Kit for toilet purposes

Nov. 27, 1945.

B. CHARNAS ET AL

KIT FOR TOILET PURPOSES

Filed Dec. 27, 1944

2,389,596

<img file="US2389596A_D0001.tif" />

Patented Nov. 27, 1945

2,389,596

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE

2,389,596

KIT FOR TOILET PURPOSES

Benjamin Charnas, Forest Hills, and Arthur

Malina, New York, N. Y.

Application December 27,1944, Serial No. 570,024

Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in kits for toilet purposes, and has particular relation to structures of this type designed to form a carrier for articles used in performing the toiletry action and for a protecting element utilized during the toilet activities; the toilet activity may be that pertaining to the application of cosmetics, or for shaving, etc., the kit being in the nature of a structure intended for individual use.

Containers or kits designed for individual usage are well known in the commercial arts, these carrying the various articles that may be essential for toilet and other purposes; the “overnight” case for female service, shaving outfits, etc., illustrate the character of such kits. These may include a bib-like or other form of protecting agency for the user. However, such' kits have the various articles removably located therein, so that it frequently happens that one or more of these become misplaced or lost—after the toilet activity has been completed, the user may overlook one or more of the articles with the result that the kit becomes incomplete.

The present invention provides a kit for such service which, when out of service, forms a neat and attractive carrier for the articles utilized in service, but differs from the commercial types referred to in that the container itself forms a permanent part of the combination, so that, in service, the container itself becomes part of the agency which the user employs for garment protective purposes, thus placing toilet articles— especially cosmetics—accessible to the user at all times during use. Specifically, the container is formed with a pair of pockets, one of which contains the toilet articles while the other contains the protecting element, in folded form, with the element permanently attached to the inside of the pocket; the article-containing pocket is closed by an individual closing formation—a zipper closure for instance—while the container closure is external and in the form of a flap which overlies such pocket closure, so that the closed carrier presents the appearance of an ordinary type of bag having a flap. In service, the flap is opened, the protection element drawn from its pocket and secured on the shoulders about the neck of the user, with the opened container at the front sufficiently below the head of the user as to permit opening of the article pocket and selection of the desired article therefrom, and which can be returned to the pocket after use if desired; on completion of the toilet activities, the articles which may have been taken from the article pocket, can be restored thereto and the pocket (Cl. 224—5) closure closed, after which the protecting element may be removed from the wearer, re-folded, and replaced in its pocket, after which the flap is closed with the assurance that the complete out5 fit has been collected up and housed within the kit. The closed kit has a pouch-like appearance and can be conveniently carried within the overnight kit or the shaving case of travelers.

To these and other ends, the nature of which 10 win be readily understood as the invention is hereinafter fully disclosed, said invention consists in the improved construction and combination of parts fully described in the following specification, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, 15 and more particularly defined in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawing, in which similar reference characters indicate similar parts in each of the views—

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the kit of the present invention in its closed condition.

Figure 2 is a face view of the same showing the flap raised.

Figure 3 is a rear face view of the kit.

Figure 4 is a plan view with the protecting element unfolded.

Figure 5 is a vertical section of the closed kit taken on line 5—5 of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a view in side elevation showing the kit’s appearance when positioned for use.

The kit of the present invention—indicated generally at 10—is made up of a carrier or case t i formed of suitable fabric, preferably more or less flexible, and provided with a closure flap f la ³⁵ which overlies the front face of the case, a suitable detachable fastener 12 of suitable type normally retaining the flap closed. While the carrier or case may be formed in various ways, a simple and preferred arrangement is to provide ⁴⁰ a rear ply or wall 11 b of which the flap 11 a forms an extension, a front ply or wall 11 c and an intermediate ply or wall lid—forming a partition. In addition, the inner face of the front ply and the face of the intermediate ply opposing such front ply, are each lined with a suitable lining f le, which¹ may be of fabric suitably treated to render it substantially waterproof. These plies are secured together at the bottom and side edges of the carrier—as by stitching—and are rela⁵⁰ tively dimensioned as to permit the front and intermediate plies to also be stitched together at the top edges in a manner such as to provide a pocket effect between these plies with the pocket capable of receiving a number of cosmetic or ⁶⁶ other toilet articles without materially changing

2,389,596 the shape of the kit. Likewise, the dimension of the rear ply—other than the flap—is sufficiently in excess as to form, with the intermediate ply, a second pocket of greater capacity.

The front ply is formed with a laterally extended slit in its upper zone below the stitching, to provide access to the front pocket, a suitable closure 13—which may be of the zipper type—being provided to retain the pocket closed when the kit is not in service, the closure thus not requiring the use of a separate flap, and decreasing the bulkiness of the assemblage accordingly. When flap 11 a is in closed position, the slit closure 13 is hidden thereby.

Reference character 14 indicates the protecting element also formed of flexible fabric treated to render it substantially waterproof—it may be similar to the fabric of lining 11 a—and is capable of being folded. The element is preferably of dimensions such as to overlie the shoulders and the upper portions of the front and rear of the body of the user—Fig. 6 indicates somewhat of the characteristics in this respect. It may be formed in various ways, but a preferred conformation is shown somewhat in plan in Fig. 4, in which a body portion 14a has a pair of wing portions ί 4b which are designed to extend over the shoulders and be carried to the rear of the body of the user where the ends overlap and are adapted to be detachably secured together by suitable detachable fastening 30 means indicated at 16, thus providing an opening 15 for the neck of the user. In addition, the body of the element carries a tab extension 14c which is secured to the inner face of the rear ply within the pocket zone of the latter, as by stitching 17, preferably in the arcuate arrangement shown; in practice, the element may be attached to the rear ply prior to securing the plies together. The exposed edges of the element may have a suitable binding 18 as shown.

When not in use, the exposed portion of element 14 is folded up to dimensions such as will permit its ready insertion into the rear pocket as indicated in Fig. 5. When the kit is to be put into service, flap 11 a is opened, this exposing the rear pocket, after which the body and wings of element ! 4 are withdrawn, placed about the neck of the user, and the fastener 16 closed. This positions the protecting element with the carrier 11 suspended therefrom at the front of the body of the user and at a point where the hands of the user can conveniently manipulate the closure 13 to expose the contents of the front pocket—the flap 1! a may extend upward beneath the element 14 or extend downward as indicated in Fig. 6. During the toilet activities, the user may return a particular article to the front pocket at will— thus avoiding loss or misplacement of articles. On the completion of the activities, the front pocket is closed, the element 14 removed from the body of the user, folded up and then stored within the rear pocket, after which flap Ha is closed, thus restoring the kit to its inactive state. Since element f 4 is permanently secured to the rear ply within the rear pocket, assurance is had that the element may not be lost or misplaced—and since it must be folded to permit flap 11 a to be closed, assurance is had that the element will be properly housed.

One of the advantages accruing from the particular arrangement shown is the fact that while the kit is designed for the combined activities thus described, it is not limited to such combined use. For instance, it is apparent that with the kit carried by the usual ladies’ portmanteau, the cos10 metic articles are available for use by simply opening flap I la and opening the zipper—leaving element 14 in its housed relation; hence» the kit thus functions as an ordinary cosmetic container. Or, when occasion demands, the user may utilize the element 14 as a protector in abnormal toilet activities, such as washing the hair, etc., by opening the flap and drawing and unfolding the element 14, placing it about the neck as above described, but¹ leaving the front pocket closed, the suspended carrier offering little obstruction to the activities—in such case element 14 forms a substitute for the usual protecting agency used at such times.

As is apparent the kit is not limited to toilet activities for women (in which the front pocket is equipped with cosmetic articles) but can also be utilized as a shaving accessory (the front pocket then being equipped with shaving accessories); in 20 the latter case, the element 14 may be given a somewhat different conformation since it is unnecessary that it extend materially over the back of the user, thus permitting the use of a'different shape for the wings 14b and which would tend to give more of a bib-like character to the element with the ends secured at the back of the user. Other uses of the kit are apparent.

As is apparent, the assembly has the advantage of compactness, when inactive, but capable of adequate garment protection in use; in addition, there is little liability of loss or misplacing of the kit contents, since the element f 4 is permanently attached, and the service position of the carrier is such that the front pocket is more accessible to the user in such position than laying the articles on a separate table although the latter course is available—since the kit must be bodily removed after service, it serves as a reminder to gather up the articles which may have been, kept out, an action which may take place prior to removal of the kit. Other advantages are apparent.

Structurally, the kit may be of a desired material, and, if desired, may be of ornate type. It is of simple form and therefore produced at a reasonable cost—the assurance of non-loss of the articles of the kit offering an especial incentive for its use, since the user is required to replenish the kit only after complete service rather than the additional expense of replacing lost articles.

While we have shown and described one form in which the invention may be utilized, and have indicated possible modifications thereof, it will be understood that changes or modifications therein may be found essential or desirable in meeting the exigencies of service or the individual desires of a user, and we therefore reserve the right to make any and all such changes or modifications therein as may be found desirable or essential insofar as the same may fall within the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the accompanying claims, when broadly construed. ·