Abstract: A dispenser for material or articles arranged in a roll is disclosed having articulated end pieces that loosely engage the central opening of the roll and hold the roll in position for dispensing. The end pieces are pivotally attached to the frame of the dispenser and are spring biased to urge them into engaging position.

Abstract: An activating device for a pressurized can for dispensing a controlled amount of the contents thereof in response to the opening or closing of a door. The device can easily accomodate installations wherein the door and door frame are not flush.

Abstract: A convertible sewing machine bed lid and hinge arrangement includes a lid that may be pivoted downwardly to expose an elongated arm for sewing tubular garments. The lid has depending pivot bosses and the bed has a web casting that includes legs connected to the bosses by the hinge pins fitted into apertures in the bosses and slots in the legs. A pair of leaf springs held by projections that interlock with the casting entrap the pins within the slots and urge them toward a closed extremity of the slots. Latching projections on the free side of the lid are resiliently forced into recesses in the arm to retain the lid in a horizontal position to provide an expansive work supporting surface.

Abstract: A tension spring concentric with the presser bar pulls the presser foot down against the work. The spring is threaded onto two holders, each of which fits around the presser bar. The first holder is attached to the presser bar near its upper end but the second allows the presser bar to slide within it. The second holder is slidably attached to a bracket and controlled by a presser bar pressure regulating cam to slide up and down in the bracket and thereby change the tension in the spring to exert a controlled force on the presser foot. The first holder is also slidably mounted in the bracket, and is controlled by a lever that has a lifting cam linked to the first holder. When the lever is lifted, the first holder is lifted to raise the presser bar and presser foot away from the work. This extends the spring, which urges the presser foot back down against the work as soon as the lever is lowered.

Abstract: A surface cleaning vacuum nozzle having a cleaning materials dispenser slidingly attached thereto, the entire assembly being connectable to a hand held suction wand having a valve attached thereto which is in fluid communication with a cleaning fluid supply. The sliding action of the dispenser aids in the connecting or disconnecting of the nozzle.

Abstract: The combination of an electronically controlled sewing machine and an auxiliary memory comprising pages of a book, or the like, each page having optical bar coded stitch pattern data printed thereon and in obvious association with a graphic representation of the actual stitch pattern. The coded data is sensed by a hand held optical reader which transfers the data, for a desired stitch pattern, to internal memory of the sewing machine.

Abstract: An omni-directional thread cutter in a sewing machine including an annular groove formed in the cylindrical surface of the presser bar. The lower surface of the groove forms an acute angle with the cylindrical surface thereby forming a sharp cutting edge.

Abstract: A hollow bushing (22 or 54) that guides a presser bar (21) to move in a longitudinal direction is threaded at one end (29 and 30). The outer surface of that end is round and, below the thread (59), fits closely but rotatably in a channel (32) in the head (16) of a sewing machine. The bushing is not fixedly held in place in the channel (32). Instead, a tension spring (33) screwed onto the threaded end and onto a threaded member (37) attached to the end of the presser bar (21) within the head (16) pulls the presser bar downwardly so that its foot (24) normally presses against the work (46) and simultaneously pulls the bushing (22 or 54) toward the head (16). A shoulder surface (27 or 58) at a certain location on the bushing (22 or 54) acts as a stop to limit the extent that the cylinder can be drawn into the head.

Abstract: A lighted display device having an array of discrete reflective surfaces each of which is associated with a visual display. The reflectivity of each of the surfaces is established so that the light reflected to, and illuminating, each associated visual display is of equal intensity independent of the distance of the reflective surface from the light source.

Abstract: An override clutch device is disclosed for use in a vacuum cleaner having a powered rotary brush. The override clutch device is arranged such that should the torque require to rotate the brush exceeds a predetermined level, the drive mechanism is disengaged from the brush thereby allowing the drive belt to continue to operate without damage. An audible signal is emitted to alert the operator of the malfunction.

Abstract: A throat plate having means attached thereto for preventing the work limb in a loop of thread from being drawn up through the material being sewn by the take-up limb due to friction therebetween causing a loose stitch known as a halo.

Abstract: A throat plate having means attached thereto for preventing the work limb in a loop of thread from being drawn up through the material being sewn by the takeup limb due to friction therebetween causing a loose stitch known as a halo.

Abstract: A sewing machine cabinet in which a sewing machine 43 can be placed in operable position, and the cabinet has as work table 17 movable between an upper position level with the bed of the machine and a lower position giving free access to the cylinder bed 44 of the machine. Support arms 54, 56, 62, 63 on the sides of the cabinet support brackets 48, 49 that carry the work table 17 in a path that moves vertically between the upper and lower positions without moving transversely to one side. Leaves 23, 24 can be attached to the ends of the work table 17 to move up and downward so as always to be at the same level as the work table to provide extra space for the work at the most convenient level. The work table 17 can be moved up and down by a hand lever 92 or foot lever 31 with a latch 37 to engage the lever to hold the work table in its upper position.

Abstract: A round foot controller has a molded cover 75 attached to a molded base 11 by interengaging projections 79 and 16 extending in opposite directions toward each other from the rims of telescoping walls 77 and 13. The wall 77 is near the perimeter of the cover and is concentric with another wall 76 that surrounds the wall 77. The wall 13 concentrically surrounds another wall 14 in the base. The base has openings 96 and the cover has corresponding openings 97 left by the respective molds that form the undersides of the projections 16 and 79. The double-walled structure of the cover telescoping with the double-walled structure of the base prevents inadvertent access to the electrical components in the foot controller. However, the resistence of a variable resistor 21 or 103 in the controller, can be varied by pressure on any part of the cover 75.

Abstract: A positioning pin which permits a sewing machine cabinet to be adapted to accommodate a variety of sewing machines. The positioning pin has a flange dividing the pin into two unequal lengths. The positioning pins are received by bores formed in the base of the sewing machine and the cabinet work surface to properly locate the sewing machine with respect to the work surface. The pins may be reversed end-for-end to adapt to sewing machines having bases with differing heights.