Stitching Machine

Abstract

A stitching machine may include a needle apparatus, a sewing thread spool receiving device, and a bobbin thread spool receiving device. The stitching machine may further include a bobbin thread tensioner configured to receive bobbin thread from the bobbin thread spool receiving device. The bobbin thread tensioner may be further configured to supply the bobbin thread to the needle apparatus. The bobbin thread spool receiving device is configured to receive a bobbin spool holding approximately 700 meters or more of bobbin thread. The bobbin thread spool receiving device may be located above a stitching location of the stitching machine. The stitching machine may provide improved access to a bobbin spool, enhanced manufacturing efficiency, and enhanced manufacturing flexibility.

1 . A stitching machine, comprising,
 a needle apparatus;   a sewing thread spool receiving device;   a bobbin thread spool receiving device; and   a bobbin thread tensioner configured to receive bobbin thread from the bobbin thread spool receiving device and supply the bobbin thread to the needle apparatus,   
       wherein the bobbin thread spool receiving device is configured to receive a bobbin spool holding at least 700 meters of bobbin thread. 
     
     
         2 . The stitching machine of  claim 1 , wherein the bobbin spool receiving device is located above a stitching location. 
     
     
         3 . The stitching machine of  claim 2 , wherein the bobbin spool receiving device is located at least 0.5 meter above the stitching location. 
     
     
         4 . The stitching machine of  claim 1 , wherein the tensioner is located above a stitching location. 
     
     
         5 . The stitching machine of  claim 1 , wherein the tensioner is located at least 0.5 meter above the stitching location. 
     
     
         6 . The stitching machine of  claim 1 , wherein the tensioner is located below the stitching location. 
     
     
         7 . The stitching machine of  claim 6 , wherein a bottom surface of a base of the stitching machine includes an aperture to receive the bobbin thread through the base and supply the bobbin thread to the stitching location. 
     
     
         8 . The stitching machine of  claim 1 , wherein the stitching machine is a sewing machine. 
     
     
         9 . The stitching machine of  claim 1 , wherein the stitching machine is an embroidery machine. 
     
     
         10 . A stitching machine, comprising:
 a needle apparatus;   a sewing thread spool;   a bobbin spool holding approximately 700 meters or more of bobbin thread; and   a bobbin thread tensioner configured to receive bobbin thread from the bobbin thread spool receiving device and supply the bobbin thread to the needle apparatus.   
     
     
         11 . The stitching machine of  claim 10 , wherein the bobbin spool is located approximately 0.5 meter or more above a stitching location. 
     
     
         12 . The stitching machine of  claim 10 , wherein the tensioner is located above a stitching location. 
     
     
         13 . The stitching machine of  claim 10 , wherein the tensioner is located below the stitching location. 
     
     
         14 . The stitching machine of  claim 10 , wherein the bobbin spool holds approximately 900 to 10,000 meters of bobbin thread. 
     
     
         15 . The stitching machine of  claim 10 , wherein the bobbin spool holds approximately 1000 to 10,000 meters of bobbin thread. 
     
     
         16 . A method of stitching an article, the method comprising:
 providing a sewing thread spool holding sewing thread and supplying the sewing thread from the sewing thread spool to a stitching machine;   providing a bobbin thread spool holding approximately 700 meters or more of bobbin thread and supplying the bobbin thread from the bobbin thread spool to the stitching machine;   laying the sewing thread against a first surface of the article;   laying a bobbin thread against a second surface of the article, the first surface being opposite the second surface; and   stitching the sewing thread and the bobbin thread together.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the step of providing the bobbin thread spool include supplying the bobbin thread from the bobbin thread spool to a tensioner and then supplying the bobbin thread from the tensioner to the stitching machine. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the step of providing the bobbin thread spool includes locating the bobbin thread spool above the stitching machine during the step of stitching the sewing thread and the bobbin thread together. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the tensioner is located below the stitching machine during the step of stitching the sewing thread and the bobbin thread together. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the step of stitching includes forming a lock stitch with the sewing thread and the bobbin thread. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the article is an article of footwear. 
     
     
         22 . A method of stitching an article of footwear, the method comprising:
 laying a first strand against a first surface of a material element;   providing a bobbin spool holding approximately 700 to 10,000 meters of a second strand and supplying the second strand to a stitching machine;   stitching over the first strand with the second strand via the stitching machine to secure the second strand to the first surface at a plurality of locations on opposite sides of the first strand; and   incorporating the material element and first strand into the article of footwear.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the step of providing the bobbin spool includes supplying the second strand from the bobbin spool to a tensioner and from the tensioner to the stitching machine. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the bobbin spool is located above a stitching location during the steps of stitching. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein second strand is supplied from the tensioner to the stitching machine through an aperture in a base of the stitching machine. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the first strand is a tensile strand that resists stretch.