Needle holding device for sewing machines

A needle holding device for a sewing machine of the type having a needle with a shank of substantially semi-circular shape with a cut out edge to define a flat surface thereon, comprising a needle bar for supporting said needle, said needle bar being formed with a vertically extended groove projecting a predetermined distance from a lower end thereof, said vertically extended groove being defined by at least two opposite walls spaced from each other and extending in parallel with each other and by an angular wall connecting said opposite walls at one end thereof;

• needle holding means formed with a vertical circular hole providing an inner peripheral wall therein and a transverse hole extended into said vertical hole, said needle holding means being mounted to said needle bar so that in assembly said inner peripheral wall of said vertical hole partly forms a wall connecting said two opposite walls at the other end thereof, said walls defining the groove and an additional part of said inner peripheral wall of said needle holding means providing a chamber of substantially same shape and dimension as those of said semicircular shank;
• and manually operative means arranged to be inserted into said transverse hole and advanced toward said vertical hole to press and hold the shank of the needle when the flat surface of the inserted shank is positioned against one of said opposite walls of said groove.