IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANU- FACTURE OF WATERPROOF FABRICS
Year: 1856

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Clark, of Newton Heath, Manchester, India-
rubber Manufacturer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANU-
FACTURE OF WATERPROOF FABRICS."
Sealed the 20th January 1857, and dated the 21st July 1856.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Clark at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 21st July
1856.
I, JAMES CLARK, of Newton Heath, Manchester, India-rubber Manu-
facturer, do hereby declare the nature of the Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE MANUFACTURE OF WATERPROOF FABRICS," to be as follows:-
My Invention consists in rendering fabrics waterproof by means of india-
rubber, gutta percha, or any other adhesive matters or mixtures, or com-
binations of these, and at the same time rendering them ventilating, so as to
permit the heat, vapour, or perspiration to escape.
I take a piece of cloth or fabric of any description and coat it with water-
proof composition; I then perforate or cut out holes, of any suitable size and
form, and at suitable distances, and then unite this perforated fabric with
another fabric, so as to form what is called usually double texture. To make
a treble texture, or more finished article, I coat the perforated fabric on both
sides previous to its perforation, then unite another fabric on each side, leaving
the perforated fabric between the other two fabrics.

page_text: In place of using a piece of cloth or fabric, and coating it, and then per-
forating it, strips of cloth or fabric may be employed, which, being coated on
one or both sides, as may be requisite, are united to the other fabric or fabrics,
leaving small spaces between each of the strips. In place of perforating the
coated fabric, such fabric may be perforated first and then coated afterwards.
In place of coating the fabric and then perforating it, the fabric may be
coated or covered in such manner that portions of the surface are left
uncoated, such uncoated portions being any desirable or suitable form, in
longitudinal or transverse lines, in round or oval portions, and at any requisite
distance.
In place of employing a fabric first coated and then perforated, a thin sheet
of waterproof composition may be used, which being perforated may be united
to one or more fabrics; or a fabric may be coated on the surface with water-
proof composition, and the coated surface may be perforated so that the per-
forations will only go through the coating of waterproof material without
injuring the fabric or cloth which has received such coating; this may be used
as a single texture.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said James Clark in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 21st
January 1857.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
CLARK, of Newton Heath, Manchester, India-rubber Manufacturer, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-first day of July, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-six, in the twentieth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
James Clark, Her special licence that I, the said James Clark, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said James Clark, 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 therein
expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, 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 WATER-
PROOF FABRICS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said James

page_text: Clark, my executors or administrators, 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 James Clark, do hereby declare the
nature of the 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, that is to say:
My Invention consists in rendering fabrics waterproof by means of india-
rubber, gutta percha, or any other adhesive matters or mixtures, or com-
binations of india-rubber, gutta percha, or any other adhesive matters.
I shall now describe as completely as possible the nature of my Invention,
and the modes of carrying it out. I take a piece of cloth or fabric of any
convenient length and coat it with the waterproof composition; and I then
perforate or cut out holes, of about one-eighth of an inch in diameter and at
from two to three inches apart, in this coated fabric, and unite it (the water-
proof composition being in a plastic or adhesive state) to another fabric non-
waterproof, thus forming what is usually called double-texture cloth.
:
:
This double-texture fabric will then consist of a complete texture on one
side, and a perforated texture on the other side. The complete fabric side is
that which is worn outside, and although submitted to the action of rain, the
water does not penetrate through the perforations, but runs down the surface,
any heat or vapour or perspiration escaping from the interior by the perfora-
tions. This double fabric being perforated on one side may appear unfinished
and objectionable; and in order to obviate this, I coat the perforated fabric,
before mentioned, with waterproof composition, then unite a fabric to each
side, leaving the perforated fabric in the centre, thereby producing what may
called a treble fabric, and it is capable of being used on either side. The per-
forations in all these cases may be made either before or after the fabric is
coated with the waterproof composition.
In place of employing a perforated and coated fabric, as above described, I
find that a thin sheet or film of waterproof composition (such as sheet india-
rubber) of suitable length and width may be used, which being perforated
may be united by any suitable means to one or more fabrics. I also find that
paper may be coated with waterproof composition, then perforated, and after-
wards caused to adhere to the surface of a fabric, and when the adhesion is
complete the paper may be removed by washing.

page_text: In place of using a piece of cloth or fabric coated and perforated, I find a
good and useful waterproof and ventilating fabric can be produced by using
strips of cloth or fabric about two or three inches wide, which being coated
on one or both sides, as may be required, are united to one or more fabrics,
leaving small spaces, say, about one-eighth of an inch, between each of the
strips, for the vapour or perspiration to escape.
Another mode of producing waterproof, yet ventilating fabrics, is as fol-
lows A cloth or fabric of any convenient length is coated or covered with
waterproof composition in such manner that portions of the cloth are left
uncoated or uncovered, such uncoated portions being of any suitable form.
I prefer to accomplish this partial coating by printing the cloth or fabric
with the waterproof composition by the mode ordinarily employed in printing
fabrics. The waterproof composition is supplied to the engraved or pattern
cylinder or roller, is cleaned off by means of a doctor or doctors, and then
the fabric, to be printed is pressed against. the roller by a cylinder covered
with woollen fabric, as is well understood. After being thus printed or coated,
the cloth or fabric is either employed in this state as a waterproof covering, or
it is united to another fabric, thus forming a double-texture cloth, having the
waterproof composition between the two fabrics, the uncoated portions forming
channels for the escape of the heat or perspiration.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and the manner of
performing the same, I would have it understood that I do not confine myself
to any particular mode of producing the waterproof and ventilating fabrics
above described; but what I claim is, the production of a waterproof yet
ventilating fabric by means of perforating the waterproof medium or tissue,
only leaving the outside fabric or fabrics complete and entire, or by means of
partial coating or printing on of the waterproof composition.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Clark, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty-first day of January, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven.
JAMES CLARK. (L.S.)
Witness,
S. CARPMAEL.