US349439A - Sewing-machine - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.)

R. S. LOOKER.

SEWING MACHINE.

Patented Sept. 21, 1886..

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' that the needle and presser-foot may be turned tions, so as to afford a high space thereunder resented in the accompanying drawings two 4 is a vertical transverse section through the UNITED STATES,

PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT S. LOOKER, OF SPRINGFIELD, OHIO.

SEWING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 349,439, dated September 21, 1886.

Application filed August 1, 1885.

T0 allwhom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ROBERT S. LOOKER, of Springfield, in the county of Clark and State of Ohio, have invented certain Improvements in Sewing-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

In sewingmachines as ordinarily constructed the needle and the presser-foot are attached rigidly to the lower ends of bars which slide vertically to a limited extent in fixed guides. In consequence of this construction it frequently happens that there is difficulty in gaining free access to the feed and shuttle mechanism, that there is difficulty in inserting bulky work below the needle and presser-foot, and that the needle cannot be threadedor adj usted conveniently.

It isthe aim of my invention to avoid the difficulties above named; and to this end the invention consists, essentially, in jointing the needle-bar and presser-bar in such manner or moved upward above their ordinary posiand give free access to the various parts.

The essence of the invention consists in the attachment of the presser-foot and of the needle-retaining devices to their respective bars by joints which will admit of their beinglifted higher than would otherwise be possible, and it is to be distinctly understood that for this purpose joints of any appropriate character may be employed.

For the purposes of illustration I have repforms of joint; but there are many other forms familiar to the skilled mechanic which may be used with equal advantage.

Figure l'represents a perspective view of the head and a portion of the bed-plate of a sewing-machine having my improvements embodied therein, the presser-foot and needle being shown in their elevated positions. Figs. 2 and 3 are perspective views of a round needle-bar jointed in accordance with my invention, the first-named figure showing the parts as they appear when the needle is turned upward, and the last-named figure the position of the parts when adjusted for operation. Fig.

center of the bar provided with a different form of joint. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of Serial No. 173,256. (No model.)

the same. Fig. 6 is a vertical central section showing a sliding instead of a hinge joint. Referring to the drawings, A represents the base or bed plate of the machine, and O the head of the usually overhanging arm, which serves, as usual,to support and guide the vertically-reciprocating needle-bar D and the vertically-reciprocating presser-foot bar E.

Io the lower end of'the bar D, I secure a needle, F, by clamping or fastening devices of any ordinary or approved construction, these devices being foreign to the present in vention. At any suitable point above the clamping devices I provide the needle-bar with a joint or hinge of any form or character which will admit of the needle being turned or lifted above its ordinary limit of movement.

In Figs. 1, 4, and 5 I have represented the needle-bar of a flat form, with its lower extremity, I), connected to the upper portion by a shouldered or lapped j oint and a pivot-screw, c, this construction permitting the lower end, together with the needle therein, to be turned upward and forward toward the operator, so as to assume a horizontal or approximately horizontal position, as plainly shown in Fig. 1. This position of the parts permits the needle to be conveniently threaded, adjusted, sharpened, or otherwise manipulated, as occasion may require.

In order to lock the jointed ends of the bar and the needle in operative positions, I propose to make use of a fastening device of any suitable character. In the drawings I have represented for the purpose ascrew,(l, mounted in the needle-bar and arranged to engage a notch in the upper edge of the jointed portion, as plainly shown in Figs. 4 and 5. This fastening-screw has the head recessed or cut away on one side, as shown, so that upon being given a half-revolution it will release the part b and permit the same to swing upon its pivot.

In Figs. 2 and 3 I have represented the needle-bar of a round orcylindrical form, the lower extremity being slotted to receive a tenon on the upper portion and secured thereto by a pivot-pin, c, after the manner of an ordinary knuckle-joint. Being thus attached, the lower end, to which the needle is clamped in the ordinary manner, may be turned up ward at will at right angles to the upper por tion of the bar. In this form of the device I employ as a locking device a rotary sleeve or collar, 6, mounted on the lower portion of the bar, and provided in one side with a notch or opening, f. NVhen the parts are in operative position, the collar is turned so as to throw its notch out of line with the tenon, as shown in Fig. 3, in which position it serves to lock the parts firmly. Then the collar is turned in such position as to bring this notch opposite the tenon, the lower end is free to swing upseen that the lower portion of the bar is provided with a vertical tenon entering a corresponding hole in the lower portion, and that the two parts are united by means of a springlocking finger, f, and also by means of a set screw, g.

Either of the two joints described may be applied to the needle-bar or to the presserbar. In order to prevent conflict between the needle and prcsser-foot when they are swung upward, and for other reasons unnecessary to mention, I prefer to arrange the two, as shown in Fig 1, to swing in planes at right angles to each otl1er,-the needle moving toward the operator and the prcsser-foot swinging laterally.

By jointing the bars I am enabled to lift the presser-bar and needle to such height as to admit of the hand being passed readily beneath them, so that the shuttle and feed mechanisms may be conveniently adjusted and cleansed, and that fabrics of great thickness may be readily placed in position to be operated upon without injury thereto, and without danger of breaking the needle.

I am aware that a needle-clamping stud has been swiveled in a needle-bar in such manner as to permit the needle to be turned upward, and to such construction I lay no claim. By jointing the needle-bar above the clamp I am enabled to make use of a short and durable needle, and to swing the same upward a great distance above the'bed or table. WVhen the needle-clamp is swiveled, a wide space can only be obtained thereunder by the employment of a very long needle, the space in every instance being less than the length of the needle.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1. A sewing-machine having its needle-bar and its presser-foot bar jointed, substantially as described, to permit the needle and presser- H foot to be lifted above their operative positions.

2. A sewing machine having the needleclamping portion of its needle-bar jointed to turn upward in one direction, and the presserfoot bar jointed to turn upward in a different direction, whereby free access is afforded to needle may be secured below the needle-bar.

4. In a sewing-machine, the needle-bar lraving its lower end hinged to the remaining portion, in combination with the notched rotary sleeve applied thereto, as described, for the double purpose of holding the needle in its operative and in its elevated position.

In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand in the presence of two attesting witnesses.

ROBERT S. LOOKER.

WVitnesses:

PHILIP T. DODGE, W. H. SHIPLEY.

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