Improvements in and relating to Brushes for Applying Paint, Mucilage, Varnish, and for similar purposes.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 27th June, 1896-Accepted, 1st Aug., 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Brushes for Applying Paint,
Mucilage, Varnish, and for similar purposes.
A communication from CHARLES MICHAEL HIGGINS, of 168 and 170 Eighth
Street, Brooklyn, County of Kings, State of New York, United States of
America, Manufacturer.
I, ALFRED JULIUS BOULT of 111 Hatton Garden in the County of Middlesex,
Chartered Patent Agent, 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 :-
This invention applies more especially to brushes for applying liquids or pastes
such as for painting, varnishing, pasting, etc., and the object of this invention is to
render the construction of such brushes simpler, stronger and cheaper, and at the
same time to give them a much neater appearance. Heretofore brushes of this
kind have been made in three distinct parts, namely, the "knot" or tuft of
bristles, a sheet metal sleeve or "ferrule" and a wooden handle.
The "knot" is held in one end of the ferrule by pinching or flattening the
metal thereon, and also by cementing the bristles within the ferrule, while the
wooden handle is socketed and secured in the opposite end of the ferrule abuting
against the inner end of the bristles. A joint thus exists between ferrule and
handle likely to get loose, and a joint also exists on the side of the ferrule itself
where the edges of the sheet metal are soldered together.
Now in this improved brush, the ferrule and handle are made integral in the
form of one continuous metallic tube drawn or made in one seamless piece, and in
the open end of this seamless tube is secured the swab or knot of bristles in the
usual manner, thereby reducing the number of parts, dispensing entirely with
joints in the ferrule and between ferrule and handle, and thus rendering the
construction much stronger, more accurate, cheaper and more durable, and also
much neater in appearance. This invention therefore consists mainly in the
construction here outlined and hereinafter fully set forth.
In the annexed drawings,
.
Fig. 1'is a broadside elevation of a flat varnish brush made according to this
invention.
Fig. 2 is an edge view of the same, and
Figs. 3, 4 and 5 are cross sections thereof on the respective places a, y and z.
Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a round brush made on the same principle.
Figs. 8 and 9 are cross sections on x and y of Fig. 6.
Fig. 7 is a longitudinal section of the same brush,
Figs. 10 and 11 are broadside and edge views of a "flat fitch" made according
to this invention.
Figs. 12, 13 and 14 represent cross sections thereof at the plaues x, y and z,
respectively.
Fig. 15 is an elevation of a cheap paste or mucilage brush, made on the same
plan; Fig. 16 is a longitudinal section thereof, and Fig. 17 a cross section
on x-x.
Fig. 18 is a modification of Fig. 16.
Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, A indicates the "knot" or tuft of bristles
forming the working end of the brush, and B indicates the sleeve or ferrule

page_text: in which the bristles are held, while C indicates the handle whereby the brush is
manipulated.
Now according to this invention, both the ferrule and handle B, C are made
integral in the form of one continuous seamless, metallic tube, which is made or
drawn in one continuous sheet, closed at the handle end as shown at k in Figs. 1
and 2 (see also the section in Fig. 7) and open at the opposite or ferrule end to
receive the bristles. This continuous tubular handle and ferrule is preferably
made of brass or other ductile metal drawn by successive operations in dies in the
same manner in which cartridge shells are made whereby very light and strong
tubes with a high finish can be obtained which will be far superior to the usual
wooden brush handles.
In the case of flat varnish brushes, shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the tubes are drawn
in a flat or oval form in cross section, the thickness of the flat tube being
about uniform throughout, as shown in the edge view Fig. 2, but it tapers
diverges or increases in width at the open or working end to form the ferrule B to
receive and hold the bristles, as shown in Fig. 1, and by successive cross sections
in the planes indicated in Figs. 5, 4 and 3, having thus two diameters, narrow at
its handle end, and wider at the ferrule end, as shown.
For a round brush, such as adapted for shaving, for stenciling &e. the tubes
are drawn round or cylindrical, as shown in Figs. 6, 7, 8 and 9, but with two
diameters, the ferrule portion 13 being expanded to a larger diameter to receive
the mass of bristles A, while the handle part C is drawn to a smaller diameter
suited to the more convenient grasp of the fingers. Both of the forms, the flat and
the round, shown in the drawings referred to, are very easily drawn in dies and
their manufacture will be very simple, as will be understood. The tubes being
thus formed as described, to embody both handle and ferrule in one piece, the
bundle of bristles, usually termed the "knot" as shown A, is next secured in the
open end of the tube or ferrule, in substantially the usual way;--that is
the bristles are first assembled in the knot or mass of the right size for the
desired brush by the aid of a little cup-mold or die in which the tip of the
bristles are socketed. The root ends projecting from the cup are then tied or
bound around with cord a, as shown in Fig. 7, and are also impregnated with glue
shellac or other cement, to hold the bristles together in a more or less solid mass
at the tied end. The cemented and tied "knot" is now taken out of the mold and
allowed to dry, and when the cement is nearly set, but while yet somewhat soft
or flexible, the knot is then, by aid of a guide funnel, forced into the open end of
the ferrule B, as scen best in Fig. 7, and also in Figs. 1, 2 and 6.
In case of a flat brush, the end of the ferrule is now firmly pinched or flattened
down on the contained bristles as shown at b in Figs. 1 and 2, thus holding the
knot securely in place and preventing its withdrawal. In some cases a few
fine rivets c are passed through the flattened end of the sleeve, as shown in Figs. 1
aud 5, to make the attachment more secure. I prefer to roll or form an
indentation d in the ferrule on opposite sides, just back of the knot, see Figs. 1
and 2, which will form internal shoulders or abutments, within the ferrule and
prevent the possibility of the knot being forced or displaced inwardly, as will be
understood.
In the case of the round brush in Figs. 6 and 7, the ferrule in contracted on the
contained knot in circumferential lines, by rolling one or more continuous grooves
or indentations fall around the sleeve as illustrated, thus giving the same effect
as flattening the end of the ferrule as at 6 in. Figs. 1 and 2. A deeper circum-
ferential groove d is also rolled in the ferrule back of the knot to form the
internal stop or abutment, as seen best in Fig. 7, with the same effect as the
indentation d in Figs. 1 and 2, as will be understood.
Figs. 10 and 11 show an ordinary flat fitch made according to this system. In
this case the handle C and ferrule B are made in the form of one continuous
slightly tapering tube closed at the narrow or handle end, but open at the wider
end, in which the knot of bristles A is inserted and there tightly secured by the

page_text: pinching of flattening down of the tube thereon, as will be readily understood from
the longitudinal, side and edge views in Figs. 10 and 11, and also in the adjacent
cross sections. Fig. 12 shows the cross section of the tubular handle near the
narrow or closed end; Fig. 13 shows the section near the wide end, and Fig. 14
shows the section through the roots of the bristles where they are held in the
broad flattened end of the tube or ferrule.
It may now be perceived that this method of making brushes of the described
kind has several important advantages which are: great simplicity, lightness,
strength and durability, besides neatness of finish or beauty, and what is very
important, great accuracy of structure, and a great reduction in cost. The tubes
drawn in one piece to form handle and ferrule integral, not only cost less than the
separate handle and ferrule, but avoid the labor and expense of afterwards uniting
separate parts as in the old construction; and in avoiding all joints in the ferrule
and between ferrule and handle, not only is the construction made stronger and
more durable, but also much more desirable in working qualities, as a rigidity and
firmness thus exists all through the brush from handle to end of ferrule, which
renders the manipulations or strokes of the brush much more effective and under
the more perfect direction and control of the hand; whereas where joints exist to
permit play or looseness between the handle and the bristles as often occurs in
brushes of the old construction, made in separate parts jointed together as described,
such play or want of rigidity is often a series embarrassment to the movement of the
hand particularly in accurate work, such as sign and fresco painting, varnishing
and fine mounting, as will readily appreciated.
The working end A of the brush has been described as being formed of bristles,
which are generally and preferably used in brushes, but of course any substitute
or equivalent for bristles may be used without departing from this invention
as will be understood.
In some cases the brush may be made with a filling or abutment of hardened or
fusible cement within the tube or ferrule back of the knot of bristles, as indicated
by dotted lines at min Fig. 7, which will still more firmly secure the knot in place in
addition to the shoulder . This cement may be introduced while fused or fluid
through a small opening in the side of the tube back of the knot, or it may be
dropped in solid pieces into the tube before the knot is inserted, and after the knot
is secured in place the brush may be placed upright and heat applied to the tube
to cause the cement to melt and How down into the base of the tube over the ends.
of the bristles, as shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 7. As soon as the fluid cement
has cooled and solidified, it will become firmly united to the walls of the tube and
to the ends of the bristles, and thereby secure the latter firmly in place and prevent.
either inward or outward displacement.
In Figs. 15 and 16 a cheap mucilage or paste brush is shown made substantially
in the same manner as the brushes previously described, except that the tube is
shorter, smaller and preferably cylindrical. The open end of the tube BC is
flattened upon the bristles A to hold the same as shown in Figs. 15 and 16, and in
some cases the tube may be fitted with a cap G to cover the mouth of the mucilage.
bottle as usual, which cap may be movable or adjustable up and down on the tube
or be soldered in fixed position thereon, as will be understood. Where the cap G
is soldered on to the tube BC it is preferred to make the tube of brass drawn in
dies as before described, although it may also be made of soft or other metal cast
in molds. In some cases, however, it is preferred to make the cap G integral with
the walls of the tube as seen in Fig. 18, in which case both the tube B C and the
cup G are all made in one integral piece, cast preferably in white, Britannia, or
other soft metal in molds, in the form shown. It will be noted on referring to
Fig. 18 that the tube tapers or diminishes towards either extremity from the cap G
so as to admit of draft from the two divisions of the mold, that is the ferrule end B
of the tube is widest and its walls thickest near its junction with the cap G, and in
the same manner the diameter of the handle tube is greater and its walls thicker
at its junction with the cap as clearly shown in Fig. 18; thus enabling this

page_text: modification of the brush to be cast in molds with handle C, ferrule B and cap G
all united in one integral piece, with important advantages, as will be
understood.
The cap G may be formed plain as in Fig. 18 to slip on and off the bottle neck,
or it may have a screw thread rolled thereon to screw upon the bottle neck and
where it has a screw thread it is also preferred to knurl the top edge of the cap to
give better grasp in screwing the cap on or off as will be understood.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this said inven-
tion, as communicated to me by my foreign correspondent, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. A brush having its handle and ferrule made integral in the form of one
continuous metallic tube formed in one seamless piece open at one end with the
swab or knot of bristles secured in said open end, substantially as herein shown and
described.
2. A brush having its handle and ferrule made integral in the form of one
continuous metallic tube made in one seamless piece and of varying diameters,
being narrower at the handle end and wider at the open and ferrule end, and with
the bristles, or equivalent, secured in said wider end, substantially as herein shown
and described.
3. A brush having its handle and ferrule made integral in the form of one
continuous metallic tube made in one seamless piece and of oval or flat tubular
section with the bristles or equivalent socketted and grasped in the open end of
the said continuous oval tube substantially as herein shown and described.
4. A brush having its handle and ferrule formed integral in one continuous
metallic tube made in one seamless piece with a flat or oval cross section and with
two diameters narrow at the handle end and wider at the ferrule end substantially
as herein shown and described.
5. A brush having the handle and ferrule formed integral in one continuous
metallic tube with the swab or knot of bristles inserted in the open end of said tube
and having the indentation d in the walls of said tube back of said bristles
substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
6. A bottle cover comprising a body portion G to encircle and cover the mouth
of the bottle and a rigid combined stem and handle BC projecting from the upper
and lower surfaces of the body portion said stem and handle being closed at its
upper and open at its lower end and integral with the body portion all substantially
as shown and described.
7. An improved brush and cap for bottles formed of a rigid metallic tube made
in one seamless piece closed at one end and open at the other and having a rigid
cap projecting from the sides of the tube at or about midway between the closed
and open end integral with the walls of the tube the closed part of the tube above
the cap forming the handle of the brush and the open part below the cap forming
the stem or ferrule of the brush and having the swab of the brush secured in its open
end substantially as herein shown and described.
Dated this 27th day of June 1906
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant.