IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ELASTIC FABRICS, PART OF WHICH INVENTION IS ESPECIALLY APPLICABLE TO THE PRODUCTION OF SHAPED SLIPPER FRONTS AND SIMILAR ARTICLES
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Caleb Bedells, of Leicester, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ELASTIC FABRICS, PART OF WHICH
INVENTION IS ESPECIALLY APPLICABLE TO THE PRODUCTION OF SHAPED SLIPPER
FRONTS AND SIMILAR ARTICLES."
Sealed the 8th May 1868, and dated the 9th November 1867.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Caleb Bedells at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 9th
November 1867.
I, CALEB BEDELLS, of Leicester, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ELASTIC FABRICS, PART
OF WHICH INVENTION IS ESPECIALLY APPLICABLE TO THE PRODUCTION OF SHAPED
SLIPPER FRONTS AND SIMILAR ARTICLES," to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in the manufacture of
elastic fabrics, part of which Invention is especially applicable to the pro-
duction of shaped slipper fronts and similar articles."
For the manufacture of an elastic fabric I cement cords or tapes of
vulcanized india-rubber between two pieces of looped fabric, such as is made
on warp machines; the fabrics being first drawn tight in the direction opposite
to that in which the elasticity is required, and the india-rubber cords or tapes
being applied in their natural or unstretched state. The cords or tapes are

page_text: placed as closely the one to the other as is consistant with the fabrics being
cemented together between them, and for the most part they are laid parallel
the one to the other.
In making a shaped slipper front or similar article the cords or tapes may
be laid in curved lines.
In manufacturing such articles also I combine a curved or shaped selvage
with a fabric produced, as above described, by applying at the selvage a
shaped band of vulcanized india-rubber, which may be cut to the form required
from a piece of sheet india-rubber. A similar shaped selvage may also be
combined with an elastic fabric produced by weaving with india-rubber
threads.
When producing an elastic fabric by cementing vulcanized india-rubber
cords or tapes between two looped fabrics, as above described, I sometimes
form the cords or tapes from sheet india-rubber, which I cut so as to leave
the said cords or tapes attached together at their ends; thus the cords or tapes
are obtained in one piece with bands which may form shaped selvages to the
fabric.
In producing straight bands of elastic fabric I sometimes cement parallel
cords or tapes of vulcanized india-rubber between two pieces of looped fabric,
such as is made on warp machines, the india-rubber cords or tapes being
applied to the fabrics in a distended state.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Caleb Bedells in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 9th
May 1868.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, CALEB
BEDELLS, of Leicester, send greeting..
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Ninth day of November, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, in the thirty-first year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Caleb Bedells, Her special licence that I, the said Caleb Bedells, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Caleb
Bedells, 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

page_text: Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANU-
FACTURE OF ELASTIC FABRICS, PART OF WHICH INVENTION IS ESPECIALLY APPLICABLE
TO THE PRODUCTION OF SHAPED SLIPPER FRONTS AND SIMILAR ARTICLES," upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said Caleb Bedells, 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 Caleb Bedells, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof, that is to say:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in the manufacture of elastic
fabrics, part of which Invention is especially applicable to the production of
shaped slipper fronts and similar articles.
For the manufacture of an elastic fabric I cement cords or tapes of
vulcanized india-rubber between two pieces of looped fabric, such as is made
on warp machines, the fabrics being first drawn tight in the direction opposite
to that in which the elasticity is required, and the india-rubber cords or tapes
being applied in their natural or unstretched state. The cords or tapes are
placed as closely the one to the other as is consistent with the fabrics being
cemented together between them, and for the most part they are laid parallel
the one to the other.
I proceed in the following manner:-I take two pieces of looped fabric
and cement each on one face, then when the cement is in a tacky state I
distend one of the pieces on a table in the direction of its length, then if
straight bands are to be produced, which as the simplest case I will first
describe, a number of cords or tapes of india-rubber are laid across the
cemented surface from edge to edge; this may be done by hand, a straight
edge being used to assist in placing the india-rubber cords or tapes correctly.
The cords or tapes are laid with spaces of about one-tenth of an inch between
them, and are pressed down upon the cemented surface, and so made to
adhere. The upper fabric is now applied in a similarly distended state over
the india-rubber cords or tapes, and is pressed down with a hard brush so as
to make it adhere not only to the tops of the cords or tapes, but to the lower
fabric which is exposed in the spaces between them. The fabric is now put
aside until the cement is thoroughly set, and it is then cut up into bands of
the desired width along the spaces between the india rubber cords or tapes.

page_text: In some cases I apply the cement, not to the entire surface of the fabric,
but only in stripes at distances apart and passing across from edge to edge.
The india-rubber cords or tapes are applied only for half the width of the
stripe, the fabric is then cut apart, and the cemented stripe is in each case
doubled over so that the portion which has received no india-rubber cords or
tapes is doubled over the portion on which the cords or tapes are and covers
them. Looped fabrics thus prepared with an elastic band on one edge are
suitable to be made into gloves, and may be otherwise used.
The method above described of producing an elastic fabric is especially
applicable to the production of shaped slipper fronts, but in this case the cords
or tapes of india-rubber may advantageously be laid on in curved lines. The
fabric is cemented and stretched as already described, but the cords or tapes
in place of being laid from side to side of it are separately arranged for each
front. The length of each front is arranged to be lengthways of the fabric,
and the india-rubber cords or tapes are for a plain front arranged in curves
parallel with the curved outline of the top of the slipper front; the second
fabric is then applied as before, and the fronts are cut out. The upper edge
may be either bound or the fabric may be turned over. Frequently I orna-
ment the front along its upper edge by leading the cords or tapes at this part
in ornamental waves or scrolls, the general direction being parallel with the
edge. The cords or tapes are applied by means of a mould or block made
with grooves to receive them according to the pattern; the cords or tapes are
fitted into the grooves by hand, and the mould or block being pressed down
on the tackey fabric leaves the cords or tapes upon it, or a plate cut out to the
pattern, like a stencil plate may be employed; or for simple patterns a
template will be a sufficient guide to the operator. In some cases I introduce
the cords or tapes only along the upper edge of the front.
Other shaped articles, such as fronts for shoes and boots, may be similarly
produced, and in this way I sometimes make shaped elastic bands to form the
upper edges of slipper fronts, which in other parts are made of cloth or other
material; these bands may be sewn or cemented on.
In manufacturing such articles also I combine a curved or shaped selvage
with a fabric produced as above described, by applying at the selvage a shaped
band of vulcanized india-rubber, which may be cut to the form required from
a piece of sheet india-rubber. The shaped india-rubber band is applied along
the upper edge of the front in lieu of some of the cords or tapes, in other
respects the manufacture remains unchanged. Or the shaped selvage or band
may be separately prepared, and cemented or stitched on to the other part of
the front. A similar shaped selvage may also be combined with an elastic

page_text: fabric produced by weaving with india-rubber threads, either by cementing or
stitching.
When producing an elastic fabric by cementing vulcanized india-rubber
cords or tapes between two looped fabrics, as above described, I sometimes
form the cords or tapes from sheet india-rubber, which I cut so as to leave the
said cords or tapes attached together at their ends; thus the cords or tapes
are obtained in one piece, with bands which may form shaped selvages to the
fabric. The india-rubber is stamped out to the form required so as to divide
it into cords or tapes connected at the ends in bands which form selvages, to
which a waved or other ornamental outline may be given. In the case of
a slipper front these selvages will run along either side of the foot.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and the manner of
performing the same, I would have it understood that what I claim is,―
The manufacture of elastic fabrics by cementing cords or tapes of vulcanized
india-rubber in an unstretched state between two pieces of looped fabric
distended in the direction opposite to that in which the elasticity is required,
and in which the india-rubber cords or tapes run.
I also claim the manufacture of slipper fronts and similar articles in the
manner described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Caleb Belells, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Ninth day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight.
CALEB BEDELLS. (L.8.)