Abstract: A solenoid is provided in which the armature unit includes a primary plunger and a secondary plunger arranged in telescopic association one with the other and disposed so that the secondary plunger, having both a smaller mass and a smaller air gap than the primary plunger, initially draws in the primary plunger against the anvil without altering the stroke of the primary plunger. The coaction between the two plungers materially reduces the electric energy required to operate the solenoid. While not limited in its application to any particular form of magnetic circuit or to any particular size of magnet, the invention is especially useful in connection with mechanism in which a miniature solenoid is required, and also when it is required to employ a solenoid in which the armature stroke is relatively large and the power requirement must be small.

Abstract: A portable garden tool with an upper movable tool element which is provided with a blade having a plurality of cutting teeth and a lower tool element which is in two pieces so that one can be removed from the tool. The removable portion is either a shear blade attachment to perform with the upper tool element as a shear, or a cultivator attachment to perform with the upper tool element as a cultivator. The tool can also be used as a cultivator without damage to the performance of the tool as a shear, since the blades of the upper movable tool element are not sharpened.

Abstract: A prepainted sheet metal bed cover attachable to a top portion of a sewing machine bed casting having a minimum of machining on an upper surface thereof. The bed cover rests on a machined raised peripheral rim on the upper surface, and is additionally supported on resilient non-metallic material deposited on pads interspersed on the upper surface which are machined to a level below the raised peripheral rim to accommodate the non-metallic material between the bed cover and the pads. The cover is firmly fixed to the top portion of the bed casting by a skirt portion of the prepainted bed cover which extends about the periphery of the top portion, and is swedged beneath the top portion of the bed casting to form a unitary assembly therewith.

Abstract: There is disclosed a sewing machine having a needle bar gate vibrating mechanism whereby the sewing machine is adapted to produce zigzag stitches. The needle bar gate vibrating motion is obtained through the use of two spaced apart circular magnets mounted on a rotating shaft of the sewing machine and having disposed between them a pair of bar magnets operatively connected to the needle bar gate, the polarization of the magnets being such that one of the circular magnets exerts attractive force on the bar magnets while the other circular magnet exerts repulsive forces. As the shaft rotates these forces reverse, resulting in the imparting of vibratory motion to the needle bar gate.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to the combination of a sewing machine and a work table wherein the sewing machine is supported in the work table for movement between a sewing position and a tilted position, a drive motor supported remote from the driven mechanism of the machine and an idler pulley supported intermediate the drive motor and the machine with the idler pulley drivingly connecting the machine with the drive motor by means of drive belts, and the idler pulley being supported for movement with the sewing machine during tilting thereof in a manner whereby the tension in the drive belts is relieved during tilting of the sewing machine and tension is restored during return movement of the sewing machine to the sewing position.

Abstract: A kit for converting an upright vacuum cleaner for use as an above-the-floor cleaner. The kit includes a housing which is removably fitted over the front of the cleaner chassis and includes an air chamber communicating the cleaner nozzle opening with one extremity of a hose. The kit includes a plurality of tabs and bosses on the housing for storing the hose and a plurality of accessory nozzles which are selectively exchangeable on the other extremity of the hose.

Abstract: A knitting machine section block is fitted with one or more strain gauge means, preferably on a backup plate for a needle influencing cam, so that during operation of the machine and without any adverse influence upon the output of the knitting machine, signals may be generated in response to the forces transmitted by the interaction of the knitting needles with the needle influencing cam. By analyzing the signals generated by the strain gauge means, as for instance, by the use of an oscilloscope, patterns representing the actual conditions may be compared with those of usual operation to identify specific part defects or specific abnormal conditions of operation.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to needle guards for rotary loop takers in sewing machines and has for its purpose prevention of interference between the needle and the loop seizing beak of the rotary loop taker during the sewing operation. A needle guard is provided which is substantially annular and open ended and is resiliently supported within the body of the loop taker. One leg of the needle guard is disposed in the region of the loop seizing beak of the loop taker and in the region of the needle path so that the needle if proceeding toward the loop seizing beak upon penetration of the fabric, will be deflected away from the loop seizing beak and toward the center of the loop taker body. An adjustable anchoring means is provided for the one leg of the needle guard for adjusting the relative position of said one leg relative to the loop seizing beak.

Abstract: A sewing machine loop taker mounting on a drive shaft formed with a loop taker lubricating conduit in which oil leakage out of the mounting is eliminated. The drive shaft is formed with a socket accommodating a hub on the loop taker so that the hub may be formed with a tapered bore into which the head of a lubricant metering screw on the shaft projects.

Abstract: A yarn feed roller assembly for tufting machine pattern attachments for controlling the amount of yarn supplied to the needles of the tufting machine in accordance with a pattern. The assembly includes a plurality of parallel modules each of which comprises a housing mounting a shaft on which a plurality of clutch members and respective drive members are mounted within the housing. A yarn feed roller is secured to one end of the shaft which extends outside the module housing. Means are provided to drive each drive member of the module at a different speed, corresponding drive members of all the modules being drivingly connected to one another. The clutches are selectively energized to transmit the speed of a selected drive member to the shaft and thereby to the roller. All the module housings are mounted in cantilevered fashion on a frame and each may be individually readily removed for maintenance.

Abstract: A tufting needle construction in which the axis of the eye and point portion of the needle is parallel but offset relative to the axis of the needle and the blade of the needle just above the needle eye is parallel but offset relative to the eye and point portion to form the clearance above the eye portion of the needle. The axis of the eye and point portion passes into the clearance above the eye. The construction is such that the cross section of the needle at the eye is less than that of known needles of similar gauge and the clearance above the eye may be equal to or greater than that of such known needles.

Abstract: A sewing machine loop taker support bracket that is adjustable to permit the use of various size loop takers. The loop taker shaft is journalled in one end of the support bracket and is coupled by a timing belt to a lateral stud shaft journalled in the opposite end of the bracket, the stud shaft being driven through bevel gears by the machine bed shaft. Various size loop takers are accommodated by loosening the support bracket from the machine frame and adjusting the bracket about the stud shaft axis until the loop taker is properly positioned.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to means for providing adjustment of the needle to hook point relationship in a sewing machine without disturbing the proper mesh and timing of the gears used in the drive mechanism for the hook. The hook includes a shaft supported in a bushing which has a bore having an axis eccentric to the axis of the bushing body. An interposer member is operatively connected to the drive mechanism and is disposed coaxially with the hook shaft for transmitting driving motion to the hook shaft. The hook point is adjustable relative to the needle by means of rotation of the hook bushing about its axis which thereby changes the relative position of the hook and its shaft without causing any change in the relative driving relationship of the interposer and the drive mechanism thereby unaffecting the timing of the hook drive mechanism.

Abstract: The subject safety switch insures that the chuck key has been removed from the chuck prior to operation of the drill press. A slide "on-off" switch is engaged by a guard that prevents the sliding movement necessary to turn the switch on. The guard of the safety switch is not part of the electrical circuit, but rather is a mechanical addition which prevents operation of the electrical circuit. The socket is formed in the housing adjacent the guard. The chuck key is inserted into the socket to engage the guard and remove it from the path of travel of the switch to permit the switch to be shifted between the on and off position. The socket is keyhole shaped, whereby insertion of the chuck key therein will force the chuck to seat within the lower narrower aperture thereof.

Abstract: A cabinet and work table for a sewing machine having a convertible work supporting bed capable of conversion from a flat work supporting bed to a cylinder bed. The cabinet work supporting surface is divided into two parts, a fixed rear work supporting surface and a laterally shiftable front work supporting surface. The sewing machine is supported in the cabinet with the flat work supporting bed forwardly of, co-planar and contiguous with the fixed work supporting surface. The shiftable work supporting surface of the cabinet is laterally shiftable from a position co-planar with the fixed work supporting surface of the cabinet and the flat work supporting bed of the sewing machine to a position subjacent the flat work supporting bed of the sewing machine and the fixed work supporting surface of the cabinet whereupon the flat bed may be converted to cylinder bed use.

Abstract: A carriage for a hand knitting machine in which a plurality of cams, including upper and lower Jacquard cams, are sequentially arranged and are adjustable between inoperative and operative positions so as to define at least one raceway for the butts of needles reciprocable in the needle bed of the machine. At least the upper and lower Jacquard cams are actuable by individually operable lever means between said inoperative and operative positions. At least one of the lever means is interconnected with at least one of the other lever means such that actuation of one of the said lever means simultaneously actuates at least one of the other lever means to thereby actuate a predetermined combination of said cams.

Abstract: A contact-free electrical pulse generator, that utilizes a Hall effect device and a permanent magnet to generate lines of flux and provides two stable output states when cooperating with a flux conducting cam having a stepped peripheral circumference mounted on a rotating shaft is disclosed. The flux conducting cam enhances the flux density imposed upon the Hall effect device when the high portion of the cam becomes proximate the Hall device. The concentrated flux lines flowing through the Hall device changes the state of the device in accordance with the preselected angular positions of the rotary shaft.

Abstract: A low inertia presser device for overedge sewing machine. A horizontally disposed presser bar arm and a similarly disposed presser bar arm leaf spring are mutually pivoted at one end on substantially horizontal and vertical pivots to permit vertical movement and swing out capability. A main pressure spring acts on the presser bar arm; which in turn, through an arm extension to the presser bar arm approximately midway its pivoted end and the point of action of the main spring, applies pressure approximately midway along the presser bar arm leaf spring. A presser foot is supported on the end of the leaf spring opposite its pivoted end.