Adjustable clamp

An adjustable clamp, comprising:

• a clamp support;
• and
• a template clamp for adjustably mounting onto said clamp support;
• and
• a plurality of spacer clamps for adjustably mounting between said clamp support and said template clamp;
• said plurality of spacer clamps each comprising a predetermined shape, said predetermined shapes defining a predetermined template when said plurality of spacer clamps are adjustably mounted between said clamp support and said template clamp.

An adjustable clamp for use in a sewing machine, said adjustable clamp comprising:

• a clamp support;
• a clamp;
• adjustable support means for adjustably supporting said clamp on said clamp support;
• and
• a plurality of spacer clamps;
• said clamp support defining a first clamping area and said clamp defining a second clamping area;
• said adjustable support means adjustably supporting said spacer clamps between said clamp support and said clamp;
• and
• said spacer clamps cooperating to define a third clamping area.

An adjustable clamp for pressing a workpiece against a sewing surface, with the adjustable clamp being usable with a sewing machine adapted to sew a predetermined stitch pattern, said adjustable clamp comprising;

• a clamp support;
• a template clamp, said template clamp comprising a template which defines the entire pattern of the predetermined stitch pattern;
• adjustable support means for adjustably supporting said template clamp on said clamp support;
• said clamp support defining a first clamping area and said template clamp defining a second clamping area;
• said adjustable support means adjustably supporting said template clamp on said clamp support such that (1) said clamp support and said template clamp are separated by a first distance when they are positioned at a first location, and (2) said clamp support and said template clamp are separated by a second distance when they are positioned at a second location;
• and
• said adjustable clamp being adapted for compressing at least a portion of the workpiece between said adjustable clamp and the sewing surface.

An adjustable clamp for use in a sewing machine adapted to sew a predetermined stitch pattern, said adjustable clamp comprising:

• a clamp support;
• a template clamp, said template clamp comprising a template which defines the entire pattern of the predetermined stitch pattern;
• and
• adjustable support means for adjustably supporting said template clamp on said clamp support;
• said adjustable support means comprising at least one pin;
• said adjustable support means further comprising detent means located on said template clamp for cooperating with said at least one pin to adjustably secure the template clamp to the clamp support;
• and
• said detent means further comprising a spring loaded detent.

A method for clamping a workpiece against a sewing surface, with the clamp being usable in a sewing machine adapted to sew a predetermined stitch pattern, comprising the steps of:

• mounting a support clamp onto said sewing machine with a connector;
• adjustably mounting a template clamp onto the support clamp such that said template clamp and said support clamp are located a predetermined distance apart, said template clamp comprising a template which defines the entire pattern of the predetermined stitch pattern;
• positioning the workpiece on said sewing surface;
• and
• forcing said template clamp and support clamp against said workpiece to compress at least a portion of said workpiece between said sewing surface and at least one of said template clamp and support clamp;
• said support clamp comprises a plurality of pins which are generally parallel, said template clamp comprising a plurality of detents for receiving said plurality of pins, said method further comprising the step of:
• mounting said detents on said plurality of pins such that said template clamp can be adjustably mounted on said pins so that said clamp and said template clamp are located a predetermined distance apart;
• wherein said method further comprises the step of:
• mounting a plurality of spacer clamps onto said pins between said template clamp and said clamp.

An adjustable clamp for use with a sewing machine adapted to sew a predetermined stitch pattern, comprising:

• a clamp support;
• and
• a template clamp, said template clamp comprising a plurality of clamp members coupled together to define the entire pattern of the predetermined stitch pattern;
• further comprising a secondary clamp, wherein:
• said clamp support comprises a plurality of pins extending therefrom, and
• said secondary clamp comprising a plurality of detents which receive said plurality of pins.

A sewing machine for sewing a plurality of predetermined stitch patterns on a workpiece, said sewing machine comprising:

• a controller for controlling the operation of the sewing machine;
• an adjustable clamp for forcing the workpiece against a clamping surface in the sewing machine;
• a connector for detachably coupling said adjustable clamp to the sewing machine;
• and
• drive means coupled to said controller and said connector for driving said adjustable clamp into engagement with the workpiece to secure the workpiece against the clamping surface, said drive means also being capable of moving the clamped workpiece in accordance with a computer program in order to sew at least one of the predetermined stitch patterns on the workpiece;
• said adjustable clamp comprising:
• a clamp support;
• a clamp;
• a plurality of spacer clamps;
• and
• adjustable support means for adjustably supporting said clamp on said clamp support and for adjustably supporting said spacer clamps between said clamp support and said clamp;
• said plurality of predetermined stitch patterns comprising a first predetermined stitch pattern and a second predetermined stitch pattern;
• said clamp support defining a first clamping area for clamping the workpiece such that said first predetermined stitch pattern may be sewn on the workpiece;
• said clamp defining a second clamping area for clamping the workpiece such that said second predetermined stitch pattern may be sewn;
• and
• said spacer clamps cooperating to define a third clamping area.

A sewing machine for sewing a plurality of predetermined stitch patterns on a workpiece, said sewing machine comprising:

• a controller for controlling the operation of the sewing machine;
• an adjustable clamp for forcing the workpiece against a clamping surface in the sewing machine;
• a connector for detachably coupling said adjustable clamp to the sewing machine;
• and
• drive means coupled to said controller and said connector for driving said adjustable clamp into engagement with the workpiece to secure the workpiece against the clamping surface, said drive means also being capable of moving the clamped workpiece in accordance with a computer program in order to sew at least one of the predetermined stitch patterns on the workpiece;
• said adjustable clamp comprising:
• a clamp support;
• a template clamp, said template clamp comprising a template which defines one entire pattern of the plurality of predetermined stitch patterns;
• and
• adjustable support means for adjustably and detachably supporting said template clamp on said clamp support;
• including structure defining the clamping surface, wherein:
• said clamp support defines a first clamping area and said clamp defines a second clamping area;
• said adjustable support means adjustably supports said template clamp on said clamp support such that the distance between said template clamp and said clamp support may be adjusted;
• and
• said drive means is adapted to drive said adjustable clamp toward the clamping surface to force the workpiece against the clamping surface.

A sewing machine for sewing a plurality of predetermined stitch patterns on a workpiece, said sewing machine comprising:

• a controller for controlling the operation of the sewing machine;
• an adjustable clamp for forcing the workpiece against a clamping surface in the sewing machine;
• a connector for detachably coupling said adjustable clamp to the sewing machine;
• and
• drive means coupled to said controller and said connector for driving said adjustable clamp into engagement with the workpiece to secure the workpiece against the clamping surface, said drive means also being capable of moving the clamped workpiece in accordance with a computer program in order to sew at least one of the predetermined stitch patterns on the workpiece;
• said adjustable clamp comprising:
• a clamp support;
• a template clamp, said template clamp comprising a template which defines one entire pattern of the plurality of predetermined stitch patterns;
• adjustable support means for adjustably and detachably supporting said template clamp on said clamp support;
• wherein one of said template clamp and said clamp support comprises a first cut-out area, and
• wherein said template clamp comprises said first cut-out area and said clamp support comprises a second cut-out area, said adjustable support means adjustably supporting said template clamp to said clamp support such that the distance between said first cut-out area and said second cut-out area may be adjusted.

A sewing machine for sewing a plurality of predetermined stitch patterns on a workpiece, said sewing machine comprising:

• means defining a clamping surface;
• a controller for controlling the operation of the sewing machine;
• an adjustable clamp for forcing the workpiece against a clamping surface in the sewing machine;
• a connector for detachably coupling said adjustable clamp to the sewing machine;
• and
• drive means coupled to said controller and said connector for driving said adjustable clamp into engagement with the workpiece to secure the workpiece against the clamping surface, said drive means also being capable of moving the clamped workpiece in accordance with a computer program in order to sew at least one of the predetermined stitch patterns on the workpiece;
• said adjustable clamp comprising;
• a clamp support;
• a template clamp, said template clamp comprising a template which defines one entire pattern of the plurality of predetermined stitch patterns;
• adjustable support means for adjustably supporting said template clamp on said clamp support;
• said adjustable support means comprising at least one pin;
• said adjustable support means further comprising detent means located on said template clamp for cooperating with said pin to adjustably secure the template clamp to the clamp support;
• and
• said detent means further comprising a spring loaded detent.

A sewing machine for sewing a plurality of predetermined stitch patterns on a workpiece, said sewing machine comprising:

• a controller for controlling the operation of the sewing machine;
• an adjustable clamp for forcing the workpiece against a clamping surface in the sewing machine;
• a connector for detachably coupling said adjustable clamp to the sewing machine;
• and
• drive means coupled to said controller and said connector for driving said adjustable clamp into engagement with the workpiece to secure the workpiece against the clamping surface, said drive means also being capable of moving the clamped workpiece in accordance with a computer program in order to sew at least one of the predetermined stitch patterns on the workpiece;
• said adjustable clamp comprising:
• a clamp support;
• a template clamp, said template clamp comprising a template which defines one entire pattern of the plurality of predetermined stitch patterns;
• and
• adjustable support means for adjustably and detachably supporting said template clamp on said clamp support;
• and
• wherein said adjustable support means comprises a plurality of spacer clamps.

An adjustable clamp for use in a sewing machine adapted to sew a predetermined stitch pattern, said adjustable clamp comprising:

• a clamp support;
• a template clamp, said template clamp comprising a template which defines the entire pattern of the predetermined stitch pattern;
• and
• adjustable support means for adjustably and detachably supporting said template clamp on said clamp support;
• and
• wherein said adjacent support means comprises a plurality of spacer clamps.

An adjustable clamp for use with a sewing machine adapted to sew a predetermined stitch pattern, comprising:

• a clamp support;
• and
• a template clamp for adjustably and detachably mounting onto said clamp support, said template clamp comprising a template which defines the entire pattern of the predetermined stitch pattern;
• and
• said clamp support and template clamp each define a clamping area for contact with the workpiece;
• and
• said clamp support includes a connector adapted for mounting the adjustable clamp on a driver of the sewing machine for movement toward a workpiece positioned on a sewing surface to compress the workpiece between said clamping areas and the sewing surface.

An adjustable clamp for use with a sewing machine adapted to sew a predetermined stitch pattern, comprising:

• a clamp support;
• and
• a template clamp, said template clamp comprising a plurality of clamp members coupled together to define the entire pattern of the predetermined stitch pattern;
• said clamp support and template clamp each define a clamping area for contact with the workpiece;
• and
• said adjustable clamp is adapted for applying a predetermined amount of pressure against a workpiece positioned on a sewing surface.