Retractable needle basting mechanism

Abstract

For a sewing machine, a needle mechanism selectively retractable to avoid penetration of a work material and to avoid faulty stitch placement. A hollow needle bar telescopically receives and supports in one end thereof a needle carrying mandrel. A flexible rod is carried internally of the needle bar; and is connected at one end to the mandrel, and at the other end to a plug slidably carried by the hollow interior of the needle bar and urged by a spring in a direction away from the mandrel. The flexible rod is formed with a first ear and a second ear, each ear extending laterally therefrom in opposite directions; and is fashioned with a bias to favor engagement of the first ear thereof with the end of a first slot in the hollow needle bar, so as to maintain the needle carried by the mandrel in a position to cooperate with a loop taker of the sewing machine in opposition to the urgings of the spring. Means are provided to deflect the flexible rod inwardly against the bias thereof so as to disengage the first ear of the flexible rod from the end of the first slot. The positioning of the first ear of the flexible rod on the inside diameter of the hollow needle bar will cause the second ear of the flexible rod to protrude through a second slot of the hollow needle bar provided therefor, and impinge on an end of the second slot to maintain the sewing needle in a non-cooperating position with respect to the sewing machine loop taker. A second means are provided to engage with the second ear of the flexible rod while the needle bar is moving upwardly, thereby to draw the flexible rod against the urging of the spring to a position where the first ear will reengage with the first slot in the hollow needle bar, thereby to reinitiate cooperation of the sewing needle with the loop taker of the sewing machine.