AN IMPROVED SHIELD FOR THE GUMS, TO PROTECT THEM FROM INJURY WHEN CLEANING THE TEETH
Year: 1862

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Michael Jackson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 12th
June 1862.
I, MICHAEL JACKSON, of Curtain Road, Shoreditch, in the County of Mid-
dlesex, Dentist, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "AN
IMPROVED SHIELD FOR THE GUMS, TO PROTECT THEM FROM INJURY WHEN CLEANING
THE TEETH," to be as follows:-
My Invention of an improved shield for the gums, to protect them from
injury when cleaning the teeth, consists in the use of a thin metallic plate,
which is made to fit over the gums close up to the necks of the teeth, leaving
the whole of the enamelled surface of the teeth exposed. A separate plate is
fitted to the upper and lower jaws, and these plates are secured temporarily in

page_text: their place while in use by means of spring attachments or other convenient
means which will allow the mouth to be opened. The gums being thus
protected, the wearer may without the risk of injuring them brush his teeth
well, and perfectly cleanse them down to the necks. I would observe that as
the gum shields are only used when the teeth are being cleaned, it is not
absolutely necessary for the shields to be made of gold, as other metals, such as
silver, will answer the purpose equally well. Of course copper and its alloys
would be inapplicable, as it would leave an unpleasant taste in the mouth, but
other metals or alloys which are sufficiently ductile, and do not possess the
inconvenience above mentioned, may be employed if desired.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Michael Jackson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
12th December 1862.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, MICHAEL
JACKSON, of 59, Curtain Road, Shoreditch, in the County of Middlesex, Dentist,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twelfth day of June, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, in the twenty-fifth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Michael Jackson, Her special license that I, the said Michael
Jackson, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as
I, the said Michael Jackson, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at
all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully
might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland; the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
"AN. IMPROVED SHIELD FOR THE GUMS, TO PROTECT THEM FROM INJURY
WHEN CLEANING THE TEETH," upon the condition (amongst others) that
I, the said Michael Jackson, by an instrument in writing under my
hand and seal, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of
the said. Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed,
and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within
six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Michael Jackson, do hereby. declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, reference being had to the Drawing hereunto annexed, and to the
letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say):-
My Invention of "An Improved Shield for the Gums, to Protect them from
Injury when Cleaning the Teeth," consists in the use of a thin metallic plate
which is made to fit over the gums close up to the necks of the teeth, leaving
the whole of the enamelled surface of the teeth exposed. A separate plate is
fitted to the upper and lower jaws, and these plates are secured temporarily in
their place when in use by means of spring attachments, or by strings or other
convenient means which will allow the mouth to be opened. The gums being
thus protected, the wearer may without the risk of injuring them, brush his
teeth well, and perfectly cleanse them down to the necks. I would observe
that as the gum shields are only used when the teeth are being cleaned it is not
absolutely necessary for the shields to be made of gold, as other metals,
such as silver, will answer the purpose equally well. Of course copper and
its alloys would be inapplicable, as it would leave an unpleasant taste in
the mouth, but other metals or alloys which are sufficiently ductile, and
do not possess the inconvenience above mentioned, may be employed if
desired.
In the accompanying Drawing, I have shewn different views of my
improved gum shields, and the mode of applying the same to the teeth.
Fig. 1 is a front view, and Fig. 2 a plan view of one of the metallic shields,
detached from the teeth; Fig. 3 represents one of the shields applied to the
upper jaw; and Fig. 4 represents the pair of shields adapted to the two
jaws. They may if desired be connected together at the inner ends by a
spring fastening, but this is not necessary, and may sometimes even be
found inconvenient. The metallic gum shields may be secured in the
mouth while cleaning the teeth by means of a cord or string of silk, secured
by one end to one side of the metallic shield, the other end of the cord
being made to pass across the mouth to the opposite end of the shield,
which may be held down firmly thereby; various other plans of securing the
shields may be adopted; I do not therefore intend to limit myself to any par-
ticular plan.
Having now described my Invention of "An Improved Shield for the
Gums, to Protect them from Injury when Cleaning the Teeth," and having
explained the manner of carrying the same into effect, I claim as the

page_text: Invention secured to me by Letters. Patent as aforesaid, the use of metallic
shields, to be adapted to. the gums as above set forth, in order to preserve
them from injury and abrasion while the teeth are being cleaned.
In witness whereof, I, the said Michael Jackson, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, the Eleventh day of December, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two.
Witness,
J. W. MOFFATT,
66, Chancery Lane.
MICHAEL JACKSON. (i.s.)