A New Form of Comb.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Nov., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 8th Aug., 1893-Accepted, 7th Oct., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A New Form of Comb.
GEORGE BECKETT BATTEN Walton House 8 Grove Hill Lordship Lane
London S.E: Doctor of Medicine do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows, namely:-
A comb which consists of two chief parts, made of any suitable material; each
of these parts having teeth situated & made much as in the ordinary combs.
These two parts are fastened together & arranged by any suitable means &
method, so that one can slide upon the other, so that the teeth of one shall pass by
or alongside of the teeth of the other: as for example they may be fastened by a
screw with a suitable head, which screw passes through a slot in one & is screwed
into the other.
The chief object of this invention is for the better combing of the hair and is
more especially designed to use instead of the ordinary small toothed comb for the
better removal of nits or the eggs of pediculi from the hairs of the head of children
& others.
Dated this Tenth day of November 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A New Form of Comb.
I, GEORGE BECKETT BATTEN of Walton House 506 Lordship Lane
London S.E. in the County of Surrey Doctor of Medicine 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 has for its object to provide a device or appliance which is simple
in construction and is capable of use as a comb or appliance for the better combing
and cleaning hair, and more especially applicable for removing the so called nits or
eggs of pediculi from the hair of children and others.
The device or appliance consists essentially of two chief parts made of any
suitable material, each of such parts being much like ordinary combs or small
toothed combs, having teeth situated & made much as in ordinary combs: but these
combs may if required be made up of teeth not fixed and all a part of one piece of
material, but these combs may be made up of many separate teeth fixed in any
suitable frame or back.
These two chief parts or combs are fastened together and arranged by any
suitable means & method so that one can slide or move longitudinally, or vertically
& longitudinally, upon the other, so that the teeth of one part or comb shall pass
by or alongside of the teeth of the other part.
I will describe one form of my device with reference to the accompanying
drawings, from which any modification can be readily understood.
A and B
Fig. 1 shews the device complete and shews a suitable size of same.
are the two chief parts or combs: C is a steel clip holding A and B together, and
D is a handle.
Fig. 2 shews one of the combs (A in Fig. 1) this has a groove E, about 3 to
inch deep, running longitudinally along the comb close to the base of the teeth,
also a small depression or hole E beside centre of this groove.

page_text: Fig. 3 shews the other comb (B in Fig. 1) which has a similar groove E running
longitudinally along it, but this comb has no depression or hole. It is desirable
that this comb B be slightly longer, about inch, than the first comb A.
Both these combs are made of vulcanite horn, ivory or other suitable material
and in both it is preferable to have one side, that side opposite to that on which
the groove is situated, flat, so that when the combs are placed together with
these flat surfaces towards each other the combs shall be in close opposition
throughout.
Fig. 4 shews a clip much like the so called bull-dog clips used for holding paper
or letters together: This is cylindrical and made of suitably tempered steel or
other such material with a slit H. running from end to end of it so as to ensure a
spring or clip, also an opening J through which a handle can protrude.
Fig. 5 shews the handle made of metal or other suitable material shaped as in
figure, and with a projection K on or near its straight edge: This handle can
however be made as an integral part of the shorter comb A which would then not
require the depression F shewn in Fig. 2.
Fig. 6 shews a section through combined combs and handle A shorter comb;
B longer comb; C clip; D handle K projection on handle. E groove in B. These
four parts are put together in the following way. The rounded portion of handle D
is passed through slit H & then through opening J.in clip C. so that the other
portion of handle with projection K is just inside the clip. The shorter comb A
is then pressed into clip so that edge of slit in clip goes into groove E and pro-
jection K in handle D goes into depression F in this comb: This comb A, and the
handle and the clip are thus all firmly held together.
Finally comb B is pressed into clip so that its flat side is against flat side of
comb A, and the groove E on its other or outer side is engaged by the other edge
of 'slit H of clip C. and comb B is so slid along until this longer comb projects at
one end beyond the shorter comb as shewn in Fig. 1. This compound comb or
device is then ready for use and hair can then be combed with it as with an
ordinary comb. But to make this compound comb especially effectual, it is used
in the following way-The handle is held between large or second finger and thumb
of one hand, and after a lock of hair has been passed between teeth of both combs,
pressure is applied as by forefinger of same hand to projecting part of longer comb
so as to slide it along the other comb in such a way that teeth of one comb pass by:
or alongside of teeth of the other so that the hairs are squeezed between teeth of
the two combs in such a way as to allow hairs to pass through combs without
being broken off or cut and at the same time to have all dirt and nits removed by
the combs as combs are pulled along the hairs.
It is also possible by squeezing hair very tight between the combs to cause it to
curl or become wavy.
A modification of my invention may be obtained by holding the two combs
together by suitably shaped indiarubber or other springy or elastic material instead
of by a steel clip; or the two combs may be held together by pins or projections,
with suitably shaped heads, passing through slots in one comb & being fixed in the
other.
Another modification of my invention may be obtained by having the two combs
set on handles as are the cutters in the cutting hair clippers commonly used for
clipping horses or giving a close crop to human heads of hair.
Another modification can be obtained by having handle and clip made in one
piece, of spring steel or other material so shaped as to hold combs in close opposition
and yet enable one to be slightly slid or moved along the other.
.
Yet another modification of my invention may be obtained by having the two
combs so fashioned and fastened together by a suitable joint at or near one end of
both combs so that teeth of one comb point in opposite direction to teeth of the
other, so that combs shall pass by or alongside of one another in the same manner as,
the blades of scissors move; and if required by adding an excentric joint or other
suitable device one comb could easily be made to move a little longitudinally on

page_text: the other at the same time as it moves vertically in the scissor like manner: vide
Fig. 7.
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 I
claim is
1. The improved device consisting of an upper and a lower comb or part
combined so as to act longitudinally in relation to one another substantially as
described and illustrated in Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings.
2. The improved devices as modified consisting of an upper and a lower comb
combined and held together by indiarubber or other suitable material, by pins &
slots, or by spring formed of handle and clip in one, or other equivalent means, so
as to act longitudinally to one another substantially as described hereinbefore.
3. The improved device as modified consisting of an upper and a lower comb
combined & set on handles in the same way as are the cutters in the hair clipping
machines used for horses & others so as to act longitudinally in relation to one
another as described.
4. The improved device as modified consisting of an upper and a lower comb
combined so as to act vertically or vertically with a slight longitudinal motion at
the same time, substantially as hereinbefore described.
Dated this 7th day of August 1893.
GEORGE BECKETT BATTEN.