Abstract:
A system facilitating the use of multiple sewing machines mounted on a sewing cabinet is disclosed. A circular turntable on which multiple sewing machines are mounted can be activated either manually or with an electric motor to rotate a desired sewing implement to the working position. The cabinet is designed for maximum storage space in a minimum of wall space. Different models provide up to five drawers and eight shelve as well as a drop leaf for increased table area. The system has surge protected outlets with an on/off switch and an electric cord that can be plugged into any household outlet.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/252,056 filed Nov. 20, 2000. 
    
    
     The present invention relates to a system for facilitating the use of several appliances, machines, tools from a single work position and without the necessity of removing and replacing a desired sewing machine or tool implement. More particularly, the invention relates to a system comprising a turntable apparatus adapted to the top of any cabinet/workbench/table wherein several appliances, machines, tools are mounted or placed and can be rotated into the work position. Rotating the turntable can be manually or electric motor driven. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is noted that the features of the present invention have application in many fields as noted above. However, the features have particular application to sewing systems. 
     In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a sewing system comprising a unique rotating turntable for mounting several sewing implements and a cabinet with drop leaves, drawers and shelves. For space utilization efficiency, equal amounts of the front and back of the turntable rotating mounting platform can be removed so as to form a straight edge on the front and back of the cabinet top. All drawers use all the depth available, some with the use of full extension drawer slides. The remaining available space has adjustable shelves. 
     The present invention provides a space-saver model for use in areas where space is at a premium are provided. This sewing system is designed to utilize the cabinet top for mounting several types of machines, such as a sewing machine, and provide adequate storage space in the form of up to five drawers and eight shelves. A minimum of four surge protected outlets are provided with an on/off switch and a heavy-duty electric cord out the back of the table that can be plugged into any household outlet. 
     The turntable assembly comprises a turntable attached to the upper plate of a ball bearing metal raceway. The lower plate of the ball bearing race is bolted to the cabinet top. The upper plate and the attached turntable, therefore, are free to rotate on the ball bearing lower plate race. A circular groove in the cabinet top forms a track way for a spring-loaded locking pin that protrudes through the turntable into the circular track way. Locking holes in the circular groove allow the spring-loaded locking pin to drop into the locking holes thereby providing means for locking the turntable in a desired position. A knob-like handle on the spring-loaded locking pin provides the means for manually rotating the turntable. 
     A second embodiment provides a motor and gear arrangement to rotate the turntable. The mounting platform, in this embodiment, is attached to a large circular gear whose teeth engage a smaller drive gear attached to the drive shaft of an electric motor. The electric motor is switch activated to rotate the turntable. Stops on the large driven gear engage a switch arrangement to reverse motor current thereby reversing the direction of the turntable and preventing the turntable from continuing to rotate beyond 355°. 
     With the above in mind, an object of the present invention is to provide a system for rotating multiple implements into a work position which is characterized by novel features of construction and arrangement including means for plugging in the appliances, machines, tool, etc., incorporating a surge protection. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a system for rotating multiple implements into a work position incorporating a turntable which can only be rotated 355° and in this matter preclude any of the cord extensions from becoming entangled. 
     Still another object of the present invention is to provide a system of the type disclosed wherein a wire race keeps the cores from interfering with a drawer directly under the turntable. 
     Still a further object of the present invention is to provide a system for rotating multiple implements into a work position, incorporating a knee switch for revolving and changing direction of the turn table. 
     A still further object of the present invention is to provide a system wherein the stops at the end of the 355° rotation reverses rotation of the switch as well as being able to change direction with turning the switch off and then back on. 
     Still another object of the present invention is to provide a system wherein the manual turntable locks into aposition with a spring-loaded locking pin at a predetermined location which the electric turntable locks into position wherever it stops and is held by a gearing system. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
     These and other objects of the present invention and various features and details of the operation and construction thereof are hereinafter more fully set forth with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a typical configuration of the present invention with two sewing machines mounted on a rotating table that is integral with a sewing cabinet. 
     FIG. 2 is a top view of the turntable with a sewing machine in the work position and a power cord leading from the sewing machine to a center opening in the turntable and wherein the groove within the rotating turntable is shown in phantom. Only one sewing implement is shown although several machines can be mounted on the turntable. 
     FIG. 3 is a top view similar to FIGS. 1 and 2 and illustrates the process of rotating the sewing machine to another position. 
     FIG. 4 is a top view similar to FIGS. 2 and 3 with a sewing machine rotated 180° from its original position. 
     FIG. 5 is a partial front view of the turntable system with the turntable elevated showing the turntable, locking pin, and groove. 
     FIG. 6 is an enlarged exploded view of the locking pin and track. 
     FIG. 7 is an enlarged, fragment sectional view taken on line  7 — 7  of FIG. 2 with locking pin engaged in a stop position in the track. 
     FIG. 7A is a further enlarged view of FIG. 7 showing details of the locking pin. 
     FIG. 7B is a view similar to FIG. 7A with the locking pin disengaged from its stop position. 
     FIG. 8 is an exploded view of turntable construction elements and assembly. 
     FIG. 8A is a partial section elevation view of the turntable support illustrating the power cord cutout and cutout cap. 
     FIG. 8B is a view taken along line  8 B— 8 B of FIG. 8A showing the power cord cutout and cutout cap. 
     FIG. 9 is a top view of the turntable assembly with the mounting plate removed to show the motorized gear mechanism for rotating the turntable. 
     FIG. 10 is a fragmentary view of the gear mechanism with the drive gear rotating in a counter clockwise direction. The stop projection on the driven gear is approaching the fixed reversing switch. 
     FIG. 11 is a fragmentary view of the drive gear mechanism showing the stop projection depressing the plunger of the reversing switch. 
     FIG. 12 is a fragmentary view with the motor turning the drive gear in a clockwise direction, the stop projection on the driven gear has rotated approximately 355° and is approaching the reversing switch in the opposite direction. 
     FIG. 13 is a sectional front view of the turntable assembly and motor taken along line  13 — 13  of FIG.  9 . 
     FIG. 14 is an enlarged view of circled view  14  of FIG. 13 illustrating details of the attachment of ball bearing supported turntable assembly. 
     FIG. 15 is an enlarged view of circled view  15  of FIG. 13 illustrating details of the drive and driven gears of the motorized turntable assembly. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the turntable system described hereinafter has application to many different kinds of appliances, machines, and tools. For example, the turntable system of the present invention may find application in a motorized turntable wherein several kitchen appliances are mounted such as a mixer, electric can opener, blender and the like. To illustrate the principles of the present invention, a sewing machine application is described. 
     Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a sewing system  10  of the present invention comprising a generally rectangular shaped sewing cabinet  11 , turntable  20 , and sewing machines S 1  and S 2 . Sewing cabinet  11  is illustrative of one of several sewing cabinet models having a cabinet top  12 , drop leaf  13  on one side of sewing cabinet  11 , drawers  14  for storing sewing accessories and file folders, adjustable shelves  15 , a center kneehole drawer  16 , and a knee activated switch  17 . Shelves (not shown) may also be provided at the form and potion of knee hole. Sewing system  10  is illustrated in a typical configuration with drop leaf  13  in a down position, sewing machine S 1  on turntable  20  is in the work position and sewing machine S 2  in an idle position. Electrical power cords C 1  and C 2  extending from S 1  and S 2  are routed through spindle opening  19  (see FIG. 2) on turntable  20  to a power receptacle (not shown) attached within kneehole of sewing cabinet  11 . Turntable  20  is positioned in a recessed circular cut out  18  (FIG. 5) on cabinet top  12  of sewing cabinet  11  such that cabinet top  12  and turntable  20  are coplanar with no height discontinuities. Equal amounts of the front and back of turntable  20  are removed so as to form straight edges  27  and  28  on the front and back so as to conform to cabinet  11  width dimension. 
     Top views of turntable  20  on cabinet top  12  of cabinet  11  shown in FIGS. 2,  3 , and  4  with sewing machine S 2  removed for clarity purposes, illustrate positional accommodation of sewing system  10 . A 355° channel cut into cabinet top  12  of cabinet  11  constitutes a circular track  21  that guides turntable  20  to user desired positions. In FIGS. 5,  6  and  7  rotation handle  31  and locking pin  23  ride on a circular metallic insert  32  embedded in circular track  21  providing means for manually rotating sewing machines S 1  and S 2  from one position to another. Locking holes are formed by drilling through metallic insert  32  and partially into cabinet top l 2  within the channel of circular track  21 . Locking holes  24 ,  25 , and  26  are typical examples of pre-positioned stops on circular track  21  although stops may be positioned anywhere along circular track  21  at the discretion of the user. Spring  30  is compressed when locking pin  23  is riding on metallic insert  32 . When a locking hole is encountered, spring  30  forces locking pin  23  into a locking hole thus preventing further rotation until locking pin  23  is manually lifted out of the locking hole. In FIG. 2, locking pin  23  is engaged in locking hole  24 . Likewise, in FIG. 3, turntable  20  has been rotated 90° and locking pin  23  is engaged in locking hole  25 . In FIG. 4, sewing machine S 1  is shown rotated approximately 180° from its original position with locking pin  23  inserted in locking hole  26 . Electrical power cords C 1  and C 2  are fed through spindle opening  19  in the center of turntable  20  and routed through cutout  40  shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B to electrical receptacle (not shown) on the underside of cabinet top  12 . Closure  41  retains electrical cord C 1  in cutout  40  and prevents electrical cord C 1  from sagging and becoming entangled. This arrangement allows electric power cords C 1  and C 2  to move with sewing machine S 1  an S 2  without constraining rotational motion. 
     Details of the manual version of sewing system  10  are illustrated in FIGS. 5,  6 , and  7  and is comprised of turntable  20 , spindle shaft  22 , locking pin  23 , circular track  21 , spring  30 , rotation handle  31 , and metallic insert  32  in circular track  21 . FIG. 7 is an enlarged assembly view of locking pin  23  and rotation handle  31 . Spring  30  is compression biased between upper and lower spring retainers  33  and  33   a  respectively so that a downward force is continually exerted on locking pin  23 . Cotter pin  34  maintains lower spring retainer  33   a  on locking pin  23  while shoulder  20   a  in inverted T shaped circumferential groove  20   b  in turntable  20  retains upper spring retainer  33  on locking pin  23 . FIGS. 7A and 7B are expanded detail views showing the operation of locking pin  23 . The flanged upper end  23   a  of locking pin  23  is retained within an internal slot  31   a  of rotation handle  31  such that when rotating turntable  20 , handle  31  is free to rotate on locking pin  23  thereby allowing locking pin  23  to remain in a fixed orientation. In FIG. 7A, it can be seen that locking pin  23  through the action of compression biased spring  30  has been inserted in locking hole  24  while in FIG. 7B a manual upward force has released locking pin  23  from locking hole  24  allowing turntable  20  to be rotated. 
     When assembled turntable  20  is secured to cabinet top  12  by ball bearing raceway  42  as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14. To rotate turntable  20 , on ball bearing raceway  42 , locking pin  23  is released from its locking hole  24  with an upward pull on rotation handle  31  compressing spring  30 . Turntable  20  can then be rotated in circular track  21  to a new position. When the new position is reached rotation handle  31  is released forcing locking pin  23  into a new locking hole as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. 
     A motorized embodiment of sewing system  10  is shown in an exploded view in FIG.  8  and is comprised of turntable  20 , spindle shaft  22 , drive gear  35 , drive shaft  35   a , driven gear  36 , ball bearing raceway  42 , reversing switch  38 , and electric motor  39 . Motorized turntable  20  is positioned in a recessed circular cut out  18  on cabinet top  12  such that cabinet top  12  and turntable  20  are coplanar with no height discontinuities. Equal amounts of the front and back of turntable  20  are removed so as to form straight edges  27  and  28  conforming to sewing cabinet  11  width dimension. Electrical Cord C 1  from sewing machine S 1  to electrical outlet (not shown) is routed through cutout  40  on the under surface of cabinet top  12 . Electrical cord C 1  is supported in cutout  40  by closure  41  which snaps into cutout  40  thereby constraining electrical cord C 1  and preventing entanglement as shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B. Referring again to FIG. 8, drive shaft  35   a  is connected to electric motor  39 . Driven gear  36  has internal gear teeth  36   a  and is attached to the underside of turntable  20 . Referring now to FIG. 9 in conjunction with FIGS. 13,  14 , and  15 , top plate  43  of ball bearing raceway  42  and driven gear  36  are bolted to turntable  20 . Bottom plate  44  of ball bearing raceway  42  is bolted to recess  18  of cabinet top  12 . Top plate  43  is free to rotate on ball bearings  45  while bottom plate  44  remains stationary. When power is applied to electric motor  39 , it rotates drive gear  35  whose teeth  35   b  are in meshed contact with gear teeth  36   a  of driven gear  36  causing driven gear  36 , turntable  20 , and top plate  43  to rotate. Turntable  20  may be stopped at any position within its 355° travel by simply removing power to electric motor  39 . When turntable  20  has reached its travel limit in one direction, means are provided to reverse motor  39  polarities to rotate turntable  20  in the opposite direction. Referring now to FIGS. 10,  11 , and  12 , pin  36   b  on the outer perimeter of driven gear  36  rides in channel  37  and when in contact with reversing switch  38 , power to motor  39  is reversed turning drive gear  35  in the opposite direction and counter rotating driven gear  36 . In this motorized embodiment, switch  45  prevents rotation beyond 355°. When pin  36   b  on the outer perimeter of driven gear  43  as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, contacts switch  38 , power to motor  39  is reversed turning drive gear  35  in the opposite direction and counter rotating driven gear  36  as shown in FIG.  12 . 
     Even though particular embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described herein, it is not intended to limit the invention and changes and modifications may be made therein within the scope of the following claims.