Improvements in or relating to Tooth Brushes.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 27th July, 1896
2007
A
003L
4007
Improvements in or relating to Tooth Brushes.
I, ARTHUR WILLIAM COULTER of 78 Kew Road, Richmond, in the County
of Surrey, Jeweller, lo hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
These improvements relate to tooth brushes and have for their object the
construction of a tooth brush which may easily be packed into a small space and
be provided with a cover for the bristles.
My improved tooth brush is preferably constructed of metal and in two portions,
the head and the handle; these two portions are pivotted together, the handle
being conveniently formed open and of such shape that when the tooth brush is
folded, the head may pass into the opening in the handle. A suitably arranged
stop is provided to keep the handle straight when the brush is in use.
An oblong cap preferably of metal, and shaped so as to fit over the bristles is
constructed with its edges flanged or turned inwards to engage with grooves cut on
either side of the head of the brush. This cap may be applied either by placing it
over the bristles and springing its edges into the grooves, or by sliding it on from
the end; iu the latter case one end of the cap is constructed to open so as to allow
of the passage of the bristles.
Though I have described my improved tooth brush and cap as being constructed
of metal it is obvious that other materials may be employed, but I prefer to use
aluminium. The shape of the handle may vary as desired, but I preferably
construct it of a single strip of metal folded into a loop having the outline of the
head of the brush, the ends of the loop embracing and being pivotted to an
extension on the lead.
I prefer to employ a screw as the means of connecting together the two portions
of the handle, as the parts may then be readily tightened to compensate for wear,
a pin rivet or other suitable means may however be used if desired.
Dated this 27th day of July 1896.
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant.
I, ARTHUR WILLIAM COULTER of 78 Kew Road, Richmond, in the County
of Surrey, Jeweller, 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 :-
These improvements relate to tooth brushes and have for their object the
construction of a tooth brush which may easily be packed into a small space and
he provided with a cover for the bristles.

page_text: My improved tooth brush is preferably constructed of metal and in two portions,
the head and the handle; these two portions are pivotted together, the handle
being conveniently formed open and of such shape that when the tooth brush is
folded, the head may pass into the opening in the handle. A suitably arranged
stop is provided to keep the handle straight when the brush is in use.
An oblong cap, preferably of metal, and shaped, so as to fit over the bristles, is
constructed with its edges flanged or turned inwards, to engage with grooves, cut
on either side of the head of the brush. This cap may be applied either by placing
it over the bristles, and springing its edges into the grooves, or by sliding it on
from the end; in the latter case, one end of the cap is constructed to open, so as to
allow of the passage of the bristles.
Though I have described my improved tooth brash and cap as being constructed
of metal, it is obvious that other materials may be employed, but I prefer to use
aluminium. The shape of the handle may be varied as desired, but I preferably
construct it of a single strip of metal, folded into a loop, having the outline of the
head of the brush, the ends of the loop embracing, and being pivotted to an
extension on the head.
I prefer to employ a screw, as the means of connecting together the two portions
of the handle, as the parts may then be readily tighteneil, to compensate for wear;
a pin rivet, or other suitable means, may however be used if desired.
In the accompanying drawings
Figure 1 represents, in side elevation, a tooth brush constructed in accordance.
with this invention.
Figure 2 is a front elevation of the same.
Figure 3 shows the brush folded up and the cover in position.
Figure 4 is a transverse section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.
Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 3 showing another form of cover, and
Figure 6 shows a modification.
Like letters indicate like parts throughout the drawings.
The head of the brush A is made with an extension A¹ to which is pivotted the
handle B. This latter may be described as an "open" handle and is made by
bending a strip of metal or equivalent into a suitable shape to fit round the head A
when the tooth brush is fulded up. The hinge or pivot is made by passing a,
serew C through the sides of the handle B. When in use the extension of the
head A presses against a metal loop or stirrup D pivotted between the sides of the
handle and the brush is thus kept rigid. Fig. 6 shows an alternative device for
doing this. A pin D' is fixed through the extension A' of the head; grooves D'
are formed in the sides of the handle B so that when the brush is opened the ends
of the pin D engage with them and forms a stop when the brush is unfolded.
The cap E to protect the bristles is made of metal, celluloid or the like, and may
have various forms.
As shown in Figs. 3 and 4 the cap E is constructed in une piece, and the hottom
edges E are turned inwards to engage with grooves B cut in the handle B; in
this case the edges of the cap are sprung into the grooves. Fig. 5 shows an
alternative form of cap in which one end Eis hinged or pivotted as at E to allow
of the passage of the bristle when the edges of the cap are slid into the grooves B¹
instead of being sprung into them.
In Fig. 6 a similar form of cap is made to fit over the head A of the brush in
which grooves A are cut, space buing left between the handle and the head for its
reception. The cap may be perforated as at E and if preferred may be fixed
permanently on to the handle in some such position as shown in Fig. 1. In this
case it forms an enlarged handle.
It is obvious that the cap may be constructed to clip or slide on to an ordinary
tooth brush unprovided with special grooves for its reception, though these grooves
may in this case be formed if desired; also other forms of clip may be employed.
It will be understood that if desired the reduction in length of the tooth brush
may be accomplished in other ways than by folding as above described.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A tooth brush the length of which can be reduced for the purpose described.
2. A folding tooth brush.
3. A tooth brush the handle of which is constructed to fold over the head.
4. In a tooth brush the combination with the head of an "open" handle in which
the head may be received.
5. In a tooth brush the combination with the head, of a handle pivotted to the-
head and a stop for the purpose described.
6. The combination with a tooth brush of a cap such as E the edges of which are
adapted to engage with the side of the head substantially as described.
7. The combination with a tooth brush of a cap such as E the edges of which
are adapted to engage with grooves on the head substantially as described.
8. In a tooth brush the combination with the head of a handle pivotted to the
head and a cap such as E adapted to fit on to either the head or the bandle
substantially as and for the purpose described.
9. The complete tooth brush substantially as described and illustrated in
Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 or Figure 6 of the accompanying drawings.
10. The protective cap for a tooth brush substantially as described and
illustrated in Figures 3 and 4 or Figures 5 and 6 of the accompanying drawings.
11. The complete tooth brush and protective cap substantially as described and
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 27th day of April 1897.
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant.