Improvements in and connected with Sewing Thimbles.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Dec., 1899-Accepted, 20th Jan., 1900
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Sewing Thimbles.
We, FRED WILLIAM DUKE, Gentleman, and MARY DUKE, both of Tampico, in
the State of Illinois, United States of America, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particu-
larly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:--
This invention relates to a thread cutting attachment for thimbles, and has for
its object to apply a simple and effective thread cutting device to thimbles in
such manner that the thread may be conveniently severed and without interfering
with the usual mode of working with a thimble and without injuring the hand
of the operator or user, and invariably insure a separation of the thread with a
clean shear cut and without complex manipulation or the exercise of strong
exertion to obtain the desired result.
Other objects and advantages will appear in the subjoined description, and the
novelty will be pointed out in the appended claims, preferred embodiments of
the improved device being illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein;
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a hand, showing a thimble applied thereto,
having thereon one form of the cutting attachment and illustrating the mode of
severing the thread thereby.
Figure 2 is a perspective view of the top portion of a thimble in an enlarged
scale, embodying the form of cutting attachment shown by Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a transverse vertical section through the upper portion of the
thimble and improved cutting attachment, shown by Figure 2.
Figure 4 is a horizontal section taken in the plane between the top of the
thimble at the point where the cutting attachment is applied and the underside
of an interposed washer, and looking upwardly.
Figure 4 is a plan view of a washer of different form and illustrating that
the operation of the improved cutting attachment is not dependent on any one
particular form of washer.
Figures 5, 6, 7 and 8, are detail plan views of different forms of cutting
disks.
Figure 9 is a side elevation of a thimble showing a further modification in the
form of cutting attachment.
Figure 10 is a side elevation of the thimble, showing a further modified form
of cutting attachment.
Figures 11 and 12, are views similar to Figures 9 and 10, showing further
modifications.
Similar numerals of reference are employed to indicate corresponding parts in
the several views.
The numeral 1 designates a thimble of any preferred form of construction and
embodying a frustro-conical body 2, having a slightly convex top 3. The major
portion of the body 2, as well as the top, is provided with indentations or other
means of roughening to support the needle against slipping as will be readily
understood, and to one side of the center of the top or apex 3, the cutting attach-
Price R71

page_text: ment 4. is applied near the periphery of the body 2, and disposed at an angle
of inclination upwardly toward the center of the said top and secured in place
by means of a rivet or pin 5, a washer 6 being inserted between the under side
of the attachment and that portion of the top of the thimble over which said
attachment is disposed. To provide means for the proper application of the
attachment on the top 3, an indentation 7, is formed and is devoid of the usual
indentation or roughened surface to prevent the needle from slipping, and as
shown by Figure 3, the said indentation 7, is just deep enough to bring the
outer face of the attachment 4, in a sloping plane approximately merging with
the plane of the greatest upward extent of the center of the said top. When
the attachment 4, together with the washer have been applied in operative position
in the indentation 7, the said attachment will also be in a plane parallel with the
base portion of said indentation, and as shown by a majority of the figures, the
attachment is in the form of a disk having one or more notches 8 providing one
or more teeth 9, between which the thread is caught when the severing operation
is carried on.
f
In Figures 1, 2, and 3, three notches S are formed in the disk, and in
Figure 5 the number of said notches is increased to four, thereby providing an
additional number of cutting surfaces or edges. The disk shown by Figures 1,
2 and 3, has the notches thereof directed to a point beyond the center of the disk,
thereby giving a greater extent to each notch within the confines of the disk
and making the attacliment more effectual in carrying on the cutting operation
therewith and also in catching the thread for such purpose. The disk shown by
Figure 5 has the notches therein in radial line, and directed toward the center
of the disk, thereby illustrating that the principle of the cutting attachment
imay also be carried out in this manner though not as effective as in the form
shown by Figures 12 and 3. The disk shown by Figure 4, will be understood
to be a larger illustration of that shown by Figures 1, 2 and 3, and of course
embodies the same principle and advantage. The disks shown by Figures 6
and 7, have single notches to provide a single tangential tooth in each instance,
and the disk illustrated by Figure 8, slightly varies from that shown by Figures 1,
2, 3 and 4, in that the notches have a direction in a plane past one side of the
center of the disk. All the disks that have been particularly referred to, have
edge bevels 10 to serve as a means for guiding the thread into the notches, and
in some instances the teeth might be slightly dipped or bent towards the lower
wall of the indentation 7, but for all practical purposes it is preferred that they
be straight. Likewise, the opposite edges of the teeth are shown straight or
approximately so, and free of any irregularities, but in some constructions it
might be desired to corrugate the edges of the teeth or otherwise shape the same,
and the present mode of construction of the improved attachment contemplates
all of such obvious departures.
In Figure 4 the preferred form of washer is shown, which has a number
of notches 12 cut thereinto to provide teeth 13 having sharp terminals, and the
thread is adapted to be drawn against the said terminals of the washer teeth
and braced against the tooth or teeth of the disk above to effect a severance of
the thread. At times the washer shown in Figures 4, may be replaced by that
shown in Figure 4", and the cutting operation can then be pursued solely in
the notches of the disk supported by the washer. The opening 14 in the disk,
washer and wall of the indentation 7 is of pentagonal form, and the rivet pin 5
rounded. When the said rivet pin is inserted through the said parts and upset
in secured position, the expansion of the metal of the same during such operation
will cause it to fill the pentagonal openings in the disk washer and wall of the
indentation, and provide a firm securement as well as prevent the disk or washer
turning or becoming displaced from an initially adjusted position. Furthermore,
the opening for the rivet pin in all the disks shown, as well as in the washers,
is eccentrically arranged, thus projecting the working portion of the disk a
greater distance to one side of its means of securement than at the other side;

page_text: and thus also partially close one portion of the disk and prevent the thread
from entering thereat. In addition to this form of closure, the side or edge portion
of the disk near the periphery of the frustro-conical body is guarded and the
thread will thereby be more quickly caught in proper position on the attachment
in view of the opposite open portion between the washer and disk and the
adjacent wall in the thimble top. In Figure 9 the cutting attachment is applied
to the body 2 of the thimble and in this instance consists of a single tooth or
quill 15 having a cutting edge 16 and held outward at an angle to the said body
by an interposed washer 18, which may be of either of the forms heretofore
described but preferably that shown by Figure 4", and through which, together
with the cutting attachment as well as the body of the thimble a rivet 18" is
passed and upset for securing purposes. A second rivet 19 is also employed to
hold the tooth in fixed position and extends through the same and the lower
portion of the body of the thimble at a point below the washer 18. The reduced
end of the tooth 16 stands well up adjacent the top 3, as clearly shown, and is
adapted to effectually serve in cutting thread and may be preferred by some to
the forms heretofore described. A part of the principle embodied in the forms
of the device heretofore set forth is also included in this modified construction,
as a washer is interposed between the cutting device and the body of the thimble,
so as to make the cutting edge easily accessible.
In Figure 10, the disk attachment 20 is applied to the body 2, near the top 3,
and is substantially of the same form as the device shown by Figures 1, 2, 3,
and 4, but has in addition an outstanding hooked tooth 21, against which the
thread may be caught and severed. A washer similar to that designated by 6
in Figure 4, or that shown by Figure 4" will be used with this form of the disk
attachment, and the particular arrangement of the knife 21 might be preferred
by some operatives in special lines of work.
In Figure 11, a further modified form of cutting attachment is illustrated
and comprises a body 22 having a notch 23 forming a cutting edge and an upper
free hooked end or tooth 21, which stands inward into an opening 25 in the
upper portion of the body 2, said opening permitting the thread to be thrown
around this form of the attachment and can be held by the hook until severed
on the cutting edge provided in the notch 23. The entire device is fastened
by a rivet 26, and the lowered tapered extremity 27 of the body 22 is caught and
held in a slot 28 and thereby protected and prevented from forming an obstruc-
tion or projection of an injurious nature.
In Figure 12, a still further modified form of the attachment is illustrated,
and comprises a vertically disposed body 29 held in place by rivets 30 and pro-
vided with an upward inturned hooked end 31 with a cutting edge 32 at one
side, the said hooked end 31 extending inwardly into a depression 33, which
serves to permit the thread to be caught under the hook and held while drawn
against the said cutting edge.
The disk attachment, shown by Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4, as before indicated,
embodies the preferred construction and all the disk modifications are preferable
to the devices shown by Figures 9, 11, and 12. It is more convenient to construct
and apply the disk and it can be more easily beveled, and furthermore, offers the
least opportunity for the thread to catch while sewing and presents the most
compact surface for the formation of the notches and teeth. It will have been
understood no doubt from the foregoing disclosure, that the notches and inter-
mediate teeth in the disk form of the attachment are provided to prevent the
thread from slipping in the use of the cutting washer which is the preferred
construction and to obtain proper cutting angles, but it will also be understood
that it is intended that the invention contemplates broadly the employment of
a projecting tooth and a supporting washer serving to dispose the tooth or teeth
and the adjacent notch or notches at convenient operating angles or in planes
affording the most beneficial results.
From practical observation it has been perceived that the hand when properly

page_text: closed, as in holding a needle, will have the points of its unengaged fingers follow
the line of the inside of the thumb and the palm of the hand, producing from the
point of the index finger diagonally across the adjacent portion of the point of
the second finger and successively across the point of the third finger, a receding
line which advances again from the point of the third finger to the similar
portion of the little finger. This therefore, leaves a protected triangular nook
between the point of the second finger and that of the third finger and which
is the invariable contour produced by the hand of anyone holding a needle in
the proper manner and for the purpose of sewing. This nook has been taken
advantage of in determining the practicability of the improved attachment, and
the knife portion of the thimble will be positioned therein and out of the way
of contact. It will not be in the way of using the thimble for smoothing goods,
nor will it catch on the outside on the threads or ravelings as in basting, or on
the thread passing from the needle through the palm of the hand, the knife
being underneath and too far to the right as the hand is turned with the palm
partly down for sewing. Furthermore, the position of the attachment also leaves
as much of the top of the thimble free from use as can be used.
To illustrate the operation of one form of the device, it will be observed by
referring to Figure 1, that the third finger is passed once around the thread
adjacent the outer joint of the same; the thread is then slipped in at the apex
or top of the thimble in operative relation to the attachment, and the middle
finger carrying the thimble is pushed away from the third finger holding the
thread, or said third finger may be slightly drawn away to exert a pull on the
caught thread while the thumb steadies the middle finger. It is intended that
the attachment cut the thread close to the fabric being sewn, and as shown in
Figure 1, the fabric is farther away from the thimble end than it will be in
practice to prevent obstructing the view of the cutting attachment, and in the
operation of cutting the thread it is unnecessary to discard the needle which may
be held between the first and second finger and thumb.
One mode of using the attachment has been set forth for the purpose of
demonstrating its practicability, but it is obviously apparent that different opera-
tives or users will select various methods of arriving at the same result, and it
is not necessary to pursue a precise disposition of the thread at all times, and the
rapid use of the needle will determine to a material extent, the manner in which
the thread will be caused to engage the attachment. It will be observed, however,
that the attachment is capable of use in numerous arrangements to effectively
serve in severing the thread and the cutting may be carried on at times solely
by the cutting edges of the teeth or wholly by the washer having teeth, and it
is intended to use either one or both and employ the principle of having a brace
formed by the washer relatively to the disk or tooth, or of the washer forming
the brace, relatively to the tooth against which the thread is brought to bear.
The application of the improved cutting attachment in any of its forms does
not materially add to the cost of the thimble, and particularly when compared
to the additional usefulness provided by such attachment and the saving of labor
and time in cutting thread in a clean manner by a shear cut without the use of
scissors or other cumbersome devices.
Changes in the form, proportion, and minor details, other than those referred
to may be made, without in the least departing from the spirit or sacrificing
any of the advantages of the invention.
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:-
1. The combination with a thimble, of a cutting attachment secured thereto
having one or more teeth with a space between the same and the thimble.
2. The combination with a thimble of a cutting attachment secured thereto
comprising one or more teeth, and a washer between the attachment and a por-

page_text: ion of the thimble to which it is applied to provide a space between the teeth
and the thimble.
3. The combination with a thimble, of a cutting attachment having one or
more notches and disposed parallel to the portion of the thimble to which it is
applied.
4. A combination with a thimble having an indentation of a cutting attachment
provided with one or more notches and adapted to be disposed parallel to the
bottom of the indentation, and a washer between the attachment and a portion
of the thimble to which it is applied.
5. The combination with a thimble having an indentation, of a cutting attach-
ment having one or more notches and disposed parellel to the bottom of the
indentation.
6. The combination with a thimble, of a cutting attachment having one or
more notches, the lower portions of the margins of which are sharpened to form
cutting edges.
7. The combination with a thimble, of a cutting attachment having one or
more notches, and a washer between the attachment and a portion of the thimble
to which it is applied, the under edge of the intermediate portion of the attach-
ment between the notches or those on opposite sides of the single notch being
sharpened to provide cutting edges.
8. The combination with a thimble, of a cutting attachment having one or
more notches, and securing means therefor arranged eccentrically thereto.
9. The combination with a thimble, of a cutting attachment having one or
more notches and a rivet pin for securing the same extending therethrough to
one side of the center.
10. The combination with a thimble, of a cutting attachment having one or
more notches and a polygonal opening therethrough to one side of the center,
and a rivet of rounded form adapted to be inserted through the said opening and
the thimble and conform to the contour of the said polygonal opening.
11. The combination with a thimble, of a cutting attachment having one or
more notches and a polygonal opening therethrough to one side of the center,
a washer also having a polygonal opening eccentrically situated therein, and a
round securing rivet adapted to be inserted through the openings in the cutting
attachment and washer and a portion of the thimble and made to conform to the
polygonal contour of said openings when upset.
12. The combination with a thimble, of a cutting attachment comprising a disk
having one or more notches, a notched washer between the disk and thimble,
and means for securing said parts.
13. The combination with a thimble, of a cutting attachment comprising a
disk having one or more notches therein directed to a point eccentric to the
attachment, and means for securing said disk to the thimble.
14. The combination with a thimble, of a cutting attachment having one or
more notches therein, the parts between or on opposite sides of the notches being
beveled to form undercutting edges, and means for securing the disk to the
5 thimble.