Needle assembly for use in manufacturing carpeting

A needle assembly for use in carpeting, including:

• a handle having a forward end and a rear end and a first longitudinal axis running from the forward end to the rear end, the handle including:
• a shaft section running along the first longitudinal axis, wherein the shaft section includes:
• a first portion, the first portion having a first outer diameter representing a maximal outer diameter of a first portion;
• and
• a second portion, wherein the second portion has a second outer diameter representing a maximal outer diameter of the second portion, and the second outer diameter is less than the first outer diameter;
• a first bore running along the first longitudinal axis, the first bore having a first maximal diameter, the first bore having a front-end opening in the forward end of the handle;
• and
• a first slit running along the longitudinal axis, the first slit connecting the first bore to an exterior surface of the handle;
• and
• a needle, having a front end and a back end and a second longitudinal axis running from the front end to the back end, the needle including:
• a shank having a terminal end at the back end, the shank having a second maximal diameter permitting insertion in the first bore and a second bore running through the shank in the direction of the longitudinal axis;
• a second slit connecting the second bore to an exterior surface of the needle, the second slit aligned with the first slit when the shank is inserted in the first bore to connect the interior of the second bore to the exterior surface of the handle;
• a blade, the blade disposed between the shank and the front end;
• and
• a tip section, the tip section disposed between the blade and the front end, the tip section having a transverse opening through the tip section, the tip section terminating at the front end with a pointed tip.