Abstract:
The present invention relates to a quilting machine and more specifically a long-arm stitching machine, or stitcher. The stitcher includes handles that are used to trace a laser dot on a pantograph pattern located in front of the fabric being quilted. Tracing the laser dot ensures that the needle and thread associated with the sewing machine head duplicates the pattern being traced. In the present invention, the handles are placed to one side of the sewing machine head to allow an operator to remain upright when watching the laser trace the pattern or the needle and thread quilting the fabric.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/980,677, filed Apr. 17, 2014. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to sewing. In particular, the invention relates to particular styles of sewing that incorporate decorative stitching such as quilting. A quilt is a type of blanket typically having three layers: a decorative top layer, a middle layer of insulating material, and a backing layer. “Quilting” refers to the technique of joining these layers by stitches or ties. 
         [0003]    Traditional quilting was done by hand and was very labor intensive. The invention of the sewing machine changed that. Quilting evolved from production of functional blankets by specialized artisans into a popular hobby enjoyed by many. 
         [0004]    Modern quilts are typically made using a long-armed sewing machine, or stitcher, attached to a frame. The frame supports and holds the workpiece in place while the sewing machine moves along the frame with respect to the workpiece. A typical quilting apparatus illustrating the relationship between the workpiece, frame, and sewing machine is shown in US Patent Pub. No. 2013/0190916. 
         [0005]    A common way to quilt today is to use what is known as pantograph patterns. Pantographs are a way to “trace” a pre-printed stitch pattern with the machine in order to stitch that pattern onto the fabric. This allows very consistent work to be completed with a much lower skill level required versus traditional hand-guided stitching alone. 
         [0006]    This is normally accomplished by mounting a paper pattern on the rear of the table supporting the frame and workpiece. A laser pointer may be mounted to the stitcher head. The operator may set up the needle/thread at the front of the machine, and operate the stitcher from the rear of the machine. Handles may be provided at the rear of the machine head to allow the operator to move the head from the rear of the table. By “tracing” the paper pattern with the laser dot, the operator is able to reproduce the patterns from the paper template to the fabric being sewn. Normally, these rear handles are mounted on opposing sides of the head. The user grips the handles by reaching “around” the machine. 
         [0007]      FIGS. 1 and 2  are representative of prior art long-armed sewing machine heads  10 .  FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a rear portion of a long-armed sewing machine head  10  (hereinafter referred to simply as head  10 ), and  FIG. 2  illustrates a rear view of the same head  10 . 
         [0008]    Head  10  may be used in conjunction with a table including frames used to stretch and hold the fabric to be quilted, as taught in US Patent Pub. No. 2013/0190916.  FIG. 1  illustrates the rear portion of a head  10 . The other side of head  10  is not illustrated, where the needle and thread are preferably located, and stitching takes place. A laser (not illustrated) may be attached to the top surface of head  10  such that it points downwardly at a table including a pantograph pattern located in front of a quilt on rollers of a table. Thus an operator of a sewing machine similar to head  10  may use handles such as handles  20  to move head  10  such that the dot or other projection produced by the laser traces the pattern of the pantograph in front of the quilt. 
         [0009]    In  FIGS. 1 and 2 , handles  20  are mounted on opposing sides of the head  10 . In operation, when an operator is tracing the pantograph pattern with the laser dot, head  10  moves such that it reproduces the same pattern projected by the dot or other projection, ensuring that the needle and thread at the front portion of head  10  is reproducing the pantograph pattern in its stitches on the quilt or other textile. In order to either see the laser dot tracing the pantograph pattern or to see that the needle and thread are functioning properly and generating the correct pattern, an operator must lean to one side or the other of head  10 , which may generate a strain on the operator&#39;s neck and/or back. 
         [0010]    Head  10  includes a number of components that are recognizable to those skilled in the art. Head  10  includes cone holders  30 ,  35  which preferably may be semi-permanently or permanently mounted to each handle  20 . Cone holders  30 ,  35  of the illustrated embodiments are known in the art for holding large cones of thread used in making a quilt (small horizontal spool holders for holding smaller spools of thread are not illustrated). Cone holders  30 ,  35  are substantially similarly sized and shaped, and cone holders  30 ,  35  are preferably in substantial alignment with one another. Prior art head  10  further includes a back hand wheel  40  for manually raising and lowering the needle. Head  10  also includes a belt guard  50  for shielding fingers, hair, jewelry, and other objects from getting caught in the motor belt. As  FIG. 2  illustrates, head  10  may further include a thread guide  60  for controlling thread extending from a large cone of thread associated with cone holder  30  as it extends to the needle associated with the front portion of head  10 . Head  10  may further include other components known throughout the art including a plug for providing power to a mounted laser, thread and tension guides, and light and power switches (not illustrated). 
         [0011]    The conventional handle configuration shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  has several shortcomings. The user is not positioned in an ergonomically optimal position because the configuration of the handles does not allow for the user to stand upright and view the pattern and laser dot directly in front of them. Rather, the user must lean to the left to see the pattern and laser dot. In addition, it is not possible to see the needle during stitching as the user is placed almost directly behind the machine. The location of the handles also necessarily positions the user within close proximity of moving parts of the stitcher, which may pose safety risks. 
       SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
       [0012]    The present invention relates to a quilting machine, more specifically a long-armed stitching machine, or stitcher. The stitcher includes a sewing head that includes the sewing machine used to quilt fabric. The fabric may be stretched between two rollers of a frame below the stitcher. An operator at the rear portion of the stitcher may steer the head using handles such that a laser associated with the head that points downwardly traces a pantograph pattern located in front of and below the fabric. By tracing the pantograph pattern with the laser, the operator can provide that the needle and thread at the front portion of the head produces the same pattern in front of and below the fabric. 
         [0013]    The stitcher head of the present invention may include an L-shaped arm member that extends from the left side portion of the head, relative to its operator&#39;s position, and extends rearwardly toward the operator therefrom. The arm member may also include a projection extending therefrom for mounting a laser to the projection. The laser mounted to the projection may be used to trace a pantograph pattern, thus ensuring that the thread and needle associated with the sewing head produces a substantially similar pattern. 
         [0014]    In other embodiments the laser associated with the head is not mounted to the projection and may be mounted directly to the arm member or elsewhere on the head. In any case, the laser does not interfere with the operation of the head in the quilting process, and the dot or alternative projection generated by the laser used to trace the pantograph pattern is not obstructed. 
         [0015]    The arm member further may include handles attached thereto for steering the sewing head. Any attachment member may be used to selectively engage the handles with the sewing head, but the L-shaped arm member is the preferred attachment member. The handles are preferably offset from the sewing head, preferably adjacent to the left side of the head (when viewed from the rear). Alternatively, the handles may be adjacent to the right side of the head. The head also may include a number of components known throughout the art that are commonly associated with long-arm stitchers. 
         [0016]    The head may include cone holders which may be semi-permanently or permanently mounted to each handle on opposing sides of the head. The cone holders may be of the type known in the art for holding large cones of thread used in making a quilt. The cone holders may be substantially similarly sized and shaped, and the holders may be in substantial alignment with one another. The head may further include a back hand wheel for manually raising and lowering the needle. The head may also include a belt guard for shielding fingers, hair, jewelry, and other objects from getting caught in the motor belt. Moreover, the head may further include a thread guide for controlling thread extending from a large cone of thread associated with a cone holder as it extends to the needle associated with the front portion of the head. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0017]    In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of the specification and are to be read in conjunction therewith in which like reference numerals are used to indicate like or similar parts in the various views: 
           [0018]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a rear portion of a sewing machine head of a long-armed sewing machine with handles mounted on opposing sides of the head. 
           [0019]      FIG. 2  is a rear elevation view of the sewing machine head and associated handles illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0020]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a sewing machine head of a long-armed sewing machine with ergonomic handles attached to the head. 
           [0021]      FIG. 4  is a rear elevation view of the sewing machine head and associated ergonomic handles illustrated in  FIG. 3 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0022]    The present invention is directed generally toward a sewing machine and handles associated therewith for operating the sewing machine.  FIGS. 3 and 4  illustrate a head  110  that improves upon prior art head  10 .  FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the rear portion of head  110 , and  FIG. 4  is a rear elevation view of the same. As illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , head  110  may include an attachment member, preferably L-shaped arm member  115 , that extends from the left side portion of head  110  (when viewed from the rear of head  110 ) and extends rearwardly toward an operator therefrom. Arm member  115  may also include a projection member  117  extending therefrom for mounting a laser to projection  117  in a direction away from head  110 . The laser mounted to projection member  117  would be operated in a substantially similar way to that described above for the prior art head  10 . Principally it may be used to trace a pantograph pattern, thus ensuring that the thread and needle associated with head  110  produces a substantially similar pattern. In alternative embodiments, projection member  117  may be positioned and located elsewhere on arm member  115  or head  110 , so long as the laser associated therewith may project a dot or other projection onto a pantograph pattern below the quilt. 
         [0023]    In other alternative embodiments the laser associated with head  110  is not mounted to projection member  117 . It may be mounted directly to arm member  115  or elsewhere on head  110 . The laser may be positioned and located in a plurality of foreseeable locations, so long as it does not interfere with the operation of head  110  in the quilting process, and the projection generated by the laser used to trace the pantograph pattern is not obstructed. 
         [0024]    Arm member  115  further may include handles  120  substantially similar to handles  20  illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . As a result of handles  120  being attached to the arm member  115 , the handles  120  are offset from the head  110 . As an alternative to arm member  115 , other known or foreseeable attachment members may be used to selectively engage head  110  and handles  120 . 
         [0025]    In the illustrated embodiment, handles  120  are positioned adjacent the left side of the head  110  (when viewed from the rear). In an alternative embodiment, a configuration opposite of that illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 4  is envisioned. In that embodiment, arm member  115  would extend from the right side portion of the head  110 , and handles  120  are also positioned adjacent the right side of the head  110  (when viewed from the rear). Such a configuration allows head  110  to be used in a location ergonomically preferable to an operator, which may depend on factors such as pre-existing conditions or right- or left-handedness. 
         [0026]    Head  110  may include many of the same components as head  10 . For example, cone holders  130  and  135  may be semi-permanently or permanently attached on either side of head  110 . As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , one cone holder  130  may be attached to arm member  115  adjacent one side portion of head  110 , while another cone holder  135  may be attached to the opposite side including back hand wheel  140  and belt guard  150  may be associated with head  100 . Hand wheel  140  and belt guard  150  may perform substantially the same functions as those described above associated with head  10 . 
         [0027]    Head  110  further may include thread guide  160 . In the illustrated embodiments, thread guide  160  may be positioned and located above cone holder  130  on the left side of rear portion of head  110 . In the alternative embodiment described above, where the handles  120  are positioned adjacent the right side of the head  110 , thread guide  160  may also extend from the right side of head  110 , in a manner substantially similar to that shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , and described herein above. 
         [0028]    Head  110  may operate in substantially the same manner as head  10 . By using handles  120  to guide head  110 , an operator may trace a laser dot associated with head  110  in one of the manners described herein above to ensure that needle and thread performing the quilting process at the front portion of head  110  is reproducing a pantograph pattern or other reproducible pattern. In the embodiment utilizing head  110 , however, the operator may operate head  110  via handles  120  and confirm that the laser dot is tracing the pantograph pattern, and the needle and thread is functioning accurately without having to lean to one side or the other. 
         [0029]    It should be noted that as an alternative to using a laser to trace a pantograph pattern, a physical pointer may be used instead. For example, a metal or plastic rod may be attached to and project from the handle such that it is positioned and located to physically trace a pantograph pattern to ensure that the needle and thread at the front portion of head  110  are reproducing the pattern. Other known or foreseeable physical means for tracing a pantograph pattern are further envisioned as being able to be used with the present invention. Moreover, digital means of reproducing a pantograph pattern are further envisioned, such as projecting the pattern or reproducing the pattern on a computer or tablet device. 
         [0030]    From the foregoing, it will be seen that this invention is one well adapted to attain all the ends and objects hereinabove set forth together with other advantages which are obvious and which are inherent to the structure. It will be understood that certain features and sub combinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and sub combinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of the claims. Since many possible embodiments of the invention may be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is also to be understood that all matters herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings are to be interpreted as illustrative and not limiting. 
         [0031]    The constructions described above and illustrated in the drawings are presented by way of example only and are not intended to limit the concepts and principles of the present invention. Thus, there has been shown and described several embodiments of a novel invention. As is evident from the foregoing description, certain aspects of the present invention are not limited by the particular details of the examples illustrated herein, and it is therefore contemplated that other modifications and applications, or equivalents thereof, will occur to those skilled in the art. The terms “having” and “including” and similar terms as used in the foregoing specification are used in the sense of “optional” or “may include” and not as “required”. Many changes, modifications, variations and other uses and applications of the present construction will, however, become apparent to those skilled in the art after considering the specification and the accompanying drawings. All such changes, modifications, variations and other uses and applications which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention are deemed to be covered by the invention which is limited only by the claims which follow.