Improvements in Apparatus for Darning Stockings and other like Fabrics.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd July, 1889
Complete Specification Left, 1st Apr., 1890-Accepted, 31st May, 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Darning Stockings and other
like Fabrics.
We JOHN MACKENZIE of Egglescliffe, Yarm-on-Tees in the county of Durham,
Engineer, and WILLIAM ARMSTRONG of Yarm-on-Tees aforesaid Plumber do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Our present invention relates to an apparatus used for the purpose of darning or
mending stockings or other domestic fabrics, and consists of a plain frame preferably
stamped out of sheet brass or other suitable metal and made of a suitable size and
shape so as to go either within the stocking or under the portion of the fabric
required to be repaired or darned. A suitably formed upper frame which is also
preferably stamped out of metal is arranged to fit on the outside of the portion of
stocking or other fabric required to be mended, and it may be pressed upon tho
inner or under frame in such a manner that the portion of fabric is suitably stretched
between the same and thereby secured at the required tension.
The upper frame is constructed with a suitable warp plate which may be either
made with or attached to one end thereof, and the said plate is constructed with a
suitable number of fixed hooks for the purpose of taking up or holding the looped
ends of the warp in the usual manner, and these hooks are preferably made in one
with said plate. The warp plate is so attached to or made with the upper frame that
the hooked portion thereof presses down upon the material or fabric being repaired,
and this may be attained either by means of a spring or in any other suitable manner.
The warp plate is also made with a suitable corrugation or recess for the purpose
of receiving an improved shedder hereinafter described when the same be not in use.
In order to lift the alternate threads of the warp we employ an improved shedder
which is preferably stamped out of suitable sheet steel or other metal. Our
improved shedder is arranged with any number of teeth or serrations formed prefer-
ably at equal distances apart so as to suit the distance of each alternate thread of
the warp on the one side and on the other. Each end of said shedder is somewhat
reduced in thickness and formed with a neck or parallel portion for the purpose of
resting in two bearings one formed on the one side of upper frame and the other on
the opposite side thereof, and both arranged near the warp plate or hooks. Our
improved shedder has also a suitable handle or lever preferably bent downwards and
of a suitable shape so as to be easy cf manipulation. The mode of working our
improved apparatus is as follows:-The lower or inner frame is first placed under
the portion of fabric to be repaired or darned and the material or fabric is stretched
over the same to the necessary tension, the upper frame is then pressed over said
fabric and tight on to lower frame thus the fabric is held firmly between the two
frames. We then secure a darning or other like needle, and thread the same with
cotton or other material desired to be used, then we make a stitch with the same
through the fabric and at a suitable distance opposite one of the end hooks of the
warp plate, we then carry the said cotton or material up to said hook, loop it round,
and bring it back and make another stitch alongside the one already made, and we
proceed in this way until the whole of the warp required to be arranged is complete;
then we place our improved shedder under the warp so formed in such a position
that one serration thereof receives the upward thread of the warp, and the opposite
serration receives the downward thread. The said shedder rests in or is carried by
the bearings before mentioned. The woof or weft is now made in the following
manner The handle or lever of the shedder is pressed in one direction thus causing
one serration thereof together with a series of warp threads to rise, and the alternate
series thereof to simultaneously lower. A stitch is now made in the material on the

page_text: outer side of the warp and near the lower part thereof, after which the needle with
the cotton is freely passed between the alternate threads of the warp and a stitch
is again made on the opposite side; the shedder lever, or handle is then pressed in
the opposite direction thus reversing the positions of the threads of the warp that is
to say bringing uppermost the threads which were beneath and vice versa; a stitch
is again made in the fabric and the needle passed back again between the reversed
threads of the warp, and -a.stitch is then made in the fabric-every-time before passing
the needle between the warp, by which means any degree of compactness of fabric
may be secured. After thus forming the whole of the woof the shedder is removed
and placed in the corrugation or recess within or under the warp plate and then the
darn or portion of fabric repaired is stitched down and completed in the ordinary
manner.
Dated thin to dow... 1000
H. F. BOUGHTON, M.I.M.E.,
Barnsley,
Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements.in Apparatus for Darning Stockings and other
like Fabrics.
We JOHN MACKENZIE of Egglescliffe Yarm-on-Tees in the county of Durham
Engineer and WILLIAM ARMSTRONG of Yarm-on-Tees aforesaid Plumber, 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:-
Our present invention relates to an apparatus used for the purpose of darning or
mending stockings or other domestic fabrics and consists of a plain frame preferably
stamped out of sheet brass or other suitable metal and made of a suitable size and
shape so as to go either within the stocking or under the portion of fabric to he
repaired or darned. A suitably formed upper frame which is also preferably stamped
out of metal is arranged to fit on the outside of the portion of stocking or other
fabric required to be mended and it may be pressed upon the inner or under frame
in such a manner that the portion of fabric is suitably stretched between the same
and thereby secured at the required tension. The upper frame is constructed with
a suitable warp plate which may be either made with or attached to one end thereof
and the said plate is constructed with a suitable number of fixed hooks for the
purpose of taking up or holding the looped ends of the warp in the usual::manner
and these hooks are preferably made in one with said plate.
The warp plate is so attached to or made with the upper frame that the hooked
portion thereof presses down upon the material or fabric being repaired this may be
attained either by means of a spring or in any other suitable manner. The warp
plate is also made with a suitable corrugation or recess for the purpose of receiving
an improved shedder hereinafter described when the same be not in use.
In order to lift the alternate threads of the warp we employ an improved shedder
-which we preferably stamp-out of suitable sheet steel or other metal. Our improved
shedder is arranged with any number of teeth or serrations formed preferably at
equal distances apart so as to suit the distance of each alternate thread of the warp
on the one side and on the other. Each end of said shedder is somewhat reduced
in thickness and formed with a neck or parallel portion for the purpose of resting in
two 'bearings one formed on the one side of the upper frame and the other on the
opposite side thereof and both arranged near the warp plate or hooks. Our improved
shedder has also a suitable handle or lever preferably bent downwards and of a
suitable shape so as to be easy of manipulation.
In order that our present invention may be fully understood and so that it may be
readily carried into effect we will proceed to describe the same by the aid of the
drawings annexed.
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of our improved apparatus fig. 2 a plan

page_text: of same:and figs. 3 and 4 front elevations of the improved shedders which are useil
therewith.
Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional elovation fig. 6 a plan and fig. 7.an inverted plan
of a modification of our apparatus and fig. 8 is a longitudinal elevation and 'fig. 9:an
inverted plan of another modification thereof.
Like letters with numerals of reference denote corresponding parts in each view.
Referring to figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4. The plain frame A is preferably stamped out of a
piece of sheet brass or other metal and is made in form shown so as to go within a
stocking or under the portion of fabric which is required to be repaired. The frame C is
also stainped out of sheet metal and it is arranged to fit on the outside of the portion of
stocking or other fabric Brand it is pressed upon the frame in such a manner that
the fabric B is suitably stretched between the said frames and thereby secured at the
required tension. The frame C is constructed with a warp plate which has either
made with or attached to it a number of fixed hooks or pins which are for the
purpose of taking up or holding the looped ends d' of the warp D. The warp
plate is so attached to or made with the frame that the hooks or pins
caused to press down towards or upon the fabric B and this may befattained. by means
of the spring E figs 1 and 2 or in any other convenient manner.
are
The said warp plate c is also made with a suitable corrugation or recess c³ which is
for the purpose of receiving the shedder G when the same be not in use.
In order to lift the alternate threads of the warp D we employ a shedder G. which
is preferably stamped out of suitable sheet steel or other metal.
The shedder G is arranged with any number of teeth or serrations g', g², which are
formed preferably at equal distances apart and at a distance to suit the alternate
threads of the warp D. Each end 93 of the shedder G may be somewhat reduced in
thickness as shown at, fig. 3.and one portion thereof may be formed with a crank g*.
When using the shedder G shown at fig. 3 we arrange two suitable bearings et which
are formed with or fixed to the frame near the pins or hooks c³ see nig. 2 in order
to receive the reduced ends g³ of said shedder G and the handle g' hangs over so.as
..to become easy for manipulation.
In the modification shown at figs. 5, 6 and 7 the warp plate c² is made with or
attached to the plate C which in this case is preferably made solid and the hookstor
pins point.in the direction shown.
Suitable staples and care stamped out or .attached to the underside of frame C
in.order to receive the shedder G. when the same be not in use see fig. 7.
In the modification shown at figs. 8 and 9 we dispense with the frame. A and
employ the frame C only which has one end thereof used as the warp plate cand
made with pins or hooks e³ and its flange is serrated or formed with pointed
projections c'. Suitable staples c and care formed on or stamped out of the frame:C
for the purpose of receiving the shedder G when not in use.
The mode of working our improved apparatus is as follows
10
is
With reference to figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4 the frame A is placed under the portion of
fabric B which is stretched over the same to the necessary tension. The frame
then pressed over the fabric B and tight onto the frame A thus the fabric B is held
securely between the two frames. We then secure a darning or other like needle
and thread the same with cotton or other material required to be used then we make
a stitch with the same through the fabric B at a suitable distance opposite one of
the hooks or pins we then carry the said cotton or material up to the hook or
pin loop it round and bring it back and make another stitch in the fabric B
alongside the one already made and we proceed in this way until the whole of the
warp required to be arranged is complete then we place our improved shedder G
under the warp D so formed and arrange it so that one serrated part g' receives the
upward threads of the warp D and the serrated part g2 receives the downward threads
of the warp. The shedder G is then turned so as to rest on its edge or in a
horizontal position and thus causes one series of warp threads D to rise and the
alternate series thereof to simultaneously lower. A stitch is made in the fabric B on
the outer side as shown at d' fig. 2 after which the needle with the cotton or wool.is

page_text: freely passed between the alternate threads of warp D and then a stitch is made on
the opposite side at d². The shedder G is then turned over either by means of the
handle g where a shedder G like that shown at fig. 3 is used or by means of just
taking hold of the end of such a shedder as shown at 6g. 4 by which means the
position of the threads of the warp D is reversed that is to say the shedder G brings
uppermost the threads which were beneath and vice versa. A stitch again is made
in the fabric and the needle passed back again between the reversed alternate threads
of the warp D a stitch is then made in the fabric B every time before passing the
needle between the warp threads by which means any degree of compactness of fabric
may be secured. After forming in this manner the whole of the woof d³ the
shedder G is removed and may be placed in the recess or corrugation c² and then
the darn or portion of fabric repaired is stitched down and completed in the
ordinary manner.
With reference to figs. 5, 6 and 7 the fabric B is stretched over the frame C with
the hooks or pins ca extending through said fabric and the warp and woof is
completed and the fabric B repaired in the manner before described with reference to
figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4.
Referring to figs. 8 and 9 the fabric B is stretched over the frame C with the
pins or hooks c³ extending through it and it is held suitably stretched by means of
the serrated flanges c' the warp and woof is then formed and the fabric B repaired
in a similar manner to that described with reference to figs. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is
1. In apparatus used for darning or mending stockings or other like fabrics tho
use of frames A and C in combination with a warp plate c¹ pins or hooks c³ and a
shedder G substantially as described and shown at figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4 of the drawings
annexed.
2. In apparatus used for darning or mending stockings or other like fabrics the
use of frames A and C in combination with a warp plate c' having hooks or pins ca
and a shedder G substantially as described and shown at figs. 5, 6 and 7 of the
drawings hereunto attached.
3. In apparatus used for darning stockings or other like fabrics the use of a frame C.
having serrated flanges c and warp pins or hook c³ in combination with a shedder G
substantially as described and illustrated at figs. 8 and 9 of the drawings affixed
hereto.
4. In apparatus used for the purpose specified the use of a shedder G for lifting
the alternate threads of the warp D substantially as described and illustrated in the
drawings accompanying this specification.
Dated this 28th day of March 1890.
H. F. BOUGHTON, M.I. Mech. E.,
Barnsley & Sheffield, Agent.