IMPROVEMENTS IN OR ADDITIONS TO BOXES OR RECEPTACLES FOR THREAD OR TWINE, OR THE LIKE
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Darling, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark,
North Britain, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN OR ADDITIONS TO
BOXES OR RECEPTACLES FOR THREAD OR TWINE, OR THE LIKE."
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Darling at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 14th April 1881.
JOHN DARLING, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN OR ADDITIONS TO BOXES OR RECEPTACLES FOR THREAD OR
TWINE, OR THE LIKE."
The object of this Invention is to provide an attachment or attachments to
boxes or receptacles for thread, twine, or the like, for conveniently severing the
required length of thread or twine, or the like, which has been withdrawn from
the box or receptacle, the same attachment also holding the severed end of the
thread or twine, or the like, protruding from the box or receptacle. In the box or
receptacle, and near to the hole or each hole therein through which the thread or
threads or twine, or the like, is or are withdrawn from the bobbin or bobbins, or
ball or balls or the like contained in the said box or receptacles is fixed, the said
attachment consisting of a cutting and securing blade or projection sharpened at
the edge and secured to the box or receptacle by suitable means, as, for instance,
by a stem or shank, driven, screwed, or otherwise held in the substance of the box
or receptacle. The thread, twine, or the like, when withdrawn to the length
required, is passed over the adjacent attachment and may be readily severed
thereby, the said attachment then retaining the severed end of the thread or twine.
Thus not only is the severing of the thread or threads, or twine, or the like,
readily and conveniently effected, but owing to the ends being retained by the
attachments there are no loose unsightly ends left hanging from the box or
receptacle. When a fresh length of thread or twine, or the like, is to be withdrawn
the portions thereof between the hole and the attachment is in convenient position
for being grasped.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said John Darling in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 14th October
1881.
JOHN DARLING, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North. Britain
"IMPROVEMENTS IN OR ADDITIONS TO BOXES OR RECEPTACLES FOR THREAD OR
TWINE, OR THE LIKE."
The object of my said Invention is to provide an attachment or attachments for
boxes or receptacles for thread, twine, or the like, for conveniently severing the
required length of thread or twine, or the like, which has been withdrawn from the
box or receptacle, the same attachment also serving in some cases to hold or retain
the severed end of the thread or twine, or the like, protruding from the box or
receptacle. Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawing represents a box or receptacle
for containing bobbins, reels, or balls of cotton or silk, or balls of twine, or the like,
the said box or receptacle being provided with attachments according to my
Invention for severing the thread or twine, or the like, and for retaining the severed
ends protruding from the said box or receptacle. Holes a are made in the box or
receptacle, one hole for the passage from the interior to the exterior of the box or
receptacle of each kind of thread or twine, or the like, contained therein. Near to
each such hole at the exterior of the box or receptacle is fixed an attachment,
consisting of a cutting and securing blade or projection b sharpened at the edge
presented towards the box and secured to the box or receptacle by any suitable
means, as, for instance, by a stem or shank formed in one with the said blade and
driven or screwed into or otherwise held in the box or receptacle. The said blade
is illustrated separately drawn to an enlarged scale in Figure 2, where c represents
a portion of the substance of the box or receptacle. The cutting edge of the blade
is preferably inclined to the surface of the box or receptacle forming a V shaped
recess between itself and the said surface, as shewn clearly in Figure 2. The thread
or twine, or the like, when withdrawn through the hole a to the length required,
is passed over the adjacent attachment, so that it is in the recess between the cutting
edge thereof and the surface of the box or receptacle, and on being pulled against the
said cutting edge and towards the narrow part of the recess, the said thread or twine,
or the like, is readily severed thereby and the severed end is wedged in and retained
between the surface of the box and the said cutting edge. Thus not only is the
severing of the thread or twine, or the like, readily and conveniently effected, but,
owing to the end of the thread being retained by the attachment, as shewn in
Figure 1 (where the lines d represent the ends of thread or twine, or the like, so
retained by the attachment), there are no loose unsightly ends left hanging from
the box or receptacle, and the ends of the thread or twine, or the like, are held in
convenient position for being grasped when another length is to be withdrawn
from the box or receptacle, Where more convenient, as, for example, in twine box
the attachment may be placed at the top of the box, as shewn in Figure 3; and to
ensure the proper cutting of the twine or the like the attachment may be formed
with a double cutting blade, or two cutting blades, 62, 62, the sharpened edges being
presented towards each other, as shewn in Figure 4. This form of blade may, if
desired, be set in a vertical position, as shewn in Figure 5, and for convenience of
sharpening the blades they may be made separate and be fastened together by
screws or otherwise, as shewn in Figure 4. In this modification, in order to insure
the severing of the twine, or the like, in the case of the same being comparatively
thick, the two blades b², 6², may be jointed, as shewn at b³, b³, in Figure 6, to a
carrying piece e fastened to the box or receptacle in any suitable way, as, for
instance, as shewn by the screwed stem fand nut g. When the twine, or the like,
to be severed is passed between the blades 62, 62, and pulled down therebetween,

page_text: the two blades move towards each other and sever the twine, or the like, a spring h
thereafter returning the blades to their normal position. It will be evident
that my Invention may be applied to a box or receptacle for one or any other
number of balls or of reels, bobbins, or other holders of thread, twine, or the
like.
Where the box or receptacle is of metal sufficiently hard to form the cutting
blade or blades the said blade or blades, instead of being made separately from
the box or receptacle, may be turned up or formed from the substance of the box
itself.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and the system, mode, or manner in or under which the same is or may
be used or practically carried into effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I
consider to be novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to
me by the hereinbefore in part recited Letters Patent is,―
The improvements in or additions to boxes or receptacles for thread or twine, or
the like, consisting in providing the said boxes or receptacles with an attachment
or attachments as and for the purpose described under the several modifications
and illustrated in the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Darling, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Eleventh day of October, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
JOHN DARLING. (L.S.)