Dispenser for facial tissues

June 28, 1949.

2,474,784

S. GOLDEN

DISPENSER FOR FACIAL TISSUES Filed May 9, 1947

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η INVENTOR.

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ATTORNEYS

Patented June 28,1949

2,474,784

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE

2,474,784 DISPENSER FOR FACIAL TISSUES Sue Golden, New York, N. Y., assignor to Alfred A. Doran, New York, N. Y.

Application May 9,1947, Serial No. 746,945

Claim.

This invention relates to a device for holding and dispensing individual folded sheets of facial tissue from a stack thereof.

The object of the invention is to provide a device of the type referred to, which a woman can carry in a handbag and, as she may have occasion for the use of a sheet of facial tissue, may withdraw a single sheet from the dispenser without disturbing the orderly arrangement of the remainder of the’stack. Facial tissue sheets are one of the many items which women carry with them, usually in their handbags, and as they have occasion to use a sheet of facial tissue, it must be separated not only from the larger number of sheets carried in the handbag, but also from the other items carried therein. This is usually done by trying to take hold of a single sheet and pulling and shaking it loose from the remaining sheets. In consequence the tissue sheets in the handbag soon become disarranged, often torn and discolored by contact with other articles in the handbag. Lint is also shaken from the sheets and accumulates in the handbag. The sheets, further, are not kept in a sanitary condition. This invention overcomes these objections and provides a device which is neat, sanitary, retains the sheets in an orderly fashion, permitting the withdrawal of a single sheet at a time and overcomes the collection of lint in the handbag. The sheets are capable, by use of this invention, to be withdrawn singly, without disturbing the remainder of the stack, by simply grasping a portion of the exposed sheet and withdrawing it from the stack, leaving the stack in an orderly fashion with another sheet exposed for withdrawal when there is occasion to use it.

In the drawing Fig. 1 is a front face view of the dispenser with the friction flap shown withdrawn from inside of the dispenser; Fig. 2 is a rear view of the device of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a front face view of Fig. 1, somewhat enlarged, with the friction flap in place; Fig. 4 is a cross section on the line 4—4 of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a section on the line 6—5 of Fig. 3; Fig. 6 is a face view of the device folded along the median line 4—4 of Fig. 3.

The dispenser is made from a single sheet of woven fabric which has surface friction characteristics, such as gabardine, rayon faille, or the like, cut to rectangular configuration, approximately 14 inches long and approximately 10% inches wide, which, when folded and stitched together, provides three panels, the front panel I, the rear panel 2 and the friction flap 3. The sheet of fabric is folded cross-wise to position the (Cl. 150—28) panels I and 2 opposite each other. The two raw side edges 4 and 5 of the panels I and 2 are turned in to form hems, which hems are then stitched together, thereby forming a pocket 6.

The remaining portion of the sheet of fabric constitutes the friction flap 3 and is unattached to the side walls, excepting as it constitutes a continuation of the panel I. In consequence, the friction flap 3 is free for manipulation and may 10 be inserted in the pocket or withdrawn therefrom at will. A slot 7 is formed in the front panel I, its median line being equal distances from the side edges of the front panel I, as is illustrated by the line 4—4 of Fig. 3. The material border15 ing the slot 7 is turned in to form the hems 8 and stitched down. The two edges 9 of the slot 1 are positioned relatively close to the top and bottom edges of the front panel I. The slot 7 by reason of the fact that it extends substan20 tially entirely across the front panel ί provides a weakened portion in the front panel across which the entire dispenser may be folded, with the slot 7 located at the inside of the fold line 10, to the configuration shown in Fig. 6. The 25 slot 7 also constitutes an opening through which the individual tissues may be withdrawn.

Tissues 14, particularly of the type which are folded, but preferably not interfolded, and stacked (as put out by the manufacturer thereof) 30 to the number of a dozen or more, are slid (see Fig. 5) in their flat condition into the pocket 6 with the friction flap 3 withdrawn from the pocket, as shown in Fig. 1. The friction flap is then inserted between the rearmost tissue sheet 35 and the inside face of the rear panel 2 until its fold edge 12 overlies the top edge of the stack of tissues, the lower edge of the friction flap 3 extending just short of the bottom fold line of the front and back panels. The dispenser, when 40 a desired number of sheets have been inserted therein, is folded cross-wise to form two substantially equal overlying halves, as shown in Fig. 6. Inasmuch as the weakened portion, formed by the slot 7, lies centrally of the panel I, the line 45 of fold is automatically determined and the two will lie flat, one against the other, without any tendency to spring apart.

The most forward sheet of tissue can readily be withdrawn through the slot 7 when the dis50 penser is unfolded, as shown in Fig. 3, by merely grasping it and pulling it through the slot or by inserting a finger under one of the edges i I of its top leaf. By reason of the fact that the stack of sheets rest upon the friction flap 3 and the 55 top and bottom edges thereof engage those por3,474,784 v

4 · tions of the panel I lying between the edges I and the top and bottom edges of said panel, sufficient friction is exerted upon the stack to avoid the disturbance of the stack during the withdrawal of the terminal tissue. g

In order to provide a place for collecting Used tissues, the inside face of the rear panel 2 and the face of the flap I opposite thereto are covered with sheets of moisture proof flexible material 13, or these faces may be treated with a 10 moisture resisting coating or impregnation such as rubber. Inasmuch as the flap 3 and its connected sheet of material 13 extend substantially to the bottom of the pocket, a subcompartment, of the pocket I, is provided, into which used 15 tissues may be placed until they can be permanently disposed of.