New or Improved Flexible Material applicable as a Substitute for Wood or Leather, and Process of Making the same.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Nov., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 21st Aug., 1890-Accepted, 27th Sept., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
New or Improved Flexible Material applicable as a Substitute for
Wood or Leather, and Process of Making the same.
A Communication from abroad by CONRAD HEEPE, of 13, Kleine Sandgasse,
Bockenheim, in the Kingdom of Prussia.
1, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of the Agency for Foreign Patent
Solicitors, 6 Lord Street, Liverpool, and 6 Bank Street, Manchester, both in the
County of Lancaster, and 323 High Holborn in the County of Middlesex, Civil
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This material consists of a hitherto unknown combination of wood plates (veneers,
strips) and an elastic and not readily torn foundation material or core.
The com-
bination is of such a kind that the new material possesses the outward appearance of
wood, but is also as flexible and tough as leather.
It has already often been attempted to utilise veneers and thin sheets of wood for
the production of boards. Attempts have also often been made, through the employ-
ment of woven fabrics, such as linen, and the glueing thereon on both sides of veneers
or thin sheets, to produce a material of great firmness and flexibility. These
attempts failed owing to the insufficient attachment which was formed between the
two sheets of wood. The glue, whether it was of a hardening sort or remained elastic
penetrated the fabric and always formed a somewhat thick layer and could therefore
not bind firmly.
In order to render it possible for wood to come in contact with wood and therewith
a second material to be inserted, it is first of all necessary that this material (hemp,
metal, etcetera) be arranged in thin threads and with such wide interstices that the
foundation threads can be pressed into the wood and simultaneously a compression
of the pieces of wood between the threads can take place until they come in contact
with each other. Secondly, the compressing apparatus must be so constructed that
its pressure is not only absorbed by the threads, wires, etcetera, but also is exerted
equally on the interstices and forces the wood through them into contact. This is
attained by covering the pressure plate with a thin sheet of indiarubber or similar
fabric.
The manufacture of this material proceeds thereupon in the following manner.
The core or foundation is laid on a veneer or sheet of wood in such a way that the
single threads of the same stand apart from one another at least six to eight "/m
(millimetres) in the case of thin veneers, a very thin layer of glue is then spread on
it which is treated with glycerine or any other of the usual known materials, which
prevents the glue from becoming brittle. Then the next layer of wood is laid on.
The whole is placed in a press, both pressure surfaces of which are coated with a
fabric, such as a sheet of hard indiarubber. The pressure is then so long increased
until through high pressure the shape of the core or foundation is shown, on the
outer surfaces of the wood, and thereby it is judged that the two faces of the wood
have come into complete contact.
When dried the outsides can be again rendered smooth by planing or shaving.
The foundation gives the material produced a great strength against breakage, and
binders shrinking and warping.
The firm union of the two sheets by means of an elastic glue gives them a great
bending elasticity and toughness.
The process can also be employed for uniting more than two veneers or more
than one foundation. The same is also not limited to the production of flat sheets
but by the employment of curved pressure surfaces, bent sheets can be produced as
desired. The application of these for book backs has been found to be very

page_text: advantageous. An ornamental shape can be given to the core or foundation which
then appears in relief on the surface.
The characteristic of the invention is the employment of a wide meshed net as
foundation in connection with the pressing of sheets connected by an elastic glue, by
means of an elastic coating of the pressure surfaces, so that contact of the surfaces
takes place between the meshes of the net.
31 1
CAT
1
1000
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
New or Improved Flexible Material applicable as a Substitute for
Wood or Leather, and Process of Making the same.
A communication from abroad by CONRAD HEEPE, of 13, Kleine Sandgasse,
Bockenheim, in the Kingdom of Prussia.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON F.C.S., M.L.M.E., of the Agency for Foreign
Patent Solicitors, 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, and 6, Bank Street, Manchester, both in
the County of Lancaster, and 323 High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex,
Civil Engineer, 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:-
The material consists of a combination of wood plates (veneers, strips) and an elastic
and not readily torn foundation material, or core. The combination is of such a kind
that the new inaterial possesses the outward appearance of wood, but is also as flexible
and tough as leather.
It has already often been attempted to utilise veneers and thin sheels of wood for
the production of boards. Attempts have also often been made, through the employ-
ment of woven fabrics, such as linen, and the glueing thereon on both sides of vencers
or thin sheets, to produce a material of great firmness and flexibility. These attempts
failed owing to-the-insufficient-attachment which-was formed between the two sheets
of wood. The glue, whether it was of a hardening sort or remained elastic, penetrated
the fabric and always formed a somewhat thick layer and could therefore not bind
firmly.
In order to render it possible for wood to come in contact with wood, and there-
with a second material to be inserted, it is first of all necessary that this material
(hemp, metal, etcetera) be arranged in thin threads and with such wide interstices that
-the-foundation threads-can-be pressed into-the-wood and-simultaneously.a.compression
of the pieces of wood between the threads can take place until they come in contact
with each other. Secondly, the compressing apparatus must be so constructed that
its pressure is not only absorbed by the threads, wires, etcetera, but also is exerted
equally on the interstices and forces the wood through them into contact. This is
attained by covering the pressure plate with a thin sheet of india rubber or similar
fabric.
The manufacture of this material proceeds thereupon in the following manner,
reference being made to the accompanying drawings which show a sheet of said
material in perspective.
The core or foundation d d is laid on a veneer or sheet of wood a in such a way
that the single threads d d stand apart from one another at least six to eight "/m
(millimetres). In the case of thin veneers, a very thin layer of glue is then spread
on it, which is treated with glycerine or any other of the usual known materials
which prevent the glue from becoming brittle. Then the next layer of wood b is
laid on.
The whole is placed in a press, both pressure surfaces of which are coated
with a fabric such as a sheet of india rubber or the like. The pressure is then so long
increased until, through high pressure, the shape of the core or foundation is shown, on
the outer surfaces of the wood, and thereby it is judged that the two faces of the wood
have come into complete contact.

page_text: When dried the outsides can be again rendered smooth by planing or shaving.
The foundation d d gives the material produced great strength against breakage,
and hinders shrinking and warping.
The firm union of the two sheets a b by means of an elastic glue gives them a great
bending elasticity and toughness.
The invention can also be employed for uniting more than two veneers (c on the
drawing representing a third veneer which can be placed and pasted on the finished
sheet) or more than one foundation. The same is also not limited to the production of
flat sheets, but by the employment of curved pressure surfaces, bent sheets can be pro-
duced as desired. The application of these for book backs has been found to be very
advantageous. An ornamental shape can be given to the core or foundation d d which
then appears in relief on the surface.
A characteristic feature of the invention is the employment of a wide meshed net as
a foundation in connection with the pressing of sheets connected by an elastic glue,
by means of an elastic coating of the pressure surfaces, so that contact of the
surfaces takes place between the meshes of the net. Instead of wood, pasteboard
may be employed.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. A flexible material applicable as a substitute for wood or leather in which the
connection of wood veneers, pasteboard or the like and a foundation, is brought about
by means of a glue which does not become brittle, in such a way that the respective
veneer surfaces bend down or dip into the interstices of the foundation and become
intimately connected, substantially as described.
2. The method of making the material of the kind described which consists in
pressing two veneers, separated by a foundation and a coat of glue, between pressing
plates with elastic coverings, until the shape of the foundation is visible on the surface
or outside, substantially as set forth.
Dated this 20th day of August 1890
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.