GB2033440A

GB2033440A - Finger guard and eye shield for a sewing machine

Info

Publication number: GB2033440A
Application number: GB7914488A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Singer Co
Current assignee: Singer Co
Priority date: 1978-11-13
Filing date: 1979-04-25
Publication date: 1980-05-21
Also published as: DE2945257A1; GB2033440B

Abstract

A finger guard 36 and attached transparent eye shield 38 is supported on a bracket 42 which readily attaches to and is readily removable from the presser bar 18 of a sewing machine along with or independently of a presser foot assembly. The guard and shield are pivotably movable between a position protecting an operator from injury and a position permitting the operator to thread the sewing needle or change a presser foot. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Finger guard and eye shield for a sewing machine BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention: The invention relates to finger guards and eye shields for use on sewing machines.

Description of the Invention: It is well known to provide a sewing machine with a guard effective to prevent injury by the needle to an operators's finger, and it is well known to provide an eye shield effective to prevent injury to an operator's eyes from broken needle segments. However known finger guards and eye shield devices are all unsatisfactory in one or more respects.

It is a prime object of this invention to provide an improved finger guard and eye shield device for a sewing machine. More particularly, it is an object of the invention to provide a finger guard and eye shield which can be readily mounted on or removed from a presser bar with or independently of a presser foot assembly. It is also an object of the invention to provide a finger guard and eye shield which affords protection to an operator while permitting him an unobstructed view of the needle during sewing operations, and which can be moved to a position well above the level of the eye of the needle to enable the operator to easily thread the needle or to change the presser foot.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the invention, a needle guard and transparent eye shield are supported on a bracket which readily attaches to and is readily removable from the presser bar of a sewing machine along with or independently of a presser foot assembly. The needle guard and eye shield can be pivoted about an axis which is perpendicular to the presser bar and parallel to the feed dog of the machine and moved from a position affording protection to an operator into a position substantially above the eye of the sewing needle to thereby enable the operator to easily thread the needle between sewing operations or change the presser foot.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a fragmentary end elevational view of the head of a sewing machine showing a finger guard and eye shield according to the invention in a position protecting an operator from injury; Figure 2 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the sewing machine showing the finger guard and eye shield in the position protecting the operator from injury; Figure 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing the finger guard and eye shield pivoted to the side of the sewing needle and the presser foot in a raised position; Figure 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing the presser bar raised, and the finger guard and eye shield pivoted to the side to permit removal of the presser foot from the machine; Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on the plane of the line 5-5 of Fig. 1; and Figure 6 is an enlarged exploded perspective view of the device of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODI MENT Referring to the drawings, reference character 10 designates a sewing machine head of conventional design including a vertically reciprocable needle bar 1 2 to which a sewing needle 14 is secured by a thumb screw 16.

The sewing machine head also includes a presser bar 1 8 which can be raised and lowered with a handle 20 to position a presser foot 22 with respect to a throat plate 24 and feed dog 26. The presser foor is removably attached at 28 and 30 in the usual manner to a foot carrier 32 which is affixed to the presser bar 1 8 as hereinafter described.

A presser bar attachment 34 according to the invention includes a finger guard 36, a transparent shield 38 which is secured to the guard 36 by screws 40, 41, and a bracket 42. The finger guard and eye shield are supported on the bracket 42 for pivotal movement about the axis 44 of a screw 46. The screw extends through a hole 48 in a tab 50 on a right angled arm 52 which is integral with guard 36, and further extends into a threaded hole 54 in a tab 56 on bracket 42.

Tab 50 rides on a shoulder 58 of the screw 46. The screw is loosened to permit the finger guard and eye shield to be pivoted about axis 44 and is tightened to fix their position relative to bracket 42 and to presser bar 1 8 to which the bracket attaches.

Attachment 34 and the foot carrier 32 are removably secured to the presser bar 1 8 with a single thumb screw 60 which extends through open-ended slots 62 and 64 in bracket 42 of the attachment 42 and the foot carrier respectively, and thence into a threaded hole 66 in the presser bar. The bracket 42 is secured to the presser bar 1 8 with thumb screw 60 in a position wherein the axis 44 is perpendicular to the presser bar and parallel to the work feeding feed dog 26 of the machine 10. Attachment 34 may be mounted upon the presser bar or removed therefrom independently of the foot carrier 32 when screw 60 is loosened sufficiently to permit bracket 42 to be moved relative to the carrier and slot 62 to be moved downwardly onto the screw 60 or withdrawn upwardly therefrom.

The finger guard 36 and eye shield 38 may be disposed about axis 44 in a position as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 wherein a finger guard portion 68 and eye shield panel 70 are directly in front of the needle 14. In such position the finger guard 36 embraces the needle except for a gap 72, and serves as an obstacle to an operator accidentally putting his fingers under a needle during a sewing operation. In addition, eye shield panel 70 extending in front of the needle, an eye shield panel 74 extending on one side thereof and arm 52 on the other side of the panel 70 protect against injury to the operator's eyes from needle fragments such as might be propelled at the operator if the needle should break while sewing.

When it becomes necessary to thread the needle 14 or remove the presser foot 22, the finger guard 36 and eye shield 38 are moved about axis 44 to a position such as shown in Figs. 3 and 4 and the needle passes through the gap 72. In such position the finger guard and the eye shield extend to the side of the needle and are well above the eye 76 of the needle even when the needle is in its highest position, (threading position) above the throat plate, that is, as it is shown in the drawings.

The needle eye is then easily accessible to the operator and the needle can be readily threaded. Further, when the finger guard and eye shield are in the Fig. 2 and 3 position the presser foot is readily accessible to the operator's fingers and can be removed from foot carrier 32 without difficulty once the presser bar 1 8 has been raised with handle 20.

Although only a particular embodiment of the invention has been shown and described by way of illustration, various modifications will occurr to those skilled in the art, and it is, therefor, to be understood that it is intended herein to cover all such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

CLAIMS (25Apr1979) 1. In a sewing machine which includes a presser bar, a work feeding feed dog and a sewing needle, the combination comprising a presser foot assembly including a presser foot and a carrier therefor to which the foot is detachably connected; a presser bar attachment including a finger guard, a transparent eye shield which is affixed to the finger guard, and a bracket which supports the finger guard and eye shield for pivotal movement; and fastening means securing the presser foot assembly and said attachment to the presser bar with the pivotal axis for the finger guard and eye shield perpendicular to the presser bar and parallel to the feed dog to enable the finger guard and eye shield to be moved between one position wherein the finger guard and eye shield extend directly in front of the needle and another position wherein the needle guard and eye shield are substantially above the eye of the sewing needle when in its threading position.

2. The combination of Claim 1 wherein the guard embraces the needle in said one position and includes a gap through which the needle passes as the guard and shield are moved between the said one and another position.

3. The combination of Claim 1 wherein the eye shield extends at least both in front and along one side of the needle when the guard and shield are in the said one position.

4. The combination of Claim 1 said fastening means is a single thumb screw having a threaded connection with the presser bar.

5. A sewing machine substantially as herein described and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.

CLAIMS (3 Dec 1979) 1. in a sewing machine which includes a presser bar, a work feeding feed dog and a sewing needle, the combination comprising a presser foot assembly including a presser foot and carrier therefor to which the foot is detachably connected; a presser bar attachment including a finger guard, a transparent eye shield which is affixed to the finger guard, and a bracket which supports the finger guard and eye shield for pivotal movement; and fastening means securing the presser foot assembly and said attachment to the presser bar with the pivotal axis for the finger guard and eye shield perpendicular to the presser bar and parallel to the feed dog in its longitudinally extending direction to enable the finger guard and eye shield to be moved between one position wherein the finger guard and eye shield extend directly in front of the needle and a side position wherein the needle guard and eye shield are substantially above the eye of the sewing needle when in its threading position.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. directly in front of the needle 14. In such position the finger guard 36 embraces the needle except for a gap 72, and serves as an obstacle to an operator accidentally putting his fingers under a needle during a sewing operation. In addition, eye shield panel 70 extending in front of the needle, an eye shield panel 74 extending on one side thereof and arm 52 on the other side of the panel 70 protect against injury to the operator's eyes from needle fragments such as might be propelled at the operator if the needle should break while sewing. When it becomes necessary to thread the needle 14 or remove the presser foot 22, the finger guard 36 and eye shield 38 are moved about axis 44 to a position such as shown in Figs. 3 and 4 and the needle passes through the gap 72. In such position the finger guard and the eye shield extend to the side of the needle and are well above the eye 76 of the needle even when the needle is in its highest position, (threading position) above the throat plate, that is, as it is shown in the drawings. The needle eye is then easily accessible to the operator and the needle can be readily threaded. Further, when the finger guard and eye shield are in the Fig. 2 and 3 position the presser foot is readily accessible to the operator's fingers and can be removed from foot carrier 32 without difficulty once the presser bar 1 8 has been raised with handle 20. Although only a particular embodiment of the invention has been shown and described by way of illustration, various modifications will occurr to those skilled in the art, and it is, therefor, to be understood that it is intended herein to cover all such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention. CLAIMS (25Apr1979)

1. In a sewing machine which includes a presser bar, a work feeding feed dog and a sewing needle, the combination comprising a presser foot assembly including a presser foot and a carrier therefor to which the foot is detachably connected; a presser bar attachment including a finger guard, a transparent eye shield which is affixed to the finger guard, and a bracket which supports the finger guard and eye shield for pivotal movement; and fastening means securing the presser foot assembly and said attachment to the presser bar with the pivotal axis for the finger guard and eye shield perpendicular to the presser bar and parallel to the feed dog to enable the finger guard and eye shield to be moved between one position wherein the finger guard and eye shield extend directly in front of the needle and another position wherein the needle guard and eye shield are substantially above the eye of the sewing needle when in its threading position.

CLAIMS (3 Dec 1979)

1. in a sewing machine which includes a presser bar, a work feeding feed dog and a sewing needle, the combination comprising a presser foot assembly including a presser foot and carrier therefor to which the foot is detachably connected; a presser bar attachment including a finger guard, a transparent eye shield which is affixed to the finger guard, and a bracket which supports the finger guard and eye shield for pivotal movement; and fastening means securing the presser foot assembly and said attachment to the presser bar with the pivotal axis for the finger guard and eye shield perpendicular to the presser bar and parallel to the feed dog in its longitudinally extending direction to enable the finger guard and eye shield to be moved between one position wherein the finger guard and eye shield extend directly in front of the needle and a side position wherein the needle guard and eye shield are substantially above the eye of the sewing needle when in its threading position.