Improvements in Sewing Machines.
Year: 1890

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Sewing Machines.
I, NATHANIEL WHEELER of Bridgeport, County of Fairfield, Connecticut, United
States of America, 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 has for its object to improve the construction of that class of rotary
hook known as the Wheeler and Wilson, wherein the point of the hook takes a
loop of needle thread and casts it about a disc-bobbin located at the face of
the hook.
In the class of hook referred to as now made, it sometimes happens that the
needle when the machine is run at very high speed, springs forward so that the point
of the hook strikes and breaks the needle.
To obviate the possibility of the needle getting into the way of the point of the
hook, I have connected the body of the hook near the heel with the body of the hook
at the base of the point, by a bridge-piece which is left extended across or around the
usual open portion of the central cavity of the hook.
This bridge besides preventing the needle getting outside the point of the hook,
also affords a more perfect support for the bobbin and prevents wear of the hook as
heretofore common.
The invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter
more particularly described and claimed.
In the accompanying drawings
Figure 1 in front elevation shows a rotating hook embodying any invention.
Figure 2 a top view of the hook shown in Figure 1.
Figure 3 a section in the line a Figure 1, and
Figures 4, 5 and 6 show like views of the usual rotating hook upon which my
invention is an improvement.
In the drawing a represents the hook shaft, and b the rotating hook, the hook having
a point c, a heel & and a central cavity e.
open
Referring to Figures 4 and 5 showing the old form of hook, it will be seen that
there is an open space between the point and heel of the hook into which space
the usual ove-pointed needle descends, and this space is in
communication
with the central cavity e between the heel of the hook and the base of the point.
The bobbin rests in the concavity at the face of the hook and bears against the
shoulders 2, 3, and in use these shoulders by contact with the bobbin are worn off
and the shoulders also wear the bobbin so that the latter wabbles in the hook, but
what is of greater moment, the needle when the machine is run at very high speed is
from various causes at times deflected into the open space between the heel
and point of the hook such deflection being sufficient to enable the point of
the hook to get behind the needle, whereby the latter is quickly broken and the
bobbin injured.
To obviate the difficulties referred to I have provided the rotary hook between the
shoulders 2, 3 marked in Figure 4 with a continuous bridge m formed preferably as
an integral part of the hook, said bridge connecting the hook near its heel with the
hook near the base of its point the said bridge crossing the space referred to and
lying at that side of the central cavity e at which the point and the heel of the hook
lie, the said point, heel and bridge being in substantially the same vertical plane, on
that side of the hook nearest the needle it being understood that the needle travels
in a path behind the bridge and the point of the hook looking at the front view of the
accompanying drawings.
By reason of this bridge it is impossible for the neodle to be sprung or deflected
toward the bobbin far enough for the point of the hook to get behind the needle, and

page_text: the bridge keeps the bobbin upright and the corners 2, 3 being obviated, the hook
and bobbin are made more lasting.
In practice I find it of advantage to bend or incline the bridge backward a little as
at 4 such bending of the bridge preventing any ontward lateral movement of the
needle before the point of the hook arrives opposite the needle.
I do not however desire to limit my invention to the exact shape shown for the
bridge as its shape might be variously modified and yet prevent the needle from
getting in front of the point of the hook.
If the bridge extended for but part of the distance across the space between the
heel and point it would not produce a hook possessing the same advantage as
when the bridge completely spans the said space, for the reason that when the
machine is run at high speed the loop of needle thread would be caught on the
projection.
The inward bend of the bridge will preferably be such as to correspond with the
bevel of the point of the usual needle.
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 :-
First. A shaft and a rotating hook thereon having a point and a heel separated by a
space and cavity e substantially as described and connected by a bridge extended
across the space and cavity and joining the base of the point and the heel, said
point, heel and bridge being in substantially the same vertical plane on that side of
the hook nearest the needle to prevent the needle from being sprung or deflected
toward the hook far enough for the point of the hook to get behind the needle, sub-
stantially as, and for the purpose, set forth.
Second. A shaft and a rotating hook thereon having a point and a heel separated
by a space and cavity e substantially as described, and connected by a bridge
slightly bent inwardly between .its ends and extended across the space and cavity
and joining the base of the point and the heel said point, heel and bridge being
in substantially the same vertical plane and arranged on that side of the hook
nearest the needle to prevent the needle from being sprung or deflected toward
the hook far enough for the point of the hook to get behind it substantially as and
for the purpose, set forth.
Dated this 4th day of February 1800
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.