IMPROVEMENTS IN METHODS OF SEWING, AND IN SEWING MACHINES
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Sydney Pitt, of Sutton, in the County of Surrey, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN METHODS OF SEWING, AND IN SEWING
MACHINES." A communication from abroad by Frederick Curtis, of Massa-
chusetts, United States of America.
Sealed the 17th January 1879,, and dated the 26th November 1878.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION left by the said Sydney Pitt at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents on the 26th November 1878.
SYDNEY PITT, of Sutton, in the County of Surrey. "IMPROVEMENTS IN METHODS
OF SEWING AND IN SEWING MACHINES." A. communication from abroad by
Frederick Curtis, of Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America.
The essential feature in this Invention consists in the employment in machine
sewing, and in connection with one needle, of two or more threads either above or
below, or both above and below, and whether the needle be pierced with one eye, and
the multiple threads be led through this eye, or with two or more eyes, and a single
thread used in each eye, or two or more threads in each eye.
For some classes of work I propose to employ the multiple threads as needle or
upper threads, and for other uses I employ the multiple threads as lower or bobbin
threads, while in rare instances I employ the multiple threads both as needle or..
upper and bobbin or lower threads, such multiple threads in either or all these
instances being led along and laid in stitches in the same manner as if they consti-
tuted but one thread.
My Invention also embraces the use of multiple threads in chain stitch or "single.
thread" machines, or those in which no lower or shuttle thread is used, and also the
use with sewing machines of two or more spool posts or supports to each machine,
whereby each spool is permitted to rotate and deliver its thread independent of the
other.
My Invention further embraces a needle having two or more eyes, and, when so
desired, arranging these eyes alternately in pairs obliquely in opposite directions to

page_text: the axis of the needle, in order that the threads laid by means of such needle into
stitches shall preserve their relative positions with respect to each other, and not
cross from one side to the other, etc., the importance of this being seen when parti-
colored threads are employed to produce an ornamental stitch, and indeed in leather
work in general.
My purpose in employing the multiple threads is manifold. Heretofore a certain
limit has been reached in the size of the thread which a given needle will carry, and
all machine sewers are aware that the great fault in machine sewing consists in the
small size of the thread as compared with the needle and the hole made by the
needle, especially in leather work, and consequently the holes made by the needle
are not filled, the stitching is unsightly, weak, and easily rips.
The point where the trouble is met is at the eye of the needle, as the bend of the
thread at the end of the eye, precludes, more than a certain bulk of thread being
used, for the reason that the resistance in passing through the material cuts or frays
it, though the channel or groove of the needle is sufficiently-large to receive a much
larger thread than is generally used.
I have found by employing a needle with two or more eyes and carrying a
thread through each eye, and thereby distributing the bends of the thread through
two or more points, I am enabled to greatly increase, and in fact double, the aggre-
gate bulk of thread carried by the needle, or, what is practically the same thing,
reduce the size of a given needle one half or nearly so. The result is that I com-
pactly fill the holes made by the needle, produce a much stronger stitch, and vastly
improve the appearance of the work.
In addition to these advantages I can by employing parti-colored threads obtain
a highly ornamental stitch.
For some classes of work, where it is not essential or perhaps desirable to very
closely pack the holes of the work made by the needle with thread, and yet it is
desirable to employ parti-colored threads, I use two or more threads in the single
eye of a needle, either of an ordinary needle or one of the eyes of a "many-eyed
needle.
9
"
For other classes of work I employ two or more lower or shuttle or bobbin
threads, and these multiple lower threads may be wound upon and delivered from
one and the same bobbin, or several bobbins may be used with a thread to each.
Again, in unusual instances, I employ the multiple threads both above and below,
as in this manner I can obtain an ornamental stitch upon both sides the work if
desirable. The multiple threads when used above or below are led along together,
and operate practically as one thread, so far as all the functions of sewing are
concerned.
The Drawings accompanying this Specification represent in Figure 1 a needle
having several eyes, as contemplated by my Invention.
Figure 2 of such Drawings represents a shuttle bobbin carrying two threads, and
representing another feature of my Invention.
Figure 3 represents the goose neck of a sewing machine as carrying two spool
posts, which comprise part of this Invention.
While Figure 4 of the Drawings represents a needle having two eyes arranged
obliquely in opposite directions to the axis of the needle, thus carrying out another
feature of this Invention.
In these Drawings, Figure 1, A represents a sewing machine needle having two
or more sewing eyes a, a, etc., formed in it closely together, and so that two or more
threads passing one through each eye may form a common loop, and be engaged by
the shuttle or hook below as if but one thread was used.
In Figure 2 a bobbin of a shuttle is shown at B as carrying two threads wound
together upon it, and delivered from it in manner as if the two threads were but a
single thread.
In Figure 3 the goose neck of a sewing machine is shown at C as having two
spool posts b, b, to carry out a feature of this Invention herein-before alluded to.

page_text: Figure 4 of the Drawings represents sewing machine needle having two cyes
arranged obliquely in opposite directions to the axis of the needle, the purpose in
thus arranging these eyes being, as before stated, to compel the parti-colored threads
to preserve their original relative positions with respect to each other, that is to
say, to make sure that each color is always upon the same side of the seam as in
starting.
Figure 5 represents two threads in one eye of a needle.
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention, and the manner of per-
forming the same, I would have it understood that I claim,-
First. In machine sewing two or more upper threads with one needle, whatever
the construction of the needle may be.
Second. In machine sewing the combination of two or upper threads with a
needle having two or more eyes.
Third. A sewing needle having two or more eyes in or near its point.
Fourth. In machine sewing two or more lower threads with one needle, whether
delivered from a single bobbin or two or more bobbins.
Fifth. A sewing needle having in or near its point two or more pairs of eyes
arranged obliquely in opposite directions to the axis of the needle.
Sixth. The combination with a sewing machine of two or more spool posts or
supports, whereby each spool is permitted to revolve and deliver its thread indepen-
dent of the other.
In witness whereof, I, the said Sydney Pitt, have hereunto set my hand and
scal, this Twenty-sixth day of November, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
SYDNEY PITT. (L.S.)