US1856559A - Toothpick holder - Google Patents

Description

y 3, 1932- M. JOHNSON 1,856,559

TOOTHPICK HOLDER Filed March 11. 1930 WE SATISFJZ INVENTOR.

Y L. f! cfo/yzvsozv' BY W 7 6 01 A TTORNEYS.

Patented May '3, 1932 PATENTv OFFICE LOUIS M. JOHNSON, 01? CONCORD, CALIFORNIA TOOTHPICK HOLDER Application filed March 11, 1930. Serial No. 434,889.

The present invention relates to improvements in toothpick holders and its principal object is to arrange a plurality of toothpicks in the form of a book which allows a per- 5, son to carry the toothpicks in his pocket and to break them out of the book one after the other as he may need them. i

A further object of the invention is to arrange a plurality of toothpicks in book form intended for handing out as advertising matter, the idea being to make the book sufficiently useful to induce a person to keep the same and to read the advertising matter from time to time until the toothpicks are ex; hausted.

A further object of the invention is to provide a toothpick that is unbreakable, sliverless and sanitary.

A further object of the invention is to provide a toothpick book that may be constructed very cheaply and in which the toothpicks are covered except when the book is opened for the withdrawal of a toothpick, and in which the toothpicks are arranged in spaced relation so that a person may break away one ofthe toothpicks without touching any of the others.

Further objects and advantages of my invention will appear as the specification proceeds. v The preferred form of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which s Figure 1 shows my toothpick holder or book in perspective view,

Figure 2 shows the holder or book in plan -view, the book being opened to disclose the toothpick arrangement; and

Figure 8 is a longitudinal vertical section through the book.

, While I have shown only the preferred form of my invention, I wish to have it understood that various changes or modifications may be made within the scope of the claims hereto attached without departing thereof, the tapered members projecting in spaced and parallel relation and in the plane of the base. These tapered members are substantially of the length of toothpicks and are intended to be used for that purpose. 5 Where the tapered members or toothpicks join the base, I provide a groove 3 which facilitates the breaking away of the individual toothpicks. The entire device including base and-toothpicks is preferably made in the form of a rectangle.

To protect the toothpicks I use a cover 4 of the same width as the base 1 and of a length sufficient that it may be glued to the base with one end as shown at 5, then folded over the points of the toothpicks and fastened to Jhe other face of the base with its other en It should be understood that instead of gluing one end of the cover to the base, any 7 other means of fastening may be adopted. For fastening the loose end of the cover to the opposite face of the base 1, I provide a small projection 6 in the base preferably made by bending a small section out of the plane of the base. The free end of the cover is formed with a small slot 7 adapted for engagement with the projection 6. It should be noted that the projection 6 points away from the front edge 8 of the cover and that the recess 7 is positioned in such a manner that it can be engaged with the projection 6 only by taking hold of the sheet of celluloid at opposite ends and slightly compressing the same whereby the sheet which is made elastic is bent out of its plane, and the spacing between the projections 6 and the front edge 8 is reduced correspondingly. After the proj ection 6 has thus been introduced in the slot 7 the grip on the book is released, the sheet 9 of celluloid springs back into straightened position, and the projection 6 takes a firm hold in the slot -7. For opening the cover it is again necessary to subject the device to endwise pressure. The cover itself is principally intended to be used for the display of advertising matter ,as is indicated on the drawings. One good way of using the device would be for instance by way of cooperation between a garage and a restaurant, the

garage owner carrying the expense of manufacturing or buying the de- 'vices and placing thereon his advertising handing out toothpicks is particularly sanitary since each person comes. in contact only with those toothpicks intended for his own use, and the handing out of these toothpick books does away with the promiscuous selection of toothpicks from a large stack or pile practiced at the present time, Where each person in selecting one toothpick touches three or four that will be used later by some 7 other person.

. 'mentary sets of scrlbed The arrangement is very handy, compact and small and adapted for being carried in a vest pocket, the cover serving to keep the toothpicks clean, and the toothpick arrangement being such that each toothpick is-firmly held in place until used, and-is prevented from working into the cloth material of the suit. r

For separating the toothpicks it is merely necessary to open the book, grasp one of the toothpicks near the ba e. turn it gently whereby the toothpick will break awav from the base, and is now ready for use. While 1 preferably use celluloid for my device, it should be understood that other material will be found practical. For the use of my particular locking meansit is necessary that the material be elastic and springy and adapted to yield to endwise pressure.

To facilitate and cheapen the manufacture of my toothpick holders it is advisable to out two complete sets out of one single sheet of material in one operation. The blank sheet of material would correspond in width to the width of the base, and in length to the combined length of the toothpicks and the double base, so that by a single cutting operation on an intermediate section two sets of toothpicks would be formed, one set adhering to one base and the other set adhering to the other base. The number of toothpicks attached to one base would correspond to that shown in the drawings. In this manner two completoothpicks could be formed without waste whatever.

I claim:

1. A toothpick holder comprising a base having a plurality of toothpicks projecting therefrom and made of resilient material, a cover adapted to be folded for enclosing the base and picks, and fastening means for the cover made to release upon applying endwise pressure to the-opposite ends of the folded potlder and toward the central portion of the a ter.

2. A toothpick holder of the character decomprising a base having a plurality of toothpicks projecting therefrom and made adapted to be bent back upon itself intermediate ,of the cover ends so as to enclose the picks, and a projection rising from the base and pointing away from the bend in the cover and arranged for passing through an aperture in the free flap of the cover, whereby-the cover can be disengaged fom the projection by applying endwise pressure to one of the base ends and the bent Section of the cover in a direction toward the central portion of the folded holder.

Signed at Martinez, Costa and State of California, this 3rd day of March, A. D. 1930.

LOUIS M. JOHNSON.

in the county of Contra v

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