US965276A - Pocket sputum-cup. - Google Patents

Description

J. A. BROOKE.

POCKET SPUTUM CUP.

APPLICATION FILED 31111.22, 1010.

Patented July 26, 1910.

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JOHN ALFRED BROOKE, 0F W'ILKES-BARRE, PENNSYLVANIA.

POCKET SPU'IUM-GUP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 26, 1910.

Application filed January 22, 1910. Serial No. 539,572.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN ALFRED BROOKE, a citizen of the United States, residing at l/Vilkes-Barre, in the county of Luzerne and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pocket Sputum-Cups, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to improvements in pocket cuspidors or sputum cups.

The object of the invention is to improve the construction of devices of this character and thereby render them less liable to leak, the invention residing in the peculiar construction and arrangement of the inner looking flap and the outer overlapping cover flap, as hereinafter fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Figure l is a view of the blank from which the case of my improved sputum cup is formed; Fig. 2 is a pers ective view of the device showing it in c osed position; Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view; Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view; and Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic View illustrating the manner in which the blank is folded.

Referring more particularly to the drawings 1 denotes the blank from which the casing of my improved pocket cuspidor or sputum cup is formed, the blank being composed of water-proof paper or similar material and hvaing substantially rectangular shape. This blank is adapted to be creased and folded along the dotted lines indicated in Fig. l of the drawing to form a casing which is substantially wedge shaped and which has a rectangular bottom 2, square or rectangular sides 3, triangular ends 4-, angular corner folds composed of triangular shaped parts 5, 6, a rectangular top 7, a short outer flap 8, and a long notched inner flap 9. The top 7 is formed at the upper edge of one of the sides 3, and the outer closing flap 8 is disposed at the top 7. This outer closing flap 8 is adapted to be folded down on the outside of the device, as shown in full lines in Fig. 2. The long inner flap or tongue 9 is formed at the outer edge of one of the parts 5 and adjacent the flap or tongue 8; and it has rounded outer corners 11 and a substantially V-shaped notch 12 formed centrally in its outer edge to form in conjunction with the rounded corners 11 two tapered portions or tongues 13.

has been thus folded an absorbent material 14 such as cotton is placed on the bottom 2 within the casing and the long inner flap 9 is then folded to the position shown in Fig. 3, the latter being readily effected by springing together the tongue portions 13 of said flap and inserting them in the space formed between the inner face of one of the sides 3 and the opposing inward fold. The notching of the flap 9 to form the tongues 13 not only permits of the ready insertion of said flap, but also permits of the disposition of the absorbent material M- in the outermost pocket of the casing as well as beneath all of the inward folds formed by the parts 5, 6.

A further or more important function of the flap 9 is to lock the blank in folded position and to thereby form in the upper portion of the case or body two openings at, b, i

into either of which the sputum may be dropped. It will be noted that when the locking flap 9 is in its effective or looking position it will entirely cover the spaces between the upper edges of the end folds formed by the parts 5, 6, and thereby effectively prevent leakage. hen the device is not in use the outer overlapping flap 8 is arranged as shown in Fig. 2, but when it is desired to use the device its two ends are pressed inwardly between the fingers so that the flap 8 will swing upwardly and the two sides 3 will bow upwardly, as shown in Fig. 4 to open the pockets or chambers a, b.

In practice I have found. that a pocket sputum cup or cuspidor constructed as here inafter set forth will not gap open when carried in the pocket and cause the cup to leak and permit of the spread of diseaseladen sputum to the clothing and hands of the user. The peculiar construction and arrangement of the flap 9 causes the device to be efiectively locked in its folded position without the use of clips or other extraneous fastening means, and the use of the second or outer overlapping flap 8 further insures the effective closure of the'device when it is not in use and carried in the pocket. lVhile the present device is particularly adapted as a pocket cuspidor, it may be used for other purposes and made in different sizes.

It will also be understood that if desired the blanks may be conveniently packed in nests and shipped at small expense to institutions Where they may be folded by the patients as required.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1.'A device ofthe character described comprising a receptacle formed from a piece of material of vsubstantially rectangular shape, said piece being folded to provide a wedge shaped body having a bottom, a top, sides, ends, interlocking angular end folds, an outer overhanging flap on the top, an inner locking flap on one of the end folds adjacent the first mentioned flap, said second mentioned flap having a central notch to provide tongues, said second flap being adapted to fold over the end folds to retain the blank in folded position, and said first mentioned flap being adapted to fold against the outside of the body.

2. A device of the character described comprising a receptacle having a body tapered upwardly toward its mouth, end folds at the ends of the body and betweenits oppositesid'es, an inner locking flap 'on one of the end folds and adapted to extend over said end folds to retain them in folded position, an outer closing flap onone side of the receptacle and adapted to fold over the first mentioned flap, and absorbent material within the body beneath the end folds, said inner locking flap being long and having a central notch for the reception of said absorbent material.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses. JOHN ALFRED BROOKE. WVitnesses:

F. W. DENNISTON, E. H. READ.

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