Improvements in Combination Ink-erasers, Burnishers, and Manicure Implements
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd July, 1897
Complete Specification Left, 31st Mar., 1898-Accepted, 25th June, 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Combination Ink-erasers, Burnishers, and Manicure
Implements
I, RICHARD MONTGOMERY PANCOAST, of 205, Cooper Street, Camden, in the
County of Camden, and State of New Jersey, U.S.A., Civil Engineer, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object or purpose of my invention is the production of an implement or too!
adapted for use in erasing letters or words in ink, or other marks or stains of
whatever nature, from paper and also for restoring when desired the smoothi
surface abraded by the act of erasure.
With this object in view the invention consists in fashioning a piece of metal
to such a shape that it can be grasped and firmly held with the fingers, or
either
between the thumb and fingers; making one end thereof slightly convex
longitudinally or crossways or both and file-cut, and providing the other end with
a smooth convex or curved surface.
It further consists in furnishing one or more of the sides of the tool, so con-
structed, with a file-cut surface or surfaces.
It still further consists in forming the polishing or burnishing end of the tool
with a point.
Finally, it consists in fashioning or twisting the metal so that parts of the body
thereof will lie in different planes, one approximately perpendicular to the other.
In making said tool, I take a thin flat piece or bar of metal of suitable
dimensions and fashion or twist it in any well known way adjacent to one or both
of its ends, so that different parts of the body of the metal will lie in different
planes. The middle part of the bar should have its edges in a perpendicular
plane relative to the position the tool is to occupy when in use; thus adapting it
to be firmly grasped by the fingers, or between the thumb and fingers, without
danger of turning or wobbling while using.
In a modified form of the tool the twist may be omitted from the body of the
metal.
or both
The said tool is provided at one of its ends with a convex or curved file-cut
surface which may extend longitudinally or cross ways of the end
longitudinally and cross ways, and at the other end with a smooth surface, pre-
ferably curved or convex, for polishing or burnishing A point may be added to
the polishing end whereby the tool is also adapted for use as a manicure imple-
ment. To still further increase the efficiency of the tool, I file-cut one or more of
the longitudinal sides. When two sides are so cut one of them may be quite fine
for nail use and the other coarser for other purposes.
While it is possible to produce an excellent tool by making the file-cut end
convex or curved either longitudinally or crossways or obliquely, I prefer to make
it convex or curved in two directions. The double convexity of surface in a
slight degree at least is desirable to prevent the corners of the face catching into
the paper during the reciprocating movement. If perfectly flat the corners would

page_text: tend more or less to cut into the body thereof, and if decidedly convex only one or
two of the edges would engage. But if only slightly convex most all of the edges
take hold, the catching of the sides in the paper is avoided, and thin places in the
surface not cut through inasmuch as the numerous edges bridge over the intervals.
Dated this 2nd day of July 1897.
F. W. BARKER,
Applicant's Agent.
Improvements in, Combination Ink-erasers, Burnishers, and Manicure
Implements.
I, RICHARD MONTGOMERY PANCOAST, of 205, Cooper Street, Camden, in the
County of Camden, and State of New Jersey, U.S.A., Civil Engineer, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement: —
The object or purpose of my invention is the production of a combination
implement or tool especially adapted (1) for use in erasing letters or words in ink,
or other marks or stains of whatever nature, from paper, also for restoring when
desired the smooth surface abraded by the act of erasure; and (2) for service as a
manicure implement in cleaning, filing and dressing the nails at the ends and
edges and adjacent to the roots thereof.
With this object in view the invention consists in fashioning a piece of metal
into such a shape that it can be readily grasped and fimly held with the fingers, or
between the thumb and fingers; making one end thereof slightly convex, either
longitudinally or crossways or both, and furnishing this convexed end with an
abrading surface as can be done by file-cutting or milling; and providing the
other end with a smooth convex or curved surface.
It further consists in furnishing one or more of the sides of the tool, so con-
structed, with a file-cut (or otherwise abrading) surface or surfaces..
It still further consists in forming the polishing or burnishing end of the tool
with a point.
Finally, it consists in fashioning or twisting the metal piece so that parts of the
body thereof will lie in different planes, one approximately right angular to the
other.
The figures of the drawings, where similar parts are designated by similar
reference characters, illustrate several examples of the embodiment of the inven-
tion.
Figure 1 shows an edge view and a side view of the combination tool without
any side abrader.
Figure 2 is an example thereof with an abrading side.
Figure 3, a view of the tool with curved ends of a slightly different form, and
a differently cut side abrader and end eraser.
Figure 4 is a view of a modification having one end straight and pointed.
Figure 5, an example in which the burnishing end is provided with two curved
surfaces and an edge adjacent to the point.
Figure 6, a modification of a form like that shown in Fig. 5 except that the
surface adjacent to the point is convex or curved, and the sides are plain.
Figure 7 is a view of a tool differing slightly from that illustrated in Fig. 5, and
having both sides provided with abrading surfaces.
In making the several examples of the tool, I take a thin flat piece or bar of
metal of suitable dimensions, and fashion or twist it, in any well known way,

page_text: adjacent to one or both of its ends, so that different parts of the body of the
metal will lie in different planes. The middle part of the bar should have its
edges in a perpendicular plane relative to the position the tool is to occupy when
in use; thus adapting it to be firmly grasped by the fingers, or between the thumb
and fingers, without danger of turning or wobbling while using.
Each of the forms is provided at one of its ends with a convex or curved erasing
surface. The abrading or erasing surface may be formed by being file-cut or
milled diagonally, longitudinally or cross way of the end, or crossways, in any two
directions, and at the other end with a smooth surface, preferably curved or
convex, for polishing or burnishing. A point should be added to the polishing
end when the tool is to be adapted for use as a manicure implement. To still
further increase the efficiency of the tool I file-cut or mill one or more of the,
longitudinal sides. When two sides are provided with abrading surfaces one of
them'may be quite fine for finger nail use and the other coarser for pencil
sharpening or other purposes."
The different general parts, hereinbefore mentioned, of each of the several
forms are particularly designated as follows:
In all the figures a and b are the "twists" in the body of the metal; c the '
abrading or erasing ends; & the burnishing or polishing ends; e points at the
polishing ends; f abrading sides; and g abrading sides somewhat coarser than
the other forms illustrated. In Figs. 1, 2, 3, the erasing ends c and the polishing
ends d are twisted and the ends are reversely curved and the latter also pointed;
in Fig. 4, they lie in planes perpendicular each to the other the eraser end only
being twisted; in Figs. 5, 6, and 7 the erasing ends only are twisted and the
burnishing ends are curved reversely to the erasing end.
Some of the special characteristics pertaining to each form are thus
enumerated:
In Fig. 1 the lines of the convex erasing surface are diagonally arranged across
the end, and the longitudinal sides are plain and smooth. In Fig. 2 the lines of
the convex erasing surface are parallel with the longitudinal axis of the tool, and
one side is file cut or milled.
In Fig. 3 the eraser end is cross cut and one side is cross cut. In Fig. 4 the
lines of the file-cut or milled erasing ends are nearly parallel to the longitudinal
axis and the polishing ends brought to a flat point as shown. In Fig. 5 the
polishing end is fashioned to form a sharp edge h adjacent to the point and; the
eraser end is oblique. In Fig. 6 the abrader is omitted from the sides. In Fig. 7
one of the sides is provided with a fine abrading surface f and another with a
coarse abrading surface g.
While it is possible to produce an excellent tool by making the eraser end
convex or curved either longitudinally or cross-ways or obliquely, I prefer to
make it convex or curved in two directions (longitudinally and cross-ways) as
shown in the several examples. The double convexity of surface in a slight
degree at least, is desirable to prevent the corners or edges of the face of the
eraser surface from catching into the paper during the reciprocating movement.
If the eraser end is perfectly flat the corners or edges would tend, more or less,
to cut into the body of the paper; and if decidedly convex, only one or two of
the erasing edges would engage. But if only slightly convex, most all of the
edges take hold, the catching of the sides in the paper is avoided, and thin places
in the surface not cut through, inasmuch as the numerous erasing edges bridge
over the intervals.
As thus generally and specifically described it will be seen that I have pro-
duced a combination tool adapted for use as a manicure implement and as an ink
eraser. The pointed end can be employed as a finger nail cleaner, and the eraser
end as a nail cleaner and dresser. The file-cut or milled side is likewise adapted
for reducing the length of the nails and removing therefrom sharp points and
edges.
As an ink eraser the convex or curved abrading end is especially adapted for

page_text: erasing a single letter of a typewritten or other word without smudging over the
adjacent letter or writing, and the smooth surface of the originally calendered
finish may be quickly restored by the application of the polishing end of the
tool.
While I have shown several pictured examples of the embodiment of my
invention, I do not consider such examples exhaustive of it, for many changes in
form and proportions, etc., may be introduced, and additions made and equivalents
substituted, without passing outside the limits thereof; and all such formal and
colourable changes I intend to embrace within the scope of my claims.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. The herein described implement consisting of a bar of metal provided with a
"twist" in the body thereof for the purpose of disposing different parts of the bar
in different planes; one end of the said bar being fashioned to form an abrading
surface, and the other end fashioned to form a burnishing surface; substantially
as and for the purpose set forth.
66
2. The herein described implement consisting of a bar of metal provided with
a twist" in the body thereof for the purpose of disposing different parts of the
bar in different planes; one end of the said bar being fashioned to form an abrad-
ing surface, and the other end pointed and also fashioned to form a burnishing
surface; substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
3. The herein described implement consisting of a bar of metal provided with a
twist in the body thereof for the purpose of disposing different parts of the bar in
different planes; one end of the said bar being fashioned to form an abrading
surface; and the other end pointed and also fashioned to form a burnishing
surface; and the said bar being provided with an abrading surface along the side
of the body thereof; substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 31st day of March 1898.