An Improved Process for Impregnating Woollen Fabrics Intended for Keeping the Human Body at an Equal Temperature
Year: 1897

page_text: An Improved Process for Impregnating Woollen Fabrics Intended
for Keeping the Human Body at an Equal Temperature,
We, MAX RAVIZZA and RUDOLF SCHONLIN, both of 31, Regent Square, W.C., in
the County of London, Gentlemen, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
a communication to us from abroad by Joseph Roman Bautz, of 4A, Holzstrasse,
Munich, Germany, to be as follows:-
This invention relates to an improved process for impregnating woollen fabrics,
in order to make the same convenient for making so called health jackets, gar-
ments, and the like which keep the human body at an even temperature.
A fabric, which has to fulfil the said purpose, must be soft and supple in order
to fit as much as possible the body; the fabric must not change when treated with
cold or boiling water and must not give away its impregnating substance. The
fabric must further have not too great a capability for absorbing water, perspira-
tion etc., in order that hereby no warmth or only a little warmth is taken from the
body; further the fabric must let the air sufficiently pass in order not to prevent
body perspiring; finally the fabric must not. shrink by boiling in water, so as to
allow of being thoroughly washed. All these qualities are required in a fabric for
so-called health garments or the like.
In order to give these qualities to a woollen fabric, it is necessary to subject
the same to a special process, which influences the same accordingly without
changing it visibly in its exterior appearance.
For this purpose the woollen fabric (flannel) of the best quality is boiled in
a solution of alum potash and salt, for each 15 meters of fabric a solution of 50
grammes of alumn, potash and salt in about 40 litres water being the most appro-
priate. In working large quantities it is recommended to add to this solution
10% ammonia and to neutralize it with sulphuric acid, whereupon a solution of
30% common soda is added. In this solution, heated to boiling temperature the
fabric is boiled half an hour and then immediately thrown into cold water for a
quarter of an hour.
When this is done, the flannel without being first wrung out,
is hung out to dry, and as soon as it is dry it is smoothed in a convenient manner
by ironing.
The underclothing made of fabric treated in this manner and which is worn
directly on the body, keeps the same at an equal temperature, as it receives the
perspiration only in a reduced measure and thus takes no warmth from the body,
at the same time not hindering the perspiration. The fabric is changed neither by
perspiration or cold or warm water, it does not shrink and can dry of itself on
the body without influencing the equal warmth of the body.
Practical experiments with underclothing of woollen fabric treated as described

page_text: have shown that garments made of such fabrics protect against colds and have
even proved an excellent protecting means against infection.
Dated this 22nd day of September 1897.
HERBERT HADDAN & Co.,
Agents to Applicants,
18, Buckingham Street, Strand, W.C., London.
An Improved Process for Impregnating Woollen Fabrics Intended
for Keeping the Human Body at an Equal Temperature.
We, MAX RAVIZZA and RUDOLF SCHÖNLIN, both of 31, Regent Square, W.C., in
the County of London, Gentlemen, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
a communication to us from abroad by Joseph Roman Bautz, of 4A, Holzstrasse,
Munich, Germany, and in what manner the same is to be performed to be parti-
cularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to an improved process for impregnating woollen fabrics,
in order to make the same convenient for making so called health under vests, gar-
ments, and the like, intended to keep the human body at an even temperature.
A fabric, which has to fulfil the said purpose, must be soft and supple, in order
to fit as much as possible the body, the fabric must not change when treated with
cold or boiling water, and must not give away its impregnating substance. The
fabric must further not have too great a capability for absorbing, water, perspira-
tion, etc., in order that no warmth or only a little warmth is taken from the
body; further the fabric must let the air sufficiently pass in order not to prevent
the body perspiring; finally the fabric must not shrink by boiling in water, so as
to allow of being thoroughly washed. All these qualities are required in a woollen
fabric for so called health garments or the like.
In order to give these qualities to a woollen fabric, it is necessary to subject
the same to a special process, which influences the same accordingly without
changing it visibly in its exterior appearance.
For this purpose the woollen fabric or flannel of the best quality is boiled in a
solution of alum potash and salt, for each 15 square meters of fabric a solution
of 50 grammes of alum 50 grammes of potash and 50 grammes of salt in about 40
litres of water being the most appropriate. In this solution, heated to boiling
temperature the fabric is boiled half an hour and then immediately thrown into
cold water for a quarter of an hour. When this is done, the woollen fabric or
flannel without being first wrung out, is hung out to dry, and so soon as it is
dry it is smoothed in a convenient manner by ironing.
The underclothing made of fabric treated in this manner, and which is worn
directly on the body, keeps the same at an equal temperature, as it receives the
perspiration only in a reduced measure and thus takes no warmth from the body,
at the same time not hindering the perspiration. The fabric is changed neither by
perspiration nor cold or warm water, it does not shrink and can dry of itself on
the body without influencing the equal warmth of the body.
Practical experiments with underclothing of woollen fabric, flannel, treated as
described, have shown that garments made of such fabrics protect against colds
and have even proved an excellent protecting means against infection.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is: :-
The improved process of impregnating woollen fabrics such as flannel by boil-

page_text: ing such fabrics in a solution of alum potash and salt formed with a suitable
quantity of water, substantially as and in the proportions described and for the
purpose set forth.
Dated this 22nd day of June 1898
HERBERT HADDAN & Co.,
Agents to Applicants,
18, Buckingham Street, Strand, W.C., London.
HERBERT HADDAN & Co.,
Agents to Applicants,
18, Buckingham Street, Strand, W.C., London.