Improvements in Tension Devices for Sewing Machines:
Year: 1896

page_text: "Date of Application, 21st Jan., 1896-Accepted, 29th Feb., 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by GEORGE WILLIAM LA RUE, of 132 Nassau
Street, New York, County of New York, State of New York, United States,
of America, Manufacturer.] *
... =
Improvements in Tension Devices for Sewing Machines:
17 ~
f.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake: & Co., Patent
Agents, 45 Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, 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:-
My invention relates to an improved tension device for sewing-machines, and is-
particularly designed for simple miniature machines adapted to the use of children,
the object. being to produce a simple, effective and convenient tension device,
composed of few parts, not liable to derangement, and capable of being successfully
manipulated and perfectly understood by any child
With these ends in view, my invention cousists in a tension device for sewing-
machines having certain details of construction and combinations of parts as will
be hereinafter described and pointed out in the claims.
In the accompanying drawings
Figure 1, represents a broken view in side clevation of
sewing machine
provided with a tension device constructed in accordance with my invention.
"
Figure 2, a plan view thereof.
Figure 3, a détached plan view of the upper tension-plate.
Figure 4, a detached plan view of the lower tension device.
Figure 5 a detached enlarged view in vertical longitudinal section of the two
tension plates and the thumb-screw.
Figure 6, a detached view in end elevation of the forward ends of the two plates
to show how they are fluted.
In carrying out my invention, I 'employ an upper tension-plate A, a lower
tension-plate B, and a thumb-screw C, the said three parts composing ny improved
device. The tension-plate B is set down into a horizontal recess D, formed in the
upper edge of the arm D' of the machine-frame, the said plate being held against
endwise movement by the end walls or the shoulders d d at the ends of the recess,
to the form of which the middle portion of the plate is conformed by bending its
ends upward and outward. At its rear or outer end the plate is provided with a
finger B, extending upward and outward, which fits between two legs d' d' formed
integral with the machine-frame at the rear end of the recess D, as shown in Fig. 2.
This finger prevents the lower plate from lateral displacement by swiveling or
turuing on the thumb-screw C, which enters an internally threaded opening.c
formed in the arm D' of the machine-frame, and leading out of the bottom of the
recess D, as seen in Fig. 1. The upper plate A, which is arranged parallel with
the plate B, and superimposed upon the ends thereof, is straight throughout its
main or body portion, and therefore does not set down into the recess D, but clears
the same and the lower plate B, except at the ends thereof. At its rear end the
said upper plate is furnished with a retaining finger A', which enters between the
lugs and therein rests upon the corresponding finger B' of the lower plate,
ard-prevents the upper-plate from swiveling on the thumb-screw C, and so becoming.
n
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page_text: of
laterally displaced. At its extreme rear end the said retaining finger Ais turned
upward at a right angle, as at A2, and perforated as at a to receive the thread E,
wound upon á spool E, which is set over a spindle E.2, carried by the arm D' of
the machine-frame. At its forward end the upper plate is turned upward, as
at A 3, so. as, to bear
plate, the said forward on the upwardly turned. forward end B2 of the lower
pends turned frictional contact, the wid
forward end of the upper plate is constructed, with an eye al through which the
thread passes downward, so as to feed between the forward ends of the two plates.
A slot a 2 intersecting the outer edge of the plate and the said eye, provides for.
introducing the thread thereinto, or, as it might be said, threading the tension
device.
.3.
The extreme forward end of the upper plate is fluted as át a 3; and the corre
sponding, end of the lower plate bas,seen in Fig. 6, so as to prevent the thread
from being cut or chafed as it emerges from the two plates on its way to the
needlebar F. It will readily be apparent that by turning the thumb-screw.C,
which bears upon the upper tension plate A, down, the upper plate will be sprung
between its ends into the space between the middle portions of the two plates,
whereby the pressure. between the-forward ends. of the plates will be increased
according to the extent to which the plates are sprung together. Or, on: the other:
hand, by turning, the thumb-screw in the opposite direction, the tension between
the forward ends of the plates, will be reduced. Of course, the restraint put,.upon.
the feeding of the thread, will be more or less, according to the pressure under
which the forward ends of the two plates are held. in contact.
My improved device being composed, of only three parts, and all of those simple,
is easy and cheap of manufacture not liable to derangement, and so simple as to
qe effectively worked by any child.
It is obvious that in carrying out.my.invention some changes in the construction
shown and described may be made, and I would therefore have it understood that
I do not limit,myself to the exact construction herein.cshown, but hold, myself at
liberty to make such changes, and alterations. as fairly fall within the spirit and
Scope of my invention. I am aware, however, that. a-tension device for sewing-
machines comprising two-longitudinally arranged plates and a screw for increasing
or decreasing the pressure between. their engaged surfaces, is old, and do not.claim
such construction.broadly.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated 'to me
by my foreign.correspondent, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. In a tension device for sewing-machines, the combination with an upper and a
lower tension-plate arranged-one above the other with a space between them, and
applied to the frame of the machine and held against lateral deflection thereupon,
of a thumb-screw passing through both of the said plates, entering the frame of
the machine and engaging with the upper plate for pressing the same downward,
the forward ends of both plates being turned upward and arranged in contact with
each other, and the forward end of the upper plate being constructed with an eye
and a transverse slot through which the thread is entered into the said eye through
which the thread passes downward, and thence outward between the upturned
engaged ends of the plates, substantially, as described.
2. In a tension device for sewing-machines, the combination with an upper and
a.lower tension plate of which the lower plate is bent upwardly and outwardly at
its ends to adapt it to be set down into a recess formed in the frame of the machine
and prevented from end wise movement therein, and of which the upper plate is
made straight throughout its main portion and rested at its ends upon the ends of
the lower plate between which and it there is an open space; of a set-screw passing
through the plates and entering the frame and engaging with the upper plate for
pressing the same downward upon the lower plate, the forward ends of both plates,

page_text: being curved upwardly and fluted, and the forward end of the upper plate having
a transverse slot and eye for the reception of the thread, substantially as
described.
Dated this 21st day of January 1896.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.