A New or Improved Holder for Needlework.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 4th July, 1896--Accepted, 8th Aug., 1896
A New or Improved Holder for Needlework.
I, ALFRED CHARLES HIMUS of 1' Warkworth Terrace, Cambridge, Draper
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:-
My invention relates to a new or improved device or apparatus whereby all
kinds needlework, (other than that executed by a sewing machine,-and more
particularly where a large piece or pieces of fabric or material is or are being
seamed, or stitched together) may be more conveniently held while being so worked
than obtains with the present and old fashioned method of pinning such work to
the knee of the operator, to obviate the necessity for which is the object and
purpose of my invention.
In order that my said invention may be fully and clearly understood I have
hereunto appended a sheet of drawings of which :-
Fig. 1 is an under plan view of my improved device or apparatus, substantially
as I prefer to construct it for the purposes of my invention.
Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same when closed, and shewn in position of use
upon a table, workboard, or other flat surface, and holding the fabric or material
being sewn.
Fig. 3 is a like side elevation of the same when open and out of use.
Fig. 4 is a view of one of the many forms of eye-screws or equivalent device
I may employ for holding the said device in connection with a table or the like
when in use, or for suspending the same when not in use as hereinafter explained.
For the purposes of my invention I employ a suitable length of flat or sheet.
brass, steel or other metal, which I bend centrally of its length so as to form a.
spring clip consisting of two arms A. and A¹, both of which are preferably curved
at or about the point a as shewn in Fig. 2, which provides that when the remainder
of A is lying flat upon a table or other flat surface and the clip in use, such curved
portion a would stand up from the said flat surface, and leave a clearance for the
manipulation of a collar or sleeve C, which embraces both A and A', the sliding
movements of which serve to bring these close together or separated as hereinafter
explained.
Upon the inner surface of the free ends of the arms A and A' I rivet, screw,
cement or otherwise firmly fix two pads B and B', which may be of rubber,
rubber composition, cork, leather felt or other soft and resilient material not
likely to injure the fabric or material such pads are intended to hold. The arm A
is preferably bent or curved at b, in order to provide a recess for the pad B, that
when these are brought together by the collar C as at Fig. 2, the arms A and A'
may rest against each other as therein shewn, the springy contact between which,.
in combination with the curve at a operate to facilitate the rapidity of the
separation of these, when the collar is slid to the opposite end as at Fig. 3.
In the bent portion a of the arms A and A' I drill or otherwise form a hole e,
in connection with which I provide a hook, link or its equivalent D, capable of
easy attachment to and detachment from a screw-eye or its equivalent E, (Fig. 4)
screwed into or otherwise connected with the top of the table, work board or other
flat surface F with which the device or apparatus is to be used, as shewn in
Figs. 2 and 3.
In carrying my invention into practice I place my improved device into position
upon the table or the like F, and the material or fabric G to be stitched, seamed

page_text: or otherwise sewn between the yet open jaws B and B', wherein it would be firmly
held when these are closed together by the collar or sleeve C as shewn by Fig. 2,
which would effectually serve to hold the said material G in the same manner as
when pinned to the knee of the operator as hitherto.
The said hook or the like D may be conveniently employed for holding the said
spring clip, when not in use, suspended from the eye or its equivalent at the
opposite side of the table or workboard F, or for suspending the same upon a nail
or hook in any position away and apart from the said table or the like.
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.
1st. The construction use and application of the herein described device or
apparatus substantially as and for the purposes stated and shewn by the accom-
panying drawings.
2nd. In an improved device or apparatus for holding fabric or material while
being sewn, the combination of a spring clip A A', bent or curved at their junction
end at a, with means for connecting such end with a hook or its equivalent D,
connected by a screw-eye or the like E to a table or workboard F, the free ends
of the said parts A and A¹ being provided with resilient pads B and B¹ operating
when closed by a sliding collar C for holding the fabric or material G to be sewn
substantially as herein described and shewn by the appended drawings.
Dated this 4th day of July 1896.
GEO. THOS. HYDE,
1 Broad Street Buildings, London, E.C., Agent for the Applicant.