Fabric frame for a maneuverable sewing machine

Abstract

Fabric frame for a maneuverable sewing machine. In one example embodiment, a fabric frame for a maneuverable sewing machine includes a left side rail, a right side rail, a front rail permanently connected to the left side and right side rails, and a rear rail detachably connectable to the left side and right side rails. The left side, right side, front, and rear rails define left side, right side, front, and rear boundaries, respectively, of a working area. The left side, right side, front, and rear rails are configured to support one or more layers of fabric that flow from inside the boundaries of the working area to outside the left side, right side, front, and rear boundaries of the working area.

1 . A fabric frame for a maneuverable sewing machine, the fabric frame comprising:
 a left side rail;   a right side rail;   a front rail permanently connected to the left side and right side rails; and   a rear rail detachably connectable to the left side and right side rails,   wherein the left side, right side, front, and rear rails define left side, right side, front, and rear boundaries, respectively, of a working area; and   wherein the left side, right side, front, and rear rails are configured to support one or more layers of fabric that flow from inside the boundaries of the working area to outside the left side, right side, front, and rear boundaries of the working area.   
     
     
         2 . The fabric frame of  claim 1 , wherein the left side, right side, and front rails are fixed in place and are not configured to rotate. 
     
     
         3 . The fabric frame of  claim 1 , wherein the left side, right side, and front rails have a smooth, cylindrical outer surface. 
     
     
         4 . The fabric frame of  claim 1 , wherein the fabric frame is supported above a table by only a single left side riser and only a single right side riser. 
     
     
         5 . The fabric frame of  claim 1 , wherein the rear rail is configured to support the one or more layers of fabric that flow underneath the rear rail from inside the boundaries of the working area to outside the rear boundary of the working area. 
     
     
         6 . The fabric frame of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 a left side clamp permanently connected to the left side rail; and   a right side clamp permanently connected to the right side rail.   
     
     
         7 . The fabric frame of  claim 6 , wherein the rear rail is detachably connectable to the left side and right side rails by clamping the rear rail in the left side and right side clamps. 
     
     
         8 . The fabric frame of  claim 7 , wherein each of the left side clamp and the right side clamp includes:
 a first arm including a first clamping surface and a first lever surface;   a second arm including a second clamping surface and a second lever surface; and   a cam positioned between the first lever surface and the second lever surface, the cam configured to be rotated against the first lever surface and the second lever surface in a first rotational direction to cause the first lever surface and the second lever surface to move apart from one another, which causes the first clamping surface and the second clamping surface to move toward one another.   
     
     
         9 . The fabric frame of  claim 8 , wherein the cam of each of the left side clamp and the right side clamp is further configured to be rotated against the first lever surface and the second lever surface in a second rotational direction to allow the first lever surface and the second lever surface to move toward one another, which allows the first clamping surface and the second clamping surface to move apart from one another. 
     
     
         10 . The fabric frame of  claim 9 , wherein:
 each cam is a stepped cam that includes multiple stepped surfaces; and   each of the stepped surfaces is indexed to one of multiple distinct distances between the first clamping surface and the second clamping surface.   
     
     
         11 . A fabric frame for a maneuverable sewing machine, the fabric frame comprising:
 a left side rail;   a right side rail;   a front rail connected to the left side and right side fixed rails; and   a rear rail connected to the left side and right side fixed rails,
 wherein the left side, right side, front, and rear rails define left side, right side, front, and rear boundaries, respectively, of a working area; 
 wherein the left side, right side, and front rails are configured to support one or more layers of fabric that flow over upper surfaces of the left side, right side, and front rails from inside the boundaries of the working area to outside the left side, right side, and front boundaries of the working area; and 
 wherein the rear rail is configured to support the one or more layers of fabric that flow underneath the rear rail from inside the boundaries of the working area to outside the rear boundary of the working area. 
   
     
     
         12 . The fabric frame of  claim 11 , wherein the left side, right side, and front rails are fixed in place and are not configured to rotate. 
     
     
         13 . The fabric frame of  claim 11 , wherein the left side, right side, and front rails have a smooth, cylindrical outer surface. 
     
     
         14 . The fabric frame of  claim 11 , wherein the fabric frame is supported above a table by only a single riser. 
     
     
         15 . The fabric frame of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the front rail is permanently connected to the left side and right side rails; and   the rear rail is detachably connected to the left side and right side rails.   
     
     
         16 . The fabric frame of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 a left side clamp permanently connected to the left side rail; and   a right side clamp permanently connected to the right side rail.   
     
     
         17 . The fabric frame of  claim 16 , wherein the rear rail is detachably connectable to the left side and right side rails by clamping the rear rail in the left side and right side clamps. 
     
     
         18 . The fabric frame of  claim 16 , wherein each of the left side clamp and the right side clamp includes:
 a first arm including a first clamping surface and a first lever surface;   a second arm integrally formed with the first arm, the second arm including a second clamping surface, a second lever surface, and a frame mount permanently connected to the respective side rail;   an opening integrally defined between the first arm and the second arm; and   a cam knob at least partially positioned in the opening such that the cam knob is configured to be rotated with respect to the opening, the cam knob having a stepped cam surface positioned between the first lever surface and the second lever surface, the cam knob configured:
 to be rotated in a first rotational direction, which causes the stepped cam surface to rotate against the first lever surface and the second lever surface, which causes the first lever surface and the second lever surface to move apart from one another, which causes the first clamping surface and the second clamping surface to move toward one another; and 
 to be rotated in a second rotational direction, which causes the stepped cam surface to rotate against the first lever surface and the second lever surface, which allows the first lever surface and the second lever surface to move toward one another, which allows the first clamping surface and the second clamping surface to move apart from one another. 
   
     
     
         19 . The fabric frame of  claim 18 , wherein the cam of each of the left side clamp and the right side clamp is further configured with:
 the first clamping surface being curved;   the second clamping surface being curved; and   the first clamping surface and the second clamping surface being configured to clamp onto the one or more layers of fabric after being wrapped around the rear rail.   
     
     
         20 . The fabric frame of  claim 19 , wherein:
 each stepped cam surface includes multiple stepped surfaces; and   each of the stepped surfaces is indexed to one of multiple distinct distances between the first clamping surface and the second clamping surface, which enables multiple distinct thicknesses of the one or more layers of fabric to be wrapped around the rear rail of the quilting frame and to be securely clamped in the corresponding clamp.