Year: 1889

page_text: I, Alfred TaylOR, residing at Number 195, Hancock Avenue, in the City of
Bridgeport, County of Fairfield and State of Connecticut, one of the United States
of America, Clergyman, 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 :—
My invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in dress-shields, such
as are placed in ladies' garments to protect them from perspiration, and has for its
object to produce a shield which shall combine the absorptive and water-repellant
qualities necessary to be united in such a shield, and which moreover may be readily
and securely attached to the garment without the necessity of sewing or pinning,
and with these ends in view my invention consists in the construction and adaption
of material hereinafter set forth and then recited in the claims.
In order that those skilled in the art to which my invention appertains may more
fully understand how to make and use my improvement, I will describe the same in
detail, reference boing had to the accompanying drawing, which forms a part of this
specification, and in which-
Figure 1, is a bottom plan view of a shield made in accordance with my
invention, and
Figure 2, a section at the line, x-x, of Figure 1.
Similar letters denote the same parts in both Figures of the drawing.
A, is the absorbent portion of the completed shield, which may be made of any
suitable fabric, but which 1 prefer to make of the material known as stockinet. B, is
a layer of gutta-percha which is identical in size with the fabric above mentioned
and is attached thereto.
The completed shield may be made by coating the fabric with the gutta-percha in
a fluid or pasty state, or the gutta-percha may be applied in tissue form and secured
to the fabric by heat and pressure sufficient to soften the gutta-percha and cause it
to adhere to the fabric.
The adhesion required in the process of manufacture need not be complete or
perfect. It is only necessary that the fabric and gum shall be sufficiently united for
convenience in handling and shipping.

page_text: The shield thus made is attached to the dress by laying it upon that portion of
the garment to which it is to be socured and then by applying a heated surface,
preferably heat and pressure, to the back of the shield, or the outside of the dress,
which melts the guita-perchn and thoroughly attaches it to both the fabric of the
shield and to the fabric of the dress. The shield thus made is exceedingly light
and thin, so that it is no way a source of discomfort to the wearer and in addition
to its ready and secure attachment to the dress it combines the absorbent and water
repellant qualities of the best shield now upon the market.
In this, my invention, 1 do not wish to be confined to any particular construction
or shape of shield as for instance, whether made in one, two, or more pieces or
sections, nor to any particular manner of attaching the gutta-percha to the fabric,
since my invention particularly rests in the combination with the absorbent thickness
of fabric, of the water-proof layer of gum, which in addition serves by the application
of heat to form the bond with the fabric of dress. I can also use as the water
repellant in combination with the fabric any gum or firm substance which will soften
and adhere under the action of heat, and will, upon cooling, return to its normal
condition.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what
I claim is-
First A dress-shield consisting of a layer of fibrous or textile fabric, forming that
face of the shield which rosts against the person, and a layer of gutta-percha
secured to the under-side of said textile fabric, whereby the shield is rendered
water-proof, and whereby it may be attached to the garment, substantially as
set forth.
Second: A dress-shield consisting of a double thickness of material, the top thick-
ness of an absorbent textile, the under thickness of gutta-percha tissue secured to the
fabric layer, and adapted to be secured to the goods of the dress, substantially as
specified.