Patent Abstract:
An embroidery frame comprises an inner frame, wherein the inner frame is a circular form. The embroidery frame comprises a middle frame which is configured to be detachably attachable to a radial outside of the inner frame. The middle frame is a circular form. The embroidery frame comprises an outer frame which is configured to rotatably hold the middle frame, wherein the outer frame is a circular form, and the outer frame is configured to be detachably attachable to a radial outside of the middle frame. The embroidery frame comprises a grip portion which is provided to the middle frame.

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2011-213091, filed on Sep. 28, 2011, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    This disclosure relates to an embroidery frame that is configured to be attachable to a sewing machine. 
         [0003]    An embroidery frame for a sewing machine is widely known. The embroidery frame is a circular form and the embroidery frame can be rotated to an intended angle. For example, the embroidery frame comprises a pair of embroidery frames and an outer frame. The pair of embroidery frames is configured to hold a work cloth. The outer frame can hold the pair of embroidery frames such that the pair of embroidery frames is rotatable. Indicators which represent angles are provided on the outer frame. The outer frame is mountable to outside of the pair of embroidery frames. For example, the pair of embroidery frame and the outer frame is mountable to the sewing machine. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    As described above, the indicator is provided on the outer frame. As a user of the sewing machine looks at the indicators, the user may rotate the pair of the embroidery frames which holds the work cloth. The user has to fix the pair of embroidery frames at an intended angle by using a screw. Accordingly, the operability of the embroidery frame may not be good. 
         [0005]    Various exemplary embodiments of the general principles herein provide an embroidery frame, whose operability is good. 
         [0006]    Exemplary embodiments herein provide an embroidery frame that comprises an inner frame, a middle frame, an outer frame, and a grip portion. The inner frame is a circular form. The middle frame is configured to be detachably attachable to a radial outside of the inner frame. The middle frame is a circular form. The outer frame is configured to rotatably hold the middle frame. The outer frame is a circular form. The outer frame is configured to be detachably attachable to a radial outside of the middle frame. The grip portion is provided to the middle frame. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    Embodiments will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  is an oblique view of a sewing machine; 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is an oblique view of an embroidery frame in which a grip portion is in a use position; 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is an exploded oblique view of an inner frame, a middle frame, and an outer frame; 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is a side view for explaining an arrangement of the inner frame, the middle frame, the outer frame, and a work cloth; 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  is a side view or the embroidery frame in a state in which the grip portion is in the use position and the work cloth is clamped; 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  is a side view of the embroidery frame in a state in which the grip portion is in a stowed position and the work cloth is clamped; and 
           [0014]      FIG. 7  is an oblique view of the embroidery frame in which the grip portion is in the stowed position. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0015]    Hereinafter, an embroidery frame  2  that is an embodiment will be explained with reference to the drawings. In  FIG. 1 , the side where a user of the sewing machine  1  is positioned is defined as the front side of a sewing machine  1 , and the opposite side is defined as the rear side. The left-right direction as seen by the user is defined as the left-right direction of the sewing machine  1 . That is a face on which a switch cluster  14  (described below) is provided is the front face of the sewing machine  1 . The longitudinal direction of a bed  3  and an arm  5  is the left-right direction of the sewing machine  1 . A side on which a pillar  4  is provided is the right side of the sewing machine  1 . The direction in which the pillar  4  extends is the up-down direction of the sewing machine  1 . 
         [0016]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , the sewing machine  1  includes the bed  3 , the pillar  4 , the arm  5 , and a head  6 . The bed  3  is the base of the sewing machine  1  and extends in the left-tight direction. The pillar  4  extends upward from the right end of the bed  3 . The arm  5  extends to the left from the upper end of the pillar  4 . The head  6  is provided on the left end of the arm  5 . A needle plate (not shown in the drawings) is provided in the top face of the bed  3 . A feed dog, a cloth feed mechanism, a feed adjustment pulse motor, and a shuttle mechanism, which are not shown in the drawings, are provided inside the bed  3  below the needle plate. The feed dog may move a work cloth that is sewn by a specified feed amount. The cloth feed mechanism may drive the feed dog. The feed adjustment pulse motor may adjust the feed amount. 
         [0017]    In a case where embroidery sewing is performed with the sewing machine  1 , an embroidery frame  2  that holds a work cloth  100  may be disposed on the top side of the bed  3 . An area inside the embroidery frame  2  is an embroidery area in which stitches of an embroidery pattern can be formed. An embroidery frame moving unit  7  that is configured to move the embroidery frame  2  can be mounted on and removed from the bed  3 . A carriage cover  8 , which extends in the front-rear direction, is provided on the top portion of the embroidery frame moving unit  7 . A Y axis moving mechanism (not shown in the drawings) is provided inside the carriage cover  35 . The Y axis moving mechanism may move a carriage (not shown in the drawings) in a Y axis direction (the front-rear direction of the sewing machine  1 ). The embroidery frame  2  can be mounted on and removed front the carriage. A mounting portion (not shown in the drawings), where the embroidery frame  2  can be mounted, is provided to the right side of the carriage. The mounting portion projects to the right from the right side face of the carriage cover  8 . An attachment portion  235  (refer to  FIG. 2 ) that is provided on the embroidery frame  2  may be mounted on the mounting portion. The carriage, the Y axis moving mechanism, and the carriage cover  8  may be moved in an X axis direction (the left-right direction of the sewing machine  1 ) by an X axis moving mechanism (not shown in the drawings). The X axis moving mechanism is provided within the body of the embroidery frame moving unit  7 . 
         [0018]    The X axis moving mechanism and the Y axis moving mechanism may be respectively driven by an X axis motor and a Y axis motor, which are not shown in the drawings. As the embroidery frame  2  is moved in the X direction and the Y direction, a needle bar (not shown in the drawings) and the shuttle mechanism (not shown in the drawings) may be driven. In this manner, an embroidery sewing operation may be performed that sews a specified embroidery pattern on the work cloth  100  that is held by the embroidery frame  2 . In a case where an ordinary pattern, which is not an embroidery pattern, is sewn, the embroidery frame moving unit  7  may be removed from the bed  3 . Then ordinary sewing may be performed as the work cloth  100  is moved by the feed dog. 
         [0019]    A vertically rectangular liquid crystal display  10  is provided on the front face of the pillar  4 . Images of various types of items, such as a plurality of the types of patterns, names of commands that cause various types of functions to be performed, various types of messages, and the like, may be displayed on the liquid crystal display  10 . A transparent touch panel  11  is provided on the front face of the liquid crystal display  10 . Using a finger or a special touch pen, the user may perform a pressing operation on the touch panel  11 . Hereinafter, this operation is referred to as a panel operation. The touch panel  11  detects a position that is pressed by a finger or a special touch pen etc., and the sewing machine  1  determines the item that corresponds to the detected position. Thus, the sewing machine  1  recognizes the selected item. By performing the panel operation, the user can select a pattern to be sewn or a command to be executed. 
         [0020]    The structure of the arm  5  will be explained. A cover  12  is attached to the top portion of the arm  5 . The cover  12  is axially supported such that the cover  12  can be opened and closed by being rotated about an axis that extends in the left-right direction along the upper rear edge of the arm  5 . A thread container portion (not shown in the drawings) is provided underneath the cover  12 , that is, in the interior or the arm  5 . The thread container portion may contain a thread spool (not shown in the drawings) that supplies an upper thread. The upper thread may be supplied from the thread spool to a sewing needle (not shown in the drawings) through a thread guide that includes a tensioner, a thread take-up spring, a thread take-up lever, and the like, which are not shown in the drawings. The tensioner is provided in the head  6  and is configured to adjust the thread tension. The thread take-up lever may be driven reciprocally up and down and pulls up the upper thread. The sewing needle may be attached to the needle bar (not shown in the drawings). The needle bar is driven such that the needle bar may be moved up and down by a needle bar up-and-down moving mechanism (not shown in the drawings), which is provided inside the head  6 . The needle bar up-and-down moving mechanism may be driven by a drive shaft (not shown in the drawings) that is rotationally driven by a sewing machine motor (not shown in the drawings). The switch cluster  14 , which includes a sewing start/stop switch  13  and the like, is provided on the lower portion of the front face of the arm  5 . The sewing start/stop switch  13  may be used to start or stop the operation of the sewing machine  1 , that is, to issue commands to start or stop the sewing. 
         [0021]    The embroidery frame  2  will be explained in detail with reference to  FIGS. 2 to 7 . In the explanation that follows, the up-down direction in  FIGS. 2 to 7  is defined as the up-down direction of the embroidery frame  2 . As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the embroidery frame  2  is formed by combining an inner frame  21 , a middle frame  22 , and an outer frame  23 , each of which is circular. The inner frame  21  and the middle frame  22  can be rotated about a rotation axis R in relation to the outer frame  23 . In the embroidery frame  2  according to the present embodiment, the rotation axis R (refer to  FIGS. 2 to 7 ) passes thorough the center of each circle that is formed by each of the inner frame  21 , the middle frame  22 , and the outer frame  23  (specifically, frame portions  211 ,  225 , and  233 , which are described below). Hereinafter, the direction of the rotation axis R is referred to as an “axis direction”. The inner frame  21 , the middle frame  22 , and the outer frame  23  are each formed from a synthetic resin material with comparatively high rigidity. In the embroidery frame  2 , the middle frame  22  is disposed to the outside of the inner frame  21  in the radial direction, and the outer frame  23  is disposed to the outside of the middle frame  22  in the radial direction. As shown in  FIG. 3 , the inner frame  21  includes the circular frame portion  211 . The frame portion  211  has a thickness in the axial direction (the up-down direction in  FIG. 3 ). 
         [0022]    As shown in  FIG. 3 , the middle frame  22  includes the frame portion  225 , a supporting portion  226 , an adjustment portion  221 , and a grip portion  227 . The frame portion  225  has an inside diameter that is larger than the outside diameter of the frame portion  211  of the inner frame  21 . The frame portion  225  has a thickness in the axial direction (the up-down direction in  FIG. 3 ). The frame portion  225  of the middle frame  22  may be mounted on and removed from the outer side in the radial direction of the frame portion  211  of the inner frame  21 . Thus, the middle frame  22  may be mounted on and removed from the inner frame  21 . The middle frame  22  may be mounted on the inner frame  21 . In this case, the work cloth  100  may be clamped between the inner frame  21  and the middle frame  22  (refer to  FIGS. 1 ,  5 , and  6 ). The supporting portion  226  projects toward the inside in the radial direction along the entire inner circumferential side face of the lower edge of the frame portion  225 . The supporting portion  226  is a portion that may support the bottom edge face of the inner frame  21 . 
         [0023]    The adjustment portion  221  may adjust the diameter of the middle frame  22  according to the thickness of the work cloth  100  that is clamped between the inner frame  21  and the middle frame  22 . The adjustment portion  221  includes a parting portion  222 , a pair of screw mounting portions  223 , and an adjusting screw  224 . The parting portion  222  is a location where a portion of each of the frame portion  225  and the supporting portion  226  of the middle frame  22  is discontinuous in the thickness direction (i.e. the axial direction). The pair of the screw mounting portions  223  are provided on opposite sides of the parting portion  222 . The pair of the screw mounting portions  223  projects to the outside in the radial direction and is positioned such that the screw mounting portions  223  are opposite one another. Holes  2231 ,  2232  are provided in the pair of the screw mounting portions  223 . Each of the holes  2231 ,  2232  passes through one of the pair of the screw mounting portions  223  in a direction that is orthogonal to the axial direction (the up-down direction in  FIG. 3 ). Of the two holes  2231 ,  2232 , a threaded hole is formed in the hole  2232 . The adjusting screw  224  is provided with head portion  2241 , which projects outward in the radial direction of the adjusting screw  224  at one end of the adjusting screw  224 . In a case where the diameter of the middle frame  22  is adjusted according to the thickness of the work cloth  100 , first, the adjusting screw  224  may be inserted from the hole  2231 , in which a threaded hole is not formed, toward the hole  2232 , in which the threaded hole is formed. Then the adjusting screw  224  may be rotated and may pass through the inside of the hole  2232 . At this time, the head  2241  of the adjusting screw  224  may press against the screw mounting portions  223 , so that the size of the gap between the pair of the screw mounting portions  223  may be changed. That is, the adjusting screw  224  may connect the pair of the screw mounting portions  223  and may adjust the gap between the pair of the screw mounting portions  223 . The diameter of the middle frame  22  may be adjusted according to the thickness of the work cloth  100  by adjusting the gap between the pair of the screw mounting portions  223 . For example, the diameter of the middle frame  22  becomes greater to the extent that the gap between the pair of the screw mounting portions  223  becomes wider. Therefore, in this case, a thicker work cloth  100  may be clamped between the middle frame  22  and the inner frame  21 . 
         [0024]    As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the grip portion  227  extends to the outside in the radial direction from an edge in the axial direction of the frame portion  225  (the upper edge of the frame portion  225  in the present embodiment). As described above, in the present embodiment, the axial direction corresponds to the up-down direction of the embroidery frame  2 . The grip portion  227  is provided on one of the upper edge and the bottom edge of the frame portion  225  (the upper edge in the present embodiment). The user may grip the grip portion  227  and may rotate the middle frame  22  in relation to the outer frame  23 . The grip portion  227  includes a supporting portion  2271 , a window portion  2277 , a hinge portion  2272 , a first arm portion  2273 , a second arm portion  2274 , a lug portion  2275 , a projecting portion  2276 , and a hook portion  2278 . 
         [0025]    The supporting portion  2271  has a rectangular plate shape and extends toward the outside in the radial direction from the upper edge of the frame portion  225  of the middle frame  22 , at least as far as an outer edge of an outer circumferential portion  231  of the outer frame  23 . The window portion  2277  is a rectangular through-hole that is provided in the supporting portion  2271 . The hinge portion  2272  is provided on the outer edge of the supporting portion  2271 . The hinge portion  2272  includes a first hole  2272 A, a second hole  2272 B, a shaft portion  2272 C, a first projecting portion  2272 D, and a second projecting portion  2272 E. The first hole  2272 A and the second hole  2272 B are provided at opposite ends of the outer edge of the supporting portion  2271  such that the first hole  2272 A and the second hole  2272 B face one another. The cylindrical shaft portion  2272 C is provided along an edge of the rectangular plate-shaped first arm portion  2273 . The shaft portion  2272 C is shorter than the edge of the first arm portion  2273 . The first projecting portion  2272 D and the second projecting portion  2272 E project outward from opposite ends of the shaft portion  2272 C. The shaft portion  2272 C, the first projecting portion  2272 D, the second projecting portion  2272 B, the first arm portion  2273 , the second arm portion  2274 , the lug portion  2275 , the projecting portion  2276 , and the hook portion  2278  are formed as a single unit from a synthetic resin material that has lower rigidity than the middle frame  22  and that is slightly flexible. The first arm portion  2273  is axially supported by the supporting portion  2271  by taking advantage of the flexibility of the material to fit the first projecting portion  2272 D into the first hole  2272 A and then fit the second projecting portion  2272 E into the second hole  2272 B. In other words, the supporting portion  2271  and the first arm portion  2273  are connected via the hinge portion  2272  such that the first arm portion  2273  can be rotated. 
         [0026]    The second arm portion  2274  is connected to the edge of the first arm portion  2273  that is on the opposite side from the edge where the shaft portion  2272 C is provided. The second arm portion  2274  extends at a right angle from the first arm portion  2273 . The lug portion  2275  is provided in the location where the first arm portion  2273  and the second arm portion  2274  are connected. The lug portion  2275  projects in the same direction as the direction in which the first arm portion  2273  extends and at a right angle to the direction in which the second arm portion  2274  extends. The projecting portion  2276  is provided in a central portion of the edge of the second arm portion  2274 . The projecting portion  2276  projects in a direction that is orthogonal to the direction in which the second arm portion  2274  extends, such that the projecting portion  2276  is opposite the first arm portion  2273 . The hook portion  2278  projects from the edge of the projecting portion  2276  in a direction that is orthogonal to the direction in which the projecting portion  2276  projects, such that the hook portion  2278  is opposite the second arm portion  2274 . As described above, the first arm portion  2273  can be rotated around the hinge portion  2272 . Therefore, the grip portion  227  can be switched between a use position and a stowed position. Specifically, the grip portion  227  is in the use position in a case where the first arm portion  2273  is oriented in the same direction as the direction in which the supporting portion  2271  extends, as shown in  FIG. 2 . The grip portion  227  is in the stowed position in a case where the first arm portion  2273  is oriented in a direction that is parallel to a side face of the outer circumferential portion  231  and is orthogonal to the direction in which the supporting portion  2271  extends, as shown in  FIG. 7 . The operations of the grip portion  227  when the grip portion  227  is in the use position and when the grip portion  227  is in the stowed position will be described in detail below. 
         [0027]    As shown in  FIG. 3 , the outer frame  23  includes the frame portion  233 , the outer circumferential portion  231 , a plurality of throughholes  232 , a supporting portion  234 , and the attachment portion  235 . The frame portion  233  has an inside diameter that is larger than the outside diameter of the frame portion  225  of the middle frame  22 . The frame portion  233  has a thickness in the axial direction (the up-down direction in  FIG. 3 ). The outer circumferential portion  231  is a ring-shaped member that extends toward the outside in the radial direction around the entire circumference of one edge of the frame portion  233  in the axial direction (the upper edge in the present embodiment) that is on the same side as the grip portion  227  of the middle frame  22 . The plurality of the through-holes  232  are provided in positions that respectively correspond to a plurality of predetermined rotation angles around the circumference of the middle frame  22  (angles of rotation in relation to the outer frame  23 ). The plurality of the through-holes  232  are holes that pass through the outer circumferential portion  231  of the outer frame  23  in the up-down direction. The through-holes  232  are provided at 45-degree intervals as seen from the central axis of the outer frame  23 . The rotation angle of each of the through-holes  232  is indicated, on the upper face of the outer circumferential portion  231 , at the outside of the through-hole  232  in the radial direction. In the present embodiment, the middle frame  22  can be locked in relation to the outer frame  23  at any one of the predetermined rotation angles (zero degrees, 45 degrees, 90 degrees, 135 degrees, 180 degrees, 225 degrees, 270 degrees, 315 degrees) by engaging the projecting portion  2276  of the grip portion  227  of the middle frame  22  with the corresponding one of the plurality of the through-holes  232 . 
         [0028]    The supporting portion  234  is provided on the inner circumferential face of the frame portion  233 . The supporting portion  234  projects, in the center of the up-down direction of the frame portion  233 , toward the inside in the radial direction along the entire circumference of frame portion  233 . The supporting portion  234  is a portion that may support the bottom face of the supporting portion  226  of the middle frame  22 . The attachment portion  235  is provided to the outside of the frame portion  233  in the radial direction. The attachment portion  235  includes a body portion  235 A, a first connecting portion  23  SB, a second connecting portion  2350 , and a third connecting portion  235 D. The body portion  235 A, which has a long, narrow, rectangular shape, may be mounted on the mounting portion (not shown in the drawings) of the carriage, which is provided inside the carriage cover  8  of the sewing machine  1 . The first connecting portion  235 B, the second connecting portion  235 C, and the third connecting portion  235 B have rectangular columnar shapes and connect the body portion  235 A to the frame portion  233  of the outer frame  23 . 
         [0029]    The form in which the embroidery frame  2  is used when the work cloth  100  is held by the embroidery frame  2  will be explained with reference to  FIGS. 2 and 4  to  7 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , in the embroidery frame  2 , starting from the top in the axial direction of the inner frame  21  (the up-down direction in  FIG. 4 ), the inner frame  21 , the work cloth  100 , the middle frame  22 , and the outer frame  23  may be disposed in order. First, the parting portion  222  of the middle frame  22  may be widened as necessary by rotating the adjusting screw  224 . That is, the middle frame  22  may be adjusted such that the diameter of the middle frame  22  is increased as necessary. Next, the work cloth  100  may be placed between the middle frame  22  and the inner frame  21 , and the inner frame  21  may be fitted into the middle frame  22 . Then the adjusting screw  224  may be rotated in the direction that reduces the diameter of the middle frame  22  in accordance with the thickness of the work cloth  100 . The work cloth  100  may thus be clamped between the middle frame  22  and the inner frame  21 . Next, in a state in which the grip portion  227  of the middle frame  22  is in the use position, the middle frame  22 , into which the inner frame  21  has been fitted such that the work cloth  100  is clamped, may be fitted into the outer frame  23 . In the state in which the grip portion  227  is in the use position, the first arm portion  2273  of the grip portion  227  extends in the same direction in which the supporting portion  2271  extends. The bottom face of the supporting portion  226  of the middle frame  22  may thus be a state of being supported by the supporting portion  234  of the outer frame  23 . 
         [0030]    A case in which the grip portion  227  is in the use position and a case in which the grip portion  227  is in the stowed position will be explained with reference to the drawings. The grip portion  227  is in the use position in a case where the first arm portion  2273  extends in the same direction in which the supporting portion  2271  extends and the first arm portion  2273  projects to the outside in the radial direction from the upper edge of the middle frame  22 , as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 5 . In this case, the grip portion  227  projects from the middle frame  22  in a way that allows the grip portion  227  to be gripped. At this time, the second arm portion  2274  is set apart from the outer circumferential portion  231  and extends downward. The projecting portion  2276  cannot be engaged with any one of the plurality of the through-holes  232 . Therefore, the middle frame  22  can be rotated in relation to the outer frame  23 . In this case, the user may rotate the middle frame  22  in relation to the outer frame  23  by gripping one of the first arm portion  2273  and the second arm portion  2274 . While rotating the middle frame  22 , the user may look through the window portion  2277  and may visually check one of the rotation angles that are indicated, on the upper face of the outer circumferential portion  231 , at the outside of the plurality of the through-holes  232  in the radial direction. In contrast, as shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the grip portion  227  is in the stowed position in a case where the first arm portion  2273  extends at a right angle to the supporting portion  2271  and extends downward parallel to the side face of the outer circumferential portion  231 , and the second arm portion  2274  is placed below the bottom face of the outer circumferential portion  231 . In addition, the projecting portion  2276  and the hook portion  2278  are engaged with one of the plurality of the through-holes  232 , which are provided in the outer circumferential portion  231  of the outer frame  23 . In this case, the middle frame  22  cannot be rotated in relation to the outer frame  23 . In other words, the grip portion  227  is in a state in which the grip portion  227  cannot be gripped. As described above, the projecting portion  2276  and the hook portion  2278  are formed from a synthetic resin material that has flexibility. Therefore, when the projecting portion  2276  and the hook portion  2278  are engaged with one of the through-holes  232 , the hook portion  2278  is slightly caught on the edge of the through-hole  232 . The state in which the projecting portion  2276  and the hook portion  2278  are engaged with the one of the through-holes  232  is thus maintained. In this ease, the embroidery frame  2  may be mounted on the sewing machine  1 , and the work of embroidery sewing may be performed. 
         [0031]    For example, a case is considered in which the middle frame  22  is fixed in relation to the outer frame  23  in the position where the rotation angle is zero degrees. The user may place the work cloth  100  between the inner frame  21  and the middle frame  22  and may clamp the work cloth  100  with the inner frame  21  and the middle frame  22 . Next, the user may fit the middle frame  22 , into which the inner frame  21  has been fitted, into the outer frame  23  and may put the grip portion  227  into the use position, as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 5 . The user may grip one of the first arm portion  2273  and the second arm portion  2274  and may rotate the middle frame  22  in relation to the outer frame  23 . Through the window portion  2277 , the user may visually cheek one of the rotation angles that is indicated on the upper face of the outer circumferential portion  231  and may rotate the middle frame  22  to the position where the rotation angle becomes zero degrees. Then the user may rotate the grip portion  227  around the hinge portion  2272  and may engage the projecting portion  2276  and the hook portion  2278 , which are provided on the edge of the second arm portion  2274 , with the through-hole  232  that corresponds to the rotation angle of zero degrees. This completes the switching of the grip portion  227  from the use position to the stowed position. The grip portion  227  may fix the middle frame  22  at the position where the rotation angle is zero degrees such that the middle frame  22  cannot rotate in relation to the outer frame  23 . The user may mount the embroidery frame  2 , in which the middle frame  22  has been fixed such that the middle frame  22  cannot be rotated, on the sewing machine  1 , and the embroidery sewing may be performed. 
         [0032]    For example, a case is considered in which, after the embroidery sewing has been performed as described above, the middle frame  22  is fixed in relation to the outer frame  23  at the position where the rotation angle is 45 degrees, and the embroidery sewing is performed. The user may remove the embroidery frame  2  from the sewing machine  1 , may place the user&#39;s finger on the lug portion  2275 , and may rotate the first arm portion  2273  via the hinge portion  2272 . The projecting portion  2276  and the hook portion  2278 , which had been engaged with the through-hole  232  at the zero-degree position, may thus be separated from the through-hole  232  at the zero-degree position and may enter a disengaged state. In this way, the user may switch the grip portion  227  from the stowed position to the use position. The user may grip one of the first arm portion  2273  and the second arm portion  2274  and may rotate the middle frame  22  in relation to the outer frame  23 . Visually checking one of the rotation angles through the window portion  2277 , the user may switch the grip portion  227  from the use position to the stowed position at the position where the rotation angle is 45 degrees, then may mount the embroidery frame  2  on the sewing machine  1 . By utilizing the grip portion  227  in this manner, the user may repeat the rotating of the middle frame  22  and the performing of the embroidery sewing. Thus, it is possible to perform the embroidery sewing after the middle frame  22  is rotated to the desired angle. 
         [0033]    As explained above, with the embroidery frame  2  according to the present embodiment, in a case where the grip portion  227  is in the use position, the user may rotate the middle frame  22  in relation to the outer frame  23  by gripping one of the first arm portion  2273  and the second arm portion  2274 , which are included in the grip portion  227  of the middle frame  22 . The operability when the middle frame  22  is rotated in relation to the outer frame  23  can thus be improved. In addition, the grip portion  227  can be switched from the use position to the stowed position by fitting the projecting portion  2276  and the hook portion  2278 , which are provided in the grip portion  227 , into one of the plurality of the through-holes  232 , which are provided in the outer circumferential portion  231  of the outer frame  23  such that the plurality of the through-holes  232  respectively correspond to the plurality of the rotation angles. The rotation angle of the middle frame  22  in relation to the outer frame  23  can thus be set accurately and easily. Furthermore, because the grip portion  227  is stowed along the outer frame  23 , it is possible to prevent the grip portion  227  from interfering with another member while the work of the embroidery sewing is being performed. 
         [0034]    Various types of modifications may be made to the embodiment described above. For example, in the embodiment described above, the grip portion  227  that is provided on the middle frame  22  of the embroidery frame  2 , which includes the inner frame  21 , the middle frame  22 , and the outer frame  23 , can be switched between the use position and the stowed position. The grip portion  227  may not be switched between the use position and the stowed position, for example. A member that projects slightly farther to the outside of the frame portion  225  in the radial direction than does the supporting portion  2271  in the embodiment described above may be used as a grip portion, for example. 
         [0035]    In the embodiment described above, an example is explained in which the supporting portion  2271  of the grip portion  227  projects to the outside of the middle frame  22  in the radial direction. The grip portion  227  may project from the middle frame  22  in any direction that at least does not interfere with the outer frame  23  when the grip portion  227  is in the use position. Furthermore, in the embodiment described above, the work cloth  100  may be clamped by the inner frame  21  and the middle frame  22 , as shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 . Considering the placement of the clamped work cloth  100 , is preferable for the grip portion  227  not to project to the inside of the frame portion  225  of the middle frame  22 . Therefore, the grip portion  227  may project upward in parallel to the axial direction of the middle frame  22 . The grip portion  227  may project in any direction within the range from outward in the radial direction of the middle frame  22  to the upward direction of the middle frame  22 , for example. 
         [0036]    The angles at which the plurality of the through-holes  232  are provided are not limited to the 45-degree intervals in the embodiment described above. The intervals for the angles at which the plurality of the through-holes  232  are provided may be at an angle that is greater than 45 degrees or may be at an angle that is less than 45 degrees. 
         [0037]    The apparatus and methods described above with reference to the various embodiments are merely examples. It goes without saying that they are not confined to the depicted embodiments. While various features have been described in conjunction with the examples outlined above, various alternatives, modifications, variations, and/or improvements of those features and/or examples may be possible. Accordingly, the examples, as set forth above, are intended to be illustrative. Various changes may be made without departing from the broad spirit and scope of the underlying principles.

Technology Classification (CPC): 3