US3888396A - Sewing machine needle threader - Google Patents

Abstract

A body is provided and defines an elongated substantially straight groove extending along and opening outwardly of one side of the body. Abutment structure is supported from the body in registry with one end of the groove for adjustable shifting in a direction generally paralleling the groove and is adapted to have the pointed end of a needle seated in the groove abutted thereagainst. A second elongated and substantially straight groove is formed in the same side of the body at generally right angles relative to the first groove and intersects with the latter intermediate its opposite ends. The second groove is adapted to seatingly receive a length of sewing thread therein and the body supports an elongated blade portion having one end thereof shiftable along a path disposed normal to a plane containing the grooves and intersecting with the center lines of the grooves. The blade end is of a cross-sectional shape to be received through the eye of a sewing machine needle seated in the first groove and having its point abutted against the abutment structure for the purpose of projecting a length of sewing thread disposed in the second groove through the eye of the needle, the adjustable abutment structure being provided to establish proper longitudinal displacement of the needle relative to the body in a manner such that the eye of the needle is registered with the path along which the blade is projected.

Description

United States Patent m1 111 3,888,396 June 10, 1975 Liebrecht, deceased et a].

[ sizwmc MACHINE NEEDLE THREADER [76] inventors: Lawrence S. Llebrecht, deceued, 1

late of Delphos. Ohioeby FranclsM. Llebrecht, heir, 428 S-.'Franltlin St.,

Delphos, Ohio 45333 221 Filed: Apr. 16,1974 [2i] Appl.No.:46l,458

52 us. Cl. 223/99 s l] Int. Cl. A4lh 31/00 [58] Field of Search..; 223/99; 112/225 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,033,755 3/1936 Chason 223/99 2.490382 l2/ I949 Pinkham et al 223/99 2.525.034 l0/l950 Jamo 223/99 X 2.747,778 5/1956 Balzer 223/99 2.777.623 l/l957 Balzer 223/99 2,800,262 7/1957 Appel 223/99 Primary Examiner-George H. Krizmanich Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Clarence A. O'Brien; Harvey B. Jacobson [57) ABSTRACT A body is provided and defines an elongated substantially straight groove extending along and opening outwardly of one side of the body. Abutment structure is supported from the body in registry with one end of the groove for adjustable shifting in a direction generally paralleling the groove and is adapted to have the pointed end of a needle seated in the groove abutted thereagainst. A second elongated and substantially straight groove is formed in the same side of the body at generally right angles relative to the first groove and intersects with vthe' latter intermediate its opposite ends-The. second groove is adapted to seatingly receive a lengthpt' sewing thread therein and the body supports/an elongated blade portion having one endthereof shifiable along'a path disposed normal to a plane containing the grooves and intersecting with the center lines of the grooves. The blade end is of a cross-sectionalshape to be received through the eye of a sewing machine needle seated in the first groove and having its point abutted against the abutment structure for the purpose of projecting a length of sewing thread disposed in the second groove through the eye of the needle, the adjustable abutment structure being provided to establish proper longitudinal dis-. placement of the needle relative to the body in a manner such that the eye of the needle is registered with the path along which the blade is projected.

6 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures SEWING MACHINE NEEDLE THREADER heretofore designed for the purpose'of facilitating the threading of a sewingfmachine needle. Examplcsfof these previously devised sewing machine .needle threading devices are disclosed in 'US. Pat. Nos.)- 1- .FIG.2 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view taken hereinafter described and 2.006.185 to S. Sidler. dated lune 25.1935. 2.476.872

to .l. N. .lamo. dated .luly'l9. l949.2.'5()'Z.370 to A. E. Edwards. dated May 9. I950. 2.483.595 to C. U. Olson. date Oct. 4. i949 and 2.525.034 to'J. N. .Iamo. dated Oct. 10. i950. w

However. these previously known needle threading devices have not included readily infinitely variable means whereby the needle threading devices may be adjusted to compensate for different makes. sizes and types of sewing machine needles. As a result. mostof these previous sewing machine needle threading devices are preset to be utilized in' conjunction with a given needle or must be adjusted in a reasonably complicated manner in order to function properly in connection with needles of various sizes;

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The needle threader of the instant invention includes a body having a first laterally opening groove formed therein for seatingly receiving a needle extending longitudinally of the groove. The body includes abutment structure registered with one end of the groove and adjustably shiftable along the center line of the groove so as to define an adjustable abutment for precisely longitudinally positioning an associated needle in the groove. The body includes a second groove disposed at generally right angles to the first groove and formed in the same side of the body and which intersects with the first groove. The second groove is provided to seatingly receive a length of sewing thread extending longitudinally therealong and a blade is supported from the body and includes a thin terminal end projectable through the intersecting midportions of the grooves along a path disposed substantially normal to a plane in which the grooves are disposed. the terminal end of the blade being projectable through the eye portion of a needle registered with the intersecting mid-portions of the grooves and the path along which the terminal end of the blade is shiftable.

The main object of this invention is to provide a needle threader which may be quickly and efficiently utilized to thread the needle of a sewing machine.

Another object of this invention is to provide a nee-r dle threader which is readily infinitely adjustable so as to adapt the threader to be utilized in conjunction with different models and sizes of sewing machine needles.

Yet another important object of this invention is to provide a needle threader in accordance with the preceding objccts'and which may be utilized in conjunction with different types of sewing threads.

A final object of this invention to be specifically enumerated herein is to provide a needle threader which will conform to conventional forms of manufacture. be of simple construction and easy to use so as to provide a device that will be economically feasible. long lasting and relatively trouble free in operation.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully substantially upon the plane v claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof.

wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIQN OFITHE DRAWlNGS 1 is a Perspective iew of the needle threader of "the instant invention;

indicated by the section line 2-2 of FIG. It,

' FIG. 3 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view taken substantially upon' the plane indicated by the section line 3-3 of FIG. 2; and- I "FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the manner in which the proje'ctable slide portion of the needle threader is utilized to project an associated length of thread through the eye of asewing machine needle with which the invention is being used.

' DETAlLlif) DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring now more specifically to the drawings. the numeral 10 generally designates the needle threader of the instant invention. The threader 10 comprises an elongated body I2 having a longitudinal slot 14 formed therethrough and in which a blade member 16 is longitudinally reciprocal. The slot 16 includes intermediate and forward successively reduced height portions 18 and 20, respectively. and the blade member 16 includes a longitudinal transverse slot 22 through which a transverse pin 24 secured through the body 12 passes. The pin 24 defines. in conjunction with the opposite ends of the slot 22, limits of longitudinal shifting of the blade member 16.

The body 12 includes a rear end 26 through which the rear end portion 28 of the blade member 15 projects. The rear terminal end of the blade portion is transversely enlarged as at 30 to define a fingerengageable knob for transferring longitudinal thrust to the blade member 16 so as to shift the latter forwardly relative to the body 12.

The blade member 16 includes a reduced height portion 32 which projects into the reduced height portion 18 of the slot 14 and a forward terminal end further reduced height portion 34 which is projectable through the reduced height portion 20 of the slot 14. Also, the body 12 includes a rearwardly opening internal blind bore 36 whose forward end' is closed and whose rear end opens into the forward extremity of the full height portion of the slot 14. A compression spring 38 is seated in the blind bore 38 at its forward end and the rear end of the compression spring 38 bears against the shoulder surface 40 of the blade member 16 defined at the rearmost extremity of the reduced height portion 32 of the blade member 16, the spring 38 serving to yieldingly bias the blade member 16 to its rearmost positlon in the slot 14.

The forward end 42 of the body 12 includes a first upstanding generally straight and forwardly laterally outwardly opening groove 44 as well as a second horizontal transverse groove 46 which opens laterally outwardly of the forward end of the body 12 and includes a mid-portion intersecting with the lower end portion of the groove 44.

The forward second reduced portion 20 of the slot 14 opens through the intersecting portions of the grooves 44 and 46 and the mid-portion 48 of an elongated lever 50 extending longitudinally of the underside of the body 12' is rockablysupportedfrorn the portion threaded blind bore 52 formed-inthebottorn of .the body. The forward terminal end 54of'thcxlev'er 50 is 2 disposed is registry with the lower endof the groove 44 and is adapted to have the pointedj low'e f-j terminal end r registry withthe forward terminal end of the blade of the body l2.in termediate its opposite .endsby means of a fastener 5l-threaded'into a-downwardlyopening.

rnember-l6 when the lower pointed end 56 of the needle 58 isabutted against theforward terminal end 54 a of the'lever S0, the 'reariend of the lever 84 is depressed inwardly against the biasing action of the s'pring'88 so .as to retract thebeakl92'to'the solid'line position 56 of a-sewingmachine needle 58 disposed-in andes-j tending-along the groove 44 abutted thereagainst with the eye 60 of the needle 58 registered with the forward extremity of theforwardmost-reduced height portion of the slot through whichthe forward terminal end 34 of the blade member 16 is projectable. The

thereof illustrated 'in FIG. 2.The'n'.'wi th the blademember l6 r'e'tracted to the solid'line position-illustrated in Flfirl'and the sewing'machine thread 64 extending through the groove '46. the forward end of the body 12 is advanced -toward the'needle, 58 until the latter is seatedinfthejgroqve 44 ThereafterJthe bodyiZ is ele- -vated until such time as the pointed lower. terminal end cross-sectional shape of the forward terminal end 34 of the blade member i6 is such to be readily passed through the eye60 of the needle 58 andithe forward end face of the terminal end 34 is transversely notched as at 62 to seatingly engage sewing machine thread 64 extending through the groove 46. in this'rnanner. the sewing machine thread 64 may be readily projected through the eye 60 of the needle 58 upon forward displacementof the blade member 16. I r

A compression spring 66 has one end thereof seated in a downwardly opening blind bore formed in the. body l2 and the other end bearing against the upper side of the rear end portion of the lever 50. Also. an internally threaded sleeve 68 having a finger engageable diamet- 56 of the needle 88 abuts the upper surface of the forward terminal end 84 of the lever 50. at which point the eye 60 of the-needle 58 wilibe in registry with the forward terminal end 84 of the blade member l6.'Thereaf- .ter." the rearend' portion of the lever 84. is released so that the lever 84 may swing from the solid line position thereof illustratediin FIG. 2 to the dotted line position illustrated in Fl G.j 2 under the biasing action of the s pring78 withjts beak 92 received'in a'third groove 100 formed in the b'odylZ above the groove 46, generally paralleling the groove 46 and also intersecting the groove 44. in this'manner. the cam surface-94 will engage and "clampingly. seatthe needle 58 in the groove 44. Then. manual pressure may be applied to the blade rically enlarged head 70 on its upper end is rotatably and slidably received in a vertical bore 72 formed through the body 12 to one side of the slot 14. A headed shank-type screw 74 has its threaded shank portion 76 rotatably and threadably engaged in the lower end of the sleeve 68 and passed through an upstanding bore 78 formed in the rear end of the lever 50, the head of the fastener 74 bearing against the underside of the lever 50. Accordingly. the finger engageable head 70 may be turned to adjustably angularly displace the lever relative to the body 12 whereby the elevation of the forward terminal end of the lever 50 relative to the forward terminal end 20 of the slot 14 may be.

varied in accordance to the spacing of the eye 60 above the lower pointed terminal end of the needle 58.

One side surface 80 of the body 12 is provided with a longitudinal laterally outwardly opening slot 82 opening through the opposite ends of the body 12 and a lever 84 has its mid-portion pivotally anchored in the longitudinal mid-portion of the slot' 82 by means of a pivot fastener 86. The rear end portion of the lever 84 is yieldingly biased laterally outwardly of the slot 82 by means of a coil spring 88 seated in a laterally outwardly opening blind bore 90 formed in the body 12 and opening outwardly of the side 80 thereof. The outer end of the compression spring 88 bears against the inner edge portion of the rear end of the lever 84 seated in the slot 80.

The forward end of the lever 84 includes a transversely directed beak 92 which is pointed and defines a cam surface 94 retracted to one side of the groove 44 in the manner illustrated in solid lines in FIG. 2 and projectablc. upon angular displacement of the lever 84 from the solid line position thereof illustrated in FIG. 2 to the dotted line position illustrated in FIG. 2. into the slot 44 from the outer side thereof for the purpose of clamping the needle 58 in seated position within the groove 44.

in operation. and with the assumption that the lever 50 is properly adjusted so as to position the eye 60 in member 16"so as toforwa'rdly advance the latter in order that the notched forward'end edge 62 of the forward terminal end 34 thereof may be projected out of the forward end of the slot. engage the thread 64 and project the thread through the eye of the needle 58 in the manner illustrated in' FIG. 4. Of course. the lever 50 may be adjusted in position so as to compensate for the eyes of various different needles being spaced differently from the pointed ends thereof. Also. it will be seen that the forward corners of the body 12 are sharply beveled as at'96 and 98 in order that the forward end of the body 12 may be closely positioned relative to a sewing machine needle without interference fromany portion of the sewing machine needle support structure or pressure foot structure.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further. since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art. it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described. and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted torfalling within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A needle threader for a sewing machine needle, said threader including body means defining a first elongated substantially straight and laterally outwardly opening groove. said body means including abutment means registered with one end of said groove and adjustably shiftable lengthwise thereof. said abutment means being adapted to have the pointed end of a needle seated in said groove abutted thereagainst for adjustably longitudinally positioning said needle in said groove. said body means also including means defining a second elongated substantially straight and laterally outwardly opening groove disposed at generally right angles relative to and including a longitudinal midportion intersecting with a longitudinal mid-portion of said first groove and with said first and second grooves opening laterally outwardly insubstantially the same direction. said directiondisposed generally normal to said plane. and an elongated blade portion having one terminal endthereof. having major and minor cross sectional dimensions disposed atgenerally right angles 7 relative to 'each other. supportcdfrom said body for guidedlongitudinal oscillation hack and .forth transversely through the intersecting jportions' ;of said grooves along a path generally paralleling said direction, a said terminal end being disposed with its-major cross-sectional d ime ns ioncttte'nding along, said. first groove'for projection of said terminalfend through the" eye of a needle seated'i'n said first' groove.:havihg.its

pointed end .a'butted against said abutment means and having its eye generally centered on'said path.andcam means shiftably supported from said body for move-'- ment between a first retracted-position to one side of said first groove and a second Ioperative'positionetttending across said first groove withfa portionthereo'f projecting into said firstgroove-fromthe open'side thereof.

2. The combination of claim whereinsaidabutment means comprises one end of an elongated lever generally paralleling said path and oscillatably supported. intermediate its opposite ends. from said body means for rocking about a transverse axis generally paralleling said second groove. and adjustment means interconnected between said body means and the other end of said lever for adjustably shifting said other end relative to said body means.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said body I meansand said blade portion include coacting means establishing limits of oscillation of said blade portion --relative tosaidbody'means.

4. The combination of claim 3 including thrust means operativelyconnected between-said blade portion and saidbody means yieldingly biasing said blade portion toward its limitposition with said terminalcnd retracted from said grooves.

S. The :combin'ation of claim l wherein said cam means includes a lever supported. intermediate. its op- '=po'si te"'ends from said body for oscillatio'n about an axia generally parullelihg said first groove. one end portion ofsald leverlncludlng a laterally projecting bcuk defining a cam surface facing towardthe other end of said lever and inclined relative to the-direction in which said UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION PATENT NO. 5,868,396

DATED 1 J ne 10, 1975 INVENTOR(5) 3 Die'orecht, deceased ei: all

It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown beiow:

Dzi-.-,='rence Liebrecht, deceased, late of Delphos, UiliO; by Frances M. Die-Drecht, heir, 428 Franklin 3t., belphoe, @1110 45855 Signed and Scaled this seventh Day of 0ct0ber1975 [SEAL] A ttest:

RUTH. C. MRSON C. MARSHALL DANN Arresting Officer Commissioner ofParents and Trademarks

Claims (6)

1. A needle threader for a sewing machine needle, said threader including body means defining a first elongated substantially straight and laterally outwardly opening groove, said body means including abutment means registered with one end of said groove and adjustably shiftable lengthwise thereof, said abutment means being adapted to have the pointed end of a needle seated in said groove abutted thereagainst for adjustably longitudinally positioning said needle in said groove, said body means also including means defining a second elongated substantially straight and laterally outwardly opening groove disposed at generally right angles relative to and including a longitudinal mid-portion intersecting with a longitudinal mid-portion of said first groove and with said first and second grooves opening laterally outwardly in substantially the same direction, said direction disposed generally normal to said plane, and an elongated blade portion having one terminal end thereof, having major and minor cross-sectional dimensions disposed at generally right angles relative to each other, supported from said body for guided lOngitudinal oscillation back and forth transversely through the intersecting portions of said grooves along a path generally paralleling said direction, said terminal end being disposed with its major cross-sectional dimension extending along said first groove for projection of said terminal end through the eye of a needle seated in said first groove, having its pointed end abutted against said abutment means and having its eye generally centered on said path, and cam means shiftably supported from said body for movement between a first retracted position to one side of said first groove and a second operative position extending across said first groove with a portion thereof projecting into said first groove from the open side thereof.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said abutment means comprises one end of an elongated lever generally paralleling said path and oscillatably supported, intermediate its opposite ends, from said body means for rocking about a transverse axis generally paralleling said second groove, and adjustment means interconnected between said body means and the other end of said lever for adjustably shifting said other end relative to said body means.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said body means and said blade portion include coacting means establishing limits of oscillation of said blade portion relative to said body means.

4. The combination of claim 3 including thrust means operatively connected between said blade portion and said body means yieldingly biasing said blade portion toward its limit position with said terminal end retracted from said grooves.

5. The combination of claim 1 wherein said cam means includes a lever supported, intermediate its opposite ends, from said body for oscillation about an axia generally paralleling said first groove, one end portion of said lever including a laterally projecting beak defining a cam surface facing toward the other end of said lever and inclined relative to the direction in which said beak projects, said cam surface being swingable into position into engagement with the outer side of a needle seated in said first groove.

6. The combination in claim 5 wherein said body includes a third elongated substantially straight and laterally opening groove formed therein generally paralleling the second groove and disposed on the side thereof remote from said abutment means, said third groove intersecting, centrally intermediate its opposite ends, with said first groove, said beak and cam surface being swingable into and out of said third groove.

Images