CA1300434C - Sewing needle with easy-threaded filament loop - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A sewing needle has a main body 10 and a closed loop 18 of a resilient filament material rigidly secured to the rear end of the main body and lying a single common plane with the lengthwise axis of the main body. In unstressed condition, the filament has an open diamond configuration allowing a sewing thread to be easily passed through it. As the needle is pulled through the fabric, the loop collapsed under the forces imposes on its sides by the fabric and thereafter expands to reassume its unstressed configuration. The rigid securement of the loop to the main body of the needle ensures that the loop remains in a single common plane with the needle axis as it collapses upon passage through the fabric and as it expands to its unstressed configuration following such passage.

Description

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SEWING NEEDLE WITII
EASY-THREADING FILAMENT LOOP
Field of the Invention This invention relates to a sewing needle having a filament loop at its trailin~ end so that the needle may be easily threaded.

und of the Invention Because of ~he well-known difficulty of threading conventional ~anual sewing needles having narrow eyes formed at their traiiill~ er.ds, a form of n2edl~ has been proposed i.-corpoLa~ing a c1osed 1cop of a thin fiiament secured to the rear end of ~he needle.
Thread to be used with tne needle may be easily passed through the loop, which is ~ubstantiaily laryer than the needle eye, and in use the loop is pu~led ~hrough the fabeic, behind the needle, carrying the thread through the fabric.
One form of such needle is disclo~ed in U.S.
~Patent 1,293,660. The loops disclosed in this patent are secured to the needles by passing them through a conventional eye formed on the rear of the needle body.
Another form of looped needle, di~closed ln U.S. Patent No. 4,182,341, is intended primarily for ':

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~3004~4 surgical purpose~ The needle body is formed with a truncated end having a cfntral, de~d-ended cavlty opening at the end. The free ends of the filament forming the loop are secured within this cavity and the loop pro jects Prom the rear of ~he cavi~y. This arrangement necessitates that the needle hody ha~e a thickness many times the diameter of the fil~ment and can only be employed with very thick needles or with filaments that are so thin as to be practically invisible~
The deficlencie~ of these previous designs for needles with following loo~ have apparently prevenced such needles from making any substantial market penetration against conventional needleq, despite the obvious advantages of the loo~ed needle.

SummarY of the Inventlon The present inventlon ls accordingly directed toward a looped needle of a ur.ique design which ; preserves the advantages of looped needles while ~overcoming the defic.iencies of the prior art.
A preferred embodiment of the present in~ention utilizes a loop formed of a ilament of thin spring steel wire, a plastic, or a similar material which is readily deformable under slig~t prescures but '' ~

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1300~34 is highly resilient so as to immediately rPturn to its normal con~iguration when the deforming forces are terminated and which will not assume any permanent deformation undeL the range of ~or~es normal]y encountered in use. The Ei'ament is forlned into a loop having a norrnal position, wlthout the imposition of any external forces, lying in a single plane. The 100D
prefesably has a generally diamond sha~e w th two acute angles at opposed ends and two obtuse angles intermediate these ends. The sides of the loop adjacent the needle are preferably shcrter than the loop sides remote from the needle so that the adja~nn~ sides are more resistant to closure than the remote sides and so that the angle at the free, rer.lote end of the loop is more acute than the angle at the adjacenr end to facilitate the ability of the free end to grasp the thread. The loop is secured to the trailing end of the needle body at one of the acute angles so that the loop lies in a plane including the axis of the needle and, in the absence of any deforming forces, the free acute angle of the loop projects away from the needle body.
The sides of the loop adjacent the needle are preferably shorter than the loop side~- remote froln the needle so that the adjacent sides are more resistant to closure ,~

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than t},e remote sides and 80 that the angle at the free remote end is more acute than the angle at the adjacerlt end to facilitate the abil~ty of the free end to grasp the thread.
In one embodiment of the lnvention, the trailing end of the needle body is preferably formed with a pa~r o~ concave depressions extending axially on diametrically opposed sides of the body. These depressions may be connected by a slit forming an eye in the manner of most conventional loopless needles Ol alterrlatively, the trailing end of the needle may be formed ~lthout an eye with just a pair of depressions on diametrically opposed sides. Ir. attaching tha filamer,t to the needle the free ends of the filament lengths are laid in the two depressions and are secured to the needle body, preferably by crimping or swaging the sides over the filament ends so that the loop projects behind thq needle.
In another embodiment of the invention, the needle body and loop are formed from a single piece of material. This May be accomplished, for example, by fabricating the needle body and loop, such as by injection or compression molding, from a plastic having the d~sired propertie~ of hardnes6 and resilien~e. ~his .

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one-piece may then be coated or ~flashed" with chrome or other metallic coa~ing, if desired.
In yet another embodimen~ of the invention, an open 1GOP of spring steel wire, shaped generally in the form of a diamond as described above, is provided ~or attachment to conventional sewing needles~ In its normal unstressed configuration, the open ends of the filament abut each other, forminq one of the acute angles of the diamond. This attachment i& secured to an esisting conventional sewing needle by inserting the free ends of the filament into the needle eye and securing the abutting ends to each other and, preferably, to a portlon of the inner surface of the needle eye by spo~ welding or with a dry adhesive.
lS In all of the embodiments, the loop of the needle presents a wide target for attachment of the thread because of its normal diamond shaped configuration. The acute angle at the following end of the loop engages the thread to prevent the thread from slipping, allowing single thread sewing. Because of the ~rigid position of the loop relative to the needle body, no difficulty is encountered in positioning the eye for threading.
The loop material n~ay be distinc~ively colored, by anodizing or the like, to increase the visibility of the loop and different size needles may be provided with loops of different colors to assist in distinguishing one size from another. further, the loop may be formed of a material which glows in response to receipt of light energy as to assist the user in clearly visually distinguishing the outline of the loop.

Brief Description of the Drawina Other objectives, advantages and applications of the present invention will be made apparent by the following detailed description of preferred and alternative embodiments of the invention. The description makes reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
FIGURE 1 is a plan view of a first embodiment of a looped needle formed in accordance with the present invention;
FIGURE 2 is a side view of the needle of FIGURE
l;
FIGURE 3 is a sectional view through the needle of FIGURE 1 taken along lines 3-3 of FIGURE 2;
FIGURE 4 is a plan view of an alternative embodiment of the invention constructed using a needle having a conventional eye;

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FIGUR~ 5 i~ a sectional view of ~he needle of FIGURE 4 taken alony line 5-5 ot FIGU~F 4;
~IGUhE 6 ls a par~peetive vlew of 2 Sil~gle-piece embodiment of the needle of the present lnventior.
~ormed from injection m~lded pla~ic;
FIGURE ~ is a plan ~iew of an attachmeJlt clip formed in accordance with the present invention; and ~IGURE 8 iQ a partial view of the clip of FIGURE 7 installad on a conventional sewing needle.

~etailed Description of the Invention In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures 1-3, a stainles~ steel needle body 10, of appropriate diameter and length foe hand sewing, has a forward pointed end 1~. The rear end of the needle is truncated at 14 and doe~ not incorporate the eye found in conventional needles. A thread 16 to be used with the needle is attached to the needle by passing it ~ through a trailing filament loop, generally indicated at ,, 1~. .
20- The loop 18 is formed of a filament which is small in diameter in comparison to the needle body 1~, preferably havinq a diameter no great.er than one-third of that of ~he needle body 10. ".`he filament is : ' : :
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-`` 130(~34 preferably metal wire such as spring steel. The wire is resilient and readily deformable.
The wlre fllament 18 has a palr of free ends 20 whlch are secured ~o the trailing end of the needle body 10 by viLtue of bein~ cri~ped, aq by a swagin~
operation, within concave depressions 22 formed axially along the needle body for some distance from its trailing truncated end 1~ and opening onto the truncated end. Alternatively, the filamellt ends could be welded, soldered or otherwise secured within ~he depressions 22.
The concave depressions have a diameter preferably less than about 20% of the diameter of the needle body, so that they do not substantially weaken the needle body.
Loop 18 is formed with a generally diamond shape. The two free ends 20, in their uns~ressed condition, extend outwardly, away fro~ one another, ir t~.e same plane, in sections 26, each of which preferably makes an acJte an~le with respect to the central axis of ~he needle. The SectiOnR 26 termlnate in obtuse angles at bends 28 which define the limits of the widest separation of the loop. Thifi se~aration ~etween the bends 28 is preferably several times the diameter of the needle bodi~, providln~ 3 ~ide taryet for easy threading.
The trailin~ end of the loop 18 is formed by a pair of filament ~ec~ions 30 which extend from the . ~

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obtuse angie bends 28 to an acut~ anqle rear bend 3~
where they join one anothPr. 1he sides 30 oE the loop preferably form a more acute arlgle relative to the central a~is of the loop than do the sides 26, so ~ha~
the end of the loop ~o the rear of the hend. 28 i~
substantially longer ~han the section of the lcop forward of the bends. This configura~ion assures that ~he relatively short loop ~ec~ions 26 will be relatively stiff compared to the relatlvely long loop sections 30, maintaining the loop, which lies in a single plane with the lengthwise axis of the needle body 10, in an ope configuration when unstressed. It also increases the aculty of the rear angle bend 32 ~o that bend readily grips the thread 16 This grip allows a single needle threading which be may he aided by passing the threa;l through the loop more than once.
The needle may thus be easily threaded and maintains a positlve grip on the sewing thread, and the resilient loop collapses and passes through the fabric beins sewn following passage of the needle through the ~fabric without substantial distortion of the fabric beyond that imposed by the needle and thereafter expands to rea-;sume its unstressed configuration Eollowing its passage through the fabric. The loop has sufficient ', .

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rigld~ty ~uch that it remains ln the single comrnon plane with the needle axis as it co11apse upon pas~age through tbe fabric and as it expands to it5 Un~tre8Gf~d configurativn following 8uch passage.
In the emhodiment illustrated in Figures 4 and 5, the needle is conYentional and includes a pointed end 40 and a trailing end 42 formed with a conventional eye 44 with a pair of concave depressions q6 defined on opposite sides of ~he éye. The free ends 48 of a filament loop, generally indicated at 50, are swaged within these depressions. The free ends 48 of the filament loop 50 may a1so be secnred to the conventional needle by applying sufficient heat to the end portinn of the needle body 38 near the eye 44 in order to increase its malleability, inser~ing ~he free end~ 48 of the filament loop lnto or through ~he eye ~4, and then .~ollapsin~ the needle body 38 surrounding the eye by using m~chanical pressure or otherwise securing the filament ends therebetwc2n. The loop 50 lies in a single plane and preferably has the sa~e diamond-like configuratlon as the loop la used with the embodiment of Figures 1-3.
Those skilled in the ar~ will appreciate ~hat at~achment techniques such as swaging or crimping or otherwise embedding the free ends 20 of the filament ' ' . j.
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loop into the needle 10 are mos~ effective when performed during the manufacture of the needle, be~ore the needle body 10 has been hardened. It should be noted that any of the a~ove-described e~bodiments can be utilized to produce a finished product using a relatively malleable needle body. However, when a filament loop 1~ $s being secured to a conventional sewing needle or a needle body that has already undergone some hardening, the portion of the needle body to which the ends of the filament loop are being attached should be exposed to suficient heat to increase the malleability of the needle body before any crimping or swaging operation. As an alternati-ve, adhesion means, such as a dry adhesive, welding or ~oldering may be utilized to afflx the filament ends 20 to an already hardened needle body.
The invention embodiment illustrated in Figure 6 includes an easy-threading needle 110 comprising a ~hin elongate needle body 112 with a point 113 at one end and a thread-receiving section formed as a closed loop 114 extending from the opposite end.
~eedle body 112 and loop 114 are formed from a single plece of material, such as pla6tic or spring steel.
Whes~ forming the needle body 112 and loop 114 from a ~' '.' . ' ' ' ~

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single piece of plastic, conventional injection and/or compression molding techniques may be employed. The needle 110 may then be coated, such as by flashing with chrome or other metallic coating, to achieve the desired appearance.
Constructing the needle body and loop as a single unitary member, as shown in Figure 6, provides an easy threading needle with a securely affixed loop without many of the manufacturing problems and coats associated with similar prior art devices.
In the embodiment of the invention seen in Figures 7 and 8, a resilient metallic diamond-shaped open filament loop or clip 62 is provided for a quick attachment to conventional sewing needles. In its normal relaxed condition, the open ends 68 abut each other forming an acute angle at one end of the diamond-shaped loop 62. The clip may be attached to a conventional needle 64 by inserting the abutting ends 68 to each other. The clip 62 may then be adhesively secured within the eye 66 of the needle 64, preferably along the inner end face 70 of the eye 66. The clip may also be adhesively secured to the depressions 72 formed on opposite sides of the eye to obtain a more secure attachment to the 3 ~
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~ ~ 13 -`, needle. It sho~ld be noted that the clip 82 can be fvrmed as an open loop with the ends nearest ~he acute angle at the trailing end 67 of the loop 62 initially unflttached. After insertion of the loop 62 ~hrough the eye of a conventional needle 64, the trailing ends may then be secured to form the acute angle by butt welding or spot welding.
In any of the d1sclosed embodiments, the loop - or, in the unitary embodiment of Figure 6, the entire needle assembly, may be formed from a material which glows in response to recelpt of light energy 80 as to asslRt the user in clearly vi~u~lly distinguishing ~l~e outline of the loop to facilitate passage of the thread through the loop. For ex~mple, the loop may be formed of ~ material incorporating a flourescen. dye.
Specifically, the loop may be formed of a DAY-GL0 material of the type disclosed in U.S. Patent No.
3,915,884.
Although the present inv~ntion has been de~cribed in connection with its use as a conventional hand sewlng needle, the easy threading features of the pre~ent invention are equally advantageous in other sewing application~, such as with surgical needles or darning needles. The diamond shape of the filanlent ~ ~ ' ' ` ' .
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--` 13Q0434 provldes for a quick and substantial flattenlng of the opposing sldes of the loop under relatively low ten~ion to ensure that the hole formed by the needle i8 not enlarged by the filament.

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Claims (5)

1. A sewing needle assembly comprising:
a) an elongated rigid needle having a point at one end;
b) a filament formed into a substantially diamond shaped loop having a pair of obtuse angles at opposite sides of the loop and acute angles at opposite ends of the loop;
c) said loop being secured at one of its ends to the other end of said needle in such a manner as to rigidly maintain said loop in trailing fashion to said needle in a single common plane with the lengthwise axis of said needle; and d) said filament being resilient so as to allow it to collapse and pass through fabric being sewn following passage of said needle through the fabric without substantial distortion of the fabric beyond that imposed by the needle and expand to reassume its unstressed configuration following its passage through the fabric.

2. A sewing needle assembly according to claim 1 wherein:

e) said filament has a cross-sectional diameter substantially less than the cross-sectional diameter of said needle;
f) said filament loop has a separation at said obtuse angles several times the cross-sectional diameter of said needle; and g) said loop has sufficient rigidity such that it remains in said single common plane with said needle axis as it collapses upon passage through the fabric and as it expands to its unstressed configuration following such passage.

3. A sewing needle assembly according to claim 1 wherein:
e) said loop is formed of a material which glows in response to receipt of light energy so as to clearly visually define the outline of the loop.

4. A sewing needle assembly comprising:
a) an elongated rigid needle having a point at one end;
b) a filament formed into a substantially diamond shaped loop having a pair of obtuse angles at opposite sides of the loop and acute angles at opposite ends of the loop;

c) said loop being secured at one end of its end to the other end of said needle in such a manner as to rigidly maintain said loop in trailing fashion to said needle in a single common plane with the lengthwise axis of said needle;
d) said filament having a cross-sectional diameter substantially less than the cross-sectional diameter of said needle;
e) said filament loop having a separation at said obtuse angles several times the cross-sectional diameter of said needle;
f) said filament being resilient so as to allow it to collapse and pass through the fabric being sewn following passage of said needle through the fabric without distortion of the fabric beyond that imposed by the needle and expand to reassume its unstressed configuration following its passage through the fabric;
g) said loop having sufficient rigidity such that it remains in said single common plane with said needle axis as it collapses upon passage through the fabric and as it expands to its unstressed configuration following such passage; and h) the sides of said loop adjacent said needle being shorter than the sides of said loop remote from said needle, whereby said adjacent sides are relatively more resistant to closure than said remote sides and the angle at the remote end is more acute than the angle at the adjacent end to thereby enhance the tendency of the remote end to clamp a thread.

5. A sewing needle assembly according to claim 4 wherein:
i) said adjacent sides are substantially equal in length to each other and said remote sides are substantially equal in length to each other.