What were the defining components of Elias Howe’s lockstitch patent secured in 1846?
Answer
An eye-pointed needle and a shuttle operating beneath the cloth
Elias Howe secured his pivotal patent in 1846 based on a specific combination of mechanical features designed to create the lockstitch. This design critically involved an eye-pointed needle, which carried the thread down through the fabric, coupled with a shuttle mechanism situated underneath the cloth. The shuttle was responsible for carrying the second thread, which then interlaced with the first thread carried by the needle, forming the necessary interlocking structure that differentiated it from simpler, less secure stitching methods previously attempted.
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