Patents Examined by Peter A. Nerbun
  • Patent number: 6945184
    Abstract: A tufting machine having a servo driven yarn feed attachment adapted to feed two yarns on each yarn feed roll is provided with a tube bank that allows tufting of two single end patterns on the tufting machine from one set of yarn drives.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2005
    Assignee: Tuftco Corporation
    Inventors: Steven Frost, Richard Prichard
  • Patent number: 6945183
    Abstract: A yarn feed system, enabling the control of individual yarns to the needles of a tufting machine, and which system can be manufactured as a substantially standardized unit or attachment that can be removably mounted to a tufting machine. The yarn feed unit includes a series of yarn feed devices for feeding each of the yarns to the needles of the tufting machine, and a series of yarn feed controllers that monitor and control the operation of the yarn feed devices to control the feeding of the yarns to the needles according to programmed pattern instructions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2005
    Assignee: Card-Monroe Corp.
    Inventors: Roy T. Card, William M. Christman, Jr., Sherman W. Smith, II
  • Patent number: 6947808
    Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for automatically generating embroidery designs from a scanned image. An embroidery data generating mechanism generates accurate embroidery designs. The embroidery data generating mechanism first reads an image data file, which contains bitmapping information generated from a software scanning tool, the information being related to an embroidery pattern that has been scanned. The scanned pattern is broken up into pixels, each pixel in the scanned image having a bitmap associated with the color of the pattern. Each unique color in the scanned pattern has its own unique bitmap. The embroidery generating mechanism also includes a segmentation mechanism and a chain-encoding mechanism which perform operations to enhance the quality of the bitmapped information and to separate regions of the scanned image into objects. A distance transform evaluation mechanism classifies each object as being either a thick object or a thin, predominantly regular object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2005
    Assignee: SoftSight, Inc.
    Inventor: David A. Goldman
  • Patent number: 6944519
    Abstract: An embroidery data producing device reads an image composed of a plurality of areas to produce embroidery data including sewing data for filling each area with stitches and underlying stitch sewing data for carrying out underlying stitch sewing for each of the areas. The embroidery data producing device includes a synthesized outline data producing unit which produces data of a synthesized outline defining an outline of a synthesized area formed by synthesizing a part or all of a plurality of the areas and an underlying stitch sewing data producing unit which produces data of underlying stitch sewing based on the synthesized outline data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2005
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Mikitoshi Suzuki, Shoichi Taguchi, Masahiro Mizuno, Yukiyoshi Muto, Akihiro Wakayama
  • Patent number: 6938277
    Abstract: Eyewear member includes a structure for fitting peripherally on or around or behind lens and structure of conventional eyewear. Interfitting structure ranges from sealing segments to eyewear members which may attachably engage or simply interfit behind conventional eyewear. The eyewear members enables conventional eyewear to form a closer fit with the face of the user to protect the person's eyes from wind, water and foreign material. All embodiments contemplate selectable removabilty, replace ability and interchangeability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2005
    Inventor: Arthur Charles Lindahl
  • Patent number: 6937919
    Abstract: An embroidery data processing apparatus is constructed to execute calculation for forming a plurality of circles with different radii concentrically around a central point, extract circles and arcs that fall within the embroidery region from the thus formed circles, and determine stitch points on the circles and arcs that fall within the embroidery region. The thus created stitching data features thread flows along the arcs and concentric stitches with a new texture, not existing before, can be created.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2005
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yukiyoshi Muto, Masahiro Mizuno, Mikitoshi Suzuki, Shoichi Taguchi, Akihiro Wakayama
  • Patent number: 6935259
    Abstract: An automated sewing device including a stationary guide element and a movable guide element movably provided on said stationary guide element, the movable guide element allowing one base material to be placed thereon. A plurality of movable sections are defined in the movable guide element and movably connected with one another, such that each of the plurality of movable sections is foldable upwardly relative to the movable guide element, thereby avoiding contact of the movable guide element with a worker who operates the sewing device. The movable guide element may include an area recessed toward a sewing machine of the automatic sewing device, thereby allowing the worker to easily move to guide another base material and along the said one base material while in operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2005
    Assignee: Tachi-S Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukihito Kobayashi, Yoshiyuki Takei
  • Patent number: 6935258
    Abstract: An embroidering system includes a central control device and a plurality of embroidering machines. The plural embroidering machines are synchronously operated by a command from the central control device. The central control device individually adjusts embroidering speeds of the plural embroidering machines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2005
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Seiichiro Hagino
  • Patent number: 6934598
    Abstract: A method of generating pattern via laser cutting process, comprising the step of: 1) Inputting the designed pattern into a computer system; 2) Putting a material beneath a laser beam; 3) Under the control of the computer system, moving the laser beam over the material or moving the material beneath the laser beam in accordance with the pattern input into the computer system so as to cut and generate the pattern with hollow and penetrated shape. On the cloth or fabric material made by this method, the pattern with hollow shape is clear and regular and the fiber threads can't be shed by the laser-sheared edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2005
    Assignee: Merit Corporation Limited
    Inventor: Kam Fuk Derek Ip
  • Patent number: 6932007
    Abstract: A pattern making jig for a quilting machine of the type having a sewing machine moveably mounted on a table includes a pair of jig rails securable to the table and a jig body selectively moveable along the jig rails. A stationary gear is fixedly connected to the jig body. A pinion gear carrier rotatably connected to the jig body carries a pinion gear which is engageable with the stationary gear for orbital movement thereabout. The pinion gear carrier is adjustable to accommodate pinion gears of various sizes. A stylus wheel operably connected to the pinion gear has a plurality of stylus receivers formed therein. A stylus secured to the sewing machine is receivable in any one of the stylus receivers in the stylus wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2005
    Inventor: Kevin Beauchamp
  • Patent number: 6932005
    Abstract: In a frame movement command device for an embroidery machine, which device can control the movement of an embroidery frame based upon signals that are outputted from a frame drive means when a frame movement command switch is operated, the frame movement command switch includes a single operation portion that is operable to incline in a plurality of directions, and the frame drive means outputs signals in order to move the embroidery frame in directions that correspond to the inclined directions of the operation portion. According to this construction, by inclining the single operation portion of the frame movement command switch in the plurality of directions, the embroidery frame can move in directions that correspond to the inclined directions. Therefore, the operator can accurately operate the switch in order to move the embroidery frame toward a desired position, which depends only on the feeling of his or her fingertips touching the operation portion without viewing the frame movement command switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2005
    Assignee: Tokai Kogyo Mishin Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Ikuo Tajima
  • Patent number: 6928664
    Abstract: The microbiostatic garment is a disposable, protective garment to be worn for inhibiting microbial growth on persons exposed to a microbial environment. The microbiostatic garment is manufactured from a nonwoven, spunbonded olefin, or a polypropylene nonwoven fabric. The garment is coated with an aqueous organosilane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2005
    Inventor: Gary L. Price
  • Patent number: 6925652
    Abstract: A diving vest with adjustable buoyancy mainly has a back pad filled with a soft polyurethane gel body therein and disposed additionally on a back portion on an inner side of a regular vest; two left and right sides at the lower ends of the back pad extend respectively to form lashing waist bands; the protruding back pad leans against a human body's concave waist spine portion for obtaining a good ergonomic support and protecting the waist spine portion; the lashing waist band penetrates through a ring band on a waist bag of the vest thereby linking the waist bag to tightly lash a diver onto the vest. The lashing waist band lashes from the back pad as the beginning point such that it is more capable of tightly pulling the vest from the rear to the front for lashing the diver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2005
    Inventor: Peter Feng
  • Patent number: 6925351
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method and system for using a wireless transmission between an embroidery machine and a source system to update stitch data in a memory card. A command to update the stitch data in the memory card is received. Once it is determined that the memory card is not currently in use, the memory card is logically disconnected from the embroidery machine. The new stitch data is then transferred from a source system to the memory card via a wireless connection, and the contents of the memory card are updated with the new stitch data. The memory card is then logically reconnected to the embroidery machine and the new stitch data is ready to be used by the embroidery machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Assignee: Action Tapes, Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy E. Larson
  • Patent number: 6922850
    Abstract: Visor assembly (1, 21) consisting of an inner shield (6, 26) and an outer shield (2, 22). In the use position these shields are some distance apart. With this arrangement the inner shield (6, 26) is located within the peripheral confines of the outer shield (2, 22). The inner shield (6, 26) is provided with an elevation (7, 27) which extends close to the periphery thereof and which acts as a spacer with respect to the outer shield. This elevation (7, 27) is preferably made of silicone material which is snack to the inner shield (6, 26) but is not stuck to the outer shield (2, 22). Fixing to the outer shield (2, 22) takes place by means (10, 12) of mechanical fixing means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Assignee: Derek's Patent B.V.
    Inventor: Derek Leslie Arnold
  • Patent number: 6923130
    Abstract: A sewing machine with a hook (8) that is drivable in rotation about a vertical axis comprises a bobbin case (21) with a lifter cam (31). A case lifter (33) is provided, having a sensing lever (40) and a lifter lever (32) that bears against a lifter cam (28). The sensing lever rests on a cam face (42) of an axial cam disk (39) which is mounted on the transmission shaft that actuates a hook-driving shaft (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Assignee: Dürkopp Adler Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Christoph Heckner, Markus Richter
  • Patent number: 6920837
    Abstract: A sewing machine including a sewing machine upper portion with a frame, a needle rod and a sewing foot rod, which rods are guided in the frame for back and forth movement parallel to one another, a rack connected with each of the rods and which racks are driven by separate pinions driven by separate electric motors. These motors and possibly other motors for positioning other parts of the sewing machine are separately controlled independently of one another by a program controlled control unit so that the movement of needle road and of the sewing foot rod can be independently program controlled during a sewing procedure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2005
    Assignee: KSL Keilmann Sondermaschinenbau GmbH
    Inventor: Robert Keilmann
  • Patent number: 6922604
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process and a device for adjusting clearing limits, defects in the yarn being cut out and a clearing limit separating defects which are to be cut out from defects which are not to be cut out. To achieve an improved, simplified and rapid adjustment of the clearing limit so the effect thereof in the end product can also be predicted more accurately, starting from the clearing limit, displays of defects in the end product are to be produced which make an effect of the defects in the end product visible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2005
    Assignee: Uster Technologies AG
    Inventor: Robert Höeller
  • Patent number: 6918344
    Abstract: A threading device of sewing machine is disclosed, wherein the upper thread extended from a thread supply mounted on a sewing machine body may be easily and smoothly guided into engagement with a thread holder simultaneously when the threading device is operated to pass the upper thread through the eye of needle attached to the lower end of needle bar, the thread holder being arranged between the thread supply and the needle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2005
    Assignee: Janome Sewing Machine Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshikazu Ebata, Tamotsu Nakagawa, Koshiro Omiya
  • Patent number: 6918414
    Abstract: A weft length measuring storage unit is characterized by comprising avoidance mechanism for setting said weft length measuring storage unit such that a weft is not measured its length or stored while maintaining operable one or more driven members which are driven by the main shaft of a loom to measure the weft or stored before the loom is at least inched or reversed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2005
    Assignee: Tsudakoma Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masaru Anada, Shinnichi Hongo