CA2068685C - Needle threading device - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT

A needle threading device comprising a body portion and at least one elongate needle threading element, integrally formed with the body to extend laterally outwardly therefrom. The element includes an elongate, thin, substantially U-shaped section with a central elongate aperture. The size and thickness of the element being such that in use it can pass through the eye of a needle. In a preferred configuration of the device according to the invention, the needle threading element extends through said body to form a second needle threading section. The latter section being formed with a taper and provided with a hooked end.

Description

206868~

The invention relates to needle threading devices, but more particularly to a device especially adapted for use by handicapped or semi-handicapped persons.
The principle object of the invention is to provide a simple structure, that can be easily used by people with limited vision, to thread conventional sewing needles, or needles such as used in sewing machines.
; Accordingly, the invention comprises a needle threading device including a body portion, and at least one elongate needle threading element integrally formed with said body to extend outwardly therefrom, said element being further provided with a large elongate and centrally disposed aperture through its thickness, the size and thickness of said element being such that in use, it can pass through the eye of a needle.
The invention will now be described, by way of example only, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIGURE 1 is a front perspective view of the device according to the invention;
FIGURE 2 illustrates the device according to Figure 1, in a first mode of use, to thread a needle;
FIGURE 3 illustrates the device according to Figure 1, being used in a second mode, to thread a needle; and FIGURE 4 is a front perspective view of a second embodiment of the device according to the invention.

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Looking firstly at Figure 1, the device indicated at 10 includes a body 11 provided with two linearly extending elemental sections 12 and 13 projecting therefrom.
Elemental section 12 is in this embodiment generally U-shaped including two parallel side portions 14 and a roundednose portion 15. The outer edge of the body 11, and the inner surfaces of the side portions and nose portion define a substantially U-shaped aperture 16. Elemental section 13 is also elongate, but it tapers in width from a point adjacent body 11 to its outer extremity where it is formed with a hook-like projection 17. In this embodiment both elemental sections 12 and 13 are substantially rectangular in cross-section and are configured in size and thickness such that they may be passed through the eye of a needle.
In the configuration shown, body 11 would be plastic, -while the needle threading sections are formed from a one-piece strip of thin gauge metal which extends through body 11. The shape of the body in this embodiment is in the form of a flat circular disk, however, it will be appreciated that body 11 can be of any size and shape, and the purpose of body 11 being to permit gripping between fingers.
The invention however, is not to be limited to this form of construction, since the device 10 could be molded entirely from plastic, or elemental sections 12 and 13 could be manufactured separately, and independently imbedded within the plastic body 11.

2068~85 We have here, therefore, a needle threading device with two different needle threading sections, thus giving the handicapped person who is to use the device, the choice of a section more adapted to meet his/her requirements.
5The use of the device is illustrated in Figures 2 and 3 wherein needle 18 shown in phantom outline.
Looking at Figure 2, the manner of using the apertured extension 12 can be appreciated. Firstly, section 12 of the device is firstly inserted through the eye of the needle in the direction of arrow 19 to the position indicated in phantom outline at 20. Thread 21 is then passed through the aperture 16 following which section 12 is withdrawn from the eye of the needle in the direction of arrow 22 thus effectively pulling the thread 21 through the eye of the needle. The needle is therefore easily threaded.
The second method of use, utilizes elemental section 13 and is shown illustrated in Figure 3. Firstly, section 13 is firstly passed through the eye of the needle to the position shown in phantom outline. At that point, the thread 21 is wound around the end of the section adjacent the hooked end 17. Section 13 is then, again in the direction shown by arrow 22, withdrawn from the eye of the needle, thus pulling the thread through the eye. The hooked end 17 serves to prevent the thread from being pulled off extension 13 when the threading operation is being accomplished.

206868~
For persons with little or no eyesight the modification of the device according to Figure 4 is suggested. In that embodimen-t, one of the legs of ~-shaped elemental extension 12, is slotted as shown by arrow 23. The slot has sufficient width to permit thread 15 to be positioned within the U-shaped extension by "feel" only. This would be extremely useful for the blind, or persons with extremely poor eyesight who would be unable to even thread the larger aperture in element 12.
As will be appreciated, apart from a different method of positioning the thread within the aperture, the device according to claim 4 is used in the same manner as that shown in Figure 2.
While the combination device as disclosed in this specification is preferred, ie: enabling the user to have the choice of two different methods of threading needles, it would be accepted that the body might only be provided with one needle threading extension, for example, elemental section 12.
The scope of the subject invention will now be defined by the appended claims.

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Claims (4)

1. A needle threading device comprising a central body portion; first and second needle threading sections integrally formed with said body portion to extend outwardly therefrom; said first section being substantially U-shaped having two parallel side members, the outer ends of which are formed into a semi-circular nose portion, the side members and nose portion defining with said body portion, a generally U-shaped elongate opening;
said second section extending from said body in a direction opposite that of said first section, said section tapering from where it exits said body to its distal end, which end is provided with a hook-like projection; wherein each said section is of a size and thickness such that in use, each section may pass through the eye of a needle.

2. The device according to claim 1 wherein one of said parallel side edges has a slot therethrough, permitting access to said opening through said side edge.

3. The device according to claim 2, wherein said needle threading section and said body are molded from plastic.

4. The device according to claim 2 wherein said needle threading section is thin gauge sheet metal.