US2451281A - Retainer and dispenser for sanitary tissues - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 12, 1948. H.-L.'ELFNER 2,451,281

- RETAINER AND DISPENSER FOR SANITARY TISSUES Filed March 29, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Inventor A tla meys Oct. 12, 1948. H. L. ELFNER 2,451,281,

RETAINER AND DISPENSER FOR SANITARY TISSUES Filed March 29, 1946 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 27 HENRY LEAF/YER A 1M rneys Patented Oct. 12, 1948 RETAINER AND DISPENSER FOR SANITARY ITISSUES Henry L. Elfner, Indianapolis, Ind., assignor of one-half toEmil H. Stein, Marion County, Ind.

Application March29, 1946, Serial'No. 658,043

'4 Claims.

This 'invention relates to a rack universally adaptable for holding and dispensing sanitary tissues and which is particularly adapted for supporting the box containing such tissues in such a manner that the tissues-may be readil withdrawn individually from the box.

More particularly, it is the aimofthe present invention to provide'a rack or holder of the above described character wherein the holder is so constructed that it will not interfere with removal of the tissues from their original container, which is supported in the holder or rack, through a slit in one side of the container provided for the removal of the tissue singularly.

A further object of the invention is to provide a holder or rack of extremely simple construction which is capable of bein economically manufactured and sold and which is particularly characterized by the fact that it can be quickly and conveniently mounted in a plurality of locations in which it will be convenient to the user.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a retainer or rack which is constructed and arranged so that the boxes containing sanitary tissues may be quickly applied thereto or removed therefrom.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter become more fully apparent from the following description of the drawingswhich illustrate preferred embodiments thereof, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a front elevational View of one form of the holder or rack, shown in an applied position and containing a box or package of sanitary tissues;

Figure 2 is a top plan view thereof;

Figure 3 is a cross-sectionalview taken along the line 33 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a bottom plan view thereof;

Figure 5 is a perspective View of the rack or holder unmounted and with the tissue container removed therefrom;

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 3 of a slightly modified form of the rack;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of a portion of the rack shown in Figure 6; and

Figure 8 is an end view in elevation showing the rack mounted on a windshield visor.

Referring more particularly to the drawings. and especially to Figures 1 to 5, inclusive, l6 designates generally the holder or rack comprising the invention. In Figures 1 to 4 the holder or rack I B is shown attached to a supporting surface H, which may be either horizontal or vertical such as a ceiling or wall. A conventional container- 12 for toilet tissues I3 is shown-mounted in the rack I'B. The package or container l2-as illustrated is of-the-size, shape and construction as conventionally used to package Kleenex or Scott tissues. It is-to be understood, however, that the rack l'll may-be made of various sizes for accommodating a plurality of types of packaged sanitary tissues. The package I2 is provided in one of its wider side walls with alongitudinally extending slit I l, formed in-a conventional manner by rupturing such wall along a perforated-line. The container l2 ismounted in the rack- I Use that the side thereof containing the slit 14 --will be facing outwardlyand remote to the supporting surface I I.

The rack or -holder HLasbest illustrated in Figure 5, is formed from a single strand of heat treated and plated relatively heavy gauged-wire the end portions of which are bent into substantially arched shaped formationand each of which includes an upper. substantially straight portion l5, having at the ends thereof depending legs 16 and IT. The portions l5, and I6 and 11 const-itut-lug the saidarches are located adjacent the ends of the rack l0. The said portions l1 constitute :the terminals of the wire strand and terminate at their lower endsin eyes 18, which are located above the level of the lower ends of the legs It. The rack ll) includes corresponding end portions I9 having inturned ends 20 and I. The

inturned ends 20 are integral with the lower ends of the legs l6 and constitute outwardly projecting extension thereof and in conjunction with said'legs'lfi constitute the front of the rack or holder" Hi, as clearl illustrated inFigure 1. The inturned ends 2| terminate in downturned portions 22 which, together with the portions 2], the legs I! and the eyes H! are disposed in substantially the same plane, as best illustrated in Figure 3. The portions 22, attheir lowerends, terminate in outwardly projecting :portions 23 which are disposed below the'level of and substantially parallel to the portions l9, which lastmentioned portions constitute the outwardly olfset sides or ends of the rack Ill. The intermediate portion 24 of the strand of wire, constituting the rack ID, has its ends terminating in the portions 23 and said intermediate portions 24 and the portions 23, as best seen in Figure 3, are disposed in substantially the same plane and together constitute the bottom of the rack In.

From the foregoing it will be readily apparent that conventional driven or screw fastcnings 25 can be secured through the eyes l8 in the surface H for mounting the rack l0 thereon with the surface II to form the back of the rack I0. The

rack I is sufficiently resilient so that one or both of the legs 16 can be swung outwardly for inserting the package or box l2 into the rack II] or for removing it therefrom. A clearly illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 4, the portions 19 will engage the ends of the box l2, the portion I5 will engage the top thereof, portions 16 and 20 will engage the front thereof and the portions 23, 24 and 25 will engage the bottom to efficiently and effectively support the container I 2 therein. The legs [6 are sufiiciently spaced apart so as not to interfere with dispensing of the tissues l3 through the slot I 4.

The rack l0, previously described, may be mounted on a wall, the under surface of a table, bench or chair or in any other convenient location. The terminal portions 11 are also sufiiciently resilient to permit mounting the rack ID on a windshield visor 32 by positioning the portions I! on one side of thevisor 32 and. the remainder of the rack H] on the opposite side thereof. When thus disposed, the portions 2| and 22 will bear against said opposite side of the visor 32 to cooperate with portions H and 18 in resiliently attaching the rack to the visor.

In Figures 6 and '7 a slightly modified form of rack, designated generally 26, is illustrated. The rack 26 differs from the rack l0 only in that instead of the legs II and eyes N3, the terminal portions of the strand forming the rack 26, designated 21, terminate at their lower, free ends in tapered points '28, The rack 26 is adapted to be used particularly in automobiles and may be mounted on any part of the upholstery, visors or lining thereof, as for example on the top or front of the seat, windshield visors or seats, on either side ofthe back rest, or any portion of the lining of the side, top or doors or beneath the hood and. within the trunk. In Figure 7 a portion Of a vehicle is shown at 29 having a, lining on the inner side thereof through which the pointed ends 28 have been passed at 3| so that the legs 21 are disposed between the lining 30 and the vehicle portion 29 for supporting the rack 26 removably upon the vehicle. The maner of using the box or package I2 in conjunction with the rack 26 is identical with its use in conjunction with the rack ID, as previously described. Further, it will be readily apparent that the rack 26 can be mounted upon a wall, upholstery of furniture or upon any supported piece of fabric such as a curtain or a part of a bed.

Numerous other modifications and changes are contemplated and may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter defined by the appended claims.

. V I claim as my invention:

1. In a universally adaptable rack or holder for sanitary tissues, said rack being formed from a single strand of wire, the intermediate portion of the strand forming the bottom of the rack, the

ends of the strand including arch portions formw ing the front, top and portions of the back of the rack, said strand having portions between said intermediate portion and the arch portions forming the ends or'sides and other portions of the back of the rack, and means associated with the first-mentioned back portions of the rack for securing it to a supporting surface. 1

2. In a universally adaptable rack or holder for sanitary tissues, said rack being formed from a single strand of wire, the intermediate portion of the strand forming the bottom of the rack, the ends of the strand including arch portions forming the front, top and portions of the back of the rack, said strand having portions betweensaid intermediate portion and the arch portions forming the ends or sides and other portions of the back of the rack, and means associated with the first-mentioned back portions of the rack for securing it to a supporting surface, said side or end portions of the rack being outwardly offset relatively to the arch portions.

3. In a universally adaptable rack or holder for sanitary tissues, said rack being formedfrom a single strand of wire, the intermediate portion of the strand forming the bottom of the rack, the ends of the strand including arch portions forming the front, top and portions of the back of the rack, said strand having portions between said intermediate portion and the arch portions forming the ends or sides and other portions of the back of the rack, and means associated with the first-mentioned back portions of the rack for securing it to a supporting surface, said bottom portion of the rack being disposed longitudi= nally thereof and between the front and rear portions. 7

4. A universally adaptable retainer or holder for sanitary tissues, comprising a single strand of wire bent to provide a bottom portion formed of the intermediate portion of the strand and corresponding end portions forming the front, sides, top and rear portions of the retainer or holder, and means associated with said rear portions for attaching the retainer to a supporting surface.

HENRY L. ELFNER.

REFERENCES CITED The following referencesare of record. in the file of this patent:

Olsen Nov. 3, 1942'

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