US2652352A

US2652352A - Process of making embossed article and product thereof

Info

Publication number: US2652352A
Application number: US41058A
Authority: US
Inventors: Alan E Murray
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1948-07-28
Filing date: 1948-07-28
Publication date: 1953-09-15
Anticipated expiration: 1970-09-15

Description

Sept. 15, 1953 A, E, MURRAY 2,652,352

PRocEss o? MAKING EMBossED ARTICLE AND PRODUCT THEREOF Filed July 2s, 194s 2 sneerssneet 1 INVENTOR `BaYn E. Mul-ra] AT'roRN A. E. MURRAY.l

Sept. 15,1953

PROCESS OF MAKING EMBOSSED ARTICLE AND PRODUCT THEREOF Fild .July 23, 194s l 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Sept. 15, 1953 UNITED `STATES PATENT OFFICE PROCESSOF MAKING EMBOSSED ARTICLE AND PRODUCT THEREOF Alan E. Murray, New York, N. Y.

Application July 28, 1948, Serial N o. 41,058

14 Claims. 1

My invention relates particularly to a process and products thereof whereby articles of sheet material of unusual properties may be produced and at a comparatively low cost with a minimum amount of labor, as for instance blotters, book covers, writing table accessories, brief cases, belts, handbags, articles of clothing, leather jackets, gloves, gauntlets,` shoes, etc.

An object of my invention is to produce articles of this character having a long life and which are not subject to the `usual amount of wear by abrasion or otherwise. Another object is to provide embossing which has a high relief but which is, nevertheless, sustained and maintained by materials which are oan elastic character, and which may have a backing on which the elastic embossing is supported. Further objects of my invention will appear from the detailed description of the same hereinafter, whereby accurate embossings can be obtained.

While my invention is capable of embodiment in many different forms and is capable of being carried out in many different ways, for the pur-` pose of illustration I have shown only certain forms of the products and apparatus for producing the same in accordance with my invention in the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. l shows a plan view of an embossed sheet material, such as leather, secured to a blotter, made in accordance with my invention for making` group or mass-produced articles;

Fig. 2 is a cross-section of the same, taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1; l

Fig. 3 is a vertical section of an apparatus used in connection with a hydraulic or other press for producing` the same, taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 4; l

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the apparatus shown as removed from `the hydraulic press illustrated in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of a sheet of paper having a design thereon `corresponding to the embossing shown in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 6 is a plan view of a blotter carrying an embossed leather thereon having an inscription made in accordance with a modification of my process for producing individualized articles, not necessarily to be made by mass production.

In the drawings, for example referring first to Figs. 1 to 5, I have shown a sheet of leather I, preferably such as soft kid or morocco or soft calf skin, which has been treated and processed in accordance with my invention, having an embossed margin 2 around the edge of the same as Well as an embossed inscription 3 thereon, the

margin 2 and inscription 3 being in high relief, and the `same being secured to one or more layers of blotting paper 4 as hereinafter described.

In producing the embossed sheet leather I, I y

first make a design 4 for producing an accurate embossing, as for example a signature or name in handwriting, with a pencil on a sheet of paper li. Thereupon, I trace the design 5 with carbon paper onto a rigid fiat plate of smooth, preferably absorbent, material such as wood, fibre board, cardboard, etc., as for example a laminated ply-wood, l. With a narrow brush I then go over the design on thelaminated ply-Wood l so as to apply on the lines of said design a rubber cement of any desired kind, as for instance made of rubber dissolved in a volatile solvent, such as a hydrocarbon, and allow the cement to dry until it becomes tacky. Then I prepare a readily bendable cord of any desired kind, but preferably a hard twisted or woven fish line or chalk line B made of textile fibres, by brushing the said line or cord with more of the said rubber cement and allowing the same to dry until tacky, thus producing a tacky, readily adherent, rubber coated cord. This rubber coated cord is then cut into small pieces of any convenient length, but preferably such as to require two or more pieces thereof for each letter of the signature or name, or of such size that each piece may readily form each of the loops or straight lines of the signature made in a fiat plane, as desired. These pieces of the rubber coated cord 8, while still tacky, are made to adhere end to end, to produce the lines, over lthe tacky outline which has been made on the ply-wood l. The said pieces 8 firmly adhere thereto and the pieces are then pushed around with a blunt stylus until they accurately occupy the exact outlines, as desired, of the inscription, as well as the marginal lines, preparatory to producing the desired lines of the embossing. The tackiness of the cord and the lines on the ply-wood l enable a great deal of accuracy to be attained in conforming the pieces of cord to the desired out-lines, and such as to produce the high relief of the embossing. Then I apply to the surface of the ply-wood 'l carrying the pieces of cord B fixed in place thereon, one or more layers of a hard coating, but preferably about two layers, of a cellulose ester solution comprising cellulose acetate, for example, carried in any desired volatile solvent or solvents, When the solvents have evaporated there remains a hard coating which is not soluble in rubber cement or rubber compositions, and an effective positive die is thus obtainedcomprised of the laminated ply-wood l having thereon the rubber encased cords 8. A negative die il is then formed of a body of compressible elastic vulcanized rubber or articial rubber, preferably neoprene, which may be of any desired thickness but which, for instance, is 1/4 in thickness, or, as for instance, about double the thickness of the laminated ply-wood l. The surface of the rubber plate 9 can be rough or smooth, but preferably in using the die I rst use one face vhich is smooth and then the opposite face which has a pebblelike surface for causing the rubber plate to conform itself completely to the cords 2i and the surface I supporting the cords. Furthermore, the rubber plate 9 may be supported upon a wooden block it, to the upper face of which there are attached, by screws Il, lateral guides it and I3 and longitudinal smaller guides I4 and i5, the said guides being made of wood or of any other desired material, so as to be held in place by the screws I I and the negative die wooden block it. The positive die l and the negative die 9 with its supporting plate I0, can then be placed between upper and lower jaws it and il oi a hand screw press so that any desired amount pressure may be exerted thereon by power or otherwise.

Thereupon, I prepare two solutions of any adhesives desired, but preferably of neoprene latex. In this connection, I use latex, which is a long established well known liquid comprising a pre-vulcanized latex or a self-vulcanizing latex or a pre-vulcanized or self-vulcanized synthetic rubber substitute, as for instance neoprene, in

the form of a liquid, that is to say a water susi pension of the rubber or rubber substitute prepared so as to be selfnvulcanizing when allowed to set. Also, I p refer to use two diiferent strengths or consistencies of the said liquid latex, which may denominate for the purposes herein as #1l-thin neoprene latex having the consistency of thick milk #t2-thiol: or thickened neoprene latex having the consistency of a Very heavy cream.

These are both well known commercially available liquids known as neoprene latex, and which will, for convenience, be referred to hereinafter merely as latex The thin latex #l can, if desired, be'prepared by adding two parts of water by volume to one part by Volume of the thickened latex #2, Thereupon 1 take a sheet of fiat soft kid leather of any desired color, or any soft grained leather I, generally called morocco or kangaroo, or a very soft calf skin, but which may be any soft grained leather. This sheet of flat leather I is then saturated by applying with a brush, on the esh side of the leather, the thin latex #1, after which the excess of the latex is brushed off. Then I immediately brush onto the leather,` on the flesh side, some of the thick #2 latex so as to make a surface covering over the entire surface of the impregnated leather.

The negative rubber die pad 9 is now immersed in soapy water at a temperature of about 150 F., or any other desired temperature, which requires generally from five to ten minutes. This makes the pad 9 soft and wet, and the soapiness thereof prevents it from sticking to the leather containing the latex. From time to time, during the time when the negative die pad 9 is being used the pad can be again immersed in this way to maintain the properties thereof just referred to. Thereupon, 1 apply an emollient miscible with the water of the latex, such as a soap and preferably saddle soap, on a cloth moistened with water to the hair side of the leather I and rub it in with the cloth in order to soften the hair side of the leather and to effectively remove all unabsorbed latex that might be on this side of the leather. The flesh side of the leather i, while wet with the latex, is now placed against the hard cords 8 Which are encased in the hard cellulose ester, next to the positive die 'i substantially immediately, before Vthe latex has gelled and before it has set. The jaws it and il of the hand screw press are now brought together so as to thereby apply power pressure thereto and to produce any desired pressure greater than mere hand pressure, as for example 1000 to 4000 lbs., so as to produce the impression of the embossing in theleather i before the latex which is absorbed in the leather has gelled and to fill the cavities of the embossing with the latex. The pressure of the hand press causes the thick latex to penetrate thoroughly every part of the leather I and into the concavities of the embossing over the cords 8, and this makes the latex gel quickly because of the interaction ci the thick latex and the constituents of the leather, as for instance the chromium compound or compounds which are normally present in chrome tanned leather when the leather has been produced by chrome tannage, although, as a matter of fact, theconstituents which have been added to or formed in substantially any leather which has been tanned by the Various tanning processes will cause the latex to gel almost immediately under the pressure applied. The treated leather i is allowed to stay in the press for any desired time, but usually three minutes is sufficient to cause the latex to gel. The jaws of the press I6 and il are then separated and the leather I can be lifted off readily with the positive die l as it will not stick to the soapy rubber surface oi the negative die pad t. The hair side of the treated leather i such as saddle soap and a cloth wet with water to remove the unabsorbed latex from the surface of the hair side of the leather, after which the leather is stripped olf from the positive die 'I. The flesh side of the leather thus freed from the positive die 'l is then brushed with some of the thick latex #2, so as to fill the concavities of the embossing with the said latex and then, while this latex is still wet, I apply a backing of an absorbent material, such as the blctter il, to the treated leather I, to which the said biotter l becomes firmly adherent. When the latex has entirely gelled, which generally takes place in a few minutes, the latex of rubber or rubber substitute will be found to have lled the interstices of the leather and the concavities of the embossing entirely, and after standing for a longer period, as for instance about ten days, the rubber will be found to have completely set into a 'tough resistant and elastic solid. This preserves the detail of the embossing in the impregnated leather, which is set into the embossed form with a high relief and which is maintained elastically in this form due to the latex filling all the interstices of the relief portions of the embossed leather. The embossing thus obtained, accordand Iis not subject to any Iappreciable material deformation or damage due to use. This is particularly important in articles which are subjected to continued use, as for instance in the articles named above.. Accordingly, the articles is then again rubbed with the emollient,`

ingly, remains permanent as Well as waterproof,A

on the sheet of leather I.

thus produced are notable for freedom from wear.

` The modification of my invention as set forth in Fig. 6, is particularly suitable in connection with the making of `individualized embossed articles and `which do not require mass production. This is particularly suitable for individualized articles having thereon. for instance, the individual signatures of their respective owners. For example, in making a desk blotter I make a design on paper, of the embossing desired, similar to that on the sheet of paper E above referred to, and then I trace over this onto a hat smooth, preferably absorbent, sheet of material, such as a blotter I8, with the aid of carbon paper, the design which is to be embossed thereon. The design of the embossing thus produced on the blotter I8 is then painted over with the rubber cement, as described previously. Also, one or morecords I9 are coated with rubber cement, as in the case of the cords 8 previously described, and while the design and the cords I9 are still tacky the cords, cut into small pieces, are applied to the design and made to adhere to one another their longevity and "thereon end to end. With a stylus, as above described, the cords are shoved into place or bent around to form the accurate design of the embossing. The cords I9 and the adjacent face of the blotter are thereupon given one or more coatings of a hard coating, such as the cellulose ester, for instance the cellulose acetate solution above referred to, to completely cover the cord and to form a stiff or hard coated backing. A sheet of leather 20 of the character above described is then impregnated and coated throughout the body thereof, as described above in connection with the sheet of leather I. The leather 20, while wet, is nowplaced, flesh side down before the latex is dry, on top of the blotter IB carrying the rubber coated cords I9. A rubber plate, such as Lthe rubber plate 9, is then pressed down on the ltop of the leather by the screw hand press to provide power pressure, by which I mean greater `than mere hand pressure, first with the smooth side of the plate 9 and then with the rough side of the plate 9 against the leather, which fills the concavities of the embossing with thelatex. A blunt stylus can then be moved over the top or hair side of the leather 20 around both sides of each of the cords I9 in the design to be embossed and the emollient, such as saddle soap, with the aid of a wet cloth, is rubbed over the outer or hair surface of the leather 20. This procedure, alternately with the stylus and the saddle soap, is repeated several times until the embossed de- .s sign shows in very high relief, and which is even higher than the relief of the embossing shown In this way, and due 'to the pressure of the rubbing and with the stylus, the latex thoroughly impregnates the leather 20 and quickly gels due to the pressure applied and leather.

to the effect ofthe constituents of the tanned Some of the latex even comes through to the outer surface of the leather 20 in the l course of the pressure thus applied, which is removed by the said rubbing. Accordingly, the L latex completely fills the interstices of the leather f as well as the concavities on the under surface of the embossed or raised portions of the design.

The underneath side of the coated blotter I8 can then have fastened thereto, with an adhesive or f otherwise, one or more additional blotters 2l 1 and 22, to form a backing.

Accordingly, the finished product, especially after the latex has become completely set, in the `form of my invention in Fig. 1 as well as in the tegral whole. An elastic, waterproof, permanent embossing is thus obtained which, because of its great elasticity, is notsubject to the usual wear and damage by abrasion, of embossed materials as previously made; These advantageous characteristics are particularly valuable in the articles of this character owing to the continual rubbing anduse to which articles of this kind are normally subjected. Also, the embossed leather, notwithstanding its completely natural appearance, has nevertheless coalesced throughout with the impregnating rubber so that the resulting article, while `having the appearance of natural leather, has the advantageous properties and characteristics of the rubber which is present throughout the body of the same. i

While I have described my invention above in detail I `wish it to be understood that many changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the same."` l

I claim:

1. A process which comprises producing an embossed leather containing in the leather and in the concavities of the embossing a unitary continuous body of latex by embossing leather out the body thereof with latex, embossing the leather while wet by' applying power pressure to fill the concavities of the `embossing with the latex while wet, pressed from within the body of the leather, and allowing the latex to gel while maintaining the leather in the embossed shape.

2. A process which comprises producing an embossed leather containing in the leather and in the concavities of the embossing a unitary continuous body of latex by embossing leather wet to a point approximating saturation throughoutthe body thereof with latex, embossing the leather while wet by applying power pressure to illl` the concavities of the embossing with the latex while wet, pressedfrom within the body of the leather, and allowing the latex to gel while maintaining the leather in the embossed shape,

.the leather also having had latex introduced into the concavities of the embossing before the rst mentioned latex has completely set after removing the pressure. i

3. A` process which `comprises producing an embossed leather containing in the leather and in the concavities of the embossing a `unitary continuous body oflatex by embossing leather wet to a pointapproximating saturation throughout the body thereof with latex, embossing the 4leather while wet byA applying power pressure to `iillgthe concavities1 ofthe embossing with the tinuous body of latex by embossing leather wet throughout the body thereof with latex, then applying an amount of a thicker latex, embossing the leather by pressing the leather in a plane on one side bodily against a linear opposing force on the other side while wet and allowing the latex to gel While maintaining the leather in the embossed shape.

5. A process which comprises producing an embossed leather containing in the leather and in the concavities of the embossing a unitary continuous body of latex by embossing leather wet to a point approximating saturation throughout the body thereof with latex, then applying an amount of a thicker latex, embossing the leather by pressing the leather in a plane on one side bodily against a linear opposing force on the other side while wet and allowing the latex to gel while maintaining the leather in the embossed shape, the leather also having had latex introduced into the concavities of the embossing before the iirst mentioned latex has completely set after removing the pressure.

6. A process which comprises producing an embossed leather containing in the leather and in the concavities of the embossing a unitary continuous body of latex by embossing leather wet to a point approximating saturation .throughout the body thereof with latex, then applying an amount of a thicker latex, embossing the leather by .pressing the leather in a plane on one side bodily against a linear opposing force on the other side while wet by applying power pressure to llsthe concavities of the embossing with the latex pressed from within the body of the leather and allowing the latex togel while maintaining the leather in the .embossed shape, the leather also having hadrlatex introducedinto the concavities of the embossing before the iirst men tioned latex has completely set after removing the pressure, the embossed leather having a stiff` coated atbacking adherent to the leather below the embossing.

7. An embossed leather comprising ka plane leather surface with concavities carrying therein a continuous `body of gelled latexiilling the concavities of the embossing therein and extending throughout the formed body of the leather.

8. An embossed leather comprising a plane leather surface with concavities carrying therein a continuous body of gelled latex filling the ernbossing therein and extending throughout the formed body of the leather, the embossing having the form of cords pieced-end to end.

9. An embossed leather comprising a plane leather surface with concavities carrying therein a continuous body of gelled latex `illing the embossing therein and extending throughout the formed body of the leather, the embossing having the form of cords pieced end to end, said embossed leather having a stilf coated backing adherent thereto below the embossing.

l0. An embossed leather comprising a plane leather surface with concavities carrying therein a continuous body of gelled latex filling the embossing therein and extending throughout the formed body of the leather, the embossing having the form of cords pieced end to end, said cord also having a hard coating thereon.

1l. An embossed leather comprising a plane leather surface with concavities carrying therein a continuous body of gelled latex lling theV embossing therein and extending throughout the formed body of the leather, the embossing having the form of cords 4pieced end` to end, said embossed leather having a stiff coated backing adherent theretov below the embossing, said vcord also having a hard coating thereon.

l2. An embossed `leather comprising a plane .leather surface with concavities carrying therein a continuous ,body of gelled latex'lling the concavities of the embossing therein and extending Ithroughout the formed body of .the leather, the

embossing having therein also a cord.

13. The process which comprises producing an embossed leather containing in the leather and in the ,concavities of the embossing a unitary continuous body of .latex by embossing leather wetthroughout the body thereof with latex,em

ebossing the leather while wet by applying pressure to lill the concavities of the embossing with thelatex while wet, pressed from within the body .of the leather, and allowing the latex to gel by accelerating the setting thereof due to a constituent present in the leather, while maintaining the leather in the embossed shape.

le. A process which comprises producing an embossed leather containing in the leather and vin the concavities of the embossing a unitary ,continuous ,body of latex by embossing leather `wet throughout the body thereof with latex, embossingthe leather while Wet by applying pres- `also having vhad Alatex introduced into the con- `cavities oi the embossing before the rst mentionedvlatex has l'completely set after removing the pressure.

ALAN E. MURRAY.

Y,Referc-:nces Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date r Re. 19,847 Springer Feb. 4, 1936 v182,363 Kent Sept. 19, 1876 589,260 Hulbert Aug. 31, 1897 1,758,186' Bendelari May 13, 1930 1,995,828 Troy Mar. 26, 1935 2,046,000 Sart June 30, 1936 2,061,922 Ross Nov. 24, 1936 2,130,222 Barrett Sept. 13, 1938 2,284,727 Cunnington June 2, 1942

Claims

3. A PROCESS WHICH COMPRISES PRODUCING AN EMBOSSED LEATHER CONTAINING IN THE LEATHER AND IN THE CONCAVITIES OF THE EMBOSSING A UNITARY CONTINUOUS BODY OF LATEX BY EMBOSSING LEATHER WET TO A POINT APPROXIMATING SATURATION THROUGHOUT THE BODY THEREOF WITH LATEX,EMBOSSING THE LEATHER WHILE WET BY APPLYING POWER PRESSURE TO FILL THE CONCAVITIES OF THE EMBOSSING WITH THE LATEX WHILE WET, PRESSED FROM WITHIN THE BODY OF THE LEATHER, AND ALLOWING THE LATEX TO GEL WHILE MAINTAINING THE LEATHER IN THE EMBOSSED SHAPE, THE LEATHER ALSO HAVING HAD LATEX INTRODUCED INTO THE CONCAVITIES OF THE EMBOSSING BEFORE THE FIRST MENTIONED LATEX HAS COMPLETELY SET AFTER REMOVING THE PRESSURE, THE EMBOSSED LEATHER HAVING A STIFF COATED FLAT BACKING ADHERENT TO THE LEATHER BELOW THE EMBOSSING.