IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANU- FACTURE OF ORNAMENTAL FABRICS MADE ON LACE MACHINES
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Félix Sival, of Neuilly (Seine), France,
Mechanician, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANU-
FACTURE OF ORNAMENTAL FABRICS MADE ON LACE MACHINES."
Sealed the 7th July 1874, and dated the 16th January 1874.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Félix Sival at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
16th January 1874.
I, FELIX SIVAL, of Neuilly (Seine), France, Mechanician, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE Manu-
FACTURE OF ORNAMENTAL FABRICS MADE ON LACE MACHINES," to be as
follows:-
It is well known that in lace machines, and particularly in the
"Leaver" machines, the transverse course of the threads is so limited as
to have hitherto prevented the manufacture by these machines of a

page_text: fabric of much regularity for tolerably large breadths. I propose to
remedy this defect and to utilize these lace machines for the production
of fabrics of all patterns, and generally all those used in upholstery,
ribbons, lace work, and even Indian shawls. I effect this manufacture
by the application of a new principle of interlacing (laçage). This
principle consists essentially in retaining by means of supplementary
threads, which I call interlacing threads, the bobbin threads which pass
transversely to the fabric at their return points, that is, at the extremity
of their course. These interlacing threads are only visible on the wrong
side of the fabric; they are invisible at the right side so that the
transverse threads seem to be uninterrupted and produce the illusion of
a continuous thread, as shown in Figure 1 of the accompanying
Drawing, which represents the right or upper side of the fabric obtained
by my process.
Example No. 1, Figure 2, shows the wrong or lower side of the
fabric; and Figure 3 enables the work to be understood. The thread F
which in Figure 1 appears to run the whole length of the fabric is in
reality formed of three bobbin threads A, B, C, (Figure 2) which each
only run for a portion of the breadth. The interlacing threads D, E,
employed in pairs in this example, pass alternately into the loops formed
by the return of the threads A and B, B and C, and so on.
These loops
are pressed in the progress of the work close to one another so as to
bring the threads A, B, and C, to be perfectly in line with one another.
I can vary the method of the taking of the interlacing threads either
by augmenting their. number or by employing them at the same time a
both transversely and longitudinally.
I show at Figures 4 and 5 the result and the work of another example
No. 2, in which the loops of the bobbin threads are united at once by a
longitudinal and a transverse lacing thread.
I do not limit myself however to the above given example, since my a
principle of interlacing is capable of being realized in a great number of
combinations.
Upon the fabrics obtained by my process I can casily figure or
embroider all kinds of designs and ornaments with fine supplementary
bars carrying threads of different colours.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Félix Sival. in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
14th July 1874.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, FELIX
SIVAL, of Neuilly (Seine), France, Mechanician, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Sixteenth day of January, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, in the thirty-
seventh year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Felix Sival, Her special licence
that I, the said Felix Sival, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
or such others as I, the said Felix Sival, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to
time and at all times thereafter during the term thercin expressed,
should and lawfully might make, usc, exercise, and vend, within the
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands,
and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE
OF ORNAMENTAL FABRICS MADE ON LACE MACHINES," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Felix Sival, my executors or admini-
strators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their
hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of
the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed,
and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within
six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said
Letters Patent.
:
:
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Felix Sival, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement thereof, reference being had to the Drawings here-
unto annexed, that is to say :-
-
"
It is well known that in lace machines, and particularly in the "Leaver
machines, the transverse course of the threads is so limited as to have
hitherto prevented the manufacture by these machines of a fabric of
much regularity for tolerably large breadths. I propose to remedy this
defect and to utilize these lace machines for the production of fabrics of

page_text: all patterns, and generally all those used in upholstery, ribbons, lace
work, and even Indian shawls. I effect this manufacture by the
application of a new principle of interlacing (laçage). This principle
consists essentially in retaining by means of supplimentary threads,
which I call interlacing threads, the bobbin threads which pass trans-
versely to the fabric at their return points, that is, at the extremity of
their course.
These interlacing threads are only visible on the wrong
side of the fabric, they are invisible at the right side, so that the
transverse threads seem to be uninterrupted and produce the illusion
of a continuous thread, as shown in Figure 1 of the accompanying
Drawings, which represents the right or upper side of the fabric obtained
by my process.
Example No. 1. Figure 2 shows the reverse or lower side of the
fabric; and Figure 3 enables the work to be understood. The thread F
which in Figure 1 appears to run the whole breadth of the fabric, is in
reality formed of three bobbin threads A, B, C, (Figure 2) which each
only run for a portion of the breadth. The interlacing threads D, E,
employed in pairs in this example, pass alternately into the, loops
formed by the return of the threads A and B, B and C, and so on.
These loops are pressed in the progress of the work close to one another
so as to bring the threads A, B, and C, perfectly in line with one
another. I can vary the method of the taking of the interlacing
threads either by augmenting their number or by employing them at
the same time both transversely and longitudinally.
I show at Figures 4 and 5 the result and the work of another
example, No. 2, in which the loops of the bobbin threads are united at
once by a longitudinal and a transverse lacing thread.
I do not limit myself however to the above given examples, since my
principle of interlacing is capable of being realized in a great number
of combinations.
Upon the fabrics obtained by my process I can easily figure or
embroider all kinds of designs and ornaments with fine supplementary
bars carrying threads of different colours.
My Invention of improvements in the manufacture of ornamental
fabrics made in lace machines therefore consists in retaining by means
of supplementary or interlacing threads, the bobbin threads which pass

page_text: transversely to the fabric at their return points, for the purposes herein-
before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Felix Sival, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Thirtieth day of June, One thousand eight
hundred and seventy-four.
Witness,
CH. ARMENGAUD,
Civil Engineer,
Boulevard de Strasbourg, 23,
Paris.
FELIX SIVAL. (L.S.)