THE USE AND APPLICATION OF PAPER PRINTED OR OTHERWISE ORNAMENTED WITH WATER COLORS FOR COVERING FLOORS AND OTHER ANALOGOUS PURPOSES AS A SUBSTITUTE FOR CARPETS AND OILCLOTHS, AND OF AN IMPROVED COATING OR VARNISH TO BE APPLIED TO THE SAME TO PROTECT ITS SURFACE FROM INJURY AND WEAR
Year: 1865

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Anson Henry Platt at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 19th July 1865.
I, ANSON HENRY PLATT, of the City of Philadelphia, United States of
America, Physician, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"THE USE AND APPLICATION OF PAPER PRINTED OR OTHERWISE ORNAMENTED WITH
WATER COLORS FOR COVERING FLOORS AND OTHER ANALOGOUS PURPOSES AS A
SUBSTITUTE FOR CARPETS AND OILCLOTHS, AND OF AN IMPROVED COATING OR VARNISH
TO BE APPLIED TO THE SAME TO PROTECT ITS SURFACE FROM INJURY AND WEAR," to
be as follows:-
This Invention includes three different varieties of "paper carpet," which I
call respectively "stationary," "loose," and "portable" "carpet," each being
prepared and applied in the following manner :-
The first, or "stationary" variety is intended to be permanently attached to
the floor, which is previously to be prepared for receiving the "carpet " by
planing off the uneven joints and rough parts, if there are any, and filling the
cracks and holes, if any are found, with plaster of paris or other suitable
substance of a like character. The floor thus made smooth and entire, is
first covered with any kind of common brown, or other cheap paper by pasting
or otherwise firmly securing it thereto. When this paper covering has
become dry it is covered with the ornamental paper, (which may be such as
used for paper hangings or prepared expressely for this purpose,) figured,

page_text: printed, or tinted with water colors. The ornamental paper is attached in
turn to the coarse brown paper by firmly and smoothly pasting it thereon.
When also this is well dried it is ready to receive the coating or varnish.
The second, or "loose" variety is made of a firmer and thicker under paper,
so that it shall not require to be pasted by all of its under surface to the floor,
but only tacked or otherwise secured thereto at its edges in the manner of a
carpet. For this purpose, thick heavy coarse brown paper is employed,
such for example as is used for covering roofs and is sold in long rolls or
sheets of various and convenient widths, strips of this paper of proper length
and of sufficient number to cover the floor, are lapped and pasted together
otherwise joined at their contiguous edges, the overlapped parts being
pared down if desired so as to give the whole paper a uniform thickness
throughout. The edges of the entire sheet are then tacked or pasted to the
floor adjacent to the walls of the room while the main central body of the
sheet is unattached or "loose" upon the floor. The ornamental paper,
figured, printed, or tinted with water colors, is then pasted to this thick
under paper in the same manner as described for the first variety.
The third, or "portable" variety is intended to be sold ready for putting
down on the floor in strips like oilcloths or carpets. For this article a thick
heavy paper, of good stock so as to be tough, firm, and of handsome texture,
is made in rolls or webs of any required width and of any color for the ground
which may be desired. It is figured or printed with water colors in. any
style or pattern like oilcloth or carpet. It may be covered with the coating
or varnish either before or after it is put down upon the floor, I contemplate
offering it for sale generally ready.finished as to its surface for use.
It is to
be fastened down in strips upon the floor by tacking like oilcloths and
mattings, or otherwise. Instead of making the entire body of this paper
of superior and handsomer stock the under body may be of inferior and coarser
material, and the upper surface only for finishing and ornamenting made of
the superior stock either laid upon the coarser body in manufacturing the
paper, or made in a separate sheet or roll and afterwards attached to the
coarser paper by pasting.
The improved coating or varnish for covering the surface of the paper
and receiving the wear is made by the application successively of two
different materials, first, a sizing of white or clarified glue is applied by
dissolving eight ounces more or less of said glue in one gallon of hot water,
and when somewhat cooled, but not sufficiently to exhibit indications of
coagulation, spreading it upon the paper with a brush. About three successive
coats of glue are applied to the paper as fast as each preceding coat becomes

page_text: dry, great care being taken when laying on the first coat not to cause the
water colors on the paper to run or spread, and thereby smear and mar the
beauty of said paper; second, when these coats of glue or sizing are well
dried and hardened a compound is applied, made of about three parts of
best quality light colored copal varnish to one part of light colored boiled
linseed oil well mixed and tempered with benzine or spirits of turpentine till
brought to the proper consistence to be spread with a flat soft brush, which
may be about three inches wide. From three to six coats of this outer
varnish are applied, according to the frequency and severity of the use to
which the room is to be subjected. When the varnish is well dried and
hardened, the "carpet" is ready for use.
I usually apply to the under surface of the heavy base paper used in the
second or loose variety, and also to the under surface of the paper of the third
or "portable" variety, before printing upon it a solution of cominon glue, and
also sometimes apply a coating of boiled linseed oil to toughen and harden
the paper, and thereby increase its durability, but I do not consider these
applications essential to the Invention.
In place of white or clarified glue, gum arabic or isinglass may be used,
but these are more expensive than and not really so good for the purpose as
the said glue.
This coating first of glue and then of copal varnish and boiled linseed oil,
is also valuable for many other analogous uses, such as for covering papered
walls, counters, desks, trunks, fire-boards, fuel and other boxes, window shades
and other surfaces.