IMPROVEMENTS IN INDIA-RUBBER TEATS
Year: 1860

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Horsey, of Belvedere Road, in the County of
Surrey, India-rubber Manufacturer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN INDIA-RUBBER TEATS."
Sealed the 12th March 1861, and dated the 15th September 1860.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Horsey at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
15th September 1860.
I, JAMES HORSEY, of Belvedere Road, in the County of Surrey, India-
rubber Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN INDIA-RUBBER TEATS," to be as follows:-
My improvements consist, first, in giving a novel shape to teats made of
india-rubber, or in forming a new teat of india-rubber as hereafter explained;
and, second, in a means of strengthening india-rubber teats.
I carry my first improvement into effect by taking an india-rubber teat, as
ordinarily made, or made as hereafter described, and previous to vulcanizing it
I roll up the ring on the bottom edge towards the top, and leave it so rolled
for about ten hours and upwards; I then unroll it, when an indentation will
appear in the teat resembling the form of a natural nipple. If left without
preparation, the teat would tend to resume, and probably would resume, the
shape in which it was first formed, that is, from the ring upward or forward

page_text: there would be but a plain tubular shape. In order, however, to cause the
teat to preserve indefinitely the shape imparted by the rolling up of the ring
thereon, I subject it to a vulcanizing process.
The above is the method of manufacture I prefer, as being the most simple,
but I reserve to myself the right of producing the hitherto plain tubular part of
india-rubber teats with an indentation therein for the purpose of forming a
nipple on the teat, whether such be done as above described or by moulding or
otherwise, the form being in all cases retained and preserved by vulcanization.
To carry my second improvement into effect, I either line a teat or I cover
over a teat after having been formed in the usual manner in india-rubber, and
previously to vulcanizing it, with a second "cap" of india-rubber, and secure
the lower edge of the lining or coating to the ring by means of a solution of
india-rubber, and then vulcanize, whereby the ring obtains all round two points
of attachment, and is prevented from being torn away from the body or tubular
part of the teat.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said James Horsey in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
15th March 1861.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
HORSEY, of Belvedere Road, in the County of Surrey, India-rubber Manu-
facturer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fifteenth day of September, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty, in the twenty-fourth year of Her
reign, did, for Ierself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said James Horsey, Her special licence that I, the said James Horsey,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
James Horsey, 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, exer-
cise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN INDIA-RUBBER TEATS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
James Horsey, 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

page_text: 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 James Horsey, 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 thereof, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto annexed,
that is to say :-
My improvements consist, first, in giving a novel shape to teats made of
india-rubber, or in forming a new teat of india-rubber, as hereafter explained;
and, second, in a means of strengthening india-rubber teats.
I carry my first improvement into effect by taking an india-rubber teat as
ordinarily made, or made as hereafter described, and previous to vulcanizing it
I roll up the ring on the bottom edge towards the top, and leave it so rolled
for about ten hours and upwards; I then unroll it, when an indentation will
appear in the teat resembling the form of a natural nipple. If left without
preparation, the teat would tend to resume, and probably would resume, the
shape in which it was first formed, that is, from the ring upward or forward
there would be but a plain tubular shape. In order, however, to cause the
teat to preserve indefinitely the shape imparted by the rolling up of the ring
thereon, I subject it to a vulcanizing process.
The above is the method of manufacture I prefer, as being the most simple,
but I reserve to myself the right of producing the hitherto plain tubular part
of india-rubber teats, with an indentation therein, for the purpose of forming
a nipple on the teat, whether such be done as above described, or by moulding
or otherwise, the form being in all cases retained and preserved by vulcaniza-
tion, curing, or conversion.
To carry my second improvement into effect, I cover over a teat after
having been formed. in the usual manner in india-rubber and previously to
vulcanizing it with a second cap of india-rubber, and secure the lower edge
of the coating to the ring by means of a solution of india-rubber; or I line
the teat with an additional cap of india-rubber, and when lining the teat I first
turn the teat inside out, so that the lining may overlap the points of contact
between the ring and tubular part of the teat; and whether I apply the cap
as a coat or as a lining, I afterwards vulcanize, cure, or convert. By means of
the additional cap the ring obtains all round two points of attachment, and is
prevented from being torn away from the body or tubular part of the teat.
Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawings shews a teat in section, with the
ring on the bottom edge rolled up in the manner before described; Figure 2

page_text: is an external view of a similar teat unrolled after having been rolled as shewn
at Figure 1 a sufficient time, shewing the new nipple shape thereby imparted
to it, and which shape is fixed by vulcanizing, curing, or converting; Figures 3
and 4 are views in section of a teat made according to my second improve-
ment; at Figure 3 the teat is shewn covered with a coating or cap of india-
rubber a, and at Figure 4 it is shewn lined with a cap b. The additional caps
are united to the teat by the usual caoutchouc solution; Figure 5 shows in
external view one of my improved teats provided with a tubular neck a, the
object of which is to enable the teat to be tied to a bottle if necessary;
Figure 6 shows, in external elevation, and Figure 7 in longitudinal section,
one of my improved teats applied to a shield. a is the teat, secured to the
shield 6 in the ordinary manner. Figure 8 is an external view of a teat made
with a shield b of the same material as that of which the teat is made, either
in a piece with the teat, or made separate and connected to it by solution.
And having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim as my improve-
ments in india-rubber teats,-
First, shaping india-rubber teats so as to form a nipple, as herein-before
described, and illustrated in the accompanying Drawings.
Second, strengthening india-rubber teats by means of a lining or coating, as
herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Horsey, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Fifteenth day of March, One thousand eight
hundred and sixty-one.