IM- PROVEMENTS IN HAIR-BRUSHES
Year: 1879

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by 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. "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN HAIR-BRUSHES,"
My Invention relates to that class of hair-brushes the backs and handles of which
are made of some plastic material capable of being moulded into the required
shape, and the brush of metal pins in place of bristles.
The said Invention is designed to provide means whereby brushes of this class
may be manufactured more expeditiously and at less cost than by any of the
methods heretofore employed.
The chief novel feature of my said Invention consists in providing means for
making such brushes in a complete form from the commencement to the termina-
tion of the manufacture with fewer operations than have heretofore been necessary,
and the said Invention is carried into practice as follows, that is to say :-
I provide a metal or other suitable block, which is drilled with a number of
holes corresponding with the number and position of the metal pins required to
form a brush. The said block must be of sufficient depth to permit of the holes
being drilled deep enough to receive the said pins as far as it is necessary for them
to enter, and it must be wide enough and long enough to receive the brush-back
and handle in the operations hereinafter described. In the upper face of the
block I provide a groove, which is of the same form as, but somewhat smaller
than, the outline of the back of the brush, and extending along the upper face of
the block there is a cavity designed to receive the material which is to form the
lower half of the brush-handle when the same is being moulded. That part of the
upper face of the block at which the holes are drilled is cut out or hollowed so as to
leave a concave recess, which ensures the proper rounded form to that part of the
brush whence the pins project. If desired however this part of the block may be
flat.
The block having been made as above described the brushes are manufactured
as follows, that is to say :-I take a band or border piece, which may be made of
wire, and is of the same shape as the outline of the brush-back. This border piece
is made of such dimensions that it will lie in the aforesaid groove in the block,
and I place it in the said groove; then I take a piece of india-rubber or other
suitable flexible substance of a similar nature, which has been previously cut to the
same shape as the brush back, and large enough to completely cover the aforesaid

page_text: holes in the block, and extend beyond the same so as to leave a margin all
around the outer line of holes. The next operation is to force the wire pins, which
take the place of bristles as used in ordinary brushes, through the said elastic
piece into the holes provided for them in the block. I effect this operation by
means of any suitably constructed tool, and the pins being provided with heads
are thereby held within the elastic piece. Having proceeded thus far I insert in
and around the outer edge or margin of the said elastic piece or pin-holder a
number of short pins or studs, which are designed to assist in securely fastening
the said elastic piece containing the aforesaid wire pins. I find in practice that
three eighths of an inch is a convenient length for the aforesaid short pins. The
operation of making a brush having proceeded thus far I mould over the parts,
already made as above described, the plastic material which is to form the back
and handle by means of dies suitably constructed for the purpose, inserting between
the inner surface of such plastic material and the inner surface of the elastic piece
or pin-holder a layer of paste-board, thin wood, leather, or similar material, the
object of which is to prevent the pin heads from being embedded and fixed in the
plastic material. This layer of paste-board or other material adheres firmly to the
plastic material of which the back is formed, and leaves the wire pins free to yield
as required when the brush is in use. As the plastic material is being moulded to
the required form the aforesaid short pins around the margin of the elastic piece
or pin-holder become embedded in the plastic material, and are held firmly thereby,
so that the elastic pin-holder is well secured. These short pins may however be
dispensed with, as the said elastic pin-holder will generally be held firmly enough
by moulding the plastic material over its edges, the aforesaid wire border also pro-
viding further security, as well as giving a finished appearance to this part of the
brush. The wire border becomes also partly embedded in the plastic or moulded.
material.
The fastening or securing of the said elastic piece or pin-holder in its place may
be effected in various manners other than that above described, that is to say :--
In some instances I place a number of wire or flat metal pins or studs at intervals
in the aforesaid groove in the block with their heads projecting upward, and holes
corresponding with the points of these studs are provided in the elastic piece or pin-
holder, so tint when the latter is placed on the block these points project through
the elastic piece, and are then turned over outwardly, and thus bind down the
edge of the elastic pin-holder all around the same. The heads become embedded
in the plastic material when the latter is moulded on to form the back of the brush,
and great security is thus afforded. The wire border is then placed in its position
over the turned down points of the studs, thus covering the same, and ensuring a
neat finished appearance.
Another method is as follows, namely:-
I provide a flat piece of metal of the same form as the outline of the brush-back,.
and this piece is so placed that about half of its width all around becomes embedded
in the downwardly projecting edge of the plastic material when the latter is
moulded to form the back; the other half projects inwardly, thus forming a sort of
frame all around and above the edge of the elastic pin-holder. This inwardly
projecting part is then turned down upon the elastic pin-holder, and holds it
securely, forming at the same time a neat border or beading between the
edge of the pin-holder and the edge of the plastic material at this part of the
brush.
Another method is as follows, that is to say :-
I mould the plastic material forming the back of the brush in such a manner
that the downwardly projecting edges thereof are inclined inwardly, leaving an
undercut cavity or recess all around; then I take a frame or piece made of such
form as to fit within this recess all around the same, and I spring this frame into
the recess, so that the elastic pin-holder is securely held thereby in much the same
manner as the glass is secured in hand-mirrors. The said frame may be made of

page_text: wire or any other suitable material, and provides a neat finish to this part of the
brush.
Another method consists in moulding the downwardly projecting edge of the
plastic material forming the back over the edge of the clastic pin-holder all around
the same, the latter being thus firmly secured without the aid of studs, frame, or
other separate appliance. The plastic material may be so rounded at the edges that
a perfect finished appearance is given.
I wish it to be understood that I am aware of the fact that elastic pin-holders
have been previously employed in the manufacture of brushes of this class, but pro-
vision has never been heretofore made for securing them to the brush back in such
simple and expeditious manners as they are secured by means of my said
Invention.
It will be seen that the block, the pins, the elastic-pin holder, and the plastic
material being provided the brush may be made complete at once, and as it were at
one operation, as the workman can commence and finish the brush entirely without
leaving it.