Year: 1887

page_text: I EDWIN POWLEY ALEXANDER of 36 Southampton Buildings in the County of
Middlesex, Fellow of the Institute of Patent Agents 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 thereof:―
In the manufacture of elastic fabrics especially of the kind known as elastic webbing
it has been generally the practice to weave such fabrics upon a loom and produce
thereby a close compact and substantially impervious fabric. This invention consists
in an open work braid having the characteristics hereinafter pointed out and having
elastic cords or threads introduced therein longitudinally as hereinafter specified
making as a result a fabric which at all times is provided with openings or
apertures allowing the free circulation of air and which at the same time is sub-
stantially as elastic as the rubber cords. By reason of the loose braiding of the
binding or filling threads they permit of the ready extension of the elastic cords.
In producing such elastic open work braid it is necessary to put the elastic cords
under tension and do the braiding upon them while in that condition. When these
cords contract on the completion of the operation the braid is still an open braid ana-
logous in some respects to open work trimming braids. The improved elastic open work

page_text: braid differs from said old open work braid not only in the substitution of elastic warp
threads for the non-elastic threads but in the manner hereinafter indicated in which the
binding or filling threads are interlocked or interlaced between the elastic warp threads
in contradistinction to being simply crossed by each other. In my improved braid
the braiding threads are actually interlocked or braided between the adjacent longi-
tudinal cords or threads while in the old open work braid the braiding threads simply
overlie one another between the longitudinal threads or cords without being actually
interlocked or braided together at such points. The advantages of this braid for many
purposes especially the making of such articles as suspenders and garters is obvious.
The material while equally or more elastic than the present suspender webbing at the
same time requires less binding or non-elastic-material for an elastic fabric of the same
width and thickness. It is obvious likewise that the openings in the braid make a
material which when so worked in the suspenders allows the free circulation of air and
therefore a freer escape of the perspiration of the body.
Figure 1 of the drawings is a view illustrating the completed fabric and Figure 2
shews the same upon a very much enlarged. scale
In these views A represents the longitudinal elastic warp threads and B the binding
material. As shewn the elastic warp threads are employed in groups of two (they
may be more) the binding material B being so interlocked therewith as to confine the
groups of elastic thread together while it at the same time separates each group from
the other so that an appearance of openness is imparted to the finished fabric.
The binding material (see more particularly fig. 2) consists of three series of
threads a, b, c (it may consist of more or less) a pair of which become plaited or inter-
locked together between the groups of elastic warp threads as at d thus separating the
groups of warp threads and forming the open spaces e there-between. Thus the first
series of threads a starting for instance from the point & pass over and around the
outside elastic warp thread under and between it and its companion thread over the
latter until it is met by the second series of threads b which become braided or inter-
locked therewith as at d and the series a pass thence under the first elastic warp
thread of the middle group between it and over its companion thread until it meets
the third series of threads c where becoming braided or interlocked with such threads
the series of threads pass to the underside of the inner elastic warp thread of the right
hand outside group thence between it and its companion and over and around the
latter The other series of threads b c in like manner pass around and between the
groups of elastic warp threads and only meet another of the series at the points d.
By thus plaiting or interlocking the series of binding threads between the groups of
warp threads the latter are separated a distance apart while the groups are confined
together presenting the openings e between each of the groups of warp threads.
It will be also observed that the plaited or interlocked portions d occurring
between the groups of warp threads prevents them from becoming closed together
when the fabric is stretched the fabric will not materially decrease in width when
so stretched.
While I have described the elastic warp threads as being arranged in pairs it is
obvious that the number of threads separated by the plaited or interlocked portions d
of the binding material may be varied as desired.
It is obvious that other material beside india rubber might be employed for the
longitudinal cords as for instance a fine spiral preferably formed of brass wire
might be so substituted. I prefer however the india rubber cords, of course in
either case these elastic threads are to be covered with a suitable material as for
instance cotton or silk before they are made up into the braid. Though I prefer
to make the fabric as shown with longitudinally extensible rubber cords yet I may
in addition to such rubber cords make the binding material likewise in whole or in
part elastic.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I claim is :-
1. An elastic fabric composed of braiding or binding threads and longitudinal warp
threads wherein the warp threads are separated by plaited or interlocked portions of
the fabric providing perforations substantially as described.
2. An elastic fabric composed of braiding or binding threads and longitudinal or
threads wherein the
warp
warp threads are composed of groups of threads and the
binding material composed of threads which become interlocked only between the
groups of warp threads thereby providing perforations substantially as described.
3. An elastic fabric composed of braiding or binding threads and longitudinal warp
threads wherein the warp threads are composed of groups of threads and the binding
material composed of threads which pass diagonally from side to side across the fabric
passing between each of the warp threads of the groups and becoming interlocked
only between the groups of warp threads providing holes or perforations substantially
as described.
.