US1537397A - Comb and cleaning device therefor - Google Patents

Description

B L WILHELM COMB AND CLEANING DEVICE THEREFOR Fild April 1e, 1924 2*'. 6 /jyz INVENTOR if xmmwxm BY 77am f6 A A TTORNE YS Patented May 12, 1925.

UNITED STATES BENJAMIN L. WILHELM, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

MB AND CLEANING- DEVICE THEREFOR.

Application filed April 16, 1924. Serial No. 706,993.

To @ZZ whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN L. vWILHELM, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Combs and Cleaning Devices Therefor, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to improvements in combs and cleaning devices therefor, and it consists in the combinations, constructions and arrangements herein described and claimed.

An object of my invention is to provide a comb having a cleaning device carried thereby in such a way as to render the cleaning device inconspicuous.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the type described, in

which the cleaning device is instantly accessible, and which after use may be replaced in the comb and held securely from accidental displacement.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device which will thoroughly clean the comb, due to the spring action of the teeth of the cleaning device against those of the comb proper.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the following specification, and the novel 'features of the invention will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming part of this application, in which Figure l is a side view of al comb provided with my improved cleaning device, a portion of the comb being broken away,

Figure 2 is an enlarged section along the line 2-2 of Figure l, the cleaner teeth being shown in elevation,

Figure 3 is a view of a portion of a comb, with the cleaner in operative relation thereto,

Figure 4 is an enlarged view of a portion of a blank from which the cleaner is formed, and

Figure 5 is an enlarged view of the cleaner, looking directly at the ends of the teeth.

In carrying out my invention, I make use of a comb of any suitable material, such as metal, hard rubber, Celluloid, or the like.

In Figure l, the body portion of the comb is shown at l. The comb is provided preferably with a set of coarse teeth 2, and fine teeth 3. The body portion l has a longitudinal slot 2 extending from end to end. This slot communicates with a substantially semi-cylindrical groove 3, also extending from end to end along the back of the comb.

The cleaner proper is made from a single piece of metal. In Figure 4, I have shown this blank. It will be seen that there is a body portion 4, having teeth 5. The blank is cut, and the body portion 4 at the edge opposite the teeth is rolled so as to provide a handle portion 6 (see Figure 2) of a size which will fit snugly into the groove 3. The teeth 5 are preferably curved, as shown in Figure 5. The cleaner has smaller teeth 7 (see Figure l) which are arranged to enter between the teeth 3 of the comb. These smaller teeth 7 are preferably V-shaped in cross section, as shown in Figure 5, although they may be curved like the teeth 5.

From the foregoing description of the various parts of the device, the operation thereof may be readily understood. The cleaner device, which consists of the handle and the teeth 5 and 7 projecting therefrom, is normally in the back of the comb, as shown in Figure 1. It will be observed that the groove 3, while substantially semicylindrical, extends slightly beyond the center, and in placing the'cleaner in position on the comb, the handle portion 6 is forced into the groove 3, while the teeth enter the slot 2. The spring action of the walls of the groove 3 and the slot 2 tend to hold the cleaner securely in position, so that there is no danger of accidental displacement. The comb, with the cleaner, may be used in the ordinary manner, since the cleaner is, to any casual observer, a partof the comb.

When, however, it is desired to use the cleaner, the thumb and finger are inserted in the cut-away portions 8 (see Figure l) at the center of the back of the comb, and the handle 6 is grasped and pulled outwardly. This permits the cleaner to be detached from the comb. The teeth of the cleaner are then inserted between the teeth of the comb, the spring action of the cleaner teeth compensating for any irregularities in the spacing of the teeth, so that the cleaner teeth are pressed against those of the ooinb. By moving the cleaner outwardly toward the points of the teeth or `the eonib proper, any aoouniulation on the ooinb niay be reinoved. After the comb has been cleaned, the cleaner may be instantly replaced by slight pressure to force the meinber- 6- intothe groove 3', Where it Will be retained, statedE I claim:

l. The combination with a ooinb having a. longitudinal groove extending inwardly from thev back thereof, a slot forming a con- Y tinuation of said groove and extending .in-.

Wardly into the body portion of the ooinb, a oleanerha-ving a handle arranged to enter `and be retained in the groove, and teeth carried by said handle and adapted to enter the slot. v

2. The combination` of a ooinbhaving a longitudinal groove projecting inwardly from the backV thereof', and a slot forming a Continuation of said groove,y a cleaner con!A sisting of ya handle por-tion and teeth projecting roin said handle portion, theteeth of they cleaner being. adapted to enter-the Slot, and the handle portion being arranged to be held frictionally in the groove.

3. The Combination With a comb, of a cleaner therefor, said Cleaner comprising a handle portion, and teeth secured to said handle portion and adapted toA enter between'the teethl of the ooinb, the teeth of the cleaner being bent to exert spring pressure against the sides of the teeth of the oonib.

4l. The combination of a ooinb having'a substantially semi-cylindrical groove along the back thereof, aninwardly extending slot, a cleaner comprising a Cylindrical handle, teeth extending later-ally troni said handle, the central portions of said teeth parallel to their longitudinalaxes all lying in a coniinon plane, andthe side portions adjacent to said central portions being bent out ot said common plane, said handle being adapted, to torce the Walls of the groove apart .when pressure is exerted on the handle, and to be retainedy friotionally therein when the teeth of the, cleaner are in 'the slot.

BENJAMIN L. VILHELM.

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