Needle threader and needle threading mechanism

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11976399-B2
Application number	US-202217968529-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 18, 2022
Priority date	Nov 12, 2021
Publication date	May 7, 2024
Grant date	May 7, 2024

Abstract

A needle threader includes: a needle holding part for holding a needle having a needle eye; a threading member movable between a retracted position separated from the needle holding part and an advanced position for inserting a thread loop through the needle eye by entering the needle eye; an actuator mechanism including an operation element, to move the threading member to the retracted position in a first state (not operating) and move to the advanced position in a second state (operating); and a thread pressing mechanism for pressing the thread loop inserted through the needle eye by the threading member. The thread pressing mechanism includes a pressure receiving part, a pressing member, and a biasing member. Switching the operation element from the second state to the first state, the pressing member can press the thread loop against the pressure receiving part.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A needle threader comprising:
a needle holding part for holding a needle having a needle eye;
a threading member reciprocally movable between a retracted position separated from the needle holding part and an advanced position for inserting a loop of thread through the needle eye by the threading member entering the needle eye;
an actuator mechanism including an operation element and being configured to move the threading member to the retracted position when the operation element is in a first state to not operate the operation element and move to the advanced position when the operation element is in a second state to operate the operation element; and
a thread pressing mechanism for pressing the loop of thread that is inserted through the needle eye by the threading member,
wherein the thread pressing mechanism includes a pressure receiving part, a pressing member that is reciprocally movable between a first position on or near the pressure receiving part and a second position separated from the pressure receiving part, and a biasing member that urges the pressing member toward the first position, and
when the operation element is in the second state, the pressing member is moved to the second position, and when the operation element is switched from the second state to the first state, the pressing member is capable of pressing the loop of thread against the pressure receiving part.

2. The needle threader according to claim 1 ,
wherein the needle holding part includes a needle receiving hole having a needle supporting bottom surface, the needle receiving hole extending in a first direction that is along a longitudinal direction of the needle held by the needle holding part, the needle supporting bottom surface being offset in a first sense of the first direction,
the threading member moves to the advanced position by entering the needle eye in a first sense of a second direction perpendicular to the first direction,
the pressing member includes a pressure applying tip for contacting the loop of thread, and
the pressure applying tip extends in a third direction perpendicular to the first direction and the second direction.

3. The needle threader according to claim 2 , wherein the pressure receiving part is disposed to face the pressure applying tip as viewed in the second direction.

4. The needle threader according to claim 3 , wherein the pressing member has a first sloped portion that is connected to a center of the pressure applying tip in the third direction and inclined in the first sense of the first direction as it extends in the first sense of the second direction.

5. The needle threader according to claim 3 , further comprising a first housing member and a second housing member supporting the actuator mechanism and being respectively offset in a first sense and a second sense of the third direction,
wherein the first housing member has a first abutting surface facing in the second sense of the third direction, and
the second housing member has a second abutting surface facing in the first sense of the third direction and in contact with the first abutting surface,
the first housing member includes a first protruding wall that protrudes from the first abutting surface in the second sense of the third direction, and
the first protruding wall includes the pressure receiving part.

6. The needle threader according to claim 2 ,
wherein the needle receiving hole includes a first section offset in the first sense of the first direction, a second section separated from the first section in a second sense of the first direction, and a third section located between the first section and the first section,
the needle holding part includes a movable member for pushing the needle in the first sense of the second direction,
the third section is composed of the movable member,
the needle holding part has a first slit, a second slit and a third slit that are respectively opened in the first section, the second section and the third section toward a side of each section in a second sense of the second direction,
the second slit extends in the first direction as viewed in the second direction,
the third slit extends in the first direction as viewed in the second direction and is connected to the first slit and the second slit, and
the first slit includes a curved portion that is gently curved in the third direction from the first direction as viewed in the second direction.

7. A needle threading mechanism that includes: a needle receiving hole having a needle supporting bottom surface, the needle receiving hole extending in a first direction that is along a longitudinal direction of a needle held in the needle receiving hole, the needle supporting bottom surface being offset in a first sense of the first direction; and a threading member that can enter a needle eye of the needle held in the needle receiving hole, the needle threading mechanism being capable of inserting a loop of thread through the needle eye by the threading member entering the needle eye, the needle threading mechanism comprising:
a guide mechanism for guiding the needle into the needle receiving hole, wherein the needle receiving hole is formed with a slit that extends substantially across an entire length of the needle receiving hole in the first direction and that includes a curved portion gently curved from the first direction; and
a thread pressing mechanism including a pressure receiving part and a pressing member that is reciprocally movable between a first position on or near the pressure receiving part and a second position separated from the pressure receiving part, wherein the pressing member is moved to the second position when the threading member enters the needle eye, and the pressing member is capable of pressing the loop of thread inserted through the needle eye against the pressure receiving part when the threading member retracts to a position away from the needle eye.

Assignees

• Clover Mfg Co Ltd

Inventors

• Tanaka Atsushi

Classifications

• D05B87/02 Primary

  with mechanical means for moving thread through needle {or looper} eye · CPC title