Abstract: A starting device has a rotary drive member that is operable by hand or power devices. The device has a detented or geared strip arranged to engage with a similarly detented or geared starting wheel. The teeth of these parts are designed to grab and lock with each other in the starting direction and to slip past each other in the opposite direction. Crimping, sticking and other failure modes of conventional wind up rope units are virtually eliminated. A more consistent pull is afforded owing to a constant radius interface with the starter wheel rather than a diminishing radius of the type delivered by a wound rope.

Abstract: In a sewing machine, needle bar and take-up motion is timed to feed dog motion through a constant breadth cam and gear in predetermined angular positions on the arm shaft, a gear on a vertical shaft in mesh with the arm shaft gear according to timing marks on the gears, and a lift cam in a predetermined angular position on the vertical shaft relative to the gear thereon.

Abstract: A pattern selecting dial for a sewing machine is connected through a toothed driving belt to a remotely located rotatable member which carries a circularly arranged stepped cam and which can be turned with the application of low torque to the dial to effect the selective positioning of a cam follower opposite a pattern controlling cam stack.

Abstract: A manual thread cutter for a sewing machine is disclosed in which a cutting blade is supported on a canted surface merging toward the corner of the hollow interior of a face plate covering the head end of the sewing machine. A slot extends continuously through adjacent walls of the face plate approximately medially of the canted surface so that sewing thread may be drawn through the slot to the cutting edge of the cutting blade. A platform extends from one of the adjacent walls coextensive with the bottom surface of the slot so that thread may be pivoted about the platform and drawn into the slot to impinge upon the cutting edge of the cutting blade.

Abstract: A sewing machine work feed regulating arrangement is disclosed including a manual control dial for setting the magnitude and direction of work feed and a pattern cam for automatically influencing feed magnitude and direction. Control cam means associated with the manual control dial and effective during a small angular dwell segment thereof influences separate follower means positively to effect either engagement or disengagement of the pattern cam control of the work feed.

Abstract: A slide plate hold-down spring is provided with a depending portion which is received in a well in a sewing machine bed. The depending portion includes a window in which a protuberance on the bed engages the spring, and a curved length which engages a wall of the well.

Abstract: An optical switching system for one step buttonholing substantially eliminates false triggering when an operator inadvertently moves an object within the viewing path of the optical sensor by utilizing signals from the sensors only when the sewing machine is running.

Abstract: A presser foot for a sewing machine is formed of plastic with upstanding spreadable legs including protuberances which snap into countersunk portions of a through hole in a shank to provide a pivotal mounting for the foot on the shank in the machine.

Abstract: A button attaching device is provided with a bifurcated needle holding member which can be utilized to adjust the spacing between a pair of needles, and with a needle cover which attaches to the bifurcated member to protect one from injury by the needles and form a unit that can be conveniently carried on the person of a user.

Abstract: A button attaching hand tool is provided with a box-like structure which includes a fixed and adjustable needle, and which includes a button storage compartment. A slidable shroud on the box-like structure for extricating a button and material from the needles is movable between a position in which an operator is shielded from injury by the needles and another position in which the needles are exposed for button sewing use.

Abstract: A button sewing device is provided with a base; a pair of needles which carry collapsible thread formed loops, and project from the base for use in penetrating a layer of material and the holes of a button to be attached to the material; and with elastomeric material over the base compressible by pressure on the material to which the button is to be attached, and expandable to raise such material and thereby cause the loops to be opened above the button for receiving a thread bundle.

Abstract: An improved visual aid mechanism for a presser device for facilitating the making of buttonholes. The mechanism will sense and indicate to the operator the approaching end of the first leg of a buttonhole being sewn whose length has been preset by the operator. This invention utilizes flexible fingers which are substantially deflected by an adjustable stop member to provide a magnified visual indication. Thus the operator may stop the sewing operation very precisely resulting in buttonholes of consistently uniform length and quality.

Abstract: An interlock between the work engaging presser foot and the work engaging shoe of a buttonhole sewing presser device which is effective to prevent travel of the work engaging shoe when the presser foot is raised for work insertion. In addition a latch is provided effective to prevent accidental disengagement of the interlock when the buttonhole sewing presser device tilts after the presser foot has been raised.