Improvements in the Method of and Appliances for Darning Textile Fabrics.
Year: 1897

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Method of and Appliances for Darning Textile
Fabrics.
We, WILLIAM JOHN MIDELTON, Surgeon, Harston, Cambs, and PERCY BARLOW,
Creswick House, Acton, Middlesex, Barrister-at-Law, 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:-
The object of our invention is to expedite the process or operation of what is
known as darning, and we carry it into effect by means of an already made patch
arranged in a particular manner for attachment to the article to be repaired by means
of a needle or group of needles of special construction. In order that our invention
may be the more readily understood, we have appended a sheet of drawings to which
we now make reference. Fig. 1 is a patch such as we propose to use in carrying out
our invention, the woven part a being surrounded by the comparatively long free ends
or strands b. In order to have a patch in a convenient form for use, we attach it to
a frame shewn isometrically in Fig. 2, which frame c has attached to the top of it
the two cross-pieces (preferably attached to one another) d d¹. Each of these cross-
pieces d d', is cut through from the ends towards the centre with as many cuts e as
there are free ends b to each side of the patch a. Each side of the frame c has as many
notches f, plus one, as there are cuts in each end of the cross frame d d¹. Before
attaching the cross frame d d¹ to the frame c, the woven part a of the patch is placed
behind the centre of the frame d d' and each of the free ends b is then drawn through
a cut in the end of d and d¹, as the case may be: one such strand being shewn at f¹
after it has passed through a cut. Each strand end is then taken down through the
same cut, so as to form a loop as shewn at f². The end of each strand is then drawn
through one of the notches in the frame c and returned through the adjoining
notch so as to leave a small loop; one of such loops being shewn at g. The same
operations are gone through with each strand end. In the case of the first strand it will
be passed through the first notch in the side of the frame, and then through the
second notch. In the case of the second strand it will be put through the second
notch and then through the third one and so on along each side of the frame c.
The final result will be a series of large loops such as f2 surrounding the centre of
the cross frame d d¹, and a second series of shorter loops g surrounding the sides of
frame c.
It is proposed to sell patches attached to frames as just described, as
articles of commerce ready for use as and when required. In conjunction with a
patch provided for and arranged as above described, we use a special needle or group
of needles, and in order to facilitate the estimation of the size of frame which will be
required for the repair of a given hole, we propose to mark on the frame, lines as at h to
shew the extent of hole repairable by any particular patch. In order to keep the
loops g in place, we also propose to attach a strip of tissue paper all round the under
edge of the frame c.
In practice we prefer a group of needles for quickness, and a single needle for
neatness. Each needle is made in two parts, one sliding in a groove provided for it
in the other. One part is fixed to a handle or holder, and the other part to a sliding

page_text: piece capable of being moved down by pressure of the finger on a knob or finger
piece and pushed forward again by pressure of a spring. The sliding part is of less
length than the fixed part. The combined widths of the sliding and fixed parts of
the needle are preferably made equal to the thickness of the needle at the eye. The
eye itself is formed almost entirely by suitable construction of the fixed part of 5
the needle, the eye being completed by the sliding part of the needle. When
the sliding part is drawn down, the needle is opened and when this part
is allowed to spring back, the eye is completed. As already mentioned,
there may be only one needle or a group of needles in one handle, according
as quickness in operation or neatness in appearance is desired. The accom- 1
panying drawing shews one needle in a handle. Fig. 3 is a sectional side view, and
Fig. 4 a sectional front view of the needle and handle. Each needle comprises two
parts, and j, the former having the point k and eye portion 1, and the latter (5)
sliding in a groove provided for it in the edge of i. The groove must be deep enough
to allow the sliding part j to lie well within it, so that the edges rise slightly above 1
the sliding piece, except at the m end of j, where we prefer to make it somewhat wider
than it is elsewhere, so as to stand above the sides of the groove in l. At m is a
small cavity to receive the end of j when pushed up to complete the eye of the
needle. The lower part n of i is inserted in a recess provided for it at the upper end
of a handle o which may conveniently be made of wood. n is kept in place by a
metal plate p, the lower part of which is curved round so as to form a metal lined
cavity within which is contained the lower part of the spiral spring r. The
lower end of j is inserted in the upper end of spring r, and is provided with the
knob or finger piece s projecting somewhat in front of the handle. The end of o is
covered by a metal cap t having a slot in front in which can slide the knob 8. In 2
the top of t are two holes u and through which pass respectively i and j. We
prefer to so situate u and v as regards one another, that the lower ends of i and j
will be somewhat apart thus tending to keep down the eye end of ; and ensure its
due insertion in the cavity m. A bridge piece w is attached to or forms
part of i and under this the sliding part j passes. The part x on each side of the eye
may be fluted to more easily accommodate the ends of the strand when taken hold of
by the end of the needle. We prefer to screw the end n of i into the top of the
handle o so that it can be taken out and replaced by another needle, finer or coarser,
according to the kind of work to be done.
Having the patch and having the needle or group of needles, the operation of
darning is performed as follows:-The hole to be darned is placed over a darning egg
or other suitably formed piece of wood or other material. The frame c is then
placed over the hole with a patch a underneath and held in place by the fingers of
the worker. The needle is then inserted in the fabric at a suitable distance from the
side of the frame and run in and out until the point or points reaches or reach the
small loops g at the side of the frame. The eye of the needle is then opened by
drawing down the knob s, and a loop g (or as many loops gas there are needles)
allowed to enter the eye, or eyes. The knob is then released whereupon the eye or
eyes will be closed and retain the loop or loops therein. On drawing back the needle
or needles, the ends of the strands are brought forward and draw down one or more
of the large loops f². The needle or needles is or are then released from the strand
or strands and inserted again at another place and the operation repeated, and so on
all round the frame. The result will be that the patch will eventually be left over
the hole and attached to the fabric and the frame freed, thus completing the darning.
The tissue paper is then torn through, if such has not already taken place during the
earlier operation. The method is applicable to the darning of any kind of textile
fabrics. The frame carrying the patch may be of wood or other light and cheap
material such as wire.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we

page_text: 1. For use in darning, a patch arranged on a frame substantially as described in
the above specification, and exemplified in the accompanying drawings.
2. A needle or group of needles adapted for darning purposes, the said needle or
needles having an opening eye or opening eyes, and being constructed substantially
as described in the above specification and exemplified in the accompanying
drawings.
3. The method of darning provided for and performed substantially as described
in the above specification and exemplified in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 7th day of April 1897.
HUGHES & YOUNG,
23, Coleman Street, London, E.C., Agents for Applicants.