IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF SEATS AND SEAT BACKS FOR CHAIRS, SOFAS, COUCHES, CARRIAGES, AND OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1875

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Charles Pierre Newton Weatherby
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 4th May 1875.-A communication from abroad by Charles
Mason, of the City and State of New York, United States of
America.
I, CHARLES PIERRE NEWTON WEATHERBY, of the City and State of
New York, United States of America, now of No. 8, Southampton
Buildings, London, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF SEATS AND SEAT BACKS FOR CHAIRS,
SOFAS, COUCHES, CARRIAGES, AND OTHER PURPOSES," a communication, to be as
follows:-
My Invention relates to forming the backs and seats of chairs, sofas,
couches, and other furniture, from two or more sheets of paper, or card-
board and cloth, or of wood veneers, or of any two or more of these
materials combined and glued together to form a strong and easy seat
with an elastic effect to the sitter, particularly when they are shaped to
fit the human figure.

page_text: thick. The woven material should be of hemp, linen, or cotton, closely
woven and strong. Four sheets of the paper with one of cloth in the
middle layer will make a seat or back.
The wood veneers should be thin sheets of maple, birch, or other
strong fine grained wood, of which three layers will make a set. Where
it is necessary to lay them side by side the edges should be dressed to
form close fitting joints. The sheets are cut into proper sizes without
being shaped.
Frames, moulds, forms, or dies of iron or wood are prepared and
provided for pressing the sheets into the proper shape for the required.
uses.
The materials are properly matched in sets of three, five, or otherwise,
as required, and piled for glueing.
I use strong glue, with which the inner layers are coated on both
sides, the outer layers receiving glue on the inside only, and they are
laid together with the grains across each other. Several of such sets, say,
six or more, are laid together in a mould or frame, and firmly clamped
into shape and laid aside to dry. The glue will soften the layers so that
the material will readily yield to the mould to take proper shape, and
when dry will retain its form. In this manner cardboard and cloth, or
veneers and cloth, or veneers and paper, may be united.
If properly prepared the pack when removed from the clamps and dry
will be sealed at the edges and form a solid mass. It should be
perforated with holes bored through and through according to any
desired pattern or arrangement. This perforation will ensure friction
and prevent the slipping of the sitters. This combined mass is then with
a frame or band saw cut around the edge when the different layers will
separate into their proper condition.
The next process is to dress off the surfaces with sand paper and coat
the entire work with varnish, the upper sides receiving at least two coats..
For use the seats are cut or sawn to the exact shape required, and
then laid upon the frame of the sofa or other article, to which they are
fastened by brass or other nails with raised heads that may be made
effective and ornamental as desired. The back and seat may be made
separate or in one piece according to the intended application or for
convenience in use. This kind of seat is peculiarly fitted to replace

page_text: worn out or useless chair bottoms, the change being readily and con-
veniently effected, and furnishing a cheap, neat, desirable, and most
agreeable seat for constant use.
The dies or clamps are best made from iron and double with opposite
corners, so as to take both sides, one fitting the shape of the back, while
the seat has a simple gradual depression.