Improvements in Curling-tongs.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Apr., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 13th Jan., 1893-Accepted, 18th Feb., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Curling-tongs.
I ISABELLA TETT DICKSON, of 16, Criffel Avenue, Streatham Hill, in the
County of Surrey, Married Woman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
My invention relates to curling-tongs and has for its object to produce curling
tongs which in use will not injure the hair of the user.
It is well known that when iron or steel curling tongs are heated to a sufficiently
high temperature to quickly and efficiently curl the hair, the amount of heat
quickly transferred from the tongs to the hair injuriously affects the hair.
This serious objection and defect I overcome by means of my said invention
which comprises forming both members of the tongs with a sleeve or covering of
pipe-clay prepared somewhat in the form and shape in which it is used in making
the stems of tobacco smoking pipes.
In carrying my said invention into practice I provide curling tongs of the
ordinary shape that is with handles of any suitable material, jointed or hinged
near the connection of the members with the handles, but in place of the two
members one round and one semi-tubular as heretofore generally made, I provide a
thin pin or rod of steel or iron adapted to be screwed into or otherwise connected
with a connecting socket or piece formed on or attached to the lower end of each
handle just beneath the joint or hinge. These pins or rods may be for a short
distance screw threaded to enable them to be screwed into screw-threaded holes in
the connecting sockets or pieces on the handles. At the other extremity of each
pin or rod 1 attach a retaining or shoulder piece which is to retain in proper
position on each pin or rod the sleeve or covering of pipe-clay after the same has
been passed on to the pin or rod and after the pin or rod has been screwed into
the socket above referred to.
On to one of these pins or rods I pass a circular sleeve or covering of pipe-clay
to form the round member and on to the other pin or rod I pass a sleeve or
covering of pipe clay of semi-tubular or of crescent shape in transverse section to
form the other member of the tongs.
These sleeves or coverings of pipe-clay extend almost the entire length of the
the pins or rods leaving outside or uncovered the screw-threaded portion of the
pins or rods which portion is to be screwed into the sockets.
My improved curling-tongs have, amongst others, the following advantages.
They can be used with greater safety as the heat applied passes readily into the
interior of the members and is given off from the pipe-clay sleeve or covering in a
manner causing far less injury to the hair than is caused by the use of most
curling tongs heretofore made; the members can be very readily and completely
cleansed; and if broken or damaged the pipe-clay sleeves or coverings can be
easily replaced by detaching the pins or rods and substituting new sleeves or
coverings for the broken or damaged ones.
may
I have herein described a convenient manner of carrying out my invention but
without departing from my invention employ other means of mounting
the pipe-clay members or retaining them in proper connection with the handles.
Dated this 13th day of April 1892.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Curling-tongs.
I, ISABELLA TETT DICKSON, of 16 Criffel Avenue, Streatham Hill, in the
County of Surrey, Married Woman, 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 curling-tongs and has for its object to produce curling-
tongs which will not be liable to injure the hair of the user, and which will retain
the heat for a longer time than the iron or steel tongs heretofore used.
The use of iron or steel curling-tongs is objectionable partly because they soon
part with their heat and partly because they injuriously affect the hair.
These objections I overcome by means of my said invention, which comprises
the use of sleeves or coverings of pipe-clay or similar refractory material on the
members of the tongs. For this purpose I find it most advantageous to employ
pipe-clay prepared somewhat after the manner in which it is prepared in making
the stems of tobacco smoking pipes.
In carrying my said invention into practice, I make the curling-tongs with
handles of any suitable description and I connect the two arms or members by
means of a pivot or hinge-joint near the handles; but, instead of making the two
members entirely of iron or steel as heretofore, I proceed as follows, viz. :-I
provide thin pins or rods of steel or iron which are adapted to receive the sleeves
or coverings of pipe-clay or similar material and which are formed on or screwed
into or otherwise suitably connected with sockets or arms formed on or attached to
the handles, and connected by the said pivot. These pins or rods may, if desired,
be formed with suitable heads, and be screwed into the said sockets on the handles
after the sleeves or coverings have been placed upon them. Or suitable buttons,
caps or nuts may be screwed upon the ends of the said pins or rods to retain the
sleeves or coverings thereon.
On one of the said pins or rods I fit a cylindrical sleeve or covering of pipe-
clay or the like to form the round member of the tongs; and on the other pin or
rod I fit a sleeve or covering of semi-tubular or of crescent shape in transverse
section to form the other member of the tongs. These sleeves or coverings of
pipe-clay or the like extend almost the entire length of the said pins or rods.
My improved curling-tongs afford amongst others, the following advantages,
that is to say-They can be used with greater safety, as the arms or members
are not liable to oxidation as in the ordinary iron or steel tongs, and cause far less
injury to the hair. The heat applied to them passes readily into the interior of
the members and is retained thereby for a longer period than it is by the iron or
steel. The members can be very readily and completely cleansed. Moreover the
pipe-clay sleeves or coverings, if broken or damaged, can be easily replaced by
detaching and removing the said pins or rods or the nuts thereon, and substituting
new sleeves or coverings for the broken or damaged ones.
I have herein described what I believe to be the most convenient and
advantageous manner of carrying my invention into practice, but it is obvious that
I can, without departing from the nature of my invention, employ other suitable
means for securing the pipe-clay members to the handles, or for retaining them in
the proper position on the aforesaid pins or rods. Moreover, instead of making
my improved curling-tongs with one round member and one semi-tubular member,
I can, if desired, make both of the pipe-clay members or sleeves cylindrical.
And I can, if desired, use, in place of the pipe-clay, other kinds of clay or other
refractory substances of a like nature.

page_text: Having now particularly described and 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 :-
First. The use of sleeves or coverings of pipe-clay or similar material on the
arms or members of curling-tongs, for the purpose above specified.
Second. A pair of curling-tongs constructed with arms or members formed of
or covered with pipe-clay or similar material, substantially as hereinbefore
described.
1
1000
D. YOUNG & Co.,
11 & 12, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.