AN IMPROVED NEEDLE THREADER
Year: 1885

page_text: We, JOHN DARLING, JAMES MURRAY PARKER, WILLIAM MCGOWAN and ROBERT
CRAWFORD LYNESS all of 11 Bothwell Street, Glasgow, in the County of Lanark,
North Britain, Patentees and Merchants do hereby declare the nature of the said
invention for AN IMPROVED NEEDLE THREADER to be as follows:-
This Invention which relates to an improved needle threader has for its object
to automatically pass sewing thread into the eyes of ordinary hand sewing needles.
The Invention consists of a telescopic tubular casing the two parts of which are
pushed outwards from each other by the compression of a spiral spring contained
within the telescopic casing, the lower part of the said casing carries a bracket
piece at the back of which is a catch with which a hook engages when the
telescopic portions are pressed together by the hand in arranging the threader so
that its parts assume the necessary relative positions to each other preparatory to a
threading operation.
Simultaneously with the pressing together of the telescopic portions of the
apparatus as hereinbefore described a still further compression causes the aforesaid
catch to engage with another hook connected with a slide which carries the hook
whereby the thread is subsequently drawn through the eye of the needle.
This threading hook is acted upon by a second spiral spring, and the reaction of
the spring in the telescopic casing when the parts are hooked together as herein-
before described causes the threading hook to be pulled down below the level of
the tube into which the needle is inserted for the purpose of being threaded. The
act of inserting the needle causes the hook at the back to be disengaged and on the
needle being drawn forward the threading hook which is then forced upwards by
its spiral spring passes up through the eye of the needle across which the thread
is laid.
On pulling the needle outwards from the threader, (the threading hook now
being within the eye of the needle) the act of pulling on said needle causes the
release of that hook and catch by which the telescopic parts are retained in their
shortened position, and being thus freed the spring within them forces them apart
and at the same time draws the threading hook with the thread down through the
eye of the needle, and the needle being thus threaded is removed from the threader
with any length of thread desired in it.

page_text: The threader is provided with an enclined guide for directing the thread into its
proper place under the threading hook; and for the purpose of facilitating the
insertion of the needle into the threader the tube into which it is placed is
preferably provided with a bell mouth shaped guide.
The threader is also provided with a groove or guide in which the head of the
needle remains during the threading operations, this guide also prevents the needle
from getting out of the position necessary for its being properly threaded, and at
the same time insures that the threading hook in its descent through the eye
will not come in contact with any part of the said eye but pass uninterruptedly
through it.

page_text: We, JOHN DARLING, JAMES MURRAY PARKER, WILLIAM MOGOWAN and ROBERT
CRAWFORD LYNESS all of 11 Bothwell Street, Glasgow, in the County of Lanark,
North Britain, Patentees and Merchants do hereby declare the nature of our
invention for AN IMPROVED NEEDLE THREADER and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement:―
Our Invention, which relates to an improved needle threader, has for its object
to automatically pass sewing thread into the eyes of ordinary hand sewing needles.
The Invention consists of a telescopic tubular casing the two parts of which are
pushed outwards from each other by the compression of a spiral spring contained.
within the telescopic casing, the lower part of the said casing carries a bracket
piece. at the back of which is a catch with which a hook engages when the
telescopic portions are pressed together by the hand in arranging the threader so
that its parts assume the necessary relative positions to each other preparatory to
a threading operation.
Simultaneously with the pressing together of the telescopic portions of the
apparatus as hereinbefore described, a still further compression causes the aforesaid
catch to engage with another hook connected with a slide which carries the hook
whereby the thread is subsequently drawn through the eye of the needle.
This threading hook is acted upon by a second spiral spring, and the reaction of
the spring in the telescopic casing when the parts are hooked together as herein-
before described, causes the threading hook to be pulled down below the level of
the tube into which the needle is inserted for the purpose of being threaded. The
act of inserting the needle causes the hook at the back to be disengaged and on
the needle being drawn forward the threading hook, which is then forced upwards
by its spiral spring, passes up through the eye of the needle across which the
thread is laid.
On pulling the needle outwards from the threader (the threading hook now
being within the eye of the needle) the act of. pulling on said needle causes the
release of that hook and catch by which the telescopic parts are retained in their
shortened position, and being thus freed, the spring within them forces them apart
and at the same time draws the threading hook with the thread down through the
eye of the needle, and the needle being thus threaded is removed from the threader
with any length of thread desired in it.
The threader is provided with an inclined guide for directing the thread into its
proper place under the threading hook and for the purpose of facilitating the
insertion of the needle into the threader. the tube into which it is placed is
preferably provided with a bell mouth shaped guide.
The threader is also provided with a groove or guide in which the head of the
needle remains during the threading operations, this guide also prevents the needle
from getting out of the position necessary for its being properly threaded, and
at the same time insures that the threading hook in its descent through the eye.
will not come in contact with any part of the said eye but pass uninterruptedly
through it.
1.

page_text: In order that our said Invention may be properly understood and readily
carried into effect, we will now proceed to describe the drawings hereunto
annexed.
Figures 1 and 2 are respectively a side elevation and a plan of a needle threader
constructed according to our present Invention.
Figure 3, is a longitudinal section of the same when in its fully extended
condition.
Figure 4, is a longitudinal section of the same when in its fully compressed
condition, that is to say, the condition ready for threading a needle.
Figure 5, is a longitudinal section of the same in a partly extended condition as
hereinafter more particularly explained.
Figures 6, 7 and 8 are views of detached portions of the same all as hereinbefore
more particularly described.
In constructing a needle threader in accordance with our present Invention and
as represented upon the annexed drawings, we arrange the two tubes a, and b, to
slide telescopically one within the other, and within the tube a, the spiral spring c,
is retained in such position as to tend to force the tube b, out from the tube a. To
the upper side of the tube a, the flat spring d, is soldered or otherwise secured and
to this spring, the pin e, (Figures 3 to 6 inclusive) and the stop f, are secured by
any suitable means. To the outer or closed ends of the tube a, the bracket g, is
soldered or equivalently secured and the horizontal member of this bracket is
forked at its end as shown more particularly in plan at Figure 2, and in section at
Figure 6. This horizontal member of the bracket g, is of an elastic or springy
construction and to its upper side is secured the thread guide or holder h, which is
preferably stamped with the word "thread" upon it, as shewn at Figure 1. To
the tube a, there are secured the two disc-like extremities of the bracket or
bridge i, in the upper or horizontal part of which the bell-mouthed needle holder
or guide j, is rigidly supported. The disc-like extremities. of the bridge i, are
preferably formed concave to. enable the improved needle threader to be held more
securely at these parts between the thumb and forefinger of the user, the said disc-
like extremities being preferably stamped or otherwise inscribed with the words
"thumb" and "finger" respectively to indicate the manner in which the threader
is to be held.
The inner end of the tube b, is closed as shewn at Figures 3, 4, 5 and 8 and to
the outer end thereof is soldered or otherwise suitably secured the outer vertical
end of the bracket k, to the inner vertical end of which the spring 6 is secured.
The horizontal portion of the bracket k, is formed with the longitudinal slots or
guides m, and n, as shewn more particularly at Figure 2, and with the small
aperture o, Figures 3, 4, 5 and 8. On the upper side and at the edges of the hori-
zontal portion of the bracket k, there are provided the two cams p, which are so
situated as to raise up the two free forked ends of the bracket g, and the thread
guide or holder h, secured thereon. Within the tube b, the spiral spring 9, is
arranged to exert its pressure upon the lower part of the vertical bracket piece 2,
which passes upwards through a longitudinal slot formed in the upper side of the
tube b. This bracket piece r, is formed with the cam 8, and at its upper part it is
rigidly connected to the rod or bar t, which is so secured down upon the horizontal
portion of the bracket k, by the projection u, formed on the said bracket piece r,
and by the transverse end v, as to admit of the bar t, and its connections being
slid longitudinally upon the said bracket k, the beforementioned cams p, serving to
secure the bar t, against lateral motion. To the upper side of the rod or bar t, is
secured the double-ended bracket w, in holes formed in the two ends of which the
hook-rod x, is supported and therein secured against vertical and lateral motion.
For securing the said hook-rod x, against unnecessary longitudinal motion, that is
to say, to secure it against moving independently of the bar t, its rear end is bent
downwards and fits into a hole formed in the said bar t. The opposite end of the
rod x, is formed into a hook in the manner shewn upon the annexed drawings and
the hole y, is formed through the bar t, to admit of the head of the needle being.

page_text: passed therethrough, while the upper surface of the bar t, is grooved below the
hook end of the rod x, so as to constitute a guide for the head of the needle. The
before described means of securing the hook rod x, in position, are such that in
the event of the rod x, being broken or otherwise injured it may be readily
removed and another book rod x, replaced. The bar t, is further provided with
the pin z, which passes down through the slot m, in the horizontal portion of the
bracket, so as to engage with a hole formed in the spring . The relative
positions of the pin z, and of the last mentioned hole in the spring 7, are such that
when the pin, is engaged with the said hole, the needle hole y, in the bar t, is
immediately over the herein before mentioned small aperture o, in the bracket k,
and the relative positions of the pin e, (Figures 3 to 6 inclusive) on the flat
spring d, and of the inner end of the longitudinal slot in the upper side of the
tube b, is such that when the said pin e, is engaged therewith the before-
mentioned aperture o, is retained immediately below the bell-mouthed needle
holder or guide j.
"
The tube b, is stamped or otherwise inscribed with the two words "not ready
as shewn more particularly at Figure 1. The relative position of these two words
is such that when the threader is in its compressed condition ready for threading
a needle as hereinafter explained, the word "not" is within and hidden by the
tube a, and the word "ready" only is exposed to view as represented in dotted
lines at Figure 4, so that the condition of the threader may readily be ascertained
at a glance..
For threading a needle by the hereinbefore described mechanism, the two
tubes a, and b, and their respective connections are initially forced from the
position in which they are indicated at Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the annexed
drawings, to the position in which they are indicated at Figure 4. In assuming
such relative positions the cams p, are caused to raise up and support the two
forked ends of the bracket g, and the thread holder h, attached thereto and the
bracket piece r, on abutting against the end of the tube a, is forced backwards in
the tube b, against the pressure of the spiral spring q; the pin, being thus forced
back wards with the said bracket piece, and the spring 7, being relatively stationary
or moving in the reverse direction, the said pin z, is caused to engage with the
hole in such spring when such hole is beneath it and by this means the spring q,
is retained in compression. At this stage the two parts of the threader are
allowed to move slightly outwards from each other in answer to the longitudinal
expansive force of the spiral spring c, and the free end of the spring d, which was
before this, supported by the cam 8, being thus left unsupported, the pin e, secured
thereto engages with the end of the longitudinal slot in the upper side of the
tube b, and thereby retains the spiral spring c, in compression. The improved
threader being thus adjusted ready for threading a needle, the word "not" is
concealed and the word "ready" only exposed to view. The cotton or thread is
passed down to the lower extremity of the narrow slots or channels in the thread
guide or holder h, and the head or eye of the needle to be threaded is passed down
through the holder or guide j, and through the aperture o, (Figures 3, 4, 5 and 8)
it being here explained that the size and shape of this aperture is such that the
needle can only be inserted thereinto when the eye of the said needle is directly in
line with the hook rod x. By pressing the needle downwards through the
aperture o, and therefore upon the spring 1, the hole in the said spring is
disengaged from the pin, and the needle itself retains the spiral spring q, in
compression until such time as it is drawn upwards out of the hole y, when the
said spring being released, the threading hook on the rod x, is shot through the
eye of the needle and below the cotton or thread, thus completing, what may be
regarded as the first stage of the threading operation. The cam 8, having thus
in its forward motion raised the free end of the spring d, the pin e, secured thereto,
is disengaged from the slot in the tube b, and the spiral spring q, is thereby
released and by its expansive force moves the cams p, from under the bracket g,
and allows the thread holder h, to fall and lower the cotton or thread on to the

page_text: threading hook which, by the further extension of the spring c, is forced through
the eye of the needle with the cotton or thread engaged therewith. The needle
may then be drawn out from the threader while the cotton or thread is still
engaged with the threading hook so as to draw any required length of such cotton
or thread through the eye of the said needle, the said cotton or thread being at any
desired time disengaged from the threading hook by pressing the two parts of the
threader into their "ready" condition.
We desire it to be understood that although, for the better elucidation of the
manner of working our Invention, we have described the needle threading
operation of our improved threader as conducted in stages, such stages being
practically what are passed through, yet the release of the spiral spring c, in reality,
follows so quickly upon the release of the spiral spring q, as to make the said
threading operation instantaneous.
'
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 claim is:-
The general arrangement and combination of parts-constituting the improved
needle threader herein before described and wherein the cotton or thread is held in
the guide or holder h, which is raised by the cams p, to allow the threading hook,
after having passed through the eye of the needle which is to be threaded, to move
under the said cotton or thread, the said threading hook with the cotton or thread
engaged therewith being forced back through the eye of the needle by means of
the spring c, all substantially as and operating in the manner hereinbefore set
forth with reference to the annexed drawings or the mechanical equivalents of all
or any of the parts thereof.
Dated this twenty first day of Tuna ISSC