IMPROVE- MENTS IN THE PREPARATION OF VEGETABLE FIBRES FOR UPHOLSTERY OR OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Philip Middleton Justice, of 14, Southampton Buildings,
in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for an Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE PREPARATION OF VEGETABLE FIBRES FOR UPHOLSTERY OR
OTHER PURPOSES." A communication from abroad by John George Stephens,
of Truone Cito in the IInited States of Amering
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Philip Middleton Justice
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 7th December 1880.
"
PHILIP MIDDLETON JUSTICE, of 14, Southampton Buildings, in the County of
Middlesex, Patent Agent. IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PREPARATION OF VEGETABLE
FIBRES FOR UPHOLSTERY OR OTHER PURPOSES." A communication from abroad
by John George Stephens, of Jersey City, in the United States of America.
This Invention relates more particularly to the preparation of fibre obtained
from southern pine leaves and coir or cocoa nut fibre, but is also applicable to other
vegetable fibre. As heretofore prepared for upholstery purposes, these fibres have
been plain and straight, so that however they may be crossed by bunching and
mixing together they soon pack down into a hard flat mass like hay and straw.
Attempts have been made to overcome these objectionable features by curling or
twisting these fibres into the form of ropes, and subsequently picking the ropes
apart by the use of picking machines, but not only do the fibres lack the strength
to bear the picking process without breaking, but as the ropes must be picked
before the fibres are dry they also fail to retain the permanent "set" necessary for
durability.
This Invention consists in remedying the above set forth defects by crimping or
corrugating the fibres preferably just after they have been treated in the known
ways for the removal of the pulpy and other objectionable matters which they
contain when in their natural state.
The crimping, kinking, or corrugating may be done in various ways, but the
simplest and preferred method is by the use of crimping rollers, through which the

page_text: fibre is passed after it has been manufactured from the raw material. To render
the condition of the fibres suitable to receive the permanent "sets," crimps, or
corrugations given by the rollers, the fibres may be moistened or saturated with
water or gummy or resinous substances before passing them through the rolls,
which may be hollow, and supplied with steam or hot water, as is now the practice
in calendering cloths and in the manufacture of paper, and this arrangement is
advantageous as acting also as a drying process.
When fibre is prepared as above set forth its elasticity and durability is greatly
increased over that prepared in the ordinary manner, and as it need not be handled
until thoroughly dry, the "set" is permanent, its usefulness for cushions, mattresses,
chair, sofa seats, and other articles is greatly increased thereby, the crimps, kinks,
or corrugations giving it the nature of curled hair.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Philip Middleton Justice in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 4th June 1881.
"
PHILIP MIDDLETON Justice, of 14, Southampton Buildings, in the County of
Middlesex, Patent Agent. IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PREPARATION OF VEGETABLE
FIBRES FOR UPHOLSTERY OR OTHER PURPOSES." A communication from abroad
by John George Stephens, of Jersey City, in the United States of America.
This Invention relates more particularly to the preparation of fibre obtained
from southern pine leaves and coir or cocoa nut fibre, but is also applicable to other
vegetable fibre. As heretofore prepared for upholstery purposes, these fibres have
been plain and straight, so that however they may be crossed by bunching and
mixing together they soon pack down into a hard flat mass like hay and straw.
Attempts have been made to overcome these objectionable features by curling or
twisting these fibres into the form of ropes, and subsequently picking the ropes
apart by the use of picking machines, but not only do the fibres lack the strength
to bear the picking process without breaking, but as the ropes must be picked
before the fibres are dry, they also fail to retain the permanent "set" necessary
for durability. This Invention consists in remedying the above set forth defects
by crimping or corrugating the fibres, preferably just after they have been treated
in the known ways for the removal of the pulpy and other objectionable matter
which they contain when in their natural state. The crimping, kinking, or
corrugating may be done in various ways, but the simplest and preferred method is
by the use of crimping rollers, through which the fibre is passed after it has been
manufactured from the raw material. To render the condition of the fibres suitable to
receive the permanent "sets," crimps, or corrugations given by the rollers, the fibres
may be moistened or saturated with water or gummy or resinous substances before
passing them through the rolls, which may be hollow, and supplied with steam or
hot water, as is now the practice in calendering cloths and in the manufacture of
paper, and this arrangement is advantageous as acting also as a drying process.
When fibre is prepared as above set forth its elasticity and durability is greatly
increased over that prepared in the ordinary manner, and as it need not be handled
until thoroughly dry the "set" is permanent, its usefulness for cushions, mattresses,
chair, sofa seats, and other articles is greatly increased thereby, the kinks or
corrugations giving it the nature of curled hair.
Having thus described the nature of the Invention as communicated to me by
my foreign correspondent, I would have it understood that I do not claim broadly
fibre manufactured from pine leaves, cocoa nut husks, or analogous material, nor
such fibre when twisted or curled; but what I do claim is, The Improvements in
the Preparation of Vegetable Fibres for Upholstery or other Purposes, by crimping
or corrugating said fibres, substantially as herein before set forth."
"
In witness whereof, I, the said Philip Middleton Justice, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Fourth day of June, in the year of our Lord
Signed and sealed by the said
Philip Middleton Justice, in
the presence of
ALLEN P. JONES,
14, Southampton Buildings,
Chancery Lane, W.C.
PHILIP M. JUSTICE. (L.s.)