Patents Assigned to Mefina S.A.
  • Patent number: 5231942
    Abstract: A sewing machine wherein the frame consists of a structure which forms one of the elements of the machine's housing and supports a strong framework which is movably attached to the structure by means of a plurality of clips which resiliently grip securing devices fastened to pairs of ridges which are part of the structure and receive the clips between them.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1993
    Assignee: Mefina S.A.
    Inventors: Ingeborg Beau, Michel Combepine, Antonio Jimenez
  • Patent number: 5205230
    Abstract: In this sewing machine, in which the amplitude and direction of the feeding of the fabric to be sewn are controlled by an electric motor slaved to an electronic pilot-control circuit, the bobbin (16), its drive mechanism (17, 19, 10) and the drive mechanism (4*-17*) for feeding the fabric to be sewn are mounted on an intermediate support (6) that is solid with the body of the motor (11), which is attached to the frame (2) of the machine by a sleeve (23) engaging the inside of the lower arm of the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 27, 1993
    Assignee: Mefina S.A.
    Inventors: Antonio Jiminez, Patrice Deplante, Michel Combepine
  • Patent number: 5186116
    Abstract: The device for adjusting the amplitude and direction of the feeding of the material to be sewn includes a movable element (15) provided with a set of teeth (17) for feeding. This movable element includes a slideway formed of two tracks (20a, 20b) in the form of arcs of concentric circles, one of which is generated by a cone and the other by a cylinder, both rolling on the trajectory of a shaft (12) providing a link between two levers of the drive mechanism. The two tracks (20a, 20b) of the slideway are formed by a profiled metal foil, attached to the movable element (15).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 16, 1993
    Assignee: Mefina S.A.
    Inventors: Antonio Jimenez, Patrice Deplante
  • Patent number: 5143006
    Abstract: An assembly for detachably mounting a tool such as a drill, a punch or a needle for a sewing machine on a driving member. The assembly includes a tool carrier, a mounting head for connecting the tool carrier to the driving member having at least one seat surface being cooperatively engaged with a corresponding portion of the tool carrier, a device for holding the tool carrier in contact with the seat, and positioning element to place the mounting head in a specific position relative to the tool carrier when the tool carrier is held by the holding device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1992
    Assignee: Mefina S.A.
    Inventor: Antonio Jimenez
  • Patent number: 5143005
    Abstract: This contrivance includes a support (1), in which a tubular element (5) is mounted to slide, the tubular element containing a rod (6) mounted to slide in it and subjected to the action of a restoring spring (7) fixed to the support (1). At its lower end, the element (5) has two shells (10, 11) forming a cage (9) in cooperation with a belt (13) that is solid with the rod (6) and is moreover connected to the shell (11) by a second restoring spring (15). An element (17) is mounted to slide horizontally in the shell (10) and carries a hook (18) for grasping the thread, the movement of which hook is controlled by the joint action of a slideway (19), solid with the belt (13), and a dog point (17a) solid with the element (17).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1992
    Assignee: Mefina S.A.
    Inventors: Antonio Jimenez, Yves Combepine, Patrice Deeplante
  • Patent number: 5143470
    Abstract: The end of the lever (2b) ends in a fork that receives the lever (5b) between its tines (6a, 6b). Each time (6a, 6b) has a recess (9) made on its inner face. This recess (9) is parallel to this inner face and extends longitudinally of this tine, thus opening out at its end to make a passage for receiving a pivot (10). This open space (9) does not extend through the full thickness of the tines (6a, 6b), thus preserving axial stop faces for retaining the pivot (10). The end of the lever (5b) has a lateral recess (11) intended to engage the pivot (10). A draw spring (13) has one end solid with the lever (2b), while the other is caught in a groove (12) that is concentric with the axis of the pivot (10) and is made at the end of the lever (5b) opposite the side face in which the recess (11) opens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1992
    Assignee: Mefina S.A.
    Inventors: Antonio Jimenez, Patrice Deplante
  • Patent number: 5140918
    Abstract: A sewing machine having a composite frame includes plastic structure forming a support base of the machine and carrying a strong U-shaped framework detachably mounted by clamps. The branches of the U-shaped framework form respectively a part of a first and a second arm, the arms being horizontal and superpositioned and projecting out from the side of a column. The drive mechanism for the needle bar of the machine and the mechanism for feed of the sewing material and for the loop pick-up device are respectively associated with these arms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1992
    Assignee: Mefina S.A.
    Inventors: Michel Combepine, Antonio Jimenez
  • Patent number: 5099776
    Abstract: In a sewing machine, a needle-bar is slidingly mounted in two bearings, the external surface of each of which has a spherical profile. The bearings are pivotably engaged in respective seats of complementary profile provided in a fixed support, for an upper bearing, and in a movable lever, for a lower bearing. This lever is alternately pivoted into two opposite positions under the action of a stepper motor. The motor drives the movable lever by engagement of a pinion with peripheral gear teeth carried by the movable lever.The motor, the fixed support, the movable lever, the bearings and the needle bar form a self-contained and detachable assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1992
    Assignee: Mefina S.A.
    Inventors: Antonio Jimenez, Michel Combepine
  • Patent number: 5083069
    Abstract: The control pedal (7) for an electric machine (3) comprises a movable member (9) connected to a foot support (11) and adapted to be actuated by the foot of the user, whose heel rests on the plate (10). When the pedal (7) is not in use, the member (9) may be lowered against the plate (10), whereas the cord (8) and that which is provided for the plug (6), are wound about the portions (12) forming bobbins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 21, 1992
    Assignee: Mefina S.A.
    Inventors: Antonio Jimenez, Michel Combepine
  • Patent number: 5076184
    Abstract: A method for controlling a computerized sewing machine which enables designs or patterns of modified length with respect to the standard value of each original design or pattern available to be sewn while retaining the density of stitches and the general shape of the original design. Algorithms are utilized indicating, for each block of stitches included in the original design or pattern, the number of times that this block is to be sewn to obtain the design of modified length. The microprocessor sewing machine using the method of the invention includes means requiring the microprocessor to read ongoing instructions repeatedly for at least certain blocks among the block of stitches for the basic design or pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 31, 1991
    Assignee: Mefina S.A.
    Inventors: Gerard Tschopp, Claude Buchilly, Christian R. Kohli
  • Patent number: 5063866
    Abstract: In a sewing machine, a thread-draw lever is driven in an oscillating movement, in synchronism with a needle bar, and carries a gripping hook for the thread, the thread being brought within reach of this hook by passing it into a longitudinal channel formed on an upper face of an upper arm of the casing of the machine.The arrangement permits the threading operation in a sewing machine to take place by simple insertion of the thread into the channel, without having to pass the thread through eyelets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 12, 1991
    Assignee: Mefina S.A.
    Inventors: Antonio Jimenez, Michel Combepine
  • Patent number: 5063865
    Abstract: In a sewing machine, an oscillating cradle has two bearings in which a needle bar is slidingly mounted. An external surface of each bearing has a spherical profile by which it is pivotingly engaged in a respective seat of complementary shape provided in a first arm of the cradle, for an upper bearing, and in a second arm, for a lower bearing. A resilient leaf spring, in the form of a U, exerts an axial pressure on both the upper bearing and the lower bearing, to maintain them in their seats in alignment with one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 12, 1991
    Assignee: Mefina S.A.
    Inventors: Antonio Jimenez, Michel Combepine
  • Patent number: 5048438
    Abstract: The feed dog (17) for the fabric in a sewing machine is provided with a spring-wire (21) bent and passing through a hole of a support (23). When the feed dog (17) is in its upper position, the support (23) abuts the plate (18), which lowers the end (24) of the wire (21) so as to exert a tension on the lower thread (8) of the seam. When the feed dog is lowered, the wire (21) resumes its normal position, namely its end (24) is displaced upwardly with respect to the dog (17) and the thread (8) is thus relaxed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 17, 1991
    Assignee: Mefina S.A.
    Inventor: Antonio Jimenez
  • Patent number: 5048437
    Abstract: Presser device in a sewing machine, comprising a support provided with structure for holding and releasing a presser foot. The support is of a general parallelepiped shape and has two parallel grooves that are arranged on two opposing lateral faces of the support, these grooves forming sliding guides for a sewing attachment. One face of the support comprises a translucent window, an electrical bulb being arranged in the support behind the window. The support also has at least one bore for receiving a rod for securing a sewing attachment. This bore is perpendicular to the axis of the presser bar. The support also has two parallel grooves arranged on its other two lateral faces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 17, 1991
    Assignee: Mefina S.A.
    Inventor: Antonio Jimenez
  • Patent number: 5048439
    Abstract: In a sewing machine, the sewing of letters or signs belonging to different typefaces is enable by individual selection, effected by means of a keyboard of ten keys, followed by selection of the desired typeface by actuation of a respective key. When the selection of a letter or of a sign is programmed by the keyboard, it is possible to choose the typeface desired and the capital or lower case state required for the letter to be sewn, and even to modify this choice several times without having to in any way reprogram the selection of the letter or the sign desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 17, 1991
    Assignee: Mefina S.A.
    Inventors: Gerard Tschopp, Claude Buchilly, Christian R. Kohli
  • Patent number: 5042406
    Abstract: In a sewing machine, a pivotable lever is provided in accordance with the present invention which carries a presser foot which is brought by an actuating device from a low position to a high position. In the low position the foot is applied to the material to be sewn. In the high position the foot is spaced from the material. The lever is equipped with rolling members which rest on guide ramps. The members and ramps have a profile such that during displacement of the presser foot between its two positions, the foot always follows a vertical path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 27, 1991
    Assignee: Mefina S.A.
    Inventors: Antonio Jimenez, Michel Combepine
  • Patent number: 5018467
    Abstract: An adjustment device for the amplitude and direction of feed of cloth in a cloth transport mechanism for a sewing machine comprises a slideway centered on a trajectory in contact with a pivot pin between a connecting rod integral with an eccentric of a drive shaft and a short connecting rod linked to a lever associated with one end of the cloth transport member. This slideway may be oriented about a point situated in the middle of the trajectory of the pivot point to modify the inclination of the trajectory, and, in this way, the amplitude and the direction of the feed. To avoid any play between the slideway and the pivot pin, this latter carries two rollers in the shape of truncated cones, and the slideway has two tracks, inner and outer, displaced axially along the axis of pivoting in such a manner that each roller can only be put in contact with one of the two tracks by a resilient pressure and can roll without slipping against it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 28, 1991
    Assignee: Mefina S.A.
    Inventors: Antonio Jimenez, Pierre-Maurice Rochat
  • Patent number: 5018420
    Abstract: The machine tool comprises a frame (1, 2, 3) with two fixing elements (22 and 39) for fastening a scroll saw blade. The fixing element (22) is driven by an electrical motor (5) in a vertical reciprocating movement. The two fixing elements (22 and 39) are linked to each other by a metallic ribbon (45) passing on pulleys (46 to 50). The position of the pulley (47) can be changed by means of a cam (53) acting on an arm (52) so as to stretch the ribbon (45) to the desired value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 28, 1991
    Assignee: Mefina S.A.
    Inventor: Francis Plomb
  • Patent number: 4984727
    Abstract: The filament cutter comprises a shank (1) with a head (2) and a substantially cylindrical portion (4), applied against the head (2) by a spring (5). In the space (7,8) is disposed a cutting member (9), having notched recesses and so arranged that a filament engaged between the member (4) and the head (2) will come into engagement with the notches so as to be cut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 15, 1991
    Assignee: Mefina S.A.
    Inventor: Antonio Jimenez
  • Patent number: D314647
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 1988
    Date of Patent: February 12, 1991
    Assignee: Mefina S.A.
    Inventor: Antonio Jimenez