An Improved Mechanical Contrivance for Holding String, Cord, Thread, or the like.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Sept., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 14th June, 1898-Accepted, 3rd Sept., 1898
An Improved Mechanical Contrivance for Holding String, Cord,
Thread, or the like.
I, THOMAS ORR, Commercial Traveller, Stewartville, Tig Road, Ayr, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to a contrivance for holding reels of twine, cord, thread or
the like and is designed to automatically or mechanically roll back on to the reel the
unused twine after the bag or parcel has been tied or the desired length out off.
The holder oonsists of a sole plate made of brass or other metal or it may be of
wood which may have grooves in the bottom filled with lead or other material, with
upright sides near each end. In each of the uprights is a cirole one of which is
hollowed out in the face, in the other a small hole or cavity is made each according
to the size required.
One of the uprights may be made to screw into the sole-plate or it may be made
a fixture, the other dove-tailed in.
Or I may make one or both uprights adjustable by being placed through a slit or
opening running lengthwise in the sole-plate and fixed by a screw or nut at the
bottom, so that by loosening the screw or nut the distance between the uprights can
be lessened or extended.
A wood, brass or other metal box is made to fit into the hallowed out upright and
screwed or otherwise made fast in the upright.
A spring somewhat after the nature of a clock spring and having a small hole in
the inner end is fixed at the outside end to the inside of the box by means of a rivet
screw or other nail.
A lid with a hole in the centre and having a small ratchet attached on the outside,
and a small nail, wire, or piece of brass protruding therefrom a little above the
ratchet, is pushed into a groove in the top of the box which covers & keeps the spring
in its position.
.
A metal or other square spindle round for a short distance at both ends and having
a small nail, wire, or catch protruding from one of the round ends.
A small round piece with one or more indentations is screwed, soldered or other-
wise affixed to the end of the square of the spindle.
The round end of the spindle with the catch thereon is placed through the hole in
the lid of the box into the inner circle of the spring, the other end being placed
in the hole or cavity of the opposite upright.
The spindle is now right across from upright to upright the one end turning in the
box, the other in the small cavity of the upright, and having the round piece with
the indentations close into the outside of the lid of the box.
A round or square piece of wood, metal, or other material with ends adjusted for
sides to screw on, and having a square hole at either end is made to fit on to the
spindle.
One of the circular sides is hollowed out or so constructed as to enable the small
round piece with the indentations, and the ratchet to work inside the hollow with-
out hindrance.

page_text: The sole-plate may be hollowed out in the bottom to admit of the nuts affixing the
uprights to be screwed off and on.
To use the holder for hanging froin ceilings, gas-pipes etc. I may employ a bar
across top & bottom straight or semi-circled and having the one side made a fixture,
and the other dove-tailed or screwed in.
THOMAS ORR,
Stewartville, Tig Road, Ayr.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Mechanical Contrivance for Holding String, Cord,
Thread, or the like.
I, THOMAS ORR, Stewartville, Tig Road, Ayr, 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 relates to a contrivance for holding reels of twine, cord, thread or
the like and is designed to automatically or mechanically roll back on to the reel
'the unused twine after the bag or parcel has been tied or the desired length
'cut off.
And in order that my said invention may be properly understood I have hereunto
appended an explanatory sheet of drawings whereon,
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of one form of the contrivance. This form is adapted for
suspension from a ceiling or other place.
Fig. 2 is an end view of the contrivance Fig. 1 with the sole plate in section.
Fig. 3 is a view of the spring arrangement.
Fig. 4 is a side elevation of another form of the contrivance. This form is adapted
for standing upon a counter or the like.
Fig. is an end view of the contrivance Fig. 4.
Fig. 6 is a section on the line - Fig. 4.
Figs. 7 and 8 are detail views.
Referring to the drawings whereon the same reference letters wherever repeated
indicate the same or similar parts.
As shown on the drawings the holder consists of a sole plate a made of brass or
other metal or which may be made of wood. The sole plate which may have grooves
in the bottom filled with lead or other material so that in the event of the holder
being used on a counter or the like it will not readily overbalance, has uprights or
sides b, c near each end. One of the uprights or sides may be made to screw into
the sole plate, or it may be made a fixture, the other being dovetailed in place. By
preference I secure the uprights or sides adjustably to the sole plate in the manner
shown on the drawings, that is to say, the sole plate is provided with two
longitudinal slots d, e, through which screws fattached to the lugs g of the uprights
or sides b, c, are passed and can be tightened up so as to lock said uprights or sides
in the adjusted position by means of washers and nuts /¹. When the uprights are
made adjustable as aforesaid the distance between them can be lessened or extended,
as desired, so as to suit different reels of twine.
One of the uprights b is hollowed out at 61 for the reception of a coil spring j
whose outer end is fastened by means of a rivet or screw 7, Fig. 3, to the wall of
the cavity whilst its inner end has a small hole in it, for the reception of a small
tooth or catch formed on the round end of the spindle and hereinafter referred to.
A lid with a hole in the centre and having a small ratchet pawl attached to its

page_text: outside and a small stop pin 12 also protruding therefrom a little above the ratchet
is fitted over the spring and secured in place by means of the screws 1, 1.
The spindle for holding the reel is square with the exception of its ends which
are round for a short distance. A small tooth or catch, (see dotted lines Fig.
and Figs. 7 and 8) is made ou the end of the spindle working in the cavity bl. A
sinall round piece or collar, having one or more indentations in it, is screwed,
soldered, or otherwise fixed to this end of the square part of the spindle.
The end of the spindle having the catch thereon is passed through the hole in
the lid of the cavity in such manner that said catch shall be within the inner con-
volution of the spring and be capable of entering the small hole made in its inner
extremity as aforesaid. The opposite end of the spindle is fitted loosely in a hole or
bearing made in the opposite upright c.
When the spindle is so fitted in place, it extends right across from upright to
upright the one end turning in the cavity provided with the spring and the other
in the bearing of the opposite upright.
A round or square sleeve m provided with screwed ends and having a square
opening at each end is adapted to be fitted on the spindle k. Side pieces n, n¹, are
screwed on to the ends of the sleeve. The side piece n is hollowed out or so con-
structed as to enable the small collar and the ratchet pawl to work freely within
it.
The sole plate may be hollowed out at the bottom to admit of the nuts which
secure the uprights in position being screwed on and off.
When the holder is hung from ceilings, gas pipes, etc. I may employ a bar across
the top and bottom (straight or curved) and having the one side made a fixture and
the other dovetailed or screwed in.
o, o are wire guides for preventing the twine running between the uprights and
the side pieces n, n¹.
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
consider novel and desire to claim is :-
1. A holder for string, cord, thread, or the like, having a spring arrangement for
automatically rolling back on to the reel the unused twine after the bag or parcel has
been tied, substantially as herein before described with reference to the drawings
annexed.
2. A holder for string, cord, thread, or the like, constructed substantially as
hereinbefore described and shown on the drawings annexed.
Thatod the 12th day of 11000
H. D. FITZPATRICK,
100, Wellington Street, Glasgow, Agent.