IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ELASTIC FABRICS
Year: 1857

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Horace Hollister Day, of New York, in the United
States of America, India-rubber Manufacturer and Merchant, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ELASTIC FABRICS."
Sealed the 18th December 1857, and dated the 18th June 1857.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Horace Hollister Day at
thic Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
18th June 1857.
I, HORACE HOLLISTER DAY, of New York; in the United States of
America, India-rubber Manufacturer and Merchant, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF
ELASTIC FABRICS," to be as follows:-
My Invention of improvements in the manufacture of clastic fabrics
relates to an economical, simple, and easy method of producing elastic fabrics
of a width sufficient for gussets, side pieces of boots and shoes, horse and
saddle girths, bands, braces, belts, and other similar articles; all the fabrics:
for which these articles (for whatever purpose they are employed), are com-
posed, are made upon the same principle. Fabrics of various kinds may be
used to produce my improved elastic fabric, the particular kind of fabric
depending in a great measure upon the description of article intended to be
produced. One mode consists in uniting two woven fabrics together by means

page_text: of a solution of india-rubber or of a sheet of rubber placed between them.
The two fabrics are firmly connected together by being passed between
pressing rollers or plates, which will press the india-rubber surfaces together
and cause them to unite firmly. These rollers or plates may be heated by
steam or otherwise if desired, and the surfaces of one of the pressing rollers
or plates must be grooved diagonally, so that when the compound fabric has
been passed between the pressing rollers or plates it will present the appear-
ance of a number of raised cords or stripes extending diagonally across the
fabric.
These raised cords or stripes which correspond with the diagonal grooves on
the rollers or plates, will of course contain india-rubber which imparts elasticity
to the compound fabric, which although composed externally of fabrics made
of non-elastic strands may be stretched diagonally to a moderate extent. The
piece of goods is therefore cut up diagonally or in a direction parallel to the.
raised cords or stripes into pieces of the required width.
It will be evident, that if desired the pressing rollers, or plates may be
grooved diagonally in opposite directions, or in other directions.
Another mode of producing an elastic fabric is by taking two knitted fabrics,
and uniting them together by means of a solution of india-rubber, or of a
sheet of rubber or other elastic material or composition with which they are
combined, by passing the knitted fabrics between grooved pressing rollers or
plates. Or only one knitted or woven fabric may be used, and a sheet or
film of rubber or elastic material or composition is caused to adhere to
the back of the fabric, and the outer face of the rubber or composition is
then covered with flock, after which the elastic fabric is passed between
grooved plates or rollers for the purpose of producing cords or stripes thereon.
If required plain fabrics may be ornamented by printing thereon any device
or pattern; or the surface may be embossed with any device, which may be cut
or engraved on the pressing rollers or plates.
By making suitable provision the non-clastic or textile fabrics may be
united by means of strips or bands of india-rubber placed between them, and
then passing the compound fabric between pressing rollers or plates, for the
purpose of ensuring the attachment of the surfaces. When the compound
fabric has been produced it must be vulcanized in the well-known way, so as
to render it inalterable to heat or cold.