IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF FABRICS ADAPTED TO BE USED FOR CURTAINS, COVERINGS OF FURNITURE, TABLE COVERS, AND SUCH LIKE USES
Year: 1858

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Wright Child, of Halifax, in the County of
York, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE
OF FABRICS ADAPTED TO BE USED FOR CURTAINS, COVERINGS OF FURNITURE,
TABLE COVERS, AND SUCH LIKE USES."
Sealed the 18th February 1859, and dated the 24th December 1858.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Wright Child at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
24th December 1858.
I, JOHN WRIGHT CHILD, of Halifax, in the County of York, Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
MANUFACTURE OF FABRICS ADAPTED TO BE USED FOR CURTAINS, COVERINGS OF
FURNITURE, TABLE COVERS, AND SUCH LIKE USES," to be as follows:-
The object of the improvements is to produce fabric of a character now,
generally called "rep," or ribbed and adapted to be used for curtains, coverings
for furniture, table covers, and other uses of a like character, with pattern in
various forms, alike on each surface thereof, combined with a groundwork
composed of ribs of equal or unequal thicknesses, and such pattern or figure
may be obtained on each side of the fabric from either the warp or the weft,
but when it is obtained from the warp on one side, it will also be obtained
from the warp on the other side; and, in like manner, when the pattern or,
figure is obtained on one side from the weft, it will be obtained on the other
side from the weft also.
I would state that I am aware that fabric for the purposes referred to, or
some of them, have heretofore been produced with a pattern alike on each
surface of it, with a ribbed ground, but in such cases the pattern obtained bas

page_text: always, to the best of my belief, been limited to squares or figures bounded by
lines parallel to the warp or weft threads of such fabric, and the ribs thereof
were of like thicknesses. I am also aware that a fabric adapted to the uses
referred to, or some of them, has been produced with pattern diverging from
such parallel lines on an unequally ribbed ground, but such figure was obtained
in a perfect form on one surface thereof only, whilst by my improvements
I am enabled to obtain various figures, diverging in various directions from
such parallel lines, alike on both surfaces combined with a ribbed groundwork
also alike on both surfaces. For this purpose, when the pattern or figure is
to be obtained from the warp, such warp will be operated by the jacquard,
or otherwise, to obtain a like floating or satin pattern of the figures therefrom
where desired, and at the same time on each surface of the fabric, and to
produce the different sizes of ribs weft of different thicknesses or quantities
are employed. When the pattern or figure is to be obtained from the weft, the
operations will be conducted so as to obtain like floating of weft threads in
place of warp on each surface of the fabric...
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Wright Child in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
24th June 1859.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
WRIGHT CHILD, of Halifax, in the County of York, Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-fourth day of December, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight, in the twenty-second year
of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said John Wright Child, Her special licence that I, the said John
Wright Child, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as I, the said John Wright Child, 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 FABRICS ADAPTED TO BE
USED FOR CURTAINS, COVERINGS OF FURNITURE, TABLE COVERS, AND SUCH LIKE USES,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said John Wright Child, 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

page_text: 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 John Wright Child, 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:-
The object of the improvements is to produce fabric of a character now
generally called "rep," or ribbed, and adapted to be used for curtains, coverings
for furniture, table covers, and other uses of a like character, with pattern in
various forms, alike on each surface thereof, combined with a groundwork
composed of ribs of equal or unequal thicknesses, and such pattern or figure
may be obtained on each side of the fabric from either the warp or the weft;
but when it is obtained from the warp on one side, it will also be obtained
from the warp on the other side; and in like manner, when the pattern or
figure is obtained on one side from the weft, it will be obtained on the other'
side from the weft also.
I would state that I am aware that fabric for the purposes referred to, or
some of them, have heretofore been produced with a pattern alike on each
surface of it, with a ribbed ground, but in such cases the pattern obtained has
always, to the best of my belief, been limited to squares or figures bounded by
lines parallel to the warp or weft threads of such fabric, and the ribs thereof
were of like thicknesses. I am also aware that a fabric adapted to the uses
referred to, or some of them, has been produced with pattern diverging from
such parallel lines on an unequally ribbed ground, but such figure was obtained
in a perfect form on one surface only, whilst by my improvements I am
enabled to obtain various figures diverging in various directions from such
parallel lines, alike on both surfaces, combined with a ribbed groundwork, also
alike on both surfaces. For this purpose, when the pattern or figure is to be
obtained from the warp, such warp will be operated by the jacquard, or
otherwise to obtain a like floating or satin pattern of the figures therefrom
where desired, and at the same time on each surface of the fabric, and to
produce the different sizes of ribs weft of different thicknesses or quantities
are employed. When the pattern or figure is to be obtained from the weft,
the operations will be conducted so as to obtain like floating of weft threads
in place of warp on each surface of the fabric.
But that the nature of my improvements may be more fully understood,
I will proceed to describe the means pursued by me.

page_text: And supposing it is desired to obtain the pattern or figure from the warp.
threads, then such warp threads must be understood to be arranged in the
Joon as when weaving ordinary "rep "with a double set of warps, or warps
suited to produce a face on each surface of the fabric to be made. But such
warp threads will, in carrying out my improvements, be operated by jacquard
or other suitable means, so as to cause the same to float simultaneously on the
two surfaces during the passage of weft in such order or to such extent as may
be required for the pattern sought to be obtained; and when it is desired that
the groundwork of the fabric or that between such floated patterns is to be
composed of ribs of unequal thicknesses, then I employ weft of different
thickness, adapted in passing between the warps to produce the desired
variations in thicknesses of ribs to such groundwork; and such weft in passing.
between the two sets of floated warps forming the pattern will have a tendency
to give fulness to such parts.
In obtaining the pattern from the weft, warp of a common description may
be employed, whilst the weft will be composed of yarn adapted for the surfaces
of the fabric, and such weft will be caused to float alternately on one and then
the other side of the fabric to produce the desired pattern opposite on the two
surfaces of the fabric. In some cases the surfaces of a figure or other portion
of the design may be produced by the warp threads, and the other portion by
the weft, or be composed of different materials, or of materials differing in
color.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the means
I adopt in carrying the same into effect, I would have it understood that what
I claim is, the manufacture of fabric adapted to be used for curtains, coverings
of furniture, table covers, and other uses of a like character, with patterns or
figures in various forms alike on each surface thereof, combined with a ground-
work composed of ribs of equal or unequal thicknesses, substantially as
explained.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Wright Child, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this. Twenty-second day of June; in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine.
Witness,
JNO. BANCROFT.
J. W. CHILD. (L.S.)