AN IMPROVED RECEPTACLE OR CASE FOR THE PROTECTION OF THREADS OF COTTON, SILK, OR OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES WHEN IN A 'SPOOLED,' 'BALLED, OR OTHERWISE WOUND STATE. OR FOR THE RECEPTION OF 'TAPES."
Year: 1862

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Godfrey Ermen, of Manchester, in the County of
Lancaster, Sewing Thread Manufacturer, for the Invention of "AN
IMPROVED RECEPTACLE OR CASE FOR THE PROTECTION OF THREADS OF COTTON,
SILK, OR OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES WHEN IN A 'SPOOLED,' 'BALLED, OR
OTHERWISE WOUND STATE. OR FOR THE RECEPTION OF 'TAPES.""
Sealed the 16th May 1862, and dated the 13th March 1862.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Godfrey Ermen at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 13th
March 1862.
I, GODFREY ERMEN, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Sewing
Thread Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"AN IMPROVED RECEPTACLE OR CASE FOR THE PROTECTION OF THREADS OF
COTTON, SILK, OR OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES WHEN IN A SPOOLED,' BALLED,'
OR OTHERWISE WOUND STATE, OR FOR THE RECEPTION OF TAPES,' " to be as
follows:-
The Invention relates principally to such threads as are wound upon
spools" or bobbins, or in the form of balls, or are produced in other con-
venient forms for use, and generally known as "sewing thread," the object
being to protect the thread from soiling and entanglement whilst being
unwound; and to provide a permanent case for the thread when not in use.
For this purpose I employ a case or receptacle subdivided into compartments,

page_text: each compartment being for the reception of a separate ball, bobbin, or "spool,"
somewhat similar in description to an ordinary workbox, such case being
closed by an outer lid or cover. Now my Invention consists in the interpo-
sition of an inner lid between the top of the partitions and the outer lid, such
inner lid having perforations or slits therein for the passage of the thread or
tape, and consequently corresponding in number to the number of compart-
ments, so that the inner perforated lid closes the compartments, and the
threads project through the perforations, and when not in use the outer cover
is placed on, and such ends are protected from withdrawal, or the perforations
may be made in the outer cover, and the inner cover dispensed with, or, if
preferred, the threads may pass out of the sides of the case. When the case
requires replenishment, the inner lid is so made as to be readily removed for
the purpose. By this means threads of different degrees of strength or of
different colors may be contained in and withdrawn from the same case without
becoming soiled, mixed, or entangled, and may be unwound from end to end
without waste; or when the thread is wound upon bobbins, the case may be
fitted with spindles, and the bobbins placed thereupon. These cases may
either be made as part of a general workbox, or used separately as a thread
case.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Godfrey Ermen in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
13th September 1862.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GODFREY
ERMEN, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Sewing Thread Manu-
facturer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Thirteenth day of March, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, in the twenty-fifth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Godfrey Ermen, Her special license that I, the said Godfrey Ermen,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
Godfrey Ermen, my "executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any
time agree with and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make,
use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "AN

page_text: IMPROVED RECEPTACLE OR CASE FOR THE PROTECTION OF THREADS OF COTTON, SILK,
OR OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES WHEN IN A 'SPOOLED, BALLED, OR OTHERWISE
WOUND STATE, OR FOR THE RECEPTION OF TAPES," " upon the condition, amongst
others, that I, the said Godfrey Ermen, by an instrument in writing under
my hand and seal, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of
the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed,
and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within
six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
:
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Godfrey Ermen, 'do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and 'ascertained in and by the fol-
lowing statement and accompanying Drawings (that is to say):-
The Invention relates principally to such threads as are wound upon "spools"
or bobbins, or in the form of balls, or are produced in other convenient forms
for use, and generally known as "sewing thread," the object being to protect
the thread from soiling and entanglement whilst being unwound, and to
provide a permanent case for the thread when not in use. For this purpose;
I employ a case or receptacle; subdivided into, compartments, each compart
ment being for the reception of a separate ball, bobbin, or "spool," somewhat
similar in description to an ordinary workbox, such case being closed by an
outer lid or cover. Now my Invention consists in the interposition of an.
inner lid between the top of the partitions and the outer lid, such inner lid
having perforations or slits therein for the passage of the, thread or tape, and
consequently corresponding in number to the number of compartments, so that
the inner perforated lid closes the compartments, and the threads project
through the perforations, and when not in use the outer cover is placed on,
and such ends are protected from withdrawal, or the outer cover may be per-
forated, and the inner one dispensed with, or, if preferred, the threads may
pass out of the sides of the case. When the case requires replenishment, the
inner lid is so made as to be readily removed for the purpose. By this means
threads of different degrees of strength or of different colors may be contained
in and withdrawn from the same case without need of handling or becoming
soiled, mixed, or entangled, and may be unwound from end to end without
waste; or when the thread is wound upon the bobbins, the case may be fitted
with spindles, and the bobbins placed thereupon. These cases may either be
made as part of a general workbox, or used separately as a thread case.
In order that the Invention may be better understood and explained in
detail, I have hereunto attached a Sheet of Drawings illustrative of the

page_text: improved receptacle or case, similar letters of reference being marked upon
corresponding parts.
Fig. 1 exhibits the case subdivided by partitions, the interior lid being shewn
partly open; Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the same, shewn in section, as when
both lids or covers are closed; Figs. 3 and 4 are plan views, having the inner
lid closed, and shewing the apertures for the passage of the thread; and
Fig. 5 exhibits a case as applied to the reception of tapes.
In the various Figs., a, a, is the outer case, divided by the partitions b, b,
into cells to contain the separate balls of cotton, &c.; c, c, and d, d, is the
inner perforated lid through which the threads pass, and which, when closed,
protects the interior from dust, and in combination with the divisions b, b,
enables the user to unwind the threads contained in the cells from end to end
without waste, soiling, or entanglement, or being handled, e being the exterior
cover for enclosing the whole when not in use.. It will be also evident that
this liḍ e might also be perforated, and the inner one dispensed with, if pre-
ferred, and the spools f,f, may either be placed on spindles, as shewn in
Figs. 2 and 4, or loosely in the cells, and the perforations may be made of
any form to suit the passing of the article contained in the cells.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention, together with the
method of carrying the same into practical effect, I wish it to be distinctly:
understood that I claim the novel employment and use of a perforated lid or
cover in combination with the cellular divisions for enclosing threads in a
balled, "spooled," or otherwise wound state, and to form a case for the
protection of such threads, as herein-before described, set forth, and fully
illustrated in the Drawings attached.
In witness whereof, I, the said Godfrey Ermen, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Eleventh day of September, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two.
GODFREY ERMEN. (L.S.)