MENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF VARIOUS SUBSTANCES FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION
Year: 1860

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Margaret Jarrett Lauric Latta, of Ashton, Gourock,
in the County of Renfrew, North Britain, for the Invention of "IMPROVE
MENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF VARIOUS SUBSTANCES FOR THE PURPOSE OF
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Margaret Jarrett Lauric
Latla at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with her Petition, on
the 27th June 1860.
I, MARGARET JARRETT LAURIE LATTA, of Ashton, Gourock, in the County
of Renfrew, North Britain, do hereby declare the nature of the said Inven-
tion for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF VARIOUS SUBSTANCES FOR THE
PURPOSE OF RENDERING THE SAME NON-INFLAMMABLE," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to the application of certain salts and other matters
to the treatment of fibrous materials, more particularly articles of dress, for
the purpose of rendering the same non-inflammable.
Under one modification starch or farina is mixed with any of the following
salts of soda, the chloride, carbonate, bi-carbonate, phosphate, or bi-sulphate,
in the proportions of three parts of starch or farina to one part of either of
the before-named salts. In lieu of these salts, the sulphate, carbonate, or
chloride of magnesia may be used in like proportions. The starch or farina
is to be made up in the ordinary way that liquid starch is prepared for dressing
Prior S

page_text: or stiffening textile fabrics or articles of dress, and in the preparation the
proper proportion of the salt, or a combination of them, is to be added thereto.
Under another modification the sulphate of alumina, either alone or in
combination with the salts, with potash or soda. may be used in combination
with starch or farina in the proportions of two parts of starch to one part of
the chemical salt or salts. For this purpose also, the salts of antimony, the
chloride, carbonate, or bi-carbonate of anunonia, the carbonate of lime, or
steatite may be used, either separately or combined, in the proportion of one
part of the simple or compound salt or mineral to three parts of the solution
of starch. The fabrics or articles of dress are steeped in the liquid starch,
and treated precisely as in the ordinary way, the presence of the chemical
ingredient in the stiffening or dressing solution rendering the article non-
inflammable.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent. filed
by the said Margaret Jarrett Laurie Latta in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 27th December 1860.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, MARGARET
JARRETT LAURIE LATTA, of Ashton, Gourock, in the County of Renfrew. North
Britain, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-seventh day of June, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty, in the twenty-fourth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Margaret Jarrett Laurie Latta. Her special license that 1, the
said Margaret Jarrett Laurie Latta, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said Margaret Jarrett Laurie Latta, my
executors, administrators, or assigns, should at any time agree with. and no
others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term therein
expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise. and vend. within
the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. the Channel Islands, and
Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF VARIOUS
SUBSTANCES FOR THE PURPOSE OF RENDERING THE SAME NON-INFLAMMABLE,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that I. the said Margaret Jarrett Laurie
Latta, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, should particularly
describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal

page_text: of the said Letters. Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Margaret Jarrett Laurie Lauta, do
hereby declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement, that is to say:--
My said Invention relates to the application of certain salts and other matters
to the treatment of fibrous materials, more particularly articles of dress, for
the purpose of rendering the same non-inflammable.
Under one modification starch or farina is mixed with any of the following
salts of soda, the chloride, carbonate, bi-carbonate, phosphate, or bi-sulphate,
in the proportions of three parts of starch or farina to one part of either of
the before-named salts. In lieu of these salts, the sulphate, carbonate, or
chloride of magnesia may be used in like proportions. The starch or farina
is to be made up in the ordinary way that liquid starch is prepared for dressing
or stiffening textile fabrics or articles of dress, and in the preparation the
proper proportion of the salt, or a combination of them, is to be
added thereto.
Under another modification the sulphate of alumina, either alone or in
combination with the salts of potash or soda, may be used in combination
with starch or farina in the proportions of two parts of starch to one part of
the chemical salt or salts. For this purpose also, the salts of antimony, the
chloride, carbonate. or bi-carbonate of ammonia, the carbonate of lime, or
steatite may be used, either separately or combined, in the proportion of one
part of the simple or compound salt or mineral to three parts of the solution
of starch. The fabrics or articles of dress are steeped in the liquid starch
and treated precisely as in the ordinary way. the presence of the chemical
ingredient in the stiffening or dressing solution rendering the article non-
inflammable.
And in order that my said Invention of improvements in rendering fabrics
non-inflammable may be properly understood. I shall now proceed to describe
certain modifications under which my improvements may be judiciously carried
out in practise, that is to say: -
The object of my said Invention is to remler textile fabrics non-inflammable.
and to do this in such a way as not to require any special and distinct treat-
ment; but to accomplish the abject simultaneously with the dressing or
preparation of the fabrics for wear or sale. This is done by mixing certain
chemical salts, which have the property of rendering fabrics non-inflammable
when immersed in solutions of the same with the ordinary starch or farina used

page_text: in dressing fabrics to impart stiffness thereto. Or solutions of the said salts may
be used alone for the purpose of rendering fabrics non-inflammable where
starch is not required. Certain salts of soda. potash. alumina, and zinc are
suitable for the purpose, which salts are used by preference in the following
proportions and combinations: Preparation Number One consists of one part
of bi-borate of soda, one part of chloride or muriate of ammonia, and one part
of starch or farina. These several ingredients are mixed together, and this is,
by preference, to be done by the starch manufacturer, and the preparation sold
to the public in the same way as ordinary starch. Preparation Number Two
consists of one part of sulphate of magnesia, two parts of chloride or muriate
of ammonia, and one part of starch mixed together. Preparation Number
Three consists of three parts of chloride of ammonia mixed with one part
or starch or farina. Preference is given to the foregoing preparations for
rendering fabrics non-inflammable, but the same object may also be accom-
plished by means of the following combinations of salts with starch:-
Number One preparation of the second series. consists of one part of sulphate
of zinc, one part of chloride of ammonia, and one part of starch mixed.
Number Two consists of equal proportions of sulphate of zinc and starch
mixed together. Number Three consists of one part of sulphate of potash
one part of the chloride of ammonia, and one part of starch mixed. Number
Four is composed of three parts of carbonate of soda mixed with one of starch.
In manufacturing these preparations of starch for public use, a small quantity
of stearine or prepared wax may be advantageously added to the mixtures;
this addition may be in the proportion of fifty-six pounds of stearine, or was
may be added, to one ton of starch. The addition of the stearine or wax
facilitates the ironing of the fabrics after being starched. Instead of putting
up the starch prepared according to these improvements in a powdered or
solid form. the preparations where desirable may be manufactured and sold in
the liquid state. Or the combinations of the chemical salts herein-before
named may be used without the addition of starch for the purpose of rendering
textile fabrics non-inflammable. The fabrics, articles of dress, window or bed
curtains, or other drapery are immersed in the starch or other stiffening
material. which is prepared in the usual way: neither is any deviation made
from the ordinary mode of starching or dressing the articles to be rendered
non-inflammable. Textile fabrics when treated in this manner are rendered
non-inflammable. that is to say, they will not flame when exposed to fire. By
this means the many accidents which occur to life and property from the
inflammable nature of textile fabrics. particularly when hanging in loose folds,
may be avoided, and without incurring either extra expense or trouble.

page_text: Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into
effect, I would observe, in conclusion, that what I consider to be novel and
original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-
before in part recited Letters Patent, is.-
First, the system or mode of rendering textile fabrics non-inflammable by
mixing with starch or other stiffening material, either in the solid or liquid
form, the chemical salts herein-before named, or a combination of the said
salts in the proportions herein-before given, or any mere modification of the
same.
Second, the system or mode of rendering fabrics non-inflammable, either by
adding the proper proportion or proportions of the salts herein-before named
to starch, either in the liquid or solid form, or by immersing the fabrics in a
solution of the salts, as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Margaret Jarrett Laurie Latta, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-fifth day of December. One
thousand eight hundred and sixty.
MARGARET JARRETT LAURIE LATTA. (..s.)