IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF CORK, AND IN THE MANUFACTURE OF A NEW COMPOUND OR MATERIAL THEREFROM. APPLICABLE TO VARIOUS USEFUL PURPOSES.
Year: 1868

page_text: ETTERS PATENT to John Henry Johnson, of 17, Lincoln's lun
Fields, in the County of Middlesex, Gentleman, for the Invention of
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF CORK, AND IN THE MANUFACTURE OF
A NEW COMPOUND OR MATERIAL THEREFROM. APPLICABLE TO VARIOUS USEFUL
PURPOSES. A communication from abroad by Henry Hauer and
William Howell, both of the City of Philadelphia, in the State of
Pennsylvania, United States of America.
Sealed the 28th August 1868, and dated the 30th March 1868.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Henry Johnson
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 30th March 1868.
1. JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County
of Middlesex, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS THE TREATMENT OF CORK, AND IN THE
MANUFACTURE OF A NEW COMPOUND OR MATERIAL THEREFROM, APPLICABLE TO
VARIOUS USEFUL PURPOSES." a communication to me from abroad by Henry.
Price 8d.1

page_text: Hauer and William Howell, both of the City of Philadelphia, in the
State of Pennsylvania, United States of America, to be as follows:-
The first part of this Invention consists of a novel mode of treating
cork by charring or roasting it so that it may be deprived of the
resinous and gummy matter with which the fibrous tissues are more or
less impregnated, after which the cork is granulated or torn into small
fragments, and in this condition it constitutes a new product which is
available either alone or in conjunction with curled hair or other
suitable stuffing material as a stuffing for cushions and for other useful
purposes, but more especially for use in the construction of life-
The
preserving mattrasses on account of its increased buoyancy.
charred chips may be fumigated or scented by burning in the fire to
which they are exposed myrrh leaves, cedar chips, or aromatic gums, or
the cork may be subjected to heat in a closed box containing scent-
imparting substances.
The second part of this Invention consists of a peculiar compound or
material constituting also a new article of manufacture composed of the
cork charred or roasted and granulated as above described and
caoutchouc or gutta percha kneaded or worked together so as to become
nearly a homogeneous mass, the composition thus produced being
available for the construction of light soles and heels for boots and
shoes, for being moulded into different forms and objects for articles of
utility and ornament, for being rolled into sheets and used for water-
proof coverings, floorcloths, and for other useful purposes.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent 2
filed by the said John Henry Johnson in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 30th September 1868.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME. Į, Jous
HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of
Middlesex, Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty, Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Thirtieth day of March, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight, in

page_text: the 31st year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs, and
Successors, give and grant unto me, the said John Henry Johnson, Her
special license that I, the said John Henry Johnson, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as 1, the said John
Henry Johnson, my executors, administrators, or 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 TREATMENT OF
CORK, AND IN THE MANUFACTURE OF A NEW COMPOUND OR MATERIAL THERE-
FROM, APPLICABLE TO VARIOUS USEFUL PURPOSES," al communication from
abroad by Henry Hauer and William Howell, both of the City of
Philadelphia, in the State of Pennsylvania, United States of America,
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said John Henry
Johnson, my executors, or administrators, by an instrument in writing
under my hand and seal, 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 John Henry Johnson, 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, that is to say:-
The said Invention consists, firstly, of a novel mode of treating cork
by charring or roasting it so that it may be deprived of the resinous
and gummy matter with which the fibrous tissues are more or less
impregnated, after which the cork is granulated or torn into small
fragments, and in this condition it constitutes a new product which
is available either alone or in conjunction with curled hair or other
suitable stuffing material as a stuffing for cushions and for other useful
purposes, but more especially for use in the construction of life-preserving
mattrasses on account of its increased buoyancy.
The second part of this Invention consists of a peculiar compound
or material constituting also a new article of manufacture composed
of the cork charred or roasted and granulated as above described and

page_text: caoutchouc or gutta percha kneaded or worked together so as to become
nearly a homogeneous mass, the composition thus produced being
available for the construction of light soles and heels for boots and
shoes, for being moulded into different forms and objects for articles
of utility and ornament, for being rolled into sheets, and used for
waterproof coverings, foorcloths, and for other useful purposes.
In carrying out the first part of the said Invention cork or cork
shavings or chips may be used, and at once subjected to the roasting
or charring process, but it is best to cut, break, or tear them into pieces
of as nearly an uniform size as possible, so that no portion can escape
the effect of the heat to which they have to be subjected. In order
to roast or char the cork it may be placed in a hollow cylinder of
perforated plates or wire guaze arranged to revolve in such a position
in respect to a fire-place that the products of combustion can pass
through the agitated mass. By this process the resinous or gummy
matter distributed throughout the fibrous tissues is in a great measure
destroyed and what little remains has been so acted on by the heat
that it can be readily removed from the cork by first rubbing the
charred particles and then sifting the mass. From a comparatively
hard and brittle material the cork is thus converted into a soft and
elastic substance, much more buoyant and less liable to absorb moisture
or become mouldy and foul than crude cork. At the same time it has
the advantage of being obnoxious to vermin, and is enlarged in bulk
simultaneously witli its reduction in weight. The mass of charred
chips may be fumigated or scented by burning in the fire to which
they are exposed myrrh leaves, cedar chips, or aromatic gums, or the
cork may be subjected to heat in a closed box containing scent-imparting
substances. After being thus treated the cork is granulated or
torn into pieces of a size most suitable for the purpose intended.
The prepared cork is of so soft and elastic a character that it can
be used to advantage either alone or in conjunction with curled hair
or other material for stuffing cushions, mattrasses, and other like articles,
the buoyant properties of the cork being such that these cushions or
mattrasses may be used as life preservers or be made into life preserving
rafts.
So entirely changed is the character of the cork by this charring
or roasting that when granulated it can be so intimately combined with
caoutchouc or gutta percha that the two materials form an almost

page_text: homogeneous mass, which as a new product constitutes the second part
of the said Invention.
In carrying out the second part of this Invention the charred and
granulated cork is rubbed, ground, and sifted so as to be deprived of
particles of dust and other foreign matter. It is then mixed with
pieces of caoutchouc, or gutta percha, or both, after which the mixture
is subjected to the action of heated rolls or kneaders until the caoutchouc
or gutta percha is reduced to a pasty and sticky condition and becomes
intimately incorporated with the cork.
The said product or composition may be moulded into a variety of
light useful and ornamental forms, boot or shoe heels, for instance,
or even entire loots and shoes, may be moulded or otherwise worked
to the desired shape from a composition in which there is an equal
weight of the two materials.
The composition may be rolled into sheets from which wearing
apparel, floorcloths, and other articles may be manufactured.
As the composition effectually resists moisture it may be used for
roofing purposes, and on account of its lightness for the coverings of
wagons and carriages, and for other like purposes.
It may also be
advantageously employed in the construction of life boats and life buoys,
and also in the construction of car and carriage springs.
The combination of the charred cork and caoutchouc may be effected
during the preparation of the latter for manufacturing purposes, and
instead of softening the rubber by heat it may be treated with the usual
solvents, or may be reduced to a pasty condition by macerating it in
sulphide of carbon. Sulphur may also be mixed with the composition
so that the latter may be used for steam packing, as it admits of being
more or less vulcanized.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the
said Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used
or carried into effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I
consider to be novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention
secured to me by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent
is.-
First. The herein described new product or manufacture consisting
of cork charred or roasted and granulated in the manner and for the
poses described.

page_text: Second. The peculiar composition consisting of charred or roasted
cork and caoutchouc or gutta percha or both with or without the
addition of sulphur, as and for the purposes herein-before described.
In witness whereof. I, the said John Henry Johnson, have this
my Specification set my hand and seal, the Seventeenth day of
September One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight.
J. HENRY JOHNSON. (L.S.)