Improvements in Hair Curlers.
Year: 1895

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Hair Curlers.
I, WILLIAM PATRICK M°ELDOWNEY, of No. 1, Angerstein Terrace, North
End, in the Town of Portsmouth, in the County of Hampshire, Surgeon, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to improvements in hair curlers, and has for its object the
construction of a simple instrument for curling the hair, which is easily manipulated
and comfortable to use.
My invention consists of a tube or cylinder which has a clamp attached thereto.
Both cylinder and clamp rotate on an axle to one end of which is connected a
hinged spring fastener, which, when closed, presses on the end of the tube by
means of a catch, and so holds the cylinder and clamp in position and prevents
their rotating.
When the hair is required to be curled the fastener is opened and the clamp
raised. The end of a tress of hair is then placed on the cylinder and the clamp is
shut down. The cylinder is then revolved to the required position after which the
fastener is closed.
If the hair is too tightly wound (say by a quarter or eighth of a turn) it can be
released so as to render the use of the machine comfortable. I reserve the right
to cover the cylinder and clamp with indiarubber.
Dated this 25th day of September 1895.
WILLIAM PATRICK MCELDOWNEY,
Applicant.
I, WILLIAM PATRICK MCELDOWNEY, of No. 1 Angerstein Terrace, North
End, in the Town of Portsmouth in the County of Hampshire Surgeon 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:-
My invention relates to improvements in hair curlers and has for its object the
construction of a simple instrument for curling the hair which is easily manipulated
and comfortable to use.
In order that my invention may be clearly rendered reference may be had to the
accompanying sheet of drawings, of which
Figure 1 is an external plan view with the clamp and fastener closed,
Figure 2 is an external plan view with the fastener opened and the clamp
partially raised, and
Figure 3 is a sectional view of the instrument with the cylinder and clamp
divided longitudinally shewing the axle and side view of the fastener.
Similar letters of reference are used to indicate the same parts in all the
drawings.

page_text: In constructing the instrument I employ a tube or cylinder (or its equivalent) a b,
which rotates upon an axle ef passing through its centre from end to end. At one
end of the tube is hinged the clamp c d as shewn at i in Figs. 1 and 2, in which
drawings only one of the two hinges is shewn, there being a corresponding hinge
on the opposite side of the tube as shewn at Fig. 3. This clamp may be raised
from the tube or cylinder at its free end' c, or shut down upon its surface to the
shape of which it conforms. To the end e. of the axle is hinged the spring
fastener gh. This fastener is a frame of wire or other suitable material
substantially, though not necessarily, of the shape shewn in Figs. 1 and 2 and when
closed as in Fig. 1 it surrounds the tube lengthwise from the end e of the axle to
the other end f, sufficient room being left-between .if and the sides of the cylinder
to 'allow space for the coils of hair rolled round the latter when the instrument is
in use.
The sides of the fastener at grand h are curved or "bellied" outwards as
shewn in Figs. 1 and 2 and the fastener is of, such a length that, when closed its
elasticity causes it to press upon the end. of the tube near f.and so prevents the.
rotation of the latter upon its axle. When the curved sides, are, compressed
towards each other with the fingers they are more or less straightened as shewn by
the dotted lines in Fig. 1 and the length of the fastener is thereby increased so that,
it no longer, presses upon the end of the tube or cylinder and is free to be opened"
back as in Fig. 2.
+
The action is as follows. When it is desired to curl hair with the instrument
the fastener g is opened and the clamp c d raised as in Fig. 2. The end of a
tress of hair is then placed on the cylinder and the clamp shut down upon it. The
tube and clamp are now revolved so as to wind, the hair upon them and when this
is done as far as is desired the fastener is shut down. This is done by compressing
the sides of the fastener towards each other when it will be found that it overrides
the end of the tube when it is closed down. If the pressure: is now removed the
elasticity of the spring fastener will cause it to press. on the end of the tube as
before explained and thus prevent the tube or cylinder revolving and the hair
becoming unwound. Should the hair be too far wound up so as to cause painful
dragging on its roots the cylinder may be revolved so as to relieve the tension as
much as may be desired for the users comfort. After a sufficient time has elapsed
the fastener is opened and the hair unwound from the cylinder when it will be
found to be curled.
Having now particularly described'atid' ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is
In a bair curler a tube or cylinder or its equivalent, which, with a clamp
attached, is capable of being rotated on an axle, but which can be prevented from
being rotated by a fastener substantially as herein described and shewn with
reference to the appended sheet of drawings.
Dated this 23rd day of June 1896.
WILLIAM PATRICK MCELDOWNEY
A'pplicant'.