AN IMPROVEMENT OR IMPROVEMENTS IN NEEDLES
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Richard Bennett, the younger, of Redditch, in the County
of Worcester, Foreman of Works, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVEMENT OR
IMPROVEMENTS IN NEEDLES."
Sealed the 18th May 1877, and dated the 7th December 1876.
5
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Richard Bennett at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 7th December 1876.
RICHARD BENNETT, the younger, of Redditch, in the County of Worcester,
Foreman of Works. "AN IMPROVEMENT OR IMPROVEMENTS IN NEEDLES."
The object of my Invention is to facilitate the threading of needles, and consists
in making the eyes of needles in the manner herein-after described.
The eyes of needles are ordinarily made of a cylindrical or elliptical figure, and
sometimes with inclined guides at each end of the eye.
My Invention consists in making the eyes of needles much larger at one side of
the needle than at the other side. The eye at one side of the needle has the figure
of an ellipse, differing but little from a circle, while on the other side the eye has
the figure of an ellipse, the longer axis of which is about three times the length of
its shorter axis. The said longer ellipse on one side of the needle is not situated
symmetrically with respect to the shorter ellipse on the other side, both ellipses
terminating in one direction at an equal distance from the bead of the needle, and
the longer ellipse extending towards the point of the needle. The two ellipses on
the opposite sides of the needle are connected by an inclined guiding surface
passing from one to the other. The shorter ellipse constitues the eye proper of
the needle, while the longer ellipse on the opposite side fornis, with the surface
connecting it with the shorter ellipse a long trough-like guide, by which the
thread is very conveniently passed through the eye of the needle. The eye thus
formed is furnished with a guiding surface passing from one side to the other side
of the needle, the thread introduced to the longer ellipse being guided by the said
guiding surface to the shorter ellipse or eye proper; the needle is thereby threaded
with the greatest facility.
Instead of making both sides of the eye elliptical the eye proper may be made of
a circular instead of an elliptical figure,

page_text: My Invention is applicable to sewing machine needles as well as to hand-used
sewing needles, and to needles generally.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Richard Bennett in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 25th May
1877.
RICHARD BENNETT, the younger, of Redditch, in the County of Worcester,
Foreman of Works. "AN IMPROVEMENT OR IMPROVEMENTS IN NEEDLES."
The object of my Invention is to facilitate the threading of needles, and consists
in making the eyes of needles in the manner herein-after described and illustrated
in the accompanying Drawing.
The eyes of needles are ordinarily made of a cylindrical or elliptical figuro, and
sometimes with inclined guides at each end of the eye.
My Invention consists in making the eyes of needles much larger at one sido of
the needle than at the other side. The eye at one side of the needle has the figure
of an ellipse, differing but little from a circle, while on the other side the eye has
the figure of an ellipse, the longer axis of which is by preference about three times
the length of its shorter axis. The said longer ellipse on one side of the needle is
uot situated symmetrically with respect to the shorter ellipse on the other side,
both ellipses terminating in one direction at an equal distance from the head of the
needle, and the longer ellipse extending towards the point of the needle. The
ellipses on the opposite sides of the needle are connected by an inclined guiding
surface passing from one to the other. The shorter ellipse constitutes the eye
proper of the needle, while the longer ellipse on the opposite side forms with the
surface connecting it with the shorter ellipse a long trough-like guide, by which
the thread is very conveniently passed through the eye of the needle. The eye thus
formed is furnished with a guiding surface passing from one side to the other side
of the needle, the thread introduced into the longer ellipse being guided by the said
guiding surface to the shorter ellipse or eye proper; the needle is thereby threaded
with the greatest facility.
My Invention is applicable to sewing machine needles as well as to hand-used
sewing needles, and to needles generally.
Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying Drawing represent, drawn to a large scale
taken at opposite sides, the head and portion of the stem of a hand-used sewing
needle, the eye of which is constructed according to my Invention; Figure 3 is a
section of the same taken through the eye.
In the said Figures 1, 2, and 3, a represents the shorter ellipse of the eye at one
side of the needle, and the longer ellipse of the eye at the opposite side of the
needle, the said ellipses a and being connected together by the trough-like
guide c, the bottom of the said guide being inclined. The position of the two
ellipses a and b with respect to one another is best seen in the elevation, Figure 1.
By an examination of the section, Figure 3, it will be seen that by the combination
of the shorter and longer ellipses a, b, at the opposite sides of the needle, connected
together by the lower inclined guiding surface at c, passing from one ellipse to tho
other, a long trough-like guide or guiding surface for the thread is formed. The
thread is introduced into the eye at the longer ellipse b, as indicated by the arrow,
Figure 3, and is guided by the guiding surface at c to the shorter ellipse or eye
proper a.
Figure 4 represents in section a portion of a sewing machine needle, the eye of
which is constructed according to my Invention, the parts being marked with the
same letters as corresponding parts in Figures 1, 2, and 3.
In the sewing machine needle, Figure 4, both the upper and lower surfaces d, e,
of the eye are curved. or. inclined, in the manner represented, as both the said

page_text: surfaces press against the thread during the use of the needle. The surface d on
the descent of the needle pressing against the thread to force it through the
material being sewn while the surface c on the ascending motion of the needle
draws back the thread through the hole in the material. The required formation
of the eye is obtained by not continuing the guiding surface c from one side of the
eye to the other, but causing it to terminate in the curvo e, as represented in the
said Figure 5.
Instead of making both sides of the eye elliptical, as represented, the eye proper a,
as well as the guiding eye b, may be made circular, rectangular, or of other con-
figuration with the same effect.
Having now described the nature of my Invention and the manner in which
the same is to be performed, I wish it to be understood that I claim as my Inven-
tion, the improvement or improvements in the eyes of needles herein-before
described, and illustrated in the accompanying Drawing, that is to say, making the
eyes of needles of two ellipses of different lengths, situated on opposite sides of the
needle, and arranged with respect to one another in the manner described and
illustrated, and connected together by an inclined guiding surface passing from ono
to the other, or making the eye proper, as well as the guiding eye, circular, rect-
angular, or of other figure, instead of elliptical, substantially as described and
illustrated.
In witness whereof, I, the said Richard Bennett, the younger, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Eighteenth day of May, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
Witness,
VICTOR MILWARD,
Redditch.
RICHARD BENNETT, JUN. (L.S.)