Improvements in and in Means for Filling Cases or Holders for Menthol and other like Substances for Application to the Skin.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Aug., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 28th May, 1898-Accepted, 23rd July, 1898
PROVIDIONAL DIETITIVATION
Improvements in and in Means for Filling Cases or Holders for
Menthol and other like Substances for Application to the Skin.
I, EDMUND SQUIRE NORCOMBE, of 70, Granby Street, Liverpool, in the County
of Lancaster, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention has reference to cases or holders for menthol, and like sub-
stances; and has for its object chiefly to provide an improved holder, generally,
for menthol and the like; and also to provide improved parts of such cases or
holders, by which the menthol or like material is carried and applied.
According to this invention, a menthol holder, in one form, consists of a case pro-
per in the form of a tube, having a moveable or sliding block or stick of menthol
fitting in it, and filling it, substantially. Below the stick or piece of menthol,
there is a spring which, being held normally in compression by the
menthol, and reacting upon the bottom of the case, forces the menthol up; while
the outer end of the menthol is held or restrained by a stop, against which the
upper part of the menthol comes, and normally presses; this stop or stops being-
of only sufficient area, that it presses or melts the menthol away as it becomes-
worn away elsewhere, by rubbing, as in ordinary use. The stop is so arranged
that a certain length of menthol always projects beyond the tube; and this end.
of the tube or case is covered by a screw or sliding cap, when not in use.
In one form, the means of holding the upper edge of the menthol in its normal:
position, consists of a thin wire passed over the end, and suitably fastened to the:
tube inside. In another case, it may consist of a central pin, held to the bottom:
of the case, the head of which would rest on the top of the menthol stick and hold
it down; or, again, inward projections from the side, or any suitable means of
holding it in position, may be employed. In some cases, the case is of wood;
while in others it is of metal; or, it may be of any suitable material.
By this holder, only a small portion of the menthol stands above the case, the
main body being below the end, and within it, so that it is well supported, and
is not liable to break off; besides forming a neat and convenient method generally
for carrying and holding the material.
In another form of menthol holder, under this invention, the case is in the
form of a tube, having a sliding block or piston therein, of wood or other
material; the end of which is made in the form of a dovetail or key, in and
around which the base of the menthol block fits, and on which it is preferably
cast; the upper end of the block or piston being splayed out and slightly bigger
than the body, for the purposes of casting as hereafter described. The piston or
block thus forms or provides a secure fastening, and holds it firmly in position.
The sliding block has a pin or the like projecting through a slot in the tube.
and having a head on the outside, by which it can be taken hold of and moved
up and down. Thus the menthol on the head of the block can be raised more
or less out of the tube when using; and in such use, if the end only is made to

page_text: protrude from the tube, the base will be supported by the tube, and breakages
of the menthol avoided, as constantly happens with the usual menthol holders.
When not in use, the menthol is moved down into the tube, and then is wholly
enclosed by a suitable cap, fitting over the upper end of the tube.
In the formation of the menthol upon the sliding blocks or pistons, the end to
receive the menthol is splayed out, as stated, and is placed in a hole in a metal
mould, in which a number of such holes are provided; the splayed out part
filling the hole. The blocks being placed in position in the mould holes, the
menthol is melted and run in, and onto the blocks. The splayed out parts pre-
vent the escape of menthol, and the form above described holds it in position.
Further, according to this invention, where matters of a similar nature, for the
purpose of this invention, to menthol and the like, are to be applied to the skin;
and are in the form of a cream or in a plastic state, the case in which the sub-
stance is held is constructed at the end, at which it is discharged, in such a
manner, as to obviate the use of the finger altogether, for rubbing them, after
they have been discharged. This is effected by forming the discharge end with a
number of relatively small holes, whereby, by rubbing the perforated nose of the
case or box on the person's skin, and squeesing the case gently, the application of
the plastic or soft material can be directly effected in the desired manner, instead
of indirectly, by first squeesing a portion out, and then rubbing it in.
CHEESBROUGH & ROYSTON,
Applicant's Patent Agents, 15, Water Street, Liverpool.
Improvements in and in Means for Filling Cases or Holders for
Menthol and other like Substances for Application to the Skin.
I, EDMUND SQUIRE NORCOMBÉ, of 70, Granby Street, Liverpool, in the County
of Lancaster, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement:
-
This invention has reference to cases or holders for menthol, and like sub-
stances; and has for its object, chiefly, to provide an improved holder, generally,
for menthol and the like; and also to provide improved parts of such cases or
holders, by which the menthol, or like material, is carried and applied.
The improvements under this invention are hereinafter mainly set forth with
reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figures 1 and 2, and 3 and 4,
are respectively sectional elevation, and plan, shewing two modifications of
menthol holders according to the invention. Figure 5 is a side elevation, and
Figure 6 is a plan of a mould, illustrating the mode of moulding and manufactur-
ing the menthol sticks, under the invention.
Figures 7 and 8 are elevation and plan, shewing a modified form of holder for
holding and applying substances of a plastic nature.
Referring, in the first instance, to the holder shewn in Figures 1 and 2, a is a
case of metal, or other suitable material, open at one end, and having a movable
block of menthol adapted to slide up and down within it, and substantially filling
it. Below the stick of menthol, there is a spiral spring c which normally presse's
the menthol out at the open end of the tube a, the spring being contained, and
adapted to work in a hollow piston or sliding block d of wood, or other suitable
material, on the upper end of which the menthol block fits, as hereafter described.
The spring is normally held in compression by the menthol block b, the outer end

page_text: of which is held or restrained by a wire e, which passes over the end of it, as
shewn, and is carried down between it and the case at each side, and fastened in
or it might be under a block of wood, or other suitable material f.in the
bottom of the case a. The stop wire is only of sufficient area that it wears or
melts the menthol away as it becomes worn away elsewhere, by rubbing, as in
ordinary use. By this wire, and arrangement of parts, it will be seen that a
certain and small amount of the menthol stick, projects beyond the case tube,
end; and this end of the tube or case is covered by a screw, or a sliding cap, when
not in use.
The modification shewn in Figures 3 and 4, consists in making the means of
limiting the outward projection of the menthol beyond the edge of its case, that
is, the holding means, in the form of a central wire e, with a head or button e¹
on the outer end; while the inner end is held by similar means at e to the case;
or, it might be fastened to a block equivalent to f in Figure 1. The sliding
piece d, in this case, is shewn as a simple disc, with the spring c acting on its
underside.
the
As modifications of the above means of holding down the menthol, or limiting
its projection from the tube or case, and at the same time of enabling its auto-
matic adjustment and projection to be accomplished, the wire may be fastened to
the case, instead of to a separate part, as in Figure 1. Or, in another
top or edge of the case may have small inward projections which limit the out-
ward projection of the menthol; or, other equivalent means of effecting these
ends may be employed.
case,
The mode of making the menthol blocks b and fastening them to the supporting
pistons or supports d, will now be described with the aid of the illustrations given
in Figures 5 and 6. The blocks or sticks are cast in a mould h, having holes i
cast through it; and the sliding pistons or supports d are placed in the bottom
of the holes, in which they are made to fit easily; whilst their upper edges are
cut out in dish form, as shewn, the edges d¹ being splayed out so that the tip is of
greater diameter than the body, and is, more or less, elastic, the splaying out
being done, of course, in the cutting lathe or machine by using a tool of a suit-
able kind or shape. By this splayed out edge being of larger diameter than the
hole i, the blocks d will fill the moulds i and form a packing, the thereby prevent
the escape of menthol when poured into the moulds in the molten state, which
otherwise would take place. A bar or plate is provided with a number of these
moulds i, and all the moulds will be filled in one operation, by providing suitable
channels in the upper surface, which will lead the molten menthol into different
moulds when being cast.
In a device according to this invention for applying matters to the skin, for
the purposes of this invention similar to menthol, namely, substances in a plastic
state, the case a in which the substance is held is constructed at the discharge end
in such a manner as to obviate the use of the finger altogether for rubbing it
after it has been discharged. This is effected by forming the discharge end-
which is suitably shaped, as shewn-with a number of relatively small holes (see
Figures 7 and 8), say of about ¼ to ½ of an inch, according to the nature
of the material contained; whereby, by rubbing the perforated nose a¹ of the
case a, on the person's skin, and squeezing the case gently, or otherwise pressing
it out, according to the nature or character of the case, the application of the
plastic or soft material can be directly effected in the desired manner, instead of
indirectly, by first squeezing or pressing a portion out, and then rubbing it in.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion, and in what manner the same has to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:.
1. A menthol or or like holder in which the stick or block of the material is held
in the case, and its projection beyond or out of the end of same is limited as, or
substantially as in the manner herein set forth.

page_text: 2. In a menthol or like holder, a case containing within it a menthol stick or
block, and a spring under said block, normally pressing it out, and a means for
limiting the outward projection of the menthol, or like block, from the case.
3. A menthol or like holder comprising a tube a, a menthol stick or block b, a
sliding block or piston d, a spring c, and a device, as described, to limit projection
of the block out of the case; substantially as set forth.
4. In the manufacture of menthol sticks or blocks, for holders, a bar or block
having moulds i through it, having the blocks d forming temporary bottoms to
said moulds, and onto which menthol blocks are cast; substanially as and for
the purposes set forth.
'
5. A holder for plastic substances to be applied to the skin, having a number
of fine holes on the nose of the case, and arranged and made substantially as
described and shewn.
6. The construction of menthol and like holders, and parts, constructed and
adapted to operate particularly as shewn in and set forth with reference to the
drawings.
Dated this 27th day of May 1898.
CHEESBROUGH & ROYSTON,
Applicant's Patent Agents, 15, Water Street, Liverpool.