US3487796A

US3487796A - Width adjustable mattress sewing table

Info

Publication number: US3487796A
Application number: US761480A
Authority: US
Inventors: Sidney Sanders
Original assignee: JAMES CASH MACHINE Co
Current assignee: JAMES CASH MACHINE Co
Priority date: 1968-09-23
Filing date: 1968-09-23
Publication date: 1970-01-06
Anticipated expiration: 1987-01-06
Also published as: FR2018627A1; DE1946069A1; GB1225934A

Description

S R E D N A S s WIDTH ADJUSTABLE MATTRESS SEWING TABLE Filed Sept. 25, 1968 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

SIDNEY SANDERS ATTORNEY S. $ANIDER$ WIDTH ADJUSTABLE MATTRESS SEWING TABLE 4 Sheets-Sheet .2

Filed Sept. 23, 1968 H m P! m w INVENTOR.

31 ONE! $AMDERS ATTORNEY E L B A T G N I W E s S HS HE R M N A AM 5 E ww 5 A .T .5 U u D A H T D I w 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Sept. 23, 1968 INVENTOR.

WDNE'Y SANDERS WW 4 a m T .t u d e O w E n. 9 WM Bu T s 1 WWW v m) m W M v. N E 3 .M h m E s mm L 4 B A T G N I W F... S w 5 S m m T T N A A M 5 E m E A f a, M U J .i Q M D M M m A WM D w m w m M 1 i q- 3 M M911. ad m m w J W w W fifl S d If, m

United States Patent US. Cl. 112-3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A pair of separable (main and auxiliary) tabletop sections cooperatively provide the mattress-supporting top of a mattress-sewing table and respectively provide the opposite side edges of that top. The auxiliary section is mounted on the main section for relative sidewise adjustment to vary the width of the table top so that it may accommodate mattresses of different widths. The main section is mounted on the base frame of the table for relative sidewise adjusting movement from one position, providing operative sewing alignment for one side edge of a mattress on the table top, to one or more other positions, providing one or more operative sewing alignments for the other side edge of said mattress.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention This invention relates to a mattress sewing table of the type comprising: a base frame; an endless frame-mounted track encircling the table; a track-mounted carriage; and a carriage-mounted sewing machine.

More particularly, the invention relates to a table, which is made adjustable in width to accommodate mattresses of different widths.

Description of the prior art It has been proposed heretofore to divide the base of a mattress sewing table of the endless encircling-track type vertically into a pair of horizontally-separable base units and to vary the width of the table by connecting these units together for relative sidewise adjusting movement from one position, of, say, zero horizontal spacing accommodating mattresses of minimum width, to one or more other positions, of one or more greater horizontal spacings accommodating mattresses of one or more greater widths.

This arrangement has a number of complications. It is difficult to connect vertically-divded horizontally-separable base units of the table as a whole together in a man ner providing adequate rigidity with minimum weight while permitting sidewise extension and retraction. It is also diflicult to provide a satisfactory encircling track which can be expanded and retracted widthwise.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Objects of the invention The principal objects of the present invention are: to provide an improved adjustable width table which is not subject to the foregoing objections; to reduce the massiveness and weight of the table; to increase its compactness and sturdiness; and to simplify its design.

Statement of the invention All of the objects of my invention can be achieved in a table, having a base frame of fixed width and an encircling track, by equipping that table 1) with a pair of vertically-divided horizontally-separable main and auxiliary table top sections, respectively providing the opposite side edges thereof, (2) with 1st means mounting the auxiliary section on the main section for relative sidewise adjustment to vary the width of the table top to accommodate mattresses of different widths, and (3) with 2nd means mounting the main section on the base frame for relative sidewise adjustment from one position, in which one side edge of a mattress on the table top is (or may easily be placed) in proper sewing alignment, to another position, in which the other side of said mattress is (or may be easily placed) in its proper sewing alignment.

The auxiliary frame section of the table top is adjustably mounted on the main section thereof so that it may be pulled out from the main section to increase the Width of the table top from full size, for example, to one extent (approximately 11% wider) for queen size mattresses and to a larger extent (approximately 37% wider) for king-size mattresses. For example, to receive a full size mattress, which we shall assume to be the minimum width, the table top as a whole is adjusted to its closed or minimum width position wherein its long (east and west) edges and its cross (north and south) edges operatively underlie the corresponding edges of the mattresses. To receive a Wider mattress, the auxiliary section is pulled westwardly outward to a correspondingly wider position so that its long and cross edges will operatively underlie the corresponding edges of the wider mattresses.

The table top in its minimum width position supports a full size mattress with all of the perimetric edges of the mattress in operative sewing alignment with the corresponding sections of the fixed sewing path of the sewing machine. This is not true when the table top is adjusted to an open or wider position to support a Wider mattress.

For example, when the table top is adjusted from its operative minimum width position to an open position, which is, say, 37% wider than its minimum position, then of the north, east and south pcrimetric edges of the main frame section of the table top, 100% of the north, east and south sections of the encircling track and 100% of the north, east and south sections of the fixed sewing path of the sewing machine, each will be in operative vertical alignment not only with each other but also with an eastern fraction of the entire pcrimetric edge of a correspondingly wider mattress, this eastern fraction comprising 100% of the east edge of the wider mattress but only 63% of the adjacent portion of the north and south edges of the mattress.

The western pcrimetric-edge fraction of the wider mattress, comprising 100% of the west edge of the wider mattress and the adjacent 37% of each of its south and north edges, and 100% of the south, west and north edges of the table tops auxiliary frame section, which was offset westwardly to support the western fraction of the wider mattress, are in operative vertical alignment with each other but offset 37% westwardly from operative sewing alignment with the corresponding westernfraction not only of the fixed sewing path of the sewing machine but also of the encircling track.

The main frame section of the table top is adjustably mounted on the base frame so that, after the eastern pcrimetric-edge fraction of the wider mattress is sewn, the table top as a whole may be shifted eastwardly to bring the western pcrimetric edge fraction of said wider mattress into operative sewing alignment with a corresponding western portion of the fixed sewing path of the sewing machine.

3 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a mattress sewing table constructed in accordance with my invention, the top cover plate of the table being broken away to expose the underlying frame of the table top, one end of the table being designated as its south end;

FIG. 2 is a south end elevational view of the table shown in FIG. 1 with the carriage shifted to the east side, with the base broken away to show the means for adjusting the height of the table top;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the main frame section;

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the auxiliary frame section;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary section corresponding to one taken through the table top structure along longitudinal line 55 of FIGS. 1, 2 and 3;

FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view corresponding to one taken along transverse line 6-6 of FIGS. 1, 3 and 5;

FIG. 7 is a vertical sectional view corresponding to one taken along transverse line 7--7 of FIGS. 1, 3, 4 and 5;

FIG. 8 is an exploded view of the mechanism mounted on the main frame section for latching that section and the auxiliary frame section together, this mechanism being seen in the top plane in FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary perspective view of the mechanism mounted on the base frame for latching the main frame section to the base frame;

FIG. 10 is an elevational view corresponding to one taken along line 10-10 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 11 is a vertical section corresponding to one taken along lines 11-11 of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT At the outset, we shall assume: (A) that the preferred embodiment of my improved mattress sewing table has the aforesaid north, east, south and west (or N, E, S and W) perimetric edges which respectively comprise those seen at the top-end, right-side, bottom-end and left-side of FIG. 1; (B) that the minimum width of the preferred embodiment corresponds to the width of a mattress of regular size which is often called full size and which usually approximates 54"; and (C) that the width of the table may be increased about 11% from regular size to queen size, which usually approximates 60", and about 37% from full size to king size which usually approximates 74".

CONVENTIONAL STRUCTURE The mattress sewing table illustrated in the drawings conventionally comprises: a stationary base frame 1 having an outer floor-engaging rectangular frame part 2, an inner top-supporting frame part 3, and means mounting the top-supporting frame part 3 on the floor-engaging frame part 2 for vertical movement to adjust the height of the table, said means comprising four horizontally rotatable upright adjusting screws 4, one for each of the four corners of the base frame, each screw 4 being rotatably mounted on the lower part 2 and threaded to the upper part 3; a reversibly-motorized endless chain 5 connected to the screws 4 for rotating them in unison; an endless frame-encircling track 6 rigidly fixed on the upper end of the outer rectangular frame part 2 of the base frame 1, this track having four successive N, E, S and W (north, east, south and west) track sections; a motorized carriage 7 mounted on the track 6 and connected (through a manually-operated drive clutch having an operating handle 8) to a base-frame encircling rack on the upper end of the outer frame part 2 for movement around the table; and a motorized sewing machine 9 mounted on the motorized carriage 7 to perform an edge sewing operation on a table-supported mattress while the carriage moves the sewing machine along a fixed endless sewing path extending around the table.

INVENTIVE STRUCTURE In accordance with my invention, the foregoing conventional structure is provided with an improved table top structure, the preferred embodiment of which comprises: (A) a sectional table top having a pair of separable main and auxiliary sections; (B) means mounting the auxiliary table-top section on the main table-top section for relative movement to different width-adjusted positions; (C) means for latching the adjusted auxiliary section to the main section in each of its width-adjusted positions; (D) means mounting the main section on the base frame for relative movement to different sewing alignment positions; (E) means for latching the adjusted main section to the base frame in each of its adjusted sewingalignment positions; (F) means for preventing the main section from racking or canting during its adjusting movement; and (G) means for latching the carriage to the main section for adjusting movement therewith.

Sectional table top The metal sectional table top 11, which comprises a pair of separable main and auxiliary sections, has its main section on an upper or first level and its auxiliary section in an underlying closely adjacent second level except for its western margin which is in the upper first level.

Main frame section The main frame section 12, which has overall length and width dimensions approximating those of a mattress of regular size, is in the form of an integral window-like frame having north, east, south and west

marginal frame members

12N, 12E and 12S and 12W, a pair of spaced parallel intermediate cross members 13, and a suitably thick rectangular top cover plate 14 completely covering its top face. One of its intermediate cross members 13 is spaced between the transverse center of the main frame section and its north marginal member 12N while the other cross member 13 is similarly spaced between that center and 128.

Auxiliary frame section The auxiliary frame section 16 is of T-shape (in top plan) having a stem extending transversely over a distance approximating the width of a regular size mattress and a bar extending longitudinally approximately the full length of the main frame and of mattresses of all three sizes. The auxiliary frame section 16 is composed of north, east and south

marginal members

16N, 16B and 16S forming the perimetric edges of the stem in the 2nd level, a west marginal member 16W forming the bar of the Tin the upper or 1st level, an intermediate longitudinal member 17 spaced midway between the east and

west members

16E and 16W and arranged to extend from one cross member 16N to the other cross member 168, and a top cover plate 18 covering a western fraction of the auxiliary frame section.

The west longitudinal marginal member or T-bar 16W crosses over the top side of the stems north and south

marginal cross members

16N and 16S and is rigidly secured to both. The

marginal members

16N, 16E, 16S and 16W of the auxiliary frame cooperate with the centrally-disposed intermediate longitudinal member 17 to form one rectangular window-like opening 20 in its eastern half and another like opening in its western half.

The top cover plate covers a western fraction of the auxiliary section corresponding to the maximum (37%) increase in width of the table top as a whole. This plate 18 is mounted on the bar 16W of the T to extend at a level slightly above the 1st level so as to overlie a corresponding fraction of the top cover plate 14 when the sectional table top is closed.

Before passing, it may be noted that all of the marginal and cross members 12-13 and 16-17 of the main and auxiliary frame sections are of hollow box-like crosssection.

Means mounting the auxiliary frame section on the main frame section The auxiliary frame section 16 is slidably mounted on the main frame section 12 for width adjustment purposes; more particularly for adjustment to any of three positions respectively providing table widths of regular size, queen size and king size. While this may be variously accomplished, it is preferably accomplished 1st by arranging the north and south cross margins 16N and S of the stem of the T-shaped auxiliary frame section 16 to underlie the intermediate cross members 13 of the main frame section 12, 2nd by providing the main frame section 12 with a pair of north and south cross-channel members 22 located in the 2nd level and slightly spaced from the north and south sides of the cross marginal members 16N and S of the T-shaped auxiliary frame 16 and 3rd by providing, in the 2nd level, a pair of slidable tongue-and-groove connections between the main and auxiliary frame sections, one such connection being provided between north cross-channel member 22 and the corresponding north margins 16N of the stem of the auxiliary frame section 16 and the other between south cross-channel member 22 and 168.

The groove of each tongue-and-groove connection is provided by the corresponding cross channel member 22, the east and west ends of which are supported from the east and west margins 12B and 12W of the main frame section by a pair of lugs 23. Each lug 23 extends between the adjacent long marginal frame member 12E (or 12W as the case may be) 'of the main section 12 downwardly t0 the top side of the adjacent underlying end of its crosschannel member 22 and is rigidly connected to both.

The tongue of the north tongue-and-groove connection, comprises: a series of lugs 24 arranged at spaced intervals along and mounted on cross margin 16N to project northwardly into the channel of the adjacent north cross-channel member 22; and a roller 25 rotationally mounted on the outer end of each lug 24 to extend within the channel of cross member 22 to support the north side of section 16 on the lower side of channel 22. In the embodiment shown, a pair of lugs 24 and spaced rollers 25 are provided for each tongue-and-groove connection.

The lug 24 and roller 25 of one pair are located at the center of the north cross-marginal member 16N and the other at the east end portion thereof.

The south tongue-and-groove connection is identically constructed between 168 and an adjacent cross-channel member 22 on its south side.

To promote and maintain easy movement of the auxiliary frame section 16 on the main frame section 12 from one position to another, the auxiliary frame section carries four additional rollers 26, one located adjacent each of the four corners of its eastern-half opening 19, each roller 26 being held within the overlying or 1st level plane of the main section 12 and arranged to bear against the adjacent intermediate cross-member 13 thereof.

Means latching the auxiliary section to the main section It is desirable to latch the main and auxiliary frame sections (preferably together) in each position wherein they cooperate to provide a desired width; hence one section is provided with a latch arm or lever and the other with a latch-arm keeper.

In the preferred arrangement shown in FIG. 8, the mid portion of the west margin 12W of main frame section 12 carries a plate 28, which is spaced from the inner side of 12W to provide a slot 29 for housing latch arm 30. One end of latch arm 30 is pivotally mounted (thru pin 30a) on the east face of margin 12W. The other end of arm 30 is biased downwardly by a spring 31, which is suitably mounted in a compressed condition between arm 30 and a fixed bracket 28b on plate 28. Between ends, the lower edge of latch arm 30 is notched at 32 to receive the latch arm keeper, which is mounted on the auxiliary frame section 16.

The latch arm keeper arrangement includes a transversely elongate rod or shaft 34, located in the 1st or upper level to extend transversely over a distance approximating the width of a regular size mattress. The keeper rod 34 is mounted on the auxiliary section 16 for movement bodily therewith and for angular or rotational movement relative thereto. The keeper rod 34 has its west end mounted on the long west margin 16W of section 16 and its east end mounted on the upper end portion of upright lug 35 carried by the auxiliary sections east margin 16E.

Between ends, the keeper rod 34 passes (from west to east) slidably through an adjacent operatively aligned opening in the main sections long west margin 12W and through notch 32 in latch arm 30. The keeper rod 34 carries a latching recess 36 in position to be latched by arm 30 when section 16 is in its regular size position, a 2nd latching recess 37 for the queen size latching position and a 3rd latching recess 38 for the king size latching position. A handle 39 is mounted on the extreme west end of keeper rod 34 for turning the rod in the unlatching direction. A spring 40 on the east end of rod 34 biases it in its latching position.

When the sectional table top is closed to support a regular Width mattress in sewing position, the latch arm 30 is yieldably held in latching recess 36. To widen the table for a larger mattress, said queen size, the operator turns handle 39 sutficiently to unlatch latch arm 30 from regular size latch recess 36 on keeper rod 34, slides the auxiliary section (and rod 34) outwardly enough to prevent relatching in recess 36 and then releases the latch operating handle 39 While continuing to slide the auxiliary section (and rod 34) outwardly until the spring-biased latch arm 30 automatically enters the latch recess 37 on rod 34 and thereby latches the auxiliary section 16 in its queen size width position.

Means mounting the main section on the base frame When the sectional table top is closed to support a regular size mattress in its sewing position, of all margins or perimetric edges (north, east, south and west) of the table top, the mattress, the track 6 and the sewing path will be appropriately aligned with each other; hence all upper edges of the mattress will be operatively aligned with or positioned in the sewing path of the sewing machine 8. Consequenty, the sewing operation may be performed in one complete table-encircling movement of the carriage 7.

However, if the main frame section 12 is held stationary while the table top is widened to queen size and then provided with a queen size mattress, the west edge of that mattress (and adjacent queen size fractions of its north and south edges) will be offset westwardly from the appropriate operative alignment required for the sewing operation; hence, when the time comes to sew the west edge of that mattress and said adjacent north and south edge fractions, the tabel top as a Whole (and the mattress on it) must be shifted eastward. To do this, the sectional table top must be movably mounted on the base frame, and while this may be done in any suitable way, I prefer to accomplish it by providing the main frame section 12 with transversely extending north and south ledges and by supporting these ledges movably upon rollers carried by the upper part 3 of the base frame 1.

Accordingly the main frame section 12 is provided with extending north and south strips 43, one for each cross channel member 22. The north strip 43 is welded or otherwise secured to the bottom side of the north cross channel 22 and arranged to project widthwise beyond 7 the bight of channel 22 to provide a north ledge 44. The south strip is similarly secured to the south cross channel member 22 and arranged to provide a south ledge 44.

The north and south ledges 44 of the main frame section are supported on transversely-extending north and south rows of rollers 46 which are mounted on upper part 3 of the base frame 1 through a transversely-extending integral H-frame, i.e. frame of H-shape in top plan. The H-fralme comprises: a pair of elongate transversely-extending north and south Sides or rails 47; and a center rung 48 extending longitudinally from one rail 47 to the other. Rail 47 is in the form of a transversely elongate plate which projects widthwise upwardly to a point where its upper transversely-extending margin is laterally spaced slightly outward from the adjacent ledge 44 of the main frame section 12. This upper margin of the north rail carries the north row of spaced rollers 46 in position to engage the underside of and support the main frame sections north ledge. The south rail 47 similarly carries the south row of spaced ledge supporting rollers 46.

The rung 48 of the H-frame is in the form of a longitudinally extending upwardly open channel member of U- shape in transverse cross section. The lower edges of the rails 47 cross, rest upon and are welded (or otherwise rigidly secured) to the upper longitudinal edges of the U-shaped rung 48.

To facilitate the transverse adjusting movement of the main frame section, the base frame is also provided with north and south rows of supplemental rollers 46a positioned to engage the top side of the north and south ledges 44 and mounted on upward extensions 47a of the north and south rails 47. In other words, the base-mounted lower and upper rows of rollers 46 and 46a straddle the interposed ledge 44 and thereby cooperate with it to provide a slidable tongue and groove connection between the base frame and the main frame section 12.

Means latching the main section to the base frame It is desirable to latch the main frame section 12 in its regular position on the base frame and in each of the two offset positions, which it must occupy when the west edges of the queen and king size mattresses are being sewn; hence, one of these parts is provided with a latch arm and the other with a latch arm keeper.

In the preferred arrangement shown, a latch arm"50 is located midway along the east side of the U-shaped rung 48 of the H-shaped frame. Arm 50 is pivotally mounted on the base frame and spring biased to extend upwardly into its latching position along the transverse center of the main section. This arm may be retracted from its latching position by energizing an adjacent framemounted solenoid 51. The main frame section 12 carries, at a 3rd level adjacent the under side of the stem of the auxiliary frame, a transversely centered frame member 53 having

notches

54, 55 and 56 respectively located in transversely spaced positions such that the latch arm 50 will engage notch 54 when the main section is in its regular position and engage

notches

55 and 56 when the main section is in the eastwardly offset position required in order to perform the west edge sewing operations on queen and king size mattresses, respectively.

Antiracking means It is also desirable to keep the main section from racking horizontally when being moved horizontally from one position to another. The main section racks when its north side moves either eastward or westward to a greater or lesser degree than its south side and thus becomes horizontall canted. Racking tends to bind the main section and thus interfere with its desired movement and even prevent it. The main section is provided with a pair of toothed bars or racks 60, one rigidly secured to the underside of each strip 43 while the upper part of the underlying base frame carries a corresponding pair of (north and south) rack-engaging gears 61 fixedly secured to opposite ends of a common shaft 62 which is rotatably mounted on longitudinally spaced bearing standards 63 located at opposite ends of the U-shaped bight 42 of the H-shaped frame.

Means locking the carriage to the main section When the sectional table top is closed, there is little or no space at its northwest and southwest corners between the ends of its western margin and the adjacent ends of its north and south margins. However, when the auxiliary section is moved to a position of larger size, say a queen size position, a queen size space (under top cover plate 18) opens up between the ends of the western margin of the table and the adjacent ends of its north and south margins. These north and south marginal queen size spaces increase to king size spaces when the auxiliary section is moved to its king size position.

When sewing a mattress larger than regular size, it will be necessary to perform a two phase sewing operation on the upper edge of the mattress. For example, during one sewing operation on a larger mattress, say a queen-size. the carriage 7 travels from a starting point at the extreme west end of the main frame sections north margin 12N, successively along its north, east and south margins 12N, E and S, stopping at the extreme west end of its south margin 128. This leaves the upper-western edge of the mattress (and adjacent queen size space portions of its north and south edges) unsewn. Before sewing them, the table top (with the queen size mattress on it) and the carriage must be shifted. After they are shifted, the second sewing operation is performed to complete the sewing of the south, west and north margins of the mattress, which brings the carriage back to its starting point on the mattress but beyond its starting point on the north margin 12N of the main frame section.

In changing from one sewing operation to the other, it is also necessary to shift the carriage 7 simultaneously with the table top or to cut the sewing threads. To avoid cutting the threads, I provide means to interconnect the carriage and table top so that they may be shifted as a unit.

Accordingly the south margin 128 of the table top is provided with one or more (preferably a series of) latch recesses 66, at or adjacent the southwest point where the carriage 7 stops at the end of the first sewing operation. The carriage is provided with a latching member 67, which, when the carriage is at said stopping point, may be manually operated to enter into one of those recesses 66 and thereby latch the carriage fixedly to the table top. Now when the table top is shifted to bring its west edge into operative sewing alignment for a queen size or king size mattress-sewing operation, and the carriage drive clutch opened, the latched carriage 7 will be shifted automatically and contemporaneously with it.

Operation Since the operation will be clear from the foregoing it should suffice to outline it hereinafter. In sewing a mattress of regular size, the table top is latched closed with all of its edges in operative sewing alignment. Now the carriage and its sewing machine are simultaneously operated so that the carriage will travel entirely around the table while the sewing machine simultaneously performs the entire mattress sewing and the customary mattress-edge taping operation. This table may also be used to sew and tape still smaller mattresses by conventionally shifting the smaller mattresses on the table as required.

When a larger mattress, say a king size mattress, is to be sewn, the main frame section 12 remains latched to the base as before, the auxiliary frame section 16 is unlatched from the main frame section, moved to open the table top to its king size width position and then relatched. We now assume that a king size mattress is placed on the table top and that the carriage is located at the extreme western end of the north margin 12N of the main frame section 12; hence, spaced from the adjacent end of the west margin 16W of the table top 'by a distance equal to what we have previously referred to as a king size space. The sewing machine and carriage may now be used to perform the first phase of a king size mattress sewing operation, which preferably ends at the extreme western end of the south margin 128 of the main section.

At this time, the operator does four things, namely: operates the operating handle 8 to open the drive clutch of the motorized carriage 7; operates the carriage latch arm '67 to latch the carriage to the latching recesses 66 of the main frame section; operates the switch (not shown) which energizes the solenoid 51 for unlatching the main frame section from the base frame; and then manually moves the carriage and entire table top as a unit eastward over a distance equal to said king size space. This places the west margin of the table top in operative alignment with the west section of the track and thus automatically places the upper west marginal edge of the mattress in operative sewing alignment with the west section of the sewing path of the sewing machine. The operator now releases (and thereby opens) the solenoid switch to relatch the main section to the base frame, unlatches the carriage latch arm 67 from the notches 66 of the main section of the table top, moves handle 8 to close the carriage drive clutch and then institutes the second phase of the sewing operation to complete the sewing of the south edge of the mattress, sew the entire west edge thereof and complete the sewing of its north edge.

Upon the completion of the 2nd phase of the sewing operation, the operator cuts the thread and tape, removes the sewn mattress from the table top, replaces it with a 2nd king-size mattress and then performs the operations necessary to shift the table top and carriage westward to the starting point of the first phase of the sewing operation on the 2nd king-size mattress.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. In a mattress sewing machine of the type wherein a base frame supports a frame-encircling track, a carriage mounted for movement around the frame guided by said track, and a sewing machine mounted on said carriage to perform a mattress edge-sewing operation along an endless sewing path having opposite side and opposite end portions corresponding to the encircling-track, the improvement comprising:

(A) a sectional table top for supporting a mattress during the sewing operation,

(1) said top having a pair of separable main and auxiliary sections respectively providing one and the other of the opposite side edges of the top and cooperatively providing the opposite end edges thereof; and f (B) means mounting said sections for sidewise adjustment (1) relative to each other to vary the width of the table to accommodate mattresses of different widths, and

(2) relative to the frame for sewing alignment purposes.

2. The improvement of claim 1 wherein:

(A) said mounting means includes a 1st means mounting the auxiliary section on the main section for relative sidewise adjustment (1) toward the main section to a relatively closed position, in which both sections cooperate to provide the table top with one width corresponding to the width of a mattress of one size, and

(2) away from the main section to an open position, in which both sections cooperate to provide the table top with a larger width corresponding to the width of a mattress of a larger size.

3. The improvement of claim 2 wherein:

(A) when said auxiliary section is .in said relatively closed position, both of said side edges of the table top are operatively aligned respectively with the corresponding side portions of said endless sewing path.

4. The improvement of claim 2 wherein:

(A) said mounting means includes a 2nd means mounting said main section on the base frame for sidewise adjustment into and out of one position in which said one side edge is operatively aligned with the corresponding side portion of said endless sewing path.

5. The improvement of claim 4 wherein:

(A) when said sections are open and said main section is in its said one position, said opposite side edge of said table top and auxiliary section is offset outwardly from the corresponding opposite side portion of said endless sewing path.

6. The improvement of claim 4 wherein:

(A) said 2nd means also mounts said main section for movement into and out of another position in which said other side edge is operatively aligned with the corresponding other side portion of said fixed endless sewing path.

7. The improvement of claim 6 wherein:

(A) when said sections are open and said main section is in its said other position, said opposite side edge of said table top and auxiliary section is operatively aligned with the corresponding opposite side portion of said endless path.

8. The improvement of claim 1 wherein:

(A) said track-mounted carriage has a drive clutch;

and

(B) means for latching the carriage and said table top together for contemporaneous movement during said sidewise adjustment relative to the frame for sewing alignment purposes.

9. In a mattress sewing machine of the type having a base frame, a frame-encircling track, a track-mounted carriage containing a drive clutch, and a carriage-mounted sewing machine wherein the encircling track directs the carriage around the frame while the sewing machine performs a sewing operation along an endless sewing path having opposite side and end portions corresponding to the sides and ends of an endless mattress edge, the improvement comprising:

(1) said top having a pair of separable main and auxiliary sections respectively providing one and the other of the opposite side edges of the top and cooperatively providing the opposite end edges thereof;

(B) 1st means mounting the auxiliary section on the main section for relative sidewise adjustment (1) toward the main section to a closed position, wherein both sections cooperate to provide the table top with one width corresponding to the width of a mattress of one size, and

(2,) away from the main section to an open position, wherein both sections cooperate to provide the table top with a larger width corresponding to the width of a mattress of a larger size; and

(C) 2nd means mounting said main section on the base frame for relative sidewise adjustment, into various positions, including (1) a 1st position wherein, with the table top closed, both side edges of the top are operatively aligned with corresponding side portion of said endless sewing path,

(2) a 2nd position wherein, with said top open, said one side edge of the top and main section is operatively aligned with the corresponding side portion of said endless sewing path, and

11 (3) a 3rd position wherein, with said top'open, said other side edge of said top and auxiliary section is operatively aligned with the corresponding other side portion of said endless sewing path.

10. The improvement of claim 9 including:

(A) means forlatching the carriage and said table top together for contemporaneous movement during said sidewise adjustment relative to the frame for sewing alignment purposes.

12 References Cited f UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,979,901 11/1934 Perlesz 112- 3,083,654 4/1963 Cash 1123 ALFREi) R. GUEST, Primary Examiner