Improvement relating to Shaving Lather.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Dec., 1899-Accepted, 13th Jan.,
1900
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvement relating to Shaving Lather.
I, FRANK GRIDLEY FOWLER, 386, John Street, Bridgeport, Connecticut, United
States of America, Gentleman, 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 the production of a shaving lather which is non-
irritant to the skin, and non-corrosive of the edge of a razor, and in no way
detrimental to its texture, but protective of, and beneficial to the same, whereby
soreness of the face in shaving is avoided, and a superior cutting edge may be
maintained on the razor, with very little strapping, for a very considerable time,
and the operation of shaving expedited.
The edge of a razor is not represented by a straight line, but serrated, being
provided with irregular projections approximating to "sickle teeth" and of
extreme minuteness, the most valuable portion of a razor consisting of structures
less than the one-twenty thousandth of an inch in thickness. These attenuated
projections, on which the superior cutting qualities of the razor largely depends.
are particularly exposed to the action of corrosion, as they may be attacked
on all sides and an amount of corrosion which would be inappreciable on ordi-
nary utensils, would entirely destroy these delicate structures.
Shaving lather, as ordinarily made, is composed in part of water which con-
tains in solution various volatile substances which are constituents of the atmos-
phere, such as oxygen and carbonic acid, and which exist diffused through the
water in a liquid state, in which state they exhibit their most energetic corro-
sive and deteriorating action; and the failure of a razor to cut, after being used
in connection with ordinary lather is largely due to the corrosive and deteriora-
ting action of such agents contained in the lather with which the delicate edge
of the razor is brought in contact, which either converts it into an oxyde,
or penetrates the pores of the steel, injuring or destroying the integrity of its
texture.
The edge of a razor is also impaired, when not in use, by corrosion caused by
the condensation upon it of the vapor of the atmosphere, occasioned by fluctua-
tions in temperature.
My invention not only obviates these difficulties relating to the deterioration
and destruction of a razor edge, but it imparts to it its edge a peculiar strength
and tenacity and hardness, which enables it to withstand a remarkable amount
of wear and hard usuage without impairment. It embraces, not only improved
products, in the form of lather, but also improved processes and apparatus by
which lathers are produced.
My invention is carried into effect:-
1. Bv exnelling all volatile, corrosive substances from the water with which
the lather is formed. and preventing their re-entry again into the water, till
the same is embodied in lather.
2. In addition to expelling volatile corrosive agents from the water with
which the lather is formed, and preventing their return into said water, I cause

page_text: to be diffused through the water a minute quantity of metallic dust, which is
electro positive to steel, and which has an affinity for oxygen, such as zinc
powder.
The apparatus required to carry my invention into practice will be understood
by reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:
Fig. 1 is a plan view of a portion of said apparatus.
Fig. 2 is a sectional side elevation of Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 represents a side elevation of a portion of said apparatus.
A is a cylindrical retaining vessel, adapted to hold water and to resist and
conduct heat, and provided with a piston float, B, all constructed, preferably,
either out of some metal that is electro positive to steel, such as zinc, cadmium
or tin or some substance that is neutral, such as steel or iron, rather than any
substance that is electro negative to steel, as copper or brass.
The piston float B is circular, hollow, and formed with convex heads, and has
a specific gravity of about 60 per cent. of the specific gravity of water; and is of
so large a diameter as will just admit of its moving up and down in the retain-
ing vessel A, without friction, and coming to the surface again when pressed
down below the surface of the water and released. It thus leaves only a capil-
lary space between its sides and the wall of the vessel A.
The retaining vessel A has a swivelling handle C, and the piston float Ba
fixed handle, D), for convenience of handling.
E represents a source of heat, adapted to heat the contents of the retaining
vessel A to a boiling temperature. It may be either a stove, gas heater, electri-
cal heater or lamp, so that it possesses the requisite heating power.
F represents a lather brush composed preferably of hair of less than ordinary
length, and more than ordinary stiffness. G represents a lather cup which may
be less in dimensions than those ordinarily employed.
The lather is prepared as follows:-
1st. A sufficient quantity of water having been introduced into the retaining
vessel A, the piston float B is placed thereon so as to rest on it and substantially
exclude the atmosphere from contact with its surface. The water is then boiled
for a short time, which expels all substances held in solution, especially oxygen
and carbonic acid, the same arising in bubbles, lifting the piston float B and
escaping into the atmosphere. After boiling as above stated the retaining
vessel A may be removed from the fire. The piston float B then descends upon
the surface of the water, and the water rises, by the force of capillary attraction,
and occupies the space between the retaining vessel A and piston float B, and
prevents the re-entry of gases into the water below, which may be retained,
unimpaired, till desired for use. The lather brush F is then pressed upon the
top of the piston float B, causing it to sink sufficiently to permit the water to
rise around it and saturate the lather brush F, which is then withdrawn and
applied to a suitable shaving soap in the lather cup G, and stirred and agitated
till lather is produced.
2nd Let water be introduced into the retaining vessel A, provided with a piston
float B, all of which are constructed out of zinc, or some other substance electro
positive to steel, and boiled. As soon as the gases are expelled, the water begins
to dissolve the surface of the retaining vessel and float, so as to become impreg
nated with zinc in an impalpable powder, whose action is augmented by the
vibration or dancing of the float, caused by the escaping steam. The retaining
vessel is then removed from the fire, and the above detailed steps in the forma-
tion of lather are gone through with as before.
It is not material that there should be an exact proportion of metallic dust
introduced into the water in order to act beneficially. It acts in any degree.
Neither is it material how the dust is obtained or introduced into the water,
whether by dissolving the surface of the retaining vessel with the contributory
action of the float; or by introducing dust otherwise obtained into the water,
provided it is in a metallic state, and electro positive to steel,

page_text: The piston float B, when constructed as shown and described, prevents the re-
entry of oxygen into the water, not only by almost excluding its surface from
contact with the atmosphere, but it affords this peculiar, additional means of
prevention. The thin film of water that intervenes between the retaining
vessel A, and piston float B, is under the influence of capillary attraction, and in
that condition is a bar to the downward passage of the oxygen of the atmosphere
into the water contained in the retaining vessel A, so that the same is practi-
cally sealed and may be retained, unimpaired, for a great length of time, till it
is required for use, or till any degree of temperature has been attained, and the
lather made hot, warm or cold, as the skill or choice of the user may dictate.
Some of the additional advantages which this lather affords may be thus stated:
no irritation of the face or corrosion of the edge of the razor from the presence
of free oxygen; the gradual toughening and hardening the most delicate and
most valuable part of the edge of a razor, thus enhancing its cutting qualities,
and ability to hold its edge through hard usage. This results in a material
saving of time, in various ways, the number of strokes in strapping being re-
duced from upwards of 100 on an average, to about 10; the number of honings
from one in three months to one in two years; the number of strokes in shaving
from three or 400, to 75, as the beard may be cut close by passing the razor with
a long sweep across the face; doing away with the necessity of waiting for the
beard to "soak" after lathering, or strapping during shaving, or shaving twice
over the same surface.
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 process of producing shaving lather consisting of steps as follows:
First expelling the oxygen and other corrosive or deleterious substances from the
water with which the lather is to be made by boiling; second, preventing the
return of the expelled elements by substantially excluding the atmosphere from
contact with the surface of the water, and inducing capillary attraction in that
portion of the water whose surface is not excluded; third, the formation of
lather by stirring and agitating such water, at a suitable temperature, in contact
with a suitable soap, all substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.
2. The process of producing shaving lather consisting of steps as follows:
first, expelling oxygen and other corrosive or deleterious substances from the
water by boiling; second, impregnating the water with which the lather is to be
formed with metallic dust which is electro positive to steel; third, preventing
the return of the expelled elements by substantially excluding the atmosphere
from contact with the surface of the water and inducing capillary attraction in
that portion of the water whose surface is not excluded; fourth, the formation of
lather by stirring and agitating such water, at a suitable temperature, in contact
with a suitable soap, all substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.
3. In an apparatus for producing shaving lather the combination of three
elements: first, a vessel or receptacle A, adapted to hold water and conduct heat;
second, a piston float constructed hollow and of a suitable specific gravity less
than water, adapted to withstand a boiling temperature and to move up and
down within said retaining vessel without practical friction, and of a size and
shape adapted to leave between it and the inner wall of said vessel only so much
of space as will be closed by the water under the influence of capillary attrac-
tion third, a source of heat adapted to readily produce a boiling temperature
in said retaining vessel, all arranged and operating substantially as set forth.
4. In an apparatus for producing shaving lather the combination of five mem-
bers to wit: first, a vessel or receptacle A, adapted to hold water and conduct
heat; second, a piston float constructed hollow and of a specific gravity less than
water, adapted to withstand a boiling temperature and to move up and down
within said retaining vessel without practical friction, and of a size and shapo

page_text: adapted to leave between it and the inner wall of said vessel only so much of
space as is closed by the water under the influence of capillary attraction; third,
a source of heat adapted to readily produce a boiling temperature in said retain-
ing vessel; fourth, a cup adapted for the production of lather therein; fifth, a
brush adapted for use in producing lather by the agitation of a suitable soap
and said water in said cup, all arranged substantially as described and for the
purpose set forth.
5. As a new and improved product shaving lather, the constituents of which
are a suitable soap and water of suitable temperature and devoid of dissolved
oxygen and carbonic acid.
6. As a new and improved product shaving lather, the constituents of which
are a suitable soap, metallic dust of a quality electro-positive to steel and water
of suitable temperature and devoid of dissolved oxygen and carbonic acid.
Dated this 12th day of December 1900
ALLISON BROS.,
Agents for the Applicant.