IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF FIGURED OR PATTERNED HEARTH AND FOOT RUGS
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Walter William Smith of Tottenham Road Kingsland
in the County of Middlesex Hearth Rug Manufacturer for an Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF FIGURED OR PATTERNED HEARTH
AND FOOT RUGS
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Walter William Smith at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 12th October 1882.
WALTER WILLIAM SMITH of Tottenham Road Kingsland, in the County of
Middlesex, Hearth Rug Manufacturer "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE
OF FIGURED OR PATTERNED HEARTH AND FOOT RUGS
"
This invention relates to an improved manufacture of what are known as "beam
rugs" and consists in weaving by the aid of a loom having a jacquard or pattern
mechanism combined therewith, any desired pattern or design in this class of rugs,
a result which has not hitherto been accomplished.
My improved rugs consist of a suitable backing or foundation into which I weave
by the aid of a Jacquard or other suitable pattern mechanism designs of any kind
in woollen yarns of various colours the wool forming a separate warp which is
governed by the jacquard and woven over grooved rods so as to form a looped
pile which is then out.
The loom employed in weaving my improved rugs is to be mounted with a warp
of jute, hemp, common yarns or other suitable material for forming the backing
for the rug which backing may be either single or double, and in combination with
this backing I mount the wool warp for forming the pattern face of the ring.
This latter warp which may be of any number of colours according to the pattern
or design required is governed by jacquard or pattern mechanism worked by the
loom so as to bring up or depress the different yarns in the order required the
patterns as they are produced being woven into and effectually secured in the
backing of the rug by the weft thread.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Walter William Smith in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
12th April 1883.
WALTER WILLIAM SMITH of Tottenham Road Kingsland in the County of
Middlesex Hearthrug Manufacturer "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF
FIGURED OR PATTERNED HEARTH AND FOOT RUGS
"
My said. invention consists of a new or improved manufacture of hearth and
foot rugs wherein the foundation or backing presents a perfectly plain appearance
like that of the well known "finger rugs" whilst the face of the rug is composed
of a warp of woollen or other yarns woven thereon over wires in any desired or
given design or pattern and in any variety of colours by the aid of a loom and
jacquard or other suitable pattern governing mechanism and cut to form a pile as
will be readily understood.
In weaving my said improved hearth and foot rugs I employ a loom which is
mounted with two separate warps the one forming the usual backing (which may
be either single or double) being of jute hemp or other suitable fibre whilst the
other forming the pattern face consists of woollen or other suitable yarns of any
number of different colors according to the pattern or design required the said
yarns being connected with a jacquard machine and supplied from the usual bobbin
frame as is well understood in carpet weaving. According to the number of colors
employed so will be the number of yarns passed together through each dent of the
reed but each different colored yarn is passed separately through its own "mail"
thus supposing only three colors are required say red black and blue these three
after passing separately each through its own "mail" unite and pass together
" are
through one and the same reed dent. The "lashes" carrying the said "mails
attached to the cord of a jacquard so mounted as to lift one color only each color
being lifted by itself. In weaving each wool yarn is brought up separately but
the entire wool warp is lifted bodily and raised out of the way during the time
the backing is being woven; for this purpose the several "lashes" whilst being
free to be lifted separately by the cords of the jacquard are also arranged so as to
be lifted bodily or together at will this lifting of the entire wool warp being
effected by a "shaft" threaded through the several "lashes" in such a manner
that whilst it allows perfect freedom to each "lash" to be lifted separately by the
jacquard it will on being itself raised by a lever under the control of the weaver
lift the whole of the "lashes" together independently of the jacquard and thus
raise the entire wool warp for the purpose above stated.
The mode of weaving the backing and the mode of binding the wool warp to
the said backing by a shoot of backing weft after the insertion of the wire to
form the pile will be readily understood by carpet weavers and need no further
explanation.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
invention and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into
effect I would observe in conclusion that I am aware that pattern rugs having a
plain backing and a figured face have been made by binding a parti-colored weft
of what is commonly known as "chenille" onto a plain backing also that what are
known as
"Beam rugs" baving no definite figured pattern or design on the face
have been produced and therefore I do not claim such manufacture but what I

page_text: consider to be novel and original and therefore claim as the invention secured to
me by the hereinbefore in part recited Letters Patent is :-
The peculiar manufacture of hearth and foot rugs herein before described having
a plain backing and a figured or patterned face of any desired design woven in a
loom by the aid of a jacquard machine or equivalent pattern governing mechanism.
In Witness whereof I the said Walter William Smith have hereunto set my
hand and seal this ninth day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and eighty three,
WALTER WILLIAM SMITH (L.S.)