US1998418A - Tufting needle - Google Patents

Description

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pri l, E35a A. FRlDoLPH TUFTING NEEDLE Filed June 17, 1932 Patented Apr. 16, 1935 g UNITED STATES TUFTING NEEDLEY y Annette Fridolph, New York, N. Y.,assignorto' A A. B. A. Specialties CompanyInc., NewYork n l N. Y., a corporation of NewYork` I A Application June 17, 1932,@Serial li17,692

' 17 claims. (ci. l22a-33)" This invention relates to improvements in what I term as tufting needles, and by that is meant a needle V.or similar device which is primarily adaptedto practice theprocess of and perform the tufting operation disclosed in my pending application Serial Number 542,7 99 led June 8, 1931 for Method of tufting and articles therefor. The needles, however, may be used for other purposes. 1 Y

The principle object of this invention is vthe provision of such a device which is provided with means for receiving and holding the tuftinghead of the tufting Yelement (such as disclosed inthe above identified application, or otherwise) together with a plunger resiliently mounted within the needle and adapted to engage the end ofthe tuiting head when positioned within the tufting needle. f

In the disclosure in this application I show two forms of such device, one in which the plunger is used as an ejector to force the tufting head out of engagement with the needle, and the other in which the Aplunger is used as a means to bear against the end of they tufting head of the tufting element and hold the same in position within the needle during the tufting operation.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and such other objects as may hereinafter appear, this invention consists inV the construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and then sought to be deined in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawing forming a part hereof and which shows, merely for the purpose of illustrative disclosure, two embodiments of my invention, it being expressly understood, however, that various changes may be made in practice within the scope Aof the claims without digressing from my inventive idea. e

In the drawing- Figure l represents a side elevational view of one form of device embodying my invention.`

Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal cross section of the operating parts of the device shown in Figure 1 on a slightly enlarged scale.

Figure 3 is a perspective View of that part of the body of the device in which the tufting head of the tufting element-is positioned, this view being taken from the side. Y

Figure 4 is a View of the samek part shown in Figure 3 taken from the front.

Figure 5 is a transverse cross section taken substantially on line 5 5 of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a transverse cross section taken substantially on line 6 6 vof Figure v3.

PAT-Slimmer Figure '7 is a 'perspectiveview `of the lower portion of the plunger which Yis Apositioned within the needle.' I f Figure 8 Yis a being broken away) of a modified -form of my invention. y

Figureg'is a-detailed view showing the tufting head in position in the deviceY shown in Figure 8.

Figure A10 is a ldetailed View showingV theztufting head -in position in the `device vshown in Figures 1jand2., c

Figure A=11 `is atransverse cross section on line ll-llcf Figure 8f." f

Referringnowto the drawing and first to Figures 1 to'? inclusive, the numeral I designates the needlea's a whole, `which' in the form shown, `has a handle member 2 with an enlarged supporting sleeve`3 connected thereto. To the `lower end of sleeve'3 is connected ther body part 4of the needle.

-This body partis elongated and has the longitudinal sharp'thin pointed member 5 atits lower end and this part is preferably solid; The upper part 6 of the bodymember 4 is hollow or in the form 'of a tube and may be secured directly to the lower end of sleeve 3 by lmeans of thread 'l and nut Il,y as

shown. f y

While the part 6 ofbody member 4 is of general tubular construction. and substantially circular in cross section forthe great part of itslength, -it is to be noted. that the lower portion thereof may be flattened as at 9 so as to forma substantially narrow receiving recess Ill for the tufting head IIA of' tufting `element I2. As one form of this'tufting head isvv substantially flat in construction the receiving recess I0 is made substantially .3;l

flat so as to completely receive the tufting head within the same. Entrance tothis recess is provided bythe elongated opening or aperture I3 `which is of suflicient size to permit the end of the tufting element Il to'be inserted therethrough linto the recess'l and to fbe moved along into the point 5, I provide the bevelled or inclined surface' I6 which facilitates the insertion of the tufting head within the recess Ill and also assists in the ejection of the same from the recess at the completion of the tufting operation. n

A rod orY plunger Il is movably mounted withviewin elevation and section (parts Y zofA ' 3 and has an actuating end 22 which engages the head I B` of the` plunger I1. This trigger' member is located in such position that when the implement is grasped by the hand of the operator, the trigger may be readily actuated by the fingers of the operator to depress or to move the plunger downwardly against the resistance of spring 29. Y

The lower end of plunger I'I is provided with a slightly enlarged foot 23 which is normally positioned at the upper entrance to the recess I0 which begins with the flattened or inwardly pressed portion 9 of the tubular part 6 of the needle. l 'Ihis foot is of substantially oval shape in cross section as shown, so as to fit and readily move within the upper portion of recess ID. The 'foot 23is adapted to-engage the upper end of the tufting head I I which has been inserted within the recess and after the pointed portion of the needle has been passed entirelyv through the mattress or other articler being tufted, a depression ofthe plunger by actuation of the trigger causes the foot 23 to push the tufting headrfI'I until it reaches the opening I3, and due to'the pressure against one end of the tufting head and also the engagement of the other end of the tufting head with the inclinedsurface I6, said tufting head will bequickly and positively forced out fromsaid recess Il and ejected from the needle. 1

The operation of this device in practicing my tufting process will be briefly described. One of the tufting elements t2 (which in one form comprises a length of tapeor other flexible material with a stiff head formedor provided on each end thereof) is connected toy the needle by inserting one of the tufting heads. II thereof through the opening or aperture.v I3 into the recess I-U and the needle is forced through the mattress, day bed, upholsteryor other article being tufted until the pointed portion of the needle beyond the opening or aperture'emerges from the other side of the article being tufted.` It is understood that the free tufting head of the tufting element engages the side ofthe article being tufted into which the needle is inserted, and that .when the opening or aperture I3 of the needle appears beyond the other surface of the article being tufted, the actuation of the trigger will eject the tufting head which was carried through the article being' tuftedvby being positioned within the recess I0. This completesv the tufting operation. It is understood that the needle may bepassed through-the article being tufted in any direction.

In order to providefor desirable pressure upon the article being tufted and also to providea gauge in operating the needle, I mount a collar member 24 upon the tubular portion 6 of the needle. and provide for its adjustment therealong by meansl of set; screw 25. This operates to gauge the distance to whichthe'needle ismoved in passing through the article being tuftedv and also will engage the surface into which the needle is inserted and permit the article being tufted to be compressed before the tufting head is-r ejected from the needle in order that'the tufting operation may be completed in a proper manner.

The other form of device, illustrated in Figures 8 and 9 includes an elongated needle member 26 having a sharpened point 21 and having a suitable head or handle 28 at the other end. The major portion of the needle body 26 is hollow or in the form of a tube 29, the lower end of which is provided with an elongated opening or aperture 30 of a sufcient size to admit the tufting head .of a tufting element previously described. At this point the tubular portion 29 of the body may be enlarged or deflected as indicated at 3I to provide a recess 32 of suicient size to receive the tufting head within the confines of the needle as a Whole. The lower end 33 of the recess where it leads to the needle point 21 is closed permanently. A plunger or rod 34 is slidably mounted in the upper portion of the tubular part 29 of the needle and is normally held in an extended position by means of spring 35. An actuating member 36l in the form of a collar is slidably mounted on the outside of the needle body 26 and operatively connected with the upper portion of plunger orrod 34 so that the plunger or rod-may be retracted against the pressure of spring 35, it being understood that this actuating member may be engaged by the fingers of the operator using the appliance. The plunger or rod is of such a length that the lower end'3'I thereof extends well within the recess when in extendedl position, but may be withdrawn entirely from the recess when retracted by actuation of the collarmember 35.

'I'his device is used as follows: The tufting head Vof a suitable tufting element such as previously described, is inserted through the opening or aperture 3D and into the recess 32, the plunger or rod being retracted by the operator so as to permit the tufting head to be placed within therecess 32. This plunger or rod is then released so that the lower end 31 thereof engages one end of the tufting head, the other end of the tufting head being forced against and engaged by the closed end 33 of the recess. This tufting head is therefore held within the recess 32 by means of the pressure of the plunger or rod against the same, and the needle is forced through through a mattress, day bed, upholstery or other article being tufted carrying the tufting head which is positioned within the needle in the recress entirely through the article being tufted. The other tuftinghead on the tufting element engages the surface of the article being tufted through which the needle is inserted, and when the recess 32 of the needle 26 emerges beyond the other surface of the'article being tufted, the plunger or rod 34 is retracted by the operator against the pressure of spring 35 which permits the tufting head which has been located in the recess to be readily pulled or moved out of the recess and to assume its proper position with respect to the article being tufted.

What I claim is:

l. A device for tufting mattresses, upholstery and the like, including in combination an elongatedneedle element having a sharp point and bei-ng hollow for a substantial part of its length,

the lower portion of the hollow part of said needle element being flattened and formed with a recess having an opening'thereinto of sufficient size to slidably receive the stiff, at tufting head of a tufting element, and a plunger or rod movably mounted in the hollow part of said needle element and adapted to cooperate in the handling of the tufting head and resilient means for normally holding said plunger or rod in a retracted position.

2. A device of the character described, including, in combination, an elongated needle body ing, in combination, anv'elongatedneedle body having a sharpened pointl and having a tubular or hollow bodyrportion, a recess provided in Vsaid hollow body portion andnear the point of the needle, said recess 'being adapted to receivethe tuiting head of atuting element, `a plunger or rod movably mounted in said hollow portion of the needle and extending through the hollow portion of the needle'a sulicientdistance so that it may be projected into said recess, means for normally holding said plunger or rod in Va retracted position out of the recess, and an actuating membei associated with saidneedle'` for forcing the lend of said plungerorrod into -said recess so as to eject'said tuiting head/therefrom.

' 3; A devifefof the character described, includhaving a sharpened point vand having va tubular or hollow body portion, a recessprovided in said v,hollow body portion'and 'near the point of the needle, said Vrecess being adapted toreceive the K tuiting head of a tuiting element, a plunger or rcd `movably mounted in saidhollow portion of the needle and extendingthrough the hollow portion of the needle a suicient distance so vthat itv may be projected into `said recess, means for normally holding saidrplunger or rod in a retractedposition out of the recess, and an actuating member associated with said needle for forcing the end of said plunger or rod into said recess so as to yeject said -tufting headr therefrom, said needle being provided with an inclined surface 'at the end of said recess so as to assist in the ejection of said tufting element therefrom.

' 4. A device `of' the character described, including, in combination,` an elongated needle body having a sharpened lpoint and having a tubular orhollow body portion, a recess provided in said hollow body Vportion and near the point of the needle, said recess being adapted to receivev the vtuftinghead of a tufting element, a yplunger or rod movably mounted in said hollow portion of the needle and extending through the hollow portion of the needle a suflicientdistance so that it may be projected into said recess, means for normally holding said plunger or rod in a retractedposition out of the recess and an actuating member associated with said needle for forcing the end of Isaid plunger or rod into said recess so as to eject said tufting head therefrom, said needle being provided with ak narrow slot communicating with said recess and adapted to receive the material of the tufting element when said tuiting head is forced into saidrecess.

5. A device of the 'character described, including, in combination, an elongated needle body having' a sharpened point and having a tubular or hollow body portion, a recess provided in said hollow body portion and near the point of the needle, said recess being adapted to receive the tuiting head of a tufting element, a plunger or rod movably mounted in said `hollow portion of the needle and extending through the hollow portion of the needle a suicient distance so that it may be projected into said recess, means for normally holding said plunger or rod in a retracted position out of the recess and an actuating member associated with said needle for forcing the end of said plunger or rod into said recess so as to eject said tufting head therefrom, the hollow part of said needle being flattened at said recess so that the recess is narrower and deeper than the normal corresponding dimensions cf the needle in order that said recess may receive a stili, flattened tufting head.

6. A device of the character described, including, in combination, an. elongated needle body having a sharpened point and having atubular or'- hollow body portion, a recess provided in said hollow bodyfportion and near the-point of the kneedle,saidfrecess beingadapted to receive the 'tuftin'g head of a tuiting element, Va plunger or rod lmovably mounted inv said hollow portion of the-needle and extending through the hollow prtionrlof the-.needle a suflicient distance so that it maybe projected into said recess, means for normally holding saidv plungerl or rod in a retracted position out of the recess and an actuating'member vassociated with said needle for forcing the end of said plunger or rodinto said recess so as to 'eject' said tuftingfhead therefrom, the hollow part of said needle beingattened at'said vrecessso that the recess is narrower and deeper than the.` normal corresponding dimensions of the needle in order that said recess may receive a'stiif, flattened tufting head, said plunger or rod havingan actuatingfend lshaped to conform to the insidecross sec/tionalshape ofthe recess.

7. A tufting, needle, including, inicombination, anl elongated needle body having a sharp point at one end and a handle" at the other end, said body being provided with a hollow portion having an opening leading yinto one endfthereof adjacent the needle point so as to provide a recess adapted to receive a tufting Vhead lof a'tufting element,

and means/'for ejecting said'tuitinghead from body being provided'withy a hollow portion having an opening leading into one end thereof adjacent the needlepo'int' s as to provide a recess adapted to receive atufting head of a tufting element, and means for ejecting said tuiting head from rsaid recess, 'f said means including a plunger or rod movably mounted within the hollow part of said needleand means for actuating the plunger or `rod vso that its end engages said tufting element to force the same fout of said recess. i g

9. A tufting needle, including, in combination, an elongated needle body having a sharp point at one end'anda handle vattherother end, said Ybody being"A provided with a hollow portion having an opening 'leading into one end thereof ad- 'low part of 'said needle and means for actuating the plunger or rod so that its end engages said tuiting element to force the same out of said recess, and resilient means for retracting said plunger or rod.

l0. A tufting needle, including, in combination, an elongated needle body having a sharp point at one end and a handle'at the other end, said body being provided with a hollow portion having an opening leading into one end thereof adjacent the needle point so as to provide a recess adapted to receive a tufting head of a tufting element, and means for ejecting said tufting head from said` recess, said means including a plunger or rod movably mounted within the hollow part of said needle and means for actuating the plunger or rod so that its end engages said tufting element to force the same out of said recess, said plunger or rod having its lower end provided with a member conforming inA shape to said recess.

l1. A tufting needle, including, in combination, an elongated needle body having a sharp point at one end and a handle at the other end, said body being provided with a hollow portion having an opening leading into one end thereof adjacent the needle point so as to provide arecess adapted to receive a tufting head of a tufting element, and means for ejecting said tufting head from said recess, the hollow body portion being flattened so that the recess is less in width and greater in depth than the normal. dimensions of said hollow part so that the recess will receive and enclose a stiff, attened tufting head.

12. A tufting needle, including, in combination, an elongated needle body having a sharp point at one end and a handle at the other end, said body being provided with a hollow portion having an opening leading into` one end thereof adjacent the needle point so as to provide a recess adapted to receive a tufting head of a tufting element, and means for ejecting said tufting head from said recess, the hollow body portion being i'lattened so that the recess is less in width and greater in depth than the normal dimensions of said hollow part so that the recess will receive and enclose a stiff, flattened tufting head, said hollow portion` of the needle being also provided with a restricted slot communicating with the opening in said recess and adapted to receive the material of the tufting element when the tufting head is pushed into said recess.

13. A needle for tufting mattresses, upholstery and the like, including in combination, an elongated needle body having a sharpened point at one end and a hollow body portion, said hollow body portion being provided with an opening leading thereinto and adapted to receive the tufting head of a tufting element, a plunger or rod slidably mounted in said hollow body portion and having its end adapted to be projected into said opening to eject said tufting head therefrom, a trigger member associated with said body portion and operatively connected with said plunger or rod to cause the movement thereof to eject said tufting head.

14. A needle for tufting mattresses, upholstery and the like, including in combination, an elongated needle body having a sharpened point at one end and a hollow body portion, said hollow body portion beingl provided with an opening leading thereinto and adapted toy receive the tufting head of a tufting element, a plunger or rod slidably mounted in said hollow body portion and having its end adapted to be projected into said recess to eject said tufting head therefrom, a trigger member associated with said body portion and operatively connected with said plunger or rod to cause the movement thereof to eject said tufting head, and resilient means associated with said plunger or rod for retracting the end of the same from said recess.

15. A device of the character described, including, in combination, an elongated needle body having a sharp point and having a tubular or hollow bodyportion, a recess provided in said hollow body portion and near the point of the needle body, said recess being adapted to receive the tufting head of a tufting element, a plunger or rod movably mounted in saidhollow portion ofthe needle bodyand extending through said hollow portion of the needle body a sufficient dis tance so that it may be projected into said recess, means for normally holding said plunger or rod in a retracted position out of'said recess, said needle body being provided with a narrow slot communicating with said recessfand adapted to receive the material of the tufting element when the tufting head is forced into said recess.

16. A device ofv the character described, in- -f cluding, in combination, an elongated needle body having a sharp point and having a tubular or hollow body portion, a recess provided in said hollow body portion and near the point of the needle body, said recess being adapted toreceive 1.

the tufting head of a tufting element, a plunger or rod movably mounted in said hollow portion of the needle body and extending through the hollow portion of the needle body a sufcient distance so that it may be projected into said 3,

recess, and means for normally holding said plunger or rod in a retracted position out of said recess, said hollow part of said needle body being flattenedatl said recess so that said recess is narrower and deeper than the normal corresponding dimensions of said needle body in order that said recess may receive a stiff, flattened, tufting head.

17. A device for tufting mattresses, upholstery and the like, including, in combination, an elongated needle element having a sharp point and being hollow for a substantial part of its length, means provided in said needle element for the reception of the tufting head of a tufting element, a plunger or rod movably mounted in said hollow part of said needle element and adapted to cooperate in the handling of the tufting head, and resilient means for holding said plunger or rod in normally retracted position.

ANNETTE FRIDOLPH.

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