Patents by Inventor Gary J. Konzak

Gary J. Konzak 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: 20210198825
    Abstract: Dual-motor sewing machine with automatic timing adjustment. In some embodiments, a sewing machine may include a frame, a needle bar configured to have a needle, a first motor configured to cause the needle bar to linearly reciprocate the needle with respect to the frame and into and out of a fabric, a first sensor configured to continuously sense a current position of the needle, a bobbin hook configured to function in connection with a bobbin, a second motor configured to cause the bobbin hook to rotate with respect to the frame, a second sensor configured to continuously sense a current position of the bobbin hook, and one or more motor controllers. The one or more motor controllers may be configured, based on the current positions sensed by the first sensor and the second sensor, to continuously and automatically adjust and synchronize timing of the first motor and/or the second motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2021
    Publication date: July 1, 2021
    Inventors: Gary J. Konzak, Richard K. Eich, Bryan K. Ruggles, Darren Denning
  • Patent number: 11015276
    Abstract: Multi-sensor sewing machine with automatic needle speed adjustment. In some embodiments, a sewing machine may include a frame, a needle bar, a motor, a first sensor configured to emit first electromagnetic radiation at a first frequency in order to sense relative movement of the fabric and the frame, a second sensor configured to emit second electromagnetic radiation at a second frequency, that is different from the first frequency, in order to sense relative movement of the fabric and the frame, and a processor. The processor may be configured to control a speed of the motor, determine a translational relative movement of the fabric and the frame based on the sensed relative movement of the first sensor and/or based on the sensed relative movement of the second sensor, and, in response to the determined translational relative movement, alter the speed of the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: HANDI QUILTER, INC.
    Inventor: Gary J. Konzak
  • Patent number: 10982367
    Abstract: Dual-motor sewing machine with automatic timing adjustment. In some embodiments, a sewing machine may include a frame, a needle bar configured to have a needle, a first motor configured to cause the needle bar to linearly reciprocate the needle with respect to the frame and into and out of a fabric, a first sensor configured to continuously sense a current position of the needle, a bobbin hook configured to function in connection with a bobbin, a second motor configured to cause the bobbin hook to rotate with respect to the frame, a second sensor configured to continuously sense a current position of the bobbin hook, and one or more motor controllers. The one or more motor controllers may be configured, based on the current positions sensed by the first sensor and the second sensor, to continuously and automatically adjust and synchronize timing of the first motor and/or the second motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: HANDI QUILTER, INC.
    Inventors: Gary J. Konzak, Richard K. Eich, Bryan K. Ruggles, Darren Denning
  • Patent number: 10920352
    Abstract: Dual-configuration fabric frame for a maneuverable sewing machine. In some embodiments, a dual-configuration fabric frame for a maneuverable sewing machine may include a left side rail, a right side rail, a front rail, a rear rail, a quilt-backing pole including a ratchet mechanism, a take-up pole including a ratchet mechanism, a hoop frame configuration, and a suspension frame configuration. The hoop frame configuration may support a relatively wide fabric clamped thereto that flows from inside boundaries of a working area to outside the boundaries of the working area. The suspension frame configuration may support a relatively narrow fabric that flows from being spooled on the quilt-backing pole, through the working area, to being spooled on the take-up pole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: HANDI QUILTER, INC.
    Inventors: Darren Denning, Gordon Hudson, Gary J. Konzak, Cathie Zimmerman
  • Publication number: 20200248348
    Abstract: Multi-sensor sewing machine with automatic needle speed adjustment. In some embodiments, a sewing machine may include a frame, a needle bar, a motor, a first sensor configured to emit first electromagnetic radiation at a first frequency in order to sense relative movement of the fabric and the frame, a second sensor configured to emit second electromagnetic radiation at a second frequency, that is different from the first frequency, in order to sense relative movement of the fabric and the frame, and a processor. The processor may be configured to control a speed of the motor, determine a translational relative movement of the fabric and the frame based on the sensed relative movement of the first sensor and/or based on the sensed relative movement of the second sensor, and, in response to the determined translational relative movement, alter the speed of the motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2019
    Publication date: August 6, 2020
    Inventor: Gary J. Konzak
  • Publication number: 20200149201
    Abstract: Dual-configuration fabric frame for a maneuverable sewing machine. In some embodiments, a dual-configuration fabric frame for a maneuverable sewing machine may include a left side rail, a right side rail, a front rail, a rear rail, a quilt-backing pole including a ratchet mechanism, a take-up pole including a ratchet mechanism, a hoop frame configuration, and a suspension frame configuration. The hoop frame configuration may support a relatively wide fabric clamped thereto that flows from inside boundaries of a working area to outside the boundaries of the working area. The suspension frame configuration may support a relatively narrow fabric that flows from being spooled on the quilt-backing pole, through the working area, to being spooled on the take-up pole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2018
    Publication date: May 14, 2020
    Inventors: Darren Denning, Gordon Hudson, Gary J. Konzak, Cathie Zimmerman
  • Publication number: 20190292702
    Abstract: Dual-motor sewing machine with automatic timing adjustment. In some embodiments, a sewing machine may include a frame, a needle bar configured to have a needle, a first motor configured to cause the needle bar to linearly reciprocate the needle with respect to the frame and into and out of a fabric, a first sensor configured to continuously sense a current position of the needle, a bobbin hook configured to function in connection with a bobbin, a second motor configured to cause the bobbin hook to rotate with respect to the frame, a second sensor configured to continuously sense a current position of the bobbin hook, and one or more motor controllers. The one or more motor controllers may be configured, based on the current positions sensed by the first sensor and the second sensor, to continuously and automatically adjust and synchronize timing of the first motor and/or the second motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2019
    Publication date: September 26, 2019
    Inventors: Gary J. Konzak, Richard K. Eich, Bryan K. Ruggles, Darren Denning
  • Patent number: 9115451
    Abstract: A device controls the speed of needle movement in a sewing machine and thus the stitch length based upon the movement of a motion detection device relative to a reference surface. The formation of stitches by the sewing machine is controlled by detected changes in position of the detection device relative to the reference surface in connection with a predetermined stitch length setting and starting speed, set on either the detection device, an adapter or as part of the sewing machine control. The detection device may move together with the article being sewn while the sewing machine and reference surface remain stationary, or the detection device may move with the sewing machine while the article that is being sewn and reference surface remain stationary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: Handi Quilter, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary J. Konzak, Richard K. Eich, Bryan K. Ruggles
  • Publication number: 20120312213
    Abstract: A device controls the speed of needle movement in a sewing machine and thus the stitch length based upon the movement of a motion detection device relative to a reference surface. The formation of stitches by the sewing machine is controlled by detected changes in position of the detection device relative to the reference surface in connection with a predetermined stitch length setting and starting speed, set on either the detection device, an adapter or as part of the sewing machine control. The detection device may move together with the article being sewn while the sewing machine and reference surface remain stationary, or the detection device may move with the sewing machine while the article that is being sewn and reference surface remain stationary.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2012
    Publication date: December 13, 2012
    Applicant: Handi Quilter, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary J. Konzak, Richard K. Eich, Bryan K. Ruggles