U.S. patent number 3,726,237 [Application Number 05/226,070] was granted by the patent office on 1973-04-10 for work table for open-arm sewing machine.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Roberts Mfg. Inc.. Invention is credited to Wayne A. Devey, Kent S. Roberts.
United States Patent |
3,726,237 |
Devey , et al. |
April 10, 1973 |
**Please see images for:
( Certificate of Correction ) ** |
WORK TABLE FOR OPEN-ARM SEWING MACHINE
Abstract
An elongate table top supported by legs is adapted to receive an
open-arm type of sewing machine. A second table top is mounted upon
one end portion of the first or base table top at open-arm working
level for raising to normal working level with respect to a
received sewing machine and for lowering back down to open-arm
working level. The second table top is longitudinally recessed to
accommodate the open arm of the received sewing machine at both
working levels.
Inventors: |
Devey; Wayne A. (American Fork,
UT), Roberts; Kent S. (American Fork, UT) |
Assignee: |
Roberts Mfg. Inc. (American
Fork, UT)
|
Family
ID: |
22847422 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/226,070 |
Filed: |
February 14, 1972 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
108/92;
112/217.1; 108/17 |
Current CPC
Class: |
D05B
75/06 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
D05B
75/06 (20060101); D05B 75/00 (20060101); A47b
029/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;112/217.1,258,260,63
;108/12,17 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,067,288 |
|
Oct 1959 |
|
DT |
|
1,025,990 |
|
Jan 1953 |
|
FR |
|
657,270 |
|
Feb 1938 |
|
DD |
|
Primary Examiner: Krizmanich; George H.
Claims
We claim:
1. A work table for open-arm sewing machines, comprising an
elongate table top having a flat continuous upper surface
throughout the extent thereof and adapted to receive an open-arm
sewing machine intermediate its length and extending longitudinally
therewith, said elongate table top defining a sewing-machine
receiving area intermediate its length and extending longitudinally
therewith; means for supporting said table top in a
sewing-machine-use position; a second table top mounted on the
first table top and having a receiving slot confronting the
sewing-machine-receiving area of the first table top and extending
longitudinally inwardly of such second table top, from one end
thereof, for accommodating the open arm of a sewing machine when
the latter is positioned on the first table top; means mounting the
second table top over an end portion of the first top, so that, in
open-arm work position, said second table top rests upon and in
superimposed relationship with said first table top, with its upper
surface above the upper surface of said first table top and
increasing the effective length of the first table top, such
mounting means providing for the raising of the second table top
relative to and above the first table top to approximately the same
level at which the working surface of the open-arm of the received
sewing machine will be positioned, said mounting means also
providing for return of the second table top to its rest position
upon the first table top in the said open-arm work position.
2. A work table in accordance with claim 1, wherein the mounting
means provided for raising and lowering the second table comprises
parallel motion mechanism connecting the second table top with the
first.
3. A work table in accordance with claim 2, wherein means are
provided for securing a sewing machine in its received position on
the first table top.
4. A work table in accordance with claim 3, wherein the securing
means comprises cushioning bumpers secured to the upper surface of
the first table top at that end of the
sewing-machine-receiving-area which is remote from the second table
top.
5. A work table in accordance with claim 3, wherein cushioning
bumper means is attached to the second table top within the
open-arm-receiving slot thereof.
6. A work table in accordance with claim 2, wherein the underside
of the second table top is recessed marginally of the slot for
accommodating the base of the sewing machine when said second table
top is in lowered position resting upon the first table top.
7. A work table in accordance with claim 1, wherein the width of
the specified end portion of the underlying first table top
approximates the width of the superimposed, second table top and is
considerably wider than the open-arm-receiving slot in said second
table top.
8. A work table in accordance with claim 7, wherein the second
table top is of panel formation having reinforcing strips extending
along the longitudinal edge margins of the bottom thereof; and
wherein the mounting means providing for raising and lowering said
second table top comprises parallel motion mechanism connecting
said second table top with the first table top and journaled in
said reinforcing strips.
9. A work table in accordance with claim 2, wherein the other end
portion of the first table top is no wider than the parallel motion
mechanism, so the latter is free to move in that direction for
placing the two tables tops in compact relationship when not in
use.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field
The invention is in the general field of work tables, and is
specifically concerned with special work tables for sewing
machines.
2. State of the Art
Various special work tables for sewing machines have been developed
in the past, see for example the two Blevins U.S. Pats. Nos.
3,034,841 and 3,384,037, but none have provided a convenient work
area for so-called "open arm " types of sewing machines, wherein
the lower bobbin portion of the machine is formed as an arm
underlying the needle-holding portion of the machine and spaced
from the base of the machine so as to enable such bobbin portion or
"open arm" to enter sleeves of garments, socks, and other items of
similar nature for convenience in the sewing thereof.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention provides a special work table for open arm types of
sewing machines that is quickly and easily convertible from
ordinary sewing position to open-arm sewing position and vice
versa. Such special work table comprises an elongate table top
adapted to receive an open-arm sewing machine intermediate its
length and extending longitudinally therewith. A second table top,
having a sewing machine open-arm-receiving slot extending
longitudinally inwardly thereof from one of its ends, is mounted
over one end portion of the first table top, with the opening of
its slot confronting the sewing-machine-receiving area of the first
table top. Means, preferably in the form of parallel motion
linkage, connects the second table top with the first, so the
former can be raised and lowered relative to the latter to assume,
respectively, a raised work position approximately flush with the
upper working surface of the open arm of a received sewing machine
and a lowered work position approximately at the level of the
bottom of the open arm of the received sewing machine. Abutment
stop means are preferably provided on the first table top to define
an end of the sewing-machine-receiving area thereon that is remote
from the second table top and to thereby hold the sewing machine
steady when such second table top is in its raised work position,
and a cushioning bumper is advantageously provided at the inner
terminus of the sewing-machine-arm-receiving recess.
THE DRAWING
A particular construction representing the best mode presently
contemplated of carrying out the invention is illustrated in the
accompanying drawing, in which:
FIG. 1 represents a perspective view looking downwardly toward the
front of the work table on which is positioned an open-arm sewing
machine, the second, i.e. superimposed, work table top portion
being shown in raised work position relative to the upper surface
of the open arm of the sewing machine;
FIG. 2, a corresponding view showing the superimposed work table
top lowered upon the base work table top into work position
relative to the elongate opening between the open arm and the base
of the sewing machine, the lower portions of the supporting legs
being broken away from convenience of illustration;
FIG. 3, a view in end elevation taken from the standpoint of the
line 3--3 FIG. 1;
FIG. 4, fragmentary, longitudinal, vertical section taken along the
line 4--4 of FIG. 1 and drawn to a larger scale; and
FIG. 5, a fragmentary, transverse, vertical section taken along the
line of 5--5 of FIG. 2 and drawn to the larger scale of FIG. 4.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENT
In the presently preferred form shown, the work table of the
invention comprises an elongate table top 10 supported by legs 11
of any suitable type, preferably foldable against the bottom face
of the table top to provide convenient portability for the work
table. Such table top 10 is adapted to receive and support an
open-arm type of sewing machine 12 on its upper surface
intermediate the length and width thereof and extending
longitudinally therewith.
Mounted in superimposed relationship on one end portion 10 a of the
table top 10 is a second table top 13. The mounting is such that
this second table top 13 can be raised relative to the first or
base table top 10 from a lowered position resting thereon, in which
its upper surface 13a is approximately at the level of the bottom
surface 14a of the open arm 14 of the sewing machine 12, see FIGS.
2, 4, and 5, to a raised position in which its upper surface 13a is
approximately flush with the upper, working surface 14b of such
open-arm 14, see FIGS. 1 and 3. The mounting means preferably
employed is parallel linkage mechanism, comprising sets of
individual links 15.
In its lowered work position preferably resting on base table top
10, the second table top 13 has its working surface 13a at a
convenient level relative to the elongate opening 16 between open
arm 14 and the base 17 of the sewing machine. Also, because, as is
illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 5, the width of end portion 10a of the
first or base table top 10 approximates the width of the second
table top 13, desirable stability is provided as a work table in
the lowered, open-arm work position.
For accommodating open arm 14 of sewing machine 12 in both lowered
and raised positions of second table top 13, such second table top
is provided with an elongate slot 18, extending inwardly and
longitudinally thereof from that end thereof which confronts the
sewing machine.
As illustrated, it is convenient and structurally advantageous to
fasten elongate reinforcing strips 19 along the longitudinal edge
margins of the bottom of the panel portion of second table top 13,
and to journal the upper ends of links 15 in receiving openings
provided in such strips. The set of links 15 at the end of table
top 10, see FIG. 3, are conveniently made integrally as a unit by
correspondingly bending opposite ends of a rod of steel or other
suitable material, thereby providing an intermediate portion 19a
extended between bearings 20 fastened to the underside of table top
10. The links 15 of the other set are not aligned transversely of
the table and are therefore made as separate pieces, each having
its lower end journaled by a bearing (not shown) corresponding to
the bearings 20.
In the normal use of the sewing machine 12, second table top 13
will be in the raised position shown in FIG. 1. As such, it rests
and exerts a mild thrust against open arm 14 of the sewing machine.
To prevent the sewing machine from sliding backwardly on first
table top 10 when a user leans on second table top 13, means are
provided for securing such machine in position. It is preferred,
however, to leave the machine itself unattached to the work table,
so it can be conveniently removed and replaced as desired.
Accordingly, the securing means preferably employed are rubber
bumpers 21 attached to work table 10, as by nails or screws. Also,
in order to protect the front of open arm 14 of the machine from
being scratched or marred by second work table top 13 in its raised
work position, a rubber bumper 22, FIG. 4, or other cushioning
means is advantageously attached to the edge of such second work
table that defines the closed end of recess 18.
When it is desired to take advantage of the open arm feature of the
sewing machine for sewing sleeves of garments, mending socks, etc.,
it is only necessary in this illustrated embodiment to move second
table top 13 in a direction directly away from the machine until it
comes to rest on the end portion 10a of first table top 10 above
which it is superimposed. This movement, dictated by the parallel
motion mechanism made up of the links 15, means that second work
table top 13 will assume the position shown in FIG. 2, wherein only
the terminal ends of its bifurcations 13b bordering slot 18 will be
contiguous with the machine. In order to permit such second table
top 13 to rest upon the underlying table top 10, considering the
fact that the bifurcations 13b overlie longitudinal margins of base
17 of the machine, it is preferred to rabbet out portions of the
undersurfaces of such bifurcations, see 23, FIG. 5, to accommodate
lateral margins of such sewing machine base 17.
It can be easily realized from the showing in FIG. 3 that, in its
lowered work position, second table top 13 enables easy insertion
of material to be sewed into and along opening 16 between the
bottom 14a of open arm 14 and base 17 of the sewing machine.
Moreover, bobbin door 24 of open arm 14 has clearance for opening
in both work positions of second table top 13.
Also, because first table top 10 is no wider along its end portion
opposite the one end portion 10a than parallel motion mechanism 15,
see FIGS. 1, 2, 4, and 5, second table top 13 can be lowered
forwardly onto the upper surface of such opposite end portion 10a
to place the two table tops in compact relationship when sewing
machine 12 is removed and the table of the invention is not in
use.
Other ways of movably attaching second table top 13 to first table
top 10 can be employed to permit raising and lowering of the former
relative to the latter. It is not necessary that forward movement
of the second table top 13 accompany the lowering movement thereof
within the generic purview of the invention. In instances of
constructions that do not combine forward movement of the second
table top, relative to the machine, with downward movement thereof,
slot 18 should be enlarged and lengthened sufficiently to provide
convenient introduction of material being worked on into and along
space 16.
Whereas this invention is here illustrated and described with
respect to a certain preferred form thereof, it is to be understood
that variations are possible without departing from the inventive
concepts particularly pointed out in the claims.
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