Improvements in Brushes for Bath or other Use.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Oct., 1887
Specification Accepted, 29th Nov., 1887
COMPLETE SI MOITICATION.
Improvements in Brushes for Bath or other Use.
I CHARLES JOHN BAILEY of Newton in the State of Massachusetts one of the
United States of America, Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of my
invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN BRUSHES FOR BATH OR OTHER USE and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement:-
This invention has for its object to provide a bath brush, the back and teeth of
which are made of soft rubber with two handles, one or both of which may be detach-
able, whereby the brush may be manipulated with one hand for ordinary bathing or
toilet purposes, or may be manipulated with both hands when desired to rub, bathe,
or brush the back of a person.
In accordance with this invention a strap is passed through a slot or passage in the
back or body of the brush, the ends of the strap being connected by a detachable
fastening above the back to form a loop of suitablo size to receive the hand of
the user.
This loop forms the handle by which the brush is ordinarily used with one hand.
For adapting the brush to be used with both hands the ends of this loop described
are disconnected and the strap drawn through the slot or passage sufficiently to permit
one end of the strap to protrude from the slot at one side of the brush, and at the
other side of the brush the opposite end of the strap is turned upon itself loop-like,
and another long strap is placed upon the top of the back or body of the brush and
connected with the ends of the short strap by suitable detachable fastenings.
The handle may be molded integral with the back if desired, or if desired
omitted.
The brush may be provided with charged magnets to thereby furnish an electro-
magnetic brush, as will be described.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 shows in top view a bath or toilet brush embodying this invention, the
short loop like handle being shown.
Figure 2 taken on the dotted line X-X.
Figure 3 a similar cross section of the brush showing the long strap in position.

page_text: Figure 4 a modified form of handle to be described.
Figure 5 a top view of the brush provided with magnets.
Figure 6 a side elevation of the brush shown in Figure 4.
Figure 7 a top view of a brush having magnets, the strap being omitted, and
Figure 8 a side elevation of the brush shown in Figure 6.
The back or body i, see Figure 1, and the teeth are herein shown as made of soft
rubber preferably in a single piece by molding.
The back is slotted transversely to receive a short strap, the ends of which are
brought together above the back and connected by a detachable fastening 3 herein
shown as a fastening having a head and two shanks, the latter passing through holes
in the ends of the strap and thereafter overturned.
The ends of the strap being thus connected a loop is formed to receive the hand of
the user to manipulate the brush by one hand.
When it is desired to employ the brush about the back and shoulders of the user
both hands are employed, a long strap being used leading from the brush at
each side.
In connecting the long strap the ends of the short strap are disconnected and
said strap is drawn through the slot so that at one side of the back i only the end
of the strap protrudes as shewn in Figure 3, while at the opposite side of the back
the end of the said strap is turned under loop-like, and the strap 7 is then placed
upon the top of the back and connected at each side of the brush with the strap 2
by detachable fastenings 16.
The strap may be made of any desired length they being broken off as in
Figure 3, to save space in the drawing.
The ends of the strap
are grasped by the hands of the user in usual manner.
A rigid handle such as shown in Figure 4, may be employed if desired it consisting
of the handle portion and the blade or shank n' having an enlarged or shouldered
end n², the said blade or shank passing through the slot or passage in the back i.
I do not desire to confine myself to, the precise construction and method of
attachment herein shown.
The back a sec Figures 5 and 6, and the teeth are also molded in one piece
of soft rubber, said brush being of any desired size and shape.
A strap c is attached to the back a although preferably it is made of rubber and
molded integral with the back and teeth, said strap permitting the insertion of the
hand to manipulate the brush.
Suitable studs & are fixed into the back a to which studs straps d², see dotted
lines Figure 5, may be attached, so that the brush may be employed by a person
to bathe his back, this form of strap being in lieu of the long strap shown in
Figures 1. 2 and 3.
Charged bar magnets e see dotted lines Figure 5 are embedded in the material of
the back a said magnets being previously charged, or embedded and afterwards
charged, the latter method being preferable to facilitate placing the poles of the
magnets correctly.
A large number of magnets will preferably be employed.
It is obvious that the strap e and studs d may either one or both be omitted and as
shown in Figures 7 and 8, both are omitted, the brush being made somewhat smaller
to be used as a toilet brush for the hands.
In using the brush as soon as it is placed in the water, the water becomes the
conductor to convey the electricity from the magnets to the person, water being,
as well known, a good conductor, the rubber teeth aid in removing dirt from the
skin, and in opening the pores thereof, while the flexible back perinits the brush
to conform to the parts being acted upon.
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 brush, combined with the detachable handles, substantially
as and for the purpose set forth.

page_text: 2. The brush having the loop-like handle, combined with the handle
substantially as described.
3. The brush having the back i and teeth i', made of soft rubber, the said
back having a slot or pocket through it to receive a handle, substantially as
described.
4. The brush consisting of the back and teeth and having the permanently
charged magnets embedded in the back, substantially as described.
5. The brush consisting of the back and teeth made of soft rubber in one piece,
and having the permanently charged magnets embedded in the back, and the handle,
substantially as described.
6. The brush consisting of the back and teeth made of soft rubber in one piece
and having the permanently charged magnets embedded in the back and also
having the studs or equivalent attaching devices, substantially as described.
Dated the 20th day of October 1887.
WM. BROOKES & SON,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London,
Agents for the Applicant.