To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Frank E. Paden, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of South Bend, in the county of St. Joseph and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Devices for Training Mustaches, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in devices for training mustaches; and it consists in two plates of suitable length and width which are hinged together at their inner edges, and which when closed elastically clamp the end of the mustache between them, one of the plates being formed into a comb and the other faced with rubber, as will be more fully described hereinafter.

The object of my invention is to provide a device which can be applied to the mustache for the purpose of holding it in any desired form, and which is adapted to be worn at night or while the toilet is being made, so as to give it any shape or set that may be preferred.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a perspective of a device which embodies my invention in an open form. Fig. 2 is a front view showing the device applied to both sides of a mustache. Fig. 3 is an end view of the same.

A B represent two plates of any suitable material, and which are of a length and width proportioned to the use to which they are to be applied. The plate A is flat and perfectly plain, and is faced on its inner side with rubber or other suitable material C, so as to give it the necessary friction to hold it in position upon the mustache. The other plate B has its free edge made into a comb D for the purpose of combing the mustache into the desired shape. These two plates A B are hinged together, as shown, the plate A having but a single loop G, through which the pintle of the hinge passes, while the remainder of its edge upon each side of the loop is perfectly straight and forms a stop I to prevent the two plates from being opened beyond the position shown in Fig. 1, and also serve as spring-bearing extensions for the plate A to hold it either in its open or its closed position, as hereinafter described. The plate B is provided with two loops or eyes arranged upon opposite sides of the one upon the plate A, and its two corners are turned at right angles to the plate B, as shown at J, so as to force the hinged edges of the two plates apart at this point and cause their free edges to tightly clasp the mustache between them.

The construction above described and shown in the drawings is the cheapest and simplest form of construction. The plates will be made of any suitable light elastic material, so that they can be worn during the night without the slightest inconvenience. The rubber face C not only provides a cushioned elastic bearing having greater frictional resistance than would a smooth hard surface, thus enabling it to hold the mustache more securely, but it also extends over the stop I and presses more tightly upon the back of the plate B to hold the plates open, as shown in Fig. 1, but also presses upon the upturned edges J of the said plate B to hold the plates more tightly together when closed, as shown in Fig. 3.

By the use of this device the mustache can be trained into any desired form without the use of cosmetics, wax, or similar materials, which are always more or less undesirable and sometimes poisonous.

Having thus described my invention, I claim—

1. As an article of manufacture, a device for holding the mustache comprising two plates A and B, hinged together, the plate A having straight edge extension stops I, and the plate B having end edges J projecting at right angles to the said plate B and outside of the line of axis of the hinges connecting said plates to bear upon the straight edge extension stops I, substantially as described.

2. A device for training the mustache, comprising two plates A and B hinged together and provided with edge extensions, and a rubber facing C secured to the inner face of the plate A, substantially as and for the purpose described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

Frank E. Paden.

Witnesses:

George Oltsch,

Robert Hoffman.