Patent Application
20200157721
The present disclosure relates to methods and apparatuses for a hem sewing system. More specifically, the present disclosure presents a plate configuration to be used in connection with fabric and a sewing apparatus for aligning and sewing a hem with a seam.
Sewing machines are traditionally used in the alterations, upholstery, fashion, and home decorating industries. In bespoke industries, fabric is cut and sewn manually and sometimes with the aid of a sewing machine.
Two of the main problems have been speed and constancy with sewing hems for large swaths of fabric. For examples, custom curtains require several yards of fabric. In high-end applications, the hems need to be even, straight, and consistent. However, human error naturally reduces the precision and speed at which hems can be sewn.
Even in the fast-fashion clothing industry, shirts are commonly sewn with uneven hems, giving the shirt an asymmetrical look after being washed. The hem stitching is also uneven for clothing, linens, curtains, sheets, and upholstery.
There presently are no portable, adjustable hem sewing alignment apparatuses that effectively hold the fabric overhang in place for the hem and allow for streamlined hemming in connection with a variety of sewing machines.
What is needed is the hem sewing system according to the disclosure. The hem sewing system comprises an apparatus having a top plate, a bottom plate, a center, a hook, a hook end, and a hook loop. The top plate and the bottom plate have curved ends. The plates are adjustable, sliding laterally, over or away from the center. The bottom plate as a left adjustment bracket and a right adjustment bracket. Fasteners are supported with a regulator to help hold the plates and fabric in place. The apparatus is portable and can be used in connection with a variety of fabrics and in connection with manual sewing or with any sewing machine.
In another embodiment, the apparatus has a top plate with a hook end and a hook loop and a bottom plate with a curved end. This embodiment does not have adjustment brackets or fasteners. The top plate slides over the bottom plate. The top plate curved end and the bottom plate curved end fit complementary to each other.
Fabric is folded with the edge overlapping the fabric to create a fabric overhang. The fabric overhang is looped through the bottom plate curved end. The hook loop and hook end hold the fabric where the fabric is folded. The fabric lays over the bottom plate. The top plate can be moved laterally toward or away from the center depending on the size of the overhang.
The user grabs the fabric at the overhang that lays over the bottom plate and pulls the fabric away from the apparatus and toward a sewing machine. The apparatus loaded with the fabric is placed on one side of the sewing machine. The user holds the apparatus toward a solid surface such as a table. The user can press on the apparatus edges or use weights or clamps to keep the apparatus in place. The user pulls the fabric overhang toward the sewing machine needle to start the hem. The user pulls the hemmed fabric overhang from the other side of the sewing machine, so the fabric overhang is pulled parallel to the sewing machine and under the needle which threads the hem or seam over the needle plate.
The resulting hem has a substantially consistent seam and overhang. The resulting hem is completed in approximately 10-60 percent of the time it would take to traditionally sew a hem.
The accompanying drawings, that are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate several embodiments of the disclosure and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the disclosure.
The following are the numbers represented in the Figures.
The present disclosure provides generally for a hem sewing system herein referred to as “system.” According to the present disclosure, a system generally comprises at least two plates capable of being overlapped and slid above and below fabric. Fabric is sandwiched between the at least two plates. At least one plate comprises a hook about which a folded fabric edge is wound through. A second or subsequent piece of fabric may be aligned with or sandwiched between the plates with a first piece of fabric to create a busted seam stitch. The fabric edge and overhang lies flat against a surface such as a table or a sewing machine needle plate. The plates may be adjusted inward toward a center or outward from a center to accommodate a variety of desired hem and overhang lengths. A sewing apparatus needle is placed where a seam will be sewn. The sewing apparatus such as a motorized sewing machine and the system remain in place. A person or a separate machine pulls the looped fabric sandwiched between the plates through the plates toward the sewing apparatus needle. A scam or hem is quickly and evenly sewn in a substantially straight line.
Generally, a system is used in connection with fabric and a sewing apparatus such as a powered or manual sewing machine or a sewing needle and thread used by hand. Fabrics include any textile that is capable of being sewn with a needle and thread. Fabrics that may be used comprise sheets of fabrics made of natural, synthetic, or a combination thereof of yarns or materials. Examples of materials include cotton, flax, polyester, nylon, elastane, spandex, silk, linen, jacquard, bamboo, lame, leather, fur, tapestry, twill, velour, sherpa, lace, oxford, broadcloth, denim, jersey, and fleece. Other examples of fabric types include muslin, organza, terry, velvet, tweed, taffeta, sateen, corduroy, woven blends, and knits such as ponte, rib, interlock, and eyelet. The fabric may be used in conjunction with a zipper tape, lining, or trim.
The discreet profile, size, and adjustability of the system makes it versatile for seamstresses, tailors, and for those working in the following industries and applications: fast fashion and high fashion clothing, shoes, and accessories; upholstery; window treatments; bathroom linens; bedroom linens; floor coverings and rugs; performing arts sets and costumes.
The system allows freedom and customizability in creating a seam and hem that works best for the application. For example, a system will not obstruct or hinder a seamstress for sewing seams such as an overlock stitch where the fabric raw edges are connected with interlocking stitches without any extra folds with excess material for the hem. A busted seam can be made with the system apparatus as well.
In the following sections, detailed descriptions of examples and methods of the disclosure will be given. The description of both preferred and alternative examples are exemplary only, and it is understood that to those skilled in the art that variations, modifications, and alterations may be apparent. It is therefore to be understood that the examples do not limit the broadness of the aspects of the underlying disclosure as defined by the claims.
Referring now to
In preferred embodiments, the apparatus is sized to fit comfortably in a sewing kit, apron pocket, or tote bag. The apparatus is intended to be portable. However, it is also anticipated some systems may include a sewing machine on a solid surface where the apparatus is integrated in with the solid surface with fasteners or adhesives or where the apparatus is integrated into the sewing machine structure.
The top and bottom plate curved ends are positioned opposite each other about the center. The hook with hook end and hook loop is preferably positioned at or substantially near the center of the apparatus. A user pulls the top plate and bottom plate curved ends away from the center to accommodate larger fabric overhands. The fabric is folded to create an overhang, and a seam is typically sewn at or within a few centimeters from the fold. The overhang is laid over the bottom plate and within the left fabric space and the right fabric space. The fold is held in place and aligned by threading the folded overhang over and through the hook loop and held by the hook end.
Referring now to
Similar to the embodiment of
Referring now to
Referring now to
Referring now to
The folded fabric overhang is pulled through the apparatus center toward the needle plate to start the hem. The hemmed fabric is pulled parallel to the front of the sewing machine, through the apparatus center and left and right fabric spaces, over the needle plate and under the needle, and to the other side of the sewing machine.
The end result is a substantially uniform and consistent seam and hem with fabric overhang. During product testing, the length of hem sewn decreased from approximately 20 to 60 percent of the time it would take if the same seam were sewn without the system apparatus.
Thus, particular embodiments of the subject matter have been described. Other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims. In some cases, the actions recited in the claims can be performed in a different order and still achieve desirable results. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the claimed disclosure.
