Improved Warmers or Pads to be Applied to the Feet or other Part of the Body.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application 19th June, 1890-Accepted 19th July, 1890
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Warmers or Pads to be Applied to the Feet or other Part
of the Body.
We EDWARD ROBERTS of 44 Broughton Street Salford Moulder and ABSALOM
JONES of 88 Ashton Road East, Failsworth Commercial Traveller both in the County
of Lancaster 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 warmers or pads applicable to the feet or
other part of the body such warmers or pads being cheaper more durable and in many
ways as hereafter described more advantageous in use than those now employed for
similar purposes.
Hitherto it has been usual to employ metal, earthenware or india rubber containers
which have to be filled with hot water or other hot fluid, and such containers are liable
to leakage, breakage or damage from accidental falls, besides being hard and unpleasant
to the touch, or in the case of india rubber being too pliable and unmanageable in
their application.
To obviate these and other defects we propose to make our warmers or pads in the
following manner.
We take a piece of pure asbestos cloth about as thick as fine sacking and closely
woven and we cut it to the desired shape that is, a development of the shape of the
warmer or pad to be made. Upon this we place a layer of what is known as "silicato
cotton" or "mineral cotton or slag wool," and we then form by sewing with
asbestos thread a bag or pocket of the shape of the finished article but we leave one
seam or part of a seam open.
"
The asbestos cloth bag will thus be lined with the "slag-wool" which lining we
prefer to make so that it can have overlapping joints at the seams and not be sewn
with the asbestos casing.
We then fill this lined casing with ground pumice stone or other similar ground
substance or material.
The opening above named is thus sewn up and the warmer or pad is complete,
and it will be understood that being entirely composed of non-combustible
materials it can be put in an ordinary oven to be heated without fear of
damage.
The ground material retains the heat for a very long time and also serves to
retain the shape of the warmer.
The slag-wool or silicate cotton renders the pad soft and yielding when applied
to the person and also retains the heat well, and the asbestos cloth furnishes an
indestructible casing which does not deteriorate, like india rubber, with use and which
is at the same time quite flexible.
Owing to the great heat to which these warmers or pads can be subjected, their
use in hospitals will be very great, as contagion can not be spread thereby; they
merely require heating, not filling, and are therefore always ready when required;
and no unpleasant smell is occassioned by heating them, and they have no metal or
other stoppers or loose parts which can be lost.
They can be very easily and cheaply made to any shape to fit on the chest, shoulders,
spine, hip, arm, foot or any other part of the body, according to the purpose for which
they are intended to be used.
They are also applicable as foot warmers for coaches and other vehicles and for
other useful purposes.
These warmers or pads will of course in most cases be enclosed in an envelope of
flannel, or other suitable material after being heated.

page_text: We would remark in conclusion that instead of "slag wool," other substance of
similar incombustible material may be employed to line the asbestos casing and in
cases where especially light and soft warmers or pads: are required the ground pumice
stone may be omitted.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :-
Warmers or pads made of an asbestos casing or cover lined or stuffed with silicate
cotton or similar incombustible material, and with or without a core or body of
ground pumice stone or other heat retaining incombustible substance substantially as
and for the purposes herein before described.
Dated this 18th day of June 1890.
GEO. DAVIES & SON,
4, St. Ann's Square, Manchester, Agent for the Applicants.