IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF NEEDLES EMPLOYED IN MAKING LOOPED FABRICS, AND KNOWN AS 'LATCH' OR "TUMBLER' NEEDLES
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Reuben Grimes, of Leicester, in the County of Leicester,
Overlooker to Messieurs George and John William Padmore, Hosiery Manu-
facturers, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF
NEEDLES EMPLOYED IN MAKING LOOPED FABRICS, AND KNOWN AS 'LATCH' OR
"TUMBLER' NEEDLES."
Sealed the 18th July 1876, and dated the 22nd May 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Reuben Grimes at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 22nd May 1876.
REUBEN GRIMES, of Leicester, in the County of Leicester, Overlooker to Messieurs
George and John William Padmore, Hosiery Manufacturers. IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE MANUFACTURE OF NEEDLES EMPLOYED IN MAKING LOOPED FABRICS, AND
KNOWN AS LATCH' OR 'TUMBLER' NEEDLES."
"
The Invention has for its object improvements in the manufacture of needles
employed in making looped fabrics, and known as "latch or "tumbler" needles,
in order to make a stronger needle and one less liable to injure the work than
those constructed as heretofore.
"
"3
For this purpose, instead of perforating the stem of the needle as heretofore
to receive the pin or rivet on which the "latch or "tumbler" turns, I do
not make any aperture in the stem of the needle, except at the upper part,
where I form a groove or opening somewhat larger than that usually made,
and I rivet the latch or "tumbler " in a separate piece of steel or other
suitable metal grooved and formed like a portion of the ordinary "latch" or
"tumbler" needle. This piece carrying the "latch" or "tumbler" is shaped to fit
the groove formed in the needle, and is then soldered therein at its ends, after
which the surplus solder is removed. In some cases in order to enable a smaller
grooved piece to be employed for carrying the "tumbler" or "latch" the stem of
the needle may be perforated from the front groove through the back, the piece
carrying the latch or "tumbler" is then placed in position and soldered therein
from the back of the needle. A somewhat similar effect may be obtained by taking
an ordinary" latch" or "tumbler" needle and fixing a grooved piece of metal on
the outside of the stem of the needle to cover the sides and back of that portion
in which the groove is formed.
By this Invention the needle is made stronger around the groove where the
latch is fixed, and the rivet or pin on which the "
"latch" or "tumbler" turns
is prevented working loose, whilst the exterior of the needle is-made smooth and
clean, thereby preventing injury and delay to the work.

page_text: Figure 1 is a side view, and Figure 2 is a plan view of a "latch" or "tumbler'
needle constructed according to iny Invention and having no perforation through
the stem thereof. Figure 3 is a side view, and Figure 4 is a plan view of a similar
needle before the latch or tumbler is fixed thereto, and Figure 5 is a side view,
and Figure 6 is a plan view separately of the latch or tumbler and part to which
it is pin-jointed. Figures 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12 are similar views to those above
described of a "latch or "tumbler" needle constructed according to my Invention,
but having a small perforation in the under side of the stem thereof. The Drawings
represent the needles to a much larger scale than their real size.
According to my Invention I do not perforate the stein a of the needle as
heretofore to receive the pin or rivet on which the "latch" or "tumbler" b turns,
nor do I make any aperture in the stem a of the needle, except at the upper part,
where I form a groove or opening a somewhat larger than that usually made, and
I rivet the latch or tumbler b in a separate piece c of steel or other suitable metal
grooved and formed somewhat like a portion of the ordinary latch or tumbler
needle. This piece c carrying the latch or tumbler b is shaped to fit the groove
formed in the stem of the needle, and is then soldered therein at its ends, after
which the surplus solder is removed and the needle suitably smoothed and finished.
In some cases in order to enable a smaller grooved piece c to be employed for
carrying the "tumbler "or" latch "b the stem of the needle may be perforated from
the front groove or opening a¹ through the back, as shown at a², see Figures 7 to 12,
in which case the piece c carrying the "latch" or "tumbler" is placed in position
in the groove or opening a¹ and soldered therein from the back of the needle

page_text: through the aperture a², after which the excess of solder is removed and the needle
smoothed and finished. A somewhat similar effect may be obtained by taking an
ordinary "latch" or "tumbler" needle and fixing a grooved piece of metal on the
outside of the stem of the needle to cover the sides and back, and to strengthen
that portion in which the groove is formed, taking care to carefully smooth the
surfaces of the parts. I have not, however, thought it necessary to illustrate this
last described mode of carrying my Invention into effect, as such will be readily
understood by the description above given.
"
"
By this Invention the needle is made stronger around the groove where the latch
is fixed, and the rivet or pin on which the "latch or tumbler" turns is prevented
working loose, whilst the exterior of the needle is made smooth and clean, thereby
preventing injury and delay to the work, as is frequently caused by the loosening
and shifting of the pin or rivet and by the roughness of the needle caused at the
ends of the pin or rivet.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention and the mode in which
I carry the same into effect, I would have it understood that what I claim is—
"
First. The construction of "latch" or "tumbler " needles by rivetting the "latch'
or "tumbler" in a separate piece of steel or other metal fitted into a groove formed
in the stem of the needle and soldered therein, either from the front or back, in
mauner and for the purpose substantially as herein shown and described.
And, secondly. I claim fixing to the exterior of an ordinary "latch" or "tumbler'
needle at the sides and back of the groove thereof a grooved piece of metal shaped
to fit the same in manner and for the purpose substantially as herein-described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Reuben Grimes, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Fifteenth day of November, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-six.
REUBEN GRIMES. (L.S.)