Improvements in Darning Implements.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Feb., 1897-Accepted, 12th June, 1897
Improvements in Darning Implements.
1, MARY STANLEY SCHAFOR, of No. 2857 North Paulina Street, Chicago,
United States of America, 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 :-
This invention relates to a darning implement which is used for darning rents or
apertures in garments, hosiery and the like; and the object of the invention is to
provide a simple implement of this character by means of which a rent may be
quickly and neatly darned.
The implement comprises in its construction a base or table having an opening
in its upper surface over which the rent or aperture in the article to be darned is
placed. A frame of the same contour as the table and fitting snugly to the sides
thereof and preferably composed of spring metal is placed upon the table over
the goods and by its resiliency clamps the fabric in place upon the table. The
frame carries three sets of hooks, one of which is stationary upon the frame and.
preferably formed integrally therewith. A second set of hooks are mounted upon
a head carried by the frame, which head is preferably adjustable to and from the
stationary set of hooks. A third set of books are carried by a rocking plate
pivotally mounted upon the frame, the latter set of hooks being adapted to work
between the stationary set of hooks, so as to carry the one set of the warp-threads
alternately above and below the other set.
The invention consists in the devices and combinations of devices which are
hereinafter described.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 is a plan view of the darning implement arranged for use.
Figure 2 is a side elevation showing the set of oscillating hooks raised.
Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional elevation showing the oscillating set of
hooks depressed, the dotted lines showing the raised position of the same hooks.
Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view.
Figure 5 is a perspective view showing the fabric to be mended clamped in place,
and
Figure 6 is a perspective view of a table of sheet metal.
In the drawings, A represents the outer frame, which is preferably made of sheet
metal, and may be stamped complete from a single piece. It has an opening in its
upper surface, and its vertical side members are adapted to embrace a table B,
which is of similar form, having an opening in its upper surface registering with
the opening in the outer frame. This table is also preferably constructed of sheet
metal stamped up in a single piece. The frame A is provided with a series of
hooks a, which are preferably formed integrally with the material of said frame.
These hooks are turned upwardly, and their extremities are oblique to the line of
their bodies and turn in the same direction.
C represents a plate pivoted upon the frame A by lugs R and which is provided
with a series of hooks c, which may be formed integrally with said plate, and
said series of hooks are adapted to work between the hooks a. Their points are
also turned obliquely to their bodies, but in opposite directions from the points of
the hooks a.
D represents an adjustable and movable head having the lugs H embracing the

page_text: sides of the frame and provided with a series of apertures adapted to engage with
the stud or button G on the frame A, so as to lock the adjustable heal in any
position to which it may be adjusted. The head D is provided with a series of
hooks d, whose points are turned upwardly over the bodies or shanks.
In use the fabric F. is first placed over the table with the rent to be mended
over the opening in such table. The outer frame is then placed over the fabric,
and thereby the latter is clamped to the table, holding it in place. The darning-
thread is passed up through the goods, so as to hold the end thereof, and then
the thread is passed back and forth over the three sets of hooks, it being carried
from over one of the hooks d, thence-around one of the hooks a and one of the
hooks c, and back and forth until the warp is laid across the rent. One set of the
warp-threads being raised by rocking the plate C, as shown in Figure 2, the thread
is carried across the rent between the two sets of warp-threads, being engaged
with the fabric at each side of the aperture. Then by rocking the plate and
depressing the elevated set of warp-threads and raising the other set the darning
progresses, the rocking of the plate C providing the shed for the passage of the
needle.
It will be noticed that the hooks a and are arranged parallel to the fabric and
in the same plane, and that the set of hooks c oscillate or vibrate, carrying one set
of the warp-threads alternately above and below the set which are held by the
hooks a. The movement need be slight only in order to provide the proper shed,
and this movement is imparted in a very easy and convenient manner by placing
the thumb upon the rocking plate, as shown in Figure 2 of the drawings, the move-
ment being quite natural and easily and quickly performed, and the work progresses
without lifting the thumb from the plate, while the implement may lie upon the
table, in the top, or be held in the hands.
I call particular attention to the peculiar construction of the hocks a and c, the
points of which are oppositely-turned, and which thereby prevent the threads
from slipping off as the plate is rocked to form the shed. I also consider it
important to provide the open table, so that the fingers of the operator may be
passed up under the fabric to assist in forcing the needle through the fabric at the
edges of the rent.
It will be obvious from the foregoing description that by means of this implement
the darning may be very neatly done. In commencing the weaving the thread is
first secured in the fabric by passing. it through the goods and catching the
alternate warp-threads, and the work is finished in like manner.
In removing the work from the implement the adjustable head is drawn back
until it is freed from the catch, when its hooks are disengaged from the warp-
threads, and then the table may be removed and the hooks carried by the outer
frame disengaged.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the
invention and in what manner. the same is to be performed,
claim is :-
nature of my said
declare that what I
1. A darning implement comprising in combination a table having an opening in
its upper surface, a frame fitting over the table having an opening registering with
the opening thereof and adapted to clamp the goods upon the table, a set of
stationary hooks carried by the frame at one end of the opening therein, a warp-
head adjustably mounted on the frame having a. set of hooks arranged at the
opposite side of said opening and a pivoted plate carrying the third set of hooks
adapted to work in the interspaces between the stationary set of hooks and to
alternately raise and depress one set of the warp-threads as said plate is rocked.
upon its pivot, the set of stationary hooks and the set of hooks on the pivoted
plate having their points laterally inclined at an angle to their bodies but in
opposite directions, substantially as described.
2. A darning implement comprising in combination, a table having an opening
in its top, a frame adapted to embrace the sides of the table and to clamp the
4

page_text: fabric to be mended thereon and provided with an opening in its upper surface
registering with that of the table, an adjustable warp-head carrying a set of hooks.
at one end of the table-opening, a set of hooks formed integrally with the frame
and projecting into the opening thereof and having their points turned laterally at.
an angle with their bodies and a pivoted plate mounted on the frame and having
a series of hooks adapted to work in the interspaces between the said set of
stationary books and having their points turned laterally at an angle to their
bodies but in the opposite direction to the points of the set of stationary hooks
with which they co-operate, substantially as and for the purposes described.
3. A darning implement comprising in combination, a table composed of sheet.
metal having an opening in its body, a skeleton frame also composed of sheet metal
and having flanged sides adapted to embrace the sides of the table and having an
opening adapted to register with the opening of the table and a series of hooks
formed integrally with the frame and projecting into the plane of said opening, a
warp-head mounted to slide upon the frame at the opposite end of said opening-
and having a series of apertures therein, a hook or lug upon said frame adapted to
engage the apertures and providing a fastening for the warp-head in the adjusted
position and a plate formed of sheet metal doubled upon itself pivoted upon the
frame and having integrally formed therewith a series of hooks to engage one set.
of the warp-threads and adapted by its oscillation to carry said set of warp-threads.
alternately above and below the warp-threads carried by the stationary hooks,.
substantially as and for the purposes described.
Dated this 9th day of Rohm 1807
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant..