Abstract:
The present invention relates to a quilting machine, or stitcher, further including a centrally located swiveling tablet mount for securing a tablet that is used in the quilting process. The mount is positioned such that a user may access the mount from either side of, or the rear or front of the stitcher. The mount is one capable of swiveling so that the user does not have to move the tablet between front and rear mounts of the stitcher or buy separate tablets for a front and rear mount.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims priority and benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application 61/981,924 filed Apr. 21, 2014 entitled SWIVELING TABLET MOUNT, and is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     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 U.S. Pat. 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]    Such a method is normally accomplished by mounting a paper pattern on the rear of the table. A laser pointer is mounted to the stitcher head. The operator sets up the needle/thread at the front of the machine, and then uses handles provided at the rear of the machine head to control the head during stitching 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. A user interface such as a tablet computer may be used to control certain aspects of the stitcher, for example controlling whether a needle is in the “up” or “down” position, stitching mode, etc. 
         [0007]    While the normal user location is at the front of the machine, an additional user interface is sometimes needed at the rear as well when a quilter is quilting using the pantograph method. For some systems, this is accomplished by placing two, redundant user interface devices at the front and rear of the machine. Some systems accomplish this by making the front user interface device removable with a mount or dock at the rear of the machine. 
         [0008]    Placing two redundant user interfaces at both the front and rear of the machine can generate extra, unnecessary expense. Both the user interfaces and the mounts used to hold them can be quite expensive. In the scenario where a user must remove and mount the user interface back and forth between the front and rear of the machine, an operator wastes time and effort. 
       SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
       [0009]    The present invention relates to a quilting machine, more specifically a long-armed stitching machine, or stitcher. The stitcher may include 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. Typically, an operator can use handles at the front of the stitcher to guide the stitcher above the fabric to cause the needle and thread associated with the stitcher to stitch in a desired pattern. Alternatively, an operator at the rear portion of the stitcher may steer the head using handles such that a downwardly pointing laser associated with the head traces a pantograph pattern located in front of and below the fabric. By tracing the pantograph pattern with the laser, the operator may ensure that the needle and thread at the front portion of the head produces the same pattern that is in front of and below the fabric. 
         [0010]    The stitcher head of the present invention may also include a swiveling tablet mount positioned and located on top of the sewing machine head. The tablet mount may be placed at a side portion of the stitcher head in alternative embodiments. In the preferred embodiment, the tablet mount is centrally-mounted such that it may be accessed from the front, side, or rear of the stitcher head in both of the aforementioned quilting methods. The tablet mount is configured to securely receive and secure a user interface device such as a tablet computer. 
         [0011]    The mount may include flanges extending from each of its sides, as well as from its top or bottom that are preferably positioned and located to receive and secure a tablet. The mount may further be secured to a mounting adapter, or block. The mounting adapter may include a central shaft or mounting post that is housed with, and extends through, the mounting adapter. This shaft may act as a pivot about which the mounting adapter may rotate. The shaft preferably has a cut ramping profile that includes valleys at various possible user locations. 
         [0012]    The mounting adapter further may include a pin that may engage any of the valleys positioned and located at the various possible user locations. A spring may be used to provide a downward force on the mounting adapter to assure that the pin of the mounting adapter engages with a valley of the central shaft. Thus, the mounting adapter and consequently the mount, are preferably only capable of stopping at the various possible user locations. This further may assure that there is not unnecessary movement of the tablet due to vibrations and other movements associated with operating the stitcher. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]    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: 
           [0014]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a sewing machine head of a long-armed sewing machine including a centrally mounted swiveling tablet mount and tablet contained therein. 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the swiveling tablet mount of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the mounting adapter of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  is a front elevation view of a cross-section of the mounting adapter of  FIG. 3 . 
           [0018]      FIG. 5  is a top plan view of a cross-section of the mounting adapter of  FIGS. 3 and 4 . 
           [0019]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the central shaft of  FIG. 2 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0020]    The present invention is directed generally toward a sewing machine further preferably including a centrally mounted swiveling tablet mount for use therewith.  FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a sewing machine head  10  for use with a long-armed sewing machine, or long-armed stitcher. Various components of sewing machine head  10  are known in the art for use with a long-armed stitcher. Sewing machine head  10  may include a front portion  11  where a first set of handles  12  are preferably positioned and located for moving the sewing machine head  10  above a quilt such that needle and thread apparatus  13  may stitch a desired pantograph pattern in the quilt positioned and located below the sewing machine head  10  in a long-armed stitcher arrangement known in the art. 
         [0021]    At rear portion  14  of the sewing machine head  10 , the sewing machine head further preferably comprises a second set of handles  15  that are positioned and located for moving the sewing machine head  10  in order to trace a pantograph pattern positioned below the sewing machine head  10 , thus ensuring that the needle and thread  13  located at the front portion  11  of the sewing machine head  10  reproduces the pantograph pattern. The pantograph pattern may be traced by means of a laser mounted to the rear portion  14  of the sewing machine head  10 , for example to handles  15 . Alternatively, it may be traced by a physical pointer, such as a rod or wire member, that is mounted in a similar manner. In yet another alternative embodiment, the pantograph pattern may be traced on a computer device or otherwise digitally traced. 
         [0022]    The sewing machine head  10  preferably comprises a plurality of components known in the art.  FIG. 1  illustrates a motor  16 , belt guard  17 , and rear hand wheel  18 . Other components known in the art that are commonly included in a sewing machine head  10  may also be included with sewing machine head  10 . For example, sewing machine head  10  may include cone holders, thread guides, and other known components in its various embodiments. 
         [0023]      FIG. 1  further illustrates a centrally mounted swiveling tablet mount  20  for use with sewing machine head  10 . The swiveling tablet mount  20  may be used to releasably secure a tablet  25 , like the tablet illustrated in  FIG. 1 . The tablet  25  is shown as a Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 10.1 Android tablet in the illustrated embodiment. Yet, other embodiments are envisioned where an iPad or other tablet or electronic device may be used instead. The swiveling tablet mount  20  may be adapted to receive any display device that includes a user interface that may be programmable to control functional aspects of a sewing machine. 
         [0024]    An electronic medium such as cord  28  may be used to supply power to the tablet  25  and the various electronic components contained within sewing machine head  10 . The sewing machine and tablet  25  communicate with one another via a Bluetooth connection in one embodiment, though other means of communication also are foreseen. By way of the Bluetooth connection, tablet  25  may be used to control various functions of sewing machine head  10  including stitch mode, stitch speed, etc. Swiveling tablet mount  20  is preferably positioned and located at a central portion of sewing machine head  10  such that it may be accessed and visible from the front portion  11  or rear portion  14  of sewing machine head  10 , as well as from either side of the sewing machine head  10 . The manner by which swiveling tablet mount  20  may rotate to be accessible from front and rear portions  11 ,  14  is discussed herein below after describing the manner in which swiveling tablet mount  20  is constructed. 
         [0025]      FIG. 2  illustrates an exploded perspective view of swiveling tablet mount  20  and the components contained therein. A tablet holder  30  is preferably sized such that it can receive and engage a tablet such as tablet  25 . In the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 2 , the tablet holder  30  is sized and positioned to receive a Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 10.1 Android tablet, though other sizes and positions are further envisioned. The illustrated tablet holder  30  preferably includes latitudinal flange portions  40  extending outwardly from the side portions of the tablet holder  30  for securing a tablet therein. Longitudinal flange portions  50  and  60 , preferably extend outwardly from the upper and lower portions of tablet holder  30 , respectively, to further secure a tablet within tablet holder  30 . 
         [0026]    Tablet holder  30  may be secured at its rear portion to a mounting adapter  70 . The mounting adapter  70  is preferably secured to the tablet holder  30  by a plurality of screws in the illustrated embodiment, though other attachment means known in the art are further envisioned. A pin  72  (illustrated in  FIGS. 4 and 5 ) is preferably positioned and located in a central portion of the mounting adapter  70 , and it preferably extends inwardly into the mounting adapter, but may not extend all the way therethrough to the rear portion of the mounting adapter  70 . A nylon roller  75  is shown removed from the mounting adapter  70 . In operation, the nylon roller  75  may be removably attached to an end portion of the pin  75  within the mounting adapter  70 . 
         [0027]    A central shaft  80  may be seen below the mounting adapter  70 . The central shaft  80  may be cooperatively engaged with sewing machine head  10  at its lower portion; this engagement may be spaced by washers or other means known of foreseeable in the art. Central shaft  80  may further be cooperatively engaged with a lower portion (illustrated in  FIG. 4 ) of mounting adapter  70  at its upper portion in a process described in greater detail herein below. It is this latter engagement that allows the mounting adapter  70 , and consequently tablet holder  30  and tablet  25  (not illustrated in  FIG. 2 ) to swivel about the central shaft  80 . The central shaft  80  preferably includes a cut ramping profile  82  which includes valleys  83  associated with the pin  72  and its nylon roller  75  when the central shaft  80  and mounting adapter  70  are cooperatively engaged. The pin  72  preferably rides within the cut ramping profile  82  when the central shaft  80  and mounting adapter  70  are cooperatively engaged in a process described in greater detail below. 
         [0028]    Mounting adapter  70  may receive at its upper portion an attachment member  85  when the swiveling tablet mount  20  is assembled. In the illustrated embodiment, the attachment member  85  is a screw-like member including a threaded portion but may be any suitable member known or foreseeable in the art for attachment with mounting adapter  70 . The attachment member  85  may extend through a spring  90 . The spring  90  is preferably received by and contained within an upper portion (illustrated in  FIG. 4 ) of the mounting adapter  70  when the swiveling tablet mount  20  is assembled. Screws  95  preferably hold a washer in place that may cause a downward force to be applied to spring  90  and thus to be applied to mounting adapter  70  such that pin  72  is forced toward valleys  83  in a process described in greater detail herein below. A plug  100  may be used to cap the upper portion of mounting adapter  70  and contain the attachment member  85  and spring  90  therein. 
         [0029]      FIGS. 3 ,  4 , and  5  illustrate mounting adapter  70  in greater detail. Upper portion  105  is illustrated in  FIG. 3 , and upper portion  105  and lower portion  110  of the mounting adapter  70  is illustrated in  FIG. 4 . As previously described, when the swiveling tablet mount  20  is fully constructed, the central shaft  80  and its associated components may be contained within lower portion  110 , while attachment member  85  and spring  90  may be contained within upper portion  105 . A sleeve bearing (not illustrated) may also be contained within mounting adapter  70  for receiving the aforementioned components. Upper portion  105  preferably has a circumference slightly greater than plug  100 , such that plug  100  may releasably be secured within upper portion  105  and secure various components therein. 
         [0030]      FIGS. 4 and 5  further illustrate pin  72  and the manner in which it may extend into mounting adapter  70 . In doing so, when central shaft  80  (illustrated in greater detail in  FIG. 6 ) is releasably secured within mounting adapter  70 , pin  72  is positioned and located to be received by and within cut ramping profile  82 . In this configuration, mounting adapter  70  may be swiveled about central shaft  80  by pin  72  being circumferentially contained but mobile within cut ramping profile  82 . Valleys  83  are preferably positioned at the various positions and/or locations where a user may access the tablet associated with swiveling tablet mount  20 . When spring  90  is exerting its downward force on mounting adapter  70 , the pin  72  also preferably has a downward force applied thereto, thus influencing the pin  72  to “auto-locate” to the valleys  83 . Therefore, the mounting adapter  70  is preferentially guided to positions where users would access a tablet associated therewith. 
         [0031]    Other means of ensuring that the mounting adapter  70  may swivel about central shaft  80  and can be temporarily secured at various user locations are further envisioned. For example central shaft  80  may include apertures for selective engagement with spring-loaded detents associated with mounting adapter  70  or tablet holder  30 . Other swiveling and securing methods are further envisioned, so long as the tablet associated with the swiveling tablet mount  20  may be swiveled and secured at various preferred user positions. 
         [0032]    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. 
         [0033]    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.