Improvements in Putting up Damask, Linen, and other Fabrics, and Novel Devices for Holding them when put up.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Oct., 1887
Complete Left, 2nd Nov., 1887
Complete Accepted, 2nd Dec., 1887
Improvements in Putting up Damask, Linen, and other Fabrics, and
Novel Devices for Holding them when put up.
I, JOHN GEORGE ELLIOTT of 71 Leonard Street in the City and State of New
York, United States of America, Merchant do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to a new and useful way of putting up linens, damask &c.,
for the trade.
These goods as they now come from the factory are lapped, that is to say folded a
number of times into a roll, which is tied around by tape at each end to hold the
same together. This method of putting up goods, and especially linens and such
fabrics, although for many years in use, is objectionable, for the reason that when untied,
and goods measured therefrom, the material becomes entangled, and the various laps
Great care and
so intermingled that the piece of goods becomes a confused mass.
trouble have to be taken to lap the same and arrange the material as before. When
goods are so lapped, it also becomes difficult to find the ends of the material. These
objections are so radical that they are a serious hindrance to merchants in handling
goods in course of their business.
Another objection to such goods when done up in a lapped bolt and tied with tape,
is that they are liable to bulge out at the ends at one side or the other, unless the tape
be tied very tightly around the bolt. This even occurs when the tapes are tied tightly
by reason of the slippery surface and elasticity of linen goods.
My invention relates to means and expedients for overcoming these objections, and
consists in rolling, instead of lapping, such goods, preferably upon a board, so that the
end of the material can always be found and any number of yards may be rolled from
and cut off of the material without experiencing the difficulties noted above. I design

page_text: to have this rolling done in the factory where the goods are manufactured, so that
they will come to the wholesale dealer in rolls instead of in lapped form, and will then
pass into the hands of the retailer who will not be annoyed as heretofore in handling
such goods. The invention consists also in a new and useful spring clamp or fastening
device for holding the fabric when rolled, which fastening device may or may not be
adjustable as hereinafter to be described. This fastening device preferably engages the
board upon which the fabric is rolled. Its use obviates the necessity of tying the
roll with tape and keeps the ends from bulging out by holding the fabric firmly in
place. It can also be applied more quickly and with greater facility than tapes. The
invention consists further in stamping the number of yards upon the goods at any
interval desired, whereby any desired number of yards may be taken from the roll
without measuring the same. The numbers designating the yards may be placed at
every five, ten, fifteen &c. yards, or stamped at every yard if preferred.
In the accompanying drawing forming part of this specification, Fig. 1 is a
perspective view of a piece of material rolled and yarded in accordance with my
invention. Fig. 2 is a sectional view of part of a rolled fabric with one form of my
fastening device. Fig. 3 is an end or cross section of the same. Fig. 4 is also a
sectional view of a part of a rolled fabric, having a modified form of fastening device.
Fig. 5, the same showing a smaller bolt of goods with a still further modified form of
fastening clamp; and Fig. 6, a view of a roll of material complete with fastening
devices at each end, the same as the goods appear when they come from the factory.
A is the material or linen wound up upon a board B. are the fastening devices
placed at each end thereof. Figs. 2 and 3 show one form of my fastening device, the
same consisting of two spring arms with an adjustable connection, the one arm being
shorter than the other and taking into a mortise in the board B. The adjustability of
the back or connecting piece between the two arms is afforded by a sliding connection,
the metal of the upper arm being bent in around the connecting part of the lower
arm so as to form a sleeve therefor, and rendering the two adjustable so that they
may slide one upon the other. The lower arm has the end of its connecting part
bent to form a hook so that the two arms cannot be separated. The idea of making
the connection between the two arms adjustable is to afford a means whereby, when
the bolt has a considerable portion of the material rolled from it, the arms can be
adjusted toward each other so as to hold the end of the material in place when the
piece of goods is to be returned to its self. The connection between the two arms
should be made so that they slide not too readily over each other. The metal of
which the fastening device is composed will afford sufficient spring to allow the arms
to adjust themselves toward each other and hold the fabric in place when but a few
layers of the fabric have been removed.
In Fig. 4 is shown another form of fastening device, the back or connecting part
between the two arms is made adjustable as before, but the lower arm in this case is
bent upon itself so as to form a clip which may be sprung over the end of the board
to hold the fastening device in place.
.
In Fig. 5 is shown a more simplified form of fastening device. This is such a one
as could be used on small rolls of material. It has two straight arms which should
have considerable spring to allow it to adapt itself to the roll when any of the fabric
has been rolled therefrom. The connecting part between the arms in this instance is
not adjustable, and the lower arm is held to the board merely by the tension existing
between the two arms.
The fastening devices are to be removed from the roll when it is desired to unwind
the goods and must be replaced when the desired number of yards has been cut off.
This can be done with great facility, and more expedition than tying and untying
tapes, and at the same time these fasteners have an advantage over tying with tape as
pointed out above.
They can all be made of some inexpensive metal, which may be plated to present
a neat and handsome appearance, so that the cost of the same will be but trifling.
The advantages to be derived from their use, in the way of effectiveness, and the
expediency with which they can be applied, are great.

page_text: In Fig. 1, I have shown the goods as yarded, that is, having the figures 5, 6 and 7
stamped along the edge thereof to represent the number of yards from the end.
These numbers could be stamped at every five, ten &c., yards, and in practice I design
to have them so placed, but of course, they could be placed at any interval. This
feature I regard as more or less important, as it saves the retail dealer the trouble and
annoyance of measuring out the goods each time, and the figures will indicate the yards
yet remaining in the piece.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Putting up Damask, Linen, and other Fabrics, and
Novel Devices for Holding them when put up.
I JOHN GEORGE ELLIOTT, of 71 Leonard Street, in the City and State of New
York, United States of America, Merchant, 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 a new and useful way of putting up linens, damask, &c. for
the trade.
These goods as they now come from the factory are lapped, that is to say, folded a
number of times into a roll, which is tied around by tape at each end to hold the same
together. This method of putting up goods, and especially linens and such fabrics,
although for many years in use, is objectionable, for the reason that when untied, and
goods measured therefrom, the material becomes entangled, and the various laps so
Great care and
intermingled that the piece of goods becomes a confused mass.
When
trouble have to be taken to lap the same and arrange the material as before.
goods are so lapped, it also becomes difficult to find the ends of the material. These
objections are so radical that they are a serious hindrance to merchants in handling
goods in course of their business.
Another objection to such goods when done up in a lapped bolt and tied with tape,
is that they are liable to bulge out at the ends at one side or the other, unless the tape
be tied very tightly around the bolt. This even occurs when the tapes are tied tightly
by reason of the slippery surface and elasticity of linen goods.
My invention relates to means and expedients for overcoming these objections, and
consists in rolling, instead of lapping, such goods, preferably upon a board, so that
the end of the material can always be found and any number of yards may be
rolled from and cut off of the material without experiencing the difficulties noted
above. I design to have this rolling done in the factory where the goods are manu-
factured, so that they will come to the wholesale dealer in rolls instead of in lapped
form, and will then pass into the hands of the retailer who will not be annoyed as
heretofore in handling such goods. The invention consists also in a new and useful
spring clamp or fastening device for holding the fabric when rolled, which fastening
device may or may not be adjustable as hereinafter to be described. This fastening
device preferably engages the board upon which the fabric is rolled. Its use obviates
the necessity of tying the roll with tape and keeps the ends from bulging out by
holding the fabric firmly in place. It can also be applied more quickly and with
greater facility than tapes. The invention consists further in stamping the number
of yards upon the goods at any interval desired, whereby any desired number of
The numbers
yards may be taken from the roll without measuring the same.
designating the yards may be placed at every 5, 10, 15 &c. yards, or stamped at every
yard if preferred.

page_text: In the drawing which accompanied my Provisional Specification, Figure 1 is a
perspective view of a piece of material rolled and yarded in accordance with my
invention; Figure 2 is a sectional view of part of a rolled fabric with one form of
my fastening device; Figure 3 is an end or cross-section of the same; Figure 4 is
also a sectional view of a part of a rolled fabric, having a modified form of fastening
device; Figure 5 the same showing a smaller bolt of goods with a still further
modified form of fastening clamp; and Figure 6 a view of a roll of material complete
with fastening devices at each end, the same as the goods appear when they come from
the factory.
A is the material or linen wound up upon a board B. C are the fastening devices
placed at each end thereof. Figures 2 and 3 show one form of my fastening device,
the same consisting of two spring arms with an adjustable connection the one arm
being shorter than the other and taking into a mortise in the board B. The adjusta-
bility of the back or connecting piece between the two arms is afforded by a sliding
connection, the metal of the upper arm being bent in around the connecting part of
the lower arm so as to form a sleeve therefor, and rendering the two adjustable so
that they may slide one upon the other. The lower arm has the end of its connecting
part bent to form a hook so that the two arms cannot be separated. The idea of making
the connection between the two arms adjustable is to afford a means whereby, when the
bolt has a considerable portion of the material rolled from it, the arms can be adjusted
toward each other so as to hold the end of the material in place when the piece of
goods is to be returned to its self. The connection between the two arms should be
made so that they slide not too readily over each other. The metal of which the
fastening device is composed will afford sufficient spring to allow the arms to adjust
themselves toward each other and hold the fabric in place when but a few layers of
the fabric have been removed.
In Figure 4 is shown another form of fastening device, the back or connecting part
between the two arms is made adjustable as before, but the lower arm in this case is
bent upon itself so as to form a clip which may be sprung over the end of the board
to hold the fastening device in place.
In Figure 5 is shewn a mores implified form of fastening device. This is such a
one as could be used on small rolls of material. It has two straight arms which should
have considerable spring to allow it to adapt itself to the roll when any of the fabric
has been rolled therefrom. The connecting part between the arms in this instance is
not adjustable, and the lower arm is held to the board merely by the tension existing
between the two arms.
The fastening devices are to be removed from the roll when it is desired to unwind
the goods and must be replaced when the desired number of yards has been cut off.
This can be done with great facility and more expedition than tying and untying
tapes, and at the same time these fasteners have an advantage over tying with tape as
pointed out above.
They can all be made of some inexpensive metal which may be plated to present a
neat and handsome appearance, so that the cost of same will be but trifling. The
advantages to be derived from their use, in the way of effectiveness, and the expediency
with which they can be applied, are great.
This
In Figure 1, I have shown the goods as yarded, that is, having the figures 5,6
and 7 stamped along the edge thereof to represent the number of yards from the end.
These numbers could be stamped at every 5, 10 &c. yards, and in practice I design to
have them so placed, but, of course, they could be placed at any interval.
feature I regard as more or less important, as it saves the retail dealer the trouble
and annoyance of measuring out the goods each time and the figures will indicate the
yards yet remaining in the piece.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :-

page_text: 2. Damasks, linens, and the like, yarded, substantially as described.
3. Damasks, linens, and the like, rolled and yarded, substantially as described.
4. Fabrics, rolled instead of lapped, with my new and useful fastening device
therefor, substantially as described.
5. Fabrics rolled upon a board, and yarded, with my new and useful fastening
devices for holding them when rolled, substantially as described.
6. The new and useful fastening devices described for fabrics, substantially as set
forth.
J. C. MEWBURN,
169, Fleet Street, London,
Agent.