US216223A - Improvement in artificial flowers - Google Patents

Description

artificial flowers from paper, and is an im- UNITED STAT'ESI PATENT OFFIcn.

CAROLINE SGHWENKEL, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPRQVEMENT "IN ARTIFICIAL FLOWERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 216,223, dated June 3, 1879; application filed March 19, 1879.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CAROLINE ScHwnNKEL, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Artificial Flowers, which improvement is fully set forth in the following specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawlngs.

My invention relates to the manufacture of provement upon the process of preparing pa-. per and other similar materials for this purpose by coating the same with wax.

The disadvantage attending the use of wax for coating paper is that, owing to its consistency, it does not readily impregnate the paper when the latter is dipped into a bath thereof, and usually collects upon the surface of the paper in an uneven layer, so that it becomes necessary to treat the paper with a hot iron after immersion, in order to spread the wax and remove the surplus portion. This is objectionable, not only on account of the labor involved, but also because the leaves and other parts of the flower to be formed must be coated or prepared in adismembered state, making it necessary to handle the prepared paper in joining the parts.

To overcome these objections I construct or finish the desired flower, and dip the same, in this state, in a bath of melted stearine, spermaceti, or its equivalent, the consistency of this substance being such that it readily impreguates the paper, while any surplus portion flows therefrom, making it superfluous to treat the paper after immersion.

In carrying out my invention, I cut out or form the leaves, petals, and other parts needed to represent the flower which it is desired to produce from paper of any appropriate or desirable color, and unite the parts in any usual or suitable manner, a wire or other stem being used to support the parts.

In selecting the paper, reference is had to the thickness of the petals and other parts of the flower to be represented, tissue-paper being used in some cases, and in others a heavier class of paper.

When theflower has been completely formed, I dip the same into a bath of melted stearine, spermaceti, or its equivalent, holding the same therein just long enough to infuse or impre natc the paper therewith, besides allowing the stearine to penetrate to the depth or base of the flower, whereby the desired coating is applied to the surface of the paper.

A longer or shorter period is required to allow the stearine to penetrate the flower, according to its construction, and in most cases it is necessary to gently shake the flower when it is removed from the bath, to remove the surplus material.

The stearine-bath is formed by placing a sufficient quantity of this substance in a pot and heating the same to about 14:0 or 144, so as to melt the same without allowing it to burn.

By my invention I obtain a flower which has the appearance and substantially the physical properties of a wax flower, and which can be manufactured at an extremely low cost.

I would here {observe that by dipping the completed flower in stearine the several parts composing the flower are firmly held together in proper position and in a more comely and compact form, thereby imparting a more fixed appearance to the flower, and at the same time more smoothly and firmly uniting the leaves and petals to the stems, than when the paper is first treated with wax and then made up into flowers.

I am aware that artificial flowers have been made of tissue-paper or other suitable material coated with wax; and, further, that in the manufacture of artificial flowers, sheets of tissue-paper or other material have been coated with a compound of rubber and wax, and tinted in various colors previous to the application of such compound, as in the Letters Patent to S. Orth, dated March 30, 1875, and such I hereby disclaim. In all such cases the paper or other material has been either coated or tinted, and coated with wax previous to bein g made up into the completed flower, thereby rendering it necessary to handle the leaves and petals after being coated.

The object and functions of dipping the flower in stearine, spermaceti, or its equivalent, after it has been made up into a complete form, have been above described, and such is what I desire to protect.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is I The improved process herein described of IntestimonythatIclaim theforegoinglhave making artificial flowers from paper, eonsisthereunto set my hand and seal this 10th day ing' in first constructing or finishing the deof March, 1879. sired flower, and then dipping the same in a bath of melted stearine, spermaceti, or its equivalent, thereby impregnating the paper with such material, and at the same time imparting a fiXity to' the leaves and petals and more firmly and smoothly uniting the same to the stems, essentially as set forth.

CAROLINE SGHWENKEL. [L. s.]

Witnesses:

N. 130031, E. F. KASTENHU'BER.