IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR THREADING NEEDLES
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Raby Murphy, of 87, Route D'Antives, Cannes, in the
Republic of France, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR
THREADING NEEDLES."
Sealed the 26th January 1877, and dated the 11th November 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Raby Murphy at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 11th November 1876.
RABY MURPHY, of 87, Route D'Antives, Cannes, in the Republic of France.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR THREADING NEEDLES."
.
This Invention has for its object improvements in apparatus for threading
needles.
For the purpose of threading sewing needles I employ an apparatus consisting
of a holder, into which the needle to be threaded is placed, and of a thread guide,
which after the needle has been placed in the holder is brought into position imme-
diately in front of the eye. The needle holder and the thread guide are connected
together, and are supported by other parts herein-after described.
The needle holder consists of a tube of such a size that the needle will enter it
freely, and will remain in the position in which it is placed, and there is a small
nick cut in the upper end of the needle holder. If the needle to be threaded has a
short end of cotton remaining in its eye this is made use of to force the needle
down into the tubular holder until the eye is on a level with the nick in the top
of the holder and in a line with it; or if there be no thread in the eye of the needle
the point of another needle is inserted into it, and is used as described to bring the
needle to be threaded to its proper position in the holder.
The needle holder is conveniently supported in an upright position by being
attached to a standard, which is forked at its lower end and pointed, so that it will
stand on a pin-cushion or other support which the points of the forked standard
can penetrate.
The thread guide is in the form of a conical tube of such a diameter at its
larger end that the end of the thread, which should be waxed to bring it to a firm
point, can readily be inserted into it; the other or smaller end of the thread guide
is of the size of the eye of the needle. The thread guide is connected with the

page_text: needle holder and standard by a hinge joint, so that it can be moved out of the way
whilst the needle is being placed in the holder, and it is afterwards brought into
position at right angles to the needle holder and immediately in front of the eye
of the needle. In order to ensure its coming accurately to this position the handle
by which it is moved and which is fixed to it is so made as to embrace the upper
end of the forked standard. The thread guide is provided with a lip, which projects
over the top of the needle holder, so that if the needle has not been placed quite
accurately it presses it further down into the holder to its proper position. When
the needle has been thus placed and the thread guide has been brought to its
position the end of the thread has only to be passed through the thread guide, and
it will of necessity go through the eye of the needle. The needle being thus
threaded is drawn out at the lower end of the needle holder.
For the purpose of threading the needles of sewing machines I employ a thread
guide such as that above described, but flattened at the top and bottom, and it has
also a slot along the top. This thread guide at its smaller end is provided with
spring lips projecting from its smaller end to embrace the needle which it is desired
to thread.
This instrument is used in the following manner-The machine is turned until
the eye of the needle is brought nearly to the level of the plate or table of the
machine, then the thread guide is placed in front of the eye with its spring lips
embracing the stem of the needle; the presser of the machine is then lowered on to
the thread guide to hold it in place; the end of the thread which has been pre-
viously waxed and pointed is then passed in at the larger end of the thread guide,
and it necessarily goes through the eye of the needle; the machine is then turned
so as to raise the needle, and the thread escapes from the thread guide by the slot
which is formed in the top of the guide; the presser is lifted and the thread guide
is removed, leaving the needle threaded ready for work.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Raby Murphy in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 10th May
1877.
RABY MURPHY, of 87, Route D'Antives, Cannes, in the Republic of France.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR THREADING NEEDLES."
This Invention has for its object improvements in apparatus for threading
needles.
For the purpose of threading sewing needles I employ an apparatus consisting
of a holder, into which the needle to be threaded is placed, and of a thread guide,
which after the needle has been placed in the holder is brought into position imme-
diately in front of the eye. The needle holder and the thread guide are connected
together and are supported by other parts herein-after described.
The needle holder consists of a tube of such a size that the needle will enter it
freely, and will remain in the position in which it is placed, and there is a small
nick cut in the upper end of the needle holder. If the needle to be threaded has a
short end of cotton remaining in its eye this is made use of to force the needle
down into the tubular holder until the eye is on a level with the nick in the top
of the holder and in a line with it; or if there be no thread in the eye of the needle
the point of another needle is inserted into it, and is used as described to bring the
needle to be threaded to its proper position in the holder.
The needle holder is conveniently supported in an upright position by being
attached to a standard, which is forked at its lower end and pointed so that it will
stand on a pin-cushion or other support which the points of the forked standard can
penetrate.
The thread guide is in the form of a conical tube of such a diameter at its larger

page_text: end that the end or the thread, which should be waxed to bring it to a firm point,
can readily be inserted into it; the other or smaller end of the thread guide is of
the size of the eye of the needle. The thread guide is connected with the needle
holder and standard by a hinge joint, so that it can be moved out of the way
whilst the needle is being placed in the holder, and it is afterwards brought into
position at right angles to the needle holder and immediately in front of the eye
of the needle. In order to ensure its coming accurately to this position the handle
by which it is moved and which is fixed to it is so made as to embrace the upper
end of the forked standard. The thread guide is provided with a lip, which projects
over the top of the needle holder, so that if the needle has not been placed quite
accurately it presses it further down into the holder to its proper position. When
the needle has been thus placed and the thread guide has been brought to its
position the end of the thread has only to be passed through the thread guide, and
it will of necessity go through the eye of the needle. The needle being thus
threaded is drawn out at the lower end of the needle holder.
For the purpose of threading the needles of sewing machines I employ a thread
guide such as that above described, but flattened at the top and bottom, and it has
also a slot along the top. This thread guide at its smaller end is provided with
spring lips projecting from its smaller end to embrace the needle which it is desired
to thread.
This instrument is used in the following manner :-
:-The machine is turned until
the eye of the needle is brought nearly to the level of the plate or table of the
machine; then the thread guide is placed in front of the eye with its spring lips
embracing the stem of the needle; the presser of the machine is then lowered on to
the thread guide to hold it in place; the end of the thread which has been pre-
viously waxed and pointed is then passed in at the larger end of the thread guide,
and it necessarily goes through the eye of the needle; the machine is then turned
so as to raise the needle and the thread escapes from the thread guide by the slot
which is formed in the top of the guide; the presser is lifted and the thread guide
is removed, leaving the needle threaded ready for work.
In order that my said Invention may be most fully understood and readily
carried into effect, I will proceed to describe the Drawings hereunto annexed.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a side elevation and Figures 2 and 3 are end elevations of a needle
threader constructed according to my Invention. These and the other Figures on
the Drawings are drawn to about double the natural size in order that the con-
struction of the apparatus may be more clearly seen. a is a standard; it is forked
and pointed at its lower end so that it may be stuck into a pin-cushion, and will
then stand firmly; this standard carries the other parts of the apparatus. b is the
needle holder; it is attached to the standard a by the two connections c, c, and it
consists of a tube of a size to just admit of the needle being inserted into it, and
the point of the needle passes down into the cushion below. The tube b is slightly
nicked at its upper end to serve as a guide for the thread or point, by means of
which the needle is placed as already explained. d is the thread guide; it consists
of a hollow cone terminating at its smaller end in a fine perforation of about the
same size as the eye of the needle. At the time of placing the needle the thread
guide is turned over out of the way into the position shown in the end elevation,
Figure 4, but when threading the needle its position is that shown in the Figures 1,
2, and 3. d is the hinge joint by which the thread guide is connected with tho
upper one of the two pieces c. d is the handle of the thread guide; it is furnished
with a lug, by which it embraces the upper end of the standard a so as to keep the
thread guide accurately in its place when it is in position for threading. dili is a
lip on the thread guide; it serves to ensure that the needle shall be pressed quite
home into the needle holder before threading is attempted.
Figure 5 is a side elevation, Figure 6 is a plan, and Figure 7 is a longitudinal

page_text: section of a threader constructed according to my Invention, and adapted for
threading the needles of sewing machines. a is a cone tube like the thread guide
already described, and serving a similar purpose; in this case however a slot a¹ is
formed in it from end to end, and it is flattened both at the top and the bottom;
b, b, are the spring lips attached to the thread guide a to embrace the stem of the
sewing machine needle and aid in keeping the thread guide in its place.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention and the manner of per-
forming the same, I would have it understood that I claim, the construction of
needle threaders, substantially as herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Raby Murphy, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Fourth day of May, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and seventy-seven.
RABY MURPHY. (L.S.)