AN IMPROVED REFLECTOR FOR FACILITATING THE THREADING OF NEEDLES
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine,
Lake, & Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for
the Invention of "AN IMPROVED REFLECTOR FOR FACILITATING THE
THREADING OF NEEDLES."-A communication from abroad by Sophia
Letitia Mercer, of Washington, District of Columbia, United
States of America, Gentlewoman.
ealed the 28th May 1872, and dated the 15th January 1872.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 15th January 1872.
I, WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co.,
Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention for "AN IMPROVED REFLECTOR FOR
FACILITATING THE THREADING OF NEEDLES," a communication, to be as
follows:-
My Invention relates to a reflecting shield, made preferably concave,
before which the needle is held to be threaded, so that the light con-

page_text: centrated upon this shield shines brightly and clearly through the eye
of the needle, while the body of the same appears very dark and
distinct against the polished surface behind it. The said Invention may
be used either in the hand or upon a table.
The reflecting shield is made of any metal having a bright reflecting
surface, or it may be made of glass. It is provided with a handle of
any suitable material and of ornamental design. This handle has
at its junction with the shield an emery pocket or other padding to
receive the point of the needle. The reflecting shield forms an angle
with its handle in order that the needle (being stuck in the said pocket)
may be in the proper position to bring its eye out prominently against
the illumined background.
When the reflecting shield is to be used upon the table of a sewing
machine it is provided with a foot to support it in the proper position
thereon behind the needle, so that the eye of the needle is before it,
or it may rest upon the presser foot and be attached to it.
The shield may be adapted for use for both hand and machines by
providing it with both a handle and a foot.
.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent 2
Office on the 4th July 1872.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her 2
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fifteenth day of January, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, in the
thirty-fifth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said William Robert Lake, Her special
licence that I, the said William Robert Lake, my executors, adminis- {
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said William Robert
Lake, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time

page_text: (being stuck in the said pocket) may be in the proper position to bring
its eye out prominently against the illumined background.
When the reflecting shield is to be used upon the table of a sewing
machine it is provided with a foot C to support it in the proper position
thereon behind the needle, so that the eye of the needle is before it, or
the shield may rest upon the presser foot and be attached to it.
The shield may be adapted for use either in the hand or in a machine
by providing it, as shown in Figure 5, with both a handle B and a
foot C.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated
to me by my foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing
the same, I wish it understood that I claim, a reflecting shield for
threading needles, as herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-seventh day of June, in 1
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
two
Witness,
CHAS. J. GoOCH.
W. ROBT. LAKE. (L.S.)