IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF MAGNETIC AND VENTILATING WEARING APPAREL FOR THE PREVENTION OR CURE OF DISEASE
Year: 1882

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by William Robert Lake at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 30th November 1882. Communicated
to him from abroad by Sarah Ann Beakhurst Wilson of Boston, Massachusetts,
United States of America.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE of the firm of Haseltine Lake & Co Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings London "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF
MAGNETIC AND VENTILATING WEARING APPAREL FOR THE PREVENTION OR CURE
OF DISEASE" [A communication to him from abroad by Sarah Ann Beakhurst
Wilson of Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America.]
This invention relates to that class of wearing apparel containing plates of steel,
iron, or other magnetic metal, and has for its object the production of articles,
which, while being impervious to moisture and cold air, will permit of the free
circulation of air between the several fabrics composing the article and thus be
perfectly ventilating.
To this end the said invention comprises the arrangement of a series of super-
imposed fabrics, water-proof and otherwise, enclosing the metallic bars or plates,
and the connection of said fabrics to each other by eyelets which are arranged so
as not to be opposite to each other and which project from the inside surface of the
fabric and thus prevent the superimposed layers from coming into contact with
each other and thus ensure a free circulation of air between the said layers.
To construct the said articles I proceed as follows-
I first take waxed paper or other convenient air and water proof material and
upon this I apply a thick coating of varnish, preferably prepared from coal-tar,
asphaltum, and benzine, and which is capable of amalgamating with the waxed
paper or other waterproof material. I then, before the varnish has hardened,
arrange a series of bars of steel, iron, or other magnetic metal of the desired shape
and size in the required position upon the material before described, which bars
may be magnetized if desired, and coat the entire surface of the fabric and bars
with the hereinbefore mentioned varnish. I then cover with another sheet of the
waterproof material, also coated with the varnish so that the two layers will
firmly adhere together, and secure the steel bars in place and at the same time
effectually prevent the entrance of air or moisture, and the consequent rusting of
[Prins 271

page_text: the steel or iron bars. This material I then fasten by stitching or otherwise to a
piece of any other suitable material, such as cotton or linen cloth, of like shape, and
then puncture a series of holes near the metallic bars, but not through them, and in
these holes I secure eyelets of metal, gutta-percha, or india-rubber and leave one
surface flat and the other projecting from the surface of the fabric. Upon one or
both sides of the fabric containing the metallic bars, according as the article is
intended for an insole or a body garment, I then secure by stitching or otherwise
an air and waterproof fabric preferring for that purpose what is known as artificial
leather and in this fabric I insert eyelets of suitable material. These eyelets are
arranged so as not to be opposite to the eyelets in the inner fabric and are level
with the outside face of the fabric but project from its inside face so that when the
inner and outer fabrics are laid together they will not come into complete contact
but will be slightly separated from one another and will thus permit the circulation
of air between the several layers of fabric composing the garment or insole, which
air by passing between the several layers will be warmed before it can come into
contact with the surface of the body.
The eyelets of the outer layer may be arranged so that the projecting portions
will come between the metallic bars and rest upon them, thus forming channels
through which air can circulate.
The artificial leather which I prefer to use for the outer fabric is not only air
and water proof but is also inodorous, and oil and grease proof and its surface can
be washed and perfectly cleansed by a damp sponge and dry towel.
A garment or insole constructed in the manner herein before described is perfectly
ventilating and permits the escape of moisture and effete gases from the skin and
the entrance of air from without, a result which it is obvious is of great utility in
increasing the healthfulness of these garments.