The Ventilated Thimble: A Raised Band That Spares the Nail

"The object of the invention is to more effectually relieve the root of the finger-nail from pressure, and to support the thimble in position by a sufficient bearing above and below, and also to ventilate the space thus provided, while thoroughly protecting it. The invention avoids the irritation due to pressure on the finger at and immediately adjacent to the base or root of the nail, and by sufficiently ventilating that portion of the thimble, avoids the tenderness and brittleness of the nail, which is sometimes experienced with long use of the ordinary unventilated thimbles." "This part A3 is ventilated by holes a. These are profusely distributed over the entire area of the part A3, except the upper edge, and afford adequate ventilation. They are small and inclined, as shown. The needle will not, under any ordinary or extraordinary conditions, enter these perforations."

Stretch a piece of heavy denim or canvas in an embroidery hoop. Push a sewing needle through it twenty times with a bare fingertip against a folded cloth pad, and twenty times with a thimble, noting how it feels and how many pushes it takes. Wear the thimble for a quarter of an hour of stitching and note where on the finger it presses. Measure the needle's eye end with a caliper and compare with the holes of any perforated thimble you have. Never push a needle with a bare fingertip hard enough to hurt.

**Elizabeth F. McCartney** of Omaha, Nebraska, filed US 293,262 on 3 September 1883; it is dated 12 February 1884. The raised band may go all the way round or only part way. **Honest limits.** The patent gives no sizes. The push force, contact areas, needle and hole sizes in the notebook are examples.