An Improved Absorbent Material for use in Making Boot Socks, Dress Shields, and other Articles of Clothing..
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 8th June, 1897-Accepted, 4th Sept., 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Absorbent Material for use in Making Boot Socks,
Dress Shields, and other Articles of Clothing..
I, FERDINAND BOSSHARDT of the Firm of F. Bosshardt & Co., of 4, Corporation
Street, Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Patent Agent, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention which has been communicated to me by Rufle-Sulzer &
Co., Schuhfabrick Ennenda, near Glarus, Switzerland Shoe Manufactures and
in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to an improved insertion for articles of clothing which
is adapted to absorb perspiration, moisture and the like and which consists of
a new preparation of sponge like wadding, called " sponge wadding produced by
a new method from ordinary sponge.
"
The sponge preparations hitherto used are all very coarse, have large pores and
not being tough enough the sponge particles easily separate and having more or
less large pores possess a relative small absorbability.
The sponge wadding produced in accordance with this invention is a substance
free of fibres and fine in grain and being made of uniform layers and exceedingly.
porous, is highly absorbent and durable.
And in order that this invention may be more fully understood I have caused
to be appended hereunto one sheet of drawings marked with letters of reference
indicating like parts in the various figures, and which shows for example the
improved insertion used in the form of a sock for coverings for the feet, Fig. 1,
being a plan showing the sponge layers or thickness and fabric thrown back for
the sake of clearness and Fig. 2 a longitudinal section thereof.
In carrying out this invention in the present instance two layers or thickness
of sponge a', a² are placed upon each other, the form of which corresponds with
that of a boot or the like sole and which are enclosed in a covering of textile
fabric. This covering also encloses the edge of the said layers or thickness in
such a manner that they cannot fray and above all things are waterproof so that
no water can penetrate sideways. In the present instance a special ribbon-like
piece of fabric 60 is secured to the edge, by a zig-zag seam co. To render this
piece of fabric 60 thoroughly waterproof it may be preferably soaked in a water-
proof solution. The upper and lower parts 61, 62 of this cover are secured together
and to the sponge layers or thickness a³, 2 by seams d.
It is evident that the described sponge wadding may also be used for sanitary
articles of clothes such as bandages.
The new method of producing the sponge wadding is as follows:-
The sponge in its raw state is carefully reduced by means of a machine and at
the same time freed from sand and other foreign matter in the usual manner.
The reduced sponge is then washed in a weak solution of soda for the purpose of
destroying the micro-organism and fibrous tissues which it may contain and
afterwards completely torn up by mechanical means. By this treatment a paste
like substance is obtained of uniform consistency which is completely free from

page_text: fibres and which is mixed with a little hemp for the purpose of increasing
adhesion. This paste is poured into suitable moulds and afterwards properly
squeezed, carefully dried and worked up into insertion, such as perspiration
leaves, socks for coverings for the feet and the like.
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
1st. Insertions for articles of clothing adapted to absorb perspiration, moisture
and the like consisting of sponge wadding freed from sand and of fine uniform
consistency, all substantially as set forth.
2nd. Insertions for articles of clothing adapted to absorb perspiration, moisture
and the like, consisting of sponge wadding free from sand and of fine uniform
consistency formed in the shape of a sock for coverings for the feet having a
fabric covering which renders the edge waterproof, all substantially as set forth.
3rd. The method of producing sponge wadding as insertions for articles of
clothing, consisting in reducing sponge to small particles and freeing it from sand
and other foreign matter, washing it in a weak solution of soda and afterwards
completely tearing it up by mechanical means, whereby a homogeneous paste
is obtained which after having hemp added is poured into moulds and afterwards
well squeezed and carefully cleaned, so that the product obtained forms an
extremely fine wadding like sponge preparation uniform in consistency, completely
pure and possessing great absorbing qualities, all substantially as set forth.
Dated this
day of June 1897
F. BOSSHARDT & Co.,
4, Corporation Street, Manchester, Agents to
Applicant.