Improved Means and Ingredients for Treating Cocoa and like Fibres in Imitation of Hair for Upholstery.
Year: 1898

page_text: Improved Means and Ingredients for Treating Cocoa and like Fibres
in Imitation of Hair for Upholstery.
I, EMMA HORSEY, of "Corcelles," St. John's Road, Sidcup, Kent, Gentlewoman,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improved means and ingredients for treating cocoa
and like fibres in imitation of hair for upholstery.
To carry my invention into practice I take carded clean cocoa or like vegetable
fibres and submit them to a washing process in water,. or a solution of alum,
preferably in the form of a sulphate and after becoming thoroughly impregnated
I dry the fibre in a centrifugal machine or on trays to which a warm dry heat
can be imparted; the fibre is next saturated with a solution of lac in water
using borax as a flux or solvent; when the fibre becomes coated with this solution,
an important feature in this invention, I again dry it as before or otherwise.
The application of the aqueous lac varnish may have a colouring body mixed
with it and if black be the colour desired aniline black is preferable although
other black pigments may be used either in the lac varnish solution or as a
previous process as found necessary.
Cocoa fibre treated or prepared as above is somewhat hard to the touch it has
a natural curl like prepared horse hair and is specially adapted for upholstery
purposes in lieu of horse hair.
The treatment before described renders the fibre impervious to moisture, odour-
less and is free from harbouring insects. It is of a springy character and not
liable to matt or become crushed but always when in bulk retains its resiliency
which specially adapts itself for cushions, mattresses and as a stuffing for up-
holstery generally.
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Improved Means and Ingredients for Treating Cocoa and like Fibres
in Imitation of Hair for Upholstery.
I, EMMA HORSEY, of Corcelles, St. John's Road, Sidcup, Kent, Gentlewoman,
do liereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is
[Price 8d.1

page_text: to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the follow-
ing statement: —
This invention relates to improved means and ingredients for treating cocoa
and like fibres in imitation of hair for upholstery.
To carry my invention into practice I take carded clean cocoa or like vegetable
fibres and submit them to a washing process in water, or a solution of alum,
preferably in the form of a sulphate and after becoming thoroughly impregnated,
I dry the fibre in a centrifugal machine or on trays to which a warm dry heat
can be imparted; the fibre is next saturated with a solution of "lac" in water
using borax as a flux or solvent, when the fibre becomes coated (varnish like)
with this solution; an important feature in this invention. I again dry it as
before or otherwise.
The application of the " aqueous lac" varnish may have a colouring body
mixed with it and if black be the colour desired aniline black is preferable
although other black pigments may be used either in the lac varnish solution or
as a previous process as found necessary.
Cocoa fibre treated or prepared as above is somewhat hard to the touch, it has
a natural curl produced during the drying process, like prepared horsehair and
is specially adapted for upholstery purposes in lieu of horsehair.
The process of preparing is as follows. I first well wash the fibre in water,
then in alum sulphate until thoroughly impregnated. I again well wash in cold
water, then dry it in an oven heated to about 175° Fah., and not exceeding
200° Fah.
The fibre thus prepared is then immersed in a solution of water, 1 gallon,
borax 6 to 8 ounces gum arabic 4 ounces, lac 2½ lbs. with or without a dye.
The particular treatment before described renders the fibre impervious to
moisture, odourless and is free from harbouring insects.
It is of a springy character and not liable to mat or become crushed but always
when in bulk retains its resiliency which specially adapts it for cushions,
mattresses and as a stuffing for upholstery generally.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. The herein before described special treatment of cocoa and like fibres to
render them serviceable for upholstery and like purposes as set forth.
2. The herein described means and ingredients for treating cocoa and like
fibre for resiliency and toughness in order that they can be employed as an imita-
tion of and in lieu of horsehair for filling seat and other cushions, mattresses
and the like as set forth.
H. GARDNER,
Patent Agent, 166, Fleet Street, London,
Agent for the said Mrs. G. Horsey.