TO WILLIAM HANCOCK, Jun., of Amwell-street, in the county of Middlesex, Gent., for certain improvements in combs and brushes.-[Sealed 21st March, 1842.]

THE first part of this invention consists in making currycombs, with flexible backs, in the following manner :-. -A piece of wire-card, of the kind used for carding cotton and other fibrous materials, is formed into the required shape; and on the back of it a piece of leather, felt, or thin veneer of wood is fastened, with a solution of caoutchouc, or any other strong flexible cement. A number of small pins are then inserted round the edges, for greater security, or they may be sewn together with wire or strong thread.

The second improvement relates to those brushes which are used for dry brushing, such as hair brushes, clothes brushes, horse brushes, machine brushes, &c.

It consists principally in making the backs flexible, in the same manner as the backs of the currycombs are made, instead of stiff and unyielding, as usual; and in making the brushes of a circular or curvilinear form, by fixing the bristles or hairs in a flexible back, and attaching it to a solid back, of the required form. When the brush is required to be very elastic, a thin piece of metal, whalebone, or horn, is inserted between the top and bottom pieces of the back, and the top piece gradually decreases in thickness from the handle to the outer extremity.

Expanding brushes are made by attaching to the under piece of the back of a flexible-backed brush, a sheet of caoutchouc, or a piece of cloth, varnished with a solution of caoutchouc, in such a manner that the enclosed space shall be air-tight; and, by means of a tube, with a screw-plug, in the handle of the brush, air is forced into the enclosed space, and the brush is thereby caused to expand.

Brushes are also made with flexible backs, in the manner shewn in Plate III., fig. 1. a represents the flexible back, fastened at its ends to the solid back b.

Those brushes which are sometimes used in water, such as bath brushes, are protected from its action by attaching to the under side of the flexible back, before drawing the

hairs or bristles, a piece of India-rubber waterproof cloth, by means of a solution of caoutchouc.

The third part of this invention consists in improvements in making brushes for painting, varnishing, whitewashing, &c.

Fig. 2, is a section of a paint brush, constructed according to this improvement. The hairs or bristles are inserted in a metal stock or socket c, and are secured therein by passing the tapering metallic ferrule d, through a hole in the top of the socket, and soldering it; this ferrule receives the handle e, of the brush.

Fig. 3, represents an improved brush for whitewashing and similar purposes. The stock or foundation consists of two metal plates f, joined together at their ends, and strengthened by the stays g, g; between the plates ƒ, the handle his inserted, and through them a number of holes are made, to receive the cords i, i, by which the hairs or bristles are secured.

The handles of the brushes may be made either of wood or metal; and the patentee also includes, under this part of his invention, the application of metallic handles to the wooden stocks or foundations of brushes.

The patentee claims, Firstly.—As regards the class of combs called currycombs, the making of the same with flexible backs, such as hereinbefore specified.

Secondly. As regards those brushes which are chiefly used for dry brushing, the making of them with flexible backs, such as described under the second head of this invention.

Thirdly. As regards that class of brushes which are employed for painting, coloring, varnishing, plastering, and other like purposes,-the making of them with metal stocks or foundations, and handles, such as herein before described; or with metal stocks or foundations only, combined with wooden handles; or with metal handles only, combined with wooden stocks or foundations; and whether such stocks consist of a socket and ferrule, connected together, such as hereinbefore specified, or of a metal ferrule only.—[Inrolled in the Inrolment Office, September, 1842.]

To GEORGE EVANS, of Dorset-place, Marylebone, surgeon, for an improvement or improvements upon trusses, for the relief of hernia.-[Sealed 29th March, 1841.]

THE first part of this invention consists in stuffing the trusses of pads with an elastic vegetable substance, called moc-main, obtained from the 'bombax heptaphyllum' or silk

cotton tree.

The second improvement consists in a spring truss, for the relief of inquinal hernia. In Plate III., fig. 1, is a side view of the truss. a, is the pad, stuffed with moc-main, and covered with any material that will allow the elasticity of the moc-main free play, without becoming wrinkled when the pad is worn and compressed; b, is a spring lever, one end of which is fastened to the pad-plate c, by three screws d, placed in a triangular position, having on the other end of it a button e, to which the secondary bandage, that regulates the pressure of the pad on the hernial opening, is attached. The heads of the screws form buttons, on which the broad end of the bandage, that passes round the body, is secured, by means of three button-holes; and thus, by reason of the triangular position of the screws d, the pad can be adjusted to the required inclination. The strap or tongue, at the other end of the bandage, is hooked on the uppermost screw d, which is made longer than the other two, for the purpose of receiving the strap.

Fig. 2, represents a modification of the truss just described. f, is a lever, hinged to the pad-plate, as a substitute for the lever b, being provided with a spring g, which regulates the pressure of the pad on the hernial opening.

The third part of the invention consists in a truss for the relief of umbilical or femoral hernia. Figs. 3, 4, and 5, represent variations in the construction of the truss; fig. 3, is the side view of a truss, constructed according to this part of the invention. The improvement consists in the application of a double spring-lever h, fastened to the padplate c, by the screw i, and having on each end a button j, to which the bandages are attached. In the truss shewn at

fig. 4, instead of the double spring-lever h, a pair of levers k, k, provided with springs l, l, are hinged together at the centre of the pad-plate. Fig. 5, shews a truss, provided with a pair of levers m, m, hinged to opposite sides of the pad-plate, one passing through the other; to each of which levers a spring n, is fastened, pressing upon the pad-plate.

The fourth part of the invention consists in a truss for the relief of 'prolapsus ani.' Fig. 6, is a side view of the truss. a, is the pad, covered with caoutchouc, having a spring-lever o, fastened on the pad-plate, with a button p, at each end of it, to button the straps on that support the

truss.

The fifth improvement consists in a truss for the relief of 'prolapsus uteri.' This truss is covered with a coat of caoutchouc, to protect it from the effects of moisture, and is shewn in section at fig. 7. q, is the head of the truss, the top of which is formed into a cup, for the neck of the uterus to rest on, and has two holes r, r, in it, to drain off any moisture that may be deposited in the cup. Into the lower part of the head the end of the tubes, is screwed, in which tube a stem t, works, pressing against the spiral spring u, and being retained in the tube by a stud v, working in a groove in the stem. The bandages are attached to the ends of the lever-springs w, w, fastened on the crosshead x.

The patentee claims, Firstly.-The use of moc-main or silk cotton, as a stuffing for the pads of trusses generally.

Secondly. The combination of a moc-main pad with a lever-spring, or with a hinged lever and spring, and with three studs or buttons, in a triangular position on the lever, in the formation of a truss, for the relief of inquinal hernia. Thirdly. The combination of a moc-main pad with two spring-levers, or two hinged levers and springs, in the formation of a truss, for the relief of umbilical or femoral hernia.

Fourthly. The combination of a moc-main pad, covered with caoutchouc, with a hinged lever and spring, or with a spring lever, in the construction of a truss, for the relief of 'prolapsus ani.'

Fifthly. The combination of a pair of lever-springs with a spiral spring, acting in a tube against a sliding stem, in the construction of a truss, for the relief of 'prolapsus uteri.' -[Inrolled in the Inrolment Office, September, 1841.]

TO JOSEPH HULME, of Manchester, in the county of Lancaster, engineer, for certain improvements in machinery or apparatus for grinding, sharpening, or setting the teeth of cards or other similar apparatus employed for carding or operating upon cotton, wool, or other fibrous substances. -[Sealed 20th September, 1841.]

THESE improvements in machinery or apparatus for grinding, sharpening, or setting the teeth of cards or other similar apparatus, consist in a novel arrangement and construction of mechanism, designed for the purpose of operating upon the points of the teeth after the sheet or fillet of cards have been put upon their respective cylinders, rollers, or "flats," in order to set up or face the whole surface of the teeth into one regular plane or surface, and at the same time to give them the requisite degree of sharpness or edge which is essential to produce a perfect carding or sliver of the cotton or other filamentous material to be operated upon; and also for the purpose of re-setting or sharpening such carding or other teeth, cylinders, or surfaces, as have become worn or impaired from constant working or otherwise.

In Plate II., fig. 1, represents a front elevation of the apparatus, as applicable to cylindrical surfaces; and fig. 2, is a side or end view of the same.

It should be here remarked, that in sharpening or setting the teeth of cards upon the main cylinder or swift, and also the doffing cylinder of ordinary carding engines, the most convenient way will be to place the improved apparatus upon the framing of the engine, and set it up to or in contact with the cylinder, and so allow the cylinders to be ground up in their respective places; but in operating either upon "flats," or cylindrical top cards, or " strippers,"