Laser alignment device for sewing machine

Abstract

A laser alignment device for a sewing machine and a sewing machine equipped with a laser alignment device. The laser alignment device projects an illuminated alignment guide for aligning a fabric material in a feed path for sewing by a sewing machine needle. The laser alignment device includes a laser, an optical lens to provide a linear laser projection along the feed path, and a power supply to activate the laser alignment device. The laser alignment device is mounted to the head of the sewing machine to permit multi-axial adjustment for alignment of the linear light projection with a desired feed path of the sewing machine.

I claim: 
     
         1 . An alignment device for a sewing machine, comprising:
 a laser assembly comprising a light emitter configured to produce a linear light projection when operably coupled with a power source; and   a mounting assembly for adjustably coupling the laser assembly with a body of the sewing machine to orient the linear light projection along a desired feed path of the sewing machine.   
     
     
         2 . The alignment device of  claim 1 , the laser assembly further comprising:
 a ball element containing the light emitter; and   a conductor adapted to couple the light emitter with the power source.   
     
     
         3 . The alignment device of  claim 2 , the mounting assembly further comprising:
 a socket having an interior cavity dimensioned to receive the ball element; and   an protrusion extending into the interior cavity, the protrusion adapted to support the ball element within the mount assembly.   
     
     
         4 . The alignment device of  claim 3 , the protrusion further comprising:
 an annular rim extending into a lower portion of the interior cavity.   
     
     
         5 . The alignment device of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 an alignment lock adapted to retain the laser assembly at a desired orientation within the mount assembly.   
     
     
         6 . The alignment device of  claim 1 , wherein the laser assembly is adjustably coupled with the mounting assembly for a multi-axial adjustment of the laser assembly. 
     
     
         7 . A sewing machine, comprising:
 a housing containing a sewing mechanism for applying a stitch to a fabric material via a reciprocating needle carrying a thread to form the stitch;   a feed path for supporting the fabric material in a desired alignment with the reciprocating needle; and   a laser alignment device adjustably coupled with the housing, the laser alignment device comprising a light emitter adapted to produce a linear light projection along the feed path.   
     
     
         8 . The sewing machine of  claim 7 , the laser alignment device further comprising:
 a laser assembly containing the light emitter; and   a mounting assembly for adjustably coupling the laser assembly with the housing to orient the linear light projection along a desired feed path of the sewing machine.   
     
     
         9 . The sewing machine of  claim 8 , the laser assembly further comprising:
 a ball element containing the light emitter.   
     
     
         10 . The sewing machine of  claim 9 , the mounting assembly further comprising: 
     
     
         11 . a socket having an interior cavity dimensioned to receive the ball element; and
 a protrusion extending into the interior cavity, the protrusion adapted to support the ball element within the interior cavity.   
     
     
         12 . The sewing machine of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 an alignment lock adapted to retain the laser assembly at a desired orientation within the mount assembly.   
     
     
         13 . The sewing machine of  claim 10 , wherein the laser assembly is adjustably coupled with the mounting assembly for a multi-axial adjustment of the laser assembly. 
     
     
         14 . The sewing machine of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 an alignment tool for alignment of the linear light projection with the desired feed path, the alignment tool comprising a flat plate having a proximal end and a distal end;   at least one longitudinal alignment line oriented along a feed direction of the sewing machine; and   at least one transverse line oriented orthogonal with the at least one longitudinal alignment line.   
     
     
         15 . A method of aligning a fabric material in a feed path of a sewing machine, comprising:
 coupling a laser alignment device with the sewing machine, the laser alignment device having a light emitter adapted to emit a linear light projection; and   projecting the linear light projection on a desired feed path of the sewing machine.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 placing the fabric material on the feed path of the sewing machine; and   aligning the fabric material with the linear light projection.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 feeding the fabric material into a reciprocating needle of the sewing machine to apply a stitch to the fabric material while maintaining an alignment of the fabric material with the linear light projection.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 adjusting the laser alignment device so that the linear light projection is aligned with the desired feed path.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 locking the laser alignment device with the linear light projection in an alignment with the desired feed path.