To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, George P. Hall, a citizen of the United States, residing at Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mustache-Guards, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

The object of my invention is to provide a guard device for attachment to the mustache, which shall be adapted to so hold or confine the mustache that when eating or drinking the mustache will be kept out of the food.

After describing the construction of the device the invention will be designated in the claim.

In the drawings hereto annexed, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the device. Fig. 2 is a top view, showing the device folded on its center joint. Fig. 3 is a side view of one-half of the device. Fig. 4 is a cross-section on a scale larger than the device itself as used in practice.

The letter A designates the teeth of a comb, and b the back, to which the teeth are fast. This comb may be made of any suitable material—metal or hard rubber, for instance. The comb may have a curved shape to adapt it to fit the contour of the upper lip, or, as shown in the drawings, may be made in two pieces, the back of each being slightly curved and jointed or hinged together at the ends, as indicated at c. This joint being at the center will enable the two ends of the comb to be brought toward each other more or less, so as to allow the teeth of the comb to bear against the upper lip, whatever may be the contour or shape of the lip. It is hardly necessary for the teeth of the comb to extend along the back entirely to the center joint, though the device may be so made. In the present instance, however, the central part of the comb, as at d, is without teeth.

To the back of each end of the comb a guard or protector plate, E, is hinged at f in such manner that the said guard may be turned on the hinge away from the teeth, or be pressed toward or against the teeth. A flat plate, g, is made fast by each end by a rivet, h, to the back of the comb in such manner that the central part between the rivets will yield and serve as a spring. This spring is in contact with the hinged end of the guard, and the shape of the said hinged end, as shown in Fig. 4, is such that the spring will, by bearing against the end, hold the guard either open—that is, away from the teeth—or closed—that is, pressed toward the teeth. The shape of the guard-plate is immaterial, its function being to hold the mustache in position when it has been drawn to one side, so as to keep it from contact with food entering the mouth. The comb serves to hold the guard to its position, while the guard in turn, acted on by pressure of the spring, confines the mustache, which has been drawn to one side along the comb.

This device is designed to be applied as follows: The teeth of the comb are held with their points upward and placed against the edge of the upper lip; then are pushed upward so as to enter the mustache. The back of the comb should extend along the upper lip just above its edge. The mustache on each side is then drawn sidewise along the teeth of the comb, and when so placed the guard-plate E is turned up against the mustache. When thus applied the device will keep the mustache out of the way. The device might be applied the other way—that is, with the teeth entering from above downward.

Having described my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States—

A mustache-guard consisting of the combination of a comb to enter the mustache, a guard-plate hinged to the comb, and a spring-plate attached to the comb to cause pressure on the guard-plate, as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

Geo. P. Hall.

Witnesses:

John E. Morris,

Jno. T. Maddox.