IMPROVEMENTS IN THE NEEDLE BARS OF SEWING MACHINES, AND IN NEEDLES TO BE USED WITH THE SAID NEEDLE BARS
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Cook, of Redditch, in the County of Worcester,
Machinist, and Samuel Hill, of Redditch aforesaid, Machinist, for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE NEEDLE BARS OF SEWING MACHINES, AND IN
NEEDLES TO BE USED WITH THE SAID NEEDLE BARS."
Sealed the 10th May 1878, and dated the 4th December 1971.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Cook and Samuel Hill
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 4th December 1877.
WILLIAM COOK, of Redditch, in the County of Worcester, Machinist, and Samuel
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE NEEDLE BARS
HILL, of Redditch aforesaid, Machinist.
OF SEWING MACHINES, AND IN NEEDLES TO BE USED WITH THE SAID NEEDLE
BARS."
The objects of our Invention are to effect the ready and secure connection of the
sewing machine needle to and its disconnection from the needle bar of the sewing
machine, as well as to effect the "setting" of the needle in the bar, that is, the fixing
of the needle in its proper position with respect to the said bar. We effect these
objects by constructing the needle bars and the sewing machine needles to be used
with the said bars in the manner herein-after described.
We make in the holding end of the needle bar a cylindrical axial hole of a size
proper to receive the head or shank of the needle. Working in a hole across the end
of the needle bar is a small cylindrical bolt pressed upon either by a flat spring, or
by a coiled spring. A portion of the bolt projects from the bar, and constitutes a
pusher for releasing the bolt; or a knob or head may be made on the projecting
end of the bolt. A screw stop taking into a hole in the bolt limits its motion.
Passing through the spring bolt described and near one end is an elliptical opening,
the said elliptical opening when the bolt is in its normal position coinciding with
the axial hole in the needle bar. At that side of the elliptical opening in the bolt
most distant from the push head of the bolt is a rib or shoulder, which projects a
short distance across the elliptical opening in the bolt.

page_text: We make at the head or enlarged shank of the sewing machine needle a bevil or
incline, and below the said bevelled part of the head, and on the same side of the
needle we make a cross groove of a size proper to take upon or engage with the rib
or shoulder described in the elliptical opening of the spring bolt in the needle bar
In connecting the needle to the needle bar, and "setting" or fixing it therein in
the proper position, the needle is introduced into the axial hole in the needle bar in
such a position that its bevelled head is presented to the rib or shoulder in the bolt.
When the needle is introduced into the needle bar in the position described, the
bevelled head of the needle bearing against the rib or shoulder in the cross bolt
presses back the said bolt until the cross groove in the needle comes opposite
the said rib, when the bolt advances by the action of its spring, and the rib or
shoulder in the said bolt snaps into the cross groove in the needle, and fixes the
needle securely in the needle bar in the required position for use
Should the needle be introduced into the needle bar otherwise than in the position
described the cross bolt cannot be forced back, and the entrance of the needle is
thereby prevented. Hence the fixing and "setting" of the needle are effected by
one and the same action. In order to release the needle it is only necessary to
press upon the push head of the cross bolt to withdraw the shoulder or rib from the
cross groove in the needle, when the latter may be removed.
Instead of an incline or bevel at the head of the needle for pushing back the cross
bolt in the needle bar, the extreme end of the head may be made conical for the
same purpose.
In order to facilitate the introduction of the needle into the needle bar in the
proper position for fastening it in the said bar we make across the end of the needle
bar a radial guide slot, which opens into the axial hole in the said needle bar. The
passing of the needle through the guide slot described facilitates its introduction in
the proper position for fastening it in the needle bar.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Cook and Samuel Hill in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 17th May 1878.
WILLIAM COOK, of Redditch, in the County of Worcester, Machinist, and SAMUEL
HILL, of Redditch aforesaid, Machinist. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE NEEDLE BARS
OF SEWING MACHINES, AND IN NEEDLES TO BE USED WITH THE SAID NEEDLE
BARS."
The objects of our Invention are to effect the ready and secure connection of the
sewing machine needle to and its disconnection from the needle bar of the sewing
machine, as well as to effect the "setting" of the needle in the bar, that is, the
fixing of the needle in its proper position with respect to the said bar. We effect
these objects by constructing the needle bars and the sewing machine needles to
be used with the said bars in the manner herein-after described.
We make in the holding end of the needle bar a cylindrical axial hole of a size
proper to receive the head or shank of the needle. Working in a hole across the
end of the neodle bar is a small cylindrical bolt, pressed upon either by a flat spring
or by a coiled spring. A portion of the bolt projects from the bar, and constitutes
a pusher for releasing the bolt; or a knob or head may be made on the projecting
end of the bolt. A stop taking into a hole in the bolt limits its motion Passing
through the spring bolt described and near one end is an opening, the said opening.
when the bolt is in its normal position, coinciding with the axial hole in the needle
bar. At that side of the opening in the bolt most distant from the push or projecting
head of the bolt is a rib or shoulder.
We make at the head or shank of the sewing machine needle a bevel or incline,
and below the said bevilled part of the head wo make a cross groove of a size proper
to take upon or engage with the rib or shoulder described in the opening of the
spring bolt in the needle bar.
In connecting the needle to the needle bar, and "setting" or fixing it therein in
the proper position, the needle is introduced into the axial hole in the needle bai
in such a position that its bevelled head is presented to the rib or shoulder in the
bolt. When the needle is introduced into the needle bar in the position described,
the bevelled head of the needle bearing against the rib or shoulder in the cross bolt
presses back the said bolt until the cross groove in the needle comnes opposite the
said rib, when the bolt advances by the action of its spring, and the rib or shoulder
in the said bolt snaps into the cross groove in the needle, and fixes the needle securely
in the needle bar in the required position for use.
Should the needle be introduced into the needle bar otherwise than in the position
described the cross bolt cannot be forced back, and the entrance of the needle is
thereby prevented. Hence the fixing and "setting" of the needle in the needle bar
are effected by one and the same action. In order to release the needle it is only
necessary to press upon the push head of the cross bolt to withdraw the shoulder or
rib from the cross groove in the needle, when the latter may be removed.
Instead of an incline or bevel at the head of the needle for pushing back the
cross bolt in the needle bar, the extreme end of the head inay be made conical for
the same purpose.
Figure 1 represents in side elevation a portion of the needle bar of a sewing
machine, and a needle connected thereto, the said needle bar and needle being con-
structed according to our Invention.
Figures 2 and 3 represent the same partly in section, Figure 2 showing the needlo
fixed in the bar, and Figure 3 the needle released therefrom, and ready to be with-
drawn.
Figures 4 and 5 represent back and front elevations of the same; and Figure 6 is
a cross section of the same taken through the spring bolt.
Figure 7 represents a plan, section and elevations of opposite sides of the spring
bolt separately.

page_text: Figure represents, partly in elevation and parmy in section, a
the needle bar.
Figures 9, 10, and 11 represent our improved sewing machine needles to be used
with the needle bars represented.
The needle bars and needles represented are drawn double the ordinary sizo, but
the sizes of the said bars and needles vary with the sizes of the machines with which
they are used.
The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in the several Figures of the
Drawings.
In the holding end of the needle bar a a cylindrical axial hole b is made of a size
proper to receive the head or shank of the sewing machine needle. Working in a
hole across the end of the needle bar a is a small cylindrical bolt d, pressed upon
either by a flat spring f, as represented in Figures 2, 3, and 5, or by a coiled spring
g working in a box or case, as represented in Figure 8. A portion of the bolt d
projects from one side of the needle bar a, and constitutes a pusher for releasing the
said bolt; or a knob or head may be made on the projecting end of the bolt, as repre-
sented in Figure 8. A stop h taking into a hole in the bolt & limits its notion (sec
Figure 6). In the said spring bolt d, and near one end, is an opening i, the said
opening, when the bolt is in its normal or fastening position, coinciding with the
axial hole b in the needle bar a. At that side of the opening i in the bolt d, most
distant from the push or projecting head of the said bolt, is a cross rib oi shoulder k,
which when the bolt is in its normal or fastening position projects a short distance
across the axial hole b in the needle bar (see Figure 2). At the head or shank of
the sewing machine needle a bevil or incline is made, and below the said bevilled
part of the head and on the side of the needle a cross groove m is made of a size
proper to take upon or engage with the rib or shouldor k in the opening i of the
spring bolt d in the needle bar
In connecting the needle to the needle bai a, and "setting" or fixing it therein
in the proper position, the needle is introduced into the axial hole b in the needle
bar in such a position that its bevilled head 2 is presented to the rib or shoulder /
on the bolt d. When the needle is introduced into the needle bar in the position
described, the bevilled head of the needle bearing against the rib or shoulder k in
the cross bolt presses back the said bolt, and the said bolt is held in that position
until the cross groove m in the needle comes opposite the said rib or shoulder, when
the bolt advances by the action of its spring for g, and the rib or shoulder in the
said bolt snaps into the said groove m in the needle, and fixes the needlo securely in
the needle bar in the required position for use, as best seen in Figures 2, 6, and 8.
Should the needle be introduced into the needle bar otherwise than in the position
described and represented the cross bolt a cannot be forced back by the needle, as
the head of tho needle will abut against the bottom of the shoulder k, and the
entrance of the needle k is thereby prevented. Hence the fixing and "setting" of
the needle in the needle bar are effected by one and the same action
In order to release the needle from the needle bar it is only necessary to press upon
the push or projecting head of the bolt d to withdraw its shoulder or rib & from the
cross groove m in the needle, as represented in Figure 3, when the needle is unfas-
tened, and may be removed from the needle bar.
Instead of an incline or bevil at the head of the needle having either of the
forms represented in Figures 9 and 10, for pushing back the cross bolt in the needle
bar, the extreme end of the head of the needle may be made conical for the same
purpose. This modification of the head of the needle is represented in Figure 11,
where the conical head is marked n.
Having now described the nature of our Invention, and the manner in which the
same is to be performed, we wish it to be understood that we claim as our Invention,
the improvements in the needle bars of sewing machines, and in needles to be used
with the said needle bars, herein-before described and illustrated in the accompanying
Drawing, whereby the ready and secure connection of the needle to and its discon-
nection from the needle bar, as well as the "setting" of the needle in the said bar

page_text: are effected, that is to say, the adaptation to or combination with the needle bar of
a spring sliding bolt, constructed substantially as described and illustrated, and
bevilling or inclining or making conical the head of the needle for pushing back the
said bolt, and furnishing the said needle with a cross groove for the bolt to snap in
or engage with for fastening the needle in the bar, substantially as described and
illustrated.
In witness whereof, we, the said William Cook and Samuel Hill, have hereunto
set our hands and seals, this Fifteenth day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
Witness,
WILLIAM GAZEY,
Needle Warehouseman,
No. 10, Henbuts Street,
Redditch.
WILLIAM COOK. (LS)
SAMUEL HILL.
(L.S.)