An Appliance for Facilitating the Darning of Stockings and other Articles of Wearing Apparel.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 17th May, 1888
Complete Specification Left, 14th Feb., 1889
Complete Specification Accepted, 30th Mar., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Appliance for Facilitating the Darning of Stockings and other
Articles of Wearing Apparel.
1, BENJAMIN THOMPSON, of No. 152, Upper Street, Islington, in the County of
Middlesex, Perambulator Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
This invention consists of an appliance for facilitating the darning of stockings
socks and other articles of wearing apparel whereby the same is effected in a more
convenient and comfortable manner than hitherto and at the same time the necessity
of placing the hand within the stocking, sock or other article of wearing apparel is
entirely obviated, thereby saving a considerable amount of time and trouble and
avoiding the painful and inconvenient practice of distending the thumb and fingers
whilst the darning is being effected.
My appliance consists of a block of wood or other similar and suitable material
made of any convenient size and shape preferably with one end larger than the
other so as to adopt the same for large and small articles the corners being slightly
rounded or curved for the purpose of enabling the user to stretch the stocking or
sock over the same and thus enable the article to be repaired without placing the
hand inside.
CASTLE SMITH,
"Invention" Office,
54, Fleet Street, London, E.C.,
Agent for the Applicant.

page_text: An Appliance for Facilitating the Darning of Stockings and other
Articles of Wearing Apparel.
I, BENJAMIN THOMPSON of 152 Upper Street, Islington, in the County of Middlesex,
Perambulator Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :—
This invention consists of an appliance for facilitating the darning of stockings
socks, and other articles of wearing apparel whereby the same is effected in a more
convenient and comfortable manner than hitherto, and at the same tinie the necessity
of placing the hand within the stocking sock or other article of wearing apparel
is entirely obviated, thereby saving a considerable amount of time and trouble and
avoiding the painful and inconvenient practice of distending the thumb and fingers
whilst the darning is being effected.
My appliance consists of a block of wood or other similar and suitable material
made of any convenient size and shape preferably with one end larger than the
other so as to adopt the same for large and small articles, the corners being slightly
rounded or curved for the purpose of enabling the user to stitch the stocking or sock
over the same and thus enable the article to be repaired without placing the hand
inside.
And in order that my invention may be more fully understood and carried into
practice, I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying
drawings, in which similar letters indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.
Figure shews one form of the block provided with a neck a a by means of which
it can be easily grasped by the hand. The blocks may be solid or they may be
shells according to the material employed. Each block is circular in cross section
at any part. I prefer to make them from pláne tree wood, as it is light and strong,
and easily turned to the required shape, and takes a fine polish quickly. Figure 2
shews a block with an inner chamber 6 into which a packet of needles c or other
mending requisites such as scissors, mending yarn etc. may be placed, and a cap or
cover d secured on the open end of the block by a screw collar, a spring catch,
or by an equivalent fastening device. Figure 3 shews a block constructed in halves
hinged together at ee the two halves when closed up are secured by a spring catch h.
Each half contains mending requisites attached to a card or frame f secured in the
block by the clasps or turns g so that the cards or frames may be removed, and
the shell will form a light block for darning. When the darning or mending is
completed, the block again becomes a receptacle for the mending requisites. This
form of block is a useful combination of darning block and what is known as a
"Ladies Companion." Figures 4 to 7 shew different forms in which the block may
he constructed.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, declare that what I
claim is :-
1. As a new article of manufacture, a block to be used when repairing or darning
stockings and other articles of .wearing apparel constructed as a solid or as a shell
and with or without the neck a, substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore
set forth.
2. The construction of a block to be used when repairing or darning stockings,
and other articles of wearing apparel with a receptacle for mending requisites,
substantially as hereinbefore set forth and illustrated in Figures 2 and 3 of the
accompanying drawings.