Improved Metallic or Partially Metallic Fabrics for Clothing, Upholstery, and other purposes.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Dec., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 18th Aug., 1897-Accepted, 8th Jan., 1898
Improved Metallic or Partially Metallic Fabrics for Clothing,
Upholstery, and other purposes.
I, WILLIAM GEORGE ROTHWELL, of 18, Chatsworth Avenue, Walton, near Liverpool,
in the County of Lancaster, Master Mariner, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
Fabrics constructed according to this invention are formed of metallic and
non-metallic constituents, combined or fabricated as follows:-
In constructing a fabric according to this invention, I spin a number of metallic
wire helices upon suitable cores. These helices and their cores may form either the
warp or the weft of the fabric, and are united together by wefts or warps of non-
metallic material.
In some cases the helices are fabricated together in the above described manner
without their cores.
I prefer aluminium wire for the purposes of my invention, but wire of other metal
is applicable therefor.
A fabric formed as above described is strong, supple, durable, and presents a good
appearance, and is applicable to many uses.
J. A. COUBROUGH,
Registered Patent Agent (Qual. by Exam.),
10, St. George's Crescent, Liverpool, Agent for the Applicant.
Improved Metallic or Partially Metallic Fabrics for Clothing,
Upholstery, and other purposes.
I, WILLIAM GEORGE ROTHWELL, of 18, Chatsworth Avenue, Walton, near Liverpool,
in the County of Lancaster, Master Mariner, 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 this invention is to provide a fabric comprising metallic and non-
metallic constituents, in which the metallic constituent forms a spiral helix, which
fabric may prove of eminent service to the general public for domestic and general
purposes, such as upholstery, clothing, harness, machine belting, portmanteaux,
cycle luggage carriers and accessories, mattresses, surgical requirements and numerous
other uses.

page_text: To prepare the helices to form the fabric, I wind wire of any suitable metal but
preferably the metal Aluminium after it has been chemically cleaned and frosted or
otherwise prepared to prevent its exuderance, on any suitable core, which core may
be used to wind the helix upon only and may then be removed, or the core may
remain within the helix and in the latter case may consist of any suitable animal or
vegetable fibre or hair, or metallic wire.
The said core and wire are not twisted together or doubled similarly to the metallie
threads now produced for the purpose of incorporating with curtains, cloths,
hangings and the like in order to ornament such goods, but the metal wire is wound
upon its core in such a manner that the core forms the axis of the helix, and
between each turn or coil of the helix there exists a space, that is to say, the coils of
the helix are so pitched that a space exists between each coil equal (or thereabouts)
to the diameter of the wire used to form the helix. The art of spinning such helices
being well known, a description of a mode of producing them may here be dispensed
with.
The novel fabric according to this invention is formed by a series of the above
described helices being woven either as the warp or the weft of the fabric in
conjunction with any suitable animal or vegetable fibre or hair as the weft or the
warp respectively, that is to say, helical warps will be woven together by any suitable
fibre or hair, and warps composed of fibre or hair will be woven by a helical weft.
Assuming it desirable to weave the fabric with the helix as the weft, the pitch of
the helix should correspond with the number of warp threads. For instance if the
helix possesses eighteen turns or coils to the inch, then the number of warp threads
to the inch should be thirty-six, so that a warp thread will lie between each turn or
coil of the helix on both sides of the core. The warp threads must, moreover, be of
smaller diameter than the diameter of the wire forming the helix, in order that the
thread will bury itself between the turns or coils of the helix, whereby in the finished
fabric the metal will project beyond the non-metallic constituent and so protect the
latter from wear. Unless the warp threads correspond in number to the pitch of the
helix as above specified a streaky or openly woven fabric is produced, but such a
fabric may in some cases be desirable, as for instance in surgical bandages and other
uses where ventilation is required.
In weaving a fabric in which the helices form the warps, the weft should be finer
than the wire of the helix, and of good material, and the mouth or shed of the loom
should be arranged to open well so that the weft may be beaten-up as close as
possible. The latter requirement also applies when the helix is used as the weft.
The helical metallic constituent of my novel fabric, when used either as the warp or
the weft of the fabric, may possess a core or be without one, but in the latter case a
fabric of correspondingly less strength will be produced.
When iny novel fabric is to be applied as machine belting, tenting, floor coverings,
boots, or other hard wearing material, a suitable compound or material may be
pressed or otherwise inserted into the interstices of the fabric, or the fabric may be
passed between press-rollers.
To afford durability and a good appearance to the fabric, the helices should be
woven as close as possible, so that an apparently continuous metallic surface is
presented.
The finer varieties of my novel fabric may be woven upon existing looms, with or
without the Jacquard motion, whilst the heavier fabrics may require the loom and
shuttle to be enlarged or adapted thereto.
Fabrics according to my invention may be woven to a pattern or be dyed, or
printed, and a characteristic feature of my invention is that the metallic constituent
of the fabric takes the brunt of the wear, whilst both sides of the fabric present the
same appearance. Moreover as the metal of the fabric projects beyond the non-
metallic constituent thereof the fabric always wears bright. The presence of metal
in the fabric also acts as a deterent to the harbouring of vermin.
. For the purpose of ornamentation the wire of the helices may be washed or plated
with gold or other metal.

page_text: It will be seen that according to this invention is produced what may be termed
a helical fabric, inasmuch that one of the elements thereof, namely the warp or the
weft consists of spiral helices with or without cores forming the axes of such helices.
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 :-
A fabric composed of a metallic constituent in the form of a spiral helix with or
without a core forming the axis of such helix, and a non-metallic constituent,
combined or fabricated substantially in the manner herein described.
J. A. COUBROUGH,
Registered Patent Agent (Qual. by Exam.),
10, St. George's Crescent, Liverpool, Agent for the Applicant.