An Improved Device for Holding and Retaining Ladies' Hair.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Aug., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 20th May, 1898-Accepted, 23rd July, 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Device for Holding and Retaining Ladies' Hair.
I, ROBERT FREDERICH TOCHTERMANN, Director of the Fin de Siecle Comb Co., Ltd.,
of 236, Oxford Street, London, W., Manufacturers, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to an improved device for holding and retaining ladies'
hair, and consists essentially in a device comprising three or more members pivoted
together, some or all of which members are provided with comb teeth for passing
into the hair, and with outwardly and forwardly projecting flanges, wings, or
blades on which the hair may be arranged and supported in knots or otherwise.
Said members are pivoted together at their extremities, either in the form of a
chain the end members of which have suitable devices at their outer extremities
to enable them to be fastened together when placed around the hair; or in any
other manner. For instance, a central member may have two curved or branch-
ing members pivoted thereto at one end and adapted to be fastened to the other end
at their opposite extremities; or a central member may have two pivoted members
at each of its ends, the two members on each side being adapted to be fastened
together at their opposite extremities.
According to one form of my invention I may provide a comb curved somewhat
after the shape of a ladies' side comb, and having its back or frame bent outwardly
at right angles to the plane of the comb, and projecting and curved slightly upward
beyond the ends of said comb. To each of the extremities of this comb or member
is pivoted another member, which also forms a side comb, for the purpose of
retaining the device in the hair. These latter members, which form the sides of
the device, may also be provided with an outwardly projecting flange, but I
prefer to construct them with one or more outwardly projecting wings or blades
having curved outlines and twisted in any desired manner. At their opposite ex-
tremities these side members are provided with means for securing or fastening
them together after the device has been placed around the hair.
In cases where I employ a central member I prefer to provide the same with a
hinge at or near either of its extremities, in order that it may be folded back out
of the way while the device is being placed around the hair; and said central
member may also be provided with a hole or holes into which take hooks on the
side members when said central member is replaced, thereby securing said central
member, as well as the side members of the device, in their closed position. This
latter device will thus enable the hair to be parted or divided naturally into two
portions which may then be coiled or arranged upon the wings or blades of the
device in a great variety of ways.
The use of my improved device is not detrimental to the hair, while it will
efficiently retain the same without being unduly tight or otherwise causing dis-

page_text: comfort; and said device has no tendency to cut or split the hair as is the case with
many devices at present in use.
Dated this 28th day of August 1897.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.
An Improved Device for Holding and Retaining Ladies' Hair.
I, ROBERT FREDERICII TOCHTERMANN, Director of the Fiu de Siecle Comb Co.,
of 236, Oxford Street, London, W., Manufacturers, 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 relates to an improved device for holding and retaining ladies'
hair, and consists essentially in a device comprising three or more members pivoted
together, some or all of which members are provided with comb teeth for passing
into the hair, and with outwardly and forwardly projecting flanges, wings, or
blades on which the hair may be arranged and supported in knots coils or otherwise.
Said members are pivoted together at their extremities, either in the form of a
chain the end members of which have suitable devices at their outer extremities
to enable them to be fastened together when placed around the hair; or in any
other manner. For instance, a central member may have two curved or branch-
ing members pivoted thereto at one end and adapted to be fastened to the other end
at their opposite extremities; or a central member may have two pivoted members
at each of its ends, the two members on each side being adapted to be fastened
together at their opposite extremities.
The comb teeth for passing into the hair may be formed on the upper or inner
or on the lower or outer side or edge of the members, or on both sides or edges
thereof.
In order that my invention may be clearly understood and readily carried into
effect I will describe the same more fully with reference to the accompanying
drawings, in which:-
Figure 1 is a rear view and Figure 2 a central sectional side view of one form
of my invention.
Figure 3 is a rear view of a device constructed according to my invention,
having a central member and showing the side members or combs provided with
teeth on both the inner and outer sides or edges.
Figures 4 and 5 are two views similar to Figures 1 and 2 of another form of my
improved device with central member.
Like letters of reference indicate similar parts in all the figures.
Referring first to Figures 1 and 2, a is a comb curved somewhat after the shape
of a ladies' side comb and having its back or frame bent outwardly at right angles
to the plane of the comb so as to form a flange a¹. The ends a² of said flange
project beyond the comb and are curved slightly upward. To each of the ex-
tremities of this comb or member is pivoted another member 6, which also forms
a side comb, having inwardly directed teeth 62, for the purpose of retaining the
device in the hair. These members b, b, which form the sides of the device, may

page_text: be provided with an outwardly projecting flange similar to a¹, but I prefer to con-
struct them with one or more outwardly projecting wings or blades having
curved outlines and twisted in any desired manner. At their opposite extremities
these side members are provided with means for securing or fastening them
together, as shown at c,, after the device has been placed around the hair.
In securing this device around the hair it is first opened out and the member or
comb a is placed in position beneath the hair. The two side members b, b, are
then brought around the hair, and their extremities secured together at the top,
so that the comb teeth 62, 63, enter or pass into the hair. The hair may then be
parted into two or more portions and coiled or arranged upon the wings b', b¹, in
any desired manner.
Figure 3 illustrates a construction of hair retaining device provided with a
central member A combined with the member a. In this device the teeth of the
member or side comb a are directed upwardly or inwardly instead of downwardly.
The central member is hinged to the said member a at A¹, so as to be capable of
being turned back into the position shown in dotted lines while the comb a is
being passed into the hair. I may form the wings b' upon this central member A,
as shown, or upon the side member b, as in the device illustrated in Figures 1
and 2. Hooks c formed at the upper extremities of the members b are adapted to
engage or embrace the central member, thus securing said members together, and
retaining the device in place upon the hair.
Besides the teeth on the inner side or edge of these members b, I also provide
teeth 63, 63, on the outer sides thereof, the said teeth being adapted to pass into
the hair as it is brought around the device and thereby hold it very securely in
position.
Figures 4 and 5 illustrate another form of device provided with a central
member. According to this construction I provide two lower side combs a, a, and two
upper side combs b, b, hinged or pivoted to the central member at A', A¹, and A², A³,
respectively. The outer extremities of each pair of side combs a, b, are adapted to
be secured together by suitable means, such as a hook c on one member taking into
an eye c¹ on the other member. Although I have not shown any side wings or
blades upon this device, it is obvious that such wings may be formed either upon
the central member, or upon the side members.
When placing this device in position around the hair, the side members are opened
out (as shown in dotted lines to the right of Figure 4), and the central member A
is placed between the hair, dividing it into two portions. Each pair of
b, is then closed and secured over its respective portion of hair.
members a,
It will be readily understood that I may, if desired, provide comb teeth, similar
to the teeth 3 shown in Figure 3, on the outer side or edge of the side combs b
in Figures 1 and 2, or of the side combs a and b in Figures 4 and 5.
The use of my improved hair retaining device is not detrimental to the hair,
while it will efficiently retain the same without being unduly tight or otherwise
causing discomfort, and without the least necessity for the employment of hair
pins. Moreover the said device has no tendency to cut or split the hair as is the
case with many devices at present in use. The employment of the central
member A enables the hair to be parted or divided naturally into two portions.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
1. A device for holding and retaining ladies' hair, comprising three or more
members pivoted together, some or all of which have teeth on one or both sides
thereof, substantially as and for the purpose described.
2. The combination with the aforesaid device of a central member with or
without wings or blades upon which the hair may be coiled or arranged, sub-
stantially as and for the purpose described.
3. The hair retaining device constructed substantially as described with re-

page_text: ference to Figures 1 and 2, or Figure 3, or Figures 4 and 5 of the accompanying
drawings, and for the purposes specified.
Dated this 20th day of May 1898.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton. Buildings, London, W.C,
Agents for the Applicant.