US663257A - Combined napkin ring and holder. - Google Patents

Description

No. 663,257. v Patented Dec. 4', 1900. c. F.BB0WN & J; J. CALHOUN. COMBINED NAPKIN mus AND HOLDER.

, (Applicatipn filed Sept. 18, 1900 (No Model.)

/II a/ m: NGRRIS versus $0.. vnmumou WA$HINGTON. D. r:v

*ITED STATES PATnr Fries,

OHARL IS F. BROWN AND JOHN J. CALHOUN, OF RUMFORD FALLS, MAINE.

COMBINED NAPKIN RING AND HOLDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 663,257, dated December 4, 1900.

Application filed September l3I 1900. sen'n No. 29,945- (No model) To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, CHARLES F. BROWN and JOHN J. CALHOUN, citizens of the United States, residing at Rumford Falls, in the county of Oxford and State of Maine, have invented a new and useful Napkin Ring and Holder, of which the following is a specification.

This invention is an improvement in a combined napkin ring and holder; and the object of the invention is to produce a device of this character which will afford a simple and convenient means for suspending a napkin in proper position in front of the user and also serve as a flexible band or ring to keep said napkin folded or rolled when it is not in use, the said device presenting a name-plate upon which may be engraved the name of the owner or user thereof.

With the above objects in view the invention consists of a flexible band or chain comprising several slotted plates connected by to letters thereon, which designate the dilfen.

out parts, the novel features of construction and combination of parts being specifically set forth in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of a combined napkin ring and holder constructed in accordance with our invention. Fig. 2 is an edge view. Fig. 3 is a detail'sectional View of the hook. Fig. 4 is an end View of said hook. Fig. 5 is a detail view of the plate which forms one part of the catch.

Referring to said drawings, A designates the flexible band, which is made up of a number of plates connected together by links a ct, disposed near the ends of said plates, the end plates at and a of the band carrying the hook and catch,respectively,hereinafter described,

while the central plate a is wider than the others to form a name-plate.

The hook B is formed integrally with the endplate CL/ of the flexible band, being preferably curved, as shown, and provided with a Wide bill for the purpose hereinafter explained. The base of the loop portion of the hook B is provided with openings Z7 and b, forming a' cross-bar 19 with which the catch is adapted to engage, and each intermediate plate of the band is also provided with openings presenting cross-bars for the same purpose.

C designates the catch, which is located at the other end of the flexible band and consists of the upper and lower jaws c and 0, respectively, which jaws are closed by a helical spring D, held in engagement therewith by bent fingers c and having projecting ends d d, which exert a pressure against the .inner portions of said jaws. The outer ends of the jaws are bent inward toward each other to close upon the cross-bars, hereinbefore referred'to. The lower jaw c of the catch is an integral part of the end plate a of the flexible band, and the upper jaw is held in engage ment therewith by the spring D, as herein shown.

In using the device as a napkin-holder the napkin is unfolded and an end of the. same is placed in engagement with the catch G of the flexible band,and then the flexible band and napkin carried thereby are supported in front of the user by placing the hook B in engagement with his collar or neckband, the bill of the book being so shaped as not to cause any annoyance. The device thereby forms a flexible suspending means for supporting the napkin and will not' interfere with the handling of the napkin in Wiping the fingers and month.

In using the device as a napkin-ring the napkin is folded or rolled and the flexible band bound around the same and held by causing the engagement of the catch with the cross-bar of the hook, and if the napkin is very small the said catch may be placed in engagement with one of the intermediate plates. It will be noted that when the band is placed around the napkin the hook projects and forms practicallya handle and also a means for suspending the folded or rolled napkin from a rack.

The device forms a very simple and convenient means for holding a napkin when in use and not in use and is of such construc tion that it can be made neat and ornamental in appearance, as the parts may be all composed of fine metal and finished in any desired style, the central plate being preferably finished to leave a space upon which a name or initials may be engraved. It will be understood, however, that the shape of the parts, particularly the plates forming the chain, may be'changed to be more ornamental and that a difierent style of catch could be employed, and we do not therefore wish to be limited to what we have herein precisely shown and described, reserving the right to make such modifications or changes as may be within the spirit and scope of our claims.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Let ters Patent, is

1. Acombined napkin ringand holder,com-

prisinga flexible band composed of connected plates, a hook at one end of said band provided with openings forming a cross-bar, and a spring-catch at the other end of said band, substantially as shown and for the purpose set forth.

3. Acombined napkin ring and holder,comprising a flexible band composed of plates connected by links, the central plate being wider than the bthers to form a name-plate, a hook at one end of said band provided with openings forming a cross-bar, and a spring-catch at the other end of said band, substantially as shown and described.

4. Acombined napkin ringand holder,con1- prisinga flexible band composed of plates connected by links, the central plate being wider than the other to form a name-plate and the intermediate plates being slotted, a hook at one end of said band providedwith openings forming a crossbar, and a spring-catch at the other end of said band, one member of said catch heingan integral part of the end plate of the flexible band, substantially as shown and for the purpose set forth.

Rumford Falls, Maine, June 22, 1900.

. CHARLES F. BROWN.

JOHN J. CALHOUN. In presence of G. WILLARD JOHNSON,

BURT. L. RoUNDs.

Images