Improvements in Curling Pins.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Dec., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 3rd Sept., 1894-Accepted, 6th Oct., 1894
Improvements in Curling Pins.
I, THOMAS CUMMINGS, of 126 Great Charles Street, Birmingham, in the
County of Warwick, Tool Maker, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows :-
This invention has reference to an improved construction of curling pins of the
kind in which hair to be curled is wound upon a pivotted part that is afterwards
turned into a frame in which it is held until it is desired to remove the hair there-
from, and it has for object to facilitate and cheapen the construction of such
curling pins and also to permit of the pivotted part upon which the hair is wound.
being more firmly held in the closed position than heretofore, but nevertheless in
such a manner as to permit of its being easily moved into the open position when
desired.
A curling pin for this purpose according to this invention consists of two pieces
of steel wire of suitable cross-section, one of these pieces of wire being bent so as
to form a spring loop with its free ends arranged to overlap each other at one end
of the loop and formed with recessed or reduced parts, and the other piece of wire,
being beat into a form resembling a split pin and comprising an eye portion that
is sprung over the said overlapping recessed or reduced end portions of the first
mentioned piece of wire, which are thus held together and serve as a pivot for the
eye, and two spring fingers adapted to spring apart when released, the said eye
being twisted through a right angle with reference to the said spring fingers so
that its axis is in the same plane as that containing the said fingers. The arrange-
ment is such that upon pressing the spring fingers together and partly turning
them and the attached eye about the recessed or reduced end portions of the piece
of wire forming the spring loop as a centre, and slightly elongating the said loop
by pressing its sides towards each other, the said spring fingers can be caused to
enter the loop which, upon then releasing the pressure thereon will contract in
length and firmly hold the pin in its closed position until the loop is again
lengthened by compressing its two sides when the pin will be released and can be
readily turned into its open position. To assist in holding the pin in its closed
position that end of the loop which holds the free ends of the spring fingers in
their closed position is or may be recessed on its inner side.
The spring fingers may advantageously be formed of wire of plano-convex form
A split
in cross section, the two flat sides being arranged opposite to each other.
pin having spring fingers as described acts as a spring clamp to hold the end
portions of the hair to be wound thereon and does not exert a cutting or shearing
action on the hair such as obtains when the pin is made in two parts pivotted
together so as to move in parallel planes like the blades of scissors.
Dated this 5th day of December 1893
W. LLOYD WISE,
Per F. J. Brougham,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.

page_text: Improvements in Curling Pins.
I, THOMAS CUMMINGS of 126 Great Charles Street, Birmingham, in the
County of Warwick, Tool Maker, 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:-
This invention has reference to an improved construction of curling pins, of the
kind in which hair to be curled or frizzed is wound upon and clamped between, two
members of a pivotted part, that is subsequently turned round and passed into and
affixed within a frame, in which it is held until it is desired to remove the hair
therefrom.
The said invention has for one of its objects, a new construction of framing, and
for another object, an improved method of fastening.
A curling pin for this purpose, and constructed according to this invention,
consists of two pieces of steel wire of suitable cross section one of these pieces of
wire being bent so as to form a spring loop, with its free ends arranged to overlap
each other at one end of the loop, and formed with recessed or reduced parts, and
the other piece of wire being. bent into a form resembling a split pin, and
comprising an eye portion that is sprung over the said overlapping recessed or
reduced end portions of the first mentioned piece of wire, which are thus held
together and serve as a pivot for the eye, and two spring fingers, adapted to spring
apart when released, the said eye being twisted through a right angle with reference
to the said spring fingers, so that its axis is in the same plane as that containing
the said finger. The arrangement is such that upon pressing the spring fingers
together and partly turning them and the attached eye about the recessed or
reduced end portions of the piece of wire forming the spring loop as a centre, and
slightly elongating the said loop by pressing its side towards each other, the said
spring fingers can be caused to enter the loop which, upon then releasing the
pressure thereon, will contract in length and firmly hold the pin in its closed
position until the loop is again lengthened by compressing its two sides, when the
pin will be released and can he readily turned into its open position. To assist in
holding the pin in its closed position, that end of the loop which holds the free
ends of the spring fingers in their closed position is or may be sunken or pocketted
on its inner side.
The spring fingers may advantageously be formed of narrow strip metal of
plano-convex form in cross section, the two flat sides being arranged opposite to
each other.
A split pin, having spring fingers as described, acts as a spring clamp to hold
the end portions of the hair to be wound thereon, and does not exert a cutting or
shearing action on the hair such as is the case when the pin is made in two parts,
pivotted together so as to niove in parallel planes like the blades of scissors.
Figure of the accompanying drawing, represents, in front elevation, a curling
pin, constructed and provided with improvements according to my invention.
The clamping fingers or gripping bars of the same are shown with their free
ends sprung or opened out, and engaging with the pocketed end of the enclosed
spring trame, which is made from a single length of flat wire or strip metal, with
the terminal ends gapped and overlapping each other to form one end of the said
frame, which makes a bar upon which the joint end of the gripping fingers, which
are preferably made from a single length of wire, is mounted and turns as a
centre.

page_text: Figure 2 represents the said hair curler, with the sides compressed, and with the
gripping fingers, which form clamping bars for securing the ends of the hair prior,
to the rolling of the same upon the combined bars as a centre, swung or turned
outwardly from the frame.
Figure 3 represents the hair curler in use.
Figure represents an horizontal section of Figure 1 upon the dotted lines...
Figure 5 represents a section of the joint end of the curling instrument.
Figure 6 represents a back elevation of the pin.
Figure 7 is an elevation of the joint end of the instrument upon the dotted
line A Figure 1.
Figure 8 represents the metal blank from which the spring frame is made.
Figure 9 is a cross section of the said blank upon the dotted line B, whilst
Figure 10 is an edge view of Figure 9.
The same letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures
of the drawing.
a is a spring clamping bar, consisting of spring fingers a', made from a single
length of metal and bent upon itself, and with the returned end ³, formed into an
eye a³, and with the shank parts a slightly cranked, so as to bring the flat sides
of the half round wire of which the clamping bar is made face to face.
The eye of the clamping bar lies within the gaps, of the overlapping parts 63,
of the rear end ', of the camber-sided spring frame b, whose fore end is shaped
into a pocket or cup 12, for the reception of the free ends a³, of the fingers or
spring fingers a', of the clamping device a.
Assuming that the clamping device or fingers is or are required to be removed
from the frame, then the cambered and spring sides a', are compressed between the
thumb and finger, and towards each other, thereby straightening out the sides and
increasing the virtual length of the loop frame, so as to make the inside of the
entrance end extend beyond or come clear of the extreme tips of the said clamping
members, which can be removed from the frame and thrown back into the position
Figure 2. By relieving pressure from the frame, the sides then again resume
their normal figure, and after the hair has been clamped between the finger members
(which are closed) and then wound upon them as an axis, the frame is then turned
over upon the clamping pin and the cambered sides of the frame b, compressed as
before, and the tips of the fingers are brought lignable with the cupped end of the
frame; then by relaxing pressure from the said sides, the frame resumes its normal
figure and locks the free ends of the fingers within the clamping frame, and in the
position represented in Figure 3.
The releasing of the hair and split clamping pin is conducted in exactly the same
way as previously described with respect to the pin alone.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what 1
claim is :-
First. In hair-curling pins, making the enclosing or fastening frame or loop of a
spring construction, or with cambered and spring sides, which, when compressed,
elongate the said frame, and allow the gripping fingers or members to be introduced
into, or removed from, the locking part of the said frame or enclosing frame,
substantially as described and set forth.
Secondly. Making the spring frames of hair curling pins from a single length of
metal, with the terminal ends made to overlap each other and form the centre or
pivot upon which the clamping pin turns substantially as described and set forth.
Thirdly. In the clamping pins of hair curlers, making the same from a single
length of metal, folded upon itself, and with the returned end made into a loop to
form an eye or joint, substantially as described and set forth.
Fourthly. In the clamping pins of hair curlers, making the loop, joint or eye
part of the same, as referred to in the preceding claim, by twisting or cranking the
shank parts of the fingers, substantially as described and set forth.

page_text: .
Fifthly. The improvements in hair-curlers, substantially as herein described and
set forth.
Dated this 1st day of September 1894.
THOMAS CUMMINGS,
By Henry Skerrett,
6, Livery Street, Birmingham, Agent for Applicant.