IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF STOCKINGS, BELTS, AND OTHER LIKE ARTICLES FROM WOVEN. KNITTED. LOOPED, AND ELASTIC FABRICS
Year: 1871

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Barlow Cooley, of the Town and County
of the Town of Nottingham, Manufacturer, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF STOCKINGS, BELTS, AND OTHER LIKE
ARTICLES FROM WOVEN. KNITTED. LOOPED, AND ELASTIC FABRICS.”
Sealed the 7th May 1872, and dated the 11th November 1871.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Barlow Cooley
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 11th November 1871.
I, ROBERT BARLOW COOLEY, of the Town and County of the Town
of Nottingham, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF STOCKINGS, BELTS, AND
OTHER LIKE ARTICLES FROM WOVEN, KNITTED, LOOPED, AND ELASTIC FABRIOS,"
to be as follows :-
The first part of my improvements relates to the manufacture of
elastic stockings, leggings, knee caps, belts, or other irregular shaped,
tubular, or endless elastic articles or bandages, such as are usually
employed for surgical purposes, whereby the cost of manufacturing such
articles is greatly reduced.

page_text: For this purpose in manufacturing articles of this character according
to my improvements I prefer to employ elastic knitted or looped fabrics
made upon circular and other frames or machines as described in the
Specification of a Patent granted to me, and dated the 9th day of May
1865, No. 1275, india-rubber threads being introduced into such fabrics
for giving elasticity thereto.
In employing tubular fabrics of this character in carrying out my
present improvements, I cut a pair of stockings or other like articles
from such double or tubular fabrics so that the broad part or end of one
in being cut is arranged opposite to the narrow part or end of the other,
or with the projecting parts of one entering the hollow parts of the other
so as to cause as little waste of material as possible in cuttings.
In cutting circular shapes from a flat tube I cut them with one-half of
each circular piece on one side of the tube and the other half on the
other to avoid 'waste in cuttings.
Or if the elastic fabric is single or made upon what are known as
straight frames or machines, I then cut out the stockings or other
irregular shaped tubular articles therefrom, one into another or with the
projecting parts of one opposite the hollows of another, so as to avoid
waste in the cutting out of such articles.
In like manner elastic stockings or other irregular shaped tubular
articles for surgical purposes may be cut, according to my improvements,
from woven fabrics or from looped fabrics made upon ordinary knitting
or upon warp frames, the elasticity being given to such fabrics by the
introduction of india-rubber threads in their manufacture.
The second part of my Invention relates to the manufacture of
stockings, gloves, or other irregular shaped articles of a like description
by cutting them so as to avoid waste from tubular fabrics made upon
knitting or other machines.
In cutting a pair of stockings or two other irregular shaped articles
from tubular fabrics according to this part of my Invention, they are
arranged with the broad or projecting parts of one opposite the narrow
or hollow parts of the other, as previously described for cutting out
elastic stockings, or other tubular or endless articles containing india-
rubber threads.

page_text: Irregular shaped tubular or endless articles may also be cut, according
to my improvements, from woven tubular fabrics in the manner
previously described.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Robert Barlow Cooley in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 11th May 1872.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ROBERT
BARLOW COOLEY, of the Town and County of the Town of Nottingham,
Manufacturer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Eleventh day of November, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one, in the thirty-
fifth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said Robert Barlow Cooley, Her special licence
that I, the said Robert Barlow Cooley, my executors, dministrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said Robert Barlow Cooley, my
executors, administrators, and 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 MANUFACTURE OF STOCKINGS, BELTS, AND OTHER LIKE ARTICLES FROM WOVEN,
KNITTED, LOOPED, AND ELASTIC FABRICS," upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said Robert Barlow Cooley, my executors or administrators,
by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands
and seals, 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 Patent Office within six
calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Robert Barlow Cooley, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement thereof, that is to say :—

page_text: The first part of my improvements relate to the manufacture of
elastic stockings, leggings, knee-caps, belts, or other irregular shaped,
tubular, or endless elastic articles or bandages, such as are usually
employed for surgical purposes, whereby the cost of manufacturing such
articles is greatly reduced.
5
For this purpose in manufacturing articles of this character according
to my improvements, I prefer to employ elastic knitted or looped fabrics
made upon circular and other frames or machines in the manner
described in the Specification of a Patent granted to me and dated the
9th day of May, 1865, No. 1275, india-rubber threads being introduced 1
in a particular manner into such fabrics for giving elasticity thereto.
In employing tubular fabrics of this character in carrying out my
present improvements I cut a pair of stockings or other like articles
from such double or tubular elastic fabrics so that the broad part or end
of one in being cut is arranged opposite to the narrow part or end of the 1
other, or with the projecting parts of one entering the hollow parts of the
other so as to cause as little waste of material as possible in cuttings.
In cutting circular shapes from a flat tube according to this part of
my improvements I cut them with one half of each circular piece on
one side of the tube and the other half on the other to avoid waste in 2
cuttings.
Or if the elastic fabric is single or made upon what are known as
straight frames or machines I then cut out the stockings or other
irregular shaped tubular elastic articles therefrom one into another, or
with the projecting parts of one opposite the hollows of another, so as to 2
avoid waste of material in the cutting out of such articles.
In like manner elastic stockings or other irregular shaped tubular
articles for surgical purposes may be cut, according to my improvements,
from woven fabrics or from looped fabrics made upon ordinary knitting
or upon warp frames, the elasticity being given to such fabrics by the 3
introduction of india-rubber threads in their manufacture, as is well
understood.
The second part of my Invention relates to the manufacture of
stockings, gloves, or other irregular shaped articles of a like description
by cutting them (so as to avoid waste of material) from tubular fabrics 3
made upon ordinary knitting or other machines for making such fabrics.

page_text: In cutting out a pair of stockings or two other irregular shaped articles
from tubular fabrics, according to this part of my Invention, they are
arranged with the broad or projecting parts of one opposite the narrow or
hollow parts of the other, as previously described for cutting out elastic
stockings or other articles containing india-rubber threads.
In carrying out this part of my improvements india-rubber threads
may be introduced into parts of such fabrics in order that such india-
rubber threads may impart additional elasticity thereto for the purpose
of serving as garters to stockings or wristbands to gloves manufactured
in accordance with this part of my Invention, or for giving additional
elasticity to portions only of the articles cut from such fabrics.
Irregular shaped tubular or endless articles may also be cut according
to my improvements from woven tubular fabrics in the manner
previously described.
Stockings or other articles cut from tubular or other fabrics in the
manner previously described in accordance with my improvements may
be seamed up and finished as may be required and is well understood
in seaming and finishing like articles, a great saving being effected by
my improvements in the manufacture of elastic articles for surgical and
other purposes.
In witness whereof, I, the said Robert Barlow Cooley, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Eighth day of May, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two.
25 Witness,
J. G. TONGUE,
Patent Agent,
34, Southampton Buildings,
Chancery Lane. W. C.
R. B. COOLEY. (L.S.)