Thread Holding and Cutting Appliance for Attachment to Reels, Spools, and the like.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Feb., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 8th Nov., 1897-Accepted, 22nd Jan, 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A Thread Holding and Cutting Appliance for Attachment to Reels,
Spools, and the like.
I, WILLIAM WARD, of 80, Redcliffe Hill, Bristol, engineer, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention consists in a device for attachment to reels of thread, cotton,
silk, and the like. It is also applicable to balls of worsted, wool, yarn, and the
like. The objects of the device are to hold the thread or other material wound
on a reel, or its equivalent, and so prevent it from unwinding when the reel is laid
aside and also, in combination with the holding device, to provide a ready means
of cutting any desired length of thread from the reel. It will be convenient to
describe the appliance as used for a reel of thread; it being understood that there
is no practical difference in it as applied to other material than thread, as for
instance wool, worsted, yarn, and the like.
The appliance which constitutes this invention is made of wire bent to form a
frame of suitable shape and design. One part of the appliance is bent to form
a spring clip which is designed to be inserted in the central aperture of the reel.
This clip is compressed in the act of insertion, and, by its tendency to expand, it
keeps the appliance stationary. One limb of the spring clip has a knife-edge
formed on it and this knife-edge projects beyond one of the end faces of the reel.
The other limb of the said spring clip extends to beyond the circumference of the
said end face of the reel. The limb is then bent over and extends approximately
parallel with the longitudinal axis of the reel to about half-way between the ends
of the reel. At this point the limb is bent to form an eye and is returned back to
form a gripping device for the thread. The thread is passed into the eye aforesaid.
While in the clear part of the eye, the thread is free to be drawn off the reel.
When drawn off to the required extent it is cut by being brought into contact
with the knife-edge aforesaid. Behind the point of severance the thread is brought
between the limbs which constitute the gripping device and is gripped between the
said limbs. Accordingly, no further length of thread can be unwound until the
thread is freed from the gripping device. The thread is drawn into the grasp
of the gripping device by the act of drawing it towards that end of the reel at which
the device is inserted in the reel.
Dated this 9th day of February 1897.
NICHOLAS WATTS,
Chartered Patent Agent, Bristol.

page_text: A Thread Holding and Cutting Appliance for Attachment to Reels,
Spools, and the like.
I, WILLIAM WARD, of 80, Redcliffe Hill, Bristol, Engineer, 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:-
―
This invention consists in a device for attachment to reels of thread, silk, cotton.
and the like. It is also applicable to balls, of worsted, wool, yarn, and the like.
The objects of the invention are to hold the thread or other material wound on a
reel or its equivalent, and so prevent it from unwinding when the reel is laid aside,
and also in combination with, the holding device, to provide a ready means of
cutting any desired length of thread from the reel.
It will be convenient to describe and illustrate the appliance as attached to a
reel of thread, it being understood that there is no practical difference in it when
applied to other material, such as wool, worsted, yarn, and the like.
The appliance which constitutes this invention will be further described in con-
nection with the accompanying sheet of drawings, in which Figure 1 shows the
appliance constructed from a single piece of wire, with a knob at each end; Fig. 2
shows the appliance inserted in the central aperture of a reel of thread; Fig. 3 shows
the same, with the thread passed through the loop which subtends the side of the reel.
ready to be wound off as required; and Fig. 4 shows the reel with the thread
passed round the cutting edge, ready to be cut off.
The appliance is made of one piece of wire, preferably steel; the limbs A B
are bent to form a spring clip to be inserted in the central aperture of a reel; the
clip part is compressed by the act of insertion, and its tendency to expand keeps the
appliance within the reel; On the upper part of the limb A of the spring clip,
a cutting or knife edge C is formed, which extends beyond the arm D of the
appliance; this arm is of sufficient length for the leg E to fall outside the reel on
which it is intended to use it, and to be approximately parallel to the limbs A B
At a suitable distance from the top, the leg E is bent to form a loop F and returned
close to the leg at G, this forms a gripping device to hold the thread. The knobs
at the ends of the wire enable the appliance to be used without injury to the
fingers or material with which it may come into contact.
The appliance being provided as described, it is used in the following manner: -
The limbs A B are placed in the aperture of the reel, as shown in Fig. 2; the end of
the thread is passed through the loop F as shown in Fig. 3; when any thread is
required for use, the reel is supported by the fore finger and thumb holding the
upper knob and lower part of the limb (shown projecting), the thread T can then
he drawn from the reel as required; when a sufficient length of thread has been
unwound, it is cut by drawing it upwards over the edge of the reel' and passing it
round the cutting edge C on the central limb, as it passes upwards the thread is
engaged and retained by the gripping device G, and the thread is held firm while
it is cut by pulling it away from the reel, as shown in Fig. 4; after the thread has
been cut, the loose part or end will still be held within the grip, as shown by dotted
lines in Fig. 3.
After using the thread, if the end is left loose, or passing through the open
part of the loop F, by pulling it upwards, it will be drawn within the grasp of
the gripping device, and thus unwinding will be prevented, as no further thread
can be obtained until it is released from the grip by pulling it downwards.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said

page_text: Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
1. The construction of a thread holding appliance for attachment to reels of
thread and the like, by which the thread can pass off freely or be held within a
grip to prevent unwinding when not in use, substantially as herein described and
shown in the accompanying drawings.
2. In combination with a thread gripping appliance as herein described, the
formation of a cutting edge on the upper part of the appliance, for severing the
thread when the required length has been withdrawn, substantially as described
and shown.
1907
WILLIAM WARD,
Per Helen Ward.