A NEW OR IMPROVED HAND FAN FOR LADIES' USE.
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Michel Marie Franzini, of Naples, in the Kingdom of
Italy, and at present of 68, Fleet Street, in the City of London, Gentleman,
for the Invention of "A NEW OR IMPROVED HAND FAN FOR LADIES' USE.'
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Michel Marie Franzini at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 3rd August 1876.
MICHEL MARIE FRANZINI, of Naples, in the Kingdom of Italy, and at present
of 68, Fleet Street, in the City of London, Gentleman, "A NEW OR IMPROVED
HAND FAN FOR LADIES' USE."
The object of this Invention is to construct a mechanical fan for ladies' use so as
to dispense with the fatiguing action of the hand of the user.
For this purpose the handle of the fan is made hollow to receive a train of
wheels, and to the arbor or axis of the driving wheel I attach a spring for actuating
the mechanism after it has been wound up. The winding is effected by means of
a key, stud, button, ring, or other equivalent or suitable contrivance in communi-
cation with the axis and placed outside the handle. As the spring uncoils itself it
imparts rotary motion through the train of wheels to a plate of metal or other
material, such motion agitating the air and thus cooling the person using the fan.
At the top of the rotating plate is a pivot on which it works in a stationary frame
fixed to the handle, and at the bottoin of such plate a spindle is secured to it and
passes down into the the handle, where it terminates in an endless screw wheel or
pinion which is in gear with the mechanism, so that as the train of wheels is
started it communicates motion to the endless screw, spindle, wheel, or pinion,
thereby imparting motion to the rotating plate. A spring, hook, screw, or other
contrivance is used to stop the rotation of the plate. The frame may be ornamented
with feathers or otherwise.
Although I have described the finine as stationary it may be so arranged as to
turn with the rotating plate or it may be dispensed with. The handle of the fan
may be so constructed as to receive a powder puff.

page_text: I is a front view of the nun, one moveable portion of and being c
off so as to see the arrangement inside of the handle.
Fig. 2 is a side view of the fan partly in section constructed according to my
Invention.
Fig. 3 is a front elevation of an apparatus (of greater dimension that the fan)
for cooling apartinents, halls, and the like. The inechanism of this apparatus is
similar to the mechanism of the fan.
A is a base in which the mechanism is contained; B* is the frame inside of
which turns on two pivots Cx, Dx, a plate Ex set' in motion by the train of wheels
contained in the base A*; Fx is a button, or stud, key, or handle serving to wind
up the spring, which by its incoiling imparts motion to the train of wheels, and
thus to the plate Ex, thereby producing a displacement of air sufficient to cool the
apartments, halls, and so forth, where it is in usc.
The handle of the fan is of metal, and is made hollow and of two parts, one
fixed or stationary A, the other moveable or detachable B; a spring contained in a
barrel C sets in inotion a train of wheels mounted on a bridge D and imparts
rotary movement to a plate of metal E. At the lower part of this plate E is fitted
a pivot or spindle e resting on a support F, and at the end of whicli is a pinion C
in gear with the toothed wheel H; instead of the pinion G endless screw may be
used. At the upper part of the plate E is a pivot or spindle I, the point of which
enters the center of the screw J placed in a stationary frame K, which has its lower
part jointed to the handle A. This frame K is made of foiled metal so as to permit
between the folds the insertions of feathers, lace, or other equivalent material. The
two parts A and B of the handle are kept or jointed together by means of a stud
or button L; this button L being screwed at one end of a rod or spindle M
carrying at its other ond a pinion N in gear with a toothed wheel O mounted on
the axle of the barrel C serves to wind up the spring. A pawl O' at the end of a
spring enters between the teeth of the wheel O so as to prevent the spring con-
tained in the barrel C to uncoil at one time. A ring P serves to hang the fan to
the waist of the ladies' dress or to other similar contrivance. A second stud Q in
connection with a bent piece R on which presses a spring ? keeps the fan at rest. It
will be easily understood that the spring having been previously wound up and the
user pressing against the stud Q the plate E shall be released, and the spring then
uncoiling itself will start the train of wheels, which will communicate its motion to
the pinion G and thus to the plate E, which will rotate freely inside the stationary
frame K and will displace a quantity of air sufficient to cool the person using
the fan.
A powder puff, a bottle of perfumes, or the like may be placed inside the handle A,
and the plate E being polished can be used as a mirror.
I do not confine myself to the exact proportions, size, form, or material, as they
1

page_text: Having now described the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same may be performed, I declare that I claim―
1st. The application of a mechanism actuated by a spring to ladies' fans in the
manner herein-before described and shown in the Drawings Fig. 2 and 3.
2d. The application of my Invention to apparatus of larger size for cooling
apartments, halls, ships, or any other fixed or moveable construction.
In witness whereof, I, the said Michel Marie Franzini, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Second day of February, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
Witness,
L. BORGARELLO,
10, Victoria Gardens,
Notting Hill, W.
(L.S.) MICHEL MARIE FRANZINI.