IMPROVE- MENTS IN BRUSHES FOR BRUSHING HAIR BY ROTARY MOTION, AND IN APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH
Year: 1867

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Charles Turner at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 23rd February
1867.
I, CHARLES TURNER, of the Town and County of Southampton, Civil
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN BRUSHES FOR BRUSHING HAIR BY ROTARY MOTION, AND IN APPARATUS
CONNECTED THEREWITH," to be as follows:-
My improvements in hair brushes operating by rotary motion are principally
applicable to large brushes adapted for brushing ladies' hair, say of some
twenty inches or two feet diameter, and consist in fixing the bristles or other
brushing material in an endless belt of leather or in elastic material which is
cut across at one, two, or more places, and united at back or under side by a
piece or pieces of india-rubber; the insertion of the india-rubber permits of
the belt being stretched over the edges and on to the circular body of the
brush, at same time it holds tight in position while at work. Thumb
notches are made in the periphery of the body at each side to get the fingers
under the belt for taking it on and off; brushes so made are easily washed,
being taken off the body for the purpose; recesses are formed in the brush
body or centre for the rubber, so that the leather belt prevents a uniformly
circular surface.
The second part refers to small circular hand brushes which are driven by a
crank handle on one end of the spindle, and consists in placing on the spindle
between the handle and the brush a supporting hook which I suspend from an

page_text: elastic cord having sufficient upward tension or by a cord and counterbalance
weight. The spindle of the brush revolves freely in bearings or sockets of this
supporting hook which facilitates the use of such rotary hand brushes. The
sockets on the spindle are some distance apart. Instead of the sockets of the
supporting hook being both on one side of the brush the arms from said hook
may embrace the brush and support the spindle on both sides.
A third improvement consists in forming and hollowing out the body or
centre of large circular hand brushes so that the centre of the body projects
on one side while there is room for the insertion of the hand on the opposite
side and to hold the spindle handle in a position immediately in the centre of
the brush, at which point it is directly opposed to the resistance offered in the
act of brushing. The brush is driven by a crank handle on the opposite and
projecting end of the spindle; to facilitate holding these hand brushes I use
what may be termed a modification of the suspending hook last herein.
described; it consists of a block of wood fitted loose on the spindle between
the handle and brush; the lower half of said block is precisely like a grooved
pulley, but from that point the sides are carried up parallel and terminate in
rectangles or otherwise at the top; the groove of the lower part is continued
up each side of the block, which is suspended in the loop or double of an
elastic or counterbalanced supporting cord or belt; a hook is also provided for
attaching a single support as before if desired.
The next part of my Invention relates principally to apparatus for brushing
or wisping horses, and consists, first, in fixing a guard arm to the hand hold of
a rotary brush or wisp rubber for the purpose of keeping the driving band on
the pulley which is on the brush or rubber axis; this pulley is disposed near
to one handle, from which a stem is extended having an arm at right angles
across the breast of the pulley; this arm has an elastic bearing, and comes
close to but without touching the periphery of the pulley; it prevents the band
running off during the various positions in which the brush spindle is held, at
same time by springing off the arm the band may be removed from said pulley
at pleasure.
A further improvement consists in the application of a light staple-like or
double-limbed part to embrace the band wheel from which the driving band
departs to and returns from the brush pulley. This double-limbed piece or
frame is mounted loosely on the axis of said wheel, embracing its periphery,
and the band by its gravity causes it to fall below a horizontal position, but a
slight friction of the band on friction rollers furnished to said frame while
running on to the wheel tends to carry it upwards; the upward movement
being limited by a stop thus this frame is always in a position to keep the

page_text: band on the wheel in whatever position the band may lead or incline there-
from during the operation of rotary brushing; I sometimes apply fixed guide
pulleys for a like purpose. The above is applicable to apparatus for brushing
horse and human hair.
The form of brush for brushing horses I find best adapted for the purpose
is in a section through the axis parabolic; this brush I mount on the one
end of the axis while a hand hole is disposed at the other; immediately
adjoining this hand hold is disposed the driving pulley, and between such
pulley and the brush a second hand hold. My improvement in this part of
the apparatus consists in the application of a universal joint in the axis which
is disposed between the driving pulley and the hand hold next the brusb, and
forms a continuation and transmits the motion of the axis. Thus one hand
hold or handle may remain with the pulley in any given position, while the
axis of the other hand hold and the brush may be inclined in any direction,
and so facilitate the use of the brush in brushing horses.
Another improvement relates to a rotary wisp or rubber for brushing or
rubbing horses; it is in form the same as the brush last above described and
used on a like axis. I make it of a wood centre or body, on which I apply a
stuffing of the thickness and form desired, surrounded by leather or woven
fabric; on the exterior of this I apply a covering which forms the brushing or
rubbing surface, being usually of a coarse woven fabric, which is fitted to the
stuffed centre and stretched and tied tightly thereon. These coverings being
removable are easily washed or otherwise cleansed without affecting the
stuffed centre.
The last part refers to a means of cleansing brushes made of bristles or
analogous material, which consists of a curved surface having hackle teeth or
steel points which I fix against the wall or otherwise, and simply press the
brush against it while rotating in order to remove the dirt therefrom.