Improvements in Bottle Caps and Brushes.
Year: 1888

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Bottle Caps and Brushes.
I, CHARLES MICHAEL HIGGINS, of the City of Brooklyn, in the County of Kings
and State of New York, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of my invention
for IMPROVEMENTS IN BOTTLE CAPS AND BRUSHES and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement :-
My invention applies more especially to such caps and brushes as are used for
mucilage bottles and similar purposes, which usually consist of a cap to cover the
mouth of the bottle, from which a brush extends on the under side, with a knob, stem,
or handle on the top. Usually the cap and the stem or handle of the brush have been
made of tin, the brush or stem being adjustable in the cap, or the knob and cap have
been made of wood, turned and subsequently japanned or enameled, to which a brush
is finally affixed on the under side. The tin brush is a cheap and inelegant device,
recommended chiefly by its cheapness for ordinary or common trade, but the wooden
enameled brush, while much more elegant in appearance, and used for a better class
of trade, is too expensive for general use, and furthermore it cannot be made so as to
show proprietary stamps, names or marks without extra expense and apparatus in its
manufacture. Now the object of my invention is to provide a bottle-cap or brush
of an elegant appearance, and of a strong and durable nature at a small cost, and which
may also be formed with any desired ornamentation or proprietary names or marks in
the act of its manufacture without extra cost, thus providing a much superior and more
desirable article adapted for general use.
To these ends I make the brush, or rather the knob and cap of the brush, of some
solidifiable molded substance, preferably a fusible resinous compound cast in molds,
which molds may embody any desired ornamental form with proprietary markings,
and I usually embed in the resinous or molded casting a tin or other cap or lining to
D

page_text: strengthen the molded cap, and serve to contact with the mouth of the bottle, and I
also embed the stem of the brush up into the knob or stem of the molded cap, thus
greatly strengthening the resinous or molded part, and at the same time firmly fixing
or casting the composition onto the elements of the brush. My invention therefore
consists mainly in the features above outlined, and in some minor details, as herein- 5
after fully set forth, and claimed, whereby a very elegant, inexpensive and efficient
brush or cap is produced.
In the drawings annexed Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my improved cap and
brush, and Fig. 2 is a vertical section thereof. Fig. 3 gives a section of the two
parts of the mold or die in which the improved brushes are cast or formed. Fig. 4 1
is a similar section illustrating the operation of casting and forming. Fig. 5 is a
section of the mold with a complete casting or brush therein, illustrating the final
stage of forming. Figs. 6 and 7 give sections of modifications.
By referring to Figs. 1 and 2, it will be noted that my improved brush is
formed with the usual bristles c and the tubular tin or metal stem d, and also with 1
the tin or metal cap g, but according to my invention it is also formed with the
novel ornamental handle e and cap of a solified resinous compound cast firmly
upon the metal stem and cap dg, as best shown in Fig. 2. It will be readily seen
that the stem d in extending up into the cast handle above the cap greatly
strengthens the same, while the tin cap g lines and strengthens the resinous cap on the
inner or under side, and thus prevents the resinous or other molded compound from
coming in direct contact with the smeared lip of the mucilage bottle, and thereby prevents
the brush from adhering to the neck and chipping off, as would be likely to occur
if the strengthening lining g, were omitted. The mold in which the improved brush
is cast is shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5, where a indicates the body of the mold, which i
is a solid or massive block of metal having a cavity b formed therein, which is of the
same shape as that of the article to be cast. It may be noted by referring to Fig. 3,
that the molding cavity in the mold block a is made straight down therein, and that
the cavity is made without breaks or joints, and (in correspondence to the design
of the brush shown in Figs. 1 and 2) it is almost straight, or tapers or diverges very
slightly from its lowest point up, to give necessary "draft to the casting. Very
little draft, however, is necessary, and the lines of the design may be almost or
sometimes quite straight. It will therefore be seen that the handle of my improved
brush, as shown at e in Figs. 1 and 2, is not of the usual knob-shape with entering
or concave curves, but is widest at the base, and slightly tapering with rounded top:
This form is not only desirable for this mode of molding to permit the casting to
draw out of the mold easily, but is actually a much better form than the knob-shape
to hold in the fingers, for it will be seen that the form of the space between the
fingers which usually grasp the brush, is a tapering space precisely similar to the
form of the handle e, and the fact is, therefore, that the fingers have a much easier
grasp and a better control on this form of handle in manipulating the brush to
spread the mucilage than is the case with a knob-bed form, which is thickest at the
extremity and thinnest at its junction with the cap, the reverse of the shape of the
grasping socket of the fingers.
Now referring again to Figs. 3, 4 and 5, the mold a is provided with a top-piece
or cap h, which has a short neck to enter the mouth or cavity of the mold,
and this neck is formed on the under side with a grooved or beveled rim i to corre-
spond to, and form the under edge of the cap, as fully shown in the
drawings. A central boss / also projects from the mold cap within the rim i,
adapted to receive and snugly fit the tin lining-cap g of the brush, as shown in
Fig. 2, while the mold cap has also a hollow center or bore through which the
stem of the brush projects, as shown.
Now in proceeding to cast my improved. brushes, I prepare preferably a resinous
composition of any suitable kind, which can be fused or melted and poured
in a hot liquid state into the molds, and which will there rapidly solidify. For
this purpose equal weights of common rosin and powdered silica may be used with
or without any pigment for coloring, the, rosin being first melted and the silica

page_text: being thoroughly incorporated therewith. This will form an excellent composition
being cheap and strong, and it may be run very fluid and will solidify rapidly
in the molds without sticking to or corroding the same. The addition of the silica
or other powdered substance to the rosin overcomes its brittleness and tendency to chip
and crack, and makes a composition of great tenacity and strength, having five or six
times the tenacity of the rosin alone, and this mixture not only may be run very
fluid, but will follow the finest intricacy of the mold, and cast sharp and true with
a fine polished surface. Any other fusible composition or cement of similar nature
or action may however, be used.
The resinous compound having been, therefore, properly prepared, and being
brought to a proper heat and fluidity, is now poured hot and liquid into the mold,
as seen in Fig. 4, the mold being thus filled to a proper height. The cap h, with the
metal part of the brush attached thereto, as shown, is now pressed down into the
mold which will complete the casting, as seen in Fig. 5. It will now be seen that
the act of inserting the cap, with the brush attached, into the liquid charge in the
mold, will cause the metal stem and cap of the brush to be imbedded in the resinous
composition while hot and liquid, which will now bond and adhere firmly thereto for
the reason that the mass of the metal in the tin stem and cap is small, and is surrounded
by a comparatively large mass of hot liquid composition which will rapidly heat
the metal parts up to the temperature of adhesion, and thus cement itself firmly
o the thin metal parts of the brush.
The composition will not, however, adhere to the body or cap of the mold at all,
on account of their mass, and their capacity of absorbing the heat from the com-
position so rapidly as to prevent the surfaces from reaching anything near the
temperature of adhesion. The result will be, therefore, that in a few seconds the
casting will have firmly solidified in the mold, and the cap h may be lifted off,
usually bringing with it the cast brush which will slip freely out of the cavity b of
the mold, after which a pressure on the end of the brush-stem will remove the
finished brush from the mold-cap, when it will appear as in Figs. 1 and 2, with
the solidified resinous compound firmly bound and adhered to the metal parts of
the brush. The finished brush will now present a highly ornamental exterior, having
reproduced every feature of the mold, and with a brilliant polished surface, which
makes it a very desirable article in the qualities of strength, beauty, and cheapness,
and it is a great advance in the art as compared with the common tinned brushes
heretofore used,. or the more expensive brushes having turned wood caps and handles,
the cost of the latter being three or four times that of my brushes. Any lettering
stamped or engraved on the ledge b' in the mold will, of course, be reproduced with
perfect fidelity on the top of the cast brush, thus forming the brush and lettering
it the same instant, which is a great advantage, as the lettering adds to the
appearance and effect of the brushes, and shows the proprietorship, and thus
advertises the manufacturer for whom the brushes may be made to serve with his
mucilage or other goods, which is a feature much desired in all proprietary goods,
and which cannot be embodied in the enamelled wooden caps without extra operations
and expense.
It will be further noted, referring to Figs. 3, 4 and 5, that the neck and rim ¹i, of
the mold-cap, form or finish the edge of the brush-cap, and that the only joint in the
mold is therefore a circumferential one at the extreme angular edge on the circum-
ference of the brush-cap, where any fin or seam if it does occur is not noticeable.
In some cases the tin cap g, see Figs. 1 and 2, may be omitted, the brush being
made without it, as in Fig. 7, in which case the under side of the mold-cap h will of
course be made to correspond in shape with the hollow or recess desired to be formed
in the cap. The cap g may of course be made of other material than metal, and the
stem d may be of wood, quill or other material, according as the purposes may require.
In Fig. 7 I show the cap as cast without the lining y, and I represent the stem d as
formed of a slender stick of-say, wood, embedded in the casting, as before, and
tapered at its lower end. The tapered end may be used to apply the mucilage or
other liquid directly, or to it may be secured a swab of sponge.or other material, as

page_text: indicated by dotted lines. In Fig. 6 the cap is shown for use as a mere bottle cap,
without brush or other attachment, but cast with the metal or other lining g
It will be understood that while I prefer to use a resinous composition which may
be fused and run fluid into molds, as described, yet any other compound or material
which may be molded, cast or solidified upon the lining cap or stem of the brush
may be used without departing from the primary feature of my invention. For
example, fused sulphur, picture framer's putty, plaster of paris etc. may be used, but
a fusible resinous compound which can be run fluid into the molds and at once
solidify upon the stem and cap, is much preferable, and forms a secondary feature
of my invention. The great advantage of a resinous compound cast as described,
is the quickness and simplicity of the operation, and the fact that when the molds
are made of massive blocks of metal or large conductors of heat, as described, and
not allowed to get hot, the resinous casting will never stick or adhere to the mold,
but will draw out instantly when solidified, and will show a perfectly finished surface
when removed. Hence the molds need no lubrication but may be used in a clean,
dry state for any successive number of casts desired, and therefore the resinous
casting when removed will have a brilliant, smooth, and polished surface, perfectly
true to the mold, whereas the surface would be more or less dull and rough if
lubricants were required to be used to oil or smear the molds to prevent sticking, as
would be necessary with plaster of paris or with plastic putty-like substances pressed
into the molds. Besides these advantages the resinous compound has the merit of
great cheapness, ease in handling and strength, which combine to make it preferable
to all others for the described purpose.
In making my improved caps and brushes a series of the molds, should be used,
each being filled in succession, as in Fig. 5, and left to cool until all are filled, when
the casting is then removed from the first one and the first is then again filled, and so
on successively to the end of the, series, by which means the molds are allowed
sufficient time to cool down, or rather the heat is prevented from accumulating
therein to the temperature of adhesion, which is near the point at which the com-
position softens.
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 :-
1st. A bottle-brush or cap formed with the lining g and stem d in combination with
the cap and handle e formed integral, of a solid cast or molded material consolidated
upon said stem and lining substantially as herein shown and described.
2nd. A bottle-brush consisting of a brush or swab and a cap and handle formed of
solidified fusible resinous material secured to and cast on the stem of the brush or
swab substantially as shown and described.
3rd. A bottle-brush consisting of a cap and handle of solid resinous composition,
and a brush and stem, which latter is embedded in the composition and extends past
the cap up into the resinous handle substantially as shown and described.
4th. A bottle-cap consisting of an internal strengthening lining-cap of metal or its
equivalent such as g and an external cap or covering of solid resinous material cast on
and adhering to the convex or salient side of the lining cap, substantially as herein
shown and described.
th. A bottle-brush consisting of a cap and handle of solid resinous material secured
to the stem of the brush, and having a strengthening cap such as of metal or its
equivalent underlying and cemented to the resinous cap to contact with the mouth of
the bottle, substantially as herein shown and described.
6th. In a bottle-brush the consolidated cap and handle fe, with the stem d
embedded or cast in and strengthening said handle above the cap and carrying a
brush or swab at its tip, substantially as herein shown and described.
7th. In a bottle-brush the combination of the stem d, brush c and lining cap 9, with
the solid resinous cover and handle e cast on said stem and cap, substantially as
herein shown and described.

page_text: 8th. A bottle-cap consisting of an overhanging capf and a handle e projecting
therefrom formed integral with each other of a solid resinous material, substantially as
shown and described.
9th. A bottle-cap or brush formed with an overhanging cap to fit over the mouth
of the bottle, and a straight handle projecting centrally therefrom on a diminishing
outward taper, substantially as herein shown and described.
10th. In a bottle-cap or brush the cap or cover and diminishing tapering handle e
projecting therefrom and cast integral in consolidated resinous material, substantially
as shown and described.
11th. The combination of the cover fand outwardly tapering handle e, with the
embedded brush, stem'd and lining cap g, substantially as herein shown and described.
Dated this Eighth day of March 1888.
CHARLES MICHAEL HIGGINS.