US2762501A - Toothpicks and method of making same - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 11, 1956 w. T. CAMERON ,7

TOOTHPICKS AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME Filed Feb. 28, 1955 ATTORNE TOOTHPICKS AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME William T. Cameron, Thompson, Conn.

Application February '28, 1955, Serial No. 491,050

9 Claims. (Cl. 20629) This invention relates to improvements in toothpicks and has particular reference to the provision of a novel packet of toothpicks and method of making same.

One of the principal objects of the invention is to provide a novel packet of toothpicks and method of making the same embodying a plurality of relatively thin toothpicks formed of non-toxic plastic material secured in a container having portions that may be folded over the toothpicks to provide a sanitary packet which may be carried on the person of an individual and from which the toothpicks may be selectively removed with ease and without having exposed roughened or protruding edges thereon which might cause injury to the user.

Another object is to provide a device of the above character with an assortment of toothpicks having end portions which are shaped differently and in accordance with the location one desires to gain access to for the removal of foreign matter from the teeth.

Another object is to provide a plurality of toothpicks which are formed of relatively thin non-toxic sheet plastic material having reduced weakened sections integrally attaching them with a base support by which they may be secured within a folding type container for retaining said toothpicks in a sanitary conditions and which weakened sections will readily permit the toothpicks to be individually and easily broken away from said base support.

Another object is to provide reduced weakened sections of the above character which are located in recessed areas which are so formed that when a toothpick is broken away from its base support no roughened edges or protruding portions will be exposed to cause possible injury to the user.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists of a novel construction, combination, and method, as will be hereinafter described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein there is disclosed, only by way of illustration, certain embodiments of the invention. It, therefore, is to be understood that many variations and modifications may 'be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as expressed in the accompanying claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. l is a perspective view of thedevice embodying the invention showing the cover portion thereof in open position;

Fig. 2 is a face view of the device shown in Fig. 1 with the cover in closed position;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken as on line 3--3 of Fig. 2 and looking in the direction indicated by the arrows;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged face view of the toothpicks and the integral support therefor;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view diagrammatically illustrating how the toothpicks are individually removed from the support; and

Fig. 6 is an enlarged view of a modified form of the 7 invention.

nited States Patent O spaced relation with each other.

2,762,501 Patented Sept. 11, 1956 'ice Referring to the drawings wherein like characters of reference designate like parts throughout the several views, the device embodying the invention comprises a plurality of toothpicks 7 having different end configurationsS, 8a, and 8b formed thereon in accordance with the intended and desired use of said toothpicks. The said toothpicks 7 are preferably formed by blanking them from relatively thin non-toxic sheet plastic material such as vinyl and they are formed in attached relation with a base support 9 by integrally related reduced weakened sections 10. The reduced sections 10 are disposed within recessed areas 11, formed during said blanking, in the opposed sides of the lower portions of the toothpicks at locations spaced inwardly of the lower pointed end portions 12 thereof. The lower end portions 12 are so blanked as to lie within cut-out areas 12a in said base support whereby bending strain on the toothpicks will be directed to said weakened sections.

The base support 9 is provided with a reinforcing strip 13 of cardboard or other suitable material. The strip 13 is of a size and shape similar to said base and is superimposed therewith when said base is sandwiched between an outer wall 14 and a folded lip 15 of a protective housing 16. The housing 16 is formed of sheet cardboard or the like and is provided on its opposed end with a folded portion 18 terminating in a cover portion 19. The base 9, reinforcing strip 13, and folded lip 15 are secured to the rear wall 14 by a suitable staple or the like 17. The end 20 of the cover portion19 is adapted to be tucked in between the lip 15 and the toothpicks 7, as shown in Fig. 3, to seal the toothpicks therein and to provide a sanitary packet.

When a toothpick is desired all that is required is to open the cover portion 19 and exert a bending and twisting action on the desired toothpick whereby it willreadily break away from the base at the weakened sections 10 as shown diagrammatically in Fig. 5.

It is particularly pointed out that the breaking points are located inwardly of the plane of the recessed side edges 22 and 23 so that if a roughened edge should remain, as diagrammatically illustrated at 21, and said end of said toothpick is made use of, the said roughened edge will not be exposed for engagement with the flesh of the lip, tongue or gums to cause possible injury thereto.

It has been previously stated that the packet comprises a plurality of toothpicks .having differently shaped. outer end portions for selection in accordance with their intended use. For example, a pointed end such as 8 may be selected for straight picking, 8a for gaining access to more difiicult locations between the teeth, and 8b for more readily gaining access to the rear of the teeth, depending upon the locating of the foreign matter to be removed.

terial from which said toothpicks are formed is of a thinness sufficient to enable them to be placed between the teeth, assuming, of course, that the teeth are in normal Sheet plastic material which is resilient, yet rigid, is-prefcrable. All of the parts are prefer-ably formed in integral relation with the base by a single blanking operation and a plurality of assemblies may be successively formed by directing a thin sheet of plastic material progressively and intermittently o beneath a reciprocating blanking die of the commonly known type.

If desired, the effective end portions of the toothpicks may be provided with a coating of medicant or flavoring material.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that simple, efiicient, and economical means and method have been provided for accomplishing all of the objects and advantages of the invention.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A device of the character described comprising a casing having a base of relatively thin material secured thereto, a plurality of spaced relatively long and thin toothpick members disposed transversely of said base each having opposed pointed end portions, said members having their opposed side edges recessed at locations spaced inwardly of one of the pointed ends thereof and weakened sections intermediate the bottoms of said recesses in tegrally connecting said toothpick members to said base, said weakened sections being adapted to break inwardly of said recesses when a pick is removed from the base.

2. A device of the character described comprising a casing having a base of relatively thin material secured thereto, said base having a plurality of spaced openings therein, a plurality of spaced relatively long and thin toothpick members each having a pointed end portion lying in a respective opening in said base and having recessed side edges spaced inwardly of said pointed end portions and weakened sections lying within said recesses and integrally connecting said toothpick members to said base adjacent the tops of the respective openings.

3. A device of the character described comprising a casing formed of sheet material having a relatively narrow fold adjacent one end thereof, a back wall portion and a cover portion foldable toward and away from said back wall portion, said cover portion having a free edge adapted to be fitted within the narrow fold, a base secured inwardly of said narrow fold, said base comprising relatively thin sheet material having spacedopen areas dis posed transversely thereof, a plurality of long and thin spaced toothpick members each having a lower pointed end disposed in a respective opening in said base and reduced relatively thin tie members integrally joining said ends to said base at locations adjacent the tops of the openings.

4. A device of the character described comprising a casing formed of sheet material having a relatively narrow fold adjacent one end thereof, a back wall portion and a cover portion foldable toward and away from said back wall portion, said cover portion having a free edge adapted to be fitted within the narrow fold, a base secured inwardly of said narrow fold, said base comprising a relatively thin sheet of non-toxic plastic material having spaced open areas disposed transversely thereof, a plurality of long and thin spaced toothpick members of nontoxic plastic material each having a lower pointed end disposed in a respective opening in said base and being integrally joined to said base by reduced weakened portions spaced inwardly of said ends and adjacent the tops of said openings.

5. A device of the character described comprising a casing formed of sheet material having a relatively narrow fold adjacent one end thereof, a back wall portion and a cover portion foldable toward and away fromsaid back wall portion, said cover portion having a free edge adapted to be fitted within the narrow fold, a base secured inwardly of said narrow fold, said base comprising relatively thin sheet material having spaced open areas disposed transversely thereof, a plurality of long and thin spaced toothpick members of non-toxic plastic material each having a pointed end disposed in a respective open area in said base and being integrally joined to said base by weakened portions spaced inwardly of said ends and located adjacent the tops of said open areas, said toothpicks being treated with means for altering the flavor characteristics thereof.

6. A device of the character described comprising a base of relatively thin material, a plurality of spaced relatively long and thin toothpick members disposed transversely of said base, each of said members having opposed pointed end portions and having their opposite side edges recessed at locations spaced inwardly of one of said pointed ends and relatively narrow weakened sections integrally connecting said base to said respective toothpick members inwardly of said recesses whereby said weakened sections are adapted to break inwardly of said recesses when a toothpick member is removed from the base.

7. A device of the character described comprising a base of relatively thin material having spaced open areas transversely thereof, a plurality of spaced relatively long and thin toothpick members each having a free lower end portion disposed inwardly of a respective open area and an opposed pointed end portion, said toothpicks, adjacent said lower free end portions, having their opposed side edges recessed at locations spaced inwardly of said ends and relatively narrow sections integrally connecting said base to the respective recesses and having their weakest portions inwardly of said recesses whereby said sections are adapted to break inwardly of said recesses when a toothpick member is removed from the base.

8. A device of the character described comprising a base of relatively thin material having spaced open areas transversely thereof, a plurality of spaced relatively long and thin toothpick members each having a lower pointed end disposed inwardly of a respective open area and an opposed pointed end, said toothpicks, on the opposed sides thereof adjacent said lower pointed ends, having recesses therein and angularly disposed inwardly tapering weakened sectionsintegrally connecting said base to the respective recesses whereby said weakened sections are adapted to break inwardly of said recesses when a toothpick member is removed from the base.

9. In a device of the character described the combination of a base and a plurality of spaced relatively long and narrow members formed in integrally connected relation with said base from relatively thin sheet material, said base having a plurality of spaced open areas extending throughout the width and on the side thereof toward said members, said members each having an inwardly tapering end portion lying inwardly of a respective open area in said base and having notches in the opposed side edges thereof adjacent said inwardly tapering end portions and said integral connections comprising reduced portions on said base extending inwardly of the respective notches and integrally joined with the bases of said notches.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 817,978 Lickman Apr. 17, 1906 973,842 Baird Oct. 25, 1910 1,451,380 Thurn H. -1 Apr. 10, 1923 1,658,321 Zomnir Feb. 7, 1928 FOREIGN PATENTS 440,971 Germany Nov. 24, 1927 OTHER REFERENCES 25 Modern Plastics, page 77, February 1948.

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