Pantograph assembly for moveable head sewing machine

Abstract

A pantograph assembly for a moveable head sewing machine suitable for use quilting fabric which includes a rigid extension arm having a first end and a second end and means for rigidly attaching the first end of the extension arm to a side of the head assembly of a moveable head sewing machine in a location where movement of the rigid extension arm results, either to to the left or the right in corresponding movement to the moveable head of the sewing machine, and a tracing bracket having an upper end and at least one downwardly extending lower leg configured to slide upon and over an image bearing surface medium having a design imprinted thereon to be traced, said upper bracket end rigidly attached to the second end of the extension arm, and means for indicating a point on the design to be traced, rigidly attached to rigid extension arm in close proximity to the tracing bracket.

Claims

1. A pantograph assembly for a moveable head sewing machine suitable for use quilting fabric which comprises: a rigid extension arm having a first end and a second end; means for rigidly attaching the first end of the extension arm to a side of the head assembly of a moveable head sewing machine in a location where movement of the rigid extension arm results in corresponding movement of the moveable head of the sewing machine; a tracing bracket having an upper end and at least one downwardly extending lower leg configured to slide upon and over an image bearing surface medium having a design imprinted thereon to be traced, said upper bracket end rigidly attached to the second end of the extension arm; and means for indicating a point on the design to be traced, rigidly attached to rigid extension arm in close proximity to the tracing bracket.

2. The pantograph assembly of claim 1 wherein the tracing bracket further comprises at least two downwardly extending lower legs configured to slide above the image bearing surface medium.

3. The pantograph assembly of claim 2 wherein the means for indicating a point on the design to be traced is configured to indicate a point on the design to be traced between the two downwardly extending legs.

4. The pantograph assembly of claim 1 wherein the means for indicating a point on the design to be traced is a laser light rod for illuminating a point on the design to be traced.

5. The pantograph assembly of claim 1 wherein the means for indicating a point on the design to be traced is a stylus.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is perspective representational view of the pantograph assembly;

(2) FIG. 2 is a front plan view of the pantograph assembly;

(3) FIG. 3 is a first end view of the pantograph assembly showing the handle end;

(4) FIG. 4 is a second end view of the pantograph assembly showing the clamping mechanism;

(5) FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the pantograph assembly; and

(6) FIG. 6 is a bottom plan view of the pantograph assembly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(7) While the presently disclosed inventive concept(s) is susceptible of various modifications and alternative constructions, certain illustrated embodiments thereof have been shown in the drawings and will be described below in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intention to limit the inventive concept(s) to the specific form disclosed, but, on the contrary, the presently disclosed and claimed inventive concept(s) is to cover all modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the inventive concept(s) as defined in the claims.

(8) First referring to FIGS. 1 through 6 there is shown to advantage our new design for a pantograph for use with a movable head sewing machine. The pantograph assembly 10 is formed of extended ridged arm 12, a clamping mechanism 14, an adjustable A-frame bracket 16 having a pair of horizontal slide surfaces 22, and handles 18.

(9) The design or image to be reproduced by the pantograph 10 is positioned underneath the bracket, and laser light rod 20, which may be battery powered, is activated to illuminate a precise point on the design or image as a starting point for replicating the design or image. While adjustable bracket 16, in the preferred embodiment has an A-frame shape, there are many alternative designs, not shown, that will work equally well, as a rectangular shaped bracket, or a single vertical post extending down from rigid arm 12. The same can be said of the preferred laser light rod marker 20. A stylus or even a pen or pencil will also serve the function of tracing the image. In the preferred embodiment, laser light rod 20, or a stylus if one is in use, is height adjustable and held in place by bracket 26 which is attached to adjustment bolt 24.

(10) The first end 32 of ridged arm 12 is adapted for use with a bracket assembly 36 comprised of plate 38 and bolts 40. In the preferred embodiment one of the bolts extends through an elongated slot 42 so as to provide a means of adapting the pantograph assembly 10 to a variety of different movable head sewing machine designs by various manufacturers. The slots are provided in the general vicinity of the second end 34 of ridged arm 12 as a means of adapting or adjusting the location of a frame bracket 16 in or out along ridged arm 12 depending upon the location of the design relative to the work piece. As shown in FIG. 1,the pantograph assembly 10 is attached to the lower rear arm of the throat of the moveable head sewing machine assembly. This positions the laser light pointer 20 to the side and slightly to the rear of the sewing machine frame assembly where there is typically found a flat table like surface which can be used to support the design or image to be replicated. It doesn't matter if the pads 22 rest atop or above the design or image to be replicated, as rigid bar 12 is strong enough to support the weight of the users hands when gripping and moving the handles 18.

(11) Slide pads 22 are intended to have a smooth underside finish so as to smoothly glide over, or upon the design shown in FIG. 1 as 44 to be duplicated as the operator who, with both hands on handles 18, deftly moves the pantograph to trace the outline of the design to be replicated. The sewing head moves with it and the design can be replicated on the quilting material on the scale of 1:1.

(12) In the preferred embodiment, the pantograph is adapted to be attached to the rear portion of the lower arm of sewing head of the movable head sewing machine and the pantograph bracket 16 is sized to glide in the same or parallel plane as the fixed work piece underneath the sewing head over or upon an image which rests upon a flat surface adjacent to the work piece to be stitched which serves as a table for holding the design or image to be replicated. This is done for a number of reasons.

(13) If the stationary fabric work piece fastened to a frame that is positioned at standard table height, then the operator of the pantograph can literally sit down in a chair behind the work table next to the movable head sewing machine with both the fabric work piece and the image or design to be replicated with the pantograph and trace out the decorative design from the image bearing surface onto the work piece quickly and accurately with smooth motions resulting from smooth or steady flow of movement over the image to be duplicated because the operator can see both the image and the fabric work piece at the same time. This is a significant advantage to elderly or physically impaired sewing machine operators as it eliminates the need to stand behind the moveable sewing machine head to use the standard handles that are normally used to move the sewing head, or to have to bend or lean over or around the moveable head to see the design as it is being stitched under the head.

(14) While it is obviously feasible, from a design standpoint, to design a latching system to extend rigid arm 12 to the front or the rear, it is not the preferred embodiment. If the pantograph extends to the rear of the moveable sewing head, instead of to the side, it effectively doubles the floor space required to the proper operation of the machine and greatly restricts the operator ability to monitor both the position of the pointer and fabric work piece at the same time. If the pantograph extends to the of the moveable sewing head, again the required floor space effectively doubles, and while visibility of the fabric work piece is not impaired as much, it precludes access to the moveable head, and bobbin from the front.

(15) While certain preferred embodiments are shown in the figures and described in this disclosure, it is to be distinctly understood that the presently disclosed inventive concept(s) is not limited thereto but may be variously embodied to practice within the scope of the following claims. From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure as defined by the following claims.