Patents by Inventor Frank Prufer

Frank Prufer has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20230279596
    Abstract: A presser foot (1) for a sewing machine, having a shank (4) for fastening the presser foot (1) to a sewing machine, a needle opening (5) through which the sewing machine needle is able to be guided during sewing, and a presser foot sole (6) having an elongate depression (7) in the presser foot sole (6). The elongate depression (7) forms a guide wall which during sewing is configured to guide a filler material (8) to be sewn into the fabric (2) in the transport direction laterally beside the needle opening (5) and past the needle opening (5), and press said filler material against the fabric to be sewn, wherein the spatial extent of the elongate depression (7) is variably adjustable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2023
    Publication date: September 7, 2023
    Applicant: BERNINA International AG
    Inventor: Frank Prufer
  • Patent number: 9038553
    Abstract: A punching device including a punching die (5a) that can be connected to the needle bar and a punching matrix (5b) that can be fastened to a needle plate (7) of a sewing machine. The punching matrix (5b) is embodied as a lid of a clippings container (9). The planar object (23) to be processed is displaced via the tambour frame in a punching plane L2, with this punching plane L2 being arranged parallel above the sewing plane L1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: BERNINA International AG
    Inventor: Frank Prufer
  • Patent number: 8671861
    Abstract: A placement device (3) for placing decorative elements (5) on a textile or non-textile sheet material is connected to a sewing machine. The decorative elements (5) are stored in an ordered way in magazines (7) and are fed in a controlled way by the control of the sewing machine to the appropriate set positions on the sheet material (39) and are connected to this material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: BERNINA International AG
    Inventors: Michael Konig, Frank Prufer
  • Publication number: 20130298811
    Abstract: A punching device including a punching die (5a) that can be connected to the needle bar and a punching matrix (5b) that can be fastened to a needle plate (7) of a sewing machine. The punching matrix (5b) is embodied as a lid of a clippings container (9). The planar object (23) to be processed is displaced via the tambour frame in a punching plane L2, with this punching plane L2 being arranged parallel above the sewing plane L1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2013
    Publication date: November 14, 2013
    Inventor: Frank Prufer
  • Patent number: 8272341
    Abstract: A device for cutting textile and non-textile sheet materials with a sewing machine having a turning device (9) that can be mounted on the lower end of the needle bar (5). A cutting needle (23) is inserted from below into the turning device (9) instead of a sewing needle and can be brought into the desired cutting position, for example, by a fin (17) that projects from the turning device (9).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: BERNINA International AG
    Inventors: Michael König, Markus Müller, Frank Prüfer
  • Patent number: 8245654
    Abstract: An embroidery hoop (1) for a sewing machine or embroidery machine having two hoop parts, namely the lower hoop part (3) and the upper hoop part (5). The two hoop parts (3, 5) are connected to each other by a hinge that can be released without the use of tools. The embroidery material is clamped between the inner hinge element (9) on the lower hoop part (3) and the outer hinge element (15) on the upper hoop part (5). Through this measure, an embroidery material can be embroidered at any position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: BERNINA International AG
    Inventors: Michael Konig, Frank Prufer, Markus Muller
  • Publication number: 20100313806
    Abstract: A placement device (3) for placing decorative elements (5) on a textile or non-textile sheet material is connected to a sewing machine. The decorative elements (5) are stored in an ordered way in magazines (7) and are fed in a controlled way by the control of the sewing machine to the appropriate set positions on the sheet material (39) and are connected to this material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2010
    Publication date: December 16, 2010
    Applicant: BERNINA INTERNATIONAL AG
    Inventors: Michael König, Frank Prüfer
  • Publication number: 20100313804
    Abstract: An embroidery hoop (1) for a sewing machine or embroidery machine having two hoop parts, namely the lower hoop part (3) and the upper hoop part (5). The two hoop parts (3, 5) are connected to each other by a hinge that can be released without the use of tools. The embroidery material is clamped between the inner hinge element (9) on the lower hoop part (3) and the outer hinge element (15) on the upper hoop part (5). Through this measure, an embroidery material can be embroidered at any position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2010
    Publication date: December 16, 2010
    Applicant: BERNINA INTERNATIONAL AG
    Inventors: Michael König, Frank Prüfer, Markus Müller
  • Publication number: 20100050915
    Abstract: A device for cutting textile and non-textile sheet materials with a sewing machine having a turning device (9) that can be mounted on the lower end of the needle bar (5). A cutting needle (23) is inserted from below into the turning device (9) instead of a sewing needle and can be brought into the desired cutting position, for example, by a fin (17) that projects from the turning device (9).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2009
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Applicant: BERNINA INTERNATIONAL AG
    Inventors: Michael König, Markus Müller, Frank Prüfer
  • Patent number: 7114455
    Abstract: In an upright (3) of a sewing machine (1), a thread spool holder (24) is mounted in a recess (13) so that it can pivot out of the recess (13). On this holder, thread spool pins (23) are placed, as well as an arm (35), on whose upper end thread guidance elements (33) are fixed. For use, the cover (15) which covers the thread spool holder (24) in the stowed state is opened, and the thread spool holder (24) is pivoted out from the recess (13).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2006
    Assignee: Fritz Gegauf Aktiengesellschaft BERNINA-Nahmaschinenfabrik
    Inventors: Frank Prüfer, Michael König, André Stucki
  • Publication number: 20060150880
    Abstract: In an upright (3) of a sewing machine (1), a thread spool holder (24) is mounted in a recess (13) so that it can pivot out of the recess (13). On this holder, thread spool pins (23) are placed, as well as an arm (35), on whose upper end thread guidance elements (33) are fixed. For use, the cover (15) which covers the thread spool holder (24) in the stowed state is opened, and the thread spool holder (24) is pivoted out from the recess (13).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2005
    Publication date: July 13, 2006
    Applicant: Fritz Gegauf Aktiengesellschaft BERNINA-Nahmaschinenfabrik
    Inventors: Frank Prufer, Michael Konig, Andre Stucki
  • Patent number: D752659
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: BERNINA International AG
    Inventors: Patrick Schneider, Kristine Wassung, Peter Tippl, Frank Prufer, Jan Janouschek, Hansjorg Herzog
  • Patent number: D753732
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: BERNINA AG
    Inventors: Patrick Schneider, Kristine Wassung, Peter Tippl, Frank Prufer, Jan Janouschek, Hansjorg Herzog