Sewing – Special machines – Embroidering
Reexamination Certificate
2000-04-20
2001-04-17
Izaguirre, Ismael (Department: 3765)
Sewing
Special machines
Embroidering
C038S102200
Reexamination Certificate
active
06216617
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND
As well known in the embroidery industry, before embroidery material is embroidered by an automated machine, the portion of the material to be embroidered must first be placed within a matched pair of rings forming an embroidery hoop. The matched pair of embroidery rings comprise inner and outer rings such that when the two rings are properly mounted on the article to be embroidered, the smaller or inner ring fits snugly inside the larger or outer ring with portions of the material of the article pinched between the rings. The hoop, comprised of the inner and outer rings, of course, can be of any closed configuration such as circular, rectangular, D-shaped or otherwise. Embroidery hoops are used to ensure that the area of the article to be embroidered is stretched tightly and evenly between the hoop rings to ensure that the embroidery is even and not distorted, as well as to facilitate handling of the article to be embroidered. Certain automated embroidery machines also require the use of hoops for proper operation.
The embroidery industry is generally segmented into commercial and household markets. In the commercial market, the hoops are mounted for use in custom die sets. The article to be embroidered is positioned over one of the rings and a mechanical press forces the rings together with the material of the article to be embroidered secured between the rings. In the household market, the rings of the embroidery hoop are mounted onto the article by hand. Particularly, the area of the material to be embroidered is positioned over the outer ring and the inner ring is then placed over the material and manually forced into the outer ring. One device particularly useful in the household market for assisting the embroiderer in this aspect is described and illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 5,784,988.
In both the commercial and household markets, however, the embroidery must first be located on the material, for example, a garment such as a tee-shirt, sleeve or pant leg or on flat goods such as towels, sheets and the like, all hereafter individually or collectively called an article or articles. Typically, the center of the embroidery is marked on the article and additional markings are applied to the article to attempt to align the article and the hoop. If the article and hoop are not properly aligned, the resulting embroidery on the article is not straight relative to the article. For example, the embroidery may be canted or angled or positioned above, below, to the right or left of the desired position. Consequently, it is highly desirable to ensure straight hooping without excessive marking of the article or repeated rehooping to properly and correctly align the article and hoop.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, an embroidering apparatus is provided which enables the mounting of the hoop square to the article without excessive marking or rehooping. The apparatus in one preferred embodiment hereof includes a flat base having a plurality of columns and rows of apertures orthogonally related to one another, a pair of mounting brackets for positioning the hoop on the base and one or more eccentrics to loosely confine the outer ring on the base during application of the inner ring to the material and outer ring, i.e., during hooping. The brackets and eccentrics are mounted to the base by flathead mounting screws. The screws are receivable from the back of the base through apertures in the base and nuts or wingnuts are threaded onto their projecting distal ends to secure the brackets and eccentrics in place. Also, the flat base preferably has a central projection at one end for aligning an article, for example, a garment such as a tee-shirt, on the base and a flange at its opposite end turned preferably 90°. The flat base is preferably laid on a flat table with the flange end pressed between a table edge and the individual hooping the article to maintain the base stable while hooping.
To employ this first embodiment of the present invention, the location of the hoop on the base is first ascertained, generally depending on where the embroidery is to be placed on the article. With the location identified, the complete hoop is placed on the flat base and the brackets and eccentrics are disposed about the hoop in positions essentially confining the hoop with sufficient play about the hoop to enable the hoop to expand. The flathead bolts are passed through the apertures from the underside of the base and through the holes in the brackets. The nuts or wingnuts are threaded onto the bolts to maintain the brackets in place. The eccentrics are similarly secured to the base using offset mounting holes so that the eccentrics can be rotated into a final position and secured by the bolt and nut arrangements. With the hoop located, the inner ring is removed and a stabilizer is temporarily secured, e.g., by tape, to the brackets overlying the outer ring. With the center of the article ascertained, the article is placed over the base and outer ring. The article is aligned to the base using an index guide which may comprise the orthogonally related rows of apertures, grid lines applied to the base, or a groove formed along the middle of the base, squaring the article relative to the outer ring of the hoop previously placed on the base. By aligning the article relative to the base, the area to be embroidered is square to the outer hoop ring on the base and to the article. The inner ring of the hoop is then applied to the outer ring, securing portions of the material of the article and the stabilizer between the hoop rings, rendering the material spanning the inside of the rings taut. The hoop and article are then removed from the base and the material is embroidered, with the assurance that the embroidery is straight to the article.
In a further embodiment of the present invention, a kit is provided comprised of a plurality of similar flat bases having angled flanges at one end. In this form, the bases may be mounted on an inclined surface of a stand with the angled flange engaged against a table edge or an edge of the stand to maintain the base in a stable position on the stand. The base is provided in several sizes. For example, a large sized-base with orthogonally related columns and rows of apertures, a central projection at one end and a flange at an angle of about 120°, is provided for use with large-size articles such as adult tee-shirts. An intermediate sized base of similar construction but of reduced width relative to the large base is provided with a reduced number of columns of apertures. The intermediate sized base is used, for example, for embroidering children-sized tee-shirts. Similarly, a small flat base of reduced width relative to the intermediate sized base is provided with a reduced number of columns of apertures for locating embroidery on articles such as sleeves, pant legs and the like. Each of the bases of the kit of this second embodiment is employed similarly as previously described with respect to the base of the first embodiment. Preferably, however, these bases are used with an inclined stand. Also, pins are preferably employed for placement through the brackets and eccentrics from the outer surface of the base. This avoids any need to insert screws from the backsides of the bases.
In this further form, one of the bases is selected depending upon the nature and size of the article to be embroidered, and the selected base is secured to the stand. The location of the article on the hoop proceeds similarly as in the first mentioned embodiment with the exception that the mounting brackets and eccentrics are secured to the selected base by removable pins inserted through the brackets and eccentrics from the front working surface of the selected base.
In a preferred embodiment according to the present invention, there is provided a mounting system for placement of a hoop having inner and outer rings for embroidering an article, comprising a flat base having a plurality of spaced apertures arranged in orthogon
Izaguirre Ismael
Nixon & Vanderhye
LandOfFree
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