Improvements in Mats for Baths, Cots, Cradles, and the like, and in Pads for Stair or other Carpets.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Aug., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 2nd June, 1893-Accepted, 29th July, 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Mats for Baths, Cots, Cradles, and the like, and in
Pads for Stair or other Carpets.
WM. LAWSON DASH Sock Manufacturer (Detachable Socks for Boots)
Dunsmure Road Stoke Newington London N. do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
The object of my invention is to provide a soft non conducting & resilent
substance, absorbent, capable of being easily washed & dried, warm durable &
antiseptic.
It is made of either one or two different parts of a vegetable fibre known in
commerce as the loofah & constructed as follows-
The loofah is soaked in hot water containing antiseptic properties it is afterwards
opened & the inside core detached by means of a knife or similar instruments; the
cores are then dried & passed between heavy metal rollers, these cores are then
sewn together-by means of a sewing machine-in parallel lines, the edges pressed
with hot irons & the mat is then bound round with a suitable binding, or for some
purposes on this mat, a further layer be put consisting of pieces of the outside of
the loofah-sewn together-which have been subjected to a similar treatment so
far as drying & rolling is concerned as the cores but in this case the binding on both
substances is done simultaneously.
August let 1800
WILLIAM LAWSON DASH,
Dunsmure Road, Stoke Newington, London, N.,
Sock Manufacturer.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Mats for Baths, Cots, Cradles, and the like, and in
Pads for Stair or other Carpets.
I, WILLIAM LAWSON DASH of Dunsmure Road Stoke Newington London
Sock Manufacturer 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 :-
This invention relates to an improvement in the manufacture of bath and similar
mats, padding under carpets, and such like articles, and is intended to provide a
soft, nonconducting and resilient article which will not feel cold to the touch, and
which can be washed & thoroughly cleaned and disinfected without injury. The
mats are made in a peculiar manner as hereinafter described, from a vegetable
fibrous material known commercially as loofah, formed from the woody fibrous
portion of a gourd. This fibrous portion of the gourd is soaked in hot water
containing a suitable quantity of antiseptic substance, and afterward opened and the
core removed by means of a knife or other instrument. The cores are then dried
and pressed between heavy metal rollers into more or less regular sheets, of
approximately uniform thickness, the fibres becoming matted together, while being
at the same time sufficiently open to allow free penetration by the air. These are
cut into pieces of suitable size and stitched together with a sewing machine or
otherwise, any number of layers being employed to give the desired thickness and
resiliency.
When
The mat thus formed is bound around the edges in the usual manner.
used as a bath or like mat without a covering, the top should be formed of the
outside part of the loofah, which is of finer and softer material. This is prepared

page_text: in a similar manner by drying, rolling etc., and is cut into a number of approxi-
mately regular rectangular pieces, which are stitched together preferably lying
loose on the rougher base formed of the cores. The two layers are bound together
around the edges. I may also use the outer or smooth side of the loofah for the
bottom layers in some cases as it serves the purposes equally well. Mats made in
this manner are very durable, and cannot be injured by damp or other influences.
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). A mat or pad manufactured from "loofah " soaked, dried and pressed into
sheets in the manner described, and cut and stitched together substantially as and
for the purposes specified.
(2). A mat manufactured from "loofah" prepared in the manner described, in
two main parts, a base which may be formed of the core or coarser fibre, and a
cover of the outer and finer material, bound together, substantially as and for the
purposes specified.
Dated this 2nd day of June 1893.
GEO. H. RAYNER,
37, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.