Blind stitch sewing mechanism for a sewing machine

Abstract

A blind stitch sewing mechanism for a sewing machine includes a curved, oscillating needle, and a looper, having only one degree of freedom, for cooperatively forming a blind stitch with the curved oscillating needle.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A blind stitch sewing mechanism for a sewing machine, comprising: 
 a curved, oscillating needle; and    a looper, having only one degree of freedom, for cooperatively forming a blind stitch with said curved oscillating needle.    
     
     
         2 . The blind stitch sewing mechanism according to  claim 1 , wherein said looper has an aperture for allowing said curved, oscillating needle to pass there through.  
     
     
         3 . The blind stitch sewing mechanism according to  claim 1 , wherein said looper has a hook for lifting a thread off of said curved, oscillating needle and wrapping the thread around said looper.  
     
     
         4 . The blind stitch sewing mechanism according to  claim 3 , wherein the hook wraps the thread around said looper to form a knot.  
     
     
         5 . The blind stitch sewing mechanism according to  claim 3 , further comprising a looper holder and a set screw for collectively maintaining a position of the looper holder, and wherein said set screw further allows for angular adjustment of the hook.  
     
     
         6 . The blind stitch sewing mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein said looper has a central axis, and the only one degree of freedom corresponds to rotation of the looper around the central axis.  
     
     
         7 . The blind stitch sewing mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein said looper is a butterfly looper.  
     
     
         8 . The blind stitch sewing mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein the only one degree of freedom corresponds to movement of the looper along an arc.  
     
     
         9 . A blind stitch sewing mechanism for a sewing machine, comprising: 
 a curved needle for oscillating back and forth between an ascended position and a descended position; and    a butterfly looper having a main body portion, a hook, and a central axis of rotation, said butterfly looper for lifting a thread off of said curved needle using the hook and wrapping the thread around the main body portion by rotating along the central axis, when the curved needle is oscillating to the descended position, and    wherein a knot is formed when the curved needle is oscillating to the ascended position.    
     
     
         10 . The blind stitch sewing mechanism of  claim 9 , wherein said butterfly looper has an aperture for allowing said curved needle to pass there through when said curved needle is oscillating.  
     
     
         11 . The blind stitch sewing mechanism of  claim 9 , further comprising a butterfly looper holder and a set screw for collectively maintaining a position of the butterfly loop holder, and wherein said set screw further allows for angular adjustment of the hook.  
     
     
         12 . A method for sewing a blind stitch on a sewing machine, comprising the steps of: 
 providing a curved needle;    providing a butterfly looper having a central axis, a hook, and a main body portion;    oscillating the curved needle back and forth between an ascended position and a descended position;    rotating the butterfly looper along the central axis so as to lift a thread off of the curved needle using the hook and wrap the thread around the main body portion, when the curved needle is oscillating to the descended position, and    wherein a knot is formed when the curved needle is oscillating to the ascended position.    
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the butterfly looper has an aperture, and said oscillating step comprises the step of passing the curved needle through the aperture.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising the step of 
 providing a capability to adjust an angular position of the butterfly looper.    
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising the step of 
 providing a capability to adjust an angular position of the butterfly looper via a single set screw.    
     
     
         16 . A method for sewing a blind stitch on a sewing machine, comprising the steps of: 
 providing a curved needle;    providing a looper having only one degree of freedom;    oscillating the curved needle back and forth to form a blind stitch by lifting a thread off of the needle and forming a knot.    
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising the step of providing a capability to adjust an angular position of the looper.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising the step of providing a capability to adjust an angular position of the butterfly looper via a single set screw.