IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF FABRICS SUITABLE FOR COVERING FURNITURE, FOR CARPETS, WINDOW CURTAINS, LININGS FOR CARRIAGES, AND FOR OTHER LIKE PURPOSES
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Hiram Hutchinson, residing at No. 1, Rue Hauteville,
Paris, in the Empire of France, Manufacturer, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF FABRICS SUITABLE FOR COVERING
FURNITURE, FOR CARPETS, WINDOW CURTAINS, LININGS FOR CARRIAGES, AND
FOR OTHER LIKE PURPOSES."- A communication from Thomas Allen
DL J. Laland United States of America
·
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Hiram Hutchinson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition and Decla-
ration, on the 9th January 1866, pursuant to the 9th Section of the
Patent Law Amendment Act, 1852.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, BE IT KNOWN
that I, HIRAM HUTCHINSON, residing at No. 1, Rue Hauteville, Paris, in the
Empire of France, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of the
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF FABRICS SUITABLE FOR
COVERING FURNITURE, FOR CARPETS, WINDOW CURTAINS, LININGS FOR CARRIAGES,
AND FOR OTHER LIKE PURPOSES," (a communication to me by Thomas Allen
Jenckes, a person residing at Rhode Island, United States of America,) and

page_text: 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 :-
In manufacturing fabrics according to this Invention suitable for covering
furniture, for carpets, window curtains, linings for carriages, and for other like
purposes, a thin sheet of india-rubber is inserted between two pieces of cloth, and
the same is submitted to the process of vulcanizing as herein-after explained;
the goods so prepared are afterwards bleached, printed, and embossed to render
them suitable for the covering of all kinds of furniture for window curtains,
table covers, rugs, carpets, offgans, for the linings of carriages, railroad cars,
and for all other purposes for which such goods are suitable.
For the foundation of carpets or other coarse and heavy goods a fabric is
employed either woven or combined in the same manner as felt with flax,
jute, or other coarse material suited to the purpose. A piece of the above
material is then taken for the foundation and a piece of felt or of other woven
goods suitable for the surface, and the two pieces are passed through a set of
callender rollers such as are used in the manufacture of india-rubber, a thin
sheet of india-rubber being inserted at the same time, which causes the two
pieces of goods to adhere firmly together as above described. For curtains
any suitable material is employed for the surface either of silk, or silk and
wool combined, or wool alone or combined with other material. These goods
may be woven, or they may be made like cotton batting, or like felt, and for
the lining silk, cotton, or wool, either woven or in felt or batting, as may be
desired.
For the other articles herein specified any two kinds of materials are taken
suitable for the articles to be produced, both pieces being woollen, either felt
or woven, or one piece only being woollen and the other piece of goods of
some other material. The process of putting these two pieces of cloth
together so that they will adhere firmly, is effected as above described by the
insertion of caoutchouc or other gums between them, this process being the
same as well known to all manufacturers of india-rubber, and after the
operation has been performed of causing the two pieces of cloth to adhere
together, the goods are submitted to a temperature of artificial heat of from
265 to 290 degrees Fahrenheit, where they should remain until they are
thoroughly vulcanized, which will depend upon the thickness of the
caoutchouc inserted between the two pieces of goods, say from 3 to 4 hours.
In some cases the vulcanizing the india-rubber may be dispensed with.
The next process is the bleaching of the goods preparatory to printing, the
goods being for this purpose, by preference, subjected to the action of the fumes
of sulphur for from three to six hours, the time required varying according

page_text: to the thickness of the fabric to be bleached. The goods are afterwards by
any suitable printing process printed and covered with such designs as are
desired, the designs being made in fast colors which penetrate through the
surface of the fabric to the india-rubber, afterwards the goods are passed
through an embossing machine, the embossing roller of which by pressing on
the surface of the fabric gives to it the appearance of Brussels carpets or any
other appearance desired, according to the design on the embossing roller;
the goods are then ready for market. In some cases the bleaching, printing,
or embossing may be omitted.
Having thus described the nature of the Invention, and the manner of
performing the same, I would have it understood that I do not claim generally
the connecting together two pieces of goods with india-rubber compound,
and afterwards subjecting the fabric to heat to vulcanize the india-rubber,
but that I claim the manufacturing fabrics in the manner above described,
by which fabrics suitable for carpets or for covering all kinds of furniture
or for linings for railway and other carriages and other similar purposes are
obtained.
In witness whereof, I, the said Hiram Hutchinson, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Eighth day of December, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five.
H. HUTCHINSON. (LS.)