24 is at a near maximum distance from the point of the needle 24.

Similarly, when the needle bar 22 is in its uppermost position, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 8, the engagement `of the channel 90 with the needle 24 is at a near minimum distance from the point of the needle 24. Intermediate relationships are manifest from an inspection of Figs. 7 and 9.

Manifestly, therefore, the engaging portion of the stabilizer 20 maintains contact with the needle '211 during the sewing operation, which eliminates vibration and insures an 'accurate stroke of the needle 24. The point of engagement of the stabilizer 28 with the needle 2d is such, as is indicated in the preceding paragraph, that there is no interference with the needle 24 by the stabilizer 2H during sewing.

The particular shape of the channel 90 may be varied, although the cross section should be such as to prevent movement of the needle 24 in three directions in order to insure proper damping action. The lower vend of the stabilizer 2E) should engage the needle 2-4 substantially continuously during the major portions of the down and up strokes of the needle 24 for ybest results in :obtaining accurate stitching and in eliminating needle vibration with resulting breakage.

It is manifest that there has been provided a needle stabilizer device which fulfills the objects and advantages sought therefor.

The foregoing description and the accompanying drawings have been given by way of illustration and example. It is to be understood that changes in form, substitution of equivalent elements, and rearrangement of parts that will be manifest to those skilled in the art are contemplated as within the scope of the present invention, which is limited vonly by the claims which follow.

What is claimed is:

l. In combination, a needle bar, a needle connected to the lower end thereof, said needle having a needle portion and a shank portion .of different diameters, a channel in one side of said needle bar, a needle stabilizer bar mounted in said needle bar channel for both longitudinal reciprocative and lateral oscillative movement, means maintaining said needle stabilizer bar in said channel, said needle stabilizer bar including a portion in continuous engagement with said needle including alternate engagement with said needle portion and said shank portion to prevent vibration of the needle during stitching, means for reciprocating said needle bar, and means for reciprocating said stabilizer bar simultaneously with and relative to said needle bar.

2. In combination, a needle bar, a needle connected to the lower end thereof, a channel in one side of said needle bar, a needle stabilizer bar mounted in said needle bar channel :for ree ciprocative movement, means maintaining said needle stabilizer bar in said channel, said needle stabilizer bar including a portion in engagement with said needle to prevent vibration thereof during stitching, non-resilient means for reciprocating said needle bar, non-resilient means for reciprocating said stabilizer bar simultaneously with an relative to said needle bar, and means including mutually eccentric dual crank means for coordinating said two reciprocating means to dispose the contact point of said stabilizer bar needle engaging portion and the free end of the needle at near minimum spread when said needle bar is at the top of its stroke to provide maximum damping of needle vibration and to dispose the same two elements at near maximum spread when said needle bar is at the bottom of its stroke to insure freedom of interference by said stabilizer bar in stitching.

3. A needle stabilizer bar comprising a main body, a needle engaging portion at one end of said main body having a channel therein dened by a bottom and sloping sides, said channel being adapted to engage a needle to prevent vibration movements in substantially three directions, and means providing for oscillatory movement of said stabilizer bar, said latter means comprising a reduced depth of said stabilizer bar adjacent the needle engaging portion thereof.

4. A device for stabilizing a needle, which has coaxial portions of different diameter, comprising an elongated stabilizer bar having a needle engaging portion, said needle engaging portion having a channel formed 'therein for slidable engagement alternately with said needle portions of diiierent diameter, means for mounting said stabilizer bar adjacent said needle for both longitudinally reciprocal and laterally oscillatory movement relative thereto, means for effecting said reciprocal movement, and means engageable with said stabilizer bar during reciprocation thereof for cfecting at least one direction of said oscillatory movement, another direction of said oscillatory movement being effected through said slidable engagement aforementioned.

5. A device for stabilizing a needle, which has coaxial portions of diierent diameter, comprising an elongated stabilizer bar having a needle engaging portion, said needle engaging portion having a channel formed therein for slidable engagement alternately with said needle portions of different diameter, means for mounting said stabilizer bar adjacent said needle for both longitudinally reciprocal and laterally oscillatory movement relative thereto, means for eiecting said reciprocal movement, and a stabilizer bar retaining member mounted adjacent the needle portion of larger diameter, and a sloping shoulder on said stabilizer bar said sloping shoulder being engageable with said retaining member for eiecting at least one direction of said oscillatory movement, another direction of said oscillatory movement being eiected through said slidable engagement aforementioned.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 305,936 Landes Sept. 30, 1884 419,584 Coombs Jan. 14, 1890 570,969 Stevenson Nov. 10, 1896 687,777 Parkes Dec. 3, 1901 1,134,528 Hansen Apr. 6, 1915 1,408,821 Merrick Mar. 7, 1922 2,003,461 Pearson June 4, 1935

Images