Apparel apparatus – Needle threaders
Reexamination Certificate
2003-03-27
2004-12-14
Lindsey, Rodney M. (Department: 3765)
Apparel apparatus
Needle threaders
Reexamination Certificate
active
06830165
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a needle threader for facilitating the insertion of a thread into the eye of a needle.
2. Description of the Related Art
A conventional needle threader is disclosed in JP Laid-open No. 2000-51561, for example. As shown in
FIG. 15
of the accompanying drawings of the present application, the conventional needle threader includes two needle holders
91
provided on the main body
90
. Each needle holder
91
has a trunk
91
b
formed with a needle receiving hole
91
a
for insertion of a needle
8
. On a prescribed side of the trunk is provided a groove
92
for positioning a thread T. The main body
90
is provided with an operating member
93
and a pair of pushers
94
. When the operating member
93
is pushed down in the direction shown by an arrow Na, each of the pushers
94
rotates about a shaft
95
in the direction shown by an arrow Nb, and advances towards the needle holder
91
. Consequently, as shown in
FIG. 16
, the thread T is pushed by the pusher
94
to pass through the eye
80
of the needle
8
.
While being functional in several respects, the conventional needle threader suffers the following drawbacks.
Generally, sewing needles come in various sizes, and the location and size of the needle eyes usually differ. Specifically, as shown in
FIG. 17
, a diametrically small needle
8
A tends to have a small eye
80
A, and the distance s
1
between the head end and the eye
80
A is short. On the other hand, a diametrically greater needle
8
B may have a large eye
80
B, and the distance s
2
between the head end and the eye
80
B is relatively long.
In the prior art, the forward path of the pusher
94
to push the thread T toward the needle holder
91
is permanently fixed. Thus, the insertion of the thread into the eye
80
may fail if a change is made in the height of the eye
80
of the needle
8
set in the needle holder
91
.
In light of the above, the prior art is provided with two sets of threading mechanisms each including the combination of a pusher
94
and a needle holder
91
, one set being arranged for a thick needle, and the other for a thin needle, so that either one of the needles is properly threaded.
However, providing a plurality of threading mechanisms increases the number of components in the threader as a whole, thereby complicating the overall structure and resulting in a higher production cost. Also, it allows the threader to become bulky and renders inconvenient to be stored or carried. Further, in case where a small needle is inserted into the larger needle holder by mistake, the thread cannot be passed through the needle's eye, which forces the user to reset the needle into the other needle holder for thinner needles. Particularly, since the user has difficulties in deciding which one of the needle holders
91
is suitable for a needle to be threaded, the above troublesomeness becomes more conspicuous.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been proposed under the circumstances described above. It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a needle threader that can deal with needles of various sizes, with a single or reduced number of threading mechanisms, whereby the overall structure is simplified and the convenience is improved.
According to the present invention, there is provided a needle threader comprising: a needle holder for holding a needle; and a pusher for inserting a thread into an eye of the needle, the pusher being movable in a forward direction toward the needle holder and in a backward direction opposite to the forward direction. The pusher is movable longitudinally of the needle while the pusher is held in sliding contact with the needle.
Preferably, the needle threader of the present invention may further comprise a pusher guide for guiding the pusher, wherein the pusher guide changes its position for causing the pusher to move longitudinally of the needle.
Preferably, the needle threader of the present invention may further comprise a working mechanism provided with an operation lever for operating the pusher, wherein the operation lever continues to be operated after the pusher comes into contact with the needle, so that the pusher guide causes the pusher to move longitudinally of the needle.
Preferably, the needle threader of the present invention may further comprise an elastic member arranged between the operation lever and the pusher. The elastic member permits further operation of the operation lever after the pusher is brought into contact with the needle.
Preferably, the needle holder may comprise a needle receiving hole for vertically holding the needle. The needle holder may be formed with a pusher path extending across the needle receiving hole for allowing the passage of the pusher across the needle receiving hole.
Preferably, the pusher path may be large enough to allow the pusher to move longitudinally of the needle.
Preferably, the pusher may undergo a first forward move and a second forward move subsequent to the first forward move. The pusher may advance horizontally from an initial position to the needle during the first forward move, while the pusher may ascend during the second forward move.
Preferably, the pusher may undergo a first backward move subsequent to the second forward move and a second backward move subsequent to the first backward move. The pusher may retreat horizontally during the first backward move to pull out of the eye of the needle, while the pusher may descend during the second backward move to return to the initial position.
Preferably, the needle threader of the present invention may further comprise a needle presser that is horizontally reciprocative for selectively pressing the needle against a wall surface of the needle receiving hole.
Preferably, the pressing of the needle by the needle presser may be performed before the pusher comes into contact with the needle.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given below with reference to the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2195571 (1940-04-01), Jauch
patent: 2338159 (1944-01-01), Appleton
patent: 2490883 (1949-12-01), Pinkham et al.
patent: 2507370 (1950-05-01), Edwards
patent: 2679959 (1954-06-01), Ullisperger Sr. et al.
patent: 2769959 (1956-11-01), Ullisperger Sr. et al.
patent: 2777623 (1957-01-01), Balzer
patent: 4911341 (1990-03-01), Davis
patent: 4913325 (1990-04-01), Cacicedo
patent: 6045016 (2000-04-01), Okada
patent: 2000-051561 (2000-02-01), None
Clover Mfg. Co,. Ltd.
Lindsey Rodney M.
Merchant & Gould P.C.
Smith James G
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