Improvements in and connected with Covers or Slips for Bed-bolsters, Bed-pillows, Cushions, and the like.
Year: 1899

page_text: Improvements in and connected with Covers or Slips for Bed-bolsters,
Bed-pillows, Cushions, and the like.
I, BINNS KERSHAW, of 02, Livesey Street, Manchester, in the County of Lan-
caster, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
-
This invention has for its object to provide an improved form of cover or slip
for bed-bolsters, bed-pillows, cushions, mattresses, cradle beds and the like for
use in lieu of the covers or slips now commonly employed.
Con-
Pillow or the like covers or slips as at present made are formed from some
inelastic woven material, either a cotton or linen fabric, for example, and certain
inconveniences are inseparable from their use. Thus the pillow or the like
cover or slip being practically inextensible, is of necessity made much larger in
circumference than the pillow or the like, upon which it is to be placed.
sequently it lends no support to preserve the form of the pillow or the like under
weight and it constantly happens that for instance a pillow or the like which
is not tightly stuffed looses shape and gradually envelopes to an uncomfortable
extent the head of the sleeper who may be resting upon it. Another incon-
venience attending the use of woven fabrics for this purpose is that by reaso
of the closeness of the texture a fabric of that description presents a practically
smooth and continuous surface of fibrous material which is apt to strike cold
when brought into contact with the skin and to become unduly hot after pro-
longed contact. This defect is aggravated by the glazing or starching and ironing
to which such fabrics are subjected in order to fit them for such uses as are now
under consideration. Woven fabrics have other objectionable features but I
need not further particularise them as the above mentioned will serve to show
clearly wherein my improvements consist.
Now I produce a pillow or the like cover or slip in the manner hereinafter
described from a machine knitted fabric produced by circular knitting from
cotton, linen, merino, angora or other suitable thread. A pillow or the like
cover or slip made from such a fabric being extensible may be made up of a
size less in the direction of its width than that of the pillow or the like with
which it is used and it may be stretched over the same. Being elastic it will
grip the pillow or the like and have a tendency to force it into the cylindrical
form thus giving it a certain degree of resiliency and in the same degree a
character resembling that of an air pillow. Moreover the surface of the knitted
fabric being much more open than that of a woven material and formed with
numerous minute air spaces, is much more agreeable than a woven surface in
contact with the skin and besides a matter of great importance, is that a knitted
fabric possesses the advantage over a woven cloth by being cheaper to produce
and thus capable of being brought into the market at a considerable less price.
In producing my improved pillow or the like cover or slip I then take a suit-
able length of circular machine knitted cotton, merino, angora or other suitable

page_text: knitted fabric and close one end with a seam.
The open end or mouth of the
pillow or the like cover or slip may be provided with a Hap or left longer on one
side and folded over the pillow or the like and pushed under the other side, or
joined in the usual way by tapes tied together across the mouth in two or three
separate places or buttoned or the open end may be furnished with a hem and
a tape passed through it by which it can be drawn together.
The width of the knitted cover or slip will of course depend upon the width
of the pillow or the like with which it is to be used and should be such that when
in use the cover or slip will be moderately distended transversely, the advantage
of the knitted fabric being that it will not be required to be so exact in size to
accord, with the pillow or the like as its elasticity will enable it to adapt itself
in a manner which a woven fabric cannot do.
The seam and hem are formed by sewing in the ordinary way but in determining
the length of the cover or slip allowance must be made for the taking up in
this direction which will result from the increase of girth when the pillow or
the like is inserted.
Dated this 21st day of April 1899.
F. BOSSHARDT & Co.,
Agents to Applicant.
Improvements in and connected with Covers or Slips for Bed-bolsters,
Bed-pillows, Cushions, and the like.
I, BINNS KERSHAW, of 62, Livesey Street, Manchester, in the County of Lan-
caster, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement:-
This invention has for its object to provide an improved form of cover or slip
for bed-bolsters, bed-pillows, cushions, mattresses, cradle beds and the like for
use in lieu of the covers or slips now commonly employed.
Pillow or the like covers or slips as at present made are formed from some
inelastic woven material, either a cotton or linen fabric, for example, and certain
inconveniences are inseparable from their use. Thus the pillow or the like
cover or slip being practically inextensible, is of necessity made much larger in
circumference than the pillow or the like upon which it is to be placed. Con-
sequently it lends no support to preserve the form of the pillow or the like under
weight and it constantly happens that for instance a pillow or the like which
is not tightly stuffed looses shape and gradually envelopes to an uncomfortable
extent the head of the sleeper who may be resting upon it. Another incon-
venience attending the use of woven fabrics for this purpose is that by reason
of the closeness of the texture a fabric of that description presents a practically
smooth and continuous surface of fibrous material which is apt to strike cold
when brought into contact with the skin and to become unduly hot after pro-
longed contact. This defect is aggravated by the glazing or starching and ironing
to which such fabrics are subjected in order to fit them for such uses as are now
under consideration. Woven fabrics have other objectionable features but I
need not further particularise them as the above mentioned will serve to show
clearly wherein my improvements consist.
Now I produce a pillow or the like cover or slip in the manner hereinafter
described from a machine knitted fabric produced by circular knitting from
cotton, linen, merino, angora or other suitable thread. A pillow or the like

page_text: cover or slip made from such a fabric being extensible may be made up of a
size less in the direction of its width than that of the pillow or the like with
which it is used and it may be stretched over the same. Being elastic it will
grip the pillow or the like and have a tendency to force it into the cylindrical
torm thus giving it a certain degree of resiliency and in the same degree a
character resembling that of an air pillow. Moreover the surface of the knitted
fabric being much more open than that of a woven material and formed with
numerous minute air spaces, is much more agreeable than a woven surface in
contact with the skin and besides a matter of great importance, is that a knitted
fabric possesses the advantage over a woven cloth by being cheaper to produce
and thus capable of being brought into the market at a considerable less price.
In producing my improved pillow or the like cover or slip I take a suit-
able length of circular machine knitted cotton, nierino, angora or other suitable
knitted fabric and close one end with a seam. The open end or mouth of the
pillow or the like cover or slip may be provided with a flap or left longer on one
side and folded over the pillow or the like and pushed under the other side, or
joined in the usual way by tapes tied together across the mouth in two or three
separate places or buttoned or the open end may be furnished with a hem and
a tape passed through it by which it can be drawn together.
The width of the knitted cover or slip will of course depend upon the width
of the pillow or the like with which it is to be used and should be such that when
in use the cover or slip will be moderately distended transversely, the advantage
of the knitted fabric being that it will not be required to be so exact in size to
accord with the pillow or the like as its elasticity will enable it to adapt itself
in a manner which a woven fabric cannot do.
The seam and hem are formed by sewing in the ordinary way but in determining
the length of the cover or slip allowance must be made for the taking up in
this direction which will result from the increase of girth when the pillow or
the like is inserted.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
1st. The manufacture of covers or slips for bed-bolsters, bed-pillows, cushions
and the like, consisting in the use of circularly machine knitted fabric made up
and proportioned to elastically fit and retain in shape the pillow or the like
for which it is intended, all substantially as herein before set forth.
2nd. As a new article of manufacture, a cover or slip for bed-bolsters, bed-
pillows, cushions and the like made from circularly machine knitted fabric, all
substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 19th day of January 1900.
F. BOSSHARDT & Co.,
4, Corporation Street, Manchester,
Agents to Applicant.