Work Supports Patents (Class 112/260)
  • Patent number: 11873591
    Abstract: Provided with an embroidery unit attaching and detaching device capable of preventing an embroidery unit from falling from a sewing machine and capable of preventing the damage of a portion connecting the embroidery unit and the sewing machine even when the moment load of twisting the embroidery unit with respect to the sewing machine is applied. An embroidery unit attaching and detaching device includes: a lock mechanism configured to operate in association with a motion of an embroidery unit in an attaching direction to restrict the motion of the embroidery unit in a detaching direction with respect to a sewing machine; and support mechanisms for restricting a relative motion of the sewing machine and the embroidery unit in a vertical direction where recessed portions and protruded portions are engaged with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: JANOME Corporation
    Inventors: Takeshi Oie, Takuya Sawada
  • Patent number: 11492739
    Abstract: A tufting machine comprising a plurality of needle holders (11) associated with a needle bar (5) and slidably supported in a frame for reciprocation in a needle reciprocation direction. A respective needle (10) is attached to each needle holder (11), each needle holder having an engagement portion. The needle bar (5) has means (7, 13) for selectively latching with the engagement portion of each selected needle holder so as to selectively drive latched needle holders in the needle reciprocation direction. A stop bar (21) is positioned to limit the upward movement of the needle holders (11). At least one magnet (20) retains non-latched needle holders in its uppermost position as the needle bar is reciprocated. The magnets (20) are embedded in the stop bar (21). The machine further comprises a cushioning member (27) attached to the magnet (20) and facing the top of each needle holder (11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: VANDEWIELE NV
    Inventors: Domien Crevits, Vincent Lampaert
  • Patent number: 11214904
    Abstract: A sewing machine includes a needle plate, a bed portion, a first urging member, a first engagement member, a second engagement member, and a lock release mechanism. The bed portion is configured to support the needle plate. The first urging member is provided inside the bed portion and configured to urge the needle plate upward. The first engagement member is provided on the needle plate. The second engagement member is provided inside the bed portion, and is configured to fix the needle plate in a fixed position by being engaged with the first engagement member of the needle plate pressed downward against an urging force of the first urging member. The lock release mechanism is configured to release the engagement of the first engagement member and the second engagement member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Daisuke Ueda, Nobuhiko Funato, Fumihiro Nonobe, Yuki Taguchi, Junya Kito, Koji Funaki
  • Patent number: 11162199
    Abstract: A needle plate attaching/detaching mechanism includes: a needle plate fixing portion rotatably provided below a needle plate mounted on a sewing machine main body, and movable between a fixed position fixing the needle plate to the sewing machine main body and a non-fixed position where the fixing is released; a driving gear jointly rotatably coupled to the needle plate fixing portion; a transmission mechanism switchable between a transmission state transmitting driving force from a motor to the driving gear and a disconnection state disconnecting the transmission; and an operating member including a manual gear transmitting manual operating force to the driving gear. When the operating member is non-operating, the transmission mechanism is set to the transmission state, and the manual gear is disconnected from the driving gear. In the operating state, the operating member switches the transmission mechanism from transmission to disconnection, and the manual and driving gears are coupled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: JANOME SEWING MACHINE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Saki Yasumoto, Shuichi Sato, Yoshihiro Sakai
  • Patent number: 10883213
    Abstract: In order to prevent a replacement of the needle plate in the situation not suitable for replacing the needle plate, a needle plate detachable mechanism has a needle plate fixing unit for fixing a needle plate on a sewing machine body; a releasing unit for releasing a fixed state of the needle plate; and a fixing-release limiting unit for limiting a release of the fixed state of the needle plate when the needle is positioned below an upper surface of the needle plate or when the sewing machine motor is driven.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: JANOME SEWING MACHINE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Osamu Yanagisawa, Hideo Suzuki, Shinichi Kato, Jun Mafune
  • Patent number: 10309046
    Abstract: The invention provides a seam structure for fabric and a sewing method which are aesthetically superior and by which pieces of fabric can be sewn together smoothly, without a sewn-on portion protruding at the reverse surface of a garment that comes in contact with the skin, and without fabric edges being exposed at the front surface of the garment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: pro best Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroki Konno
  • Patent number: 10132108
    Abstract: A lock device for an opening/closing device, is provided with: lock sections located on both sides of the lid; a pair of link rods provided with hook sections provided at the front ends of the pair of link rods; pressing means for pressing the hook sections in the direction in which the hook sections engage with the lock sections; a pusher for sliding the hook sections in the direction in which the hook sections do not engage with the lock sections; pressing members disposed on both sides of an opening and pressing the lid in the direction in which the lid opens; and a holding lever and a holding protrusion which hold the hook sections in a state in which the hook sections do not engage with the lock sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: PIOLAX, INC.
    Inventors: Toshihiro Shimizu, Hisashi Nakasone
  • Patent number: 9139942
    Abstract: A needle plate of a sewing machine mounted on an upper surface of a bed of the sewing machine includes a support surface for supporting a fabric pressed by a presser foot, a needle opening through which a needle passes, and a feed dog slot through which a feed dog moves up and down and back and forth. The support surface has small projections and recesses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: JANOME SEWING MACHINE CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kazuyoshi Azeyanagi
  • Publication number: 20150136004
    Abstract: A needle plate base in a multi-thread chain stitch sewing machine with a seam ravel preventing apparatus is divided into a left needle plate base for attaching a needle plate thereto and supporting a swinging support shaft of a thread hanging hook; and a right needle plate base for fixedly supporting a stopper member and a thread handling air cylinder and a stopper air cylinder. The right needle plate base is fastened to a sewing machine bed. The left needle plate base is fastenably and unfastenably fastened to an upper surface of the bed via screw members. Adjustment of stitch performation, and maintenance, e.g., replacement of various kinds of components stored inside the bed, can extremely easily and simply be carried out without having much trouble and requiring labor and time, and therefore, the stitch performation and predetermined ravel preventing function can be constantly surely reproduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2012
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Applicant: Yamato Sewing Machine Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Seiji Hashimoto
  • Publication number: 20140373766
    Abstract: A needle plate of a sewing machine mounted on an upper surface of a bed of the sewing machine includes a support surface for supporting a fabric pressed by a presser foot, a needle opening through which a needle passes, and a feed dog slot through which a feed dog moves up and down and back and forth. The support surface has small projections and recesses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2014
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Applicant: JANOME SEWING MACHINE CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kazuyoshi Azeyanagi
  • Publication number: 20140209002
    Abstract: The sewing machine has: a base plate that has a guide slit for guiding a bobbin thread that is set on the bottom face side of the throat plate 1; and a bobbin thread guide member that has a guide groove for guiding the bobbin thread supplied from a bobbin and includes a cutting blade provide at the end position of the guide groove to cut the bobbin thread guided along the guide groove to an appropriate length. The bobbin thread guide member is secured to the base plate and has a holding member, which holds the end of the bobbin thread, in the guide groove, so as to maintain the state when the bobbin thread was cut.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2014
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: JANOME SEWING MACHINE Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tustomu TAKAGI, Koji Maeda, Takuya Sawada
  • Patent number: 8661996
    Abstract: A sewing machine auxiliary storage compartment is provided that can be attached to or detached from a sewing machine body part and that allows small articles such as accessories to be taken out therefrom or put thereinto even during sewing. Upper and lower parts are attached slidably with respect to each other. The upper part 11 is provided with an attachment part 116 that can be attached to the sewing machine body part by its one end. The lower part 12 is attached to the upper part 11 slidably in a direction crossing a workpiece feeding direction when the upper part 11 and the sewing machine body part are attached together. A storage part 122 for storing accessories is provided in the lower part 12, which is located on the opposite side to the one end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Jaguar International Corporation
    Inventor: Takashi Inoue
  • Publication number: 20130186317
    Abstract: A holding frame includes upper and lower frame members having substantially the same thicknesses, and an inner frame member detachably attachable to the inner peripheries of the upper and lower frame members. The upper and lower frame members are fixed together in vertically superposed relation to each other with a workpiece sandwiched therebetween. The workpiece can be set on the frame in any desired of a first stretched-taut state where the workpiece is stretched taut and generally flush with the upper surface of the upper frame member by being pressed upward via the inner frame member, and a second stretched-taut state where the workpiece is stretched taut and generally flush with the lower surface of the lower frame member by being pressed downward via the inner frame member. The workpiece can be held on the frame with substantially the same degrees of tautness in the first and second stretched-taut states.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2013
    Publication date: July 25, 2013
    Applicant: TOKAI KOGYO MISHIN KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: TOKAI KOGYO MISHIN KABUSHIKI KAISHA
  • Patent number: 8485114
    Abstract: A needle plate includes a first needle plate secured on a bed and a second needle plate detachably attached to the first needle plate. An engagement mechanism includes an engagement member formed at the first needle plate and an engagement subject member formed at the second needle plate, and retains the second needle plate with the first needle plate through engagement of the engagement member and the engagement subject member. A switching element switches positioning of the second needle plate relative to the first needle plate, wherein when in a first position, the second needle plate is secured in contact with the first needle plate with the engagement mechanism engaged, and when in a second position, the second needle plate is distanced from the first needle plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroaki Fukao
  • Patent number: 8261680
    Abstract: A decoration-making assist tool includes a first and a second plates. Each plate includes a straight base edge and a peripheral edge connected to the ends of the base edge. A connecting portion pivotally connects the two plates to each other so that they can be folded to overlap each other. The first plate includes recesses formed at the peripheral edge and N elongated holes. The second plate includes (N+1) elongated holes. The ends of these elongated holes are adjacent to the peripheral edges of the plates. When the two plates overlap each other, the recesses and the ends of the elongated holes of the first plate communicate with corresponding ends of the elongated holes of the second plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Clover Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kanako Oe
  • Patent number: 8250999
    Abstract: A sewing machine includes a feed dog which transfers workpiece cloth, a needle plate having a first hole through which a needle is passed and a second hole through which a feed dog is movable upward and downward, a bed to which the needle plate is detachably attachable, a feeding mechanism which drives the feed dog in a front-back direction and in an up-down direction, an engaged portion formed in the needle plate, an engaging portion formed in the feed dog or the feeding mechanism, and a switching unit which switches the feed dog or the feeding mechanism between a transfer position where the feed dog transfers the workpiece cloth and a needle plate adjusting position which differs from the transfer position and where the engaging and engaged portions are engaged with each other thereby to determine a fixing point of the needle plate on the bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Noboru Mizuno
  • Patent number: 8215250
    Abstract: A needle plate for a sewing machine includes a first needle plate fixed to a sewing machine bed and formed with a needle hole through which a needle passes and a rectangular hole through which a feed dog appears, a second needle plate disposed in front of the first needle plate and detachably attached to the first needle plate, an engagement mechanism sliding the second needle plate rearward from a front side of the first needle plate, thereby engaging the second needle plate with the first needle plate, and a disengagement operating member located on the second needle plate so as to operate the engagement mechanism so that the second needle plate is disengaged from the first needle plate. The disengagement operating member is moved frontward from a rear side of the first needle plate thereby to disengage the second needle plate from the first needle plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroaki Fukao
  • Publication number: 20120145060
    Abstract: A sewing machine is provided, which includes a table, support posts, upper and lower frames, a head unit, a bed unit, an X-axial head-unit-transport means and an X-axial bed-unit-transport means. An object is placed on the table. The support posts are provided on opposite sides of the table. The upper and lower frames connect the support posts to each other. The head unit is provided on the upper frame so as to be movable in an X-axis direction. The head unit has a head-unit-rotating means for rotating a sewing head. The bed unit is provided on the lower frame so as to be movable in the X-axis direction. The bed unit has a bed-unit-rotating means for rotating a sewing bed. The X-axial head-unit-transport means moves the head unit on the upper frame horizontally. The X-axial bed-unit-transport means moves the bed unit on the upper frame horizontally.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2011
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Applicant: SUNSTAR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Dong Gyu LEE
  • Patent number: 8136463
    Abstract: Method and device for continuous production of three dimensional fabrics (50) made up of two or more external layers (51,52) of fabric connected to each other using thread strands (53) starting from separate pieces of fabric, overlapping and joining them and proceeding to sewing using strands (53), said sewing using strands (53) being performed using two pieces of fabric lying and sliding on the opposite faces of a spacer comb-like structure (6), that determines the length of the thread strands (53).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Nat Style Limited
    Inventor: Achille Pio Tamanini
  • Publication number: 20110297063
    Abstract: A needle plate is disclosed including a first needle plate secured on a bed and a second needle plate detachably attached to the first needle plate. An engagement mechanism is further provided including an engagement member formed at the first needle plate and an engagement subject member formed at the second needle plate. The engagement mechanism retains the second needle plate with the first needle plate through engagement of the engagement member and the engagement subject member. The needle plate is further provided with a switching element switching positioning of the second needle plate relative to the first needle plate between the first and the second positions. The second needle plate, when in the first position, is secured in intimate contact with the first needle plate with the engagement mechanism engaged, and when in the second position, is distanced from the first needle plate with the engagement mechanism unlocked.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2011
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hiroaki FUKAO
  • Patent number: 8052017
    Abstract: A moor or anchor (10) for pins (12), needles, or other sewing implements, comprising a moor or anchor having a first end and a second end, the first (14) and the second end (16) are connected by a central portion (30) which may be curved (18), whereby the moor or anchor (10) can be positioned on a surface (20) and receive a pin (12), needle, or other sewing implement to anchor apiece of fabric (19) to the surface. The surface (20) may be fabric, cloth, vinyl, plastic, or any other flexible material. The moor or anchor (10) may be configured in various shapes and include curved portions (18) and planar surfaces (26). A method for using the moor to secure and position pins and other sewing implements to surfaces such as fabric or other flexible material is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Inventor: Loretta Ivison
  • Publication number: 20110174204
    Abstract: A punching device (1) is fastened at the pressure shaft of a sewing machine, vertically displaceable via a carrier (3). The vertical position of the press pad (35) at the body (33) can be adjusted by an adjustment screw (16) to the thickness of the textiles/work pieces to be processed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2011
    Publication date: July 21, 2011
    Applicant: BERNINA INTERNATIONAL AG
    Inventors: Rainer Berwanger, Paula Scaffidi
  • Publication number: 20100212563
    Abstract: A sewing machine includes a feed dog which transfers workpiece cloth, a needle plate having a first hole through which a needle is passed and a second hole through which a feed dog is movable upward and downward, a bed to which the needle plate is detachably attachable, a feeding mechanism which drives the feed dog in a front-back direction and in an up-down direction, an engaged portion formed in the needle plate, an engaging portion formed in the feed dog or the feeding mechanism, and a switching unit which switches the feed dog or the feeding mechanism between a transfer position where the feed dog transfers the workpiece cloth and a needle plate adjusting position which differs from the transfer position and where the engaging and engaged portions are engaged with each other thereby to determine a fixing point of the needle plate on the bed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2009
    Publication date: August 26, 2010
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Noboru Mizuno
  • Publication number: 20100192824
    Abstract: A circular stitcher including a main base attachable to an upper surface of a sewing machine bed or to an upper surface of a needle plate; a movable base provided at the main base so as to be movable in a predetermined direction; a pin including a needle capable of piercing the workpiece cloth and having an engagement portion, and a holder that holds a base end of the needle; a lock element that is provided at the movable base and that locks and unlocks the engagement portion of the needle; and an operation element that is provided at the movable base and that allows a finger operation of the movable base in the predetermined direction by a user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2009
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Nobuaki Matsumoto, Yasuhiro Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20100175601
    Abstract: A needle plate for a sewing machine includes a first needle plate fixed to a sewing machine bed and formed with a needle hole through which a needle passes and a rectangular hole through which a feed dog appears, a second needle plate disposed in front of the first needle plate and detachably attached to the first needle plate, an engagement mechanism sliding the second needle plate rearward from a front side of the first needle plate, thereby engaging the second needle plate with the first needle plate, and a disengagement operating member located on the second needle plate so as to operate the engagement mechanism so that the second needle plate is disengaged from the first needle plate. The disengagement operating member is moved frontward from a rear side of the first needle plate thereby to disengage the second needle plate from the first needle plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2009
    Publication date: July 15, 2010
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hiroaki Fukao
  • Publication number: 20100126398
    Abstract: The present invention provides a bobbin thread feeder of sewing machine of simple structure in which a lower thread can be reliably fed at an appropriate tension. A lower thread bobbin 21 can be removably contained through an opening for containing a lower thread bobbin 17 in a rotary hook 20 of a horizontal rotary hook 30 provided in a sewing machine frame. A thread tension plate and a thread tension spring are attached while overlapping along the inner circumference of the rotary hook 20, and function as a tension generating portion 22 for imparting resistance to pulling out a lower thread being guided through the gap between the thread tension plate and the thread tension spring. A needle plate 16 with an opening for taking the lower thread bobbin 21 in and out is provided above the rotary hook 20. The needle plate 16 comprises a guiding slit 27 that guides the lower thread formed thereon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2008
    Publication date: May 27, 2010
    Applicant: Jaguar International Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshikazu Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20090013913
    Abstract: An embroidery unit cover that covers an embroidery unit that is to be attached to a sewing machine for sewing embroidery that includes a planar portion that forms a substantially horizontal surface combined with a bed portion of the sewing machine and a free arm portion provided to the bed portion, a peripheral wall portion that runs continuously along a peripheral border of the planar portion and that extends vertically downward from the planar portion, and a first engagement portion that is disposed on the peripheral wall portion and that is structured to be attached to and detached from a second engagement portion disposed on at least one of the bed portion and the free arm portion. When the first engagement portion and the second engagement portion are engaged with each other, the embroidery unit cover forms a side table with the free arm portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2008
    Publication date: January 15, 2009
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Fumihiro Nonobe, Hiroaki Fukao
  • Patent number: 7311052
    Abstract: Disclosed is a needle plate for a double-needle sewing machine. The needle plate includes a partition extending downward between the needle holes and provided with a thin plate insertion slit in an intermediate portion thereof, and a thin plate inserted into the thin plate insertion slit. Thus, the rigidity of a thin wall formed between the needle holes is reinforced by providing the partition and the thin plate inserted into the partition between the needle holes, so that stitches can be formed in parallel without breakage of the needle plate even when the interval between the needle holes is less than 2 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: Sunstar Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hyun Sung Kim
  • Patent number: 7293514
    Abstract: An embroidery unit of the present disclosure is detachably attached to a sewing machine bed including a feed dog mechanism having a feed dog. The embroidery unit includes an X-transfer mechanism and a Y-transfer mechanism moving an embroidery frame to an X-direction parallel to a lengthwise direction of the sewing machine bed and a Y-direction perpendicular to the X-direction respectively. The embroidery unit further includes an embroidery unit main body attached to the sewing machine bed either in an embroidery attachment position for performing embroidery sewing with an embroidery frame or in a normal sewing attachment position for performing a sewing operation by the feed dog of the cloth feed mechanism, and an auxiliary cover that is selectively placeable above the embroidery unit and selectively placeable below the embroidery unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2007
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroaki Fukao
  • Patent number: 7267062
    Abstract: An adjustable pile height mechanism for producing a tufted floor covering comprising an adjustable bed plate, a cam shaft, and a plurality of eccentric cams mounted on the cam shaft so as to contact the bed plate. The cam shaft is adapted to be rotated so as to rotate the cams, and the rotational movement of the cams raises and lowers the bed plate so as to adjust the pile height of the floor covering. A method for adjusting the pile height of a floor covering further comprises the steps of loosening the presser foot bracket bolt, raising the presser foot assembly, tightening the presser foot bracket bolt, disengaging the clamp assembly, rotating the cam shaft so as to adjust the bed plate to the desired pile height, engaging the clamp assembly, loosening the presser foot bracket bolt, lowering the presser foot assembly, and tightening the presser foot bracket bolt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2007
    Assignee: CYP Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: John Samilo
  • Patent number: 7194969
    Abstract: A needle plate includes a first needle plate fixed to a sewing machine bed and having a needle hole through which a sewing needle is penetratable and a square hole through which a feed dog for feeding a workpiece cloth is projected and retracted; a second needle plate positioned in front of the first needle plate and above a horizontal hook mechanism and detachably attached to the first needle plate; an engagement mechanisms in which the second needle plate is slid into engagement with the first needle plate; and a disengagement mechanism for disengagement of the engagement mechanisms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2007
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomoyasu Niizeki, Hiroshi Yamasaki
  • Patent number: 7107918
    Abstract: A needle plate module is provided with fingers having a bent portion received in a lateral channel portion enabling standard screw sizes to the fingers into the module over a wide range of finger gauge spacings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2006
    Assignee: Tuftco Corporation
    Inventors: George Leonard Caylor, Gary Ingram
  • Patent number: 7073455
    Abstract: An auxiliary table detachably attached to a sewing machine includes a table body having a plurality of engagement portions engageable with the engagement supports respectively, the table body having right and left ends, U-shaped first and second support legs mounted on the ends of the table so as to be each switchable between a substantially horizontal retraction position and substantially vertical use position, the second support leg having a lower end. The table body is attached to the free arm while the second support leg is located at the use position and the lower end of the second support leg is inserted in the space between the free arm and the bottom plate, and the lower end of the second support leg is placed on the bottom plate when the table body has been attached to the free arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2006
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Munehiro Wakazono, Masayuki Hori
  • Patent number: 7073454
    Abstract: A sewing machine includes a sewing machine body, a free arm portion extending from the sewing machine body, and an auxiliary bed detachably mounted on the free arm portion to allow the sewing machine to operate, the auxiliary bed being brought into engagement with the free arm portion to be in flush with the free arm portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2006
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masayuki Katsuyama, Hitoshi Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 7021226
    Abstract: A sewing machine includes a needle plate with a cutout part, and a guide plate connected to a bottom side of the needle plate and extending substantially across the cutout part. The guide plate includes a pair of slide rails, an opening substantially corresponding in position to a bobbin case, and a curved thread guide slot having one end communicated with the opening and another end extending to one of the slide rails. A slide cover covers the cutout part and is slidable along the slide rails. A cutter is disposed at the lateral edge proximate to one of the slide rails. A lower thread guide extends along one of the slide rails from another end of the thread guide slot toward the cutter for guiding a lower thread from the bobbin case to extend to the cutter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: Zeng Hsing Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shui Chun Tseng
  • Patent number: 6843190
    Abstract: A method and mechanism for free form sewing in which the workpiece is being sewn on a sewing machine having a plastic sheet or panel secured to the sewing machine work surface which has a coefficient of friction in any of several ranges which are all considered to be low friction coefficients. Depending upon the plastic material used, the coefficient of friction of any particular material may be in the range of 0.02 to 0.20, or in smaller ranges of coefficients of friction. The objective in using the method or mechanism is to permit the workpiece being sewn by free form sewing to be moved more easily with less frictional resistance by the hands of the sewing machine operator. Various plastics usable include various types of Teflon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2005
    Inventor: Florence L. LaPierre-McAfee
  • Patent number: 6792883
    Abstract: An article and an apparatus and method for making the article. The article including a first piece of material having a margin extending inwardly from an edge of the material. The margin has an inner edge spaced from the material edge. A second piece of material having a margin extending inwardly from an edge of the second material is joined to the first piece of material along inner edges of the margins. A third piece of material is fixed over the margins, and has a first edge fixed to the first piece of material and a second edge fixed to the second piece of material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2004
    Assignee: Eagle Ottawa, LLC
    Inventor: Ronald Ashton
  • Publication number: 20040055521
    Abstract: A sewing machine includes a supporting plate portion and a needle. The supporting plate portion contacts sewing fabric that is moved in a predetermined direction during a sewing operation. The needle is vertically moved between a top dead center above the supporting plate portion and a bottom dead center below the supporting plate portion. The supporting plate portion has a needle hole through which the needle passes. The lower end opening of the needle hole is larger than the upper end opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2003
    Publication date: March 25, 2004
    Applicant: HASHIMA CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kunitaka Katou
  • Patent number: 6647906
    Abstract: Disclosed is a chainstitch sewing machine having a plurality of needles having needle threads which are moved up and down through needle holes of a throat plate, a looper having a looper thread, which is reciprocatively moved in a direction orthogonal to a cloth feeding direction under the throat plate, guide holes provided in the throat plate for guiding loops formed by the needle threads and a looper thread by the cooperation of the needles and the looper, to a rear part in a cloth feeding direction, and a main feed dog, disposed at a part closer to a rear than the guide hole, for feeding the loops in the cloth feeding direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2003
    Assignee: Juki Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuya Sadasue
  • Patent number: 6470815
    Abstract: An improved structure high speed zigzag stitch industrial-use sewing machine in which a vertically extending columnar elevated material feed needle plate platform (Post Bed) structure is disposed below the needle holder of the sewing machine. The drive mechanism of the revolving shuttle and the material feed dog plate are situated in the interior section of the elevated material feed needle plate platform, with changes in the type of stitches sewn by the sewing machine governed by a pattern cam. As such, the elevated material feed needle plate platform (Post Bed) structure provides for wider applications than conventional level platform-type material feed needle plates which are incapable of easily sewing across concave, convex, and other irregular contours of objects being processed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2002
    Inventor: Tsai-Fa Ho
  • Patent number: 6332418
    Abstract: A sewing machine related to the present invention comprises a needle plate and feed dogs. A second feed dog slot provided at the cloth send-in side of a portal shaped needle hole of the needle plate is shifted to the right side from the center of the portal shaped needle hole. The left side first feed dog slot is extending toward the second feed dog slot side in the cloth send-in side of the portal shaped needle hole, so as to be formed a wide breadth portion from side to side. A first cross-piece of the needle plate is disposed between the wide breadth portion and a needle drop portion of the portal shaped needle hole, and a second cross-piece of the needle plate is disposed between the second feed dog slot and said needle drop portion. The first cross-piece is formed wider in the cloth feed direction than the second cross-piece. A differential feed dog disposed in the cloth send-in side of the needle drop portion is composed in a shape combining each feed dog slots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Assignee: Pegasus Sewing Machine Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masanori Hayashi
  • Patent number: 6332415
    Abstract: A sewing machine for sewing large work pieces such as sails or tarps, has a sewing bed with a large trough, the axis of which is perpendicular to the axis of the sewing head support arm. Fabric is held within the trough, either by being folded, bunched or rolled, with fabric being either fed into the trough as stitching progresses, or is drawn out of the trough during stitching. The fabric may be rolled, bunched or folded within the trough. The trough may be selectively covered with a removable cover plate, to provide a flat sewing bed for sewing of smaller pieces of fabric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Assignee: Hinpergers Poly Industries Ltd.
    Inventors: Peter Hinsperger, James Fitchett
  • Patent number: 6305304
    Abstract: The sewing machine comprises two hooks 27a and 27b which are respectively disposed in such a manner as to correspond to two needles 7 and 7 provided in the present sewing machine, hook gap adjusting device 33-35 respectively for changing the gap between the two hooks 27a and 27b, drive device 36 for driving the hook gap adjusting device 33-35, transmission device 37-41 respectively for transmitting the driving of the drive device 36 to the hook gap adjusting device 33-35, and control device 50 for controlling the driving of the drive device 36 to thereby control the above gap between the two hooks, whereby the sewing machine is able to move the hooks 27a and 27b easily only by driving the drive device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2001
    Assignee: Juki Corporation
    Inventors: Makoto Tanaka, Noriyuki Hirose, Akira Maeda, Masahiko Tanaka, Kenji Kitada, Hiroyuki Kazehare
  • Publication number: 20010013310
    Abstract: A sewing machine for sewing large work pieces such as sails o tarps, has a sewing bed with a large trough, the axis of which is perpendicular to the axis of the sewing head support arm. Fabric is held within the trough, either by being folded, bunched or rolled, with fabric being either fed into the trough as stitching progresses, or is drawn out of the trough during stitching. The fabric may be rolled, bunched or folded within the trough. The trough may be selectively covered with a removable cover plate, to provide a flat sewing bed for sewing of smaller pieces of fabric.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2000
    Publication date: August 16, 2001
    Inventors: Peter Hinsperger, James Fitchett
  • Patent number: 6244202
    Abstract: The needle plate for the sewing machine supporting the material to be sewn (the fabric) which is pressed by the pressing piece forming the sewing machine, wherein the fabric is sent into the interfacing space between the needle plate and the pressing piece and the support of the receiving plate is elastically turned down, keeping the fabric at intervals allowing for the sending and thus preventing the puckering on the fabric. The fabric guide set on the needle plate for the center sewing is provided on the needle plate where the needle falls and carries out the sewing by regulating the fabric by a determined width of the sewing. The three-fold guide installed on the needle plate for the three-fold sewing is provided on the location where the needle falls, and carries out the sewing by winding the fabric around to make it three-fold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Inventor: Shigeharu Tsuta
  • Patent number: 6213038
    Abstract: A needle plate for a two-needle interlock sewing machine for sewing a chain stitch seam of three threads, comprising two needle holes and one stitch tongue originating between the two needle holes and extending forward in a feed direction, thereby leaving open thread guiding slots along opposite sides thereof, characterized in that the thread guiding slots are covered in a needle stitching direction by marginal steps on the side of the needle plate except for thread outlet gaps open towards the bottom surface of the stitch tongue, where preferably the marginal steps form a support for the material to be sewn at their upper surface, each marginal step having a take-up ramp in the area of the thread guiding slots subsequent to the needle holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2001
    Inventor: Johannes Sahl
  • Patent number: 6167825
    Abstract: The equipment comprises in combination: a twin needle (15, 17) fed with two needle threads (F1, F2); an upper looper (30) fed with a looper thread (F3), and a lower spreader (31); a throat plate (36) with two slots (38, 40) for the needles (15, 17) and the stitch finger (42) on the line of the cut (T) of increased width (D); and a thread-pulling arm (25) for pulling off an increased amount of the thread (F3) for the looper at each angular stroke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2001
    Assignee: Golden Lady S.p.A.
    Inventor: Luigi Marchetti
  • Patent number: 6098555
    Abstract: A needle plate of a cover stitch sewing machine, adapted to introduce double chain stitch chain-off's, which are formed below a needle plate by the intertwining of threads on three needles and a thread on a looper in accordance with actions of the needles and looper occurring when fabrics to be sewn are not fed, onto the portion of an upper surface of the needle plate which is behind needle points, and feed out the chain-off's continuously with the chain-off's held between rear feed dogs on the rear side of the needle points and a chain-off thread gripper, is provided with a thread positioning spreader formed of retainers 10A, 10B having inclined portions indexed to the needle points and provided between recesses of the needle plate so that the chain-off stitches can be sewn continuously in a stable condition by a simple structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2000
    Assignee: Suzuki Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kouichi Sakuma
  • Patent number: RE47942
    Abstract: A LiDAR-based 3-D point cloud measuring system includes a base, a housing, a plurality of photon transmitters and photon detectors contained within the housing, a rotary motor that rotates the housing about the base, and a communication component that allows transmission of signals generated by the photon detectors to external components. In several versions of the invention, the system includes a vertically oriented motherboard, thin circuit boards such as ceramic hybrids for selectively mounting emitters and detectors, a conjoined D-shaped lens array, and preferred firing sequences.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: Velodyne Lindar, Inc.
    Inventor: David S. Hall
  • Patent number: RE48666
    Abstract: A LiDAR-based 3-D point cloud measuring system includes a base, a housing, a plurality of photon transmitters and photon detectors contained within the housing, a rotary motor that rotates the housing about the base, and a communication component that allows transmission of signals generated by the photon detectors to external components. In several versions of the invention, the system includes a vertically oriented motherboard, thin circuit boards such as ceramic hybrids for selectively mounting emitters and detectors, a conjoined D-shaped lens array, and preferred firing sequences.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: VELODYNE LIDAR USA, INC.
    Inventor: David S. Hall