SEWING MACHINE FOOT CORDING DEVICE
United States Patent 3763801
A detachable foot-mounted fabric strip folding and cording structure of compact design, efficiently impartable of a fold to a fabric and feedable of a cord into the vertex of the fold and shaped to maintain the fold and to avoid wrinkles and non-alignment while concurrently directing the folded corded fabric precisely to a needle-sewing point under receiving upwardly turned toes of forks of the foot on which the cording structure is mounted.
US Patent References:
Cording attachment for sewing machines
McIntyre - April 1952 - 2593589
Sewing-machine attachment for folding and guiding strips of fabric
Cunningham - November 1925 - 1560219
Folder for sewing machines
Ham - November 1925 - 1562446
Cording and embroidering presser-foot attachments for sewing machines
Hofgesang - March 1956 - 2737914
SNAP-ON PRESSER FOOT SHANKS
Seck - January 1970 - 3489114
Cording attachment for sewing machines
McIntyre - April 1952 - 2593589
Sewing-machine attachment for folding and guiding strips of fabric
Cunningham - November 1925 - 1560219
Folder for sewing machines
Ham - November 1925 - 1562446
Cording and embroidering presser-foot attachments for sewing machines
Hofgesang - March 1956 - 2737914
SNAP-ON PRESSER FOOT SHANKS
Seck - January 1970 - 3489114
Application Number:
05/217860
Publication Date:
10/09/1973
Filing Date:
01/14/1972
View Patent Images:
Export Citation:
Primary Class:
Other Classes:
112/151
International Classes:
D05B35/06; D05B29/06; D05B29/00; D05C7/08; D05B35/00
Field of Search:
112/139,137,147,150-153,136,235,240,121.19,121.27 12/151
Primary Examiner:
Franklin, Jordan
Assistant Examiner:
Falk, William L.
Claims:
I claim
1. A sewing machine cording device comprising in combination: a detachably mountable sewing machine foot means having a foot with forwardly extending and upwardly turned forks and with an upright shank, an upward projection extending rearwardly from said foot with said projection being located rearwardly from said upright shank in the line of the direction of the feed of the work; and including adjustable mounting means located at an upper portion of the projection, a shaft having distal and proximal ends with the proximal end being secured by said mounting means on said projection at said upper portion, means providing pivotable adjustment of said proximal end of said shaft in the projection mounting means to adjust the distal end of said shaft, said shaft extending from the proximal end substantially horizontally, circumscribably around and forwardly of said shank, a fabric cording means, means rigidly mounting said fabric cording means from the distal end of said shaft, said fabric cording means comprising a fabric strip edge-folding structure and a funnel structure having an inlet to forwardly receive a cord, said fabric strip edge-folding structure including a laterally upwardly flared upright first surface progressively becoming a first concave-shaped tapered surface in a rearward direction toward the foot, a second concave-shaped surface cut within and sectionally spaced from said first concave-shaped surface, the first concave-shaped surface being joined at upper and lower edges to said second concave-shaped surface, said second concave-shaped surface terminating anterior to the inlet of said funnel structure, said fabric cording means also including a channel extending lengthwise of said cording means and forming a narrowed flat-like three-sided passage formed by said first concave-shaped surface at the exit opening of said funnel structure, said narrowed three-sided passage including an enlarged arcuate cross-sectional area being formed by a rounded side wall merging into a pair of opposed horizontally extending lateral walls spaced from each other and said enlarged arcuate cross-sectional area being directed toward, beneath and adjacent to the upturned forks of said foot.
2. The sewing machine cording device of claim 1, in which the rearward projection mounting means includes aperture means slidably receiving said proximal end, said proximal end being laterally slidable and horizontally movable such that the fabric cording means is thereby laterally adjustable relative to the forward forks.
1. A sewing machine cording device comprising in combination: a detachably mountable sewing machine foot means having a foot with forwardly extending and upwardly turned forks and with an upright shank, an upward projection extending rearwardly from said foot with said projection being located rearwardly from said upright shank in the line of the direction of the feed of the work; and including adjustable mounting means located at an upper portion of the projection, a shaft having distal and proximal ends with the proximal end being secured by said mounting means on said projection at said upper portion, means providing pivotable adjustment of said proximal end of said shaft in the projection mounting means to adjust the distal end of said shaft, said shaft extending from the proximal end substantially horizontally, circumscribably around and forwardly of said shank, a fabric cording means, means rigidly mounting said fabric cording means from the distal end of said shaft, said fabric cording means comprising a fabric strip edge-folding structure and a funnel structure having an inlet to forwardly receive a cord, said fabric strip edge-folding structure including a laterally upwardly flared upright first surface progressively becoming a first concave-shaped tapered surface in a rearward direction toward the foot, a second concave-shaped surface cut within and sectionally spaced from said first concave-shaped surface, the first concave-shaped surface being joined at upper and lower edges to said second concave-shaped surface, said second concave-shaped surface terminating anterior to the inlet of said funnel structure, said fabric cording means also including a channel extending lengthwise of said cording means and forming a narrowed flat-like three-sided passage formed by said first concave-shaped surface at the exit opening of said funnel structure, said narrowed three-sided passage including an enlarged arcuate cross-sectional area being formed by a rounded side wall merging into a pair of opposed horizontally extending lateral walls spaced from each other and said enlarged arcuate cross-sectional area being directed toward, beneath and adjacent to the upturned forks of said foot.
2. The sewing machine cording device of claim 1, in which the rearward projection mounting means includes aperture means slidably receiving said proximal end, said proximal end being laterally slidable and horizontally movable such that the fabric cording means is thereby laterally adjustable relative to the forward forks.
Description:
This invention relates to a sewing machine structure for the cording of fabric strips.
BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION
Prior to this invention there have been various types of cording devices of varying shapes and structures, and most if not all of such cording devices have been mounted on the bed plate or table of the sewing machine. Some of these cording devices are shaped in order to automatically impart a fold to the fabric and to feed a cord into the fold, while others are not designed to automatically bring about the folding but are structured merely to hopefully retain the fold as an operator feeds the folded and corded material into a sewing machine to be sewn along the folded portion adjacent the cord. Such a latter type device is illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 859,188. Cording devices of the other type which are intended to facilitate the imparting of a fold include typically patents such as U.S. Pat. No. 2,839,018, U.S. Pat. No. 1,560,219, U.S. Pat. No. 2,593,589, and U.S. Pat. No. 2,846,964. Among the problems associated with one or more of these prior structures is the mounting thereof on the bed plate by structure which inherently gets in the way of the operator as well as usually requiring complicated or special adapting modifications of the sewing machine bed plate in order to utilize any one or more of such structures, the imperfect folding accomplished by the use of such structures as well as the less than consistent alignment of the cord as well as the occurring of wrinkles in the fabric, the non-alignment of the folder with the sewing machine foot and needle, and/or the inadvertent jarring or striking of the folding and cording guide such that the fabric is fed in non-alignment, to the sewing machine foot and needle, and the like. The result of many of these complications is that the cording devices which were intended to facilitate the work of the operator and to enhance efficiency and improve th work product and performance of the operator ultimately often have resulted in just the opposite because of the great care and attention required of the operator as well as the problems that occur irrespective of the great care.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, an object of this invention is to overcome one or more of the problems of the type discussed above.
Another object is to obtain a fabric-strip folding and cording device which by its structure inherently assures fabric and cording alignment with the sewing machine foot and sewing needle thereof.
Another object is a sewing machine fabric cording structure shaped to automatically fold fabric strips and to feed the cord into the vertex of the fold in a manner avoiding wrinkles, non-alignment alignment, and the like.
Other objects become apparent from the preceding and following disclosure.
One or more of the preceding objects are obtained by the invention as defined hereafter.
Broadly the invention includes a sewing machine-foot-fabric-cording structure of simple and compact structure with the mounting connection between the foot and the cording structure being small, sturdy, and out of the way of an operator, providing a free and clear sewing machine bed plate for free movement of the operator, the fabric, and the like, while the cording structure itself is shaped such as to gradually impart a fold to a fabric strip while simultaneously being feedable of a cord into the vertex of the fold, and the structure maintaining the fold, providing enlarged cross sectional space at the point of the vertex of the folded fabric at which the cord is located, and precisely feedable of the corded fabric and upturned toes of the fork of the foot on which the cording structure is mounted, allowing for no slippage of the cording device relative to the foot fork and toes and the needle sewing point. Preferably the foot is of a type easily mountable and dismountable from the sewing machine, i.e., an attachable and detachable foot structure. More particularly, the structure includes a sewing machine foot having a fork with slightly upturned toes receivable thereunder of folded and corded fabric directable at a predetermined needle-point, with a connecting shaft extending from the foot preferably in an arc shape and having mounted on the far end thereof the folding structure and the cording structure, with the folding structure at a forward portion being flared uprightly and progressively becoming concave in shape as it extends rearwardly toward the foot, with a funnel structure being mounted between upper and lower edges of the concave structure and the funnel structure being feedable of a cord into a channel at about the vertex of the concave fabric-folding structure with the channel in a rearward direction becoming progressively circular in cross-section adjacent the vertex with substantially flat upper and lower walls extending about horizontally laterally. The rearward most portion of the folding structure is fixedly held in a predetermined relationship with respect to the outwardly turned toes of the fork of the sewing machine foot on which the folding and cording structure is fixedly and preferably permanently mounted. It is by virtue of the permanent, fixed structure existing between the foot and the folding and cording structure that non-alignment and consistent precision stitching of the corded fabric is obtainable. The invention may be better understood by reference to the following figures.
THE FIGURES
FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective in-part side view of the sewing machine foot-fabric folding and cording device, together with a fabric to be folded and being folded fed through the device and beneath the foot.
FIG. 2 illustrates a view taken along lines 2--2 of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 illustrates a view taken along lines 3--3 of FIG. 1.
FIG. 4 illustrates a view taken along lines 4--4 of FIG. 1.
FIG. 5 illustrates a view taken along lines 5--5 of FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
In greater detail, FIG. 1 illustrates a sewing machine foot-cording device combination 6 with a strip of fabric 7 threaded therethrough. The combination 6 includes a separate sewing machine foot 8 removably mountable on a sewing machine structure such that the needle during needle action is receivable through an aperture defined by forked toe structure having turned up flanges 11a and 11b, with a heel 12 including a receptacle structure 13 receivable of and lockable thereinto of a shaft 14 extending from and supportable of a fabric strip folding and cording device 15 having a flared fabric receiving end 16, a fold-imparting pressure element 17, a cord receiving and feeding cylinder 18, a rounded enlarged channel, and a folded and corded-fabric flattening and guide structure 20a and 20b directing the fabric 7 in the folded condition 7a beneath the toes 11 -- comprising toes 11a and 11b, and beneath the aperture 9 and the downwardly facing flattened foot-face 12a, holding the sewn corded fabric strip in its sliding position on top of a platen structure 21.
FIG. 2 illustrates in an elevation plan view taken along lines 2--2 of FIG. 1 the same elements described for FIG. 1.
FIG. 3, FIG. 4, and FIG. 5 illustrate the specific shapes of the previously enumerated parts along respectively lines 3--3, 4--4, and 5--5.
Cord 22 is illustrated asbeing fed into the cording receptacle 18.
It should be noted that in the illustrated combination of this invention, the lock screw 23 by loosening and tightening respectively permits the placing of varying angles of the direction of feed of the folded and corded fabric beneath the flanges 11, as well as allowing the folding and cording device to be flipped up out of position and/or totally removed during such periods as it is desirable to have it out of position to permit the operator greater freedom of movement and maneuvering.
It is within the scope of the invention to make modifications and substitutions of equivalent parts as would be apparent to a person of ordinary skill in this art.
BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION
Prior to this invention there have been various types of cording devices of varying shapes and structures, and most if not all of such cording devices have been mounted on the bed plate or table of the sewing machine. Some of these cording devices are shaped in order to automatically impart a fold to the fabric and to feed a cord into the fold, while others are not designed to automatically bring about the folding but are structured merely to hopefully retain the fold as an operator feeds the folded and corded material into a sewing machine to be sewn along the folded portion adjacent the cord. Such a latter type device is illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 859,188. Cording devices of the other type which are intended to facilitate the imparting of a fold include typically patents such as U.S. Pat. No. 2,839,018, U.S. Pat. No. 1,560,219, U.S. Pat. No. 2,593,589, and U.S. Pat. No. 2,846,964. Among the problems associated with one or more of these prior structures is the mounting thereof on the bed plate by structure which inherently gets in the way of the operator as well as usually requiring complicated or special adapting modifications of the sewing machine bed plate in order to utilize any one or more of such structures, the imperfect folding accomplished by the use of such structures as well as the less than consistent alignment of the cord as well as the occurring of wrinkles in the fabric, the non-alignment of the folder with the sewing machine foot and needle, and/or the inadvertent jarring or striking of the folding and cording guide such that the fabric is fed in non-alignment, to the sewing machine foot and needle, and the like. The result of many of these complications is that the cording devices which were intended to facilitate the work of the operator and to enhance efficiency and improve th work product and performance of the operator ultimately often have resulted in just the opposite because of the great care and attention required of the operator as well as the problems that occur irrespective of the great care.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, an object of this invention is to overcome one or more of the problems of the type discussed above.
Another object is to obtain a fabric-strip folding and cording device which by its structure inherently assures fabric and cording alignment with the sewing machine foot and sewing needle thereof.
Another object is a sewing machine fabric cording structure shaped to automatically fold fabric strips and to feed the cord into the vertex of the fold in a manner avoiding wrinkles, non-alignment alignment, and the like.
Other objects become apparent from the preceding and following disclosure.
One or more of the preceding objects are obtained by the invention as defined hereafter.
Broadly the invention includes a sewing machine-foot-fabric-cording structure of simple and compact structure with the mounting connection between the foot and the cording structure being small, sturdy, and out of the way of an operator, providing a free and clear sewing machine bed plate for free movement of the operator, the fabric, and the like, while the cording structure itself is shaped such as to gradually impart a fold to a fabric strip while simultaneously being feedable of a cord into the vertex of the fold, and the structure maintaining the fold, providing enlarged cross sectional space at the point of the vertex of the folded fabric at which the cord is located, and precisely feedable of the corded fabric and upturned toes of the fork of the foot on which the cording structure is mounted, allowing for no slippage of the cording device relative to the foot fork and toes and the needle sewing point. Preferably the foot is of a type easily mountable and dismountable from the sewing machine, i.e., an attachable and detachable foot structure. More particularly, the structure includes a sewing machine foot having a fork with slightly upturned toes receivable thereunder of folded and corded fabric directable at a predetermined needle-point, with a connecting shaft extending from the foot preferably in an arc shape and having mounted on the far end thereof the folding structure and the cording structure, with the folding structure at a forward portion being flared uprightly and progressively becoming concave in shape as it extends rearwardly toward the foot, with a funnel structure being mounted between upper and lower edges of the concave structure and the funnel structure being feedable of a cord into a channel at about the vertex of the concave fabric-folding structure with the channel in a rearward direction becoming progressively circular in cross-section adjacent the vertex with substantially flat upper and lower walls extending about horizontally laterally. The rearward most portion of the folding structure is fixedly held in a predetermined relationship with respect to the outwardly turned toes of the fork of the sewing machine foot on which the folding and cording structure is fixedly and preferably permanently mounted. It is by virtue of the permanent, fixed structure existing between the foot and the folding and cording structure that non-alignment and consistent precision stitching of the corded fabric is obtainable. The invention may be better understood by reference to the following figures.
THE FIGURES
FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective in-part side view of the sewing machine foot-fabric folding and cording device, together with a fabric to be folded and being folded fed through the device and beneath the foot.
FIG. 2 illustrates a view taken along lines 2--2 of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 illustrates a view taken along lines 3--3 of FIG. 1.
FIG. 4 illustrates a view taken along lines 4--4 of FIG. 1.
FIG. 5 illustrates a view taken along lines 5--5 of FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
In greater detail, FIG. 1 illustrates a sewing machine foot-cording device combination 6 with a strip of fabric 7 threaded therethrough. The combination 6 includes a separate sewing machine foot 8 removably mountable on a sewing machine structure such that the needle during needle action is receivable through an aperture defined by forked toe structure having turned up flanges 11a and 11b, with a heel 12 including a receptacle structure 13 receivable of and lockable thereinto of a shaft 14 extending from and supportable of a fabric strip folding and cording device 15 having a flared fabric receiving end 16, a fold-imparting pressure element 17, a cord receiving and feeding cylinder 18, a rounded enlarged channel, and a folded and corded-fabric flattening and guide structure 20a and 20b directing the fabric 7 in the folded condition 7a beneath the toes 11 -- comprising toes 11a and 11b, and beneath the aperture 9 and the downwardly facing flattened foot-face 12a, holding the sewn corded fabric strip in its sliding position on top of a platen structure 21.
FIG. 2 illustrates in an elevation plan view taken along lines 2--2 of FIG. 1 the same elements described for FIG. 1.
FIG. 3, FIG. 4, and FIG. 5 illustrate the specific shapes of the previously enumerated parts along respectively lines 3--3, 4--4, and 5--5.
Cord 22 is illustrated asbeing fed into the cording receptacle 18.
It should be noted that in the illustrated combination of this invention, the lock screw 23 by loosening and tightening respectively permits the placing of varying angles of the direction of feed of the folded and corded fabric beneath the flanges 11, as well as allowing the folding and cording device to be flipped up out of position and/or totally removed during such periods as it is desirable to have it out of position to permit the operator greater freedom of movement and maneuvering.
It is within the scope of the invention to make modifications and substitutions of equivalent parts as would be apparent to a person of ordinary skill in this art.