The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1894-01-26
ODD THINGS IN PATENTS
RUMAN VANITY INSTRUMENTATION
SOME QUEER INVENTIONS.

Devices in the Patent Once in Wash
ington for Improving Ones Looks
Things That slip Through.
y1ANITY furnishes the inspira
~ tion for many of the inven
tions shown at the Patent OF.
fce. One of the latest OF
this sort is mask Of very thin rub
ber, designed to be worn on the face
at night. It causes profuse perspira.
tion, which washes impurities out OF
the skin and makes the complexion
clearer. Sum tan il quickly removes,
90 IL IL claimed. Another device, for
producing dimples, is woman's idea.
II is wire mask, likewise to be put
on when going TO bed. BY an arrange
ment OF screws, pencils OF wood, very
blunt, are made to press upon the
::..;;sSshs anu oniii 81. .. She points where
dimples are desired. Uncomfortable2
Why, of course. But, as the French
say, it is worth while to suffer for
beauty's sake.
III one is 80 unfortunate as to lack a
nose he can obtain false one of papier
mache, artfully enameled, to initiate
the skin. One kind of imitation pro-
boscis is attached to spectacle frame,
30 that the owner puts on his counter
felt nasal organ in adjusting his
glasses. Yet another style is intended
to be painted at intervals. When it
gets shabby the wearer has merely to
go to some capable artist and have it
touched up with water colors. Several
applications have been made for pat.
ents for processes for setting diamonds
in the teeth-the front teeth, of
course-holes being drilled to receive
the gems. Such ornaments must have
rather shastlv effect &C -ynrld
think.
Dental surgeons have patented
processes for initiating GOLD filings in
false teeth. This is done by burnish-
ing gold foil upon them in the manner
commonly termed ''fire gliding" No.
body would be likely to suspect that
grinders showing plain signs of repair
were artificial. A very curious inven-
tion is device for keeping the mouth
open while singing. Teachers of vocal
music have had trouble as to this point
with their pupils, but it may be obvi.
ated by employing the contrivance de-
soribed, which has spring, and may
be set so as to expand the jaws at any
angle desired. Speaking of the mouth
and teeth reminds one of patent that
was granted only two years ago on an
ordinary corncob of the pattern fa-
miliar in nature. Covered with CO.
rundum paste, it was to be used for
polishing dental plates. The notion of
getting patent on corn cobs seems
rather absurd. But many queer things
have slipped through the great Bureau
of Inventions owing to carelessness.
In 1878, for example, exclusive rights
were granted on process which con.
sisted of nothing more than punching
pin holes in hens eggs. This device
was for the purpose of letting the in
closed gas out of preserved eggs to
prevent them from exploding when
boiled.
Masculine vanity is concerned i'll
the genesis of about eighty patents for
various kinds of moustache guards.
Some of these contrivances take the
form of metal attachments for the cup
or glass. One such is gold plate with
a spring, which may be fastened to
any drinking vessel at moments
notice. Another is specially designed
for beer glasses. A tube connected
with it goes down deep into the beer,
SO that the moustache drinker is able
to avoid the foam. Similar devices
are applied to spoons. Other guards
ore to be worn like spectacles some
what, with wires to pass back of the
ears of the wearer and hold them on.
The shield for the moustache is of
gold or silver or of fine gold wire
net. More simple is pair of wire
springs in the shape of helix, one of
which is made to encircle each wing
of the hirsute ornament, keeping it
away from the mouth.
Now and then a man from some out
of-the-way part of the country, who
hos never heard of the new and i'm.
proved artificial limbs, applies for a
patent on wooden stump. It is
granted if the device has anything
novel about 1t. But people are con-
stantly inventing things thought OF
long before. Not long ago a person
asked for exclusive rights in peculiar
kind of lock. The examiner to whom
the matter was referred turned to o
book of drawings and showed him that
his lock was merely reproduction of
one that had fastened q gate of Thebes
1000 years ago. The applicant went
away with the impression that some
ancient Theban had stolen his idea
There are many interesting contriv-
ances for individuals who are manned.
One of them enables the cripple to
manipulate knife, fork and spoon
with one hand, the apparatus being
screwed to the table.
One of the oldest patented articles
is sort of locket of either asbestos or
lava, to be carried in the pocket of
anybody who starts on railway
journey. If there is an accident and
ne is burned up, the locket, being of a
material indestructible by fire, will be
intact with his charred and otherwise