Thread Cutter and Thimble.
Year: 1894

page_text: COMT DIE SI MUIFICATION.
Combined Thread Cutter and Thimble.
I, MARGARET RUSSELL GRAY, of Auckland, in the Colony of New Zealand,
engaged in Domestic Duties, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for
COMBINED THREAD CUTTER AND THIMBLE and in what manner the same is to
be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
My invention is a protected thread cutter universally applicable to thimbles
whether made integral therewith or integral with a spring ring which is combined
with the thimble by being slipped on the same.
The cutting edges are duplicate and so arranged that it is a matter of ease to
bring the thread into contact with them whilst these edges are so protected above
and below as to leave no sharp projecting point upon which stuffs or other things
may be caught and injured or by means of which the cutter is liable to be wrenched
off. This protection afforded to the cutters is of importance. Furthermore, the
protecting edges which are blunt serve as guides by which the thread may be
slipped on to tho cutting edges.
In the accompanying drawings are illustrations of my improvements,
Figure 1 showing a thimble, with the edge of the cutter seen in elevation.
Figure 2 represents a thimble with the cutter attached thereto in side elevation.
Figure 3 shows a spring ring one end of which is turned up to project outwardly
and is formed into a cutter.
Figure 4 shows a cutter alone in edge view, and Figure 5 the same in side
elevation, the two lattor being upon an enlarged scale.
Figure 6 shows a cutter with a larger angle of inclination between the blades.
Figures 7 and 8 show the cutter arranged transversely and obliquely respectively
in relation to the thimble.
In Figure 1 the cutter is brazed on, in Figures 2, 7 and 8 it is formed by cutting
out the metal as shown and then turning up a piece to form the cutter this arrange-
ment being the most suitable, durable and economical for tailors' and other
thimbles which are of steel.
In these drawings A, B are sharp cutting edges, CD are blunt edges serving
the double purpose of protecting the blades from liability to catch in anything, and
of guides for slipping the threads on to the cutters. E is the thimble body, and
Fa spring ring as described.
In carrying out my invention the precise forms illustrated in Figures 1 to 5 need
not necessarily be followed. Thus, while the two outwardly facing cutting
edges A, B should meet at their inner extremity the angle between them might be
obtuse instead of acute, and the blunt guiding and protecting edge C D might be
as shown in Figure 6. Instead of the part A to D being set longitudinally on the
thimble they may be set obliquely or transversely vide Figures 7 and 8.
In all cases I employ two.cutting edges which in the first place face outwardly
from the thimble; which in the second place meet at their inner ends, and which
in the third place are protected from liability to catch or tear by blunt edges
as C D forming combinations of such cutting edges and therefore acting as guides
to them.
By preserving these general features, threads may be brought into contact with
the cutter and be severed with especial ense.
I do not wish to be understood as claiming every possible combination of thimble
and thread cutter. There are various forms of combination which are less useful
and are unsuitable in practice, and not adapted to come into general use, whilst by
•

page_text: experiments I have found that what I claim is well adapted to prove a permanent
Buccess. In some combinations which I avoid the position of the entrance to the
cutter would render access troublesome, or motion of the thread would be needed in
two directions to effect a cut viz., one into the entrance and the other against the
blade. If the motion of the thread had to be in a direction outwardly from the
thimble in order to effect a cut there would be a tendency to break the cutter off
or strain it in cases where the thread was heavy and the cutter blunt. A singly
straight blade would be unsatisfactory after a time as it would grow blunt.
Two combined blades as A, B having a meeting or inner corner will give
superior and lasting service. Furthermore, by the blades A, B being arranged
facing outwardly from the thimble as herein-set forth they may be easily sharpened.
from time to time.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed 1 declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In a combination thimble and thread cutter two metal blades facing outwardly
from the thimble set at an angle to one another and meeting together at their inner
ends, in combination with blunt.guiding and protecting surfaces substantially as set
forth.
2. In combination with a thimble a detachable spring ring as set forth, having a
thread cutter thereon said cutter consisting of two metal blades facing outwardly
from the said ring and set at an angle to one another, and meeting together at their
inner ende, in combination with blunt guiding and protecting surfaces substantially
as set forth.
Dated this 1st day of October 1894.
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.