US3631235A

US3631235A - Fold away lamp for a sewing machine cabinet

Info

Publication number: US3631235A
Application number: US38949A
Authority: US
Inventors: Charles R Odermann; Albert L Newman
Original assignee: Singer Co
Current assignee: SSMC Inc
Priority date: 1970-05-20
Filing date: 1970-05-20
Publication date: 1971-12-28
Anticipated expiration: 1988-12-28
Also published as: GB1338115A; FR2091635A5

Abstract

A light source is pivotally mounted onto the front flap of a sewing machine cabinet so as to provide illumination for a sewing work support area when the machine is in operation; the light source also provides illumination for the work support area of a sewing machine cabinet even when the sewing machine is stored in the cabinet, and the light source itself may be stored in the sewing cabinet when so desired.

Description

United States Patent Inventors Charles R. Odermann Montville; Albert L. Newman, Dover, both of NJ.

Appl. No. 38,949

May 20, 1970 Dec. 28, 1971 The Singer Company New York, N.Y.

FOLD AWAY LAMP FOR A SEWING MACHINE 5/1893 McGregor CABINET 2 Claims, 6 Drawing Figs.

D051: 79/00 Field of Search 240/2.14, 2 D, 4; 248/291; [121217.1; 312/26, 30

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 7/1955 James 312/26 10/ 1 926 Young 240/4 5/1931 Cameron, Jr. 240/4 8/1929 Simon 248/291 1/1942 Ingwer et a]. 240/2. 14 X FOREIGN PATENTS 6/1960 Great Britain 240/2. 1 4

Primary ExaminerLouis R. Prince Assistant Examiner-Daniel M. Yasich Attorneys-Marshall J. Breen, Chester A. Williams, Jr. and

Robert E. Smith ABSTRACT: A light source is pivotally mounted onto the front flap of a sewing machine cabinet so as to provide illumination for a sewing work support area when the machine is in operation; the light source also provides illumination for the work support area of a sewing machine cabinet even when the sewing machine is stored in the cabinet, and the light source itself may be stored in the sewing cabinet when so desired.

PATENIED M828 I97! SHEET 1 OF 2 INVENTORS Charles R. Odermonn Albert L. Newman ATTORNEY WITNESS Pmmennmam 3631.235,

SHEET 2 UF 2 IN VEN TORS Charles R. Odermonn Albert L. Newman WITNESS:

M ATTORNEY FOLD AWAY LAMP FOR A SEWING MACHINE CABINET BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In the prior art there are generally several methods of illuminating a sewing work surface. One of these methods relies upon a light source being attached to the sewing machine frame itself and foldable into the sewing cabinet with the sewing machine. This method has a drawback in that it does not provide a light source for the cabinet work surface when the machine is stored. The work surface of a sewing machine cabinet is useful, even after the machine is stored, as a place where patterns may be traced or it may be used as an ordinary desk. With no means of illumination, the effectiveness of this utility is diminished.

Another method relies upon simply bringing a light source over to the sewing cabinet and utilizing it as desired. The present invention obviates the necessity for seeking a light source from an extraneous area by mounting alight source on the sewing cabinet, so that it may be used when the machine is in use or when the machine is in storage within the cabinet.

A light source is provided which will enhance the uses of a sewing cabinet and also remain conveniently at hand but never in the way. The light source is pivotally mounted on the sewing machine cabinet for use when the machine is upright; when the machine is in storage; and the light source itself may be stored in the cabinet without removing it from the cabinet.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an improved illumination source to be used when the sewing machine is in use and also when the sewing machine is not in use but when an illuminated work surface is desired.

It is also an object of this invention to provide an improved illumination source which is divorced from the sewing machine frame without being divorced from the sewing machine cabinet.

It is still another object of this invention to provide an improved illumination source which may be conveniently stored within the sewing cabinet independently of the position of the sewing machine.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved illumination source which may be used conveniently regardless of the position of the sewing machine.

It is also an object of this invention to provide an improved source of illumination, which when in storage position leaves the work surface of the sewing cabinet a smooth continuous surface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS With the above, and additional objects and advantages in view as will hereinafter appear, the invention comprises the devices, combinations and arrangements of parts described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings of the preferred embodiment in which:

FIG. I is a perspective view, taken from the rear of a sewing machine cabinet with the cabinet body broken away, and partially sectioned to show the manner in which the light source is attached to the front flap of the sewing machine cabinet;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to that of FIG. 1 showing a sewing machine in storage position, an additional work surface extension, and the front flap of the sewing machine cabinet raised preparatory to raising the light source;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to the view of FIG. 2 showing the light source raised to a position prior to the actual working position;

FIG. 4 is a view taken from the front side of the sewing cabinet with the light source ready for use and with the sewing machine still in storage position;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to that of FIG. 4, showing more of the cabinet construction with the sewing machine now raised to a working position;

FIG. 6 is a partially cut away view of the sewing cabinet surface, enlarged with respect to the other views to show the detail of the light source construction.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a sewing machine cabinet II, a body portion I2, and including a work-supporting area I3. Projecting from the work supporting area is an extension 14 of the work-supporting area which may or may not be included as part of the sewing machine cabinet at the option of the cabinet maker. It is shown in some of these drawing for the sake of completeness. The sewing machine cabinet has a recessed storage well 15 beneath its work supporting area within the body portion of the cabinet for storing a sewing machine 17.

Mounted above the sewing machine storage well as part of the work-supporting area are a pivotal front flap l9 and a removable well cover insert 21. Both the pivotal front flap and the well cover insert conceal the storage well. Additionally, both the pivotal front flap and the well cover insert are necessary to allow for the removal of the sewing machine stored within the storage well. The portions below the surface of the front flap and of the well cover constitute interior concealed portions 23.

A light source 30 is mounted on the interior concealed portion of the front flap. Such a light source could have been mounted on the interior concealed portion of any part of the work surface area and still remain within the purview of this invention. The light source is pivotally mounted to the sewing machine cabinet by means of the bracket 33 held to the cabinet by screw 35.

It is in the preferred embodiment that this bracket is secured to the front flap of the sewing machine cabinet as shown best in FIG. 6. In this embodiment the bracket is pivotally mounted in a cutout 36 provided in an interior concealed portion of the pivotal front flap.

The bracket is an L-shaped member having a base portion 37 and a cover portion 39. In the illuminating position as shown in FIG. 6, the base portion 37 is readily apparent, while FIG. I best shows the cover portion 39 readily apparent when the lamp is in its stored position.

An electrical switch 40 is contained within the L" of the bracket and is used to energize the light source. No wiring has been shown to the electrical source because any common wiring scheme will suffice.

The light source itself consists of several elements. A telescoping light post 41 is provided in several sections of decreasing cross-sectional area upwardly from the bracket in which it is mounted. A stop 43 is provided on each section to prevent the post from being pulled apart and also to provide a means for supporting the lamp in an extended position when it is in use. At the top of the lamp post is an enlarged member 44 which prevents the lamp from being pushed through the bracket when it is in storage position and which also provides a mounting for an arm 45 which also is an element of the light source.

The arm 45 is a flexible element which connects the lamp (not shown), a lamp shade 47, and the light post together. The arm is preferably flexible so that the lamp can be focused as desired on the work surface area.

A clip 49 is provided on an interior concealed portion of the front flap and serves to hold the light source in place when the lamp is in storage. The clip is U"-shaped and engages the arm of the light source in its storage position.

The operation of this invention will be readily understood by following the progression of FIGS. 1 through 5. Initially the work supporting area of a sewing machine cabinet consists of one continuous smooth plane. The well cover insert is removed and the front flap is pivoted upwardly. The telescoping post of the lamp is then fully extended upwardly and then pivoted outwardly. If it is desired only to use the lamp to illuminate the work surface without using the sewing machine, the front flap is then pivoted downward and the well cover insert replaced. If is it desired to use the sewing machine, the machine is elevated to the upright position and the front flap is again pivoted downwardly.

It will be understood that various changes in the details, material, arrangements of parts and operating conditions which have been described herein and illustrated in order to explain the nature of the invention may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and principles of this invention.

Having thus set forth the nature of the invention, what we claim herein is:

1. In a sewing machine cabinet having a top formed with an exposed work-supporting area, a storage well accessible through an access opening in said top for accommodating a sewing machine in either a stored position within said storage well or in an exposed operative position spanning said access opening, said cabinet top including a pivotal front flap adjoining said access opening which may be opened to provide clearance for movement of said sewing machine between stored and operative positions; a light source; a support bracket for said light source, means pivotally mounting said support bracket in a cutout in the front flap of the sewing machine cabinet so that said support bracket and said light source may be positioned in the storage well or selectively positioned in an illuminating position exteriorly of said storage well independently of the position of the sewing machine.

2. The sewing machine cabinet as recited in claim I wherein the bracket includes an "L"-shaped member having a pair of arms, in which said pivotal mounting means is located at the juncture of said pair of arms, in which one of said bracket arms provides a base for retaining the supporting structure when said light source is in the illuminating position, and in which the other of said bracket arms provides a cover for the cutout when the supporting structure and the light source is in the stored position.

l k i II

Claims

2. The sewing machine cabinet as recited in claim 1 wherein the bracket includes an L-shaped member having a pair of arms, in which said pivotal mounting means is located at the juncture of said pair of arms, in which one of said bracket arms provides a base for retaining the supporting structure when said light source is in the illuminating position, and in which the other of said bracket arms provides a cover for the cutout when the supporting structure and the light source is in the stored position.