CERTAIN APPLICATIONS OF VULCANIZED INDIA-RUBBER
Year: 1853

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Henry Johnson, of 47, Lincoln's Inn
Fields, in the County of Middlesex, and of Glasgow, North
Britain, Gentleman, for the Invention of "CERTAIN APPLICATIONS
OF VULCANIZED INDIA-RUBBER."-A communication from Charles
Eugene François Guibal, of Paris, in the Empire of France,
Manufacturer.
Sealed the 26th May 1854, and dated the 1st December 1853.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Henry Johnson
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 1st December 1853.
I, JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County
of Middlesex, and of Glasgow, North Britain, Gentleman, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "CERTAIN APPLICATIONS
OF VULCANIZED INDIA-RUBBER," Communicated to me from Charles
Eugene Francois Guibal, of Paris, in the Empire of France, Manufac-
turer, to be as follows:-
This Invention consists in the application of vulcanized india-rubber

page_text: to the manufacture of curry combs, brushes of all kinds, and artificial
cloth. The caoutchouc is mixed with a composition of sulphur and
oxyde of zinc, and formed into a sheet. which is then moulded by
suitable moulds into the form required, being heated by steam stoves
or other means. In manufacturing curry combs, the india-rubber is
moulded on one side into a rough surface, and the other side left plain,
for the attachment of a stiff and rigid handle or back, which is fitted
with a strap to secure it to the hand. In making tooth and other
brushes, the bristles or hairs are replaced by the employment of a
series of tufts of india-rubber, formed like bristles. These tufts are
inserted into the foundation or back of the brush when in the mould,
such back being composed also of india, and attached to any suitable
holder. By this means the tufts are securely held in the back, since
they are entirely incorporated with it. The cloth composed of this
material may be made either single or double, that is, with one or two
faces. In the manufacture of single cloth, a cotton, wool, or silk fabric
is employed, which is thinly coated with india-rubber, incorporated with
any material conducive to its eventual vulcanization. The layer is
then rendered adhesive by heating, and a nap of any kind of colour
desired is laid on to its surface, the adhesion to which is afterwards
rendered complete by pressure. The same process is simply repeated
for double faced cloth. Various objects, whether of different fabrics or
of caoutchouc itself, may be made to assume the appearance of cloth
by the above method. In addition to the vulcanizing mixture coloring
powders are employed, in order to give as nearly as possible the same
tint to the india-rubber as the pile or nap on its surface. For dark
colours of black, carbonate of lead may be employed; and for the lighter
tints, oxyde of zinc is used; for reds, blues, &c., vermillion and ultra-
marine, &c. may be employed.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John Henry Johnson in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 1st June 1854.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of
Middlesex, and of Glasgow, North Britain, Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the First day of December, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three, in the
seventeenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, 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 I, tho 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 "CERTAIN APPLICATIONS OF VULCANIZED INDIA-
RUBBER," a communication from Charles Eugene François Guibal, of
Paris, in the Empire of France, Manufacturer, upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said John Henry Johnson, 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 my said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement, reference being had to the
accompanying Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked thereon,
that is to say:-
The said Invention relates to certain applications of caoutchouc, and
consists of the application of vulcanized india-rubber to the manufacture

page_text: of curry combs, brushes of all kinds, and artificial cloth. The caout-
chouc is mixed with a composition of sulphur and oxyde of zinc, and
formed into a sheet, which is then moulded by suitable moulds into the
form required, being heated by steam stoves or other means. In
manufacturing curry combs, the india-rubber is moulded on one side
into a rough surface, and the other side left plain for the attachment
of a stiff and ridged handle or back, which is fitted with a strap to
secure it to the hand. In making tooth and other brushes, the bristles
or hairs are replaced by the employment of a series of tufts of india-
rubber formed like bristles. These tufts are inserted into the foundation
or back of the brush when in the mould, such back being composed
also of india-rubber, and attached to any suitable holder. By this
means the tufts aro securely held in the back, since they are entirely
incorporated with it. The cloth composed of this material may be
made either single or double, that is, with one or two faces. In the
manufacture of single cloth, a cotton, wool, or silk fabric is employed,
which is thinly coated with india-rubber, incorporated with any material
conducive to its eventual vulcanization. The layer is then rendered
adhesive by heating, and a nap of any kind of color desired is laid on
to its surface, the adhesion to which is afterwards rendered complete
by pressure. The same process is simply repeated for double faced
cloth. Various objects, whether of different fabrics or of caoutchouc
itself, may be made to assume the appearance of cloth by the above
method. In addition to the vulcanizing mixture, coloring powders
are employed in order to give as nearly as possible the samo tint to
the indian-rubler as the pile or nap on its surface. The dark colors
or black, carbonate of lead may be employed; and for the lighter tints,
oxyde of zinc is used. For reds, blues, &c., vermillion, ultramarine, &c.
may be employed.
In order to prepare the caoutchouc, and render it suitable for the
construction of the above-mentioned articles, it is incorporated with
substances tending eventually to assist its subsequent vulcanization, and
to render it sufficiently hard for the articles it may be intended to
construct. For this purpose the caoutchouc already mixed is placed
in a mould, which is then heated to a temperature sufficient to produce
the necessary degree of vulcanization. For incorporating or mixing

page_text: the vulcanizing materials with the caoutchouc, any of the known
processes may be employed, either heated cylinders or rollers, or by
any other apparatus by which the mixing is effected, by kneading or
heat; or any of the known dissolvents may be made use of to reduce
the caoutchouc to a paste, with which the mixture of the ingredients
may be more readily effected. Among the various materials which
may be added to and mixed with the caoutchouc, the following com-
position is preferred, which not only gives a white appearance to the
caoutchouc, but is also a good vulcanizing agent. This composition is
composed of one part of sulphur, nine parts of oxyde of zinc, and nine
parts of caoutchouc. The above mixture being composed, it is rolled
or otherwise formed into a sheet of any suitable convenient size, and
moulded into the required shape. The interior of the mould is
powdered with talc or other suitable powder to prevent adhesion, and
a portion of the sheet of caoutchouc is pressed into the cavity thereof.
The mould is then closed, and the two parts are held together by any
convenient means. The degree of heat which it is necessary to employ
to effect the vulcanization will vary, according to the duration of the
operation. The material is heated in steam for about two hours, or in
place of employing steam of a certain pressure as a heating agent, a
stove may be used, or the mould may be immersed into fluid or metal
in a heated or molten state, to obtain the necessary degree of heat.
Fig. 1 of the accompanying Sheet of Drawings represents a face view
of a curry comb composed principally of vulcanized caoutchouc, and
Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the same; Fig. 3 is a face view of
a washing board composed also to a great extent of vulcanized caout
chouc, and Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section of the same; Figs. 5 and 6
represent the application of the above material to brushes, the Drawings
shewing a front and side view of a tooth brush.
The curry comb, which is represented full size in the Drawing,
consists of a piece of vulcanized caoutchouc A, having a plane surface
at a, and a rugged and uneven surface at a'. The surface shewn in
the Drawing is preferred, as being the most efficacious. In order to
give more rigidity to the article, a piece of gutta percha or other stiff
material is fitted to the back of the caoutchouc at B, having a leather
strap C, attached thereto, to placo the band in when using the comb.

page_text: The stiffening material may generally be composed of gutta percha,
mixed with a small proportion of caoutchoue. The washing board
shown in Figs. 3 and 4, is composed of a slab of vulcanized caoutchouc
C, having a plane surface at c, and a rough uneven surface at c',
similar to the rough surface of the curry comb. The caoutchouc is
fixed on to a board D, to increase its rigidity. The size of the board
is of course regulated according to the size of the tub or other washing
vessel. This washing board is intended to supersede the wooden
boards which are placed inside the tub in an inclined position, and
serve as a support to press the linen against by hand, at the same time
that it is rubbed over its uneven surface, to effect the cleaning of the
linen. The furrowed surface of the board contributes greatly to the
cleaning of the linen, at the same time that its elasticity prevents
the wearing and tearing of the same, arising from the use of wooden
boards.
In tooth brushes and brushes of all kinds the bristles are replaced
by short stiff threads of vulcanized caoutchouc E, which, by their
elasticity and resistance, fulfil the object required. These caoutchouc
threads are placed in the mould and become incorporated at their
lower ends with the foundation c, of the brush, which is composed also
of the same material, and serves to attach the head of the brush to the
handle F.
In the manufacture of artificial cloth, which may be made either with
one or two faces, a thin layer of caoutchouc is spread upon a web of
cotton, wool, silk, or other similar material, the caoutchouc being previ-
ously mixed with the necessary materials to produce its ultimate vuleau-
ization. The application may be effected by any of the known arrange-
ments, the caoutchouc being mixed with any of the ingredients above
mentioned, and softened either by heated rollers or any of the known
dissolvents. The caoutchouc having been applied on to the surface of
the cloth in a thin layer as above described, its surface is rendered
adhesive by means of heat or some suitable dissolvent, and is powdered
over with flock or cloth shearings of any desired color. This flock is
effectually incorporated with the caoutchouc by the aid of pressing
rollers, which press upon the surface of the flock and force it into the
caoutchouc. In this state the fabric is exposed to the action of a

page_text: sufficient degree of heat to effect the vulcanization of the caoutchouc,
and the superabundant amount of flock which may not have adhered
thoroughly to the caoutchouc.
In the manufacture of artificial cloth with a double face the caout-
chouc is laid or spread' upon, both sides of the foundation fabric, and
sprinkled with flock, as before described.
A similar appearance may be given to articles of various kinds
composed of caoutchouc or other materials, the surface being coated
with caoutchouc, and the flock applied thereto, as herein-before described.
In order that the color of the caoutchouc may resemble that of the
flock applied thereto, coloring ingredients may be mixed with it.
Thus, for the dark tints, carbonato of lead may be mixed with the
caoutchouc, which will then turn black, after the vulcanizing process;
for light tints, oxyde of zinc may be employed; and for reds, blues,
and yellows, vermillion, ultramarine, and orpiment may be used.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of
the said Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may i be
used or carried into effect, I would observe, in conclusion, that I do
not confine or restrict myself to the precise details or arrangements
which I have. had occasion to describe or refer to, as many variations
may be made therefrom, without deviating from the principles or main
features of the said Invention. But 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,-
The application and use of vulcanized caoutchouc employed in the
manner and for the purposes herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Henry Johnson, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, the First day of June, One thousand
eight hundred and fifty-four.