Improvements in Sewing Machines.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Aug., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 9th May, 1894-Accepted, 9th June, 1894
Improvements in Sewing Machines.
We, HUGH COUSLAND of 64 Gordon Street in the City of Glasgow, Mechanic,
and LEWIS HENRY SMITH of Kilbowie, Dumbartonshire, Sewing Machine Expert,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention which has for its object improvements in sewing machines relates,
first, to a method of elastically attaching the needle bar foot or needle guide to the
needle bar so that after the bar foot or needle guide has reached the extremity of
its downward motion the needle has a further movement through the fabric. The
invention relates, second, to the provision of an improved combined presser foot
and holder for sewing of perforated buttons to fabrics.
The first improvement consists in slotting the lower extremity of the needle bar
and in placing in the slot a spiral or like spring the lower end of which bears upon
a pin or stud passed through a sleeve constituting the foot of the needle bar and
through an eye in which sleeve the point of the needle projects. The needle is
pinched to the needle bar in the ordinary manner by a screw passed through a slot
in the sleeve or foot and the arrangement is such that when the sleeve or foot in its
downward motion presses upon the fabric the needle bar has a further movement
downwards due to the elasticity of the spring.
The improved presser foot for holding the perforated buttons consists of a ring
attached to the lower end of the ordinary presser foot bar and which ring carries a
plate having studs on its under side to grip the fabric and also two slots within
each of which there is situated a jaw projecting towards the centre from each end.
These jaws, the distance between the approaching ends of which is adjusted by
springs and screws connected to them and to the carrying plate, serve to hold the
button in position on the fabric whilst the needle is securing it in place. To adapt
the machine for sewing on buttons which have four or more holes the mechanism is
so arranged that the needle alternately passes through the holes opposite each
other and when they have been sufficiently secured the carrying plate and button-
holding jaws together with the fabric are turned through an arc so that the needle
will then pass alternately through another pair of holes.
'
The carrying plate or foot has or may have stops upon it which coming into
contact alternately with the lower end of the presser bar prevents the plate from
being turned round too far in either direction. Instead of turning the plate
through an arc the adjustment of the button relatively with the needle may be
effected by an end wise movement of the button holding jaws.
In commencing operations a tool is or may be used for the purpose of setting the
button in position within the jaws.
D11: Oh of Aurut 1002
CRUIKSHANK & FAIRWEATHER,
62, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Agents.

page_text: improvements in Sewing machines.
We, HUGH COUSLAND of 64 Gordon Street, in the City of Glasgow, Mechanic,
and LEWIS HENRY SMITH of Kilbowie, Dumbartonshire, Sewing Machine Expert,
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 which has for its object improvements in sewing machines relates,
first, to a method of elastically attaching the needle bar foot or needle guide to the
needle bar so that after the bar foot or needle guide has reached the extremity of
its downward motion the needle has a further movement through the fabric. The
invention relates, second, to the provision of an improved combined presser foot
and holder for sewing of perforated buttons to fabrics.
As represented in sectional elevations at Figures 1 and 2 and in horizontal
section at Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings the first improvement consists in
slotting or drilling out the lower extremity of the needle bar A and in placing in
the slot or tube a thus formed a spiral or like spring B the lower end of which
bears upon a pin or stud C passed through a sleeve D constituting the foot of the
needle bar, which pin is free to move in a slot a¹ in the needle bar; and through an
eye d in this sleeve the point of the needle projects. The needle E is fitted in a
plug a closing the lower end of the needle bar A and it is pinched therein and
secured to the needle bar by a screw F passed through a slot D' in the sleeve or
foot the arrangement being such that when the sleeve or foot D in its downward
motion presses upon the fabric the needle bar A has a further movement downwards
due to the elasticity of the spring.
As represented in plan at Figure 4, in sectional elevation at Figure 5 and in
inverted plan at Figure 6 the improved presser foot for holding the perforated
buttons consists of a ring G attached to the lower end of the ordinary presser
bar H and which ring G carries a plate 1 having studs i on its under side to grip
the fabric and also two slots I within each of which there is situated a jaw J
projecting towards the centre from each end. These jaws, the distance between the
approaching ends of which is adjusted by springs K and screws L, L' connected to
them and to the carrying plate I serve to hold the button M in position on the
fabric whilst the needle is securing it in place. To adapt the machine for sewing
on buttons which have four or more holes the mechanism is so arranged that the
needle alternately passes through the holes opposite each other and when they have
been sufficiently secured the carrying plate I and button-holding jaws J together
with the fabric are turned through an are upon the ring G so that the needle will
then pass alternately through another pair of holes.
The carrying plate I is secured to the ring G by means of a flanged ring I'
fixed to the plate I by screws so as to form a groove for the ring G under the
flange I which has or may have stops ¹ upon it which coming into contact
alternately with the lower end of the presser bar H prevent the plate I from being
turned round too far in either direction. For adjustment to suit varying sizes of
buttons the adjusting screws L and L' are provided the one L' being passed
through a slot in a lug formed on the one jaw J and through a screw threaded
orifice in a lug on the plate I and the other L being passed through a screw
threaded orifice in a lug on the other jaw J and bearing endwise on the
plate I.
Instead of turning the plate I through an arc the adjustment of the button
relatively with the needle may be effected by an endwise movement of the button
holding jaws J for which purpose adjusting screws L may be fitted alike to both
jaws to provide the requisite play as indicated at Figure 7.

page_text: In commencing operations a tool is or may be used for the purpose of setting the
button in position within the jaws.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is-
1. In a sewing machine, a needle bar foot or needle guide elastically attached to
the needle bar, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
2. The combination of a needle bar for a sewing machine, a foot or needle guide
fitted as a sleeve thereou and a spring secured between the bar and foot and acting
to press them end wise apart, substantially as described.
3. In a sewing machine, a combined presser bar and button holder constructed
substantially as described.
4. In a sewing machine the combination with the presser bar and a ring secured
thereon of a plate adapted to rest on the fabric and carrying jaws for holding a
button in position over the fabric and under the needle, substantially as
described.
Dated this 8th day of May 1894.
CRUIKSHANK & FAIRWEATHER,
62, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Agents.