Patent Abstract:
Presented is an apparatus and method for hook timing. An exemplary apparatus includes a frame, the frame having a top portion and a bottom portion, the top portion having a needle bar channel, and a spacer, the spacer moveable relative to the frame to overlay a portion of the top portion of the frame. The apparatus further including a clasping element connected to the frame and operable to change an effective diameter of a portion of the channel, and a bottom plate, the bottom plate connected to the bottom portion of the frame.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present disclosure relates to a method and apparatus for timing. The present disclosure relates more specifically to a method and apparatus for hook timing. 
         [0003]    Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    Machine quilting is quilting made using a sewing machine to stitch in rows or patterns using select techniques to stitch through layers of fabric and batting in the manner of old-style hand-quilting. 
         [0005]    Free motion quilting is a process used to stitch the layers of a quilt together using a domestic sewing machine. The operator controls the stitch length as well as the direction of the stitching line by moving the quilt with their hands. The stitching can be made in any direction to make straight or curved lines to create patterns. The length of each stitch is determined by the distance the quilt has been moved since the previous stitch. 
         [0006]    One method of creating a stitch in a sewing or quilting machine includes the use of a rotary hook or rotating hook. The rotary hook continuously rotates in place, hooking the upper thread each time its pointed tip passes the position of the reciprocating needle. Enough upper thread is then pulled from above to pass around the bobbin case, which sites loosely inside the hook frame such that loops of thread can pass completely over it. The excess thread, no longer needed, is then pulled back upward by the sewing machine&#39;s take-up arm. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    In view of the foregoing, it is an object of the present disclosure to provide a method and apparatus for timing. 
         [0008]    A first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure provides an apparatus for timing. The apparatus includes a frame, the frame having a top portion and a bottom portion, the top portion having a needle bar channel, and a spacer, the spacer moveable relative to the frame to overlay a portion of the top portion of the frame. The apparatus further including a clasping element connected to the frame and operable to change an effective diameter of a portion of the channel, and a bottom plate, the bottom plate connected to the bottom portion of the frame. 
         [0009]    A second exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure provides a method for timing. The method includes affixing a frame to a needle bar of a sewing head, the frame defining a needle bar channel and having a clasping element, a spacer, and a bottom plate, the needle bar channel cooperating with the clasping element operable to removeably affix the frame to the needle bar. The method further including positioning the needle bar with the affixed frame such that the bottom plate aligns with a needle point hook height, and rotating a hook point such that the hook point is in contact with the bottom plate. 
         [0010]    A third exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure provides an apparatus for setting hook timing in a sewing machine having a needle bar and a hook. The apparatus includes a frame adapted to releasably mount relative to a sewing machine needle bar, and a needle height setting spacer movably connected to the frame between a spacing position and a retracted position. The apparatus further includes a hook angular displacement block connected to the frame to define an angular displacement fixing position. 
         [0011]    The following will describe embodiments of the present disclosure, but it should be appreciated that the present disclosure is not limited to the described embodiments and various modifications of the disclosure are possible without departing from the basic principle. The scope of the present disclosure is therefore to be determined solely by the appended claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S) 
         [0012]      FIG. 1  presents a perspective view of an exemplary device suitable for use in practicing exemplary embodiments of this disclosure. 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  presents a perspective view of an exemplary device and a sewing head for use in practicing exemplary embodiments of this disclosure. 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  presents a close-up view of an exemplary device and a sewing head for use in practicing exemplary embodiments of this disclosure. 
           [0015]      FIGS. 4 a , 4 b , 4 c , 4 d , and 4 e    in combination present stages of an exemplary rotation cycle for a hook point and a reciprocating cycle of a reciprocating needle for stitching in a quilting or sewing machine. 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  presents an exemplary logic flow diagram in accordance with a method for practicing exemplary embodiments of this disclosure. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0017]    Prior to quilting or sewing with a quilting machine or sewing machine it is often required that a user adjust the bobbin hook or hook point such that the cycle of its rotation during use aligns with the reciprocating cycle of the reciprocating needle of the sewing or quilting machine so that the hook point can properly grab thread from the reciprocating needle. In other words, the scarf of the reciprocating needle during the upward motion portion of the reciprocating needle cycle needs to align with the hook point such that the hook point can obtain or displace thread from the reciprocating needle. 
         [0018]    The process for aligning the reciprocating needle scarf with the hook point is quite time consuming and cumbersome because users typically adjust the hook point manually by visually determining the distance between the reciprocating needle and the hook point to see when and where the hook point should be affixed to the sewing machine. 
         [0019]    Accordingly, there is a need for a simpler more accurate mechanism to align the reciprocating needle with the hook point of a quilting or sewing machine such that the timing of the rotation cycle of the hook point is properly aligned with the reciprocating cycle of the reciprocating needle to allow for proper stitching. 
         [0020]    Embodiments of the present disclosure provide an apparatus and method of using a device with a quilting or sewing machine such that a user can more easily and accurately align a reciprocating needle of a quilting or sewing machine with the hook point such that the user can properly operate the quilting or sewing machine. 
         [0021]      FIGS. 4 a , 4 b , 4 c , 4 d , and 4 e    in combination present stages of an exemplary rotation cycle for a hook point and a reciprocating cycle of a reciprocating needle for stitching in a quilting or sewing machine. In  FIG. 4 a   , depicted is a reciprocating needle  402  with thread  404 , a hook point  406  with thread  408 , and a work piece  410 . In  FIG. 4 a    reciprocating needle  402  is not at the bottom of its reciprocating cycle, but has moved slightly above the bottom of its reciprocating cycle. Reciprocating needle  402  in  FIG. 4 a    is moving upward in its reciprocating cycle. The hook point  406  is near the 12 o&#39;clock position and is in contact with thread  404  and grapping thread  404  from reciprocating needle  402 . The distance between the bottom of the reciprocating cycle of the reciprocating needle  402  and the point at which hook point  406  grabs or hooks thread  404  as shown in  FIG. 4 a    will be referred to as the needle hook point height. The position of the hook point  406  in its rotation cycle at which it can grab thread  404  from reciprocating needle  402  will be referred to as hook timing. 
         [0022]    Turning to  FIG. 4 b   , the reciprocating needle  402  has moved further in the upward portion of its reciprocating cycle partially through work piece  410 . The hook point  406  has rotated towards the left in order to create a stitch between thread  404  and thread  408 . 
         [0023]    Referring to  FIG. 4 c   , the reciprocating needle  402  is at the highest point of its reciprocating cycle and it is no longer in contact with work piece  410 . The hook point  406  has also continued to rotate in a counter-clockwise fashion to complete the stitch and is located at the 6 o&#39;clock position. It should be noted that embodiments of the present disclosure include a hook point  406  rotating in either a clockwise or counter-clockwise fashion. 
         [0024]    Reference is now made to  FIG. 4 d   , shown is reciprocating needle  402  beginning its downward portion of its reciprocating cycle moving closer to work piece  410  and hook point  406 . Hook point  406  has continued to rotate about its center now moving towards reciprocating needle  402 . 
         [0025]    In  FIG. 4 e   , reciprocating needle  402  has pierced work piece  410  and is continuing to move in a downward motion towards hook point  406 . Hook point  406  has continued to rotate in a count-clockwise fashion towards reciprocating needle  402 . Once reciprocating needle  402  has reached the bottom of its reciprocating cycle and begun it upward movement, hook point  406  will contact thread  404  maintained by reciprocating needle  402  as shown in  FIG. 4 a    and the process or cycle for both the reciprocating needle  402  and hook point  406  will repeat. 
         [0026]    Reference is now made to  FIG. 1 , which depicts a perspective view of an exemplary device suitable for use in practicing exemplary embodiments of this disclosure. Shown in  FIG. 1  is device  102  for properly setting a hook point or hook timing on a quilting or sewing machine. Device  102  includes a frame  104 , a clasping element  106 , a spacer  108  (or needle height setting spacer), and a bottom plate  110  (or hook angular displacement block). 
         [0027]    The frame  104  as depicted is U-shaped, however, embodiments of frame  104  also include C-shaped or V-shaped configurations. Frame  104  is rigid and can be made out of any type of metal, plastic, wood or composite that will provide a rigid structure. Frame  104  includes a channel or needle bar channel  112  spaced to fit a needle bar of a quilting or sewing machine. 
         [0028]    Clasping element  106  is moveably affixed to frame  104 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , clasping element  106  includes a screw  112  extending through frame  104 , which when rotated by clasping element  106  can change an effective diameter of a portion of channel  112 . Embodiments of clasping element  106  include any type of clamping, clasping, gripping, or attachment mechanism known in the art such that frame  104  through channel  112  can be removeably affixed to a needle bar of a quilting or sewing machine. 
         [0029]    Spacer  108  is rotatably affixed to the top of frame  104  such that it can rotate into a position that overlays a portion of the top of frame  104  without covering channel  112 . Spacer  108  can also rotate into a position that does not overlay a portion of the top of frame  104 . Embodiments of spacer  108  have a thickness equal to the needle hook point height. It should be appreciated that the thickness of spacer  108  can vary between different types or brands of quilting or sewing machines due to the differences in needle hook point height for that particular brand, make or model. 
         [0030]    Bottom plate  110  is affixed to the bottom of frame  104  such that its long axis is perpendicular to frame  104 . Embodiments of bottom plate  110  in combination with frame  104  are sized such that when frame  104  is affixed at channel  112  with clasping element  106  to a needle bar of a quilting or sewing machine replicate or simulate the length and location of a reciprocating needle attached to the needle bar located at the needle hook point height. Embodiments of bottom plate  110  include bottom plate  110  being both fixedly attached to frame  104  or rotateably attached to frame  104 . Embodiments of bottom plate  110  include the long sides of bottom plate  110  having multiple grooves for receiving or contacting a hook point. 
         [0031]    Reference is now made to  FIG. 2 , which illustrates a perspective view of an exemplary device and a sewing head for use in practicing exemplary embodiments of this disclosure. Shown in  FIG. 2  is device  102  and sewing head  202 . Sewing head  202  includes a needle bar  204  for maintaining a reciprocating needle for stitching. However, as depicted in  FIG. 2 , needle bar  204  does not contain a reciprocating needle. Also, depicted in  FIG. 2  is the bottom portion  206  of the sewing head for maintaining a hook point. Device  102  as depicted in  FIG. 2 , is removably attached to needle bar  204  through channel  112  and clasping element  106 . 
         [0032]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , shown is a close-up view of an exemplary device and a sewing head for use in practicing exemplary embodiments of this disclosure. Shown in  FIG. 3  is sewing head  202  with needle bar  204  and device  102 . As depicted in  FIG. 3 , device  102  is removably attached to needle bar  204  at channel  112  with clasping element  106 . Also, shown in  FIG. 3  is the bottom of sewing head  302 . In  FIG. 3 , spacer  108  is in contact with bottom of sewing head  302 . 
         [0033]    Needle bar  204  is able to move up and down thereby controlling the reciprocating cycle of a reciprocating needle maintained by needle bar  204 . Device  102  is able to move up and down with needle bar  204  when attached to needle bar  204 . 
         [0034]    Reference is now made to  FIG. 5 , which presents an exemplary process for using device  104  with a quilting or sewing machine to properly set or align the hook timing. The process begins at block  502  which states position a needle bar in the down position. Then at block  504  a hook timing device (e.g., device  102 ) is affixed to the needle bar such that the spacer is in contact with the bottom of the sewing head. Next at block  506 , the process continues rotating the spacer such that it is no longer overlaying the frame of the hook timing device and the needle bar is free to move up. 
         [0035]    Then at block  508  the process continues with raising the needle bar until the bottom of the sewing head is in contact with the frame of the hook timing device. At this point, the bottom plate of the hook timing device is aligned with the location of where a reciprocating needle would contact the hook point. Accordingly, the length of embodiments of hook timing device (e.g, device  102 ) is sized such that it is equal to the needle hook point height. Then at block  510 , an unattached hook point is rotated until it comes into contact with the bottom plate of the hook timing device. Then at block  512 , the hook point is affixed to the sewing/quilting machine and the hook point timing device is removed from the needle bar. 
         [0036]    It is to be understood that any feature described in relation to any one embodiment may be used alone, or in combination with other features described, and may also be used alone, or in combination with one or more features of any other of the embodiments, or any combination of any other of the embodiments. The presently disclosed embodiments are therefore considered in all respects to be illustrative. Furthermore, equivalents and modifications not described above may also be employed without departing from the scope of this disclosure, which is defined in the accompanying claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 3