US2690150A - Needle guard for portable sewing machines - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 28, c o NEEDLE GUARD FOR PORTABLE SEWING MACHINES Filed Feb. 23, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 62 52 231 A10A a EsoJ 1 3 F G 22 T I 1222511 F 16317 1516 v E- C. HARLES L. MOLLIS l ATTORNEYS Sept. 28, 1954 c. L. MOLLIS NEEDLE GUARD FOR PORTABLE SEWING MACHINES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 23, 1952 INVENTOR. CHAR LES I Mol l ls ATTORNEYS Patented Sept. 28, 1954 NEEDLE GUARD FOR PORTABLE SEWING MACHINES Charles L. Mollis, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application February 23, 1952, Serial No. 273,047

2 Claims. 1

An object of my invention is to provide an invisible chainstitch garment sewing device which is an improvement over the form of the device shown in my patent, No. 2,558,873, issued July 3, 1951. In the patent I show what I term, a looper, for aiding in forming loops in the thread during the forming of the chain stitching in the cloth. Although such a looper is desirable, it is not essential and. so I omit it in the present improved device.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the type described in which a needle guard is pivoted to the device and is held open while stitching and closes directly the guard is released. The guard prevents pricking of ones fingers when the device is not in use, and protecting the point of the needle from damage as from a fall or from contact with other objects.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the type described in which the thread carrying spool is mounted on a resilient support that causes the spool to frictionally contact the device and be prevented from freely rotating. The operator can increase the friction to the desired extent and thus determine the tension exerted on the thread during the stitching operation. The device is provided with a notched thread cutter at the rear of the device.

The device is simple in construction and is durable and eflicient for the purpose intended.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the following specification, and the novel features of the device will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application, in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the stitching device; v

Figure 2 is a side elevation of Figure 1, portions being shown in section for clarity purposes;

Figure 3 is a bottom plan view of the device;

Figure 4 is a front elevation;

Figure 5 is a rear elevation;

Figure 6 is a side elevation and illustrates how the guard may be swung out of the way;

Figure 7 is a top plan view of the forward end of the device and illustrates the needle guard swung into open position and the needle piercing a temporary fold in the cloth;

Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 7 and shows the step of forming a loop in the thread on one side of the cloth fold and withdrawin the needle from the other side; and

Figure 9 illustrates the loop stitches which may be formed with the device.

- narrow in width and it is provided with a rearwardly-extending base portion Al that is integral with the frame, see Figures 2 and 6.

Referring to Figure 2, it will be seen that the frame A has a tubular member 0 mounted therein and extending from the front end I of the frame to the rear end 2 thereof. The tubular member is internally threaded at its. ends as indicated at 3 and 4. A threaded plug 5 is screwed into the threaded end 4 of the tubular member C and the plug 5 carries a flexible journal D that extends parallel with the axis of the tubular member C. Figures 1, 2 and 5 show the journal as comprising a flat strip of steel or other type of resilient material.

The base portion AI extends rearwardly from the rear end 2 of the frame A and this base. portion is provided with an integral projection 6 that cooperates with the rear end 2 of the frame to provide a spool-receiving recess 1. The flexibility of the journal D permits it to be flexed for receiving a spool E. The spool, has a bore 8 for receiving the flexible journal and the free end of the journal enters the spool bore 8. The journal will flex for permitting the spool to be passed over the projection 6. As soon as the spool registers with the recess 1, the flexible journal D will move it into the position shown in Figure 2 and will cause the spool periphery 9 to frictionally engage with the surface I!) of the base portion Al that forms a part of the recess 7. This structure causes the spool to be frictionally contacted by the surface II] at all times and therefore the thread ll fed from the spool will be under continuous tension. I will explain hereinafter how this tension can be increased if desired.

I provide novel threading and guide means for the thread H so that this thread will be guided to the eye [2 of a needle, indicated generally at F. In Figures 3 and 5, I show the rear portion of the base Al provided with a medial slot l3 that extends longitudinally from the rear edge 6c of the projection 6, forwardly throughout substantially one-half the length of the base portion Al. The slot l3 extends upwardly into the projection 6 and the sides of the slots are flared outwardly at I3a, see Figure 5, for providing a thread-receiving entrance recess. Furthermore, the portion of the slot l3 disposed near the bottom I4 of the base Al has its sides flared outwardly as indicated at H1) in Figure 5. The purpose of this construction is to permit the thread ll fromitheespoolEito.be movedintotheslot l3 readily. *Thegthread'isfiirst passed intoithe flared slot sides 13a and is moved down through the slot 13 and then forwardly to the front end of the slot.

The under side 15 of the frame Ais a .continuation of the under side M of the base Al. The under side l5 has a thread receivinggroove l6 therein, see Figure 3, and this groove ex tends from the forward endrzcSfLthe'slot 13. En fact, the forward wall of the slot i3 .15 curved as at 130, see Figure 2, so that the thread H in passing from the spool E, will move along this curved portion-f3cand enter the groove [5 without any inteference or sharp turns.

It is best now to describe'the forward end of the device an'd -set forth how a need-1e guard. indicated generally at G in Figures l'and 2, normally protects the pointed end F! of the needle. The shank I! of theneedleis resolved in a bore l8 provided in the "forwardend -of'-the frame A, see FigureZ. A set screw H, seeFigures'I and 2, is received in a bore [9, and alsothe-end of the bore is threaded sothat the'set screw maybe tightened down against the shank I! for holding the needle in place. The set screw it also pases through aligned openingsflztl in the tube 0 for holding the latter against longitudinal movement in'the frame 'A. It" will beseen' from this constructionthat the'needleis held rigidly in-p'lace and yet the-needle'may ice-removed when desired. The thread ll passes forwardly from the front end ofthe groove [6 .and-is passed through the eye l'2 of the'needle as shown in Figure .2.

I provide the .needle'guard G forthe purpose of protectnigthe'pointed end'of the needle when he deviceis not in use. The guard is of theshape shown in Figures 1 to 4, inclusive, and it is pivotally'mounted on a pin 2 I that projects forwardly from the .front "end I .of the frame A. Figure 2 shows how the pin 2| has a threaded portion '2la that is removably received 'in "the threaded portion 3 of the tube C and in this way the pin is anchoredito the frame A. The needle guard G has anormally "downwardly-e tending portion 22,;see"Figure 2, and'this isrotatably mounted on the ,pin "2|. The needle guard also "hasa projection'zs that parailels the downwardly-extendingportion 22 and is spaced therefrom. The projection 23 '.is rotatably mountedon the pivot pinZl. Figure '1 shows both the downwardly-extending portion 22 and the projection ;23 of the needle guard, and further illustrates an integral handle portion '24 that normallyprojectsto .one side of the .frame A.

The lower end .of the .downwardlyeextending portion 22is bentat right angles so .as to ,project forwardly and thenthe forwardportion is formedinto a ".U-shaped needle receiving sheath indicated-generally at 25. A torsional spring -26 is mounted on the pivot pin 2 l .and has oneend bearing against the .needleguard and its other end bearing against a projection 27 that extends forwardly from vthe front end I .of the frame A. The .torsionalspring urgestheneedle guard .into the position shown .bYa the .full lines in Figures J 1 to =4, :inclusive, :and therefore the ..-tion shown in Figure 4.

sheath 25 will normally protect the pointed end Fl of the needle.

In Figures 4 and 6, I show how the needle guard can be swung into a position for exposing the pointed end of the needle. The thumb B of the hand (not show) that grips the device, rests on the handle 24 and the operator by merely depressingthe. handle 24 .bymeansof the thumb will swing the needle guard about :the pivot point 2| from the full to the dot dash line posi- If desired, the handle 24 may be moved until it comes into contact with thesiderwal129of the frame A. The operator in using the device keeps his thumb pressing .againstthe. handle 24 so that the sheath 25 will be held clear of the needle, see Figure 6. As

.soon "as the-thumb of the operator is released fromthe handle 24, the torsional spring 26 will immediately swing the .needle guard into its normal position where the sheath 25 will protect the pointedend-of the needle.

I providea thread cutter J atthe rear of-the base AI, seeFiguresl, 2, "3 and '5. The cutter is'preferablymadefrom a hat piece or" metal and it is held to the base 'by'a' screw so or other suit able fastening means. Figure 5 shows thebase as having a recess 3| for receiving the cutter and this willprevent the cutter from "moving into angular positions with'respect'to the base. The cutter has a recess 32 that has a sharpenededge for the purpose "of severing the thread in the customary manner.

As stated in the-earlier part of this specification, the flexible journal'D will holdthe'rims Q of the spool'E infriotional contact-with the surface Hl of the base Al andthereforethe spool is prevented from rotating freely, and instead a tension is placed upon'the thread! i as it is fed from the spool due to the frictional contact of the spool with the base Al. 'I have constructed the deviceto "permit'the tension on the spool to be increased if'desired. In Figure 6, I show how the guard G is held in open position by the thumb B. The indexfinger, notShowngbears-against the opposite side of the frame. Thelast two fingers of the same hand, not shown, bear against the surface M of the base AI. ii the operator wishes to increase'the tension 'on'the thread H, all he needs to'do is to move'the 'last two fingers of the hand that'holds the device, inwardly, arid this will press the periphery 9 of the spool'E against the palm,'not shown, of the hand. The friction on the spool'is increased and likewise the tension on the thread i i. Such a frictional pressure on'the spool 'can be regulated 'so that the operator can exert the desired tension on the thread.

From theforegoing description of the'various parts of the device, the operation may be readily understood.

The device utilizes the conventional sewing machine needle formed along *one'side with a groove for recelvinga length of the thread 1! from which the stitches are formed. The stitching device is designed to form a chain stitch as in basting, felling or the'like and as shown in Figure 9. In using the device, the frame A'is held in one-hand (either pright'or'ieft) of-the user and the guard'G is:operated-wit-h the thumb B. The loop .36,:see.Figure"8, is-formed onthe top of the needle to enable the operatorto sew from rightrtol-left as wellas 'fromlleftitoright, thus making the device .usable .to .a left-handed sewer as well. as .to .a right-handed sewer.

The flexible journal D yieldingly holds the spool periphery 9 against the surface ill for creating a tension on the thread H as it unwinds from the spool. In addition, the spool E is exposed and enables the operator to apply more friction on the spool, if and when needed, [by simply raising the rear end of the device in Figure 6 with the aid of the fourth and fifth fingers. This will lift the spool E; up to touch the palm and increase the friction on the spool to the desired extent. The spool E: is held in place with the fiat Or round spring wire D so that it will yield when the spool is pushed on or pulled off from the device. When the device is not used, the needle point shielding means G, protects the needle point to prevent finger pricking or scratching during the handling of the device.

The device operates on a stitch making principle differing from other devices. These other devices may be useful to leather, canvas or said sewers, but they are impractical to the tailor and the seamstress for whom the present device is designed. In Figure '7, I indicate the first step of the stitching method which is to force the needle F into the cloth K and then out from the cloth to form a stitch of the desired length, the cloth forming a temporary fold Kl during this movement. The operator then starts to withdraw the needle F from the temporary garment fold KI, as shown in Figure 8, and during this movement, the thumb of the free hand is used for pressing the loop 36 down upon the cloth to prevent the loop from being retracted through the cloth during the withdrawal of the needle.

The device is now moved so that the needle F will enter the loop 35 formed by the thread II, and the thumb that holds the loop may have the portion pressing against the loop, rocked back slightly to give space for the needle to enter the loop. The needle in entering the loop is forced through the cloth again to form the next stitch, a second temporary fold Kl being formed to permit the second stitch to be made.

The method is repeated for each stitch. The folds KI will remain in the cloth only as long as they are necessary in forming the stitches. In Figure 9, the temporary folds KI have disappeared from the cloth and one complete chain stitch has been indicated. The loop 36 is still shown loose for the purpose of clarity. In actual practice, the chain stitch will be pulled tight and the loop 36 will be contracted to a point where a single line of stitching will result. The length of the stitching can be determined by the distance between the temporary folds Kl. It

will be clear that the stitching can extend in After the desired length of stitching has been completed, the device is reversed and the thread cutting end is moved for causing the thread cutter J to receive the loop in the recess 32. Further movement of the cutter J will sever the thread at the loop. The loop 36 is held by the thumb during the cutting operation.

I claim:

1. In a portable stitching device, a frame, a needle projecting from one end of said frame and affixed to said frame, a pin fixed to said frame and extending parallel to said needle, said pin being positioned above said needle, a needle guard having a downwardly extending portion pivotally mounted on said pin, said guard having a projecting member parallel with said portion, said projecting member being spaced from said portion and pivotally mounted on said pin, the lower end of the downwardly extending portion being bent to extent parallel to said needle and having a forward portion formed into a V- shaped needle receiving sheath normally receiving said needle and projecting outwardly of said one end of said frame beyond the pointed end of said needle, a handle connected to said guard and projecting outwardly of said frame, a spring connected to said guard and said frame and urging said sheath to normally receive said needle, said handle being operable to uncover said needle.

2. In a portable stitching device, a frame, a needle fixedly connected to said frame and projecting from one end thereof, said needle having a pointed end positioned outwardly of said frame, a pin connected to said frame and extending parallel to said needle, a needle guard pivotally mounted on said pin and pivotal about an axis parallel to said needle, said guard having a portion extending downwardly from said pin, the lower end of the downwardly extending portion being bent to extend parallel to said needle and having a forward portion formed into a V-shaped needle receiving sheath normally receiving said needle and projecting outwardly of said frame beyond the pointed end of said needle, a handle connected to said guard and projecting outwardly of said frame laterally of said pin, a spring connected to said guard and said frame and urging said sheath to normally receive said needle, said handle being operable to rotate said guard on said pin thereby uncovering said needle point.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 891,201 Blossfeld June 16, 1908 893,206 Stewart July 14, 1908 1,407,114 Bailey Feb. 21, 1922 1,410,413 Seaman Mar. 21, 1922 1,580,005 Bray Apr. 6, 1926

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