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The Finger-Valve Fountain Bath Brush: Press to Run, Let Go to Stop
Daniel S. Koons and William F. Moughler, Chicago, Illinois · Public domain (expired patent)
YourGrandma

Created by

YourGrandma

6. October 2026IS
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The Finger-Valve Fountain Bath Brush: Press to Run, Let Go to Stop

A bath brush fed from a hose runs all the time, or needs a tap out of reach. Daniel S. Koons and William F. Moughler of Chicago received US 634,527, dated 10 October 1899, for "a fountain bath-brush": a false back with a water passage, joined to the brush by a hollow screw whose perforated head lets the water out among the bristles, with a valve that a spring and the water pressure hold shut until a finger presses its stem, and a strap that holds the hand to the brush. This rung works out the finger force, then builds the false back on a scrub brush with a tyre valve as the finger valve, and measures the force and the flow.
Intermediate
About 3 hours

Instructions

1

Force to open the valve

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2

A brush that feeds itself before it

The embedded blueprint feeds soap from inside a shaving brush. Koons and Moughler feed water, and give the finger a valve to start and stop it.
3

Read US 634,527

"Said valve is held normally closed by means of a spring 9 and also by the water-pressure, as will be obvious." "A strap k is secured at the sides of said back B' and passes over the latter, so that by inserting the hand between said back B' and said strap k the brush can be firmly held and the fingers at the same time kept in position to operate the valve."
4

Bore the false back

Cut a hardwood block 120 × 50 × 22 mm. Drill a 6 mm passage 90 mm along its centre from one end, and a 6 mm hole down from the top to meet it 30 mm from the far end.

Materials for this step:

Hardwood BlockHardwood Block1 piece

Tools needed:

Bench ViseBench Vise
Cordless DrillCordless Drill
Brad Point Drill Bit SetBrad Point Drill Bit Set
RulerRuler
Clear Safety GlassesClear Safety Glasses
5

Fit the finger valve

Drill a hole across the passage 20 mm from the inlet to take a tyre valve, pin upward. Epoxy it in so the water must pass through it.

Materials for this step:

Tire ValveTire Valve1 piece
Two-Part EpoxyTwo-Part Epoxy1 piece

Tools needed:

Cordless DrillCordless Drill
Drill Bit SetDrill Bit Set
6

Join it to the brush

Drill a 6 mm hole through the scrub brush's back to line up with the outlet. Cut a rubber gasket, and screw the block on with four wood screws.

Materials for this step:

Scrub BrushScrub Brush1 piece
Rubber SheetRubber Sheet1 piece
#8 x 1" Wood Screw#8 x 1" Wood Screw1 piece

Tools needed:

Cordless DrillCordless Drill
Drill Bit SetDrill Bit Set
Craft KnifeCraft Knife
Screwdriver SetScrewdriver Set
7

Strap and hose

Screw a strip of rubber sheet across the block as a hand strap, over the valve's side. Fit a hose connector to the inlet with brass fittings and PTFE tape.

Materials for this step:

Rubber SheetRubber Sheet1 piece
#8 x 1" Wood Screw#8 x 1" Wood Screw1 piece
Brass FittingsBrass Fittings1 piece
PTFE Thread Seal TapePTFE Thread Seal Tape1 piece

Tools needed:

Screwdriver SetScrewdriver Set
Adjustable SpannerAdjustable Spanner
8

The patent drawing

US 634,527 drawing sheet, public domain (expired patent).
Step 8 - Image 1
9

Measure force and flow

Connect the garden hose and turn on the tap. Press the valve pin with the force meter's hook until water runs; note the force. Hold it open over the jug for 30 s and read the flow.
Step 9 - Image 1

Materials for this step:

Garden HoseGarden Hose1 piece
WaterWater1 piece

Tools needed:

Force Meter (Spring Scale)Force Meter (Spring Scale)
Measuring JugMeasuring Jug
StopwatchStopwatch
10

A valve that drips, sticks or barely flows

Finger-valve bath brush troubleshooting.

Flow

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11

History and honest limits

**Daniel S. Koons** and **William F. Moughler** of Chicago filed US 634,527 on 21 September 1898; it is dated 10 October 1899. They called it a self-cleansing brush. Its handle is telescopic, with a stuffing-box between the two members, and the hose can be led through it to the brush; a second form uses a nozzle as the screw joining the backs. They did not limit it to the bath. **Honest limits.** A tyre valve stands in for their seated valve and stem, and wood screws for their hollow screw. Your forces and flows are the result.

Materials

10

Tools Required

12

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