IMPROVEMENTS IN CURLING TONGS to be as follows:
Year: 1885

page_text: I, WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake, and Co Patent
Agents, Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare
the nature of my invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN CURLING TONGS to be as
follows:-
"
This invention relates to curling irons or tongs which are characterized by two
essential features viz:-
1st The arrangement which enables the size of the iron to be reduced to that of
a pencil holder or case, so as to form a pocket or case instrument which is not
cumbersome, and
2nd The application of a spring to one of the arms of the instrument which
enables it to be used with one hand the thumb being sufficient for operating the
instrument with the aid of this spring.
I have represented in the accompanying drawing, by way of example, a pocket
curling iron constructed according to my invention.
Figure 1 represents the instrument mounted and ready for use.
Figure 2 shows the pivotted arm for seizing and pinching the hair to be curled
or crimped, open.
Figure 3 is a vertical section through the axis of the instrument.
Figure 4 represents the instrument arranged for being carried in the pocket, its
dimensions being reduced, so as not to be cumbersome or inconvenient.
The instrument is composed of a tube a of thin metal, forming the fixed arm of
the iron, and filled with a material b possessing in a high degree the power of
absorbing heat; and as such material I may, amongst others, mention sand or
pulverized plaster.
The tube a is closed at one end and after having been filled is plugged at the
other end by means of a stem c of ivory, bone or other heat-conducting material.
Upon this stem is pivotted at d the arm e, the transverse section of which is an

page_text: arc of a circle which embraces a portion of the external surface of the fixed
portion a.
The handle of the instrument is formed of a hollow tube f of metal or other
suitable material, and encircles the lower part of the stem c. This tubular
handle f, when the instrument is to be put in the pocket, is removed from the
stem c and serves to receive the two arms of the iron and keep them together as
shown in Figure 4.
The pivotted arm e is slightly turned up at one end and receives a spring g
which bears upon the stem c, and keeps the said arm pressing upon the tube a
which constitutes the fixed arm connected to the handle.
This spring can be of any suitable form or arrangement, and can be replaced by
any equivalent device.
The arm e may also be pivotted upon the stem in any suitable manner.
The instrument thus constituted can be instantly heated with the most feeble
source of heat, even by the combustion of a single match, by reason of the special
construction of the iron.

page_text: I, WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co, Patent
Agents, Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, 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 curling irons or tongs which are characterized by two
essential features vizt.
1st The arrangement which enables the size of the irons to be reduced to that of
a pencil holder or case so as to form a pocket or case instrument which is not
cumbersome, and
2nd The application of a spring to one of the arms of the instrument which
enables it to be used with one hand the thumb being sufficient for operating the
instrument with the aid of this spring.
I have represented in the accompanying drawing, by way of example, a set of
pocket curling irons or tongs constructed according to my invention.
Figure 1 represents the instrument mounted and ready for use.
Figure 2 shews the pivotted arm for seizing and pinching the hair to be curled
or crimped, open.
Figure 3 is a vertical section through the axis of the instrument and
Figure 4 represents the instrument arranged for being carried in the pocket, its
dimensions being reduced so as not to be cumbersome or inconvenient.
a is a tube of thin metal forming the fixed arm of the iron, and fitted with a
material b possessing in a high degree the power of absorbing heat; and as such
material I may, amongst others, mention sand or pulverized plaster.
The said tube is closed at one end, and, after having been filled, is plugged at
the other end by means of a stem c of ivory, bone or other non-heat conducting
material. Upon this stem is pivotted at d the arm e the transverse section of
which is an arc of a circle which embraces a portion of the external surface of the
fixed arm (
The handle of the instrument is formed of a tube f of metal or other suitable
material, and encircles the lower part of the stem c. This tubular handle f, when
the instrument is to be put in the pocket, is removed from the stem c and serves
to receive the two arms of the iron and keep them together as shewn in Figure 4.
The pivotted arm e is slightly turned up at one end and carries a spring g which
bears upon the stem c, and keeps the said arm pressing upon the tube a which
constitutes the fixed arm connected to the handle.
This spring can be of any suitable form or arrangement, and can be replaced by
any equivalent device. The arm e may also be pivotted upon the stem in any
suitable manner.
The instrument thus constituted can be instantly heated with the most feeble
source of heat, even by the combustion of a single match, by reason of the special
construction of the irons or tongs.

page_text: The said instrument can be made of any suitable metal and it may be more or
less figured or ornamented according to desire.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondent I declare that what I claim is
The improved curling irons or tongs capable of being carried in the pocket and
having an arm composed of a thin metallic tube filled with a heat-absorbing
material and a second arm which is pivotted to the first mentioned arm and
provided with a spring substantially as described and for the purpose specified.
Dated this 18th day of December 1885.