Improvements in Darning Machines for Domestic Purposes.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 17th June, 1889
Complete Specification Left, 17th Mar., 1890-Accepted, 19th Apr., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Darning Machines for Domestic Purposes.
I ROBERT WOOTTON of Corporation Street, Birmingham, in the county of Warwick
Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in what are known as darning machines,
such machines being used for repairing hosiery, linen, and other fabrics, and its
object is to remove certain defects in those at present in use, and to simplify their
construction, use, and cost, by dispensing with clipping springs or bands, the
dispensing of hooks at each end; and facilitating the release of the warp at each
end when the darning is done; and affording increased rigidity in the parts when
in operation; the whole forming an arrangement by which the darning consists in
not merely connecting the outer surrounding edge of the darn to the old fabric, but
in which the whole of the surface remaining in the old fabric beneath the darn, may
be connected or darned thereto.
In constructing this my invention I proceed somewhat thus :-
A cork block is provided of a rectangular form having a well rounded or curved
surface upon its one side. I provide a rectangular frame of thin metal, and at one
end of the inner edge of this frame, 1 cut away intermittent portions slotwise; the
remaining prongs or portions are then turned over forming a series of eyes, through
the whole of which a pin or rod may be passed reaching from side to side of the
frame; the aforesaid slots being well cut away below the now formed eyes to afford
plenty of room at such part for the threading of the needle.
Again. I now form a slide which embraces the two sides of the aforesaid frame,
and slides longitudinally thereon from end to end of the inside of the said frame.
Upon the inner edge of this slide is also formed eyes, corresponding in number and
shape to those described upon the end of the frame, and is also furnished with a
rod or pin passing through the said eyes, and for the same purpose.
At the one end of the frame, and beneath the eyes, and also upon the underside
of the slide, are provided spikes or nails which are rigidly connected thereto.
The use and operation of this my invention would be after the following manner :
The block is placed beneath the hole to be darned. The slide upon the frame is
opened out or closed to suit the size of the said hole. The whole frame and slide,
is then spiked down at one operation on to the block holding the fabric firmly
thereon.
A needled thread &c. is threaded under the cross pin through the first hole at
the one end, and carried over to and under the pin, through the first slot at the
other end, then back over the said pin back to the second slot at the first end, and
so on from end to end, until the whole of the slots are used.
The woof or cross threads are now made by the needle, by first taking a stitch of
the old fabric, then passing the needle over and under the warp threads alternately,
taking care that where there is any of the old fabric left, the needle shall take hold
thereof when passing under a warp thread.
This process is carried on from end to end of the warp. Having done this, the
pins are each drawn away through the eyes, which at once sets the warp threads
free, when the entire frame and slide may be readily removed from the block.
Dated this 15th day of June 1889

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
Improvements in Darning Machines for Domestic Purposes.
I, ROBERT WOOTTON, of Corporation Street, Birmingham, in the county of
Warwick, Merchant, 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 improvements in what are known as darning machines,
such machines being used for repairing hosiery, linen, and other fabrics; and its
object is primarily, to remove certain defects in those at present in use, and to
simplify their construction, use and cost, by dispensing with clipping springs or bands;
the dispensing with hooks at each end; and facilitating the release of the warp at
each end when the darning is done; and affording increased rigidity in the parts
when in operation; the whole forming an arrangement by which the darning consists
in not merely connecting the outer surrounding edge of the darn to the old fabric,
but in which the whole of the surface remaining in the old fabric beneath the darn,
may be connected or darned thereto.
I will now proceed to more particularly describe how this my invention may be
performed, having reference to the accompanying illustrative sheet of drawings upon
which are figures and letters of reference, similar letters referring throughout the
several views to the same thing or part, and in which :-
Fig. 1, is a plan view, and Fig. 2 an end view of this my
Fig. 3, is a longitudinal section of Fig. 1, on line A-B.
Fig. 4, is a detailed view of the rod for each end of the warp.
invention.
Fig. 5, is an enlarged detail plan view of the "eyes" and "slots or openings, and
Fig. 6, is a sectional view on line C-D.
Fig. 7, is a detached end view of the slide.
In constructing this my invention, I proceed somewhat thus:-
A cork block a, is provided, of a rectangular form, having a well rounded or curved
surface upon its one side. I provide a rectangular frame b, of thin metal, and at one
end of the inner edge of this frame, I cut away intermittent portions c, slotwise; the
remaining prongs d, are then turned over forming a series of eyes, through the whole
of which a pin or rod e, may be passed, reaching from side to side of the frame, see
Fig. 1; the aforesaid slots c, being well cut away below the now formed eyes, to
afford plenty of room at such part for the passing thereunder of the needle and
thread.
Again. I now form a slide f, which embraces the two sides of the aforesaid frame,
as seen for instance in Figs. 1, 2 & 7, and slides longitudinally thereon along the
said frame b. Upon the inner edge of this slide f, are also formed eyes d', and
slots c¹, corresponding in number and shape to those described upon the one end of
the frame, these eyes being also furnished with a rod or pin e¹, passing through the
said eyes d', and for the same purpose.
At each end of the frame b, and also upon the underside of the slide f, are provided
spikes or nails g, which are rigidly connected thereto.
The use and operation of this my invention would be after the following manner :
The block a, is placed beneath the hole to be darned. The slide f, upon the
frame, is opened out or closed to suit the size of the said hole. The whole frame
and slide together, is then spiked down at one operation on to the block a,
thereby holding the fabric firmly thereon.
A needled thread, worsted, silk &c., according to the character of the work in
hand, is threaded under the cross pin e, through the first hole at h, at the one
end, and carried over and under the pin e¹, through the first slot at the other
end; then back over the said pin e, into the second slot at the first end, and so
on from. end to end, until the whole of the slots are used.
The woof or cross threads are now made by the darning needle, by first taking
a stitch of the old fabric at the one side of the hole to be repaired, then passing

page_text: the needle over and under the warp threads alternately, taking care that where
there is any of the old fabric left, the needle shall take hold thereof when passing
under a warp thread.
This process is carried on from end to end of the warp. Having done this, the
pins e, & e¹, are each drawn away through the eyes d, & d, which at once sets
the warp threads free, when the entire frame b, and slide f, may be readily
removed from the block a.
Having now 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 1
claim is :-
1st. The rectangular frame b, carrying the eyes d & d', or their equivalents, for the
warp, substantially as described and shown upon the drawings.
2nd. The combination with the frame b, of a sliding warp carrier f, substantially as
described and shown.
3rd. The combination with the warp carrying eyes d, & d¹, of the releasing pins e,
&e, substantially as described and shown.
4th. The general combination and arrangement of parts constituting this my
improved darner, as herein before set forth and illustrated; that is to say, the com-
bination with the block a, of the frame b, slide f, releasing pins e, e³, and fixed
securing prongs g.
Dated this 15th day of March 1890
CHARLES T. POWELL,
12, Cherry Street, Birmingham, Applicant's Agent.