Baptist fan longarm quilting guide

Abstract

A hopping foot guide device for use with a longarm quilting machine to guide the longarm machine's hopping foot sewing needle mechanism across material in an intricate pattern without the need to reset at every turn or otherwise move as the stitching progresses, and capable of accurate repetition.

Claims

1. A longarm quilting guide apparatus comprising: a first left straight edge composite comprising a straight outer edge of a predefined length, an inner curved edge, and a plurality of curved fingers emanating from said inner curved edge of said first left straight edge composite; and a second right straight edge composite comprising a straight outer edge of a predefined length, an inner curved edge, and a plurality of curved fingers emanating from said inner curved edge of said second right straight edge composite; and an outer curved edge composite of predefined length and arc configured to join said first left straight edge composite and said second right straight edge composite at an outermost portion of each such respective inner curved edges, configured to form a series of nested ascending curved arc paths with said plurality of curved fingers emanating from said inner curved edge of said second right straight edge composite being configured to nest in an interlock configuration with said plurality of curved fingers emanating from said inner curved edge of said first left straight edge composite and said curved arc paths directly accessible from an opening.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first left straight edge composite contains two curved fingers, and said second right straight edge composite contains three curved fingers.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said path is from ½″ to 9/16″ wide.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first left straight edge composite and said second right straight edge composite further comprise at least one hole.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising embossing or engraving forming at least one grid pattern.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the at least one grid pattern is of a different color than the material of the overall apparatus.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said longarm quilting guide apparatus is made from a clear material.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein at least one corner formed by the joining of the left side edge composite and the right side edge composite with the outer curved edge composite are rounded.

9. A longarm quilting guide apparatus comprising: a first left straight edge composite comprising a straight outer edge of a predefined length, an inner edge, and a plurality of fingers emanating from said inner edge of said first left straight edge composite; and a second right straight edge composite comprising a straight outer edge of a predefined length, an inner edge, and a plurality of fingers emanating from said inner edge of said second right straight edge composite; and an outer composite of predefined length and width having an outer and inner edge configured to join said first left straight edge composite and said second right straight edge composite at an outermost portion of each respective inner edges of said first left and second right straight edge composites, configured to form a series of nested fingers forming a maze path with said plurality of fingers emanating from said inner edge of said second right straight edge composite being configured to nest in an interlock configuration with said plurality of fingers emanating from said inner edge of said first left straight edge composite and said maze path directly accessible from an opening.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said first left straight edge composite contains two fingers, and said second right straight edge composite contains three fingers.

11. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said maze path is from ½″ to 9/16″ wide.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said first left straight edge composite and said second right straight edge composite further comprise at least one hole.

13. The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising embossing or engraving forming an at least one grid pattern.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the at least one grid pattern is of a different color than the material of the overall apparatus.

15. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said longarm quilting apparatus device is made from a clear material.

16. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein at least one corner formed by the joining of the left side edge composite and the right side edge composite with the outer edge composite are rounded.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 depicts one embodiment of the present disclosure wherein a first left straight edge composite is depicted with a left straight edge composite with an outer edge (2) of predefined length, an inner curved edge (4) and two curved fingers (6) emanating from the inner curved edge (4); a second right straight edge composite is depicted with a right straight outer edge (1) of predefined length, an inner curved edge (3) and three curved fingers (5) emanating from the inner curved edge (3). Also shown are circular holes inside a circular etching (7) cut into each of the first left and second right straight edge composites, the access opening (8), a hopping foot parking area (9), the outer curved edge composite (11), its outer curved edge (10) and joining the first left and second right straight edge composites at the outermost areas of the inner curved edges of said first left and second straight edge composites. Also depicted are embossing of a grid line (12), a centering cross lines (13), and curved dashed gridlines (14).

(2) FIG. 2 depicts one embodiment of the present disclosure disclosing some preferred dimensions of an apparatus configured as taught herein

(3) FIG. 3 depicts prior art quilting guides that evidence a plethora of edges along which a hopping foot needle can be guided, some with straight edges, some with curved edges, some with outer edges, some with internal edges, but all missing the salient and proprietary properties of the guide disclosed here.

(4) FIG. 4 also depicts prior art, in this case, of a guide that is most commonly used to create a series of nested arc stitchings or circular stitchings that embodies a rotating guide at a specific rotation point, i.e, the guide must move at the same time that the hopping foot needle is moving and stitching.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(5) For clarity of disclosure, and not by way of limitation, the detailed description of the invention is divided into the following subsections that describe or illustrate certain features, embodiments or applications of the present invention.

Definitions

(6) “first left straight edge composite” as used herein means a formed piece of suitable material, such as but not limited to acrylic or plastic, having a straight left edge of predefined length and an opposite edge from which emanate finger(s) of the same or similar material and the same thickness. The straight left edge and the opposite edge have connecting edges that may or may not be of similar length. The opposite edge, in a preferred embodiment, is curved. The finger(s) in a preferred embodiment are curved.

(7) “second right straight edge composite” as used herein means a formed piece of suitable material, such as but not limited to acrylic or plastic, having a straight right edge of predefined length and an opposite edge from which emanate finger(s) of the same or similar material and the same thickness. The straight right edge and the opposite edge have connecting edges that may or may not be of similar length. The opposite edge, in a preferred embodiment, is curved. The finger(s) in a preferred embodiment are curved.

(8) “outer composite” as used herein means a formed piece of suitable material, such as but not limited to acrylic or plastic, that is configured to join a first left straight edge composite and a second right straight edge composite by attaching at one end to the outer most portion of the opposite edge of the first left straight edge composite and at its other end to the outer most portion of the opposite edge of the second right straight edge composite.

(9) “outer curved edge composite” as used herein means an outer composite that is curved and in a preferred embodiment, the outer curved edge composite is curved to match the curve of the fingers that emanate from both straight edge composites.

(10) “finger” as used herein means a formed piece of composite material of predefined length, curvature and width configured to emanate from an inner edge of either the first left straight edge composite or the second right straight edge composite and further configured to form a pattern when juxtaposed with other fingers.

(11) “hopping foot” as used herein means a particular component of a longarm quilting machine and its sewing head wherein the hopping foot is the sewing needle mechanism that delivers the thread and touches the surface area of the fabric to be quilted.

The System and Method of the Present Invention

(12) An apparatus as described herein may comprise one solid contiguous device with no extraneous or moving parts to jiggle, wobble, get lost, or entangled in material. The apparatus is designed to be used in a static manner, a hopping foot moving around it while it is completely stationary. The apparatus is only moved when the hoping foot is stationary to set up a different area of the fabric to be stitched.

(13) In one embodiment, an apparatus as taught herein comprises a left side straight edge composite, a right side straight edge composite, and a top outer edge forming a triangle fan shape with an outer curved edge—a clam shell shape. Each of the left and right sides have curved fingers that intersperse to form a series of curved, ascending arcs that form a curved maze of sufficient width to be able to guide a hopping foot needle through a beginning to an end, when the left and right sides are joined at one end by the outer top edge. The other ends of the left and right sides are not joined leaving an opening.

(14) In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus just described in the preceding paragraph is approximately ¼″ thick, i.e., thick enough to be higher than a hopping foot's hop and thick enough to have some inherent strength, without being too thick so as to be unwieldy to use. Referring to FIG. 2, both the first left and second right straight edge composites have outer straight edges that measure 7.75″ with an overall width of 12.75″ and height of 8.25″. The arc of the inner curved edge of both the first left and second right straight edges have an arc the same as that of the uppermost arc formed by the inner curved edge of the outer curved edge composite with each finger then forming similar arcs, descendingly shorter in length to allow for stitches to nest within each consecutive fan. The open path is configured to approximately 9/16″ in width to accommodate hopping foots with a diameter of ½″ to 9/16″.

EXAMPLES

(15) The present invention is further illustrated, but not limited by, the following examples.

(16) An apparatus as described herein is used on the surface of material to be stitched, essentially floating on the surface, manually guided to achieve a design. It is front facing, which improves accuracy.

(17) In one preferred embodiment, the design taught is a typical ‘baptist fan’ design and in a preferred embodiment of the apparatus as taught, it is directional, manually applying the chosen design with improved efficient progression. In essence, the design follows from a beginning point to an end point, in a non-repeat, continuous path, which eliminates errors in retraced stitches, further allowing a continuous quilted pattern design. Here, when an end point is reached, without a need to lift a hopping foot needle from its ending position, the apparatus can be repositioned for the next repeating design fan, no need to try and replace a needle in a specific spot, because the apparatus can be manipulated around the hopping foot and the grids are strategically placed so that the apparatus can be exactly placed for the next stitching by overlapping with previous stitching or pre-placed design points on the fabric. It should be understood that the apparatus taught here is not limited to producing only ‘baptist fan’ designs, it can be used to create any number of ascending or descending arc stitching creations limited only by the imagination of the user.

(18) In one preferred embodiment, wherein there are a plurality of finger holes in the right and left straight edge composites, there is provided a manual stability, several maneuver points accessible by either or both hands.

(19) In one preferred embodiment, there is an overall curved fan shape formed, but the non-joined right and left straight edge composites at their straight edge ends, provides an opening which lends balance and stability of design.

(20) In a preferred embodiment, the fingers of each of the left and right straight edge composites are of a pre-defined length and arc, each individually useful in creating continuous linear curves, creating a border or outline, each on a predetermined surface measurement. For example, the fingers may be of 1.5, 3.5, 5.5, 7.5, and 9.5 inches wherein, only one arc may divide evenly across a quilt border. And, because of the ease with which the device can be placed and replaced, without a need to raise the hopping foot needle, and the use of the several etched gridlines, a more accurate border can be created.

(21) In a preferred embodiment, the predetermined measurement of the embossed, engraved or etched grid lines provide guide alignment with surface seams, guidelines to maintain directionality (eliminating the need for the commonly utilized two-inch blocks). This grid system also can indicate the starting point in the placement of the apparatus within a contiguous design path. The dashed arc gridlines can also superimpose on prior stitchings to insure exact placement and the most even of repeating stitchings.

(22) In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus is transparent to facilitate greater visibility on surfaces. The etched, embossed or engraved markings may be of various chosen colors to differentiate between sets of grid lines and/or other important design point features.

(23) In one embodiment, the apparatus described here can be used with regular sewing machines not necessarily designed for quilting if (a) the typical sewing machine is adapted with a ruler foot (essentially an alternate foot designed for ¼″ acrylic rulers that is attachable to the sewing needle delivery mechanism to for all intents and purposes transform the sewing needle delivery mechanism into a hopping foot-like mechanism (it is available as either a high shank or low shank as the particular machine requires and is suitable for guiding the sewing needle); and (b) the sewing machine can otherwise accommodate the quilt material and the apparatus here, i.e., has a large enough throat area, sewing platform and strength.

(24) Publications cited throughout this document are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. Although the various aspects of the invention have been illustrated above by reference to examples and preferred embodiments, it will be appreciated that the scope of the invention is defined not by the foregoing description but by the following claims properly construed under principles of patent law.

(25) Each and every feature described herein, and each and every combination of two or more of such features, is included within the scope of the present invention provided that the features included in such a combination are not mutually exclusive.