Improvements in the Preparation of Vulcanised India Rubber and Analogous Materials for Use as Boot and Shoe Soles, Tyres, and other Purposes.
Year: 1889

page_text: Improvements in the Preparation of Vulcanised India Rubber and
Analogous Materials for Use as Boot and Shoe Soles, Tyres, and
other Purposes.
I, WALTER SMARTT, of Buckhurst Hill, in the County of Essex, Gentleman, 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
The object of my invention is to manipulate the surfaces of vulcanised india rubber
goods, and goods of analogous substances (hereinafter called "rubber") so as to
satisfactorily receive coment or other adhesive material, and to effectually and
securely attach sheets or other pieces of rubber to boot and shoe soles, or other
surfaces.
In carrying out my invention I form knobs or projections in or upon so much of
the surface of the rubber as is intended to be attached to the surface of any other body
leaving spaces or hollows to receive solution or cement, which becomes thus keyed or
locked to the rubber. Such knobs or projections may be of almost any form and may
bo in lines or other wise parallel, diagonal, zigzag or otherwise, and may cross each
other at right angles or diagonally. Or instead of such knobs or projections, recesses
or punctures or equivalent depressions of one or more shapes or forms may be made
therein or thereon The surfaces of the raised portions of the rubber, forming the
normal surface, are also 1oughened, when of sufficient extent to be roughened, so as
to form what is known as "granulated" surfaces, or its equivalent.
By these means the area of surface of the rubber for the reception of the solution
or cement, is greatly increased, and the rubber and solution or cement are locked or
keyed together and rendered practically homogeneous, and so united that there is no
probability of their becoming separated, and when applied to the boot or shoe sole,
or other article, the union of the rubber therewith is rendered safe and durable.
Various means of preparing the surface of the rubber may be adopted, such as
forming moulds of any suitable material upon or into which the rubber is pressed
while soft-Or the rubber while in a soft plastic state may be pressed upon and
caused to enter the meshes of net, gauze, catgut, or other more or less open material,
whether made of fibre or other suitable material or materials.
Deck

page_text: Behind such net or material, when such and not a mould are used, I place cloth or
other closer but more or less rough, material, against which the rubber, passing
through the meshes of the net, or other material, is caused to impinge, and from which
it receives an impression resembling such woven or rough surface. I prefer this
second material attached to, so as to form part of the first or open material, but it may
be separate or be attached to, or form part of the surface by which the pressure is
applied.
When the rubber has been hardened or vulcanised by heat or otherwise, the mould
or the cloth and net are removed therefrom, the impressions from which are indelibly
stamped in or upon the rubber, and the latter is freed from chalk or other article, if
any has been used to assist the separation, and is then ready to receive the cement or
solution. Or the rubber, while in a soft state, previous to vulcanisation, may be
rolled upon cloth or other material as aforesaid, and caused to receive the necessary
formation of surface.
The size and form of the meshes of the net, and the fibres, strands, or surfaces of
the cloth or material, or of the inequalities of the mould are selected to suit the
relative strength of the rubber and cement, and the purpose to which the rubber is to
be applied
I am aware that heretofore rubber has been made of a somewhat spongy nature;
that grooves have been made in rubber tyres, and that woven material has been pressed
upon rubber to produce some degree of unevenness of surface, but these processes do
not produce surfaces on the rubber suitable for my purpose.
I prefer to use the surface or surfaces with which the rubber is moulded clean
and dry.
.
But moisture, powdered chalk, or other material may be used to facilitate their
separation after vulcanisation, the rubber being afterwards cleaned, if dirty, and
cemented and used, as desired.
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. The method of manipulating rubber and thereby increasing the holding surface
for and giving ample grip to the adhesive material, substantially as hereinbefore
described.
2. The improvements in the preparation of vulcanised india rubber and analogous
materials, for uso as boot and shoe soles, tyres and other purposes substantially as
hereinbefore described.