Certain Improvements in Presser Feet for Sewing Machines.
Year: 1888

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Certain Improvements in Presser Feet for Sewing Machines.
We, CRAPO LEAK, and MONDULA LEAK, both of No. 523 Market Street, in the City
and County of San Francisco, State of California, one of the United States of
America, Manufacturers, and DANIEL VAN BUSKIRK HENARIE, of No. 408 Front
Street, in the city, county, and state aforesaid, Merchant, 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 :-
Our invention relates to certain improvements in presser-feet for sewing
machines.
It consists of an extension or spur projecting beneath the main or fixed presser-
foot, and so constructed that when the presser-foot passes over seams, or from one
thickness of goods to another, or over irregularities of any sort, this supplemental
piece or extension follows the irregularities of the surface and acts to hold the goods
firmly upon the table, thus preventing the needle from being broken by the lifting
up of the goods which are temporarily relieved from the ordinary pressure of the
foot while it is passing over the point of conjunction between the thicker and thinner
portion of the goods.
It also prevents the dropping of stitches, and enables the machine to make perfect
continuous stitching over seams and varying thicknesses of goods.
The construction of this extension is also such that the heel acts as a drag upon
the material passing beneath the presser-foot, keeps it smooth, and prevents wrinkling
and irregularity in the stitching.
Referring to the accompanying drawings, etc.,
Figure 1 is a view of the presser-foot, showing the improvement attached
thereto.
Figure 2 shows the extension formed as a part of the presser-foot, with irregular
material in position beneath it.
Figure 3 is a modification in the construction of the same, showing the extension
hinged to the presser-foot.

page_text: A is the shank of the presser-foot of a sewing machine, which shank is attached to
the machine in any of the suitable or usual ways, and B is the foot projecting to one
side from the lower end of the shank, as shown. C is the attachment, which
consists, preferably, of a thin plate of elastic steel, or other suitable material, which in
the present case in Figure 1, we have shown attached directly to the bottom of the
presser-foot, having a groove or notch at D, corresponding with a similar one in the
presser-foot, through which the needle reciprocates.
The point of the extension C, curves upward slightly beyond the toe of the presser-
foot, and has the elastic strip E, extending downward and backward from this point,
so that when the device is pressed upon the goods to be stitched, this clastic exten-
sion E, presses firmly upon the surface of the goods.
The rear of the portion C, is slightly curved downward, as shown at G, so that it
acts as a drag upon the goods which are being fed beneath the presser-foot and
prevents their being fed faster than the macbine can stitch them, holding the material
back slightly by reason of the downward curvature of the edge G.
When the presser-foot is resting upon the surface of the goods to be stitched, the
operation will be as follows:-
The elastic extension or point E, presses upon the surface of the goods to be
stitched, and whenever it moves from a thicker to a thinner portion of the goods, its
elasticity is such that it will instantly follow the outline of the irregularity, and
continue the pressure upon the lower surface, thus holding it down while the needle
continues stitching from the thicker to the thinner material, and keeping it pressed
down in place until the body of the presser-foot has followed it off the thicker
material.
It will be seen that if the presser-foot is without this attachment, it maintains the
level of the thickest portion of the goods until the whole presser-foot has passed off of
the seam or thicker portion, when it can then drop upon the thinner portion; but
during this time, and while the needle is taking the few stitches in the thinner portion
which is not being held down by the presser-foot, the material is liable to be lifted by
the movements of the needle.
Stitches are dropped, and the needles are sometimes broken by this action, all of
which is prevented by this supplemental elastic piece which precedes the needle and
thus holds down the thinner surface, as above described.
In passing from a thinner to a thicker surface, a similar action takes place. The
elasticity of the extension serving to hold the goods in place, and at the same
time yielding sufficiently to allow the presser-foot to pass from the thinner to the
thicker portion of the goods.
The heel G being turned downwardly, the edge presses upon the goods which are
passing, and holds back slightly against the action of the feed which is moving them
forward, thus preventing the goods from being fed forward faster than the needle
can stitch them.
It will be manifest that the extension or point E, may be a separate piece attached
to the bottom of the presser-foot, or it may, if desirable, be formed by drawing out a
thin elastic point and turning it backward beneath the toe of the pressor-foot, so that
it extends beneath the presser-foot, as in Figure 2, the effect being similar to that in
Figure 1.
In Figure 3, we have shown a modification of our device in which the supplemental
piece is hinged to the lower part of the presser-foot so as to rock about its hinge-
point and follow the irregularities of the surface of the goods which are to be
stitched.
The advantage of this device is very great, especially in sewing kid, leather, cloth,
or goods of any description where seams, laps, or varying thickness of material
occur in the line of the stitching.
The supplemental point E, on account of its elasticity, easily follows all of the
sinuosities of the surface, and holds the goods firmly upon the table, so that the
stitching will be perfect whether passing from the thinner to the thicker, or from
the thicker to the thinner portion.

page_text: 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. A projection or extension beneath the presser-foot of a sewing machine, sub-
stantially as and for the purpose herein described.
2. The elastic or hinged extension beneath the presser-foot of a sewing machine,
substantially as herein described.
3. The extension beneath the presser-foot of a sewing machine, having the sup-
plemental movable point pressing upon the goods, and the heel G, the edge of which
is turned downwardly, substantially as and for the purpose herein described.
of Ontahan 1000