Improvements in or relating to Sewing Needles.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Aug., 1897-Accepted, 2nd Oct.,
1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Sewing Needles.
I, AUGUST KNIPPENBERG of Hauptstrasse Ichtershausen-in-Thuringen, in the
Empire of Germany, Manufacturer, 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:-
The needle according to the present invention is intended to facilitate the intro-
duction of thread so that it may be threaded with ease by persons with weak eye-
sight or unsteady hand, without any of the conditions of a good needle being
sacrificed.
The thread can be conveniently introduced into the eye of the needle in the
following manner.
Referring to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate the improved needle
in different positions and modifications, unlike an ordinary needle the eye is
arranged not in the centre of the shank s but a little to one side, so that the longi-
tudinal axis I-II does not intersect the eye in the centre, but at the side (Fig. 1).
This is done in order to strengthen the wall a of the eye so as to obviate the danger
of breaking. The other wall 6 of the eye is provided with a notch c. If the thread d
in the form of a loop (Figs. 2, 4 and 5) is caused to slide over the shank s of the
needle, it will be caught in the notch c. Fig. 2. Next to the reduced portion of
the notch c there is formed in the wall b of the eye a slot f by cutting or breaking
the material. By slightly pulling the thread the spring-tongue z of the head of
the needle produced in the above manner is opened to such an extent that the
thread d enters the eye a Fig. 4, whereupon the spring z closes again. Thus the
upper part z of the wall b is supported on the lower part whereby the strength of
the eye is increased.
While the long portion of the eye serves for the convenient introduction of the
thread d, the upper small portion y forms the eye proper at the same time serving
to protect the thread d against breaking.
After the thread d is introduced into the larger portion of the eye, it is forced
through the reduced portion g at the top of the opening and is thus ready for
work Fig. 5.
The thread is sufficiently protected by the fact that the thread d cannot fall back
into the portion of its own accord owing to the narrow part g, so that friction or
breaking at the notch c or slot f is avoided.
That portion of the notch which has to overcome the resistance of the fabric
when sewing, is reduced and rounded off so as to present no sharp edges or projec-
tions. Owing to this, that is to say to the form of the spring blade z, the head of
the needle is prevented from sticking or catching in the fabric. In side elevation
the head of the needle is slightly reduced, and is therefore thinner than the shank
whereby a smooth passage of the needle through the fabric is attained (Fig. 10).
The usefulness of the needle according to the present invention is increased still
more by the fact that owing to the upper wall 6 being springy, it is possible to
introduce thicker threads than is usually the case with ordinary needles of the

page_text: same size, for the upper wall 6 or the spring-blade z is forced to yield according to
the thickness of the thread and to admit the thread d through the slot f.
The thread is not subjected to any appreciable friction while being introduced
into the eye as the spring opening through which it passes is provided with rounded
surfaces.
The reduced eye-portion g between the eyes x and y may, if desired, be arranged
either more to one or to the other side, as clearly shown in Figs. 6 and 7. Similarly
the eyes x and y may be angular as shown in Figs. 8 and 9.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is :-
1. A needle provided with a double eye x y of any desired shape, characterised
by the arrangement of an introduction-eye .and smaller working eye y connected
together by a narrow central outside passage g both eyes being situated towards
one side of the axial line of the needle, the weaker upper wall 6 being cut through
at f and formed with a notch or recess c (to the extent of about half its thickness),
so that a spring-blade z opening inwards is formed in the eye for the purpose of the
lateral introduction of the thread substantially as described.
2. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting the complete needle
substantially as described and illustrated in Figure 1 or in Figure 6 or in Figure 7:
or in Figure 8 or in Figure 9 of the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 16th day of August 1897.
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant.