Improvements in Tension Devices for Sewing Machines.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 5th June, 1894-Accepted, 7th July, 1894
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Tension Devices for Sewing Machines.
I HERBERT JOHN HADDAN, of the Firm of Herbert Haddan and Co., of
18, Buckingham Street, Strand, W.C. London, Patent Agent, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention, a communication to me from abroad by George
W. Baker of Cleveland, Ohio, United States of America, Manufacturer and
Mechanical Engineer, and in what manner the same is to be performed to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
My invention relates to Improvements in Tension Devices for Sewing Machines;
and it consists in certain features of construction and in combinations of parts
hereinafter described and pointed out in the claims.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 is an outer side elevation of the supporting-casing of the presser-bár and
needle-bar of a sewing-machine.
Fig. 2 is an inner side elevation of the same, showing, in section, the screws for
securing said casing to the overhanging arm or goose-neck of the head of a sewing-
machine, portions being broken away and in section to more clearly show certain
features of the construction. Fig. 3 is a front side elevation of a portion of the
same.
Fig. 4 is an enlarged section on line 4-4, Figs. 1 and 2, looking in the direction
of the arrow, and showing all the parts removed excepting those involved in
carrying out my invention.
Fig. 5 is a rear side elevation of a portion of said casing, exhibiting the means
employed for lifting the presser-bar and the means operatively connected with said
presser-bar lifter for removing the tension from the thread upon the elevation of
said lifter.
Fig. 6 shows an enlarged view in detail; and partly in section, exhibiting a slight
modification hereinafter described.
Fig. 7 exhibits a slight modification hereinafter described.
Referring to the drawings, A represents the casing that supports the presser-bar
and needle-bár, and that is adapted to be secured in the usual manner, by means
of screws a, to the outer end of the overhanging arm or goose-neck (not shown)
of the head of a sewing-machine.
B represents the presser-bar; C the needle-bar; "B₁ the presser-foot; and C¹ the
needle, said parts being arranged and constructed as heretofore.
3
To the outer side of casing A, preferably near the lower portion thereof, is
rigidly secured, in any suitable manner, a plate or disc, D, and casing. A adjacent
said plate is slotted or open, as at a² (see Fig. 4). A pin, E, has suitable, bearing
in the central portion of plate or disc D, said pin extending, easily through
hole, d, in said plate and being provided, at the inner side of disc D, with a pair of
annular shoulders or collars, e, that are located a suitable interval apart to form an
annular groove or recess, e¹, that is straddled by the slotted' end of a lever, G,
that is composed preferably of a thin elongated stiff but elastic plate or metallic
strip and is pivoted or fulcrumed, as at G, near its central portion, to the front
side of casing A. The free end of lever G is engaged and held in the desired.
adjustment by the pin or projection h of a cam or eccentric H that has bearing in
casing A. (See Figs. 2 and 4.) Cam or eccentric H has operatively connected
therewith, a thumb or finger-piece, H', whereby, said cam or eccentric may be
turned in the one direction or the other, member H¹ being located outside of
casing A:

page_text: Upon the outer end of pin E, outside of disc D, is loosely mounted a plate, I,
that, at or near its forward end, is fastened to disc D, as at I. Pin E, at its outer
end, is preferably provided with a countersunk head, E³, that engages a corresponding
hole or perforation 12 in plate I.
Plate I, a suitable interval apart, is provided with two holes, I³ and I, arranged
preferably as shown in Fig. 1, the one above the other, and the thread, T, in its
course from the spool (not shown) to the needle, leads from the outer side of plate I
through the lower hole I' and then between the two plates or discs D and I out through
the upper hole 13, plate I being preferably provided with a slot, I', that establishes
open communication between holes 13 I, and in conjunction with a tongue, 1º,
formed by a turn in-the-lower-end-of-said-slot and bent outwardly at its-free-end;
as at 17 (see Figs. 1, 3 and 5) facilitates-the introduction of the thread between
said plates or discs.
By the construction hereinbefore described it will be observed that plate I is
adjustable laterally toward and from disc D and more or less tension is given to
the thread passing between said plates or discs, according as lever G, by thumb
and finger-piece H₁ and means operatively connected with member H', is actuated
and adjusted in the one direction or the other.
Thumb-piece H¹ is preferably provided with a pointer or index-finger, H2,
(see Fig. 3) that is adapted to indicate upon a dial or graduated plate K suitably
secured to the outer side of casing A, the degree of tension given to the thread.
Plate 1, at its rear end, is bent inwardly, as at 18, against the rear side of
casing A. The inner extremity or edge of said inwardly-bent portion of plate I is
adapted to be engaged and actuated, to loosen plate I relative to plate or disc D,
by a cam operatively connected or integral with the presser-bar lifting-lever, L,
that is suitably pivoted, as at L', to the rear side of casing A, and is also
provided with a cam, L³, engaging the under side of an arm, b, projecting
laterally from the presser-bar through a slot al in the rear side of casing A.
The arrangement of parts is such that upon actuating the presser-bar lifter to
lift, cam will be actuated to engage the inwardly-projecting member I" of plate I
and loosen the latter relative to disc D, as required to remove the tension
from the thread preparatory to the removal of the work, and I would here remark
that lever G being made of elastic material, as hereinbefore indicated, it will yield
to the actuation of plate I by cam / without interfering with the adjustment of
said lever.
I desire to have it understood that the scope of my invention is not confined to
the precise construction and arrangement of parts shown. For instance, in lieu
of cam or eccentric H having a projecting-member h, a cam M, shown in Fig. 6,
might be employed to directly engage and actuate lever G, and in lieu of a
stationary dial or graduated disc and removable index-finger as shown in Fig. 3, a
stationary index-finger secured to casing A and a movable dial or graduated disc
operatively connected with thumb and finger-piece H' might be employed, as shown
in Fig. 7.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is;
7
1. In a tension device for sewing machines, the combination with a section or
member A of the arm of the sewing machine and an inner tension disc or plate
secured against the outer side of the lower portion of said casing, of a yielding
lever located within said casing and pivoted thereto at a point between its ends,
another tension disc or plate adapted to co-operate with the inner disc, the said
outer disc being connected to the lower end of the pivoted lever by a pin passing
through the inner disc, a cam located within said casing and engaging the upper
end of the pivoted lever, a dial fixed to the outer face of the casing and a finger
piece connected to the cam for actuating same, substantially as set forth.
2. In a tension device for sewing machines. the combination with the section or

page_text: casing A of the arm of the sewing machine and an inner tension disc or plate.
secured against the outer side of the lower portion of said section or casing, of a.
yielding lever located within said casing and pivoted thereto at a point between its
ends, an outer tension disc or plate adapted to co-operate with the inner disc, the
said outer disc being connected to the lower end of the pivoted lever, means for
moving said lever for regulating the pressure of the outer tension disc against the
inner disc, a presser bar and a lifter for lifting said bar and directly engaging the
outer disc for moving the latter away from the inner disc, substantially as set.
forth.
3. A tension device for sewing-machines, substantially as shown, for the purpose:
specified.
H. J. HADDAN..