Improvements in Sewing Machine Needles.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd May, 1893-Accepted, 8th July, 1893
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Sewing Machine Needles.
I, CHARLES ARTHUR ALLISON, of 52 Chancery Lane, London, in the County
of Middlesex, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention (which
has been communicated to me from abroad by Nina H. Piffard, of Piffard,
Livingston County, New York, U.S.A., Lady), and in what manner the same is
to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
My invention relates to sewing machine needles provided with a slot through
which the thread may be introduced laterally into the eye.
The objects of my invention are first to avoid the difficulty ensuing from the
liability of the edges of the slot to catch upon the threads of the fabric, as is the
case in those forms of self-threading sewing machine needles heretofore proposed,
and secondly, to prevent the accidental unthreading of the needle by the thread
receding through the slot when the machine is in operation.
My invention consists essentially in providing the needle with a lateral bend,
deflection or inclination transverse to its longitudinal axis at the point where the
eye is located and forming the slot or notch for introduction of the thread laterally
into said eye, at the inside of the bend.
My invention consists further of a sewing machine needle having two bends
or angles in its longitudinal axis, one at the eye into which a lateral slot opens
from the inside of the angle and the other a reverse angle or bend at a higher
point so as to bring the point of the needle back directly in line with the head.
In the accompanying drawings:
Fig. 1, is a view of a needle embodying my invention, taken from one side
thereof.
Fig. 2, is an elevation taken on the side where the slot is formed, and shows the
inclination given to the line of the slot for the purpose of preventing accidental
unthreading.
Fig. 3, is a view of the needle taken from the side opposite Fig.
Fig. 4, shows the needle with a single bend to produce the deflection or
incurvation which is effective in masking the slot and preventing the cutting of
the cloth.
In order to better illustrate the invention, the angle of the bends or deflections is
shown somewhat exaggerated. In practice a very slight lateral bend or deflection
will be found effective.
The needle shown is the ordinary needle provided with a proper shank adapted
to fit the needle bar of a sewing machine.
Near the point and opposite the eye, there is a lateral bend or deflection
indicated at A, and on the side of the needle furthest from the operator that is the
side opposite that towards which the fabric is fed.
At the opposite side or side against or towards which the material is fed is
formed a notch B, through which the thread may be introduced laterally. By
providing this bend or deflection and locating the slot on the inside of the bend as
shown, the edges of the slot will be effectively masked so that they will not catch
the threads of the cloth or cut the fabric, either in the upward or downward
novement of the needle therein.
The line of the slot might be at direct right angles to the general longitudinal
axis of the needle, but I prefer to give it a considerable inclination as shown in
Fig. 2, of the drawings, whereby after the thread has been once introduced into the
eye, it may not readily escape through the slot. The lateral bend or incurvation
might be of any desired form or shape and made in any desired manner.
A con-
venient way is to bend the point of the needle at a given angle as indicated in

page_text: Fig. 4, or in a direction which would be towards the operator of the needle when
in the machine. If the needle were left in this shape it is obvious that the point
would be out of line with the head to obviate which and return the point to a
direct line with the centre of the head, the needle may be given an opposite bend
or angle at any point above the first as, for instance, at a point C, immediately
above the eye thus completing the form of needle shown in Fig. 1.
In making needles according to my invention ordinary sewing machine needles
may be taken, the temper drawn and the bends or angles described may be thus
produced in them. The slot may be made either before or after the bending.
Afterwards the needle is re-tempered. Or, as will be obvious, the proper con-
formation may be given and the slotting done during the original manufacturing of
the needle.
I do not limit myself to any particular form of bend, angle or incurvation in the
general longitudinal axis of the needle at the eye for the purpose of providing the
recess or depression in which the slot may be located, nor to any particular way
of making such incurvation. I prefer, however, to make it as herein before
described by bending or deflecting the point to one side, as indicated in Fig. 4, and
providing an opposite bend or angle to restore the point to direct line with the
head.
I am aware that it has been before proposed to slot sewing machine needles
at the eye but heretofore the slot has been made in a straight needle and the
edges are, therefore, not effectually masked but are liable to catch on the fabric.
I am also aware that it has been before proposed to close the slot by a spring
tongue, but this plan as heretofore proposed is also liable to objection because the
end of the tongue is located below the straight part of the needle in the tapering
For wedge portion thereof and is therefore liable to enter the cloth.
Having thus 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 :-
:-
1. A sewing machine needle having a bend at its eye and a lateral notch or slot
entering the eye at the inside of the bend.
2. A sewing machine needle having two bends in its longitudinal axis, one at the
eye into which a slot opens from the inside of the bend or angle and the other a
_reverse bend at a higher point adapted to bring the point of the needle directly in
line with the head.
Dated this 23rd day of May 1893.
ALLISON BROS.,
Agents for the Applicant.