US3117576A

US3117576A - Beard steamer

Info

Publication number: US3117576A
Application number: US228884A
Authority: US
Inventors: Raymond L Propst
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1962-10-08
Filing date: 1962-10-08
Publication date: 1964-01-14
Anticipated expiration: 1981-01-14

Description

Jan. 14, 1964 R. L. EROPST 3,117,576

BEARD STEAMERl Filed oct. 8,1962

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United States Patent O 3,117',576 .HEARD STEAMER Raymond L. iropst, Rte. 3, Box i972, Astoria, Greg. Filed Get. S, i952. Ser. No. 228,534 Claims. (Qi. 12S-254) `My invention relates to beard Steamers or means to aid in the softening of human beards prior to shaving.

One of the objectives of my invention is to prepare the beard, as by softening, prior to shaving.

Another objective is to cut the preparation time so that it takes only one or two minutes at the most.

A further objective is to prepare the beard so that a once over is usually sufficient.

However, the principal objective of my invention is to provide a simple device formed of plastic having a stii lower hot water receptacle portion and an upper flexible portion adapted to be folded or telescoped into the lower portion receptacle to decrease the bulk for storage or transportation.

Applicant happens to have an extremely tough 4l'ieavy beard coupled with a. tender skin. In order to present a respectable appearance, which is a must every day, it becomes necessary to shave with and against the grain. This means time lost and in the end a sore tace. Many methods have been employed to cut down the shaving tirne as well as to eliminate the sore face. Experience indicates that the application of 'moist heat is the best beard softener and is gentle to the skin. Barbers have for many years used hot to-wels for the application of moist heat. However, this is a slow process and is dithcult for the individual to apply. For a long time I draped a bath towel over my head to form a canopy over the lavatory bowl which was filled lwith hot water at tap temperature. This method worked well but was too cumberstone and time-consuming. Experimental work developed the device which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

FIG. l of the drawings is an end View of one version of the beard steamer in which the top land bottom portions are cast integral; FIG. 2 is a iront elevation of FiG. 1; FIG. 3 is -a side elevation of FG. l; FIG. 4 is a vertical ysection on the -line 4-4 of FiG. 1; FIG 5 is a vertical section on the line 5 5 of FIG. V1; FIG. 6 is a front elevation showing the top portion of an embodiment of the beard steamer; FiG. 7 shows the handle provided with a threaded bottom-engaging portion; FiG. 8 shows a two-part pivotal handle; FiG. 9 shows a stop portion on said pivotal handle; FIG. l() shows the top and bottom portions cast separate and secured together with an adhesive; PEG. 11 illustrates the fastening means of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 6; FiG. 12 shows the beard steamer folded or telescoped and strapped in this position.

Throughout the drawings `and the specication similar numerals refer to similar parts.

I find the plastic known `as polyethylene to meet the requirement of the beard steamer. It will hold water at from 140 to 16() degrees Fahr. It is readily cast in either thick or thin sections or a combination thereof. It may be formulated to provide stiness, exibility, or for repeated flexings ias when the thin top portion of the beard steamer is telescoped or folded into the stiff lower portion. The manufacturer of polyethylene, or any other plastic used, should be consulted as to the best formula for the conditions encountered.

FG. l shows the beard steamer to be circular in form and approximately 6" in diameter. It may be rectangular and comprises the stiff lower portion 1 (say 0.100 thick) tapering into the thin exible upper portion 2 (say 0.050 thick) as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. These figures show the tapered portion indented at 3 to permit easier Mice telescoping or bending of the thin upper portion Z into the well portion W of the bottom portion 1. This well W is made approximately 11/2 in depth and .is iiflled to a depth of approximately .l1/4 with water from the hot rwater tap having a temperature of `from to 160 degrees Fahr. The upper portion 2 of the beard steamer is approximately 7 in depth thus giving an overall depth of 81/2. The front face of the beard steamer S is relieved or cu-t away as shown at 4 to a depth of 11/2 from the top T, and the back face is relieved or cut away to an approximate depth of 5 `from the top T as shown at 5. See FIGS. 2 and 4 in particular. As relieved the front cface at 4 is positioned against the bottom of the users nose and the back `face S is positioned adjacent the Adams apple of the user when the beard steamer is in use. When so positioned the side portions 6 terminate adjacent the bottom of the ears of the user. As a consequence of the above structure most of the hairy portion of the users face is enveloped by the beard steamer and adapted to receive the moist air arising from the hot Water within the well W.

rille beard steamer S is held in an upright working position by a cylindrical handle 7, as shown in iFlGS. 4 and 5, whose upper end is tapered for reception in the tapered aperture 8 in the boss 9 which is shown projecting into the well W. PIG. 7 indicates that the handle 7 may be cast with a thread Mi and threaded into the boss 9. FiG. 6 shows a two-part handle 7" journalled on the shaft il supported in the bearing lugs 12 which depend from the bottom 13 of the beard steamer shell S. PEG. 9 shows the .stop portion i4 formed on the separate handle portions 7A and 7B to prevent the beard steamer S from turning about the shaft ii when the beard steamer S is being held in working position by the user. When the beard steamer S is not in use the handle portions '7A and u7B of the handle 7 may be positioned against the bottom 13 of the beard steamer S -as shown by the brol-:en outline in FG. 8. it is to be noted that the handle portion 7A forms the handle portion 7B when reversed.

FIG. 6 sho-ws the beard steamer upper portion 2. slit at the quarter points within approximately 21/2 from the bottom-front slits l5 and i6 being shown in said FIG. 6i. When so slit a thicker or stiffer plastic section may be used for the upper portion 2. Portions adjacent a slit `are lapped and pinned as with the means 17 shown in FIG. 11.

FG. 10 shows the upper porti-on 2 as part or" a cylindrical shell adapted to be slipped over the side wall 13 of lthe beard steamer lower portion i and secured to said side wall i8 by `any suitable .bonding material or by any other suitable means as a band, not shown.

When it is desired to use the beard steamer S, it is put in the shape shown in FG. 2, for instance. It is then filled with hot tap water to the depth previously noted. The beard steamer is held to the head of the user with the front point d positioned just under his nose and with the back point 5 adjacent his Adams apple. A minute or twois suicient to hold the beard steamer in position. At this point it may be pointed out that the face is washed with hot water and soap but 4not dried prior to using the beard steamer S.

When through using the beard steamer S, the water is poured out and the top portion 2 folded into the weil W in the bottom portion 1. The top portion 2 may be held in the telescoped position within the well W by any suitable means suoh as a rubber band (not shown) or by the strap 19 (preferably elastic) the opposite ends of which engage a latching means 20 formed on the ends of the handle portions '7A and 7B as shown in FG. 12. This l-atohing means 19t-20 serves to hold the ends of the handle portions 7A and 7B in contact with the bottom 13 of the bottom portion ot the beard steamer.

When the hand-les 7 or 7 are used they may be pulled from or unscrewed from the bottom portion 1 and positioned within the Well W in the bottom portion 1 prior to folding the top portion 2 over them.

It is quite apparent that a beard steamer measuring 6" X 81/2 when in use is cumbersome to store in the bathroom or carry on a trip away from home. However, since the beard steamer may be telescoped into a. cornpact package 6 in diameter by 2 thick, it stores well and has a good appearance. When travelling the beard steamer occupies little space.

What is new over the prior art is set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A fbeard steamer having in combination, a stit shallow bottom portion formed of plastic constituting a Well for the reception of hot Water; a thin eXible top portion formed of plastic joined to the bottom portion and adapted to be folded or telt-:scoped into the well formed in said bottom portion, said top portion being relieved at the front and rear to permit adjoining sides to terminate under the users ears While the front terminates the nose and the rear terminates adjacent the Adams apple of said user; a handle attached to and projecting downwardly from the bottom of said bottom portion to be grasped by the user to hold the beard steamer in the above related position to the head and means to retain the top portion Within the well when positioned therein.

2. The structure of claim l in which slit means are provided in the top portionA extending down to the top of the bottom portion to facilitate the lfolding of the top portion into the Well of the bottom portion.

3. The structure of claim 1 in ywhich the handle has a tapered connection with the bottom portion.

4. The structure of claim 1 in which the handle has a threaded connection with the bottom portion.

5. 'Ilhe structure of claim 1 in which the handle is formed of two oppositely disposed similar portions arranged in side by side vertical parallel alignment and hinged to the bottom of the bottom portion of the beard steamer for holding said beard steamer in working relation relative to the head of the user, the free ends of said handles being provided with fastening means interacting With said top portion retaining means to hold the handle portions when each of said :handle port-ions are moved to oppositely disposed horizontal positions in contact with said bottom portion.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 877,155 Wood Ian. 21, 1998 1,013,079 Smith ec. 26, 1911 1,106,300 Graham Aug. 4, 1914 1,145,133 Flynn July 6, 1915 2,473,926 Wesley June 2l, 1949 2,507,386 Spiegel May 9, 1950 2,635,605 Becker Apr. 21, 1953

Claims

1. A BEARD STEAMER HAVING IN COMBINATION, A STIFF SHALLOW BOTTOM PORTION FORMED OF PLASTIC CONSTITUTING A WELL FOR THE RECEPTION OF HOT WATER; A THIN FLEXIBLE TOP PORTION FORMED OF PLASTIC JOINED TO THE BOTTOM PORTION AND ADAPTED TO BE FOLDED OR TELESCOPED INTO THE WELL FORMED IN SAID BOTTOM PORTION, SAID TOP PORTION BEING RELIEVED AT THE FRONT AND REAR TO PERMIT ADJOINING SIDES TO TERMINATE UNDER THE USER''S EARS WHILE THE FRONT TERMINATES THE NOSE AND THE REAR TERMINATES ADJACENT THE ADAM''S APPLE OF SAID USER; A HANDLE ATTACHED TO AND PROJECTING DOWNWARDLY FROM THE BOTTOM OF SAID BOTTOM PORTION TO BE GRASPED BY THE USER TO HOLD THE BEARD STEAMER IN THE ABOVE RELATED POSITION TO THE HEAD AND MEANS TO RETAIN THE TOP PORTION WITHIN THE WELL WHEN POSITIONED THEREIN.