Chapter II (2)

_Claim._—The restoration of caoutchouc, gutta-percha or other similar gums, which have undergone the process of being cured or vulcanized, so that those gums may be capable of being used again as a substitute for native gums, may be capable of being used again as a substitute for native gums of like character, or in combination with such gums, by first treating the vulcanized gum with alkalies, or compounds of alkalies and oils, as potash with any common grease or oil, for extracting the sulphur, &c., and then submitting the mass to heat and turpentine, or any other liquid known to be a solvent of the gum in its natural condition.

_One hundredth_, to Francis Baschnagel, New York, Aug. 14, 1855. For improvement in compositions for treating rubber and gutta-percha.

_Claim._—The conversion or restoration of caoutchouc or gutta-percha, whether they have been vulcanized or not, into a soft, plastic, and workable state, (by a new combination of chemical agents) so that they may be re-manufactured in a state already vulcanized or not, according as the substance converted or restored had or had not been vulcanized; the substances which I use for this purpose being bi-sulphuret of carbon in conjunction with alcohol absolute, and not common alcohol, without the addition of any other chemical agent; and without the application of heat.

_One hundred and first_, to James West, October 30, 1855. For improvement in roofing compositions.

The proportions are: Sixteen ounces naptha, half an ounce of India-rubber, half an ounce of shellac, and half an ounce of gutta-percha dissolved in linseed oil, gum shellac dissolved in alcohol, two ounces “puzzolan” (composed of pulverized glass,) quick lime pulverized and sifted, and two ounces of smalt.

_Claim._—The use of lime in combination with the rubber, gutta-percha, and shellac solutions in the composition, as set forth.

The solution of rubber, gum-shellac, gutta-percha, and the naptha, are to be warmed to blood heat, then the “puzzolan” to be mixed therewith, and immediately to be applied to the roof and rubbed smooth; then the smalt is to be sifted on.

_One hundred and second_, to Charles Rice and Sylvanus H. Whorf, Nov. 13, 1855. For improvement in lasting and applying soles to shoes.

The sole and the upper are first placed together upon a last A, the upper being made to overlap the outer surface of the in-sole, and affixed thereto by cement. The whole being thus prepared, is next placed within the clamping bed, B, and the parts of the latter closed; next the platten of the press is to be depressed, so as to carry the punches.

_Claim._—The holding clamp, B, and last, A, as used together, and in connection with the pressing or punching mechanism, or both, for the purpose of fixing soles to shoes by cement, substantially as set forth.

_One hundred and third_, to Charles Rice and Sylvanus H. Whorf, Nov. 20, 1855. For improved machine for preparing leather for the manufacture of boots and shoes.

_Claim._—The above described mechanism, or machine, for preparing leather for the manufacture of boots and shoes, the whole being arranged and made to operate, substantially in the manner, and for the purpose set forth.

_One hundred and fourth_, to H. G. Tyer and John Helm, New Brunswick, N. J., Jan. 2, 1855. For improvement in processes for making India-rubber cloth.

This improvement consists in subjecting the cloth, which has been previously coated with a layer of India-rubber, suddenly to a degree of heat from 140° to 180° Fah. By this sudden application of heat while the goods are still in a green, undried state, the camphene used in the cement evaporating very rapidly, and leaves the gum punctured with minute orifices, which are too small to allow the passage of globules of water through them, but are large enough for the passage of air through them.

_Claim._—The peculiar mode, so described, of preparing the uppers of boots and shoes.

_One hundred and fifth_, to Charles Morey, citizen of the United States, residing at Paris, France, Jan. 9, 1855. For improvement in re-working hard rubber compounds.

The material is placed in an iron mould closed and subjected to a powerful pressure. It is then placed between two red-hot iron plates, and thus again introduced into the press. When the mould is sufficiently hot, it is put into cold water until it has become cool. The soldering, after the article is taken from the mould, is performed in the following manner: The broken parts are scraped off; dust of hard vulcanized India-rubber is introduced between the scraped parts; the whole is submitted to a high degree of heat and pressure, whereby the broken parts are united in a perfect manner.

_Claim 1st._—Forming or moulding scrapings, filings, dust, powder, or sheets of hard vulcanized India-rubber, into a compact, solid mass, by means of a high degree of heat and pressure, as above described.

_Second._—The application of dust powder, filings of hard vulcanized India-rubber for soldering or uniting hard vulcanized India-rubber.

_One hundred and sixth_, to Henry G. Tyer and John Helm, Jan. 30, 1855. For improvement in processes for making India-rubber cloth.

The India-rubber compound, (in a plastic state) is introduced at C, between cylinders 1 and 2, as it passes between the said cylinders, and adhering to cylinder 2, is carried round and down until it comes nearly in contact with cylinder 3, when the end of roll of cloth A is inserted between cylinders 2 and 3, and the compound is pressed upon and into the cloth by the action of the cylinders. When the cloth and compound thus united on one side have passed round cylinder 3 until they have have become nearly in contact with cylinder 4, the end of the cloth from roller B is inserted between cylinders 3 and 4 so as to come in contact with the compound on cloth A. The two pieces of cloth, with the compound between them, then pass between cylinders 3 and 4, when the two pieces of cloth become firmly united with the compound.

_Claim._—The process described of making elastic fabrics without a previous preparation of threads, strips, or sheets, or the coating of the cloth by cement.

_One hundred and seventh_, to Sylvanus H. Whorf, assignor to himself and Charles Rice, Jan. 8, 1856. For improvement in the manufacture of boots and shoes.

The inventor says: “I do not claim uniting the sole to the upper by means of cement, made to extend through the upper alone, but what I do claim as my improvement, is the manufacture of a shoe by cementing its sole and upper in extending the cement not only through perforations in the upper, but in and through the perforations made in and through the in-sole or the outer sole, or both, the same presenting great advantages, not only in securing the parts together, but in rendering them water-proof when the cement employed is of a character to resist water.”

_One hundred and eighth_, to G. Tyer and John Helm, New Brunswick, N. J., Jan. 9, 1856. For improvement in making gum-elastic cloth.

_Claim._—An elastic fabric composed of pieces of cloth either woven with the threads of the weft in a diagonal position to the threads of the warp or of common cloth stretched so as to force the threads into such relative diagonal position, combined and caused to adhere together, exclusively by vulcanized compound of India-rubber or gutta-percha, the two pieces of cloth being first united by the vulcanizable compound and the compound being vulcanized after the union.

_One hundred and ninth_, to Sylvanus H. Whorf and Charles Rice, March 4, 1856. For improvement in the application of soles to boots and shoes, by means of pressure, and gutta-percha or other cement.

The nature of this invention will be understood by reference to the claim. The machine for pressing the sole to the upper is illustrated in the engraving, where H represents a hollow last, into which steam can be introduced by means of pipe I; and the sole can be pressed to the upper by means of the pressing apparatus and the platten C.

_Claim._—We are aware that a gutta-percha sole has been applied to a shoe by melting gutta-percha in a mould and subsequently pressing the shoe therein. We, therefore, do not claim such. We are also aware that in book-binders’ presses, and in smoothing irons, the platten of the one, and the body of the other, have been provided with an air-chamber for the reception of either steam or heated air, or other means of heating. We, therefore, do not claim such. As we use heat not for either drying or smoothing alone, but for a different purpose, and in a process of manufacture wherein it has not been before applied, to our knowledge, in the way in which we employ it, being used by us for softening or melting gutta-percha, after it has been applied to a last, as specified; and therefore we claim our improvement in the process of manufacturing and finishing shoes with either gutta-percha soles, or soles formed of leather or other material, and united to the upper and in-sole by means of gutta-percha or its equivalent, and through the agency of pressing mechanism, as specified, our improvement consisting in supplying heat within a last by means of a chamber and pipe and steam or means of heating said last, the same not only enabling the gutta-percha of the sole to be softened or rendered adhesive while it is being pressed upon the in-sole and upper, but also serving to smooth and finish the upper, as described.

_One hundred and tenth_, to Richard McMullin, March 17, 1856. For improvement in processes for making elastic rubber cloth.

_Claim._—Rendering vulcanized India-rubber, for the manufacture of shirred goods, adhesive by boiling it in a solution of potash, to remove the sulphur from its surface, thus fitting the sheet of rubber to receive a coat of cement, whereby it is caused to adhere firmly to the cloth, or other fabric between which it is placed, in the manner and for the purposes substantially as herein set forth.

_One hundred and eleventh_, to John H. Cheever, March 11, 1856. For improvement in the manufacture of India-rubber belting or banding.

_One hundred and twelfth_, to Charles F. Crockett, June 17, 1856. For improvement in making sheets of leather from curriers’ shavings or buffings.

The inventor says: “I do not wish to confine myself to any particular kind of cement, although I found India-rubber cement to answer the best purpose. Curriers’ glass is a good instrument to press the edges together.”

_Claim._—Making sheets of leather of any desired size and thickness of curriers’ shavings or buffings, by lapping and cementing them together while in a moist state, and then subjecting the mass to pressure.

_One hundred and thirteenth_, to Nathaniel Hayward, Colchester, Ct., April 15, 1856. For improvement in the manufacture of India-rubber.

_One hundred and fourteenth_, to Nathaniel Hayward, Colchester, Ct., May 6, 1856. For process of preparing elastic India-rubber cloth.

_Claim._—The producing an elastic fabric of uniform strength by uniting a sheet of rubber with sheets of cloth thinly coated on one side with a vulcanized compound of rubber; the sheet of rubber before it is united with the sheets of cloth being in the modes set forth so prepared that the central part of it is completely vulcanized, while the surfaces are not.

_One hundred and fifteenth_, to A. D. Puffer, Somerville, Mass., May 20, 1856. For improvement in lining metal pipes with gutta-percha.

_One hundred and sixteenth_, to James Reynolds, New York, June 16, 1856. For improvement in Mandrels for making gutta-percha tubing.

_One hundred and seventeenth_, to Austin G. Day, Seymour, Ct., June 10, 1856. For improvement in cleaning India-rubber.

_One hundred and eighteenth_, to James Reynolds, New York, June 10, 1856. For improvement in feed apparatus for working gutta-percha.

_One hundred and nineteenth_, to James Reynolds, New York, July 29, 1856. For improvement in gutta-percha apparatus for covering wire.

_One hundred and twentieth_, to William F. Shaw, Boston, Mass., August 12, 1856. For improvement in treating India-rubber.

_One hundred and twenty-first_, to Jacob H. Howell, Ansonia, Ct., Oct. 21, 1856. For improvement in making India-rubber hose.

_One hundred and twenty-second_, to Henry Forstrick, Hoboken, New York, Oct. 28, 1856. For improvement in working over vulcanized India-rubber.

_One hundred and twenty-third_, to Nathaniel Hayward, Nov. 4, 1856. For improved catch for India-rubber shoes.

_Claim._—The use of a steel rubber or other kind of spring catch of any proper shape, in the heel of an India-rubber over shoe or clog, having a projection or lip extending out horizontally or through the quarter as specified, whereby the over shoe is prevented from slipping at the heel, and is susceptible of being disengaged from the under boot or shoe without using the hands.

_One hundred and twenty-fourth_, to T. Gault, Seymour, Ct., Nov. 11, 1856. For process of cleaning India-rubber.

_One hundred and twenty-fifth_, to Henry Davenport, New York, Dec. 23, 1856. For improvement in machines for cutting India-rubber threads.

_One hundred and twenty-sixth_, to James Reynolds, New York, Dec. 9, 1856. For mode of making gutta-percha cord.

_One hundred and twenty-seventh_, to Charles Goodyear, of New Haven, Conn., June 15, 1844. Re-issued December 25, 1849, in two separate patents, being Nos. 156 and 157 of re-issued Patents, viz. For India-rubber fabrics.

No. 156. PROCESSES FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF INDIA-RUBBER. I claim the curing of caoutchouc or India-rubber by subjecting it to the action of a high degree of artificial heat, substantially as described and for the purpose specified.

And I also claim the preparing and curing the compound of India-rubber, sulphur, and a carbonate of other salt or oxyd of lead by subjecting the same to the action of artificial heat, substantially as described.

No. 157. FELTING INDIA-RUBBER WITH COTTON FIBRE. I claim incorporating the fibres of cotton or other substance with India-rubber by preparing the fibres of a fleece or bat of cotton or other fibrous substance into a sheet of India-rubber in the green state, without subjecting the fibres, after they have been incorporated to a stretching or drawing operation, substantially as described.

_One hundred and twenty-eighth_, to James Reynolds, of New York City. For Machine for making gutta-percha pipes and covering telegraph wires.

This invention is for the purpose of forming, tubing, or coating wires—both operations being substantially alike—by forcing the gutta-percha, while rendered plastic by heat, through a die. The necessary pressure for this purpose is applied by a piston working in a cylinder, in which the material is placed and kept heated, or by other suitable forcing apparatus.

One improvement consists in connecting the cylinder with an air pump, or other suitable exhausting apparatus, whereby any air remaining in the said cylinder after it has been filled as full as possible with gutta-percha and closed, may be extracted before applying the pressure. The manufactured article is thus rendered free from blow holes, and is perfectly firm. This is a result of great importance for small tubing and the covering of fine wire.

A second improvement consists in arranging the die and core by which the tube is produced or the covering of the wire performed, in a position transverse to the direction in which the piston works to produce the pressure, to allow a hollow core to be used for the admission of air into the tube as fast as it is formed, and also to prevent it from collapsing by the formation of a vacuum within. The same arrangement also permits the passage of the wire through the die when it is being covered by the percha.

A third improvement consists in providing the stomach in which the die is placed, with an opening, to allow of the constant escape of a certain quantity of material during the operation. By this means the quality of the manufactured article is rendered more uniform. Without such an arrangement it is almost impossible to produce small tubing or cover fine wire with any degree of uniformity of thickness.

A fourth improvement consists in the employment of a continuously revolving trough of water, suitably arranged to receive the tube or covered wire as fast as it leaves the die, and coil it up in the water to cool it, to prevent the coils from sticking together.

_One hundred and twenty-ninth_, to Thomas C. Wales, of Dorchester, Mass., February 2, 1858. For Water-proof Gaiter Shoes and Boots.

I do not claim the vulcanizing process, nor do I claim making articles of cloth cemented together with rubber cement and afterwards vulcanizing them, nor do I claim making shoes partly of leather and partly of cloth, the same being made by connecting the leather and cloth together by water proof caoutchouc cement, as such when made partly of leather cannot be vulcanized, owing to the fact that the great heat required in the vulcanizing process, injures or destroys the leather.

I claim a new or improved manufacture, or water-proof vulcanized rubber and cloth gaiter shoe, made in manner and with its external layer of cloth, and its lining of cloth arranged together, and with respect to the remainder or rubber parts or foxing, substantially as specified.

_One hundred and thirtieth_, to Edwin M. Chaffee, of Providence, R. I., February 26, 1858. For India-rubber Door Mat.

I do not intend to confine myself to the lozenge cells, as it is obvious that square and some other forms will do as well.

Neither do I intend to confine myself to ribs or ridges intersecting each other, as it is evident that ridges forming various figures will answer much the same purpose, such, for instance, as run circular, parallel, serpentine, zig-zag or angular, or any other raised surface of rubber.

Nor do I confine myself to rubber alone as the only gum, as gutta-percha, and other gums may be substituted for it.

I claim the mat as formed by ridges or grating, together with the cells or spaces, of whatever form, the one to serve as scrapers to clean the foot, and the other to contain the dirt, whether of rubber, gutta-percha, or other flexible gums.

_One hundred and thirty-first_, to Gustavus Cuppers, of College Point, N. Y., July 20, 1858. For manufacture of Hard Rubber Goods.

I wish to have it distinctly understood that I do not claim as my invention the heating or curing process, as it is called, nor the combination of India-rubber and gutta-percha with sulphur, nor any other combination already patented and described.

But I claim the improvement in the hardening or curing process of caoutchouc or India-rubber and of gutta-percha, by which articles, wares, goods and merchandize may be manufactured into any desired size, form or shape, substantially as described.

_One hundred and thirty-second_, to Abraham Brower, of New York City, July, 1858. For Water-proof Cement.

I am aware that water-proof compositions for leather consisting of tallow, suet, wax, rosin, tar, oil, and India-rubber have been employed; these I do not claim of themselves, singly or combined.

I am not aware, however, of shellac or glue ever having been employed in unctuous water-proof compositions for leather; but these I do not claim of themselves in my composition, apart from the other ingredients, as all are required combined, to render it so excellent for the purposes set forth.

What I claim is, the composition composed of all the ingredients described, and in about the proportions for the purpose set forth, the same constituting an improved new and useful article of manufacture.

By a judicious compound of tallow, bees-wax, resin, shellac and glue, the inventor produces a very superior water-proof composition, the leather remains soft and pliable, will take a polish, and repel water very perfectly.

_One hundred and thirty-third_, to Austin G. Day, of Seymour, Conn., August 10, 1858. For treatment of caoutchouc.

I do not claim in the broad, vulcanizing rubber or equivalent gums, and irrespective of the special process used and product made. Therefore—

What I claim is, running the heat for vulcanizing elastic hard rubber compounds as set forth through the several grades of temperature, and the several intervals of time described and illustrated in the specification.

I also claim making, as described, the elastic, hard rubber composition of two parts by weight of rubber, and one part of sulphur, when such composition is made preparatory to the running of the heat through the several grades of time and temperature as set forth in the specification.

I also claim equalizing the temperature in the heating apparatus by mechanical means or by a current of steam, or its equivalent, in the manner set forth.

_One hundred and thirty-fourth_, to Samuel Whitmarsh, of Northampton, Mass. For Composition for Artificial Leather.

I do not claim, broadly, the saturation of cloth and other fabrics in linseed oil containing umber or other substances.

But what I claim is the fabric specified, composed of cotton or other fibrous substance, in a woven or unwoven condition, saturated or coated with a compound of linseed oil and burnt umber that has been prepared as described.

Samuel Whitmarsh, of Northampton, Mass., has invented a new fabric which is intended to supply the place of leather in many of its applications. The fabric is composed of cotton or other fibrous substances either woven into cloth or in an unwoven state, and saturated or coated with a compound of linseed oil and burnt umber, prepared by boiling in every gallon of oil about three pounds of umber in a powdered state, for such a length of time, that the composition when cool will roll in the hands without sticking. The fabric may be made in forms suitable for the soles of boots and shoes, coverings for trunks, traveling bags, cap fronts, or as a substitute for carriage or harness leather, or for machine belting or hose pipe.

The mode of producing the fabric differs to some extent according to the use for which it is designed, but the general principles are in all cases the same. The umber is stirred into the boiled oil until it reaches the point desired, when it is ready to be applied in the manner best calculated to produce special articles.

_One hundred and thirty-fifth_, to O. S. Boyden, and M. C. Fredericks, of Newark, N. J. For Composition for varnishing leather.

We claim the employment in the compounds used in the manufacture of glazed, japanned, or painted leather, cloth, silk, and paper—either wholly or in part as a substitute for camphene or spirits of turpentine—of a paste made of the glutinous properties of flax seed, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

The compounds commonly employed for the first, or first and second coats, in the manufacture of glazed or japanned leather or cloth, is made by boiling a certain quantity of umber in linseed oil, and adding a quantity of lampblack or other coloring matter with a quantity of camphene or spirits of turpentine, about equal to one and a half times that of the linseed oil. O. S. Boyden, and M. C. Fredericks, of Newark, N. J. have invented an improvement on the above composition, which consists in the substitution either wholly or in part for the camphene or spirits of turpentine in the compound, of a paste made by boiling flaxseed, either whole or after the oil has been expressed, and either ground into meal or unground, in water till its glutinous property is extracted. The use of this paste as a substitute for camphene and spirits of turpentine not only reduces the cost of the compound, but also renders the goods more pliable, and less likely to crack.

_One hundred and thirty-sixth_, to Francis Baschnagel, of Beverly, Mass., assignor to the Beverly Rubber Company. For restoring waste vulcanized rubber.

I claim the application of heat from 150° to 600° Fahrenheit, to waste vulcanized rubber with or without immersing it in cold water or any other cooling fluid as specified for the purpose of restoring the same, so that it may be used again in the manufacture of India-rubber goods and substances, hereby expressly disclaiming all and every right to the application of artificial heat to new rubber, vulcanized or not vulcanized, and to the application of heat to rubber in any manner and for any purpose except as above set forth.

DESCRIPTIVE INDEX OF CHEMICAL PATENTS ISSUED BY THE U. S. PATENT OFFICE,
IN 1855-6.

The following is an epitome of the chemical patents issued by the United States in 1855-6. It was prepared by Dr. Daniel Breed, of the U. S. Patent office.

_India-rubber Cloth._—Made pervious to air but not to water by sudden drying (of fresh cement) at 160° Fahrenheit, (evaporation of camphene makes the gum porous): H. G. Tyer, and John Helm, January 2.

_India-rubber and Gutta-percha._—Vulcanized or not, rendered plastic by treatment with “bi-sulphurate” of carbon (?) and absolute alcohol: Francis Baschnagel, August 14.

_India-rubber Cloth._—Made by pressing cloth upon each side of sheet-rubber by means of rollers: H. G. Tyer, and John Helm, January 30.

_India-rubber._—Scraps and powder of hard, vulcanized, moulded and cemented by heat and pressure: Charles Morey, January 9.

_India-rubber, Vulcanized._—Treated with alkalies and oil to remove sulphur: Sigismund Beer, May 29.

_India-rubber._—Crushed, washed, treated with potash, or soda, in vacuum, and washed to purify: A. G. Day, June 10.

_India-rubber Sheet._—With surfaces not vulcanized, united to cloth: Nathaniel Hayward, May 6.

_India-rubber._—Surface of vulcanized made rough, then coated with cement, and heated to 235° to render adhesive: Nathaniel Hayward, April 15.

_India-rubber._—Treatment of sulphured rubber with drying oils; or common rubber with sulphured oils: Wm. F. Shaw, August 12.

_India-rubber._—Treatment of vulcanized with nitric acid and fusel oil, to purify and render adhesive: Henry Forstrick, October 28.

_India-rubber._—Boiling in potash to remove sulphur from the surface of vulcanized and render adhesive: Richard McMullin, March 18.