Year: 1886

page_text: 1, JULIUS MEHLICH, Manufacturer, of Sophienstrasse, Berlin, Germany, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows :—
My invention relates to the means or method of fastening the cloth-presser feet
of sewing machines.
The head or lower extremity of the cloth presser-bar has, between the axis of
the bar and the needle, a longitudinal groove, parallel with the axis of the presser
bar. Into this groove fits the long prismatic or dove-tailed shank of the exchange-
able presser-foot. The two flanges limiting laterally this vertical groove, are hook-
shaped at their lower ends.
For fastening a presser-foot, the extremity of the presser bar need not be
touched now. The foot, placed upon the slide plate of the sewing machine, is
conducted with the tail behind the machine needle, without touching the latter,
subsequently the presser foot is shifted backward, so that the tail gets into the
groove, whereupon the presser-bar is lowered from its raised position under the
influence of a spring, by reversing the usual spring handle. By the down motion
of the presser bar, the tail is entirely pressed into the longitudinal groove, the
hooked ends of the flanges embracing a pair of corresponding shoulders at the
presser foot, which is now rigidly fastened to the extremity of the presser-bar to
answer all requirements.
The foot does not fall down automatically, as a small spring, which is situated
laterally at the one or the other of the two vertical flanges catches into a recess of
the presser-foot.
The said spring may be a leaf spring or a helical spring, adapted to act on the
side of the presser foot. This locking may also be effected by a screw or other
suitable means.
To release the presser foot for exchanging it with another one,
it is pressed downward, when the presser bar is raised. The lateral locking spring
in this case easily recedes from the notch of the presser foot, as by downward
pressure the spring is pressed back by the bevelled surface, and the foot is adapted
to be taken off and removed from below.
Instead of making the vertical sides or flanges to fit downwardly over the
shoulders of the presser foot, a hook may be placed at the upwardly extending
•

page_text: part of the presser foot, which hook embraces a particular projection formed at the
head of the bar.
The tail of the presser foot introduced and held between the two vertical sides
or flanges may also be changed into a fork, while the bar head is provided with
two vertical grooves, symmetrically opposite to each other.
With this arrangement a hook extending sideways or to the back from the
shank of the presser foot may be dispensed with.
The prism, formed by the tail and the upright flanges or a fork and corre-
sponding vertical slots, may also be arranged, instead of rearward, at the head of
the presser bar. The upward extending part of the presser foot is then bent
backward and bifurcated. The fork embraces the neck of a pressing- or set-
screw, or it may embrace an angular pin, provided with a knob.
To prevent receding in a lateral direction, a pin may be set into the horizontal
part of the bend of the presser foot, which pin enters from below into a corresponding
hole in the horizontal part of the bend.

page_text: JULIUS MEHLICH of 21 Sophien Strasse Berlin, in the Empire of Germany,
Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement:-
This invention relates to the means or method of fastening the cloth presser feet
to the presser bar in sewing machines.
Referring to the accompanying drawings,
Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a presser bar showing a method in which the foot
may be attached according to my invention.
Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the presser bar and
Fig. 3 a side elevation of the foot in its relative position thereto.
Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the bar and foot attached.
Fig. 5 and 6 show alternative forms of spring for retaining the foot in place.
Figs. 7 to 15 show various modifications.
b is the presser bar of usual construction governed by a spring & and held out of
action by the lever or catch f.
On the lower end of the presser bar bis attached a sleeve a to which the foot is
attached. In the arrangement shown in Figs. 1 to 3 two parallel flanges are
formed on the front of the sleeve, between which the bar c, formed on the upper
end of the presser foot, is adapted to slide. To insert the foot, the presser bar is
first raised and retained by the catch f; the bar c is then placed in the groove
between the flanges a¹ a² as shown in Fig. 1 and the foot pressed up therein or
the handle floosened when the presser bar will descend and cause the shoulders C
to enter corresponding grooves in the lower ends of the flanges al a². The spring e
will then catch into a notch in the side of the bar c and retain the foot in
its position. The spring catch e may be a leaf spring as in Fig. 5 or a spiral
spring as in Fig. 6; in either case the catch is so arranged as to be automatically
withdrawn from the notch when sufficient pressure is applied to the bar c in
direction of its length.
The shoulders c¹ c² may be replaced by a projecting catch or catches g gas
shown in Figs. 9 or 10, in which case the lower end of the sleeve a will be
so shaped as to form a convenient seat therefor. The single bar c on the foot may
be replaced by a fork as in Fig. 13, which will enter corresponding grooves l
as in Fig. 14, formed in the sleeve a. A further modification consists in attaching
the foot to the back of the sleeve a and bending it to the shape of the sleeve as
shown in Figs. 11 and 12; in this case the back of the fork may be formed as a
hook embracing a set-screw m or a spring button n. The foot is further prevented
from forward or backward displacement by the pin o which may either be formed
in the sleeve a and project into the foot or on the foot an project into the sleeve.

page_text: 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 :-
In sewing machines :
1.) The combination of a presser foot having a bar c and shoulders c¹ c² with a
presser bar having a sleeve a which carries two flanges a¹ a² for receiving said
bar c and shoulders c¹ c² together with means for holding the said bar c in place.
with
2.) The combination of a presser foot having a bar c and projecting catch
a presser bar having a sleeve a with flanges a¹ a² and whose lower surface forms a
seat for the projecting catch g.
3.) The combination of a presser-foot having a fork k k with a presser bar
having a sleeve a with side grooves ll.
4.) The combination of a presser foot whose upper end is shaped to the sleeve a
and ends in a fork; with a presser bar having a sleeve a with set screw m or
spring knob n substantially as illustrated and described and for the purpose as set
forth.