An Improved Substitute for Whalebone.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Mar., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 17th Dec., 1892-Accepted, 25th Feb., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Substitute for Whalebone.
THOMAS JOSEPH HASLAM, 105 Middle Abbey Street Dublin Saddlers'
Ironmonger do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has for its object the production of a material resembling in
appearance and possessing the valuable qualities of whalebone such as hardness,
strength, elasticity &c. and can be used in the manufacture of whips, corsets,
dresses, surgical appliances, horseshoes, boots and other articles of wear and use.
For this purpose I utilize any suitable fibrous material or materials either in a
teased or matted state, as for instance hairs, fibres, plumes of feathers &c. This
fibrous material is cemented, bonded or otherwise joined together.
In carrying out this invention I take for example the improved substitute for
whalebone which will be here termed "hairbone' as it is generally proposed to be
made suitable for use in the manufacture of whips, dresses, corsets, &c. In this:
case preference is given to hair, fibre, or a mixture of both which may either be
used singly or spun into threads to form filaments. These filaments are arranged
longitudinally to form layers of any desired form, width or length, and each layer.
is placed one above the other to any desired thickness, the whole being bonded
or held together with a material such as celluloid or any other suitable material or
materials.
Dated this 16th day of March 1892.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Substitute for Whalebone.
I, THOMAS JOSEPH HASLAM of No. 105 Middle Abbey Street, Dublin,
Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement :-
This invention has for its object the production of a material resembling in
appearance and possessing the valuable qualities of whalebone such as hardness,
strength, elasticity, flexibility, etc., and can be used in the manufacture of whips,
corsets, dresses, surgical and electrical appliances, horseshoes, boots, and other
articles of wear and use.
In carrying out this invention I take for example the improved substitute for
whalebone which will be here termed "hairbone," as it is generally proposed to be
made suitable for use in the manufacture of whips, dresses, corsets, etc. In this
case preference is given to hair, fibre, or a mixture of both which may either be
used singly or spun into threads, or cemented together by suitable cementing
material such as a solution of caoutchouc in naphtha to form filaments. These
filaments or single fibres are arranged longitudinarily in layers of any desired form
width or length and each layer is placed one above the other to any desired
thickness the whole being bonded or held together with some suitable material
preferably caoutchouc, previously treated and incorporated with sulphur, gutta
percha, asphalte, shellac, chalk etc., as in the ordinary preparation of that body for
the manufacture of vulcanised indiarubber, vulcanite, or ebonite. Thin layers of
caoutchouc, after necessary treatment and incorporation with the necessary
materials previous to the process of vulcanization, are interposed between the
layers of hair or fibre above described. The whole can then be placed in suitable

page_text: moulds and vulcanized. By suitably adjusting the proportions of caoutchouc,
sulphur, etc., and by properly adjusting the temperature and duration of vulcani-
zation, just as in the ordinary processes for the manufacture of rubber goods,
"hairbone" of varying degrees of flexibility and hardness, according to the
particular use intended for it may be obtained.
Instead of arranging all the layers of hair or fibre longitudinally as above
described, it will be found more advantageous for some of the uses to which
"hairbone" can be put, to arrange the layers of hair or fibre alternately longi-
tudinally and transversely, or the filaments or single fibres may be interlaced
longitudinally and transversely.
For inferior kinds of "hairbone" the fibrous material may be used in a matted
or felted state and incorporated with the bonding material or cement substantially
as above described.
Besides the bonding material above described any suitable cement or adhesive
material which softens by heat and hardens on cooling, or which when wholly
or partially in solutions, hardens, on evaporation of the solvent, or which hardens
and sets under pressure, with or without accompanying heat, may be employed
according to the purpose for which the "hairbone" may be required.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
"
1st. The herein described elastic material termed "hairbone to be used as a
substitute for whalebone and which is composed of hairs, fibres, or a mixture of
both, arranged substantially as described and cemented or otherwise bonded
together.
2nd. An elastic or flexible material or stiffner to be used in the manufacture of
whips, corsets, dresses, surgical and electrical appliances, and any other articles of
wear or use in which whalebone, rubber, steel, bone, horn, or other substitutes for
whalebone have been or can be used.
3rd. A homogeneous material of a horny appearance capable of being moulded
or pressed in any required shape or form and can be used in the manufacture of
such articles as horseshoes, etc.
4th. A flexible waterproof material capable of being made into boards, sheets,
tubes, rods etc.
Dated this 16th day of December 1892.