US3693560A

US3693560A - Selective button holding attachment for sewing machines

Info

Publication number: US3693560A
Application number: US142500A
Authority: US
Inventors: Martin Weiss
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1971-05-12
Filing date: 1971-05-12
Publication date: 1972-09-26
Anticipated expiration: 1989-09-26

Abstract

A selective rotary button holding turret attachment for a power button sewing machine selectively adjustable for holding a predetermined plurality of self shank and metal shank type buttons for the thread sewing operation to fabric positioned under the turret including adjustment means for positioning the turret for the sewing of the selected type buttons to the fabric or other sheet material.

Description

United States Patent Weiss [451 Sept. 26, 1 972 [541 SELECTIVE BUTTON HOLDING ATTACHMENT FOR SEWING MACHINES [72] Inventor: Martin Weiss, 2100 SW. 20 Street, Miami, Fla. 33145 [22] Filed: May 12, 1971 [21] Appl. N0.: 142,500

521 Us. CI 112/114 [51 1 Int. Cl. ..D05b 3/00 I58] Field of Search ..l 12/108-114 156] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,036,534 5/1962 Martines ..1 12/1 14 X 3,314,387 4/1967 Johnson et al ..l12/108 3,469,546 9/ l 969 Giuliano ..1 12/1 14 3,561,381 2/1971 Weiss ..ll2/114 Primary Examiner-Jordan Franklin Assistant Examiner-G. V. Larkin Attorney-Lloyd J. Andres [57] ABSTRACT A selective rotary button holding turret attachment for a power button sewing machine selectively adjustable for holding a predetermined plurality of self shank and metal shank type buttons for the thread sewing operation to fabric positioned under the turret including adjustment means for positioning the turret for the sewing of the selected type buttons to the fabric or other sheet material.

5'Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PATENTED 3.693, 560

sum 1 OF 2 INVENTOR. MARTIN WEISS FIG.3

PATENTEDSEPZB m2 3.693; 560

' INVENTOR'." MARTIN WEISS SELECTIVE BUTTON HOLDING ATTACHMENT FOR SEWING MACHINES This invention relates in general to an attachment for professional type sewing machines to selectively hold pluralities of predetermined numbers of self shank and metal shank buttons for thread sewing to fabric. This general type button is sometimes referred to as an eye type, or wire loop type.

Prior button sewing machines required a special holding attachment on the machine for each button of different size or shape used, the replacement of which attachment was time consuming because of the necessity of extremely accurate positioning of the holder related to each button with respect to the sewing needle. Other flat horizontal selective multi-button holders which would accommodate different types of buttons inherently required large areas in contact with the fabric and prevented the proper snug sewing of the thread on the buttons near a seam or other projections in the fabric or plastic sheet materials used.

It is to be noted that U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,366,109, 2,331,170, 2,753,822, and 2,726,613 all show various button holding means which have performance and time consuming limitations overcome by the present invention, which includes a multi-position turret for holding each of a selected number of both self shank or wire loop buttons to be successively sewed to sheet material.

The present invention presents an angular turret type button holder providing for a small contact area near the needle, work support which permits the buttons to be tightly. secured by the thread in close proximity to obstructions, such as seams, folds, or other obstructions.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a manually rotatable self indexing turret adapted to retain a predeterminedplurality of shank type buttons of different size and character with the turret positionedfor detented rotation about an axis at a predetermined angle from horizontal for adjustably presenting a cavity, in the turret for accepting a selected stem type button corresponding thereto including detent means forv holding the turret in any one selected position during the threadsewing of a selected number of like buttons.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an adjustment means coupling a turret adapted to hold a predetermined plurality of selected different stem type buttons for selective rotation about an axis at a predetermined angle with respect to horizontal including adjustment means secured to the outer end portion ofthe turret retaining arm of the machine for positioning with respect to the path of the sewingneedle.

These and other objects and advantages in one embodimentof the invention are described 'and shown in the followingspecification and drawings, in which:

FIG. lis a side elevation of a clamp arm including an angular-turret for positioning each of a plurality of self shank or metal shank buttons for a power button sewing machine.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the device shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a typical self shank button.

FIG. 4 is a front elevation of the device shown in FIG. I withthe button positioned for sewing to fabric.

FIG. 5' is an enlarged cross sectional view, taken through section line 5--5, FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is an exploded view of the selective button holding turret assembly shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of a four station selected turret shown in FIG. 1. 1

FIG. 8 is the same as FIG. 5 with a different button retained in the turret.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an alternate form of turret.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a clamp arm 1 is pivotally secured to the main base 2 of a power button sewing machine by a shaft 3 supported by two bosses 4-4 integral with base 2. A clevis 5, having an integral downward depending offset 6, is adjustably secured to the outer end portion of arm 1 by screw and washer means 7, thus providing for precision fore and aft and lateral adjustment of the offset 6. A work support 8 is adjustably secured to the base 2 of the machine by screws 9-9 through clearance in the support base. A screw 10 threaded into offset 6 adjustably retains an adjustable turret support 11 includes an integral conical member 12 positioned with the axis thereof laterally tilted with respect to the arm 1 at a predetermined angle, to be hereinafter described. A four station turret member 13, generally of dual conical shape with the axis thereof coincident with the axis of member 12, is retained and mated against the lower side of conical member 12 by a screw 22 and a spring 23, shown in FIG. 6.

FIG. 4 shows a front view of the device in which a spherical type self shank button 14, shown in FIG. 3, and having a shank 15 and a hole 16 therethrough, is inserted in its fitted predetermined position in the turret and ready to be sewed on fabric placed on the work support 8 when the arm 1 is raised, as shown.

Although certain machines have a power operated lever for holding the button in position to be sewed, it has been found that since the operators must place the button in the turret by movement of the fingers, one of the fingers is retained to hold the button in place while sewing and not using the above mentioned lever, which saves elapsed time for the stitching of sequential buttons.

Referring to FIG. 6, the exploded view of the turret assembly shows the turret member 13 itself with tapered outside surfaces of small area, to be hereinafter described. The top side of the turret member is cone shaped to mate with the lower side of the conical member 12, which has threads 18 in the central bore therethrough. The conical member also has a radial needle clearance slot 19 therein, as well as a small downward formed detent projection 20 which is adapted to engage each of the uniform small detent recesses 21 in the upper side of the turret with each recess corresponding to a different button cavity.

It is to be noted that each of the four cavities in the periphery of the conical turret are of different shape In operation and referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the nee-' dle end, which reciprocates in a vertical direction in two paths by the action of the sewing machine, must properly align with the work support 8 which must first be accurately positioned by means of screws 99. Then the turretmernber is turned manually by overcoming the action of the detent 20-2l until the desired cavity for the desired button is directly over the needle opening in the work support. Then arm '1 is raised and the button inserted in the selected cavity and the entire turret member adjusted with the fabric 26 in place on the work support by the adjustment of

screws

7 and 10,

shown in FIG. 1 with the arm in its lowered working a position. At this time, the machine may be operated and the projecting shank on the button will be securely sewed to the fabric 26 by a predetermined number of stitches.

After one button is attached, with the needle in the upper position, thefabric is moved to any number of positions requiring the application of the same size and type button.

HO. 8 is an illustration wherein the turret may be manually turned to accept a different type button, which has a shank of different size and the turret member has a cavity to exactly fit the selected size shank with the conical member providing the upper wall of the cavity and the clamp arm 1 lowered to suit the thickness of the fabric or sheet material'on which' the button is to be sewed.

The area occupied by the underside of each station of the turret is no larger than the relatively small area of the work support. Hence it is important to point out that either the wire loop or the self shank type button may be sewed close to other projections, such as seams, lapped fabric or other obstructions. It is also apparent from the above that the turret may have a larger number of cavities to accommodate a wider range of different button shanks.

Referring to FIG. 9, an alternate form of turret 13a has a number of different shank cavities therein, in which the shank is held between the lower ledges 24a and a mating upper cavity projection 25a, which construction does not depend upon the cone 12 to provide the upper surface of the cavity, as shown in FIG. 6. The action of the sewing machine and sewing needle N when threaded is well known and not described in detail, except to note that the turret holds the shank of a button in a fixed position to be straddled by the threaded needle and thereby sewed to the fabric or sheet material.

It is to be understood that certain modifications in construction are intended to come within the scope and teachings of the above specification.

Having described my invention, 1 claim:

1. An attachment for a button sewing machine having a means forming a base including a needle adapted for vertical reciprocation and lateral oscillation in two spaced vertical paths through a work support means with a horizontal top surface secured on said base and a button clamp arm pivoted on said base with the outer end thereof movable from an upper work loading to a lower work holding position comprising a turret support means adjustably secured to the outer end portion of said clamp arm for lateral and fore and aft adjustment with respect thereto,

a turret holder secured for vertical adjustment to the outer end of said support means having a cone extending outward therefrom with a central bore therethrough with the axis thereof normal to said arm and at a predetermined angle with respect to said top surface of said work support means including a radial needle clearance slot through the lower side of said cone,

the outer surfaceof said coneconvergent downward with respect to said axis,

a generally circular turret member having a conical upper cavity secured for mating selective station rotation with the outer surface of said cone by a fastener means and an upper peripheral margin substantially normal the surface of said conical cavity,

a plurality of button shank cavities of different size in spaced relation around the upper peripheral margin of said turret member for slidably receiving and holding different button shanks therein respectively with each said shank held transverse said axis and at an angle substantially equal to the angle of the outer surface of said cone with a small planar surface on the under side of each cavity positioned horizontally with respect to said axis for selective movement on sheet material on said work support means,

a radial needle clearance slot central and radial with respect to each cavity whereby said turret may be selectively rotated about said cone to each of a selected station for the insertion of a predetermined button mated to a selected cavity corresponding to said station with the shank portion of the button held between the lower surface in the cavity and the lower surface of the cone for the passage of the needle on opposite sides of the shank for sewing same on said sheet material placed over said work support means when said clamp arm is moved to said lower position and said machine is operated. v

2. The construction recited in claim 1 including a spring detent means between said cone and said turret member for registering each said station and said corresponding button shank on said turret member with said needle slot in said cone.

3. The construction recited in claim 1 wherein said turret support means is fixed to said clamp arm and said turret holder is secured for both vertical and lateral adjustment with respect to the outer end of said support means.

4. An attachment for a button sewing machine having a means forming a base including a needle adapted for vertical reciprocation and lateral oscillation in two spaced paths through a work support means with a horizontal top surface secured on said base and a button clamp arm pivoted on said base with the outer end thereof movable from an upper work loading to a lower work holding position comprising a turret holder secured for vertical and lateral adjustment on the outer end of said support means having a cylindrical bearing means extending outward therefrom with a central bore therethrough with the axis thereof normal to said arm at a predetermined angle with respect to the top surface of said work support means including a radial needle clearance slot through one side of said bearing means,

a generally circular turret member journalled for selective station rotation on said bearing means with the outer surface retained by a fastener means,

a predetermined portion of the upper periphery of 5 mined length in said turret member of predetermined length centrally intersecting each said cavity whereby said turret member is rotated to align a selected cavity with said slot in said bearing means for retaining a button shank of a selected button whereby said button will be sewed to sheet material when said button clamp is moved from said loading to said holding position and said machine is operated.

5. The construction recited in claim 4 wherein said turret member is eccentric with respect to said axis of said bearing means for providing larger cavities for large shank buttons on one side and small cavities for small shank buttons on the opposite side thereof.

Claims

1. An attachment for a button sewing machine having a means forming a base including a needle adapted for vertical reciprocation and lateral oscillation in two spaced vertical paths through a work support means with a horizontal top surface secured on said base and a button clamp arm pivoted on said base with the outer end thereof movable from an upper work loading to a lower work holding position comprising a turret support means adjustably secured to the outer end portion of said clamp arm for lateral and fore and aft adjustment with respect thereto, a turret holder secured for vertical adjustment to the outer end of said support means having a cone extending outward therefrom with a central bore therethrough with the axis thereof normal to said arm and at a predetermined angle with respect to said top surface of said work support means including a radial needle clearance slot through the lower side of said cone, the outer surface of said cone convergent downward with respect to said axis, a generally circular turret member having a conical upper cavity secured for mating selective station rotation with the outer surface of said cone by a fastener means and an upper peripheral margin substantially normal the surface of said conical cavity, a plurality of button shank cavities of different size in spaced relation around the upper peripheral margin of said turret member for slidably receiving and holding different button shanks therein respectively with each said shank held transverse said axis and at an angle substantially equal to the angle of the outer surface of said cone with a small planar surface on the under side of each cavity positioned horizontally with respect to said axis for selective movement on sheet material on said work support means, a radial needle clearance slot central and radial with respect to each cavitY whereby said turret may be selectively rotated about said cone to each of a selected station for the insertion of a predetermined button mated to a selected cavity corresponding to said station with the shank portion of the button held between the lower surface in the cavity and the lower surface of the cone for the passage of the needle on opposite sides of the shank for sewing same on said sheet material placed over said work support means when said clamp arm is moved to said lower position and said machine is operated.

4. An attachment for a button sewing machine having a means forming a base including a needle adapted for vertical reciprocation and lateral oscillation in two spaced paths through a work support means with a horizontal top surface secured on said base and a button clamp arm pivoted on said base with the outer end thereof movable from an upper work loading to a lower work holding position comprising a turret holder secured for vertical and lateral adjustment on the outer end of said support means having a cylindrical bearing means extending outward therefrom with a central bore therethrough with the axis thereof normal to said arm at a predetermined angle with respect to the top surface of said work support means including a radial needle clearance slot through one side of said bearing means, a generally circular turret member journalled for selective station rotation on said bearing means with the outer surface retained by a fastener means, a predetermined portion of the upper periphery of said turret member at a predetermined angle with respect to the axis of rotation thereof, a plurality of radial cavities of different size in spaced relation around said periphery in radial relation with each one of said cavities adapted to retain a corresponding different selected shank of a button, a planar small angular surface with respect to said axis under each cavity for parallel mating relation with the surface of said support means, an open radial needle clearance slot of predetermined length in said turret member of predetermined length centrally intersecting each said cavity whereby said turret member is rotated to align a selected cavity with said slot in said bearing means for retaining a button shank of a selected button whereby said button will be sewed to sheet material when said button clamp is moved from said loading to said holding position and said machine is operated.