Push button presser bar release

Claim 2

In a sewing machine having a sewing head containing a needle bar and a presser mechanism including a presser bar, a work engaging means affixed to one end of the presser bar, means to resiliently urge the presser bar towards the work, a first operator influenced member, rotatably supported on the sewing machine, presser lifting means operatively associated with the first operator influenced member for moving the work engaging means away from the work in oppoSition to the resilient means, locking means associated with the presser lifting means of the first operator influenced member and effective to constrain the presser mechanism in an elevated position away from the work, wherein the improvement comprises a second operator influenced member having an operator influenced portion thereon, the second operator influenced member being shiftably supported on the sewing machine, the operator influenced portion being disposed below the sewing head adjacent the needle bar, release means associated with the second operator influenced member for rendering the locking means of the first operator influenced member ineffective upon operation of the second operator influenced member.

Claim 3

In a sewing machine as claimed in claim 1 restraining means associated with the second operator influenced member whereby after rendering the locking means of the first operator influenced member ineffective, the second operator influenced member will be effective to control the descent of the work engaging means against the urgings of the resilient means.

Claim 4

In a sewing machine as claimed in claim 1 presser lifting means associated with the second operator influenced member whereby the work engaging means may be lifted from contact with the work material upon actuation of the second operator influenced member.

Claim 5

In a sewing machine having a presser mechanism including a presser bar, a work engaging means affixed to one end of the presser bar, means to resiliently urge the presser bar towards the work, wherein the improvement comprises first and second operator influenced members, means on the sewing machine shiftably supporting the operator influenced members for independent movement, presser lifting means operatively associated with each of the operator influenced members for moving the work engaging means away from the work in opposition to the resilient means, locking means associated with the presser lifting means and the first operator influenced member and effective to constrain the presser mechanism in an elevated position away from the work, release means associated with the presser lifting means and the second operator influenced member for rendering the locking means of the first operator influenced member ineffective upon operation of the second operator influenced member, and restraining means associated with the presser lifting means and the second operator influenced member to allow the controlled descent of the work engaging means against the urgings of the resilient means.

Claim 6

In a sewing machine having a presser mechanism including a presser bar, a work engaging means affixed to one end of the presser bar, means to resiliently urge the presser bar towards the work, wherein the improvement comprises first and second operator influenced members, means on the sewing machine shiftably supporting the operator influenced members for independent movement, presser lifting means operatively associated with each of the operator influenced members for moving the work engaging means away from the work in opposition to the resilient means, locking means associated with the presser lifting means and the first operator influenced member and effective to constrain the presser mechanism in an elevated position away from the work, release means associated with the presser lifting means and the second operator influenced member for rendering the locking means of the first operator influenced member ineffective upon operation of the second operator influenced member, and restraining means associated with the presser lifting means and the second operator influenced member to allow the controlled descent of the work engaging means against the urgings of the resilient means.

Claim 7

In a sewing machine as recited in claim 4 wherein the release means include a lever arm (37) operatively connected to the presser bar lifting cam, an actuating lever (44) pivoted on the sewing machine frame and having an actuating tab (46) disposed in the front of the sewing machine adjacent the sewing area, a connecting link (39) shiftably joining the actuating lever (44) and the lever arm, whereby depressing the actuating tab will cause the actuating lever to rotate about its pivot and displace the connecting link and the cam lever attached thereto causing the cam lever to rotate and release the presser mechanism from an elevated position or assume a temporary intermediate elevated position.

Claim 8

In a sewing machine as recited in claim 4 wherein the release means includes a structure forming two spaced protuberances operatively connected to the presser bar lifting cam; an actuating lever pivoted on the sewing machine frame, having an actuating tab disposed in front of the sewing machine adjacent the sewing area and having a surface cooperating with the first protuberance of the structure when the presser mechanism is in an elevated condition and the actuating tab is depressed to rotate the presser bar lifting cam out of the locked position, and cooperating with the second protuberance of the structure after the presser mechanism is released from the locked position when the actuating tab is depressed to control the descent of the presser mechanism or enable the lImited elevation of the presser mechanism.