A New or Improved Darning Attachment for Sewing Machines.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 18th May, 1899-Accepted, 22nd July, 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Darning Attachment for Sewing Machines.
I, WERNER RAGEN, of 121, Bachemerstrasse, Köln-Lindenthal (Rhine-
Province), Germany, 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:
The object of the present invention is a darning attachment for sewing
machines which is characterized, as compared with the attachments of a like
kind already known, by its simplicity, reliability, and specially by its adapta-
bility to any sewing machine. It can be used for darning holes in linen or
other fabrics.
The darning attachment consists of two principal parts, viz.; the cloth holder
and the presser foot.
The attachment is illustrated at Figs. 1 to 6 of the annexed drawings.
Figs. 1 to 3 are views of the cloth holder.
Figs. 4 and 5 are side and sectional views of the presser foot.
Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the device as it appears when in use.
The cloth holder consists of a complete metal ring having a falcated profile
and a second broken ring c with a spring action and whose one end is curved
inwards and provided at its extremity with a small handle c. This ring c is
purposely provided with an india-rubber covering b which serves to hold the
cloth to be darned which latter, shown clearly in section at Fig. 3, is laid almost
flat over the ring a and so that the hole to be darned is at or about the middle
of the same ring. The cloth is fixed in position and held stretched evenly all
round, like the skin of a drum, by merely pressing down the ring c into the
faleated groove of the ring a.
If
The presser foot, the purpose of which is to press the material to a certain
extent each time the needle of the sewing machine descends, consists of a flat
steel spring e, bent into a U-shape, and a metal cross piece f which connects
together the ends of the spring, said cross piece being provided with the clamp
whereby the presser foot is secured to the needle of the sewing machine.
desired instead of using a special cross piece f, the metal spring e and its cross
piece can be made direct from a single strip of metal properly bent. The clamp
for fixing the presser foot to the needle of the sewing machine consists of a
socket P attached to the cross piece f and having a central hole f¹ for the re-
ception of the needle of the sewing machine and a second hole through one side
at right angles to the first hole. Fitted in the side hole is a movable pin i,
which has at its inner end a packing k of felt, cork, or rubber. The outer end
of the movable pin i terminates in a small knob i¹ and a spiral spring h, between
the pin and the prong g, which latter is secured to the socket and holds the
pin in place, presses the pin towards the left so that the packing k presses against
the needle of the sewing machine when passed through the hole f¹. Two holes e¹
are made one at each side of the central hole fl in both the cross piece f and the
bottom of the spring e for the passage of the thread.

page_text: The apparatus is operated in the following manner:
The button of the movable pin is first taken hold of by the fingers, and
then pulled to the right, so that the central hole f¹ is free from obstruction.
After this, the needle of the sewing machine is brought to its upper position,
and the presser foot is then slipped on the needle (whilst still in its raised posi-
tion), from below, to such an extent that the point of the needle projects out
a little beyond the bottom of the spring e.. When this has been done the button ¿¹
is let go, with the result that the packing, under the action of the spiral spring h,
presses against the surface of the needle, and in this manner holds the presser
foot in position. The needle of the sewing machine is now brought into its
lowest position, so that the bottom of the spring e presses on the cloth with the
result that the presser foot, owing to the reaction of the spring; is automatically
forced upwards on the needle into the proper working position. In this position
it remains and any further sliding up or down is prevented by the pressure of
the spring upon the packing.
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 consider novel and desire to claim is:-
A darning attachment for sewing machines, characterised by an open spring
ring (e), preferably covered with rubber; by means of which the cloth to be
darned is clamped within a second complete ring (a) of falcated profile and a
presser foot, which can be slipped on the needle of the sewing machine, consisting
of a suitably bent spring (e) provided with a cross piece or equivalent (f) and
a socket having a vertical hole (f¹) said presser foot being held in position
by means of a pressure pin acted on by a spring, substantially as hereinbefore
described with reference to the drawings annexed.
Dated this 16th day of May 1899.
H. D. FITZPATRICK,
100, Wellington Street, Glasgow, Agent.