Tufting needle assembly
AssigneeColumbia Insurance Company
InventorsWilliam N. Vaughan, Barrett Morton, James E. Jarrett
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A tufting needle assembly for use with a tufting machine is disclosed that comprises a first gauge block or needle bar having a first series of tufting needles disposed thereon. The respective tufting needles are spaced from one another along a first longitudinal axis extending in the lengthwise direction of the gauge block. The tufting needle assembly further comprises a second series of spaced tufting needles extending along a second longitudinal axis spaced parallel to the first longitudinal axis.
Claims41
A tufting needle assembly for use with a tufting machine, the tufting machine having a frame, at least one elongate and reciprocating needle bar supported on the frame and adapted for a lateral shifting motion with respect to the frame, and a series of loopers of a predetermined tufting machine gauge, one series of loopers for each needle bar, positioned with respect to the needle bar, said tufting needle assembly comprising:
- a first gauge block adapted to be mounted on the at least one needle bar;
- a first series of gauge elements disposed on the gauge block, the gauge elements within said first series being spaced from one another along a first longitudinal axis extending in the lengthwise direction of the gauge block;
- and
- a second series of gauge elements disposed on the first gauge block, the gauge elements within said second series being spaced from one another along a second longitudinal axis extending in the lengthwise direction of the gauge block, the second longitudinal axis being spaced from and parallel to the first longitudinal axis;
- wherein at least one gauge element within said first series is offset with respect to the first longitudinal axis and from adjacent ones of the gauge elements within said first series, and wherein the gauge elements within said second series are aligned with respect to one another and extend linearly alone the second longitudinal axis.
A tufting needle assembly for use with a tufting machine, said tufting needle assembly comprising:
- a elongate needle bar;
- a first series of spaced tufting needles disposed on the needle bar, the tufting needles being spaced from one another along a first longitudinal axis extending in the lengthwise direction of the needle bar;
- and
- a second series of tufting needles affixed to the needle bar, the tufting needles within said second series being spaced from one another along a second longitudinal axis extending in the lengthwise direction of the needle bar, the second longitudinal axis being spaced from and parallel to said first longitudinal axis,
- wherein each tufting needles of said first and second series comprising an elongate needle shank having a proximal end affixed to the needle bar and a spaced distal end defining a needle tip;
- wherein at least one tufting needle within said first series is offset with respect to the first longitudinal axis and from each adjacent one of the tufting needles within said first series, and
- wherein the tufting needles within said second series are aligned with respect to one another and extend linearly along the second longitudinal axis.
A tufting needle assembly for use with a tufting machine, said tufting needle assembly comprising:
- an elongate needle bar;
- a first series of spaced tufting needles disposed on the needle bar and extending in the lengthwise direction thereof along a first longitudinal axis;
- a second series of tufting needles affixed to the needle bar, the tufting needles within said second series being spaced from one another along a second longitudinal axis extending in the lengthwise direction of the needle bar, the second longitudinal axis being spaced from and parallel to said first longitudinal axis.
- each tufting needle of said first and second series comprising an elongate needle shank having a proximal end carried on the needle bar and a spaced distal end defining needle tip,
- wherein the needle tip of at least one tufting needle within said first series is offset with respect to the first longitudinal axis of the needle bar, and wherein the needle tips of the tufting needles within said second series are aligned with respect to one another and extend linearly along the second longitudinal axis.
A tufting needle assembly for use with a tufting machine, the tufting machine having a frame, at least one elongate and reciprocating needle bar supported on the frame and adapted for a lateral shifting motion with respect to the frame, and a series of loopers of a predetermined tufting machine gauge, one series of loopers for each needle bar, positioned with respect to the needle bar, said tufting needle assembly comprising:
- a first gauge block adapted to be mounted on the at least one needle bar;
- a first series of gauge elements disposed on the gauge block, the gauge elements within said first series being spaced from one another along a first longitudinal axis extending in the lengthwise direction of the gauge block, wherein at least one gauge element within said first series is offset with respect to the first longitudinal axis and from adjacent ones of the gauge elements within said first series;
- and
- a second series of gauge elements disposed on the first gauge block, the gauge elements within said second series being spaced from one another along a second longitudinal axis extending in the lengthwise direction of the gauge block, the second longitudinal axis being spaced from and parallel to the first longitudinal axis, wherein each of the gauge elements within said second series comprises a tufting needle having an elongate needle shank with a proximal end affixed to the gauge block and a spaced distal end defining a needle tip, wherein the needle tip of at least one of the tufting needles in said second series is offset with respect to the second longitudinal axis, and wherein the shanks of the tufting needles within said second series are aligned with respect to one another and extend linearly along the second longitudinal axis.
A tufting needle assembly for use with a tufting machine, the tufting machine having a frame, at least one elongate and reciprocating needle bar supported on the frame and adapted for a lateral shifting motion with respect to the frame, and a series of loopers of a predetermined tufting machine gauge, one series of loopers for each needle bar, positioned with respect to the needle bar, said tufting needle assembly comprising:
- a first gauge block adapted to be mounted on the at least one needle bar;
- a first series of gauge elements disposed on the gauge block, the gauge elements within said first series being spaced from one another along a first longitudinal axis extending in the lengthwise direction of the gauge block, wherein at least one gauge element within said first series is offset with respect to the first longitudinal axis and from adjacent ones of the gauge elements within said first series;
- a second elongate gauge block;
- and
- a second series of gauge elements disposed on the second gauge block, the gauge elements within said second series being spaced from one another along a second longitudinal axis extending in the lengthwise direction of the second gauge block, wherein the second longitudinal axis is spaced from and parallel to the first longitudinal axis of the first gauge block, and wherein at least one gauge element of the second series of gauge elements is offset with respect to the second longitudinal axis and from adjacent ones of the gauge elements within said second series.
A tufting needle assembly for use with a tufting machine, said tufting needle assembly comprising:
- a first elongate needle bar;
- a first series of spaced tufting needles disposed on the first needle bar, the tufting needles within said first series of spaced tufting needles being spaced from one another along a first longitudinal axis extending in the lengthwise direction of the first needle bar, each tufting needle of said first series of tufting needles comprising an elongate needle shank having a proximal end affixed to the first needle bar and a spaced distal end defining a needle tip, wherein at least one tufting needle within said first series of spaced tufting needles is offset with respect to the first longitudinal axis and from each adjacent one of the tufting needles within said first series;
- a second elongate needle bar;
- and
- a second series of spaced tufting needles disposed on the second needle bar, the tufting needles within said second series of spaced tufting needles being spaced from one another along a second longitudinal axis extending in the lengthwise direction of the second needle bar, the second longitudinal axis being spaced from and parallel to the first longitudinal axis, each tufting needle of said second series of tufting needles comprising an elongate needle shank having a proximal end affixed to the second needle bar and a spaced distal end defining a needle tip, wherein at least one tufting needle within said second series is offset with respect to the second longitudinal axis and from each adjacent one of the tufting needles within said second series.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.