An Improved Device for Cleaning Tobacco Pipes and other Small Tubes.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 20th June. 1893
Complete Specification Left, 20th Apr., 1894-Accepted, 16th June, 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Device for Cleaning Tobacco Pipes and other
Small Tubes.
I, JAMES BOYD, of 13, Bridge Street, Belfast, Ireland, Manufacturer, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to an improved device for cleaning tobacco pipes, cigar
tubes and other small tubes. When tobacco pipes and like articles are cleaned
with a wire such as is usually employed it is very difficult to effect the removal of
all the nicotine from the stem by reason of the smoothness and non absorbent
properties of the cleaning device, and if a piece of soft absorbent string or yarn be
used great difficulty is experienced in pushing the same into the hole in the stem
especially if the pipe or the like is very foul.
According to my invention I provide a pipe cleaning device made of two parts
one part thereof being stiff and elastic and adapted to be pushed through the pipe
stem, the other part being of soft absorbent material such as a cord or tape or a
yarn or yarns of cotton, wool or the like and which is pulled or pushed through the
stem by means of the other stiff part.
In carrying my invention into practice I make the stiff part of the cleaner of
wire or other suitable material of suitable gauge and length and secure the
absorbent part. to the end thereof in any suitable manner. The absorbent part of
the cleaner may be made detachable so as to be thrown away after being used, the
stiff part of the cleaner being easily wiped clean and able to be used again with a
new absorbent portion. In a modification of my invention, I attain the same end
without the use of a wire or the like by simply stiffening a portion of the absorbent
cord by means of glue, size or other suitable material.
The stiffened portion may be made smaller than the absorbent part by giving the
same more twist or by arranging that it shall have less material in it than the
absorbent part or by using both these methods in conjunction or otherwise. In
some cases I twist the wire or other stiff part of the cleaner with the absorbent
material for the whole or a portion of its length.
By the aid of my improved device tobacco pipes, tubes and the like may be very
easily and thoroughly cleaned in a short space of time. My improved cleaners are
moreover easily and quickly made at a small cost.
Dated this 20th day of June 1893.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Device for Cleaning Tobacco Pipes and other
Small Tubes.
I, JAMES BOYD, of 13 Bridge Street, Belfast, Ireland, Manufacturer, 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 an improved device for cleaning tobacco pipes, cigar
tubes and other small tubes. When tobacco pipes and like articles are cleaned

page_text: 4
with a wire such as is usually employed it is very difficult to effect the removal of
all the nicotine from the stem by reason of the non-absorbent properties of the
cleaning device, and if a piece of soft absorbent string or yaru be used great
difficulty is experienced in pushing the same into the hole in the stem especially if
the pipe or the like is very foul. Moreover such wire or like cleaners being usually
made of twisted wire are cleaned with great difficulty, as the nicotine lodges in the
crevices and cannot readily be removed.
According to my invention I provide a pipe cleaning device comprising a flexible
and elastic part having sufficient stiffness to allow of being pushed into the pipe
stem and some soft absorbent material such as a cord or tape or sponge or a yarn
or yarns of cotton, wool or the like which is pulled through the stem by the aforesaid
flexible and elastic part.
The aforesaid flexible and elastic part is made of wire or the like which is smooth
throughout the whole or the greater portion of its length.
In order that my invention may be readily understood I will now proceed to
describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which
Figure 1 shews one form of my improved cleaning device.
Figures 2 and 3 illustrate the means I employ for pulling and guiding the cleaner
through the pipe.
Figure 4 is a sectional view of a pipe shewing how my improved cleaning device
is operated.
Like letters denote similar parts in all the drawings.
A is the flexible and elastic part and B the absorbent part of the cleaner.
Referring now to Figure 1, the part A of the cleaner is made of wire or the like
of suitable gauge and length smooth for the whole or the greater portion of its
length which wire is doubled or looped so as to have a smooth pointed end A.
The ends of the wire are joined together in any suitable manner as shewn at A³
and the absorbent material B which may, as aforesaid, be a cord or sponge or a yarn
or yarns of cotton, wool, or the like is secured thereto in any suitable manner but so
as to be easily detachable therefrom when desired.
In order to clean a pipe or cigar tube or the like, the part A of the cleaner is
pushed through the stem, preferably from the mouth piece end thereof, and with
the smooth point A' foremost. When the operation is finished the absorbent
material B can be detached from the part A of the cleaner and thrown away. The
part A being of wire or the like smooth for the whole or the greater portion of its
length is easily wiped clean and is able to be used again with a new absorbent
portion.
I have found when using my improved cleaning device in a pipe that the point A
thereof lies close to the inside of the bowl so that it cannot be readily taken hold of
and that the point although very smooth sometimes catches on the rough inner
surface of the bowl. I therefore provide a suitably shaped hook as shewn in
Figure 2 which can be used to hook on to the end A' of the cleaner after the said
end has passed into the bowl and pull it through the pipe, and I also provide a
spoon-shaped device as shewn in Figure 3, which can be introduced into the bowl
of the pipe to afford a smooth surface and guide for the point A³ of the cleaner to
slide up with ease. The operation of both these devices in conjunction with the
cleaner shewn in Figure 1 is illustrated in Figure 4, wherein the arrow shews the
direction of motion of the cleaner the pipe C being in section. The said devices
are not necessarily used together as shewn in Figure 4 but may be used separately
if desired.
I sometimes make the part A of my improved cleaner of a single piece of wire or
the like not doubled, but having an eyelet or loop at one end or at both ends. This
form of cleaner is used in a similar manner to the double form above described, that
is to say it is pushed in preferably through the mouth-piece end of the stem, and
guided or drawn out through the bowl the absorbent material being attached to the
rear end and pulled through with it.
By the aid of my improved device tobacco pipes, tubes and the like may be very

page_text: easily and thoroughly cleaned in a short space of time. My improved cleaners are
moreover easily and quickly made at a small cost, and can be very readily cleaned
after use.
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 :-
1. For tobacco pipes and the like a cleaner made of wire or other suitable material,
smooth for the whole or the greater portion of its length, and looped or doubled, the
ends being joined together in any suitable manner, and having absorbent material
detachably secured thereto, substantially as described.
2. The modification of my cleaner, wherein I use a single wire or the like having
a loop or eyelet at one end or at both ends.
3. The combination with my improved cleaner of a hook for drawing it through
the pipe or the like, substantially as described.
4. The combination with my improved cleaner, of a guide substantially as
described with reference to Figure 3 of the drawings, for the purpose specified.
Dated this 20th day of April 1894.
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
JAMES BOYD.
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.