US2802710A

US2802710A - Sewing machine

Info

Publication number: US2802710A
Application number: US534746A
Authority: US
Inventors: Waldemar A Ayres
Original assignee: White Sewing Machine Corp
Current assignee: White Sewing Machine Corp
Priority date: 1955-09-16
Filing date: 1955-09-16
Publication date: 1957-08-13
Anticipated expiration: 1974-08-13

Description

Aug. 13, 1957 w. A. AYRES 2,802,710

SEWING MACHINE K Filed Sept. 16, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 f l "7 '6, 'TL-mwen.

' /`|LDEMAR A. AYRES HG2 )SYM-7 ATTORNEYS Aug. 13, 1957 w. A. AYRES 2,802,710 I SEWING MACHINE Filed Sept. 16, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Aug. 13, 1957 w. A. AYRl-:s 2,802,710

SEWING MACHINE Filed Sept. 16, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 m INVENTOR. v ,n wALDEMAR A. AYRES BVM@ AT TOR NE YS United States Patent SEWING MACHINE Application September 16, 1955, Serial No. 534,746

97Claims. (Cl. 312 30) This invention relates to a sewing machine and more particularly to a novel construction of a sewing machine cabinet in combination with a hinged supporting means or carrier for a sewing machine head enabling said head to be used as a drophead sewing machine or as a portable sewing machine.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved and novel sewing machine cabinet construction including a swingable carrier for the sewing machine head whereby the sewing machine head can be used as a drophead sewing machine or as a portable sewing machine and which construction is eicient, simple and enables the sewing machine head tobe readily and properly positioned in and secured to the carrier for use as a drophead sewing machine or to be detached therefrom for use as a portable machine.

A further object is to provide a construction as referred to in the above mentioned object and which includes provision for preventing the lowering of the swingable carrier when the sewing machine head is positioned therein but is not properly secured or anchored thereto.

Further and additional objects and advantages not hereinbefore specified will become apparent hereinafter during the detailed description of an embodiment of the invention which follows and which embodiment is illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification and wherein Fig. l is a front elevational View of a sewing machine head and the base therefor and a fragmentary sectional view of the cabinet with the swingable or hinged carrier for the sewing machine head illustrated in section, said view being taken substantially on irregular line 1 1 of Fig. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows. i

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 2 2 of Fig. l looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 3 3 of Fig. l looking in the direction of the arrows with the sewing machine head and the swingable carrier shown in sewing position in full lines in end elevation and in two non-sewing positions one of which is in broken lines in a fully lowered position within the cabinet and the other in a raised position outwardly of the cabinet.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary plan view taken substantially on line 4 4 of Fig. l looking in the direction of the arrows. Y

Fig. 5 is a detached perspective view of the lswingable or hinged carrier.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on line 6 6 of Fig. 5 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 7 is an end elevational view taken looking at the right hand end of Fig. 6, and

Fig. 8 is a detached view partly in elevation, and partly in section of the knee control rod by which the operator can regulate the motor speed controller of the sewingmachine.

VThe cabinet of the constructionembodying the invention is provided withan interior Well or compartment ice as is usual in sewing machine cabinets of the drophead type and into which well or compartment the sewing machine head can be lowered when not in use as will be readily understood in the art.

The sewing machine cabinet includes a top horizontal panel 15 provided with an opening that is partially iilled by a narrow top strip panel 16 located at the front side of the opening and of the sewing machine head and connected to the top panel 15 Iby suitable hinges 17 as will be well understood in the art. the opening in the top panel 15 is adapted to be closed by the bed plate of the base of the sewing machine head when the sewing machine head is in raised sewing position, at which time the bed plate of the base will be hushed with the top surface of the panel v15 and the strip panel 16.

When the sewing machine head is lowered into the well in the cabinet or when the head has been detached from the swingable carrier for use as a portable sewing machine, then a cover panel (not shown) hinged to an extremity of the top panel 15 lcan be turned down upon the top panel 15 and the strip panel 16 to close the opening as will be well understood in the art.

The cabinet also includes at the opposite ends of the well in the cabinet and beneath the top panel 15

vertical end panels

18 and 19. In addition, the cabinet is provided at the rear side of the well and below the top panel 15 with a vertically extending rear panel or wall 20.

The

end panels

18 and 19 have secured to their inner surfaces and adjacent their top edges angle brackets 21, the horizontal arms of which form a support for the strip panel 16 when the latter is in lowered position, see Fig. 3, wherein the angle bracket 21 secured to the end ywall 19 is shown. Y

The inner or free longitudinal edge of the strip panel 16 is undercut as indicated at 22 at longitudinally spaced locations and said panel 16 has plates 23 secured to its underside and extending across said undercuts 22 for a purpose later to be explained.

The carrier for the sewingmachine head will now be described with particular attention initially directed to Fig. 5 wherein said carrier is shown in detached perspective. The carrier comprises a flat or planular rectangu lar metal supporting plate 24 having at its opposite longitudinal edges downwardly directed-flanges 25.

Latch plates

26 and 27 are slidable on the underside of the supporting plate 24 intermediate the ilanges 25 and extend outwardly of the opposite ends of the plate 24. The supporting plate 24 is provided with rivets or other suit able securing members 28 which extend through longitudinally elongated slots 29 formed in the

latch plates

26 and 27 tov hold said plates in slidable engagement with the under surface of the plate 24. The

latch plates

26 and 27 are reduced in width at their inner ends and are provided with narrow rack extensions 30 having rack teeth on their inner or adjacent edges which mesh with a gear 31 rotatable on a stud 32 carried lby the supporting plate 24 and by the downwardly offset intermediate portion of a bracket plate 33, the opposite ends of which bracket plate are secured to the underside of the supporting plate 24. The downwardly offset portion of the bracket plate 33 and the underside of the supporting plate 24 form a supporting guide for the rack portions or extensions 30 of the

latch plates

26 and 27.

It will be seen that movement imparted to one latch plate will cause, through the rack portions 30 and gear 31, corresponding and equalized movement of the other latch plate in the opposite direction, that is said latch plates will move in unison toward and away from each other longitudinally of the supporting plate 24.

In order to move the latch plates the plate 27 is shown The remainder ofv as provided on its edge at the rear of the carrier with a lateral extension 34 which is upturned at its end as indicated at 35 and the upturned portion 35 is provided at its upper end with a latch actuating handle portion 36. The latch plates 2o and 27 are provided at their outer ends with transversely spaced upwardly and inwardly extending

retaining angles

37, 3S and 39, the purpose of which will later become apparent. The supporting plate 24 at its opposite ends is provided with upwardly extending guide arms 40, two such arms at each end being illustrated and extending between the

retaining angles

37 and 38 and 39 and 33.

Metal straps 41 spaced longitudinally of the supporting plate 24 and extending transversely thereof are secured to the upper side of the plate 24 and are provided at their outer ends with vertically extending portions 41a and 411). The portions 41a are provided near their upper ends with openings 42 through which extend hinge elements later to be referred to.

A reinforcing bar 43 is xed to the upwardly extending part 35 of the latch actuating handle and is slidably connected to the upwardly extending portions 41a by means of rivets 44 carried by the portions 41a and extending through elongated slots 44a in the reinforcing bar 43.

The upwardly extending portions 41h are provided at their upper ends with outturned substantially horizontal anges 41e adapted to cooperate with the plates 23 carried by the strip panel 16 as will later be pointed out.

The top panel 15 of the cabinet at the rear side of the opening therein is provided with spaced undercut recesses in which are pivotally mounted hinge rods 45, the free ends of which extend through the openings 42 of the portions 41a of the straps 41 and are secured therein. The hinge rods 45 provide a hinged mounting for the carrier such that the latter can be swung from the full line position of Fig. 3 downwardly within the well of the cabinet until the underside of the carrier engages a stop member 46 secured to the inner side of the rear wall 20. Also the carrier and the sewing machine head mounted therein can be swung upwardly from the full line position of Fig. 3 to the upper broken line position shown therein.

It will be noted that the retaining angles 41C of the strap portions 41b of the carrier engage the retaining plates 23 secured to the underside of the hinged strip panel 16 when the carrier and sewing machine head are in the full line position of Fig. 3, i. e., in the sewing position. Consequently when it is desired to raise the sewing machine head and the carrier or to lower the same within the well it is rst necessary to raise the carrier and sewing machine head conjointly with the hinged strip panel 16 to disengage the retaining angles 41C from the retaining plates 23 and then raise the strip panel 16 to the broken line position of Fig. 3, after which the sewing machine head and carrier can be lowered into the well of the cabinet.

It will also be understood that when it is desired to raise the carrier and sewing machine head to the full line or sewing position of Fig. 3 from the lowermost broken line position thereof, the same are swung upwardly through the well to the tilted broken line position of Fig. 3 while the panel 16 is simultaneously raised, after which the panel and the carrier with the head therein are simultaneously lowered until the flanges 41e engage with the plates 23, the cutouts 22 in the underside of the panel 16 providing for this engagement. After the flanges 41C have engaged the plates 23, then further lowering of the carrier toward the full line position also swings the panel 16 downwardly to the position wherein its outer surface and the upper surface of the bed of the sewing machine head will be Hush with the outer or upper surface of the panel 15.

It will be noted that when the

latch plates

26 and 27 are in their outermost position as shown in full lines in Fig. 5 and in broken lines in Fig. 1, that is, are in the position they would occupy when the

portions

37, 38 and 39 thereof are out of engagement with the base of the sewing machine head, the carrier cannot then be lowered into the well of the cabinet inasmuch as the outer ends of the

latch members

26 and 27 are bearing upon angle bars 47 secured to the inner sides of the side walls l18 and 19 of the cabinet as clearly shown in Fig. 1. An important safety feature is thus provided which prevents the sewing machine head and carrier being lowered into the cabinet unless the sewing machine head is -fully latched or clamped to the carrier. It will be understood that otherwise if the carrier and head were lowered against the stop 46 the sewing machine head would be free to topple out of the carrier.

The sewing machine head is indicated at 48 and may take various forms `since its construction per se constitutes no part of the present invention. The head 48 should be provi-ded on the upper side of the horizontally extending arm of the head with a suitable handle for raising and lowering the head and for carrying the same when the head is used as a portable sewing machine.

In Fig. l a handle 49 is indicated and this handle is hinged so as to be swung upwardly to a vertical operative position or downwardly to a non-operative position wherein it may merge into the exterior configuration of the head.

The base of the sewing machine head includes a bed plate 50 from which the vertical portion of the head 48 extends upwardly and said bed plate 50 in conjunction with strip panel 16 lls the opening in the top panel 15 of the cabinet when the sewing machine is in operative or sewing position. The bed plate 50 is provided with an opening therein beneath the reciprocating needle bar 51 and said opening is closed by a removable needle plate 52 provided with an opening for the needle and openings for the feed dogs as. indicated at 53 in Fig. 4.

The needle plate 52 may be of any preferred construction as, for instance, the construction shown in my copending application Serial No. 482,700, led January 19, 1955. The base further includes a hollow housing S4 lbeneath the bed plate 50 and in which housing is mounted the sewing mechanism that is operatively connected to the sewing mechanism in the head 48 and operates in timed relation thereto as will be well understood in the art. The base 50 is extended outwardly of the periphery of the housing 54 and said housing at its lower end is provided peripherally with an outwardly extending flange 55, wherefore the periphery of thel base is substantially U-shaped in cross section as clearly indicated in Fig. 1.

Access to the interior of the housing 54 of the base is provided from the underside thereof for purposes of assembling and adjusting the sewing mechanism contained within the base. The lower side of the base is closed by a closure plate 56 secured to the flange 55 by suitable means such as screws and provided at its opposite ends with U-shaped portions which embrace the flange 55 at the opposite ends of the sewing machine head.

The periphery of the housing 54 intermediate the bed plate 50 and the flange 55 provides a convenient storage space for the electric cord 57 for the sewing machine and which cord can be wrapped around the housing 54 when the machine is not in use or is being transported as a portable sewing machine. The housing 54 may be provided with a retaining element 58 for holding the plug 59 of the electric cord in position when the cord has been wrapped around the housing. Also the knee-operated control lever for the motor speed controller indicated at 60 can conveniently be stored between the bed plate 50 and the flange 55 as indicated in Fig. l, being held in stored position by suitable

spring holding elements

61 and 62.

The lever 60 can be operatively connected to thc shaft 63 that extends to the motor speed controller of the sewing machine by a slotted clutch portion 64 .on the angled end of the lever and which receives the' tooth of the clutch portion 65 on the end of the shaft 63. 'Ihe

clutch portions

64 and 65 can be held in clutched relationship by an interiorly threaded sleeve 66 rotatable on the lever 60 and screwing upon the external threads of the clutch portion 65. Y.

When it is desired to'employ the sewing machines as a drophead sewing machine the carrier is positioned in the full line showing of Figs. 1 and 3 and the latch actuating handle portion 36 of the carrier is moved 'in a direction to cause simultaneous equalized outward movement of the

latch plates

26 and 27 so that the clamping

portions

37, 38, andl 39 thereof will be located in their outermost position and will be overlying the stop angle bars 47 as shown in broken lines in Fig. 1. The base of the sewing machine head can then be-loweredvinto position upon the carrier being guided, in its downward movement by the upwardly extending guide strips 40 of the carrier and by the portions 41a and 41b thereof.v When the base of the sewing machine head is firmly seated in the carrier the latch actuating handle portion 36 is moved in the opposite direction to cause equalized simultaneous inward movement of the

latch plates

26 and 27 until the

portions

37, 38 and 39 thereof overlie the flange 55 of the base of the sewing machine as clearly indicated in full lines in Fig. 1. The base of the sewing machine head thus is firmly clamped to the carrier and the latter can be lowered into the well of the cabinet with the sewing machine head moving as a unit therewith.

In order to lower the carrier and the sewing machine head from the full line position of Fig. 3 downwardly into the well of the cabinet to the lowermost broken line position the sewing machine head and the strip panel 16 of the cabinet are simultaneously raised to the raised broken line position of Fig. 3 to disengage the {langes 41C of the portions 41b of the carrier fromk the plates 23 carried by the strip panel 16. Then the sewing mal chine head and the carrier are lowered together into the well of the cabinet until the bottom of the carrier engages the stop strip 46 secured to the rear wall 20 of the cabinet as indicated in the lowermost broken line showing of the carrier and sewing machine head in Fig. 3.

It will be noted that should the operator inadvertently forget to move the

latch plates

26 and 27 to position the clamping

portions

37, 38 and 39 over .the flange 55 of the base of the sewing machine head, the carrier and sewing machine head cannot be lowered into -the well of the cabinet inasmuch as the latch plates 26' and 27 will be vbearing upon the stop bars 47 as clearly shown in the broken line position of the latch plates in Fig. 1.

When it is desired to move the carrier and the sewing machine head from its lowered or drop position in the well of the cabinet to its raised sewing position the operator raises the panel strip 16 to the broken line position of Fig. l 'and then raises the sewing machine head and carrier from the lowermost broken line position shown in Fig. 3 to the uppermost broken line position, after which the carrier and sewing machine head as a unit are lowered simultaneously with the lowering of the panel strip 16 to engage the anges 411.` with the plates 23,'when the bed plate 50 of the base ofthe sewing machine head is ush with the top surface of the topv panel 15 of the cabinet. When it is desired to remove the sewing machine head from the carrier and utilize the sewing machine as a portable machine the

latch plates

26 and 27 are moved by the operator utilizing the handle portion 36 to their outermost unclamping position after which the sewing machine head is lifted from the cabinet by the handle 49.

Although a preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described herein it will be understood thatthe invention is susceptible of various modifications and adaptations within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

-1. In combination, a sewing machine cabinet comprising end walls, a rear wall, a top panel provided with an opening for the sewing machine head, a strip panel hinged to the top panel at the front edge of said opening and adapted to form a planular continuation of the top panel when in an operative position and provided at its inner free longitudinal edge with spaced undercut recesses and having retaining plates secured toits bottom side and extending across said recesses; a carrier in which the base of a sewing machine can be removably clamped and comprising a base supporting plate, means for hingedly connecting said carrier to the top panel adjacent the rear longitudinal edge of the opening therein, means on said carrier for engaging said retaining plates to maintain the carrier in raised position, latch plates mounted on said supporting plate for movement toward and away from the opposite ends thereof and provided with portions adapted in one position to clamp the base of a sewing machine head to said supporting plate and in another position to relase said base for removal of the and comprising a base supporting plate, means for hingedlyy connecting said carrier to the top panel adjacent the rear longitudinal edge of the opening therein, latch platesV mounted on said supporting plate for movement toward and away from the opposite ends thereof and provided with portions adapted in one position to clamp the base of a sewing machine head to said supporting plate and in another position to release said base for removal of, the sewing machine head from said carrier and cabinet, and` means carried by said supporting plate for imparting simultaneous equalized movements in opposite directions to said latch plates, said end walls of said cabinet inwardly of said opening -in the top panel thereof being provided with stop members upon which said portions of said latch plates bear when said latch plates are in the position to release the base of the sewing machine head from said carrier whereby said carrier with a sewing machine head resting therein cannot be lowered into the cabinet when the base of said head is not clamped to the carrier, said cabinet interiorly thereof and said carrier being provided with cooperating interengaging but releasable means to maintain the carrier in raised position.

3. Incombination, a sewing machine cabinet comprising end walls, a rear wall, a top panel provided with an opening for the sewing machine head, a strip panel hinged to the top panel at the front edge of said opening and adapted to form a planular continuation of the top panel when in an operative position; a carrier in which the base of a sewing machine can be removably clamped and comprising a base supporting plate, means for hingedly connecteing said carrier to the top panel adjacent thev of a sewing machine head onto said supporting plate.

when said base is lowered toward said supporting plate.

5. In combination, a sewing machine cabinet comprising end walls, a rear wall, a top panel provided with an opening for the sewing machine head, a strip panel hinged to the top panel at the front edge of said opening and adapted to form a planular continuation of the top panel when in an operative position; a carrier in which the base of a sewing machine can be removably clamped and comprising a base supporting plate, means for hingedly connecting said carrier to the top panel adjacent the rear longitudinal edge of the opening therein, latch plates mounted on said supporting plate for movement toward and away from the opposite ends thereof and provided vwith portions adapted in one position to clamp the base of :a sewing machine head to said supporting plate and in another position to release said base for removal of the sewing machine head from said carrier and cabinet, and means carried by said supporting plate for imparting simultaneous equalized movements in opposite directions to said latch plates, said latch plates being slidably mounted on the underside of said supporting plate and ,having their inner ends overlapping and extending parallel to each other, said inner ends being provided with rack portions on their adjacent edges, while said means for moving said latch plates simultaneously in opposite directions with an equalized movement includes a pinion `rotatably supported on the underside of said supporting .plate and meshing with said rack portions, one of said latch plates having a lateral and upward extension provided with a handle portion located above the plane of the upper surface of the top panel of the cabinet when vSaid carrier is in operative position to support a sewing machine head in sewing position, said cabinet interiorly thereof and said carrier being provided with cooperating interengaging but releasable means to maintain said carrier in raised position to support a sewing machine head in sewing position.

6. In combination, a sewing machine cabinet comprising end walls, a rear wall, a top panel provided with an opening for the sewing machine head, a strip panel hinged to the top panel at the front edge of said opening and adapted to form a planular continuation of the top panel when in an operative position and provided at its inner free longitudinal edge with spaced undercut recesses and having retaining plates secured to its bottom side and extending across said recesses, a carrier in which the base of a sewing machine can be removably clamped and comprising a base supporting plate, means for hingedly connecting said carrier to the top panel adjacent the rear longitudinal edge of the opening therein, means onsaid carrier for engaging said retaining plates to maintain the carrier in raised position, latch plates mounted on said supporting plates for movement toward and away from CLL scarto the opposite 'endsthereof vand provided with Vportions adapted in onev position to clamp the .b ase of a sewing machine head'V to `saidsupporting plate'and in another position to release said'base for removal of the sewing machine 'head' fromk said carrierv and cabinet, and means carried by said supporting vplate for imparting simultaneous equalized movements in opposite directions to said latch plates', said means for hingedly connecting the carrier to the cabinet and said means for engaging said retaining plates including transversely extending longitudinally spaced strips secured to said supporting plate and provided at one end with upwardly extending portions adapted to receive hinge bolts and at the other end with upwardly extending portions having at their upper ends iianges projecting laterally of the supportingplate and adapted to engage said retainingl plates.

7. The combination defined'in claim 6 and wherein said cabinet has'onthe inner side of its rear wall and below the top panel a stop member limiting downward swinging movement of the carrier within said cabinet.

8. The combination defined in claim 6 and which includes a sewing machine head having a base provided at its lower end with an 'outwardly extending peripheral ilange with which said portions of said latch plates engage when sa'id latch plates are in position to clamp the base to said supportingplate 9. ln combination, a sewing machine cabinet comprising end walls, ka rear wall, a top panel provided with an opening for the sewing machine head, a strip panel hinged to the top panel at the front edge of said opening and adapted to form a planular continuation of the top panel when in an operative position; a carrier in which the base of a. sewing machine can be removably clamped and comprising a base supporting plate, means for hingedly connecting said carrier to the top panel adjacent the rear longitudinal edge of the opening therein, latch plates mounted on said supporting plate for movement toward and away from the ,opposite ends thereof and provided with portions adapted in one position to clamp the baseA of a sewing machine head to said supporting plate and in another position to release said base for removal of the sewing machine head from said carrier and cabinet, and means carried by said supporting plate for imparting simultaneous equalized movement in opposite directions to said latch plates; a sewing machine head having a base provided at its upper end with a bed plate which projects peripherally outwardly of the base and Iills the opening in the top panel of the cabinet when the sewing machine is in sewing position and provided at its lower end with a peripheral outwardly extending flange adapted to be engaged by said portions of said latch plates to clamp the base to said supporting plate, the periphery of said base being substantially U-shaped in cross section whereby an electric cord may be wrapped around said base when the sewing machine is not in use, said cabinet interiorly thereof and said carrier being provided with cooperatinginterengaging but releasable means to maintain said carrier in raised position.

References Cited in the lile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 419,903 Wilkins Jan. 21, 1890 2,230,444 Balster Feb. l, 1941 2,247,380 Hohmann July 1, 1941 2,575,045 Chason Nov. 13, 1951