AN IMPROVEMENT IN NEEDLES ADAPTED FOR HAND USE
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alfred Rice Allwood and Marshall Allwood, both of
Alcester, in the County of Warwick, Needle Manufacturers, for the Invention
of "AN IMPROVEMENT IN NEEDLES ADAPTED FOR HAND USE."
Sealed the 7th January 1879, and dated-the 13th July 1878,
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alfred Rice Allwood and
Marshall Allwood at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 13th
July 1878.
ALFRED RICE ALLWOOD and MARSHALL ALLWOOD, both of Alcester, in
the County of Warwick, Needle Manufacturers. "AN IMPROVEMENT IN NEEDLES
ADAPTED FOR HAND USE."
Our Invention relates to sewing needles, and has for its object to render them
capable of being more readily drawn through the material being sewn when in
ordinary use.
When a needle provided with thread is being drawn through the material the
loop of thread at the eye end of the needle obstructs to some extent the withdrawal
of the needle. To remedy this defect, or to lessen the said obstruction, is the object
of our Invention. To this end we form a groove or channel on each side of the
needle, extending from the eye rearwards to the end of the needle, the intention
being that the thread shall lie in the said grooves, and that the grooves shall be so
deep as that the whole, or nearly the whole, of the thread in one of the grooves
shall be below the higher edges of the groove.
In order that the grooves may be made sufficiently deep we lengthen the portion
of the needle extending from the eye to the rear end of the needle, so that there
may be sufficient strength in the part between the bottoms of the two grooves.
We may also increase the thickness of the eye end of the needle, that is to say,
the depth of the eye, in order that deeper grooves may be obtained.
When a needle so formed is in use the upper edges of the grooves keep the thread
from contact with the fibres of the material being sewn, or prevent such contact to
a greater extent than in the case of an ordinary needle, and the said edges being of
polished metal are drawn through the said material with greater ease as compared
with an ordinary needle.
Our Invention is applicable in the formation of sewing, darning, packing, and
other similar descriptions of needles.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Alfred Rice Allwood and Marshall Allwood in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 13th January 1879.
ALFRED RICE ALLWOOD and MARSHALL ALLWOOD, both of Alcester, in the
County of Warwick, Needle Manufacturers. "AN IMPROVEMENT IN NEEDLES
ADAPTED FOR HAND USE."
Our Invention relates to sewing needles, and has for its object to render them
capable of being more readily drawn through the material being sewn when in
ordinary use.
When a needle provided with thread is being drawn through the material
the loop of thread at the eye end of the needle obstructs to some extent
the withdrawal of the needle. To remedy this defect, or to lessen the said obstruc-
tion is the object of our Invention. To this end we form a groove or channel on
each side of the needle extending from the eye rearwards to the end of the needle,
the intention being that the thread shall lie in the said grooves, and that the
grooves shall be so deep as that the whole, or nearly the whole of the thread in one
of the grooves shall be below the higher edges of the groove.
In order that the grooves may be made sufficiently deep we lengthen the portion
of the needle extending from the eye to the rear end of the needle, so that there
may be sufficient strength in the part between the bottoms of the two grooves.
And in order that the nature of our said Invention may be fully understood we
have appended hereunto a Sheet of Drawings, to which we will now refer.
Figs. 1 and 2 represent a needle made in accordance with our Invention. In
order to obtain greater clearness we have drawn the said needle to a greatly
enlarged scale, but it will be understood that the needles are made of ordinary or
suitable sizes.
Fig. 3 represents a cross section taken at A, in Fig. 1.
The eye of the needle is represented at b; the portion of the needle extending
from this eye to the end c is proportionately longer than in needles of ordinary
construction, and in each side of this portion we form a deep groove, as indicated
at d, d, in Fig. 3. The said grooves are in line with the eye, and are intended to
be sufficiently deep to entirely, or nearly entirely, contain the sewing thread or
material.
If the part from the eye to c were of the ordinary length the strength of this
part would be excessively reduced by reason of the depth of the said two grooves,
and we therefore increase the length of the said part in order to compensate for the
central reduction in the thickness of the said part.
When a needle so formed is in use the upper edges of the grooves keep the thread
from contact with the fibres of the material being sewn, or prevent such contact to
a greater extent than in the case of an ordinary needle, and the said edges being of
polished metal are drawn through the said material with greater ease as compared
with an ordinary needle.
Fig. 4 represents a portion of one of our improved needles when threaded, Fig. 5
being a similar view of an ordinary needle.
It will be seen that in the example illustrated by Fig. 4 the thread will offer
little or no resistance to the passage of the needle through the fabric, whereas in
the example illustrated by Fig. 5 the shoulders at e, e, formed by the loop of thread,
will be obstructive to the passage of the needle.
If it be considered to be necessary or desirable we may increase the thickness of
the eye and of the needle in order that deeper grooves may be obtained, and that
the thread may thereby be better protected.
Our Invention is applicable in the formation of sewing, darning, packing, and
other similar descriptions of needles.
Having now fully set forth and indicated the nature of the said Invention, and
the manner in which we carry the same into practical effect, we would have it to
be understood in conclusion that we claim,-

page_text: First. The formation of the eye ends of needles, substantially as and for the
purposes set forth and indicated herein-before, and in and by the accompanying
Drawings.
Secondly. The deep grooves d, d, substantially as and for the purpose set forth
and indicated.
And, lastly. The lengthened end from 6 to c, formed with two deep grooves,
substantially as and for the purpose set forth and indicated.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alfred Rice Allwood, for myself and on behalf
of the said Marshall Allwood, have hereunto set my hand and seal, this
Eleventh day of January, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and seventy-nine.
5
Signed, sealed, and delivered
by
the within-named
Alfred Rice Allwood in
the presence of
GEO. DUKES,
Accountant,
Alcester.
A. R. ALLWOOD. (L.S.)