US3016030A - Attachment for zigzag sewing machines - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 9, 1962 s. ADLER 3,016,030

ATTACHMENT FOR ZIGZAG SEWING MACHINES Filed Apnl 22, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. sow/won ADL 5/? BYA ane pa/si gr J lfiinc.

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Jan. 9, 1962 s. ADLER 3,016,030

A'r'rAcmEn-r FOR ZIGZAG SEWING MACHINES Filed Aprll 22, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTOR/VEVS United States Patent fire Patented Jan. 9, 1962 3,016,030 ATTACHMENT FOR ZIGZAG SEWING MACHINES Solomon Adler, 118-14 83rd Ave., Kew Gardens, N.Y. Filed Apr. 22, 1959, Ser. No. 808,125 11 Claims. (Cl. 112-160) This invention relates to a structurally and functionally improved attachment for sewing machines, and especially machines of the zigzag-stitching type.

It is a primary object of the invention to furnish a mechanism which will function to produce a greater variety of ornamental stitches and stitches of greater width than those which otherwise could be produced by the machine of which the attachment forms a part,

A further object is that of providing a unit which may be embodied as a permanent part of a sewing machine mechanism. However, according to a preferred concept of the invention, that unit will be in the nature of an attachment capable of ready association with or removal from the mechanism of the sewing machine, at the election of the operator.

Regardless of whether the mechanism is a fixed part of the machine or is embraced in an attachment, that mechanism will permit the machine to produce a straight line of stitching; it being unnecessary to dismount the mechanism to secure this result.

Additionally, by the present teachings a structure is provided which will include relatively few parts, each simple and rugged in construction and operating over long periods of time with freedom from all difficulties.

With these and other objects in mind, reference is had to the attached sheets of drawings illustrating a practical embodiment of the invention, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of the lower head zone of a sewing machine capable of producing a zigzag stitch and showing the attachment in association With the presser-foot bar and the needle bar of that machine;

FIG. 2 is a sectional plan view taken along the line 2-2 in the direction of the arrows as indicated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the lower head zone of the sewing machine as well as the adjacent zone of its bed and with the mechanism of the present invention coupled to that head;

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the parts of that mechanism;

FIG. 5 is a somewhat schematic representation, subdivided into three groupings, A, B and C, each showing in sectional plan and front elevation, respectively, successive positions assumed by the mechanism of the attachment;

FIG. 6 is again a divided view into illustrations A and B, the first of which shows a stitching result as conventionally effected by a given sewing machine of the zigzag type, while the section B shows the amplification of stitch width achieved by the present teachings;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6 and showing the comparative results obtained where a different type of embroidery stitch is being created; and

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIGS. 6 and 7, but again showing in A and B the comparative results achieved by using the sewing machine without the attachment and with the same employed,

In the foregoing views and the following description, the mechanism will be described as forming a part of a unit capable of ready association with or detachment from a sewing machine of the zigzag-stitch-producing type. In

many respects it is preferred that the mechanism be so embodied in an attachment. However, it will be appreciated that if desired, the mechanism might be included to in effect form a permanent part of a sewing machine assembly. Therefore, the present description and drawings are to be taken in an illustrative rather than in a limiting sense.

Thus, the numeral 20 identifies the head portion of a sewing machine casing. From this head portion a presserfoot bar 14 extends downwardly and in conventional manner may be shifted toward and away from the bed of the machine for properly guiding material 7 traversing that bed under the influence of the feed dog (not shown), or else releasing that material. Also extending from the head is a needle bar 16. The latter mounts a needle 18 and is reciprocated to project and retract that needle. In addition, needle bar 16 is capable of lateral reciprocation to produce stitches of an ornamental or so-called zigzag type. A rotary loop taker or shuttle (not shown) cooperative with the needle 18 and the thread carried thereby. Ordinarily, a presser foot will be attached to the bar 14 by, for example, a clamping bolt or assembly 17. When an attachment involving the present teachings is associated with the machine, then the conventional presser foot will be removed therefrom, and by means of the clamping assembly or bolt 17, the instant attachment will be coupled to the presser bar 14.

While this invention is applicable to even the earliest types of zigzag-stitch sewing machines, it is equally applicable to current modern and complex types. In all instances, it will increase or enlarge the stitch width, en abling the machine to produce a large variety of stitch patterns. Current examples of zigzag-stitch sewing machines are to be found in the following United States patents: Gegau-f, 2,832,302, issued April 29, 1958, and entitled Sewing Machine, and Johnson, 2,862,468, issued December 2, 1958, and entitled Ornamental Stitch Sewing Machines.

Referring primarily to FIGS. 1 to 4, it will be seen that the attachment conveniently includes a shaft 1 from the upper end of which a fork 2 extends. From its opposite end, a crank 3 projects in a direction opposed to that of fork 2. This crank mounts at its free end a pin 13. Shaft 1 is rotatably supported within sleeve portion 4' forming a part of the main bracket 4. A cloth or materialengaging foot 5 is preferably formed with upstanding flange or ear portions 5' adjacent its side edges. The underface of this foot portion may be provided with ridges or grooves 6 to assure a proper guiding cooperation with the material 7 as it traverses the bed surface.

An actuating plate 8, which may conveniently be of generally triangular configuration, is disposed below bracket 4. Adjacent its outer or free edge, this plate is curved downwardly and has extending from it pins 9. The latter are receivable within the recesses or perforations formed in the ears 5 of foot 5. This is achieved conveniently by springing the ears slightly apart, or else by threading a shaft, such as 9, through the perforations of the ears and securing the shaft in position. In any event, it will be appreciated that the foot 5 is thus mounted for limited rocking movement with respect to plate 8. At its rear or captive end, plate 8 is conveniently furnished with an opening 8'. Through the latter, the threaded stern of securing bolt 1ft may be projected. That stem is received within the correspondingly threaded recess 10' formed at the rear end of bracket 4. In this manner, plate 8 is mounted for oscillating or reciprocating movements in a horizontal plane and will carry with it the foot part 5.

With a view to providing proper support adjacent the free end of the plate, the forward end of bracket 4 may :be defined by a downwardly extending ledge or flange portion 11. The latter rides in contact with the upper face of plate 8, thereby furnishing a proper bearing surface, so that stability of the parts will be assured. Bracket '4 may also conveniently be furnished with a notch portion 15. Within the latter a clamping unit, such as the bolt or screw 17, may extend for securing bracket 4 against movement with respect to the presser bar 14'. Plate 8 is furnished with a slot 12. The latter is d1- mensioned to receive the pin 13 *afiixed to crank 3. As is obvious, the space between the arms of fork Z is such that there may be slidably accommodated therein the needle bar 16.

As afore brought out, if the device is constructed as an auxiliary attachment, then the operator will cause a functioning of 'the sewing machine in accordance with a proper selection of stitch patterns. When it is desired to enlarge the scope or width of the stitches providing the embroidery, then the operator, by simply loosening the clamping device or bolt 17, will free the conventional presser foot from association with bar 14. Thereupon, the present attachment may be mounted upon that bar by causing the shank of bolt 17 to pass through notch of bracket 4. Shaft 1 will be rotatably housed within sleeve 4. The proportioning of the parts will be such that the forked arm 2 will extend forwardly of bar 14 and have its arms slidably embracing needle bar 16. The latter, in addition to vertical reciprocation, will reciprocate laterally.

It will be understood that as needle bar 16 reciprocates vertically, it will have no effect on the mechanism of the present unit, in that fork 2 will simply remain stationary. However, when needle bar 16 moves laterally, it will swing the crank furnished by arm 2, shaft 1 and portion 3 to cause pin 13 to oscillate. This pin, riding within slot 12, will swing plate 8 around the pivot defined by the bolt 10 or other mounting. Depending upon the ratio of length of arms or cranks 2 and 3, the zone at which pin 13 operatively connects with plate 8 or its equivalent, and the length of the latter, together with the distance of the coupling between the crank and plate from the pivot zone of the latter, greater or lesser movements will be imparted to the presser foot in lateral directions. Of course, when bar 16 is not moving laterally, then no movement will be imparted in lateral directions to presser foot 5 as the material 7 moves below the same under the influence of the feed dog.

The lateral movements on the part of the presser foot will be over a greater range and in opposition to the corresponding movements of the needle bar 16. Thus, referring to FIG. 5A, it will be seen in the two views there present that bar 16 has shifted to the right-hand zone of head portion 20 of the casing. Such shifting has resulted in a rocking of arm 2 and a turning of shaft 1 to rock crank 3. Therefore, the pin and slot connection 1312 or its equivalent will have rocked plate 8 and shifted presser foot 5 in an opposed direction. As afore brought out, depending upon the relative lengths of the lever arms, the zones of connection, etc., virtually any degree of lateral movement may thus be imparted to plate 8. As bar 16 returns to an intermediate position, shown in FIG. 5B, the several parts will be brought into alignment. Under these circumstances, if no further lateral movement of bar 16 occurs, simply straight stitching will result. If, on the other hand, as shown in FIG. 5C, bar 16 moves to the left, then through the crank structure and plate, the presser foot 5 will be shifted to the right.

Thus, the shifting movements are always in opposition to the direction of the lateral movements of the needle bar. Accordingly, there is added to the stitch width a length equal to the displacement of the needle bar in a lateral direction, plus the distance of transverse or lateral movement on the part of presser foot 5.

This has been illustrated in FIG. 6, in which drawing A represents zigzag stitching to both sides of a center line, and such as would occur were the mechanism of the attachment not embodied in the sewing machine. In B there has been somewhat diagrammatically illustrated the increased width of stitching resulting from the use of the attachment. In FIG. 7A there has been illustrated embroidery stitching solely to the left or" a center line, as resulting from the conventional use of a standard machine. In 78 the magnified width of stitching occurring as a consequence of the use of the present mechanism is visualized. In FIG. 8A, a sinuous line of stitching has been shown. A similar line has been shown in FIG. 8B. However, in the latter instance the width of the stitches has been greatly increased or exaggerated. Obviously, by operating the feed dog with sufficient speed, an open line of zigzag stitching 19 may result, as shown especially in FIG. 3.

Thus, among others, the several objects of the invention as specifically aforenoted are achieved. Obviously, numerous changes in construction and rearrangements of the parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the claims.

I claim: I

1. In combination, a sewing machine comprising a body, a needle bar mounted by said body for both axial and lateral reciprocation with respect thereto, means for engaging and guiding material, means for movably supporting said guiding means with respect to said body, means connecting said guiding means with said needle bar for laterally shifting said guiding means in response to lateral reciprocation of said bar and the range of shifting of the guide means elfected by the connecting means being greater than the range of lateral bar movements.

2. In the combination as defined in claim 1, means for causing the lateral shifting of the guiding means to occur in directions opposed to the lateral needle movements.

3. In the combination as defined in claim 1, a presser foot bar forming a part of said machine and said supporting means comprising a clamp assembly movably connecting said guiding means with said presser foot bar.

4. In the combination as defined in claim 1, said connecting means comprising a member straddling said needle bar and slidably engaged thereby.

5. In the combination as defined in claim 1, said material-guiding means comprising a presser foot, means for swingingly supporting said foot, a rockingly mounted crank, means for connecting one end of said crank with said needle bar to move as said bar moves laterally and means operatively connecting the other crank end with said foot for swinging the latter.

6. An attachment for a zigzag-type sewing machine having a reciprocal and laterally movable needle bar projecting beyond a housing structure, said attachment including in combination a support, a plate swingingly connected therewith and driving means coupled to said plate and operatively connectible with a needle bar for causing a lateral swinging of said plate over a greater range in response to lateral movements of said bar over a lesser range.

' 7. In an attachment as defined in claim 6, a presser fool connected to move with said plate.

8. In an attachment as defined in claim 6, said plate being swingingly connected adjacent one of its ends to said support, said driving means comprising a crank having a body rotatably mounted by said support, an arm at one end of said crank body and operatively connectible to a needle bar to respond to lateral movements thereof, and a further arm also connected to said crank body and connected with said plate to cause a swinging of the latter.

9. An attachment for application to -a sewing machine of the zigzag type having a presser bar and a laterally oscillatable needle bar, said attachment comprising a bracket for connection to the presser bar, a fork pivotally mounted by said bracket, said fork being engageable by the needle bar of the machine and oscillatable in a substantially horizontal plane, a presser foot movably sup ported by said bracket and connecting means between the presser foot and the fork for shifting the presser foot in a direction opposed to the direction of lateral movement of a needle bar.

10. A stitch-width-enlarging attachment for application to a zigzag-stitch sewing machine having a laterally reciprocable needle bar and a substantially stationary presser bar, said attachment comprising a bracket for connection to the presser bar, a vertical shaft rotatably supported by said bracket, a fork secured to one end of said shaft, a crank secured to the other end of said shaft, a pin carried by said crank adjacent its free end, a presser foot assembly movably supported by said bracket and being formed with a slot receiving said pin whereby said presser foot is shifted in a direction opposed to the direction of lateral movement of the needle bar cooperating with said fork.

11. An attachment for a sewing machine of the zigzagstitch type and which machine has a presser bar and a laterally oscillatable needle bar, said attachment comprising a bracket for connection to the presser bar, a fork pivotally mounted on said bracket and connectible to said needle bar to oscillate therewith in a substantially horizontal plane, a plate pivotally mounted by said bracket, connecting means extending between said plate and the fork for shifting the former in a direction opposed to the lateral movement of the latter and a presser foot pivotally supported by said plate.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 858,176 Harris June 25, 1907 1,958,207 Scheibel et al. May 8, 1934 2,697,992 Johnson Dec. 28, 1954 2,944,497 Waterman July 12, 1960

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