US3721202A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of, and apparatus for, stitching together two layers of material
Assignee: Clarkson Ltd W J
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Filing: 1971-06-11
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Granted: 1973-03-20
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Expires: 1991-06-11
Abstract
Abstract The specification discloses a method and apparatus for stitching together two or more pieces of material along desired stitching lines which follow different curves when the pieces of material are flat. The pieces of material are arranged over a base plate having a guide slot corresponding in contour to the required stitching line and one or more of said pieces of material is distorted out of its own plane in such a way that the stitching lines in all the pieces of material are located in substantially congruent relationship overlying said guide slot. The distorting means may be a plate hinged between the base plate and an upper plate and having an upward projection receivable in an opening in the upper plate. Alternatively the distorting means may be projections upstanding from said base plate and receivable in openings in one or more upper plates hinged to the base plate. The apparatus causing the required distortion is conveniently designed for use with a sewing machine so that it may be guided beneath the needle of the sewing machine by the guide slot and the pieces of material thus stitched together.
Inventors
- 👤 A Manston
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 02:36
CPC Classifications
D; D05; D05B; D05B39/00; D05B73/00; D05B73/04; D05B73/12; D05D; D05D2209/00; D05D2209/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
165 words
A method of arranging a plurality of pieces of material for stitching together along desired lines which are unsympathetic when said pieces of material are flat, comprising arranging said pieces of material over a base plate having a guide slot corresponding in contour to the required stitching line, in such a way that in at least one of said pieces of material the desired stitching line does not, for the whole of its length, overlie said guide slot or extend substantially parallel to the center line of said guide slot, contacting said at least one piece of material with distorting means having an outline which does not extend parallel with the center line of said guide slot to induce distortion of said at least one piece of material out of its own plane, said distortion being such that the full length of the desired stitching line in said piece takes up a contour overlying said guide slot and extending substantially along the center line thereof.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
165 words
A method of arranging a plurality of pieces of material for stitching together along desired lines which are unsympathetic when said pieces of material are flat, comprising arranging said pieces of material over a base plate having a guide slot corresponding in contour to the required stitching line, in such a way that in at least one of said pieces of material the desired stitching line does not, for the whole of its length, overlie said guide slot or extend substantially parallel to the center line of said guide slot, contacting said at least one piece of material with distorting means having an outline which does not extend parallel with the center line of said guide slot to induce distortion of said at least one piece of material out of its own plane, said distortion being such that the full length of the desired stitching line in said piece takes up a contour overlying said guide slot and extending substantially along the center line thereof.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein part of one or more of said pieces of material is distorted or moved in the plane of said material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
136 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein two pieces of material lying side by side are to be stitched along adjacent edges of unsympathetic shape comprising placing a first one of said pieces of material on said base plate, distorting said first piece of material to cause said edge to lie along a given line overlying said guide slot and holding said first piece of material in its distorted condition, placing a second one of said pieces of material on said base plate, distorting said second piece of material to cause said edge to lie over said first piece of material overlying said guide slot and with said edge parallel to said edge of said first piece of material, so rendering stitching lines in said two pieces of material congruent and overlying said guide slot.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method as claimed in claim 3 wherein said two pieces have differently curved edges both of which are distorted to be substantially straight, and said guide slot is straight.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
48 words
A method as claimed in claim 3 wherein said material is distorted by projections upstanding from said base plate, and said distortion is controlled and said material held by closing an upper plate over said base plate with said projections being received through openings in said upper plate.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
181 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 comprising placing a lower layer of material over said base plate with the required stitching line in said lower layer extending substantially along the center line of said guide slot in said base plate, placing said distorting means over said lower layer of material, placing an upper layer of material over said distorting means, said upper layer having a desired stitching line which does not, for the whole of its length, overlie said guide slot or extend substantially parallel to the center line of said guide slot, and placing a second plate over said upper layer of material to cooperate with said distorting means to distort said upper layer of material out of its own plane to cause said required stitching line of said upper layer to assume a substantially congruent relationship with said required stitching line of said lower layer substantially along the center line of said guide slot, said second plate being positioned so that a guide slot of predetermined contour therein is aligned with said guide slot in said base plate.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
129 words
Apparatus for arranging a plurality of pieces of material for stitching together along desired lines which are unsympathetic when the material is flat, comprising a base plate having a guide slot corresponding in contour to a desired stitching line, means for locating said plurality of pieces of material relative to said plate so that in at least one of said pieces the desired stitching line does not, for the whole of its length, overlie said guide slot or extend substantially parallel to the center line of said guide slot, and means for distorting said at least one of said pieces so that the full length of the desired stitching line in said piece takes up a contour overlying said guide slot and extending substantially along the center line thereof.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
129 words
Apparatus for arranging a plurality of pieces of material for stitching together along desired lines which are unsympathetic when the material is flat, comprising a base plate having a guide slot corresponding in contour to a desired stitching line, means for locating said plurality of pieces of material relative to said plate so that in at least one of said pieces the desired stitching line does not, for the whole of its length, overlie said guide slot or extend substantially parallel to the center line of said guide slot, and means for distorting said at least one of said pieces so that the full length of the desired stitching line in said piece takes up a contour overlying said guide slot and extending substantially along the center line thereof.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein said distorting means comprises parts projecting upwardly from said base plate and receivable in holes in an upper plate which may be laid over said base plate.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein said parts are adjustable relative to said base plate.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
44 words
Apparatus according to claim 9 and further comprising a hinge member hinging each of said parts to said base plate and a support member for securing each of said parts at any one of a number of required angles relative to said base plate.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein said upper plate is hinged to said base plate.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
43 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 11 wherein the lower face of said upper plate is provided with members capable of engaging material placed over said base plate to distort or move said material in its own plane as said upper plate is lowered.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
37 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 12 in which said members are fingers of springy material bent to project from said lower face of said upper plate in the direction in which distortion of said material is required.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
66 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 11 wherein said guide slot is located substantially centrally of said base plate, distorting means are provided to each side of said guide slot, and two upper plates are hinged one to each side of said base plate and have free edges lying parallel to and spaced from said guide slot when said upper plates are lowered onto said base plate.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
111 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 comprising a base plate on which said lower and upper layers of material may be placed, distorting means disposable between said material layers, a second plate which may be placed on to said upper layer of mAterial and which cooperates with said distorting means to distort said upper layer of material out of its own plane to cause the stitching line of said upper layer to become substantially congruent with the stitching line of said lower layer, both said base and said second plates having aligned guide slots of predetermined contour for guiding a sewing machine needle along the required stitching lines through said material.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
81 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 15 wherein said distorting means is a third plate hinged to said base plate, said third plate having a flat first surface for engaging said lower layer of material on said base plate and a second surface formed with one or more projections for distorting said upper layer of material when placed thereover, said second plate being formed with openings for accommodating said projections when said second plate is placed over said upper layer of material.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
16 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 16 wherein said second plate is hinged to said base plate.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
15 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 16 wherein said third plate has a single fin-shaped projection.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 18 wherein said projection extends at an angle to the center line of said third plate lying normal to the hinge line.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
12 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 19 wherein said angle is substantially 14*.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
36 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 16 wherein said distorting means and said guide slot are positioned and shaped so that the distances between spaced closest points of said distorting means and said guide slot are unequal.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-03-19 | 1976-09-18 | 1977-03-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-03-19 | 1980-09-18 | 1981-03-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-03-19 | 1984-09-18 | 1985-03-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |