A New or Improved Manufacture of Floor Cloths.
Year: 1894

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Manufacture of Floor Cloths.
I, ANTON HAGELE, a citizen of the United States, residing at No. 3234 North
Nineteenth Street, in the City and County of Philadelphia, and State of
Pennsylvania, Mechanic, 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 :-
My invention relates to the manufacture of floor cloths of the class known as oil.
cloths; and it also relates to the composition of matter to constitute the filling
base or body of such a cloth and of the application of the same to a backing
material.
The principal objects of my invention are first, to provide an inexpensive, light,
durable and efficient floor cloth; second, to provide a composition for producing a
light and compact floor cloth having superior wearing properties; third, to provide
a floor cloth made of a compact and homogeneous composition or mass applied to a
backing material in such manner as to permit oil or other colors to be stamped or
printed thereon in a suitable design, and the structure being such as to produce an
attractive and distinctive patterned fabric; and fourth, to provide a composition
floor cloth or fabric having the mass composing the same so compacted to the
backing material thereof, as that in use it will yield, a desirable property, because
ensuring good wearing thereof; and moreover, a cloth or fabric in which the
pattern or design may be stamped or printed far more perfectly than has hitherto
been possible on oil cloth or the like, due to the compact and homogeneous nature
of the filling base or material formation of the cloth.
My invention consists of the manufacture of a floor cloth having superior wearing
and yielding properties; and
My invention further consists of a composition for the manufacture of a floor
cloth as hereinafter more fully described and claimed.
In order that others skilled in the general art to which my invention to some
extent appertains may practise the same, I will now proceed to describe the
different materials entering into the composition of such a floor cloth and also
point out the method which may be practised with most excellent results in carrying
my invention into effect.
The deciduous leaves of trees in general, are gathered and spread out on pans or
frames to dry under the influence of the sun or preferably subjected to the influence
of heat in a kiln or chamber of a furnace in order to expedite drying of the same
or of bringing them to a crisp or brittle condition, when they are removed and are
in a fit state to permit of reduction to a powdered or flaky condition. This is
effected by means of an engine or mill, such as is employed for grinding drugs or
the like. In the practice of my invention, a working formula employed has been
to every three pounds of dried and ground deciduous leaves add one quart of
linseed or cottonseed oil and one half ounce of rosin and a like quantity of gum
arabic thereto. The several materials mentioned are thoroughly agitated in a
suitable vessel until the admixture or compound has been brought to the consistency
of dough or the like. This thick or sticky mass or composition is spread onto and
over the surface of a backing material consisting of a sheet or strip of burlap,
canvas or the like. The said backing material with the said composition applied
thereto is then passed through pressure rollers to firmly imbed the coating into and
with the meshes of the same. The article subjected to the foregoing treatment is
then permitted to dry or is artificially subjected to a mild heat to effect such a
condition thereof. The top surface of the article thus treated is then subjected to

page_text: the action of a printing or stamping machine adapted to display in oil or other
colors and in suitable designs, the required pattern thereon, and it is then permitted
to stand until the colors are set with the particular configuration or design
impressed or stamped therein or thereon to constitute a floor cloth adapted for
subsequent use as an article having superior wearing and other properties over
linoleum or the like.
It may be here remarked that the materials of the composition to constitute the
cloth of my invention, with the exception of the filling base or body material
thereof, which is the dried and ground deciduous leaves in a powdered, flaky or
similar condition, may be varied with respect to the materials used, as well as the
proportions thereof, without departing from the spirit of my invention and in
practice equally good results be obtained.
The dried and ground deciduous leaves constitute the base or body matter of the
composition and the linseed or cottonseed oil, rosin and gum arabic constitute the
binder, which gives to the mass its adhering as well as other properties to be
hereinafter mentioned. In practice it has been found that the composition com-
pounded as hereinabove explained in its application to a backing material, such as
burlap, canvas or the like, gives a product which is sufficiently yielding in character
to prevent in use, cracking of the cloth. Moreover, the composition of the
materials mentioned and compounded in substantially the manner explained gives
to the finished article the qualities of lightness, tenacity, strength and durability.
Such a floor cloth owing to the compactness and homogeneous nature of the com-
position in application to a backing material enables a much more perfect or
distinct design or pattern to be stamped or printed thereon; again such a fabric.
or cloth can be produced in a most economical manner; and it has most
excellent wearing properties, due to its slightly yielding surface or body; and
moreover, its deadening property to sound in treading over the same, is another
desirable property thereof.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. As a new article of manufacture, a floor cloth provided with a backing
material such as burlap, canvas or the like having a composition applied thereto
composed of dried and ground leaves and a binder, substantially as and for the
purposes set forth..
2. As a new article of manufacture, a floor cloth having a composition applied
thereto consisting of dried and ground deciduous leaves and a binder, substantially
as and for the purposes set forth.
3. As a new article of manufacture, a floor cloth having a composition applied
thereto, consisting of dried and ground leaves and a binder such as an oil, rosin and
gum, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
4. As a new article of manufacture, a floor cloth having a composition applied
thereto consisting of dried and ground deciduous leaves, an oil, rosin and gum
arabic, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
Dated at Philadelphia. Pa this 12th day of July A.D 1894
ANTON HAGELE,
Per J. G. Lorrain, M. Inst. E.E., M. Inst. M.E.,
Norfolk House, Norfolk Street, Strand, London, W.C.,
Chartered Patent Agent.