Abstract A tufting needle construction in which the axis of the eye and point portion of the needle is skewed relative to the axis of the needle so that the blade of the needle just above the needle eye is angularly offset relative to the eye and point portion to form the clearance above the eye portion of the needle. The axis of the eye and point portion passes into the clearance above the eye. In one form illustrated the axis of the entire blade is coincident with the axis of the needle while in a second embodiment the axis of the blade at the clearance above the eye is offset from the axis of the needle. The construction is such that the cross section of the needle at the eye is less than that of known needles of similar gauge and the clearance above the eye may be equal to or greater than that of such known needles.
A needle for tufting or the like including a shank having a longitudinal axis, a blade extending from said shank, an eye and point portion including a transverse eye connected to said blade and terminating in a tip, said blade haviNg a longitudinal groove on one side terminating at the eye, said eye and point portion having an axis skewed relative to said longitudinal axis away from said groove side, and means defining a shoulder at the junction of the eye and point portion with the blade on the side toward which the axis is skewed to define a clearance above the eye.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
103 words
A needle for tufting or the like including a shank having a longitudinal axis, a blade extending from said shank, an eye and point portion including a transverse eye connected to said blade and terminating in a tip, said blade haviNg a longitudinal groove on one side terminating at the eye, said eye and point portion having an axis skewed relative to said longitudinal axis away from said groove side, and means defining a shoulder at the junction of the eye and point portion with the blade on the side toward which the axis is skewed to define a clearance above the eye.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
A needle as recited in claim 1 wherein the axis of the eye and point portion passes through the clearance above the eye.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
A needle as recited in claim 1 where said blade on the groove side adjacent said junction is deflected toward said longitudinal axis to define a ramp merging with the eye and point portion.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
A needle as recited in claim 3 wherein the sides of said eye and point poortion is not wider than the sides of the blade.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
A needle as recited in claim 3 wherein the sides of said eye and point portion is narrower than the sides of said blade.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
A needle as recited in claim 4 wherein the sides of said blade at the clearance above the eye is narrower than the remainder of the blade.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
A needle as recited in claim 3 wherein the axis of the blade in the clearance above the eye is coincident with said longitudinal axis.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
A needle as recited in claim 3 wherein the axis of the blade in the clearance above the eye is offset from said longitudinal axis toward the groove side of said blade.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
A needle as recited in claim 8 wherein said axis of the blade is parallel to the longitudinal axis.