IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TABLES AND OPERATING MECHANISM OF SEWING MACHINES
Year: 1871

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LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine,
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Lake, & Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TABLES AND OPERATING
MECHANISM OF SEWING MACHINES."-A communication from abroad by
Simon Willard Wardwell, junior, of St. Louis, Missouri, United
States of America..
Sealed the 30th January 1872, and dated the 11th December 1871.
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COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said William Robert Lake at
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the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition and
Declaration, on the 11th December 1871, pursuant to the 9th
Section of the Patent Law Amendment Act, 1852:
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
ROBERT LAKE; of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London, send greeting.
WHEREAS I am in possession of an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE TABLES AND OPERATING MECHANISM OF SEWING MACHINES," and have.
petitioned Her Majesty to grant unto me, my. executors, administrators,

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shaft D, the latter being shewn clearly in Figure 8; and also appearing
in Figure 1. A cap c, Figures 1, 11, and 12, likewise hollowed; fits
over the ball and the top of the pitman, and is secured in the latter by
´a pin, as shewn. The crank shaft D finds its bearings in the forks d, "d",
Figures 1 and 8, attached to the bottom of the bed plate, as clearly
shewn in the former Figure. On one end of the shaft D is an ordinary
fly wheel E, a driving wheel -H, and a bevil wheel e, Figures 1 and 8,
the two latter working loosely on the shaft D, and connected together;
as shewn clearly in Figure 8. On the other end of the shaft. D. is
another loose bevel wheel h, Figures 1 and 8; engaging with these is a
third bevel wheel %, shown in the same Figures, and attached to a
vertical arbor, as shewn clearly in 'the latter Figure. On the inner
face of the gear wheels e and his a projecting ring o, Figures 1, 8,
and-9, either cast with the wheels or firmly attached to them. Radial
arms m, m', having a slot in one end to receive a stud or pin u
passing through the crank shaft D, and also a slot in one edge
to receive the ring o, as seen clearly in Figure 9, are held firmly
in position by the crank of the shaft. D and the face of the gear
wheels and h. In each of these arms is inserted one, end of a
spring w, Figure 9, the other end playing, as seen, against the inner
periphery of the rings o. These free ends point in opposite directions in
the two rings. Now these radial arms m, m', being compelled to move
with the crank shaft D, it is evident that as the shaft revolves in the one
direction or the other it, will act directly on but one of the gear.
wheels e, h, causing it to revolve with it, for when the radial arm
revolves in the direction indicated by the arrow in Figure 9 the spring w
will slide along the face of the ring o without moving it, but when the
arm moves in the opposite direction the resulting friction gives motion
to the ring and its connected gear wheel in the same direction. The
object then being to give a, continuous rotary motion to the driving
wheel, the spring on the radial arm, attached to the gear wheel which is
on the end of the shaft carrying the driver must be so arranged that
when it acts to set the gear wheel in motion it shall-carry the driving
wheel in the desired direction; then when by any chance, as in starting
the machine; the crank shaft. is-driven in the contrary direction. the
other radial-arm, and spring acts upon the other gear wheel, which then
communicates the desired motion to the driver through the connecting
rear wheel on the vertical shaft, so, that unless the crank hangs on a
dead centre" the machine may be, set in motion by the treadle alone.
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without any care as to the shaft revolving in the one direction or the
other. This it is evident enables the operator to have the use of both
hands at the moment of starting the machine. The bed plate which is
represented by G of whatever: shape it may be will rest upon a ring n
revolving in a seat made for it in the table top, as shewn in Figures 3 5
and 4, while beneath the bed plate will be another, ring t7 having two.
flanged projections. Figures 3, 4, 6, and 7, by which it is connected
with the outer ring n. Between these rings is a sliding cover P,
Figures 1, 2, and 5, formed of several leaves,p working, together, as seen in:
Figure 5 so that the machine may be, readily covered or uncovered; the 1
covers! sliding: apart, and vanishing beneath the table; thus leaving the
whole surface, of the table free. The two sides of the cover, which are
preferably made of metal, may be kept together when, closed by, any,
suitable locking or fastening idevice. The leaves of the cover work on
pivots passing through the outer ring and ring t, as shewn clearly in 1
Figure at this com
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One of the advantages of my table is that the machine attached to it'
can be worked-by-any-one who can operate any of the machines now in
use since by it the fabric to be sewed may be made. to move in either
direction+ the operator may desire, so that one accustomed only to ca 2
machine in which the fabric moves at-right-angles to the front of the
table, as in the so-called." Grover and Baker sewing machine, cant
have the fabric move in that direction by simply turning the bed plate
while one who desires the fabric to move as in the other machines
parallel to the table, can arrange the machine accordingly., «
fi at
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Many persons are unable to use sewing machines on account of the
injurious effects of operating the treadle, and it is extremely inconvenient.
at least to have an assistant for that. purpose, but with my table this is
entirely obviated as the one who operates the treadle may sit on one side
of the machine or table, while the person "manipulating the work may
sit at either end or on the opposite side of the table, and in each position
guide the work equally well. The cover as shewn is entirely out of the
way while the machine is being used, though still attached to the table,
and as seen becoming a guard to the working parts below instead of
either being removed entirely from the table or turned back, in the
latter case, taking up a great deal of space on the table which otherwise
would be useful. The peculiar, attachment of the pitman and crank
shaft dispenses with any joints in the former which would be necessary
were the connection made in any other way. When all the parts arc
the at
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page_text: made of metal the operation will be comparatively noiseless, but it will
be much less noisy should the gear wheel be made of wood.
.
Having now fully described the said Invention as communicated to..
me by my foreign correspondent, and the manner in which the same is
to be performed, I claim,-
First. The gear wheels h, e, k, radial arms m, m³, and rings o with the
springs w, in combination with a crank shaft, as herein specified.
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Second. The combination of the gear wheels h, e, k, radial arms m, m³,
springs w, rings o, crank shaft D, with its ball b, pitman C, treadle B,
plate G, and rings t, n, all constructed and arranged as herein set forth
for the purposes specified.
Third. The combination of a sewing machine table with the cover P
formed of leaves p, p, when constructed and operating as herein
specified.
Fourth. The combination of the cover P with the revolving plate G.
and table, A, as herein set forth for the purpose specified.
Fifth. A sewing machine table combining a revolving plate G and
operating mechanism, so that the said plate and the sewing machine.
connected therewith may be made to revolve in a horizontal plane at
the will of the operator, without interfering with the action of such.
mechanism, as herein set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have here:
unto set my hand and seal, this Ninth day of December, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one.
'
Witness;
EDWARD C. JACKSON.
W ROBT. LAKE. '(L.S.)