An Improvement in the Construction of Powder Puffs and of Toilet . Cases Containing Powder Puffs and Toilet Powder and other Toilet Implements.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Oct., 1887
Complete Specification Left, 4th July, 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 5th Oct., 1888
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION..
An Improvement in the Construction of Powder Puffs and of Toilet
.
Cases Containing Powder Puffs and Toilet Powder and other
Toilet Implements.
ALBERTA MARY FRANCES THATCHER The Wigwami, Montpelier Square Hyde Park,
in the County of Middlesex, Artist, I do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows
It consists of an alteration in the construction of Powder Puffs for toilet purposes,
the same having hitherto been made to he dipped into the powder before using. I
claim for my invention a method of constructing the Puff, by means of which a
reservoir of Powder is contained in the Puff itself, which is perforated by very fine
holes, so that when the Puff is applied to the purposes, of the toilet, the Powder
penetrates the holes and diffuses itself as required and without any waste or untidyness,
as is almost unavoidable by the old method. My invention can be equally applied to
Powder Puffs alone, or to cases containing Powder Puff attachments for pocket or
other uses-These Puffs can be made of Swansdown, Fur, Washleather, or any
material suitable for the purpose, and are especially practical and portable and cleanly
when attached to a small oblong strip of Silken Material, Leather or Cloth, either
containing or not containing other toilet implements, and which can be rolled up into
a very small space.
Dated this mind dose of October 1887

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improvement in the Construction of Powder Puffs and of Toilet
Cases Containing Powder Puffs and Toilet Powder and other
Toilet Implements.
ALBERTA MARY FRANCES THATCHER, The Wigwam Montpelier Square
Brompton, S.W. Artist, 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 consists of an Improvement in the vehicles or implements employed
in conveying and applying Toilet Powder to the person, and is entirely contrary and
opposed to the method hitherto known and practised. The ordinary Powder Puff,
Chamois leather, or Swansdown, or other vehicle employed in taking up and applying
Powder to the skin, has hitherto always been dipped in the Powder, and then applied
to the skin, this system often causing great waste, untidiness, and discomfort, besides
distributing the Powder in a very unequal way over the surface. My method entirely
obviates these disadvantages, inasmuch as I propose to enclose the bulk of Powder,
necessary for use during a long period of time within the Puff or vehicle itself, and
to provide for its escape when, and in the quantity required, by means of small
perforations or apertures conveniently arranged within the vehicle.
The accompanying drawings will explain my system-Fig. I represents an ordinary
Swansdown Powder Puff in outward appearance, the lower part being composed of
down and marked B. and the upper part apparently a silk or satin cushion or bag,
drawn in around the handle of the Puff, and ordinarily filled with wadding or other
stuffing. My plan is to utilise this bag as a reservoir for Powder, which can easily be
inserted within the bag when open, and the bag then drawn close and tied around the
handle by elastic or other string fastenings.. The base of the bag, to which the
Swansdown is attached, is perforated by apertures, as is also the skin of the down, so
that the Powder filters through, and when the Puff is applied to the skin, is transferred
in exactly the amout required, and in an imperceptible, equally distributed cloud, such
as would be impossible by the ordinary method of applying powder to the person.
Fig. 1. represents my system applied to a Roll-up Pocket Powder Case. C is the
body of the case, which can be made of Silk, Satin, Chamois-skin or any other
suitable material. D. is the Pocket piece, stitched on to the body of the case, and
containing the Powder. This Pocket piece should be composed either of Chamois-
leather or of Swansdown or Flannel, as being the best mediums for conveying toilet
powder to the skin. E. denotes the perforations, which admit of the escape of the
powder from the Pocket Reservoir, these being cut in the form of a star, which
shape I find very suitable for the purpose as when not in use, the powder does not
escape, whilst directly the Reservoir is pinched or agitated, it escapes readily, but I
by no means limit myself to this form of perforation, as any aperture which will serve
to let the powder escape, can be adopted. F. F. are the ribbons or strings, which
serve to fasten the Toilet Powder Pocket, when rolled up.

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 declare that what
I claim is;
1. The distinct novelty in the system of applying Powder to the person, it being
not separate from, or outside the vehicle used for applying it, but enclosed within it.
2. The employment of small apertures or punctures in the Case or Reservoir which
contains the Powder, which punctures admit of its escape when required, but are too
finely cut to permit it to do so when not desirable.
3. The application of this system to every vehicle used for the purpose of applying
Toilet Powder to the skin-such as Powder Puffs, Pocket Cases, Toilet Bags and
Chamois-leather Pouches, and others.