Patent ID: 7191717

Claim:
A modular gauge assembly having a plurality of modular blocks carrying removable loopers, said blocks being mountable to a tufting machine gauge bar, wherein: (a) the modular blocks each comprise: (i) a front surface, a pair of side surfaces opposed to each other, a rear surface for engaging with the guage bar opposite to the front surface, a top surface and a bottom surface; (ii) a plurality of vertical parallel openings transversely spaced between the opposing side surfaces for receiving loopers; (iii) a pin opening extending transversely between the opposing side surfaces; and (iv) a bolt passage in communication with the pin opening; (b) the loopers have proximal ends received in the parallel openings of the modular block; (c) a lateral pin extends transversely and substantially through the pin opening of the modular block; and (d) a securing bolt having a leading end extends through the bolt passage and biases the lateral pin against the proximal end of a looper; wherein the modular block comprises a second pin opening extending transversely between opposing side surfaces; a bracing pin extends transversely and substantially through said second pin opening; and the proximal ends of the loopers received within the parallel slots of the modular block are interposed between the bracing pin and the lateral pin.