Improved Means applicable for Use in and in connection with Dressing Hair.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Feb., 1899-Accepted, 13th May, 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means applicable for Use in and in connection with
Dressing Hair.
I, HERMAN VORST, of The Hague, in the Kingdom of Holland, Hairdresser, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
This invention relates to improved means for drying hair after same has been
washed; the apparatus being capable of employment in disinfecting hair-dressing
appliances.
Apparatus for effecting the above objects as heretofore constructed entail many
inconveniences upon the person operated on; one of which inconveniences is
that the effectiveness of the operation was dependent upon the hairdresser's skill,
deficiency whereof renders the treatment a source of great discomfort and annoy-
ance and, moreover, attended with the risk of singeing and discolouring the hair.
An unpleasant sensation of heat at the back of the head and neck and behind the
ears is also experienced owing to the fact that, in the absence of any means for
properly conducting and diffusing, the currents of heat issue from the apparatus
in a body.
Now the object of this invention is to provide a simple and convenient appliance
capable of easy manipulation and adapted to afford an effective hair-drying appar
atus; while it is also adapted for use in the disinfection of hairdressing appliances
and of the hair itself.
Apparatus constructed according to this invention consists essentially of two sheet
metal cylinders adapted to slide telescopically the one within the other and whereof
the outer cylinder which carries the casing for the reception of the hair, is capable
of being secured in any convenient position by means of a set-screw. In the lower
end of the inner cylinder, there is arranged a gas-jet or spirit lamp, the upper
part being furnished with a ventilator or fan for diffusing or distributing the hot
air resulting from the burning of the gas-jet or spirit lamp.
The casing which encloses what may be termed the drying chamber is supported
by the outer cylinder. It is open on one side and is provided on the top with
cover or hood of special construction. The bottom of this drying chamber is formed
of wire-gauze, the moist hair being deposited hereon.
In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is an elevation and Fig. 2 a vertical sec-
tion of my improved hair-drying and disinfecting apparatus. Figs. 3 and 4 are
respectively a plan and a horizontal section of the drying chamber.
The inner sheet-metal cylinder a is mounted upon a base or stand b, and
arranged within the same is the gas jet or spirit lamp e, the fan d being fitted
in the upper part of said casing. To facilitate the insertion of the gas or spirit
lamp ca slide or drawers is provided under the wall of the inner sheet-metal
cylinder a.
The outer cylinder e may be raised by means of the handles ƒ and secured at

page_text: the desired altitude by means of the set-screw g. This cylinder is formed with a
moulded piece whereon the piece of wire-gauze i is placed.
Above the wire-gauze the drying chamber is located. This chamber is open in
front but closed at the top by the hood which is supported at the front portion by
the piece and is provided with a knob or handle m for raising the same.
transverse rod for supporting the hair.
o is a
The person whose hair is to be dried being seated with the back towards the
front of the apparatus, the hair is passed over the rod or bar o so as to rest upon
the wire-gauze i, while the back of the head enters the drying chamber k so as
to be entirely surrounded by it.
The action and manipulation of the apparatus is extremely simple.
Having set the drying chamber k to the required height, the lamp c is lighted,
the fan being set in motion by the hot air which rises in the cylinder a. The
hood is raised at the beginning of the operation it being arranged to pivot at 7.
An open space is thus left between the hood and the drying chamber for the
escape of the humid vapours arising from the lower or more wet portions of the
hair. When it may be assumed that the dampness of the hair has been reduced
to a uniform degree the hood 7 is closed (see Fig. 2).
Owing to the peculiar form of the hood and the operation of the fan, the heat
will be equally distributed over all parts of the head, so that the drying of the hair
will be effected uniformly.
It will be seen that in this apparatus the risk of singeing or discolouring the
hair, owing to excessively heating the same, is avoided, the treatment being
effected in about eight minutes.
For rendering the apparatus serviceable in disinfecting combs, brushes or other
implements used in hair dressing, a second piece of wire-gauze p is provided same
being situated a little distance beneath the wire-gauze i. The combs, brushes, etc.,
are placed upon the wire-gauze while upon the wire-gauze p is placed a suit-
able quantity of wadding impregnated with formaline. The vapours evolved from
the formaline by the heat act as a powerful disinfectant upon the articles con-
tained on the wire-gauze i. Formaline may be simply placed on the gauze p and
burnt when it is desired to obtain a particularly thorough disinfection.
The
vapours are inodorous and will not affect the metal of the hairdressing appliances
The advantages derivable from the use of the improved hair-drying apparatus
may be summarized as follows:-
(a) The fan revolves automatically and is therefore independent of the operator's
skill, who retains the free use of both hands.
(b) Owing to the special form of the hood 7 the upper part of the head receives
its share of the heat, whereby the process of drying the hair is rendered uniform."
() The fan or ventilator serves to distribute the heat and prevent concentration
of the rays or currents of heat upon any one part of the head, the hair is protected
from singeing and discolouration of the hair being hereby prevented, as also the
unpleasant sensation of heat at the back of the head.
(7) The removeable hood enables the damp vapours at first evolved to be dis-
charged from the apparatus thereby avoiding the inconvenience which would other-
wise arise.
(e) The wire-gauze i, which may be loosely inserted into the apparatus and which
serves to support the hair, may readily be removed and disinfected as often as
required.
(f) The discomfort of the hair being fastened to the apparatus by means of combs
or the like is obviated; perfect liberty of movement being afforded with the option
of stopping the operation at any moment.
() The degree of heat attainable being in no case excessive the hair is never
singed or discoloured, and provided the lamp or gas jet is properly situated the
rest of the operation of drying is accomplished in about eight minutes' time. The
apparatus is moreover capable of employment in the disinfection of the hair and of
the hair-dressing appliances.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of
my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I claim :-
1. The improved means for use in drying hair constructed substantially as here-
in described; same comprising telescopically arranged cylinders a, e, whereof the
former is provided with a heating lamp c and a fan d, the fan operating to diffuse
the heated air uniformly in the apparatus.
2. The improved means for use in drying hair constructed substantially as here-
in described; same comprising telescopically arranged cylinders a, e, whereof the
former is provided with a heating lampe and a fan while the latter is surmounted
by a drying chamber, such as k, and contains a sheet of wire-gauze whereon rests
the hair to be dried, the drying chamber being furnished with a hood, such as ?,
whereby such chamber may be closed.
3. In apparatus for use in drying hair, the provision for the employment, sub-
stantially as herein described, of means for disinfecting the hair or the hair-dress-
ing appliances, same consisting of a platform of wire-gauze, such as p, arranged
in the cylinder for the reception of a disinfecting medium, such as cotton wool
impregnated with formaline.
P
Dated this 17th day of February. 1899.
For the Applicant,
G. G. M. HARDINGHAM,
Chartered Patent Agent,
Clun House, Surrey Street, London, W.C.