Improvements in or relating to Brushes.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 27th July, 1896
Complete Specification Left, 20th May, 1897-Accepted, 12th June, 1897
Improvements in or relating to Brushes.
I. ARTHUR WILLIAM COULTER of 78 Kew Road, Richmond, in the County
of Surrey, Jeweller, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
These improvements relate to brushes of various descriptions, but more
particularly to tooth, nail, and hair brushes, the object of this invention being to
so construct these that the bristles may be easily removed or replaced for cleaning
or other purposes.
According to my improvements the bristles are inserted in the ordinary way into
a thin plate. This plate is preferably constructed of metal with its edges bevelled,
or provided with other suitable means of securing it to the main portion of the
brush. In order to accomplish this satisfactorily the head of the brush may be
hollowed out in such a manner that the plate carrying the bristles may lie in the
receptacle so formed and be there retained either by the bevelled edges engaging
with undercut edges of the hollowed out portion of the brush head, together with
a screw or other suitable device, or the plate may simply rest in the hollowed out
portion and be retained by a screw passing through the plate and back of the
brush.
Some suitable form of catch which will enable the plate carrying the bristles to
be readily removed may however be equally well employed.
The main part of the brush, together with the plate are preferably constructed.
of aluminium, but other metals or material may be employed.
The head of the brush may be suitably perforated to ensure proper drainage and
ventilation, particularly in the case of tooth and nail brushes.
If the plate carrying the bristles be made of metal, the holes in which the
bristles are inserted are preferably punched with a burr on the inside to prevent
the bristles from being drawn through by the wire which retains them.
If desired a suitable plastic composition may be employed to attach the plate to
the handle, this composition being of such a nature as may be readily softened by
beat or otherwise to allow of the bristles being changed.
Though I have described the head of the brush as hollowed out to receive the
plate carrying the bristles, 1 may, if desired form this head plain or provide it
with grooves, lugs, projections or other devices to engage with or serve as a means
for attaching the plate.
Thus, when the bristles of a brush, constructed in accordance with this invention,
are worn or damaged, the plate carrying them is readily detached and a new one
inserted.
Dated this 27th day of L. 1806
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: Improvements in or relating to Brushes.
I, ARTHUR WILLIAM COULTER, of 78 Kew Road, Richmond, in the County
of Surrey, Jeweller, 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 :-
My invention relates to the construction of brushes of various descriptions but
especially to tooth, nail and hair brushes and consists essentially in constructing the
brushes in such a manner that the bristle plate together with the bristles attached
to it may be easily removed or replaced for cleansing or other purposes.
According to my improvements the bristles are inserted in the usual manner into
a movable plate. This plate is constructed of aluminium or other suitable metal
or of ivory, bone, celluloid or the like material and provided with means for
securing it to the handle or back portion of the brush. For this purpose the head
of the brush may be hollowed out in such a manner that the bristle plate may
occupy the receptacle so formed and be there retained by the engaging of its
bevelled edges with the under-cut edges of the hollowed out portion of the brush
head, the two parts being secured together by means of a screw or equivalent
device, or the plate may simply rest in the hollowed out portion and be retained
by a screw or the like as aforesaid. Sume suitable form of catch which will
enable the plate carrying the bristles to be readily removed may equally well be
employed.
The main part of the brush is preferably formed of aluminium but any other
suitable or desirable materials may be employed. The head of the brush may be
suitably perforated to ensure proper drainage and ventilation, particularly in the
case of tooth and nail brushes.
If the plate carrying the bristles be made of metal the holes in which the bristles
are inserted are preferably punched with a burr on the inside to prevent the
bristles from being drawn through by the retaining wire. If desired a suitable
plastic composition may be employed to attach the plate to the handle, this
composition being such as may be readily softened by heat or otherwise when it is
desired to detach the plate.
Though I have described the head of the brush as hollowed out to receive the
plate carrying the bristles, I may if desired form this head plain or provide it with
grooves, lugs, projections or other devices to engage with or serve as means for
attaching the plate.
Referring to the accompanying drawings; which illustrate by way of example
methods of carrying my invention into practice :-
Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a tooth brush with detachable bristle
plate.
Figure 2 shows the same with the plate detached from the handle, and Fig. 2A
the back of the bristle plate.
Figure 3 is a perspective view, partly in section, of a hair brush constructed in
accordance with my invention.
Figure 4 is a similar view of a "military" hair brush.
Figure 5 is a sectional view showing a method of forming the holes in the bristle
plate.
Figure 6 is a section showing the construction of a composite bristle plate.
Like letters indicate like parts throughout the drawing.
In applying this invention to a tooth brush, the handle A and the head A' are
preferably constructed of aluminium; in the head is formed a slot or recess A³

page_text: In
shaped to receive the detachable plate B in which are secured the bristles C.
order to retain this plate in the reces A the end of the latter may be under-cut
as at A, the corresponding end B of the bristle plate being bevelled, and a
pivoted catch D being placed at the opposite end of the recess in such a manner
that D may be turned over the end of B so as to hold it securely in position..
I find this to be a convenient method for securing the plate for tooth brushes and
the like, but any other suitable method of connecting the plate and the handle.
may of course be employed.
In applying this invention to a hair brush the bristle plate B may conveniently
be attached to the handle A, which is preferably hollowed out as at A' for its
reception, by means of a screw E which is screwed through from the front of the
plate into a metal or other socket G attached to the handle. The screw E may be
prevented from drawing out of the plate B when the latter is removed from the
bandle by suitable means such as a washer E' and a pin through the screw, which
arrangement will allow of the screw turning freely for the attachment of the
plate. In constructing what is known as a "military" hair brush as shown in
Figure 4 a back plate H is laid over the bristle plate B, the grip J of the brush
being formed as a separate piece, ail the three parts, the grip, the back plate and
the bristle plate being secured together by a thumb screw E which is secured.
through from the back. In this construction the bristle plate B slightly overlaps
the edge of the back plate H. The back of the brush may be formed concave or
convex or flat as desired. The back plate H and grip J may here be constructed
of different metals or materials, this arrangement giving considerable scope for
ornamental purposes, while the detachability of the several parts allows of their
being readily and effectually cleaned with very little trouble.
If desired in constructing an ordinary hair brush such as shown in Figure 3 the
bristle plate may be attached to a back plate and this in turn attached to an
ornamental or other handle, the parts being held together by one or more screws.
or other devices as found convenient.
In the construction of bristle plate shown in section in Figure 6 the bristles C
may be passed through the plate B and attached to a back plate H, the space
between the plates H and B being filled up with plaster of Paris L or other similar
substance forced in under pressure. The composite plate so formed may thus be
attached to a handle either with or without any back plate. In attaching the
bristles C to the plate B' the perforations in the latter are preferably formed with a
slight burr B on the inner side of the plate as shown in Figure 3 in order to
prevent the bristles from being drawn through. The perforations may be tapered
if desired with the same object, and after the bristles are inserted, the raised
portions may be closed inwardly.
In the modification shown in Figure 5 the bristles may be inserted from the
reverse side to that shown in Figure 3; the burr B in this case being formed after
the holes have been punched by striking in the edge of the hole instead of in the
process of punching."
The construction of the bristle plates and of the holes therein for receiving the
bristles may be effected in various ways; for instance in a bone tooth or nail brush
plate the holes for receiving the bristles are drilled and a groove cut at the back
of the plate along each row of holes (see Figure 2). The bristles are sccured by
a wire which lies in the said groove and the remaining space is then filled up level.
with suitable plastic material. The same construction of plate may also be carried
out in aluminium, but in this case the holes are preferably punched (the burr not
being raised) thus giving a smooth surface at the back of the bristle plate and
preventing moisture from affecting the insertion of the bristles. Also I inay cast.
the plates for receiving the bristles with the holes ready for receiving the same
thus obviating the need of further manipulation. This method is obviously only
applicable to material capable of such treatment, such for instance as aluminium.
For the casting of small plates, the aforesaid construction may be applied; thus
the grooves in the back of the plate together with the holes for receiving the

page_text: bristles may be formed in the process of casting, or the grooves may be formed
after the casting is made.
In casting larger and thicker plates, more especially such as are requisite for
hair or clothes brushes, (such plates as that shown in Figure 3) the amount of
metal between the bristle holes or burrs B may be considerably diminished,
without unduly reducing the strength of the plate thereby lightening the weight.
In addition to the materials herein before mentioned for the construction of
bristle plates many other substances may be made use of such as ivory, xylonite,
celluloid and various metals. The term "bristle plate" indicates throughout a
plate carrying the bristles of the brush or any equivalent thereof.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inveu-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what 1
claim is :-
1. In a brush the combination of an easily detachable bristle plate with a
handle, grip or backing.
2. A tooth brush with detachable bristle plate constructed substantially as
described and illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 2 of the accompanying drawing.
3. A hair, nail or clothes brush with detachable bristle plate constructed
substantially as described and illustrated in Figures 3 and 4 of the accompanying
drawing.
4. Bristle plates for brushes constructed substantially as described and shown iu
Figures 5 and 6 of the accompanying drawing.
Dated the 20th day of May 1897.
W. P. THOMPSON & Co.