Improvements in Sewing Machines.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 1st May, 1889
Complete Specification Left. 23rd Jan., 1890-Accepted. 1st Feb.. 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Sewing Machines.
-
1, BENJAMIN DRINKWATER, of No 2 Eton Street Richmond in the County of
Surrey Gentleman do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows
The object of my invention is to enable thick cords such as are used as edgings in
upholstery to be sewn by a sewing machine on to fabrics without the stitching being
visible To effect this I form the presser foot of the sewing machine with a longi-
tudinal semicircular groove on its under side to bear upon the top of the cord. And
I also form it with a notch at one side to permit of the descent of the needle so that the
needle descends through the cord close to one side of it and after passing through the
cord descends through the fabric to which the cord is to be sewn
By ensuring that the needle at each descent shall pass through the cord close to
one side of it as above described the part of the cord through which the needle
passes is drawn downwards by the stitches which are formed and is held down closely
to the fabric and in this way the stitching which holds the two together becomes
hidden
If the cord is to be used for hiding the junction of two pieces of fabric where they
are stitched together the cord may first be sewn onto one piece of fabric near its edge
in the above manner and then the other fabric sewn to the first face to face and close
to the line of stitches by which the cord is sewn to it. The same presser foot being
used when doing so.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
Improvements in Sewing Machines.
I, BENJAMIN DRINKWATER, of No. 2 Eton Street, Richmond, in the County of
Surrey, 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
The object of my invention is to enable thick cords such as are used as edgings in
upholstery to be sewn by a sewing machine onto fabrics without the stitching being
visible. To effect this I form the presser foot of the sewing machine with a longi-
tudinal and nearly semicircular groove on its underside where it bears upon the top
of the cord and this groove is of such a size that the cord when flattened out by the
pressure of the foot fits and fills the groove. The presser foot is also formed with a
notch at one side to permit of the descent of the needle. By these means I ensure
that the needle descends through the flattened cord close to one side of it and then
through the fabric to which the cord is to be sewn.
Consequently the part of the cord through which the needle passes is drawn down
by the stitches and is held down closely to the fabric and when the cord is released
from the pressure of the foot upon it, the cord resumes its original form or nearly so
and overlaps the line of stitches. In this way the stitching which holds the cord and
the fabric together becomes hidden.
The cord may be used for hiding the junction of two pieces of fabric where they are
stitched together. In this case the cord should first be sewn on to one piece of fabric
near its edge in the above manner and then the other fabric sewn to the first close to
the line of stitches by which the cord is sewn to it. The fabrics whilst being sewn
are face to face with the cord between them and a similar grooved presser foot
1s used.

page_text: In order that my invention may be fully understood and readily carried into effect
I will proceed to describe the drawings hereunto annexed.
Figure 1 is a side elevation of the presser of a sewing machine, with its presser
foot.
Figure 2 is an opposite side elevation.
Figure 3 is a front elevation.
Figure 4 is a front elevation partly in section. Figure 4* is a similar view in
which the positions of the table of the machine, the cord, and the needle also are
indicated.
Figures 5, 6 and 7 shew respectively a side elevation, plan, and underside view of
the presser foot separately.
a is the stem of the presser, b is the ordinary lifting cam. c 13 the socket part of
the presser foot fitting the lower end of the stem a d is the screw by which the foot
is secured to the stem of the presser. e is the groove for the cord and fis the notch
by which the needle descends.
In figure 4* g is the cord flattened by the pressure of the presser foot and h is the
line on which the needle works. The foot it will be seen pinches the cord down and
forms a thin flattened edge for the needle to work upon, at the same time the foot
allows the cord to spread laterally whilst guiding it by its outer side so that it cannot
escape from the needle.
When a cord of another size is to be worked the foot is changed for another similar
foot or a slide may be inserted in the presser foot, but suited to the dimensions of the
cord.
When joining a second fabric to one which already has a cord sewn upon it the
second fabric is laid face down over the first with the cord between. Thus the fabrics
are passed through the machine a presser foot such as above shown and described and
of suitable size being employed.
When the work comes from the Machine the cord will be found to cover the line of
stitches.
I wish it to be particularly understood that I do not limit myself to the precise
details of construction hereinbefore described and illustrated by the accompanying
drawing but hold myself at liberty to make such changes and alterations as fairly fall
within the spirit and scope of my invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
:-
In a sewing machine a presser foot with a longitudinal groove e and a needle
notch on one side of this groove: the said-foot-operating to compress and guide the
cord to be sewn and to present a thin flattened edge to the needle substantially as
described.
Dated this 5th day of November 1880