Improvements in Needle-threaders as Applied to Sewing Machines.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Jan., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 26th Oct., 1892-Accepted, 26th Nov., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION:
Improvements in Needle-threaders as Applied to Sewing Machines.
I, ALEXANDER DEY, Esq. LL.D. H.M. Inspector of Schools, 62 Albert
Drive, Pollokshields, Glasgow, Scotland, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
The object of my invention is to facilitate the threading of the needle in sewing
machines. The device will be easily understood from the accompanying diagram.
A B C D is a bent wire, E is a small pulley-form circle fixed on the wire, F is a
cylindrical bead with a rim or flange on the lower end. This bead through which
the part CD of the wire passés is free to revolve or slide up and down on the
wire C D. Slots or dents are made in the rim (any number from one to six say)
forming radii, and of different size to admit different sized needles. Just above
each of these slots is fixed in the body of the bead a small hooked point which is
intended to enter the eye of the needle. The bead will thus appear very much
like a pinion with two circles of teeth, the lower circle having the longer teeth.
Let the part CD of the wire be brought parallel to the needle right behind the
eye and inoved so close that the needle enters one of the slots in the rim of the bead.
The slot and the hooked point in the bead are so related that the latter must now
bé pressing against the needle. Let the finger how move the bead up or down
while gently pressing and the point must enter the eye. The thread can now be.
placed across the Hook (in which operation the heedle forms a guide) and pulled
through the eye.
To bring the part CD of the wire into the desired position parallel to the
needle I proceed as follows:-
Drill a hole through the needle-rod of the sewing machine at right angles to
the eye of the needle as near the lower end as possible, room will generally be
found for it at the very edge of the end. Insert the part A B of the wire in this
hole. The threader can now turn in this hole describing a circle. A spring-wire
attached to the needle-rod rests in the groove of the circle E and presses on it.
This wire keeps the threader in its place laterally, and by flattening any part of the
circle E it also keeps the threader in any position desired when not in use.
Most machines have a wire on the needle-rod förining the last guide to the
thread before it enters the eye of the needle. The unused end of this wire
carried down into the groove of the circle E answers the purpose admirably. By
turning round the threader from its position of rest the part CD of the wire will
come into the required position; by turning round the bead we can bring the
needle into any slot; and by slightly moving the bead up or down (if necessary)
the point of the hook must enter the eye.
The threader being attached to the needle-rod the sewing machine inay be at.
any stage of its revolution so long as the eye of the needle is visible. Also, for.
the same reason, a great danger of breaking the hooked point is avoided. The
bead having a vertical motion the point will find the eye of the needle whether the
needle be accurately adjusted in the machine or not.
It is to be observed that only two slots and points are needed for all the varieties
of needles, but more may be employed for symmetry, or in case one or more should
get injured.
Dated this 25th day of January 1892.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Needle-threaders as Applied to Sewing Machines.
1 ALEXANDER DEY Esq. LL.D. H.M. Inspector of Schools 62 Albert
Drive Pollokshields Glasgow Scotland 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 my invention is to facilitate the threading of the needle in sewing
machines.
:
The device will be easily understood from the drawings accompanying Provisional
Specification. A B.CD is a bent wire, E is a small pulley-form circle fixed on
the wire, F is a cylindrical bead with a rim, or flange on the lower end. This bead
through which the part CD of the wire passes is free to revolve or slide up and
down on the wire CD., Slots or dents are made in the rim (any number from one
to six say) forming, radii, and of different size to admit different sized needles.
Just above each of these slots is fixed in the body of the bead a small hooked point
which is intended to enter the eye of the needle. The bead will thus appear very
much like a pinion with two circles of teeth, the lower circle having the longer
teeth. Let the part CD of the wire be brought parallel to the needle right, behind
the eye and moved so close that the needle enters one of the slots in the rim of the
bead. The slot, and the hooked point in the bead are so related that the latter
must now be pressing against the needle.
Let the finger now move the bead up or down while gently pressing and the
point must enter the eye. The thread can now be placed across the hook (in
which operation the needle forms a guide) and pulled through the eye.
To bring the part C. D of the wire into the desired position parallel to the
needle I proceed as follows:-
Drill a hole through the needle-rod of the sewing machine at right angles to
the eye of the needle as near the lower end as possible, room will generally be
found for it at the very edge of the end. Insert the part A B of the wire in this
hole. The threader can now turn in this bole describing a circle. A spring wire
attached to the needle-rod rests in the groove of the circle E and presses on it.
This wire keeps the threader in its place laterally, and by flattening any part of
the circle E it also keeps the threader in any position desired when not in use.
Most machines have a wire on the needle-rod, forming the last guide to the thread
before it enters the eye of the needle. The unused end of this wire carried down
into the groove of the circle E answers the purpose admirably, by turning round
the threader from its position of rest the part C D of the wire will come into the
required position; by turning round the bead we can bring the needle into any
slot and by slightly moving the bead up or down (if necessary) the point of the
hook must enter the eye. The threader being attached to the needle-rod the sewing
machine may be at any stage of its revolution so long as the eye of the needle is
visible. Also, for the same reason, a great danger of breaking the hook point is
avoided. The bead having a vertical motion the point will find the eye of the
needle whether the needle be accurately adjusted in the machine or not.
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 :-
:
An improved arrangement for threading the needle of sewing machines
substantially as herein before described.
1
ALEXANDER DEY.