IMPROVEMENTS IN THIMBLES
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Melville Clark, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THIMBLES." A communication from abroad by Edouard Baillet, of Paris,
France.
Sealed the 8th November 1878, and dated the 23rd May 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Melville Clark
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 23rd May 1878.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agent. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THIMBLES." [A communication from abroad by
Edouard Baillet, of Paris, France.]
This Invention relates to improvements in thimbles which are designed to increase
their utility without in any way interfering with their ordinary use, and the
Invention consists in the adaptation to thimbles of cutters, which, being on the
thimble itself, are always at hand for cutting the sewing cotton or thread, so as to
dispense with the use of scissors for the purpose.
The Invention may be applied to a thimble in various ways without affecting its
ordinary form, or the material of which it is made.
The accompanying Drawings show several arrangements of thread cutters adapted
to thimbles which are drawn twice the actual size.
Figure 1 represents a thimble having a series of thread cutters applied around
the base or part usually left plain between the indentations and the rim.
Figure 2 is a vertical section on A, B, Figure 3, which is a horizontal section on
C, D, Figure 1.
Figure 4 shows a thread cutter applied to the thimble top.
Figures 5 and 6, vertical and horizontal sections of thread cutters, disposed around

page_text: the base of the thimble, as in Figure 1, while Figure 7 shows the method of using
the thread cutter, shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3.
Referring to Figures 1, 2, and 3, it will be seen that the thimble is made as in
ordinary of frusto-conical form, with a rim a around its base, and a part b left plain
or smooth in ordinary thimbles, between the rim and the indented portion c, which
is surmounted by a more or less dome-shaped end d, also indented.
The improvement consists in attaching to or forming in one with the plain part
b a series of blades or cutters f of the form shown, disposed concentrically around
the thimble, and each forming a distinct thread cutter. These thread cutters are
made of rounded form on the exterior, so as to have no sharp angles which might
cut the fingers in using the thimble, while the inner surfaces are hollowed or so
shaped, as to prosent sharp cutting edges on all sides, as shown in Figures 2 and 3.
The latter Figure shows the manner in which the series of thread cutters are dis-
posed around the thimble one after the other, so that there is always one in a
position to instantly catch and sever the thread by a mere motion of the finger, as
in Figure 7, where the thread F is shown, caught by one of the projecting cutters f,
while the needle is held between the finger and thumb.
Figures 5 and 6 show another of the various forins of thread cutters which might
be adopted in this case, consisting of a ring notched or intersected at intervals to
receive the thread which may be cut or severed by one or other edge indifferently.
These thread cutters are applicable to all kinds of thimbles, whether with closed or
open top.
In Figure 4, the part b is plain as usual, and the thimble top or head d is sur-
mounted by a convex disc g, attached thereto by a triangular stem h, the edges of
which, as well as those of the convex disc g are sharp, and sorve as thread cutters.
The method of using this thread cutter is the same as before.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Alexander Melville Clark in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
22nd November 1878.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agent. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THIMBLES." A communication from abroad by
Edouard Baillet, of Paris, France.
This Invention relates to improvements in thimbles, and has for its object to add
to their utility, by providing them with means of fulfilling a second and entirely.
different purpose, without in any way interfering with their ordinary uso, and it'
consists in the adaptation to thimbles of cutters, which, being on the thimble itself,.
are always at hand for cutting the sewing cotton or thread, thus dispensing with
the use of scissors for the purpose.
The Invention may be applied to a thimble in various ways, without affecting its
ordinary form, or the material of which it is made.
One method consists in disposing a series of thread cutters around the base or
plain part of the thimble below the indentations, the cutters being hollowed on the
interior, and rounded on the exterior, so as to form sharp edges without projecting
inconveniently from the general surface of the thimble. This arrangement is appli-
cable to all forms of thimbles, whether open-topped or otherwise.
In another form of cutter applicable to closed top thimbles only, a convex disc is
attached to, and at a short distance from the end of the thimble by a stem having,
as well as the disc, sharp cutting edges. In whichever position the cutters may be,
the thread is severed by simply catching it on one of the projecting cutters, and
giving it a slight pull or jerk, while the needle is held between the finger and
thumb, and the thread is held by the work or otherwise.
The accompanying Drawings show several arrangements of thread cutters adapted
to thimbles which are drawn twice the actual size.
Figure 1 represents a thimble having a series of thread cutters applied around the
base or part usually left plain between the indentations and the rim.
Figure 2 is a vertical section on A, B, Figure 3, which is a horizontal section on
C, D, Figure 1.
Figure 4 shows a thread cutter applied to the thimble top.
Figures 5 and 6 are vertical and horizontal sections of a thimble with thread
cutters disposed around the base, as in Figure 1, while Figure 7 shows the method
of using the thread cutter, shown in Figures 1, 2, 3.
Referring to Figures 1, 2, and 3, it will be seen that the thimble is made as in
ordinary of frusto-conical form, with a rim a around its base, a part 6 between the
rim and the indented portion e, and a closed or dome-shaped end d, also indented.
The improvement consists in attaching to or forming in one with the part b,
which is usually left plain in ordinary thimbles, a series of blades or cutters of the
form shown disposed concentrically around the thimble, and each forming a distinct
thread cutter. These thread cutters are made of rounded form on the exterior so as
to have no sharp angles which might cut the fingers in using the thimble, while tho
inner surfaces are hollowed or so shaped as to present sharp cutting edges on all
sidos, as shown in Figures 2 and 3. The latter Figure shows the manner in which
the series of thread cutters are disposed around the thimble one after the other, so
that there is always one in a position to instantly catch and sever the thread by &
mere motion of the finger, as in Figure 7, where the thread F is shown caught by
one of the projecting cutters f, while the needle is held between the finger and
thumb.
Figures 5 and 6 shew another of the various forms of thread cutters which might
be adopted, consisting in this case of a ring notched or intersected at intervals to
receive the thread which may be cut or severed by one or other of the two edges

page_text: presented by a notch. These thread cutters are applicable to all kinds of thimbles,
whether with a closed or open top.
In Figure 4, the part b is plain as usual, and the thimble top or head & is sur-
mounted by a convex disc attached thereto by a triangular stem h, the edges of
which as well as those of the convex disc g are sharp, and serve as thread cutters.
The method of using this thread cutter is the same as beforo.
the
Having described the nature of the said Invention, and the manner of performing
same, I declare that what I claim as the Invention to be protected by the
herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,-
1st. The combination with a sewing thimble of thread-cutting devices so applied
as not to interfere with the ordinary use of the thimble in sewing.
2nd. The combination with a sewing thimble of thread cutters arranged, sub-
stantially as shown and described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty-first day of November, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.