Sewing machine hoop overspray guard

Abstract

The sewing machine hoop overspray guard of the present invention is a band having an outer loop at one end which receives the free end of the band to form a guard loop. The size of the guard loop is adjustable by adjusting the length of the band from the free end, the loop, when placed on its lower edge, fits within the hoops of a sewing machine for the process of embroidery. A handle tab extends upward and outward from the upper edge of the band and the outer loop for holding the overspray guard while spraying adhesive on the backing material held by the hoops. The height of the band is sufficient to avoid overspray from reaching the hoops.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to embroidery sewing machines. More particularly, the present invention relates to overspray guards particularly useful in prevention of adhesive overspray on embroidery hoops.

2. Description of the Related Art

The use of hoops to stretch and hold backing material for embroidery of cloth material of a garment by a machine is widely employed. In a typical application, the cloth material is attached to the backing or substrate material by adhesive. The backing material is generally of relatively stiff paper or cloth and serves to provide support for the embroidered portion of the cloth material to provide an improved embroidery appearance. The backing may also be provided with a pattern for use during the embroidery process. One the embroidery is completed, the piece is removed from the hoops and the excess backing is cut away from the embroidery as required.

During the application of adhesive to the backing material, overspray tends to collect on the hoops. This requires periodic cleaning of the hoops, resulting in production time loss. It would be desirable to provide a masking device or guard which fits around the embroidery area to which adhesive is applied, but is smaller in sized than the hoop so as to prevent overspray adhesive from reaching the hoop. The hoop overspray guard is preferably adjustable to fit within a variety of hoop sizes.

Thus, a sewing machine hoop overspray guard solving the aforementioned problems is desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The sewing machine hoop overspray guard of the present invention is a band having an outer loop at one end which receives the free end of the band to form a guard loop. The size of the guard loop is adjustable by adjusting the length of the band between the free end and the outer loop. The band forming the guard loop, when placed on its lower edge, is adjusted to fit within the hoops of a sewing machine for the process of embroidery. A handle tab extends upward and outward from the upper edge of the band and the outer loop for holding the overspray guard while spraying adhesive on the backing material held by the hoops. The height of the band is sufficient to avoid overspray from reaching the hoops.

These and other features of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an environmental, perspective view of a sewing machine overspray hoop guard according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an elevation view of the hoop guard of FIG. 1, showing the band engaged in the outer loop.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the hoop guard of FIG. 1 in an open and flat position before forming the loop and handle tab.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the hoop guard as in FIG. 3 with the outer loop and handle tab formed.

Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The present invention is a sewing machine embroidery hoop overspray guard for preventing adhesive spray used during set-up of the embroidery piece from reaching the embroidery hoop.

Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown an environmental perspective view of the hoop overspray guard referred to by the reference number 10. The hoop guard 10 has a strap or band 12 having an inner side 30 and an outer side 32 and forming a generally circular overspray guard loop. The hoop overspray guar is shown being held by the fingers of left hand LH by a handle tab 14 against the backing material M held between inner hoop I and outer hoop O. An adhesive spray S is being applied from a spray can held by right hand RH to receive the garment to be embroidered.

Referring to FIG. 2, there is shown a side elevation view of the assembled hoop guard 10 having band 12 having free end 24 extending through outer loop 18 and having the handle tab 14 formed at the upper edge of outer loop 18. The band 12, the handle tab 14 and the outer loop 18 form a slot 19 to snugly receive band free end 24, and may be constructed of a unitary piece of plastic sheet material. The handle tab 14 is preferably bent outward at tab fold 28 to facilitate grasping.

The sheet material is preferably flexible so as to form the generally circular band 12, while being of sufficient stiffness and resilience that the band is held at a desired adjustment point from its free end 24 by friction resulting from the curvature of the looped band 12. The curved, looped band 12 is urged by its resilience relative to the relatively flat slot 19 formed by outer loop 18 to form the friction grip. The band 12 is preferably bendable to form a loop shape other than circular such as one approximately corresponding to the shape of the hoops H. The size of the guard loop formed by the band 12 may be adjusted by varying the length of insertion of free end 24 through outer loop 18. Also bands of the inventive hoop guard may be supplied in different band lengths.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, there are shown plan views of the hoop guard as cut from a sheet of plastic, and after folding to form the outer loop 18 and handle tab 14, respectively. The outer loop 18 is formed by folding over the loop portion 18 at loop fold 26 and securing inner tab 20 to outer tab 22 by adhesive, heat sealing, or other well known method. Loop portion 18 is folded such as to leave slot 19 between the loop and the band at the band loop end 16 so as to allow insertion of band free end 24 therethrough. Handle tab 14 is formed by inner tab 20 overlaid with outer tab 20 and bent outward at tab folds 28. Handle tab 14 extends upward and outward from band upper edge 36, the guard 10 resting on lower edge 38 during use. For storage on a hook or the like, an aperture 34 may be provided proximate band free end 24.

The hoop overspray guard of the present invention is preferably made of flexible plastic material, but may be made of other suitable materials such as rubber, leather, or sheet metal.

Preferably the band 12 is about 35½ inches in length and about 2¾ inches in height, the outer loop 18 and handle tab 14 are about 2 inches in width, the outer loop is about 3⅛ inches in length, the handle tab is about 2¼ inches in vertical length, and the slot 19 formed between the outer lop 18 and the band 12 is about ⅛ inch in width and equal in length to the height of band 12.

It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. A sewing machine hoop overspray guard, comprising:

a band having an inner side, an outer side, an upper edge, a lower edge, a loop end, and a free end;

an outer loop located at said loop end on said outer side of said band and defining a slot so sized and configured as to snugly receive said free end of said band; and

a handle tab extending upward from said upper edge of said band;

wherein said band forms an overspray guard loop by inserting said free end into said outer loop.

2. The guard of claim 1, wherein said outer loop extends between said upper edge and said lower edge of said band.

3. The guard of claim 2, wherein said handle tab extends upward and outward from said outer loop.

4. The guard of claim 3, wherein said band is flexible and resilient.

5. The guard of claim 4, wherein said guard is unitary.

6. The guard of claim 3, wherein said handle tab comprises an inner tab extending upward and outward from said upper edge of said band and an outer tab extending upward and outward from said outer loop, said inner tab and said outer tab being joined.

7. The guard of claim 6, wherein said inner tab and said outer tab is joined by adhesive.

8. The guard of claim 6, wherein said band is about 35½ inches in length and about 2¾ inches in height.

9. The guard of claim 8, wherein said outer band and said handle tab are about 2 inches in width, said outer loop being about 3⅛ inches in length and said handle tab being about 2¼ inches in length, said slot being about ⅛ inch in width and equal in length to said height of said band.

10. The guard of claim 1, wherein said overspray guard loop is adjustable in size by adjusting the length from said free end of said band from said outer loop.

11. A sewing machine hoop overspray guard, comprising:

a band having an inner side, an outer side, an upper edge, a lower edge, a loop end, and a free end;

an outer loop located at said loop end and forming a slot so sized and configured as to snugly receive said free end of said band; and

a handle tab extending upward from said upper edge of said band;

wherein said band forms an overspray guard loop by inserting said free end into said outer loop.

12. The sewing machine hoop overspray guard of claim 11, wherein said outer loop extends outward from said band.

13. The guard of claim 11, wherein said outer loop extends between said upper edge and said lower edge of said band.

14. The guard of claim 13, wherein said handle tab extends upward and outward from said outer loop.

15. The guard of claim 13, wherein said band is flexible and resilient.

16. The guard of claim 15, wherein said guard is unitary.

17. The guard of claim 13, wherein said handle tab comprises an inner tab extending upward and outward from said upper edge of said band and an outer tab extending upward and outward from said outer loop, said inner tab and said outer tab being joined.

18. A sewing machine hoop overspray guard, comprising:

a band having an inner side, an outer side, an upper edge, a lower edge, a loop end, and a free end; and

an outer loop located at said loop end on said outer side of said band and defining a slot so sized and configured as to snugly receive said free end of said band;

wherein said band forms an overspray guard loop by inserting said free end into said outer loop.

19. The guard of claim 18, further comprising a handle tab extending upward from said upper edge of said band.

20. The guard of claim 19, wherein said handle tab extends upward and outward from said outer loop.