An Improved Attachment for Sewing Machines.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 15th June, 1893
Complete Specification Left, 15th Mar., 1894-Accepted, 25th May, 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Attachment for Sewing Machines.
I, PERCY RICHARD JULIUS WILLIS, of 106, 107 & 108 Victoria Chambers,
Chancery Lane, in the County of London, Consulting Engineer, (a communication
to me from abroad by William Mariman Webber, Louisa Elizabeth Webber, and
Philip Doddridge Neal, all of Parkersburg, Wood County, West Virginia,
U.S.A., Inventors,) do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to an Improved Attachment for Sewing-machines, and
by means of which attachment large and small hems can be made.
The invention comprises a curved arm which can be fixed to the presser-bar
by a set-screw. A plate or bar, bent at right angles, has a slot at one end
through which a set-screw is passed to adjustably secure it to the curved arm;
its other end depending downwardly and carrying a double and inverted hemming
device. Another plate having a slot at one end is also adjustably secured by
the set-screw aforesaid to the curved arm, and carries adjustably a hemmer gauge.
Both the aforesaid plates may be made in two sections and be adjustably united
by a set-screw.
Dated this 15th dor of June 1802
PERCY R. J. WILLIS.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Attachment for Sewing Machines.
I, PERCY RICHARD JULIUS WILLIS, of 55 Chancery Lane, in the County of
London, Consulting Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention (a
communication to me from abroad by William Mariman Webber, Louisa Elizabeth
Webber, and Philip Doddridge Neal, all of Parkersburg, Wood County, West
Virginia, U.S.A., Inventors,) 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 an improvement in sewing machine attachments which
consists of a double inverted, or right and left hemmers, and the objects of my
improvement are to provide an attachment that, first, will make hems or folds,
of any desired width; second that can be used on either right or left of machine
needle; third, that can be instantly and easily applied to any sewing machine
now in general use. I attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.
The figure in the drawing is a perspective view of complete attachment, secured
to presser-foot bar of sewing machine in operative form.
The curved arm A, secured to the presser-foot bar P, of the sewing machine by
the set screw J, and provided with a slot G, is the attachment arm to which the
other parts of the attachment are secured.
E, E, are inverted double, or right and left hemmers, rigidly secured to lower
end of angle bar B; at the upper end of angle bar B is a slot H, which being
placed across slot G in the curved or attachment arm A in such a position as will
bring either the right or the left hemmer, as desired, in line with the needle, is
secured thereto by set screw K, the angle bar B can be moved either to the right
or the left thus enabling the operators to use either hemmer as desired.

page_text: C is an upright bar with screw threads, having at the lower end a clamp O of
three jaws, F. within which gauge D is secured by the nut L.
At the upper end of the bar C is a plate M, provided with a slot I, which being
placed in a desired position across the upper end of the angle bar B, and attach-
ment arm A, is secured thereto by set screw K passing through the slot I H
and G. On plate M, around the bar C is the lock-nut N, which, being loosened
the bar C, by means of the screw-threads with which it is provided, can be raised
or lowered according to thickness of the goods; also it can be turned to the right
or to the left of the sewing machine needle.
D is a gauge, previously referred to, which being secured within the jaws F. of
the clamp O, by the nut L, enables the operator to gauge a hem of any desired
width, by moving to the right or left, as desired, and firmly securing gauge D with
the nut L. To change from right to left hemmer, the gauge D can be taken out
of the jaws F. and reversed.
To operate the attachment, secure the curved arm A to presser bar of the
machine by set screw J; place the slotted end of the angle bar B across slot in
curved aim A in such manner as will bring, for hems on the right of the sewing
machine needle, the right hand hemmer in line with the needle, taking note that
the needle being in line with inside edge of hemmer will bring the stitching close
to the edge of the hem; in line with centre or outside of hemmer, the stitching
will be farther from the edge of the hem. Place slotted plate M across the
slotted end of angle bar B in such a manner as will bring the clamp O in front of
and slightly to the left of the double inverted hemmers; secure hemmer gauge D
within the jaws of the clamp O with the triple end of the gauge as far to the right
of the needle bar as the desired width of hem. Secure the bar B and plate M to the
curved arm A by the set screw K, and gauge D in clamp O by the nut L. Draw
the edge of the goods between the lower and the middle bars of gauge D at the
triple end, and up over the middle bar and between the middle and upper bars to
the hemmers; insert the edge of the goods in the right hemmer allowing for
the edge to be turned under in the hemmer. Proceed as with other hemmers.
For hems on the left of the sewing machine needle, use the left hemmer, let
the bar C, and the clamp O be on the right of the needle, and triple end of the
gauge on the left, and proceed as in hems on the right of the needle. For folds,
remove the bar C with the clamp O, and the slotted plate M, and the hemmer-
gauge D. Insert the edge of the fold in the desired hemmer, and proceed as
with a hem; for the opposite edge of the fold, adjust and use the opposite hemmer,
thus obviating the necessity of removing the goods from the machine, or turning
them around. I am aware that prior to my invention, hemmers of different widths
have been made and I do not therefore claim such an invention broadly.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
The combination with a curved supporting arm having means for attachment
to the sewing machine presser-bar, of the angle bar B slotted at one end for
lateral adjustment and at its opposite end supporting the double inverted hemmer,
slotted plate M provided with means for adjustably supporting a hemmer gauge
and means for connecting the slotted ends of the angle bar B and the plate M
to the curved supporting arm, substantially as described.
Dated this 15th day of March 1894
PERCY R. J. WILLIS,
55, Chancery Lane, London, W.