US2018239A - Device for facilitating darning - Google Patents

Description

Ct 22, 1935 A. A. s'roREY v DEVICE FOR FACILITATING DARNING Filed Aug. 7, 1954 lill III Patented Oct. 22, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE .Application August 7, 1934, Serial No. 738,871 In Great Britain September 1, 1933 5 claims. (o1. 223-100) This invention relates to devices for use in the operation of darning and it concerns in particular those of the kind consisting of a holder over which the portion of the stocking, sock or other article to be darned is stretched to expose the hole.

'Ihe object of the invention isV to improve holders of the kind concerned whereby the darning operation is facilitated and a neat darn can be made without skill or the exercise of care such as was heretofore necessary.

According to the invention there is provided in, on or for a darning holder of the kind concerned a part having open guides (for example channels or grooves) said part being adapted when the holder is in use to present its open guides under the hole to be darned so that they may serve to guide or position the darning needle across from one side of the hole to the other.

The invention is more particularly characterized in that the guiding channels or grooves are separated by walls or partitions upon the upper edges of which the bars of yarn of the rst series are supported afterv completion of the series and the changing of the position of the work support, so as to facilitate the formation of the second series by interweaving of the bars of yarn of both series.

I will now describe, with reference to the accompanying drawing, a practical form and construction of darning holder constituting a convenient example of my invention.

In the drawing,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the holder.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional elevation of the holder in its normal condition.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional elevation of the holder with the inner head or top lowered.

Figure 4 is a plan of the holder.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the holder in use in one position, and

Figure 6' is a perspective view of the Vholder in use in another position.

Referring to the drawing, in this example, the holder body I is of mushroom shape and made of Wood or other suitable material e. g. Vulcanite, Bakelite or the like. The top 2 of the body has a central circular recess 3, and a stem 4 (which serves as the handle) bored centrally throughout its length. For part of its length extendingfrom the bottom of therecess the said stem has a counterbore 5 which terminates in a shoulder 6.

The needle guiding part in the holder is preferably made of aluminium, `but it may be made of other material like .the:.holder, andcomprises a circular head 1 domed on the top side 8 and having on its underside a shank 9 extending rigidly and centrally therefrom. The said head and shank may be integral with each other but the shank is preferably screwed into a central boss 5 I0 on the underside of the head 1 as shown in Figure 2. The domed top 8 of the head'has cut or otherwise formed across it a series of parallel open channels or grooves II equally spaced. These may, for instance, consist of saw cuts. The 1.0 uncut portions or ribs I2 of the top of the head stand up between the channels or grooves as walls. The head 1 may be cast or moulded in this form instead of being sawcut. The head is iiat on its underside around the boss I0 and the l5 channels or grooves are cut or formed to a depth uniform with the underside of the head, but as the top of the head is domed the channels or grooves I I at the centre of the head are naturally deeper than those near the edge, as shown in 20 Figure 3.

The circular recess 3 is of such diameter as to leave a narrow marginal portion I3 of the top 2 surrounding it this portion being rounded as shown. The inner channelled head 1 iits com- 25 fortably within the recess 3 and the latter is of sufficient depth to enable the said inner head to sink or be withdrawn into the top 2 as shown in Figure 3.

The shank 9 extends through the holder stem 30 4 and is slidable axially therein to move the head 1 up and down in the recess 3. Surrounding the shank on the head 1 is a compression spring I4 which is housed in the counterbore 5 and bears at one end against the shoulder 6 and at the 35 other end against the underside of the boss IIJ. The spring tends to keep the head 1 raised in the recess as shown in Figure 2. The shank 9 projects through the lower end of the body stem 4 and has screwed upon it a collar, knob or handle 4.0 I5 on the inner face of which nearest the end of the body stem is a peg or other projection I6. The lower end of the body stem which Vopposes the inner face just mentioned is formed with notches I1 there being four of these formations 45 disposed at an angle of apart.

The said peg or other projection I6 and notches I1 constitute locking means and the action is as followsz-The spring tends to press the head 1 out of the recess 3 but this action is limited by 50 contact of the collar, knob or handle with the adjacent end of the stem as shown in Figures 1 and 2. In 'normal position (Figures `1 and 2) 'the inner channelled head is held up in the re- `cess so that its domed top projects suciently to 55 be available for use in the manner hereinafter described. When the parts are in this position f the peg or projection IE on the face of the collar,

knob or handle I5 is located in one of the notches in the stem 4 and thus prevents rotation of the shank 9 inthe latter. To turn the channelled head I within the holder body 2 it is first necessary to pull the shank 9 down or outwards against the action of the spring to withdraw the Ypeg or projection I6 from the notch in which it is situated. This is done by means of the collar, knob or handle I5 and the axial movement of the lat- `is flat between the notches and during the turn- -ing ofthe shank the peg or projection I6 may be allowed to ride against the said flat end as shown I in Figure 3, which prevents the shank 9 from receding'under the spring influence. When, however, the peg or projection I6 comes to the next notch it drops into same lthereby allowing the spring I4 topush the inner channelled head up within the recess thus restoring it to normal position; the engagement of the peg or projection IB with the nextV notch again locks the parts against relative rotation. It will thus be seen that the arrangement described ensures the channelled head 'I being withdrawn prior to and during turning thereof and also determines the position to'which the said head is turned in the holder body.' In other words it prevents turning without withdrawal. The head I can be turned, when free, in either direction.

Referring to Figures 5 and 6, in using this device it is placed with the head 'l under the hole I8 to be darned and the fabric I9 kisrstretched over the top of the device and held by hand with or Without a fastening such as an elastic band, tape or string placed over the fabric round the handle. The channels or grooves II are thus exposed within the hole. lThe darning needle 20 is passed to and fro across the hole through the channels or grooves I I as represented in Figure 5 to form the usual first series of bars 2| (warps) which are accordingly located in the said channels or grooves, as represented by the few bars in Figure 5.

In the operation of darning as properly performed the darning needle after being withdrawn to draw the yarn through one edge of the` hole is re-inserted through the same edge at a point a little distance from the point of its withdrawal so as to space the-bars of yarn. V This spacing is facilitated by the use of the needleV guiding part l'the channels or grooves II of which extend under the edges ofthe hole I8, the spacing being determined by using the guides one after another when inserting the needle, as represented inY Figure 5. Thatis t'o say, when the yarn is drawn through one edge of the hole at a point e. g'. 22Vcoincident with a channel vor groove II the needle is inserted'through said edge, to form the next'bar, e. g. at a point 23 coincident with the next channel or groove, and so on at oppo- Vv,site sides Vof the hole. Y

The channels II are parallel to each other and extend Vacross the part 'I in one direction as shown in Figure 4. The bars 2l when formed remain in their respectivechannels or grooves until the head I is withdrawn and turned, as previously described, to free it from the bars 2|, whereupon as shown in Figure 6, said bars become stretched or laid across the tops of the dividing walls I2, which therefore constitute supports for said bars, and the channels or grooves II are brought to right angular position for inserting the second series of bars.

As shown in Figure 6, being thus supported with channels or grooves underneath the bars of 10 the first series are in a favourable position to Y enable the darning needle guided by the channels or grooves II to be passed alternately under and over them to form the second series 24 (wefts) interlaced with theV first. 15 In Figure 6 the bars are shown relatively thin and well spaced for clearness, but, as will be understood, when fairly thick wool is used the bars may practically touch when the work 1s removed from the holder so as to close the hole. 20 The domed top 8 projects upward slightly through the hole and thus provides better access to the channels II and Yto the bars of yarn when supported by said part.

The specic example described is particularly 25 yuseful since it enables full advantage to be taken of the needle guides for working In both directions without disturbing the set of the Work on the holder after the formation of the first series of bars across the hole. This iorm of holder 30 enables the guides to be used in making the rst series of bars and then while the work and holder are still held, the part with the guides can be turned to position the guides crosswise under the bars so that they can be used when 35 making the second series of bars interlaced with the iirst. y

The withdrawable and rotatable part I of the holder may be removable fromthe holder body (as for example by unscrewing the collar, knob o or handle I5 from the shank) so as to be interchangeable with other similar parts having a different number of channels or grooves to the inch. In this Way the device can be adapted for use for close or coarse darning accordling to 45 requirements.

Instead of cutting the channels or grooves in the needle guiding part or producing same by a moulding process, these may be produced by the insertion of-blades or plates to form the dividing walls or partitions.

The channels or groovesIl are preferably distributed over the Whole upper surface of the head I so as to present an adequate number of guides under the hole to be darned.

My invention includes within its ambit a part, having open guides as aforesaid, adapted for use by itself, for example it may bein the form of a disc, plate or like member, or for application to and use With'a holder of the kind concerned in m which case it may, for instancabe in the form of a cap, cover or the'like and be appropriate for use upon existing holders. My principal intention, however, is to incorporate the needleY guiding part in a holder body such as I, in which 65 case the said Ypart may be either movable axially and rotatable as aforesaid or formed as an integral portion of the holder body, for instance the guide grooves or channels might be cut or other- Wise formed in the top of the holder, or a part 7o having the guides rand walls might be applied to Vthe holder body such, for example, as by being a holder body, and a needle guiding part having a l series of parallel Walls of heights which diminish gradually from the center of the part to the edge and combined with the holder body in such a way that said part and body are capable of relative rotation and axial movement, whereby, when the device is in use with the needle guiding part under the hole to be darned, the spaces between the walls serve to guide the darning needle in forming the usual ilrst series of bars of yarn forming warps and when the relative positions of the walls and Work are changed so as to bring the walls at right angles to the warps, the walls support the warps upon their upper edges so as to facilitate the passage of the darning needle alternately under and over the warps while the spaces gui-de the needle in forming the second series of bars forming wefts.

2. A device for facilitating darning comprising a holder body, a needle guiding part having a series of parallel walls of heights which diminish gradually from the center of the part to the edge and rotatably combined with the holder body as Well as being adapted to be withdrawn into the said body so as to enable the spaces between the walls to be used in one position for guiding the darning needle in forming the usual rst series of bars of yarn forming warps, then withdrawn into the holder body to free said warps and then turned and projected to its normal position so as to bring the walls under the warps at right angles thereto so that the walls support the Warps upon their upper edges so as to facilitate vthe passage of the darning needle alternately under and over the warps while the spaces guide the needle in forming the second series of bars forming wefts, and means for determining the rotational positions of the needle guiding part and locking same in said positions.

3. A device for facilitating darning comprising a holder body, a work supporting top, a needle guiding part with parallel walls of heights which diminish gradually from the center of the part to the edge and form between them spaces for guiding the darning needle during formation of the usual warp and weft bars of yarn, said part being rotatable and movable axially within the holder body, means operable exteriorly of the holder body to rotate the needle guiding part within the body While the work remains on the top for the purpose of bringing the walls under the warps at right angles thereto so that when the needle guiding part is again projected the walls support the warps upon their upper edges so as to facilitate the passage of the darning needle alternately under and over the warps while the spaces guide the needle during formation .of the wefts, means for determining the rotational positions of the needle guiding part and locking same in said positions, and a spring acting in an axial direction for controlling the needle 5 guiding part and ensuring engagement of the locking means.

4. A device for facilitating darning comprising a holder body consisting of a circular top with a central circular recess and a hollow stem counterbored for a portion of its length from the inner end and formed with notches spaced at 90 apart at its lower end, a needle guiding part consisting of a circular domed head with parallel yarn supporting walls which diminish in height from the center of the head to the edge and form between them spaces for guiding the darning needle during the formation of the usual warp and weft bars of yarn, a central shank screwed into the head, said head and shank tting both rotatably 2 and slidably in the circular recess and hollow stem respectively with the shank projecting from the lower end of the stem, a compression spring around the shank in the counterbored part of the stein for holding the head raised in the circular recess, a handle on the lower end of the shank for withdrawing the head into the recess against the spring action and turning same in the holder body, while the work remains on the top, for thev purpose of bringing the walls under the warps at right angles thereto, so that when the head is again projected the walls support the warps, at different heights upon their upper edges so as to facilitate the passage of the darning needle alternately under and over the warps while the spaces guide the needle during the formation ol' the wefts, and a projection on the handle for engagement with the notched stem under the spring action, said projection and notches constituting locking means for determining the ro- 0 tational positions of the needle guiding part and holding same in such positions.

5. A darning implement of the character described, comprising a casing and an encased last. the latter being provided with a series of parallel walls forming intervening channels constituting guides for the passage of the darning needle during the laying of the warp threads or yarns, and constituting supports forv the latter above said channels While the Woof threads or yarns are be- 5o ing laid, the said last being adjustable within the casing for the purpose of changing the position of the guiding and supporting means relatively to the work after the formation of the warps.

ARNOLD ARTHUR STOREY.

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