To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Edmund C. Gladwin, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oakland, county of Alameda, State of California, have invented a certain new and useful Mustache-Protector; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

The object of the present invention is to provide a simple and effective protector whereby the mustache is kept from being brought into contact with food during eating, it being more especially designed for wear with the eating of soup or drinking of beverages during the meal.

The hereinafter-described guard may be constructed of any suitable material and the same may be ornamented or colored as desired.

To comprehend the invention, reference should be had to the accompanying sheet of drawings, wherein—

Figure 1 is a view disclosing the application of the guard. Fig. 2 is a rear view of the guard. Fig. 3 is a front view of the guard, and Fig. 4 is a side view of the same in elevation.

In the drawings the letters A A′ are used to indicate two comb-like members, which members are united at their inner ends by a central hinge A². Each member A A′ is slightly curved, preferably, so as to partially partake of the shape of the lip over which it is to fit. However, should the members be constructed of pliable material the same will readily shape itself. The teeth of each comb member gradually increases in height from the inner tooth 1 to outer tooth 2.

To the front of each comb member there is attached by hinge B a guard or cover plate B′. These guard or cover plates are preferably shaped to conform to the shape of the comb members to which they are hinged. It is not required that the guard or cover plates be constructed of the same material as the comb member, for the same may be made much lighter and more finished than the said members.

To the outer side edges of each guard or cover plate is hinged a temple B², the free end of the temples being curved, so as to fit over the ears of the wearer in order to hold the guard or mustache-protector in place. The lower edge a of each guard or cover plate is inwardly flanged and serrated.

When used, the teeth of the comb members are run upwardly through the mustache in order to hold same away from the lip. The guard or cover plates are closed upon the mustache, holding same to the comb members, and each temple B² secured over the ear of the wearer of the protector in order to hold the same in proper position. The mustache is thus protected and hidden from view while the wearer is eating and kept from coming into contact with the food as conveyed toward the mouth.

By the use of the present invention the soiling of clothes by reason of soup, &c., dropping from the mustache thereon is obviated.

As the cover or guard plates are closed upon the comb members, the serrated edges thereof engage with the mustache. By hinging the members the same may be closed or folded over to fit within a small case.

The essential features of the present invention reside in the employment of the comb-like members for holding the mustache out of the way, combined with guard or cover plates attached thereto and provided with means for holding the protector to the wearer thereof.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, and desired to be protected by Letters Patent, is—

A device of the character described comprising two comb members flexibly connected together at their inner adjacent ends, and guard-plates, of approximately the same size as the comb members, flexibly connected to the bottoms of said comb members and adapted to fold upwardly thereupon; substantially as described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

Edmund C. Gladwin.

Witnesses:

Walter F. Vane,

D. B. Richards.