Improvements in and relating to Eyeless Threaders for Sewing Machines.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Apr., 1895-Accepted, 4th May, 1895
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Eyeless Threaders for Sewing
Machines.
I, JOHN BIGELOW, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at
929 Hennepin Avenue, in the City of Indianapolis, in the County of Hennepin and
State of Minnesota, one of the United States of America, Gentleman, 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 :-
My invention relates to eyeless threaders for sewing machines, and consists in
the novel construction and combination of parts hereinafter fully described and
claimed.
In the accompanying drawings-
Figure 1 is a perspective view of my threading device attached to the presser
bar of a sewing machine, and shows its position for threading the needle.
Figure 2 is a side view of my threading guide, in position when not in use.
Figure 3 is a detail view in perspective, showing the device as in use, needle
broken off.
Figure 4 is a sectional view on the line -x of Figure 3, showing offset and
needle gage H, and relation of all to the eye of the needle M (also in section) when
in position for threading.
Figure 5 shows my open angle threading guide adapted to be attached to the
head of a sewing machine.
Figure 6 shows a modification of construction, the pivot of the arm E being
thrown to back of presser bar, and friction on swinging arm E being obtained by
tightening pivot screw D.
Figure 7 shows my device. adapted to be attached to the presser foot of a sewing
machine.
Figures 8 and 9 are details, showing the device attached to presser bar by the
same screw that attaches presser foot.
J
The method of attaching my threading guide to the various sewing machines
may be modified to meet their special requirements; but, for illustration, I will
explain it as applied to a Willcox and Gibbs machine.
In the accompanying drawings similar letters refer to similar parts throughout
the several views.
N shows the line of the head of the machine; O the work plate; P the feed.
Around the presser bar B, Figures 1 and 2, above the foot C, I place a strap A-
Between the extended ends of said strap, swinging in a vertical plane on a pin D,
is one end of the arm E. The screw F engages the two sides of the strap A, and,
by being tightened, will cause said strap to grasp the presser bar B immovably,
and will also cause the extended sides of said strap A to press and make friction
on the sides of the arm E held between them on the pin D. This friction causes
the free end of the arm E to remain wherever set. At either side of the arm E
which may be desired, is a small finger piece G, projecting beyond the line of the
presser foot to assist in swinging forward or back its free end, which carries the.
open angle thread guide made by the lip K.
On its upper edge the piece & may be sharpened at J, Figure 3, and so made a
thread cutter.

page_text: •
At its free end the arm E has a lip K, bent angularly with its body, forming an
open thread guide, the walls of which are in approximate plane, meeting each other
at an angle.
eye of
The end of the arm E and its lip K, are of sufficient width to steady the
the operator, and, the angle being open, he can watch the movement of his thread,
as he passes it along the line of the angle, when threading. Again, when threading,
the angle makes a single open directing line straight to the eye of the needle, so
that from the time that the point of the thread touches the angle it has a definite
guide, and its course does not change until it enters the needle eye M. Of course,
the arm E swings in a plane that will bring the lip K in front of needle, and
the open line of its angle directly opposite to the needle eye, that is, the sides of the
angle will coincide with the bottom and back side of said needle eye when in
position for threading. The arm E also has a retiring offset H at its threader end
on a line with the inner edge of its lip K and extending from its angle upwards as
far as the needle touches it when it is forward, in position for threading, Figure 3.
This offset has a plane of vibration which is crossed by the needle, and acts as a
gage, Figure 4, allowing for the thickness of the needle between its outside edge
and the inner edge of its eye, so that the body of the needle shall not project
beyond the open line of the angle and interfere with the free passage of the point
of the thread into the needle eye. The retiring offset H, Figure 4 is to allow for
different sized needles.
In use the needle bar and presser bar are raised to their highest point. The
strap A should be immovably fastened to the presser bar B by the screw F, in
such a position that the free end of the arm E. (pivotally attached at D) shall
swing in a vertical plane that will bring its lip K in front of the needle, and the
gage H will touch the side of the needle, leaving the open line of the threader
angle leading direct to the open needle eye, Figures 1, 3 and 4. It only remains
to pass the point of the thread along the angle and it will enter the needle eye.
The free end of the arm E, or threader, should be pushed back against the
presser foot, Figure 2, out of the way, but, in case it is forgotten, the end of
the needle bar, as it comes down, will hit and knock it back, and no harm will be
done.
The arm E. carrying the threader described, can be made to swing from the
presser foot, Figure 7, or from the head of the machine, Figure 5, or swing in a
horizontal plane on the presser bar or foot, being substituted for some of the
funnel and tapering aperture devices now in use.
Instead of friction at its pivoted end being used to keep the free threader end of
the arm E in any position, forward or back, as desired, springs or catches, can
easily be substituted; for instance, by making holes through the sides of the
-strap A, and corresponding swells on the sides of the arm E (which can be made
springy) to engage said holes when its threader end is in the position desired.
The threading angle of the arm E can be variously shaped from a right to an
acute angle, or slightly rounded, provided that it is open, has a single line of
direction leading, when in position, to the needle eye, and its plane is practically
horizontal to the operator, which I prefer.
It is often objectionable to raise the presser foot from the work beneath it, in
order to thread the needle. This difficulty can easily be removed by placing an
indicator point on the presser bar, when my threader is attached to it or the
presser foot, Figure 7, with which some designated point on the needle bar can be
brought in line, and thus the proper point of the needle eye be established, at
whatever position the presser foot may be, and without changing the same.
The upper edge of the strap A and the bottom of the needle bar can be used as
such indicator points, or a special pointer, L, Figure 2, can be made to swing
up into position, or down out of the way within the sides of the arm E on the
pin D.
The bottom of the strap A rests on the top of the presser foot C, Figure 2; it is
apparent that if the screw F is not tightened, the strap A can swing horizontally

page_text: on the presser bar, carrying the arm E with it, and, thus, my threading guide
have both a horizontal and vertical movement.
While I have above explained how my invention may be applied to and used
with a Willcox and Gibbs sewing machine, I have illustrated in Figures 6 and 7
how it can be used with the Singer machine, but it will be evident to all skilled in
this art that the adaptation of my invention to any type of sewing machine now in
use is merely a matter of mechanical skill.
The gage H, instead of being an offset, as shown may be a stop applied at the
opposite end of the arm E, or any suitable device which will bring my open angle
threader into proper relation to the needle eye for threading.
Again, instead of being applied to an arm swinging vertically as shown, my open
angle threader may be applied to a device swinging horizontally, as will be
obvious.
By the words "machine head"" I mean not only the frame of the machine, but
the presser bar, presser foot, or any other part to which the arm E can be attached
so as to move into any suitable relation to the needle eye for the purpose of
threading.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim, is :-
1. An eyeless threader for sewing machines, comprising an inclined arm pivoted
at its upper end to the machine head and having at its lower end an open guide the
walls of which are in approximate planes meeting each other at an angle and pro-
vided at its needle-engaging side with an offset or gage for the needle to be threaded,
whereby the open guide in the threader forms a continuous way into the eye of the
needle, as set forth.
2. An eyeless threader for sewing machines, cousisting of an arm adapted to be
pivotally attached to the head of the machine and having a needle gage and an
open thread guide, the walls of which are in approximate planes meeting each other
at an angle, substantially as shown and described.
Dated this 2nd day of April 1895.
JENSEN & SON,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.