US1314519A - Chusetts - Google Patents

Description

c. H. HOWARD. REINFORCED PAPER FABRIC.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.'23| I918- Patented Sept. 2,1919;

In ent or MM M orn UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES H. HOWARD, OF SAUGUS, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR T PAPER PRODUCTS MACHINE COMPANY, 015 BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSA- CHUSETTS.

REINFORCED PAPER FABRIC.

Patented Sept. 2, 1919.

Application filed March 23, 1918. Serial No. 224,191.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES H. HOWARD,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Saugus, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improve ment in Reinforced Paper Fabrics, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a speci fication, like characters on the drawings representing like parts.

The invention to be hereinafter described relates to composite fabrics, and more particularly to such fabrics wherein the component parts are formed of wood shavings.

An object of the present invention is to provide a flexible fabric from thin shavings of wood laid lengthwise side by side in parallel relation, and having superposed thereon another series of wood shavings similarly arranged, the two being adhesively secured together to form a composite fabric flexible in all directions under normal atmospheric and heat conditions.

Heretofore, it has been common to provide thin sheets of wood such as veneer, for instance, and to secure such sheets of wood together in superposed relation to provide a composite but non-flexible character of board substitute. It has also been proposed heretofore to form a board substitute by superposing a multitude of alternate layers of thin wood and fabric, the mass being held together by suitable securing means. The

present invention, however, is distinguished from all these in that it contemplates the formation of very thin shavings of wood which, under ordinary atmospheric and heat conditions, are individually flexible in all directions and to arrange such thin shavings of wood in parallel relation side by side with a superposed similar layer of shavings adhesively secured thereto, thus producing a composite fabric which, under ordinary atmospheric and heat conditions, is flexible in all directions.

The fabric thus produced is serviceable as a substitute for wrap ers, such, for instance, as paper or woven fabrics, and owing to the initial thinness of the wood shavings, such composite fabric is rendered substantially as flexible in all directions as the paper or woven fabrics.

While the main characteristic of the invention is embodied in a fabric formed wholly of thin wood shavings arranged and secured each as specified, the invention also contemplates adhesively securing such flexible shavings of wood to a backing such as paper, the adhesive being preferably formed as a waterproof material so that a composite fabric is provided flexible in all directions and possessing great strength, durability, and waterproof character.

In the drawings 2- Figure 1 represents a composite fabric on a magnified scale, showing the two series of thin shavings arranged in superposed relation at right angles to each other;

Fig. 2 shows a cross section of the fabric represented by Fig. 1, on the line 2-2, Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 shows a composite fabric embodying the present invention, wherein the series of superposedflexible shavings are secured to a flexible backing such as paper or the like; and

Fig. 4 is a cross section on the line H of Fig. 3.

The shavings which are used to form the flexible composlte fabric of the present invention, are very thin, so thin, in fact, that under ordinary atmospheric and heat conditions, the shavim is flexible in all directions. Such flexibility inheres to the thin shavings without the application of moisture or heat, as is usually necessary where wood is to be bent to conform to any desired shape. A series of shavings such as specified, are arranged in parallel relation substantially as represented at 1, Fig. 1. These shavings may vary in width, and as the adjacent edges of the shavings wlll be more or less ragged and uneven, of course, owing to the initial thinness in the shaving itself, it is practically impossible to make a uniform, straight ed e. the refore arranged in parallel relation with their adjacent edges 2 slightly separated in order that there shall be no overlying portions of the arallel series of shavings.

Superpose upon the series of shavings 1 The series of thin shavings l are is another series of thin shavings 3 which, like the shavings 1 hereinbefore described, are sufficiently thin to present flexibility in all directions under ordinary atmospheric and heat conditions. The shavings 3, like the shavings l, and the edges thereof as at 4, are separated somewhat in order to avoid overlying portions of the shavings of a series which would tend to destroy the flexibility of the final product.

The two series of thin shavings 1 and 3 as represented in Fig. 1, are superposed andsecured together by a suitable adhesive between their surfaces. This adhesive may be of various kinds, but is preferably waterproof in character in order that the composite fabric in addition to its flexibility in all directions, may provide a waterproof covering for objects about which it may be placed.

The thin shavings 1 and 3 may be provided in various lengths. It is possible, of course, to make them of considerable length or to make them short as circumstances may dictate, but in any event, it is desirable that there shall be no overlapping portions of the thin shavings forming either series. For instance, in Fig. 1, the end of a shaving is represented at 5 and the opposed end of the continuing shaving is represented at 6, the

' two ends being separated somewhat in order to avoid overlapping portions. Similarly, with respect to the series of shavings 3, the end 7 of one shaving-will be separated a slight distance from the end 8 of the lengthwise continuing shaving. Thus throughout the entire .flexible fabric, the shavings which are so thin as to permit flexibility o the fabric in all directions, have no overlying portions either along the edges of the shavings of either series, or at the abutting ends of the shavings of either series. A

It may sometimes be desirable to adhesively secure the shavings of either one or both series to a backing. This is especially true where the final flexible composite fabric is to be employed for holding granular or powdered material. In such event, either series of shavings may be adhesively secured to a paper or other fabric backing. This feature of the invention is represented in Figs. 3 and 4: wherein 9 and 10 represent an overlying and an underlying paper back ing to which the series of flexible shavings are secured.

The fabric composed of the construction described presents an excellent substitute for paper, and is especially serviceable and advantageous where additional strength is desired. It is a well-known fact that although the shavings may be very thin, as hereinbefore described, they resist any force tending to rupture them by pulling lengthwise in the direction of the fiber. The fabric of the present invention, therefore, lends itself with peculiar advantage as a substitute for paper and other fabrics where additional strength is desirable while malntalning flexibility of the fabric as a whole.

What is claimed is 1. A composite fabric formed of a series of wood shavings laid flatwise side by side in substantially parallel relation with the adjacent edges of the parallel shavings separated, a second series of wood shavings laid flatwise side by side in substantially parallel relation and superposed upon the first series at an angle thereto, the shavings of both of the series being sufliciently thin to be flexible in all directions without rupture, and an adhesive securing the two series in established relation to form a flexible wood fabric.

2. A composite fabric formed of a series of wood shavings laid flatwise side by side in substantially parallel relation with the adjacent edges of the parallel shavings separated, a second series of wood shavings laid flatwise side by side in substantially parallel relation and superposed upon the first series at an angle thereto, the shavings of both of the series being sufficiently thin to i be flexible inall directions without rupture, an adhesive securing the two series in established relation to form a flexible wood fabric, and a backing of paper or similar fabric to which the shavings are adhesively secured by waterproof material.

3. A composite fabric formed of a series of wood shavings laid flatwise side by side in substantially parallel relation with the adjacent edges of the shavings separated, a second series of wood shavings laid flatwise side by side in substantially parallel relation with their edges separated and superposed upon the first series at an angle thereto, the shavings of both series to be Sllfi'lciently thin to be flexible in all directions under ordinary atmospheric and heat conditions without rupture, and an adhesive securing the two series in established relation to form a flexible wood fabric.

4. A composite fabric formed of a series of wood shavings laid flatwise side by side in substantially parallel relation with the adjacent edges of the shavings separated, a second series of Wood shavings laid flatwise side by side in substantially parallel relation with their edges separated and superposed upon the first series with the lengthwise dimensions of the shavings of the first and second series at right angles, the shavings of both series to be sufficiently thin to be flexible in all directions under ordinary atmospheric and heat conditions without rupture, an adhesive securing the two series in ric to which the shavings are adhesively secured. I

5. A composite fabric formed of a series of wood shavings laid flatwise side by side in substantially parallel relation, with their adjacent edges separated, and sufficiently thin to be flexible in all directions without rupture under ordinary atmospheric and heat conditions, a backing of paper or other fabric, and an adhesive securing the series 10 of shavings to the backing.

In testimony whereof have signed my name to this specification.

CHARLES H. HOWARD.

Images