Abstract: A composite feed dog for a sewing machine comprises a zinc die cast body portion having a toothed surface region covered by a layer of elastomeric material.

Abstract: A bobbin case, which is loosely confined within the looptaker of a sewing machine, is biased both into engagement on one side against the looptaker and about the looptaker axis toward a position of engagement with a stop by a continuously engaging light force applying resilient member, and a shock absorber is disposed for engagement with the bobbin case only upon movement thereof through a predetermined distance in opposition to the bias of said resilient member.

Abstract: A thrust washer on the looptaker shaft of a sewing machine between the underside of a hook body and the top end of a bushing wherein the looptaker shaft is rotatable is provided with thread engageable peripheral flanges, one of which is disposed to extend upwardly into a recess formed in the hook body and the other one of which extends downwardly over the top edge of the bushing.

Abstract: A method for implementing winding of a lower thread bobbin in place in a looptaker of a sewing machine from an upper thread supply. A buttonhole pattern in which at least one initial stitch is effected at one end of the buttonhole prior to holding needle bar reciprocation in abeyance while feeding the work material to the other end of the buttonhole, is selected but is utilized without a traveling buttonhole foot which would reinitiate stitching and feeding of the work material. Instead, any other presser foot, or no presser foot, is used so that bobbin winding may proceed after upper thread is initially brought to the lower bobbin, without having thread flow interferred with by needle bar reciprocation.

Abstract: A sewing needle in which an elongated locator portion is provided extending transversely from the shank and of a length to extend from a retaining means fixing the sewing needle to the needle bar, sufficiently and in a direction to permit its use as an accessory driving stud.

Abstract: A chain stitch insert receivable in the bobbin case of a sewing machine is formed with a topside ledge which captures and consumes thread as a hook point carries a loop of thread around the bobbin case. The ledge enables the formation of chain stitches without the need for a special eyelet on the machine.

Abstract: A clutch which is engaged to rotate and wind thread on a sewing machine bobbin is provided with clutch parts that include a single bladed paddle, and a member with a pair of crossed paddle receiving through slots, one of which has a chamfered upper edge that substantially widens the mouth of the slot and the other of which is without such chamfered edge.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for implementing bobbin winding in place in a looptaker of a sewing machine. When a presser foot lift lever is manipulated to elevate a presser foot, and the sewing machine motor is activated, a series of two or three endwise reciprocations of the sewing machine is effected to bring an upper thread to the lower thread carrying bobbin, after which further endwise reciprocation of the sewing needle is held in abeyance while actuation of the sewing machine motor is continued, to provide the least disturbance of upper thread passage to the lower thread bobbin. No other bobbin winding signaling steps are required.

Abstract: A sewing machine bobbin for a vertical axis hook is provided with a top and a bottom flanged section, and a fastener which both holds the sections together and is the driven member of a clutch through which the bobbin may be driven for bobbin winding.

Abstract: A straight stitch throat plate for a sewing machine is formed as a resilient thin sheet metal part with integral appendages including a depending rear tab which hooks under the edge of a feed dog slot in a zig-zag plate, laterally spaced depending tabs which are received in locator holes in the zig-zag place, and a bent down flange to extend over a front edge of the zig-zag plate into a position wherein the flange may be engaged by a slide plate on the sewing machine.

Abstract: A control arm for bobbin winding mechanism in a lockstitch sewing machine is provided with a pawl which serves both to guide needle thread into a thread entering slot for a tensioning device on a bobbin case, and to hold an arm of the tensioning device in a position effective to prevent the thread from being pulled out of the slot.

Abstract: An electronically controlled multiple pattern sewing machine is provided with an arrangement which senses when the buttonhole paddle and buttonhole presser foot are not properly positioned at the time a buttonhole pattern is selected to be sewn. Under these circumstances, an alarm is activated and stitches are not formed even though the operator may attempt to sew.

Abstract: A zig zag sewing machine, wherein a needle bar having a basting position beyond its zig zagging range, is provided with a presser foot having therein an elongate opening which is defined to permit one needle of a twin needle device to pass therethrough without striking the foot upon descent of the needle bar of the machine from a basting position, and which has a beveled edge to interfere at one end of the opening with the other needle and deflect such other needle so that it can pass through the opening.

Abstract: A tailor tack producing arrangement for a sewing machine is disclosed in which stitch patterning data stored in an electronic memory produces a recurring pattern of two closely spaced thread concatenations followed by a multiplicity of work feed increments during which the sewing machine needle bar reciprocation is interrupted. A warning means is disclosed for alerting the operator prior to needle reciprocation to facilitate accurate placement a recurring series of tailor tacks in work fabrics to facilitate accurate placement of isolated tailor tacks, the present invention combines the above with the feature of reversion to the initial stitch of the recurring pattern upon each selection of the pattern and combination with a single pattern facility which further prevents inadvertent needle reciprocation.

Abstract: A linear motor is used to jog the needle bar and gate beyond the normal jogging range in order to disable a latch and separate the needle bar from the sewing machine driving means. The linear motor is driven into this abnormal excursion beyond the usual jogging motion by supplying a known needle position signal to the servoamplifier system for the linear motor and providing a separate voltage from a regulated voltage source which is summed with the specific signal in order to provide sufficient electromotive force for jogging the sewing needle beyond the normal jogging range.

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.

Abstract: A cam follower including an arm pivotally movable about an axis which is perpendicular to the axis of rotation of an actuating cam is provided with a shoe that pivots on the arm to maintain line contact with the cam as the cam is rotated.

Abstract: A holder containing the light detector of the low bobbin thread detection system of a sewing machine and including a light admitting aperture through which light may pass to a photodetector is provided with a plastic tubular collar which extends over the aperture and serves both as a shield to keep lint out of the aperture and as a lens to focus light on a light sensitive surface in the photodetector.

Abstract: An SCR motor speed control system having a capacitor for triggering the SCR into conduction is provided with circuitry for limiting the top speed of the motor by sensing the time of a predetermined proportion of a motor revolution to determine the motor speed. When the time is below a predetermined time interval, indicative of motor speed above a desired top speed limit, a path is closed to bypass the charging path of the capacitor.

Abstract: A method of forming a buttonhole including two spaced apart rows of zig zag stitches so that each row is formed in a like manner with the final overlaying stitches accomplished in the forward direction and which may be initiated by a barring stitch adjacent the edge of the garment followed by a straight stitch down the cutting space to the opposite end of the garment.