A New and Improved Artificial Sponge for the Bath and Domestic Purposes.
Year: 1895

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A New and Improved Artificial Sponge for the Bath and Domestic
Purposes.
WALKER RILEY Manufacturer Laisterdyke Bradford York, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
I make a special cloth for this purpose, the fibres of which are raised to resemble
a brush, or the cloth may be what is known as a pile fabric, this pile cloth may be
made of any kind of fibrous material, the pile is made to stand up above the
surface of the cloth, the yarn forming the pile is a special kind and made to stand
erect like the fibres of a brush, the purposes of which it is intended to supply in
personal washing, as well as that of au ordinary sponge.
This cloth is cut into suitable shapes, say 6 × 5 inches, more or less, two of
these pieces are joined together, the pile being left outside, and the ends left open
so that air may penetrate through to keep the inside pure, and free from disagrable
odour. At each end a loop is introduced, made of braid, or other suitable material,
a string may be passed through each of these loops, to enable a person to wash any
part of the body without assistance, the person using this sponge can hold a string
in each hand and draw the sponge across the the back, shoulders & loins at will, or a
permanent string may be joined to ends of sponge, to enable any one to perform
the same operations as described above.
A piece
The sponge will be a flattened tubular oval shape, open at each end.
of natural sponge, or loofhas, or fibrous material is inserted inside to give the
required shape to handle it when washing.
Dooth Aumunt 1905
A New and Improved Artificial Sponge for the Bath and Domestic
Purposes.
I, WALKER RILEY, of Laisterdyke, Bradford, Yorkshire, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
The object of my invention is to make or produce an artificial sponge, which
does not retain the dirt and grease and become slimy like the ordinary sponge
but always remains sweet, it also costs much less and lasts longer.

page_text: fabric and may be made of any kind of fibrous material, the pile of which is
made to stand up above the surface or body of the cloth either looped or plain,
the yarn employed causing the pile to stand erect like the fibres of a brush.
Referring to the drawings annexed, A is a covering or shell made from
preferably two pieces of the said cloth joined together (cut to any required
shape) and open at the ends B, which have attached to them bands or loops C
made of braid or other suitable material.
The pile or raised surface of the cloth is outside the covering or shell A, and
the open ends allow the circulation of air, and keep the inside of the covering or
shell pure and free from disagreeable odour.
The inside of the said covering or shell A contains or holds a natural sponge D
or loofah, or other suitable fibrous or springy material may be used.
At each end of the said artificial sponge, and attached to the loops or bands C,
a string may be used to enable a person to wash any part of the body without
assistance by holding one of the strings in each hand, by this means the person
may draw the said sponge across the back, loins, shoulders, or any part of the
body required.
The strings may be either permanent or separate, and attachable as required
.at will.
The said artificial sponge is preferably made of a flattened tubular shape.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
-claim is
1. An artificial sponge, composed of an outer covering or shell A (open at the
ends B) made of a cloth or material having a raised looped or pile outer surface in
imitation of the fibres of a brush, the said shell or covering A holding or con-
taining a natural sponge D or other yielding and absorbent material, as and for
the purposes substantially as set forth.
2. The combination of the open ended covering or shell A, with a natural
sponge D, or its known equivalent, as shown and described.
Dated this Eighteenth day of May 1896
JOHN E. WALSH,
Royal Exchange Chambers, Boar Lane, Leeds,
Patent Agent to the Applicant.

page_text: A