New or Improved Method or Means for Rendering Leather, Boots, Shoes, and the like Impervious to Moisture.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Aug., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 19th Aug., 1896-Accepted, 12th. Dec., 1896
.PROVESIONAL SPECIFICATION.
New or Improved Method or Means for Rendering Leather, Boots,
Shoes, and the like Impervious to Moisture.
A communication by HENRI LAMBERT ZEGERS-VEECKENS, of 204 Avenue dé
Hippodrome, and VICTORIEN WILLIAME, of 31 Rue d'Aumale, both of
Brussels, in the Kingdom of Belgium, Gentleman and Barrister, respectively.
I, WALIAM 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, .118.New Street, Birmingham, .in the County of
Warwick and 322-High Holborn in the County of Middlesex, Civil. Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The process which forms 'the object of 'the present invention is intended to
render tanned leather, as well as new leather boots, shoes and the like 'entirely
ready for sale and impervions to moisture and also to increase 'their wear resistant
qualities. The method of treatment is more particularly applicable to sole leather,
and new boots and shoes or the like.
In order to obtain the above mentioned result; the leather is impregnated in a
complete manner with one or a mixture of two or more solid hydrocarbons, such as
solid paraffin, vaseline, or ozokerit, asphalts, pitches, bitumens waxes, fats, or fatty
acids.
The impregnation may be effected in' two different ways:—
A. The tanned leather or 'the boots are immersed in one or more of the substances
herein before indicated, or in a mixture of two or more of said substances held in a
state of fusion, preferably by heating the same in a water bath. "The duration of
the immersion depends on the nature and quality of the leathers and foot coverings,
and continues until the impregnation is complete.
B. 'The second process consists in steeping the tanned leathers or the foot coverings
in a solution of a single one of the substances hereinbefore mentioned, or in a
mixture of two or more of them dissolved in a suitable volatile solvent such as a
tight hydrocarbon, ether, chloroform, bisulphide of carbon or 'the like.
The tanned leather or the boots remain in 'this solution until they are completely
impregnated, and afterwards withdrawn and the mixture allowed to evaporate in
the open air or in a distilling apparatus under a gentle heat.
In the first process described the fusion may be obtained, by any suitable means
of heating, such as a water bath, steam or open fire, but it is preferable to employ a
water bath. This method of treatment is more particularly employed for sole
leather and also for new boots and shoes, and 'the second process described in
paragraph B'for soft leathers, uppers, vamps, calf and the like.
The first process is found to be generally the more practical and economical
especially when employed for sole leather and new boots and shoes.
The operation is carried out in metallic vessels, the forms and dimensions of which
vary according to the size of the leather or the boots and according to the mode of
heating employed.
Dated this 15th day of Anno 1806

page_text: New or Improved Method or Means for Rendering Leather, Boots,.
Shoes, and the like Impervious to Moisture.
A communication by HENRI LAMBERT ZEGERS-VEEOKENS, of 204 Avenue de
l'Hippodrome, and VICTORIEN WILLIAME, of 31 Rue d'Aumale, both of
Brussels, in the Kingdom of Belgium, Gentleman and Barrister, respectively.
I, 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 118, New Street Birmingham in
the County of Warwick and 322 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 process which forms the object of the present invention is intended to
render tanned leather, as well as new leather boots, shoes and the like entirely
ready for sale and impervious to moisture and also to increase their wear resistant
qualities. The method of treatment is more particularly applicable to sole
Teather, and new boots and shoes or the like.
In order to obtain the above mentioned result, the leather is impregnated in a
complete manner with one or more or a mixture of two or more solid hydro-
carbons, such as all kinds of paraffin, all kinds of vaseline, fossil wax, mineral pitch,
cetin, stearin, beeswax, Carnauba wax, Chiua wax, Japan wax, myricin, and the
like.
The impregnation may be effected in two different ways:-
A. The tanned leather or the boots are immersed in one or more of the substances
herein before indicated, or in a mixture of two or more of said substances held in a
state of fusion, preferably by beating the same in a water bath. The duration of
the immersion depends on the nature and quality of the leathers and foot coverings,
and continues until the impregnation is complete.
B. The second process consists in steeping the tanned leathers or the foot
coverings in a solution of a single one of the substances herein before mentioned,
or in a mixture of two or more of them dissolved in a suitable volatile solvent, such
as ligroine, rhigolin, Sherwood oil, petroleum, naphtha, benzine, sulphide of carbon,
chloroform, or the like.
The tanned leather or the boots remain in this solution until they are completely
impregnated, and afterwards withdrawn and the mixture allowed to evaporate in
the open air or in a distilling apparatus under a gentle heat.
In the first process described the fusion may be obtained, by any suitable means
of heating, such as a water bath, steam or open fire, but it is preferable to employ
a water bath. This method of treatment is more particularly employed for sole
leather and also for new boots and shoes, and the second process described in
paragraph B for soft leathers, uppers, vamps, calf, and the like.
The first process is found to be generally the more practical and economical,
especially when employed for sole leather and new boots and shoes.
The operation is carried out in metallic vessels, the forms and dimensions of
which vary according to the size of the leather or the boots and according to the
mude of heating employed.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by
my foreign correspondents, I declare that what 1 claim is -
A process for rendering leather, boots, shoes and the like impervious to moisture

page_text: and more wear resistant, consisting in melting or dissolving in a suitable solvent,
paraffin or other solid hydrocarbon, or a mixture of two or more of such hydro-
carbons, and thoroughly saturating such articles with said liquid substantially as.
herein before described.
Dated this 18th day of August 1896.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents.