Improvements on Mattings or Carpets for Floor Coverings.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd June, 1894-Accepted, 4th Aug., 1894
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements on Mattings or Carpets for Floor Coverings.
I, GEORGE BARKER, of 77 Colmore Row Birmingham, in the County of
Warwick Consulting Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said invention
as communicated to me from abroad by Matthew John Whittall, a citizen of the
United States, residing at the City of Worcester, and State of Massachusetts,
United States of America, Carpet Manufacturer and in what manner the same is
to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
This invention has for its object to provide a novel, efficient durable and less
expensive matting or carpet for covering floors; and to these ends my invention
consists, essentially, in a floor covering composed of a fabric woven. or knit from
strands or threads of paper in such a manner that when laid upon a floor it will
serve all the purposes of ordinary straw matting or textile carpets, and can be
cleansed by washing when such becomes necessary or desirable.
In carrying my invention into effect I use any kind of strong paper, and cut or
form it into strips of the required or suitable size, and then twist the strips into
strands or threads.
If a fine texture is desired, the strips are made smaller than where a coarse
texture is preferred; but in either event the twisted strands or threads are woven
or knit into a fabric by any of the well-known methods practised in weaving or
knitting textile material.
Before or after the paper strands are woven or knit into the matting or carpet,
the paper may be rendered waterproof by saturation or impregnation with any
known waterproofing material; or it may be otherwise chemically treated in order
to strengthen it and permit the use of water or other cleansing fluid in washing the
floor-covering when desired to cleanse the same and free it from dirt or stains, and
it may also be treated with carbolic acid or other material to prevent the ravages
of insects.
While prefer to waterproof the paper, I do not desire to confine myself
thereto, as in practise I find that if the strips of paper are properly and tightly
twisted, into strands or threads and closely woven or knit, the fabric can be
subjected to a moderate amount of washing without liability of injuring the same.
The strips of paper may be formed very narrow and twisted with strands of
yarn; or the twisted paper strands may be woven or knit with some suitable
animal or vegetable matter, the strips of twisted paper forming the warp or the
woof as desired.
I also use paper strands or threads produced from differently colored paper, and
produce a variety of designs in the fabric during the process of weaving or knitting,
as well as the various designs that are produced in ordinary tapestry; and I also
weave or knit the fabric into any determined dimensions to be fitted to the floor of
an apartment, so that the floor covering will be in a single piece.
prefer to use a paper which is produced from what is known as the "palmetto
leaf," as such is strong and durable; but it is obvious that paper produced from
other substances can be used.
By my invention I produce a matting or carpet for covering the floors of
apartments which is strong, durable and much cheaper of production than the
ordinary matting now imported in such vast quantities, and the wearing qualities of
which are such that it is seldom used more than one season.
I am aware that a coarse open-meshed fabric for roofing purposes has been made

page_text: of paper strands, the meshes being open to receive and retain an outer covering or
layer of cement; but such is not my invention and it is not claimed by me.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed 1 declaro that what I
claim is :-
1st. A matting or carpet for covering floors, composed of woven or knit fabric
made from strands or threads of paper, substantially as and for the purpose
described.
2nd. A matting or carpet for covering floors, composed of a woven or knit
fabric in which the warp or the woof is made of twisted strands of paper, and the
warp or the woof of animal or vegetable fibre, substantially as set forth.
Dated this 21st day of June 1894.
GEORGE BARKER.