Improved Method of 'Sewing Books, and Stitching-needle therefor.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Dec., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 11th June, 1892-Accepted 23rd July, 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Method of 'Sewing Books, and Stitching-needle therefor.
I, JULIUS THEODOR OTTO ORTLOFF of Heidelberg, in the Grand Duchy of
Baden, Empire of Germany, Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows
My invention relates to a new and improved method of sewing books by the aid
of a specially constructed stitching-needle, and the object of my improvements is
completely to prevent the possibility of the band-strings becoming loose, as very
often occurs when employing the usual method.
Heretofore books have to a large extent been sewed by means of a single thread
or string passing continuously through the sheets to be united, the stitches being
made in such a manner that the thread formed loops on the back of the book and
was drawn through said loops. This method of sewing books presented the defect
that the thread or the band-strings were not firmly fastened to the 'book and could
be drawn out of the same, as long as they were not glued on the back, or if the
strings happened to be severed at any place the connection of the sheets being
thereby dissolved, the latter went asunder.
In order to avoid this defect, I employ two band-strings and the stitches are
made in such manner that one string or loop, which is entered from the back of the
book and drawn out at an adjoining place, there forming a loop, is passed through
the corresponding loop of the other string, said loop having been drawn out
previously to the stitch made with the first string. By this method every stitch
has the effect of securing the drawn out loop made by the precedent stitch; thus
the sheets, when sewed together, cannot get loose.
In order to be able to take up and to drop the string, as is necessary in applying
my improved method, I employ a peculiarly constructed needle, which, besides the
usual eye, is provided with a hook or a notch near the same; this needle is therefore
hook and needle combined.
The better to make my meaning clear, I have appended hereunto a sheet of
drawings, in which :-
Fig. 1 serves to illustrate my improved method of sewing books.
Figs. 2.& 3 are two views of the stitching-needle employed therefor.
Figs. 4 & 5 show a modification of the same.
Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.
I will first describe the stitching needle N. The same has an eye E near its
point P and is provided with a hook H on the face through which the eye E is
pierced, as shown in Figs. 2 & 3. The eye E serves to take in one string, and the
hook H takes up the other where it forms a loop.
In the modification shown in Figs. 4 & 5 the hook H does not project beyond the
outline o of the needle, but is formed by cutting into the same a notch Q. The eye E
is pierced on the broader side of the needle whilst the notch Q is cut into the narrow
edge of the same. This modified needle can be drawn back out of the sheet when
inserted into the same, whereas this is not possible with the form described first, and
shown in Fig. 2.
The method of sewing books as shown in Fig. 1, is the following: As illustrated
in the drawing the strings are drawn through the sheet at four places, four strings
and accordingly four needles N¹ to N are employed-it is of no importance for my
invention that the number should be four ;-but it will be seen by the drawing that
only two strings are every time fastened to another in the manner presently to be
described. Therefore it will be sufficient to state in which way the two strings of
the right side are used to sew the sheets composing the book and how they are
!

page_text: secured to another; the two strings of the left side are attached in an accurately
corresponding manner.
The needles N³ and N being threaded with the band-strings S³ and S+, the latter
needle is passed at T¹ through the first of the sheets to be sewed, B' and drawn out
again at T; when the string S is caught on the hook of needle N³ and the end of
the same is again passed with needle N₁ through T' and drawn out at T', as shown
on the drawing, so that a loop L' is formed, through which passes the point of
needle N. The latter is then driven at T3 through the back of the second of the
sheets B³, and thereby the loop L' is fastened. The needle N' is drawn out at T
and the string S³ then caught on the hook of needle N* and said string being drawn
again by needle N³ through T and T3 forms a loop L². This loop is again fastened
to the third sheet 133 by means of the string $, which is passed successively
through T and Te, whereafter it is caught by the hook of needle N³, thus forming
the loop L³ and then drawn back through To and T. The loop L is fastened by
entering needle N3 through T7 into the fourth sheet B'; needle N³ is thereupon
drawn out at T8 and the string S³ caught by the hook of needle N'. Finally
the needle N³ is passed back through T and T7, and this is the position shown in
Fig. 1.
By the foregoing description it will be easy to understand the manner in which
the operation would be continued in sewing more sheets together.
The sewing on the left of Fig. 1 is performed exactly in the same manner by the
aid of needles N¹ and N' and of strings S1 and S2. When double stitches are
made, that is to say, when the strings are passed twice in the same direction through
the same places T, the method is modified a little, the loops L being fastened not
on the back of the sheet following that from which they are drawn out, but on the
back of the same sheet and at the precise place where they are drawn out. To
give an example for better explanation, if double stitches had to be made, the loop L'
would be fastened at T2 by drawing in needle N³ at that place, needle N being
already passed through T' on its way back, but not yet through T'; then needle N³
would be drawn out at T¹ and the string S³ then made to form the loop L' and
thereupon drawn back again through T and T2; hereafter the needle N would be
drawn out at T¹ and passed through loop L³, thus securing the same in its place;
the sewing of sheet B' would thereby be completed. The following sheets would
be sewed in the same manner.
I do not limit myself to the exact method shown in the drawing and hereinbefore
described; and though I consider the described manner to be the most advan-
tageous and prefer to employ the same under all circumstances, I may also place
the loops L inside the sheets and not on the back of the same, as shown; this
manner is however considered less advantageous, because inside the book the thick-
ness of the strings occasioned by the loops is a hindrance and tends to keep the
book open whereas on the back of the sheets it helps to make the back of greater
breadth, whereby it is easier to provide the space necessary for the covers of the
book.
The drawing in and out of the needles N. may be done simply by hand or a machine
may be used for this purpose; but that is no matter of importance in my invention,
as the same consists only in the new method of sewing books and in the needle
employed for carrying this method into effect.
Dated this 18th day of December 1891.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Method of Sewing Books, and Stitching-needle therefor.
I, JULIUS THEODOR OTTO ORTLOFF of Heidelberg, in the Grand Duchy of
Baden, Empire of Germany, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of my
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
My invention relates to a new and improved method of sewing books by the aid
of a specially constructed stitching-needle, and the object of my improvements is to
completely prevent the possibility of the band-strings becoming loose, as occurs
very often when employing the usual method.
Heretofore books have to a large extent been sewed by means of a single thread
or string passing continuously through the sheets to be united, the stitches being
made in such a manner that the thread formed loops on the back of the book and
was drawn through said loops. This method of sewing books presented the defect
that the thread or the band-strings were not firmly fastened to the book and could
be drawn out of the same, as long as they were not glued on the back, or if the
strings happened to be severed at any place; thus the connection of the sheets was
dissolved, and they went asunder.
In order to avoid this defect, I employ two band-strings and the stitches are
made in such a manner that each string is drawn out on the back of the sheet so as
to form a loop, and this loop is secured to the adjoining sheet by means of the other
string. By this method each string is employed for securing the drawn-out loop of
the other string; the strings are thus secured very firmly, and the sheets, when
sewed together, cannot get loose.
in
In order to be enabled to take up and to drop the string, as is necessary
applying my improved method, I employ a peculiarly constructed needle, which,
besides the usual eye, is provided with a hook or a notch near the same; this
instrument is therefore a hook and needle combined.
In order to make my meaning clear, I will refer to the drawings sent in with
Provisional Application, in which :-
Fig. 1 serves to illustrate my improved method of sewing books.
Figs. 2 & 3 are two views of the stitching-needle employed therefor.
Figs. 4 & 5 show a modification of the same.
Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.
I will first describe the stitching needle N. The same has an eye E near its
point P and is provided with a hook H on the face through which the eye E is
pierced, as shown in Figs. 2 & 3. The eye E serves to take in one string, and the
hook H takes up the other where it forms a loop.
In the modification shown in Figs. 4 & 5 the hook H does not project beyond the
outline of the needle, but is formed by cutting into the same a notch Q. The
eye E is pierced on the broader side of the needle whilst the notch Q is cut into
the narrow edge of the same. This modified needle can be drawn back out of the
sheet when inserted into the same, whereas this is not possible with the form
described first and shown in Figs. 2 & 3.
The method of sewing books as shown in Fig. 1, is the following: As illustrate
in the drawing, the strings are drawn through the sheet at four places, four strings
and accordingly four needles N to N are employed-it is of no importance for my
invention that the number should be four ;-but it will be seen by the drawing that
only two strings are each time fastened to one another in the manner presently to
be described. Therefore it will be sufficient to state in which way the two strings
of the right side are used to sew the sheets composing the book and how they are
secured to each other; the two strings of the left side are attached in an accurately
corresponding manner. The following description will show how the position
illustrated by the drawing has been attained.

page_text: The needles N³ and N being threaded with the band-strings S3 and S4, the latter
needle is first passed at T' through the first of the sheets to be sewed, B¹, and
drawn out again at T2; then the string St is caught on the hook of needle N³ and
the end of said string is again passed with needle N through T2 and drawn out
at T, as shown in the drawing, so that a loop L' is formed, through which passes
the point of needle N³. The latter is then driven at T through the back of the
second sheet B2, and thereby the loop L is fastened. The needle N³ is drawn out
at T and the string S³ then caught on the hook of needle N, and said string,
being drawn again by needle N3 through T and T3, forms a loop L². This loop
is again fastened to the third sheet B3 by means of the string S, which is
passed successively through T and T. The loop L is fastened by entering
needle N through T into the fourth sheet B; needle N³ is thereupon drawn out
at T and the string S caught by the hook of needle N. Finally the needle N³ is
passed back through T and T7, and this is the position shown in Fig. 1.
By the foregoing description it will be easy to understand the manner in which
the operation would be continued in sewing more sheets together.
To
The sewing on the left of Fig. 1 is performed exactly in the same manner by the
aid of needles N' and N2 and of strings S1 and S2. When double stitches are made,
that is to say, when the strings are passed twice in the same direction through the
same places, T, the method is modified a little, the loops L being fastened not on
the back of the sheet following that from which they are drawn out, but on the
back of the same sheet and at the precise place where they are drawn out.
give an example for better explanation, if double stitches had to be made, the
loop L would be fastened at T2 by drawing in needle N at that place, needle N*
being already passed through T2 on its way back, but not yet through T; then
needle N would be drawn out at T¹ and the string S³ then made to form the
loop L2 and thereupon drawn back again through T1 and T2 thereafter the
needle N would be drawn out at T and passed through loop L², thus securing
the same in its place; the sewing of sheet B' would thereby be completed. The
following sheets would be sewed in the same manner.
I do not limit myself to the exact method shown in the drawing and hereinbefore
described; and though I consider the described manner to be the most advantageous
and prefer to employ the same under most circumstances, I may also place the
loops L inside the sheets and not on the back of the same, as shown; this manner
is however considered less advantageous, because inside the book the thickness of
the strings occasioned by the loops is a hindrance and tends to keep the book open,
whereas on the back of the sheets it helps to make the back of greater breadth,
whereby it is easier to provide the space necessary for the covers of the book.
The drawing in and out of the needles N may be done simply by hand, or a
machine may be used for this purpose; but that is no matter of importance in my
invention, as the same consists only in the new method of sewing books and in the
needle employed for carrying this method into effect.
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 I
claim is :-
1. The method of sewing books, consisting in the employment of two band-
strings, each of which, when single stitches are made, alternately forms a loop and
fastens the loop of the other string to the sheet adjoining that from which the loop
is drawn out, for the purpose as described.
2. The method of sewing books, consisting in the employment of two band-
strings, each of which, when double stitches are made, alternately forms a loop and
fastens the loop of the other string to the same sheet from which the loop is drawn
out, for the purpose as described.
3. A stitching-needle for sewing books, having an eye E, and close to the same a
projecting hook H, substantially as shown and described with reference to Figs. 2
& 3 in the accompanying drawings, and for the purposes set forth.

page_text: 4. A stitching-needle for sewing books, having an eye E, and close to the same a
hook H formed by cutting a notch Q into the edge of the needle, substantially as
shown and described with reference to Figs. 4 & 5 in the accompanying drawings,.
and for the purposes set forth.
Dated this 11th day of June 1892.
JULIUS THEODOR OTTO ORTLOFF,
By Geo. Thos. Hyde,
4, Moorfields, Fore Street, London, E.C., Agent for the Applicant.