AN IMPROVED TOOTH-BRUSH
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Varley, of Charterhouse Buildings, in the County of
Middlesex, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED TOOTH-BRUSH."
Sled the 10th Contambo 1970 and dated the 20th March 1970
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Varley at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 29th March 1879.
JOHN VARLEY, of Charterhouse Buildings, in the County of Middlesex. "AN
IMPROVED TOOTH-BRUSH."
"
The
My Invention relates to an improved tooth-brush, in which one or more magnets
or magnetized pieces of metal are embedded or placed in such a manner that the
brush so made will be highly beneficial to the person who uses the same.
magnetic effect of a brush made according to my said Invention upon the teeth and
gums is highly advantageous; it prevents and arrests decay in the teeth, strengthens
the gums, and prevents and cures neuralgia, while at the same time the ordinary use
of the brush is in no way impaired.
I carry the said Invention into practice as follows, that is to say-I place in the
back of the brush, namely, in the bone, ivory, horn, vulcanite, or other material of
which the handle is made, one or more strips of iron or steel which have been pre-
viously magnetized, these strips being arranged above the bristles or brush, and to
extend partly along the handle. I prefer to employ metal in the form of strips, for
the reason that this form is most convenient for the purpose, moreover the said
strips, in addition to their use for magnetizing purposes, serve to strengthen the
brush. It is, however, to be understood that the magnets or magnetized metal may
be of any other form suitable for the purpose of this Invention, which is to furnish
the brush with means whereby a magnetic influence may be exercised on the teeth
and gums of the person using the same. The said strips may be placed in the back
or handle of the brush in any convenient manner.
I may use natural magnets in place of the artificial ones above described.
In tooth brushes having longitudinal grooves for facilitating the fastening of the
bristles, the magnets or magnetic strips may be placed in such grooves, and the
latter filled with wax or other material, as is usual. With brushes having solid
backs the strips may be inserted in the apertures usually drilled in the bone or other
material for inserting the wire which fastens the bristles. The magnets or mag-
netized strips or other pieces may, however, be fixed within the back of the brush
in any other suitable manner.
.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Varley in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 29th September
1879.
"" AN
JOHN VARLEY, of Charterhouse Buildings, in the County of Middlesex.
IMPROVED TOOTH-BRUSH,'
,,
My Invention relates to an improved tooth brush in which one or more magnets
or magnetized pieces of metal are embedded or placed in such a manner that the
brush so made will be highly beneficial to the person who uses the same.
A tooth brush made according to my Invention produces a highly advantageous
magnetic effect upon the nerves, teeth, and gums of the person using the same. The
said brush moreover prevents and arrests decay in the teeth, strengthens the gums,
and prevents and cures neuralgia and tooth ache, while at the same time the ordinary
use of the brush is in no way impaired.
In the accompanying Drawing,
Figure 1 is a plan or top view of one form of a tooth brush constructed according
to my Invention; and
Figure 2 is a transverse section of the same on the line x, x.
a is the back of the brush, and a¹ is the handle of the same. Within the grooves
b which are usually formed in the back of such brushes for facilitating the fastening
of the bristles, I arrange one or more strips, rods, or bars c of iron or steel, which
bave been previously magnetized (or they may be magnetized after being placed in
the brush) the said strips being arranged above the bristles of the brush, as shewn.
When the said strips have been placed within the grooves b, the latter are filled up
with sealing wax or other suitable material in the ordinary manner; prefer to
employ metal in the form of strips, as this form is most convenient for the purpose,
and the said strips serve moreover to strengthen the brush, as well as for magnet-
izing purposes, and they may in some cases extend partially along the handle of the
said brush.
Instead of employing magnetized rods in the said grooves, I may in some instances
produce the desired magnetic effect by magnetizing the "drawing in" wires which
are ordinarily employed to secure the bristles within the back of a tooth-brush.
Figure 3 is a side elevation partly in section shewing another method of arranging
the magnetic strips in the back of a tooth brush; and
Figure 4 is a transverse section of the same on the line x¹, x¹.
In this arrangement the magnetic strips or bars c are inserted into the holes 61,
which are ordinarily drilled in the back or stock a of a tooth brush of that class
known as solid back brushes, to enable the bristles to be secured within the same,
the said strips being arranged along the tops of the bristles, as shewn.
Figure 5 is a side elevation, partly in section, of a tooth brush, in which the wire
d for securing the bristles in the back of the brush is magnetized, and thus effects
the object of my Invention.
Figure 6 shews the application of a magnetized steel plate e, which is provided
with holes e', punched or drilled through the same, and through which the bristles
of the brush are passed and secured to the handle of the brush for the purpose of my
'Invention.
Figure 7 is a top view of another form of a tooth brush constructed according to
this Invention, and with a portion of the same broken away. In this arrangement
'the said brush is provided with a false back a², between which and the bristles I
arrange one or more bars of magnetized iron or steel, as shewn at c, for the purpose
of my Invention.
In Figure 8 I have shewn another arrangement of the said magnetized strips or
rods, that is to say, the said strips or rods are arranged between or amongst the
rows of bristles, as shewn at c, and below the under surface of the back or stock of

page_text: the brush. The said strips may be attached to the said back or stock in any suitable
manner, or may be partially embedded in the same.
In some cases I cut out a portion of the back or stock of the brush above the
bristles so as to make a depression or recess extending from one end to the other of
the said stock. The magnets or magnetized rods or other pieces are then inserted
in this recess and covered over with some plastic material which hardens and forms
a solid waterproof back. This modification is shewn in transverse section in
Figure 9 of the Drawing.
Although in the Drawing I have shewn the rods or bars c straight, I wish it
understood that they may be curved or of any other suitable form to suit the object
to which they are to be applied, and I may in some cases use magnetized metal in
the form of small particles or filings instead of rods or bars.
In tooth brushes whose backs and handles are moulded out of plastic material the
said magnetic rods, or bars, or other pieces are embedded in this material in the
process of manufacturing the said backs and handles.
Instead of artificial magnets I may in all cases use natural magnets in any suit-
able form.
The strips, rods, or bars being in contact with the upper part of the bristles, the
water in the latter when the tooth brush is in use communicates with the said strips
and forms a good conductor for the magnetism.
Having thus fully described my said Invention, and the manner of performing the
same, I wish it understood that I am aware of magnetism having been heretofore
applied to hair-brushes, but the means employed for this purpose will not serve
advantageously for a tooth brush, I have therefore devised the peculiar arrangements
to the magnets as above specified and shewn in the accompanying Drawing, and I
claim,―
A tooth brush provided with one or more strips, rods, bars, or other pieces of
magnetized iron or steel, or with one or more natural magnets, as above described
and for the purpose specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Varley, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Twenty seventh day of September, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-nine.
TATT