AN IMPROVED FABRIC FOR THE PRODUCTION OF PERMANENT ELECTRICITY APPLICABLE FOR WEARING APPAREL
Year: 1863

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Clark, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Engineer and Patent Agent, for the Invention
of AN IMPROVED FABRIC FOR THE PRODUCTION OF PERMANENT ELECTRICITY
APPLICABLE FOR WEARING APPAREL."-A communication from abroad by
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Clark at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 26th
September 1863.
I, WILLIAM CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Engineer and Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "AN IMPROVED FABRIC FOR THE PRODUCTION OF PERMANENT
ELECTRICITY APPLICABLE FOR WEARING APPAREL," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to the manufacture of an improved fabric suitable for
the production of permanent electricity. This fabric has a warp consisting
of carded wool for forming the surface which is suitably arranged in the
reed for completely enveloping the metal wires, in couples, forming the weft
of the fabric. The warp thus formed has a thickness of wool on both sides
of the weft threads for the purpose of imparting softness to the fabric and
rendering it similar to flannel, without however preventing the electricity
produced by the couples from becoming disengaged. The metal weft is
composed of a core of cotton or other fibre containing any suitable number
[Price Sil.]

page_text: The cotton
This
of threads according to the required diameter of the wires.
core is first chemically prepared in order to increase its conductibility.
core is enveloped in a laminated covering or ribbon of zinc or copper, a
weft thread of zinc being placed beside a copper weft in each shed of
the warp in order to form a couple or voltaic element. In weaving
each of these couples are placed contiguously or separated by a certain
number of wool weft threads according to the amount of electricity desired
to be produced in the whole fabric. Although have described the fabric
as having a metal weft and woollen warp threads, I may reverse this arrange-
ment and make the warp electric while the weft may be formed of carded
wool or other fibrous material. In this case the warp is composed of a
zinc wire and a copper wire, the weft being formed of a woollen or other
textile material. By means of this metallic fabric, I form all kinds of
apparel disengaging permanent. electricity throughout their surfaces, which
apparel may be slightly damped with acidulated water or it may be worn
dry according as it is desired to disengage more or less electricity.
This improved sanitary metallo-volta-electric flannel may be dyed any
suitable color. I have mentioned that the zinc and copper wires are cach
formed of a metal ribbon enveloping a core of cotton or other fibrous material
possessing more or less conductibility, these ribbons or laminated tapes may
be replaced by wires covered in a similar manner to those used in millinery.
The couples of any articles of clothing may be either separate or united together
so as to form one or more elements. The couples may be produced with a
single core, the copper tape or ribbon enveloping the zinc, and vice versa.
The couples may also be made without a core entirely of metal, but in this
case their weight would be greatly increased.
This Invention thus consists of an improved fabric applicable for the
manufacture of various articles of clothing disengaging permanent currents
of electricity to be applied in the usual manner. This improved fabric may
also be made clastic if desired.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Clark in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
23rd March 1864.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Engineer and 3
Patent Agent, send greeting.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-sixth day of September, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, in the twenty-seventh year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said William. Clark, Her special licence that I, the said William Clark, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said William
Clark, 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 "AN IMPROVED FABRIC FOR
THE PRODUCTION OF PERMANENT ELECTRICITY APPLICABLE FOR WEARING APPAREL,"
a communication to me from abroad by Theodore Courant, Physician, of 29,
Boulevart St. Martin, Paris, upon the condition (amongst others) that I,
the said William Clark, 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 William Clark, 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 follow-
ing statement (that is to say):-
This Invention relates to the manufacture of an improved fabric suitable
for the production of permanent electricity. This fabric has a warp
consisting of carded wool forming the surface, which is suitably arranged
in the reed for completely enveloping the metal wires in couples forming
the weft of the fabric.. The warp thus formed has a thickness of wool
on both sides of the weft for the purpose of imparting softness to the
fabric and rendering it similar to flannel, without however preventing the
electricity produced by the couples from becoming disengaged. The
metal weft is composed of a core of cotton or other fibre containing any
suitable number of threads according to the required diameter of the
wires. The cotton core is first chemically prepared in order to increase its
conductibility, and is then enveloped in a laminated covering or ribbon
of zinc or copper, a weft thread of zinc being placed beside a copper weft
in each shed of the warp in order to form a couple or voltaic element.
In weaving each of these couples are placed either contiguously or separated

page_text: by a certain number of wool weft threads according to the amount of
electricity desired to be produced in the whole fabric. Although I have
described the fabric as having a metal weft and woollen warp threads I may
reverse this arrangement and make the warp electric while the weft may be
formed of carded wool or other fibrous material. In this case the warp is
composed of a zinc and a copper wire, the weft being formed of woollen
or other textile material. By means of this metallic fabric 1 form all
kinds of apparel which will disengage permanent electricity throughout its
surface, which apparel may be slightly damped with acidulated water, or it
may be worn dry according at it is desired to disengage more or less
electricity.
This improved sanitary metallo-volta-electric flannel may be dyed any
suitable color. I have mentioned that the zinc and copper wires are formed
of a metal ribbon enveloping a core of cotton or other fibrous material
possessing more or less conductibility, these ribbons or laminated tapes may
be replaced by wires covered in a similar manner to those used in millinery.
The couples of any article of clothing may be either separate or united
together so as to form one or more elements. The couples may be produced
with a single core, the copper tape or ribbon enveloping the zinc, and vice
versa. The couples may also be made without a core entirely of metal, but
in this case their weight would be greatly increased.
In addition to the method of manufacturing electric garments or coverings of
woven wool as described, I may also dispose metallic elements in any other fabrics
composed of fibres of animal or vegetable origin either woven or felted, under
which latter head I include paper.
In order to apply the, electric couples thereto I take the paper and coat
in with an adhesive composition serving as a stimulant and conducting agent,
on which I fix the metals in the form of leaves or sheets, in powder or in any
other suitable form, the metals being of different kinds, copper and zinc, for
example, for producing electricity, after which I make up the paper into
garments or coverings to be applied to the skin and caused to adhere thereto
if desired.
These improved fabrics, whether of animal or vegetable origin, constitute in
fact metallic piles which are capable of being applied for industrial as well as
for medical purposes. The elements constituting the pile, such as zinc and
copper, or zinc and carbon, may be applied to the fabric either during the
weaving as trimming, or by steeping, galvanizing, or otherwise.
Having described the nature of this Invention, and the manner of performing
the same, declare that what I claim as the Invention to be protected by the

page_text: herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is, the manufacture of a new
product consisting of a woven or felted fabric of vegetable or animal nature
containing electric elements as herein described, which product is applicable
for the manufacture of all kinds of garments or coverings for the purpose of
disengaging permanent electric currents to be used for medical and other.
purposes.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Clark, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-second day of March, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four.
Witness,
JAMES DAISH,
53, Chancery Lane,
London.
W. CLARK. (S.)