A NEW DARNING OR MENDING ATTACHMENT FOR SEWING MACHINES
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Harrison, of 128, Portland Street, Manchester,
in the County of Lancaster, Mechanic, for the Invention of "A NEW DARNING
OR MENDING ATTACHMENT FOR SEWING MACHINES."
GALL
107777
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Harrison at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 30th November 1877
WILLIAM HARRISON, of 128, Portland St., Manchester, in the County of Lancaster,
Mechanic. "A NEW DARNING OR MENDING ATTACHMENT FOR SEWING MACHINES."
The first part of my Invention consists of a spiral spring, to be directly con-
nected with the ordinary needle or needle bar, or other needle carrier, or mover, or
lever of any sewing machine, to constitute a presser, which operates to hold the
thread, or worsted, or the material to be darned on the throat plate or bed of the
machine, or work-supporting table, during the operation of darning or interlacing
of threads or worsted to form the stitch, and during a portion of the withdrawing
movement of the needle, but which is lifted from the material by the needle bar, or
needle carrier, or lever, so as to relieve the material from pressure while the needle
is out of the material, thus leaving the material free to be moved any required
distance in any direction by hand. Prior to threading the needle I pass the thread
or worsted within the spiral spring between one of the coils, so that the needle and
thread or worsted are within the spring.
The second part of my Invention consists of a collar to fit firmly on the end of
the previously described spiral spring, with an eye, or small hole, or lateral opening.
This collar being connected firmly to the spring encircles or fits loosely round the
needle, and operates as a presser with increased pressure, being better adapted for
finer threads than the open end of the spiral spring previously described. The eye
or lateral opening is for the purpose of passing the thread or worsted through prior
to passing it through the eye of the needle. The attachment or spiral spring
therefore, with and without the collar, is passed over any sewing machine needle by
simply slipping it with the free end when the collar is affixed, or either end when

page_text: the spring is without the collar, over the point of such needle, and pushing the
spring on to the taper shank shoulder or enlarged end of the needle, which is
secured to the needle bar of the sewing machine, or the same spring may be
attached to the needle bar, or needle carrier, or needle lever
The third part of my Invention consists of a flat or round flexable spring, in a
bow form or otherwise, with a hole or eye on the upper end and a collar on the
lower end, with an eye or lateral opening for the purpose of passing the thread or
worsted through, thereby encircled or surrounded by the collar; the collar fits loose
round the needle. In connecting or placing this darning attachment for operating
upon the material, the upper end of such spring is passed over either end of the
sewing machine needle, and which fits close upon or around the needle, or which I
attach to the needle, or needle bar, or needle lever. When I attach this spring to
the needle lever I bend it in any peculiar forn to suit the different forms and
makes of sewing machines, but when using this attachment I only pass one end of
this spring over the point or other end of the needle, with or without a collar, with
an eye or lateral opening large enough for the free passage of a thread, the eye or
lateral opening of the collar being set opposito the long groove of the needle, which
in operation is furthermost from the shuttle or looper.
The third part of my Invention gives and relieves the pressure upon the material
to be darned the same as the first and second part of my Invention.
To perform the operation of darning the ordinary presser of the sewing machine
has to be removed or raised from its operating position and thero secured. The
feed is adjusted for the least action, the needle thread is passed inward through the
spiral spring or eye of collar down to and through the eye of the needle, and the
machine is operated as for ordinary sewing. As the needle descends the spring or
collar descending with it comes down upon the material around the eye of the
throat plate, and acts like an ordinary presser during the latter part of the descent
of the needle. The spring being bent inward or compressed by the continued
descent of the needle, after the spring, or collar, or presser comes in contact with
the material, as the needle rises, the spring, or collar, or presser is held down by the
spring until the latter has extended itself to its full length, and is then raised from
the material by the continued upward movement of the needle. After the needle
has been entirely withdrawn from the material the latter is moved by hand inde-
pendently of the machine feed action any required distance, in any direction
dosired, to repeat or make more stitches.
The attachment succeptible of some other form or modification as, for instance
the presser though preferably encircled or surrounding the needle, and to which the
needle forms a guide, might be an angle-triangle or side presser, or some other form,
if organized to be confined to a position near the needle.
The fourth part of my Invention consists of a grip ring, with sharp edge, or
covered with rubber, or set with fine sharp pins, which is used for keeping the
material on the stretch during the operation of darning.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Harrison in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 30th May
1878.
WILLIAM HARRISON, of 128, Portland Street, Manchester, in the County of
Lancaster, Mechanic. "A NEW DARNING OR MENDING ATTACHMENT FOR SEWING
MACHINES."
My Invention is a new, novel, useful, simple, and cheap attachment.
The first part of my Invention consists of a spiral spring, to be directly connected
with the ordinary needle, needle bar, carrier, or mover, or lever of any sewing
machine to constitute a presser, which operates to hold the thread, or worsted, or
the material to be darned on the throat plate or bed of the machine, or work-
supporting table, during the operation of darning, or interlacing of threads or
worsted to form the stitch, and during a portion of the withdrawing movement of
the needle, but which is lifted from the material by the needle bar, or needle
carrier, or lever so as to relieve the material from pressure while the needle is out
of the material, thus leaving the material free to be moved any required distance,
in any direction, by hand. Prior to threading the needle I pass the thread or
worsted within the spiral spring between one of the coils, so that the needle thread
or worsted are within spring.
The second part of my Invention consists of a collar to fit firmly on the end of
the previously described spiral spring, with an eye, or small hole, or lateral opening.
This collar being connected firmly to the spring encircles or fits loosely round the
needle, and operates as a presser with increased pressure, being better adapted for
finer threads than the open end of the spiral spring previously described. The oyo
or lateral opening is for the purpose of passing the thread or worsted through prior
to passing it through the eye of the needle, the attachment or spiral spring there-
fore, with and without the collar, is passed over any sewing machine needle by
simply slipping it with the free end when the collar is affixed, or either end when
the spring is without the collar, over the point of such needle, and pushing the
spring on to the taper shank, shoulder, or enlarged end of the needle, which is
secured to the needle bar of the sewing machine, or the same spring may be attached
to the needle bar, or needle carrier, or the needle lever.
The third part of my Invention consists of a flat or round flexible spring in a
bow form, or otherwise, with a hole or eye on the upper end, and a collar upon the
lower end, with an eye or lateral opening for the purpose of passing the thread or
worsted through, thereby encircling or surrounding the collar; the collar fits loosely
round the needle. In connecting or placing this darning attachment for operating
upon the material, the upper end of such spring is passed over either end of the
sewing machine needle, and which fits closely upon the needle, or which I attach to
the needle, or needle bar, or needle lever. When I attach this spring to the needle
lever I bend it or make it in any peculiar form to suit the different forms and
makes of sewing machines, but when using this attachment I only pass one end of
the spring over the point or other end of the needle, with or without a collar, with
an eye or lateral opening large enough for the free passage of a thread, the eye or
lateral opening of the collar being set opposite the long groove of the needle, which
in operation is furthermost from the shuttle or looper.
The third part of my Invention gives and relieves the pressure upon the material
to be darned the same as the first and second part of my Invention
To perform the operation of darning the ordinary presser of the sewing machine
has to be removed or raised from its operative position. The feed is adjusted for
the least action, the needle thread is passed inward through the spiral spring or eye
of collar down to and through the eye of the needle, and the machine is operated
as for ordinary sewing. As the needle descends, the spring or collar descending
with it, it comes down upon the material around the eye of the throat plate, and

page_text: acts like an ordinary presser during the latter part of the descent of the needle.
The spring being bent inward or compressed by the continued descent of the needle,
after the spring, or collar, or presser comes in contact with the material, as the needle
rises, the spring, or collar, or presser is held down by the spring until the latter has
extended itself to its full length, and is then raised from the material by the con-
tinued upward movement of the needle. After the needle has been entirely with-
'drawn from the material the latter is moved by hand independently of the machine
feed action any required distance, in any direction required, to repeat or make more
stitches.
The attachment is susceptible of some other form or modification; as, for instance,
the presser though preferaby encircled or surrounding the needle, and to which the
needle forms a guide, might be an angle-triangle or side presser, or some other
forin, if organized to be confined to a position near the needle.
The fourth part of my Invention consists of a grip ring, with sharp edge, or
.covered with india-rubber, or set with fine sharp pins, which is used for keeping the
material on the stretch during the operation of darning.
In order that my Invention may be more fully understood I describe the accom-
panying Sheet of Drawings.
Fig. 1 represents a spiral spring slipped over the point of the needle, which is
secured to the upper end of needle A; B is the spring.
Fig. 2 represents a needle with the darner attached. A is the upper end of
the needle; B is the spiral spring; C is the collar, with an eye for the thread to
pass through, and which fits loosely round the needle and acts as a presser foot upon
the work, as herein-before described.
Fig. 3 represents the head of a machine with a bow spring attached to the needle
lever. A is secured to the needle lever; B is the spring, C is the presser foot,
which operates as herein-before described.
Fig. 4 is another form of organization for producing the darning when combined
with the sewing machine. A is an adjustable screw, which is for the purposes of
adjusting the upward lift of the presser foot E off the work; B is a bracket attached
to the sewing machine needle bar B, B. When the needle bar descends the slide
bracket B is caused to descend also, which compresses the spiral spring upon notch D,
which gives the pressure to the work, same as Figs. 1 and 2. The end of attach-
ment or presser foot does not rise the same height as Figs. 1 and 2 but remains
firm, raised a little above the work, which will enable the operator to move the
work to be darned in any direction, with less liability to bend the needle out of its
vertical position in its descent upon the work when darning heavy or thick
material
Fig. 5 represents a similar spring to Fig. 3, which acts the same upon the work,
but is attached to the bottom of the needle bar A.
Fig. 6 represents a grip ring with small points for keeping the hole to be darned
held tight equally round the hole.
Fig. 7 represents another ring with an edge like a knife for the same purpose as
Fig. 6.
Having thus described my said Invention, and the manner in which the same
may be used or carried into effect, I hereby declare what I consider to be novel and
original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-before
in part recited Letters Patent is,―
Firstly. The darning attachment for sewing machines, consisting of a spiral spring
and collar, to be attached to the needle bar, needle lever, or needle, as herein-before
described, and shewn on Drawings, Figs. 1 and 2.
Secondly. The combination with the needle of a sewing machine of a spring presser,
attached to and carried by the said needle or its carrier, substantially as and for the
purpose herein described.'
Thirdly. Fig. 3, A, B, and C, as herein-before described.
Fourthly. Fig. 4, as herein-before described, A, B, C, D, E, as and for darning

page_text: Fifthly. Fig. 5, as herein-before described, A, attached to the needle bar as a
darner, to work in connection with a sewing machine.
Sixthly. The combination with a sewing machine needle of a presser in the form
of a collar, fitted loosely to and guided by the needle, for the purpose substantially
herein described.
Seventhly. The combination of the collar C (Fig. 2), having an eye D and the
attached opening B, substantially as and for the purposes herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Harrison, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty-eighteth day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.