US2218740A

US2218740A - Process of producing imitation tree bark

Info

Publication number: US2218740A
Application number: US254226A
Authority: US
Inventors: William H Burke
Original assignee: ROBERT C WARE
Current assignee: ROBERT C WARE
Priority date: 1939-02-02
Filing date: 1939-02-02
Publication date: 1940-10-22
Anticipated expiration: 1957-10-22

Description

Oct. 22, 1940. w, BURKE PROCESS OF PRODUCING IMITATION TREE BARK Filed Feb. 2, 1959 Patented Oct.

UNITED "STATES PATIENT OFFICE William" H. Burke, Superior, Wis., 'assignor of one-half to Robert Oi Ware, Minneapolis, Minn.

Application February 2, 1939, Serial No.-254,226

V Y 6 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in an imitation tree bark orother objects having a multiplicity of surface formations and in the process of producing the same.

It isan object of; this invention to provide an imitation tree bark for use in the production of natural appearing tree trunks, limbs, stumps, logs, rails and the like.

A further object of the invention is to provide such an object that is flexible, self sustaining, that can be spread out fiat, rolled, and thus held or shaped around a frame, for instance, a tree trunk forming frame, a column, or other support.

Other objects of the invention will hereinafter appear. I

To the above end, generally stated, the invention consists of the novel construction and. the arrangement of parts and. the process of producing the same.

In the accompanying drawing, which illustrates the invention, like characters indicate like parts throughout the several views.

- Referring to the drawing:

Fig. l is a face view showing a sheet of the improved imitation tree bark;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the backing having a portion of its surface covered with fillers;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of one of the facing strips;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view in section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1, on an enlarged scale;

Fig. 5 is a view, on an enlarged scale, of one of the fillers in the process of being rolled;

Fig. 6 is an edge elevation of the filler shown in Fig. 5; I

Fig. '7 is a view of the completed fillers, bent to prevent the same from unrolling; and

Fig. 8 is a modification showing a different type of filler.

It is thought that this invention will bebest understood by a detailed description of the different steps in the process of making the imitation tree bark, which as shown, consists of a backing or base 9 of heavy kraft paper, a plurality 5 of fillers l0, and a facing comprising a plurality.

of strips of cloth ll, such as cambric or other suitable flexible material. It will of course bev understood that this backing 9, may be made from cloth, wall board, or wood in sheet form 50 as a foundation.

The filler l0, shown in Figs. 5-6 and 7, is formed by rolling a sheet of paper such as news print or any other soft, absorbent of paper.

In Fig. 8 the filler I2 is made from a piece 55 of hemp rope or long fibres.

The first step in the improved process is in laying the backing 9 flat on a table or other suitable support. The second step in the process is the dipping of the fillers H! in a liquid adhesive and in placing the same on the backing 9, inrows at odd intervals and also in'bending one or more of the fillers to circular form to form the foundation for a depression or knot hole. I

The adhesive in which the fillers ID are dipped of course secures said fillers to the backing 9, and when this adhesive is dry the third step in the improved process is started which consists of immersing one of the facing strips ll in a liquid adhesive sothat the same is thoroughly saturated therewith and then in spreading and stretching this strip over asectionof the back- I ing 9 and on the respective filler l0. The fourth step in the improved process consists of shaping the facing strip H over the fillers ill and during this process the round fillers 10 are pinched to flatten or elongate the same to take out the regularity thereof. The facing strip II is also pressed onto the backing 9 between the fillers l0 and puckered and shaped to give the facing strip H a bark like surface. This fourth step in the process is repeated until the entire surface of the backing 9 is covered with the facing strips II.

The adhesive with which the facing strips II are saturated, secure said strips tothe backing '9 and the fillers I0 and when dry stiffens said strips so that the bark like surface is hard and the formations therein will retain their shape.

v Finally the facing strips Hare painted to represent the bark of a given tree. v

The liquid adhesives heretofore referred to may beany suitable sizing that forms a suitable binder between the backing 9, fillers'lll and facing strips l l and stiffen said facing strips so that the bark like formations thereon will retain their shape.

From the above description it is evident that thecomplete product is capable of being rolled or shaped around a suitable form without damage thereto. It is also evident that the improved product is self-sustaining and will retain its shape.

From the foregoing, it will be understood that the structures described above are capable of modifications within the spirit of the invention disclosed and claimed.

What I claim is:

l. The process of producing a plurality of formations on a product consisting; first in providing a backing and a pliable facing therefore; second in rolling a filler from a piece of paper and in laying the same on the backing; third in applying a sizing to the facing and in applying the facing to the backing and over the filler; and finally in shaping the facing over the filler in applying pressure to the filler to distort the same and in puckering the facing to produce formations thereon. 1

2. The process of producing a plurality of formations on a product consisting; first in providing a backing and a pliable facing therefore; second in rolling a filler from an absorbent sheet and in laying the same on the backing and in securing the same in place by an adhesive; third in applying a sizing to the facing and in applying the facing to the backing and over the filler; and finally in shaping the facing over the filler, in applying pressure to the filler to distort the same and in puckering the facing to produce formations thereon.

3. The process defined in claim 2 in which the filler is dipped in the adhesive.

4. The process of producing a plurality of formations on a product consisting; first in providing a backing and a fabric facing therefore; second in rolling a plurality of fillers from absorbent sheets and in bending the same to prevent the same from unrolling; third in dipping the fillers in a liquid adhesive and laying the same on the backing; fourth in applying a sizing to the facing and in applying the facing to the backing over the fillers; and finally in shaping the facing over the fillers, and applying pressure to the fillers through the facing to distort the same and in puckering the facing to produce formations thereon.

5. The process of producing a formation on a product consisting, first, in providing a backing, a pliable filler that is relatively long and primarily substantially straight, and a pliable facing; second in laying the filler on the backing, in bending the same to give a desired formation thereto and in securing the same to the backing by an adhesive; and finally, in applying a sizing to the facing and laying the facing on the backing over the filler, and thereafter in shaping the facing around the filler.

6. The process of producing a formation on a product consisting, first in providing a backing and a pliable facing therefor; second in rolling a filler from a piece of paper; third in applying an adhesive to the filler, in laying the filler on the backing and in bending the same to give a desired formation thereto; and finally, in applying a sizing to the facing, in laying the facing on the backing over the filler and thereafter in shaping the facing around the filler.

WILLIAM H. BURKE.