US2044284A - Device for moistening and dispensing cleansing pads - Google Patents

Description

June 16, 1936. J. B. DARGAVEL 2,044,284

DEVICE FOR MOISTENING AND DISPENSING CLEANSING PADS Filed June 9, 1930 59 gwuanko'o:

James B. Dm gmml '5 Patented June 16, 1936 nnvros non Mors'rnmo Appiicatiofifl 9, 1

My invention relates to dispensing devices and has for an object to provide a device for dispensing cleansing pads to be used particularly for cleansing various parts of the body.

An object of the invention resides in provid-' ing a device whereby the pads may be kept and dispensed in a sanitary manner.

Another object of the invention resides in providing a dispensing device in which the pads may be moistened or a suitable medicinal preparation applied thereto prior to the dispensing thereof.

An object of the invention resides in providing a device utilizing pads having absorbent characteristics in which the pads are moistened through absorption.

Another object of the invention resides in providing means whereby the absorption is confined to certain portions of the pad.

A still further object of the invention resides in confining the moistening or application of the preparation solely to the absorbent part of the particular pad to be dispensed.

An object of the invention resides in arranging the pads in a stack and in applying the moisture or medicinal preparation to the lowermost pad in the stack.

Another object of the invention resides in providing a receptacle for the moistening liquid or other preparation and in bringing the lowermost pad of the stack in contact with the liquid therein so as to permit the lowermost portion of said pad to absorb liquid from said receptacle.

A still further object of the invention resides in moving the stack of cleansing pads bodily towards the liquid to moisten the lowermost pad in the stack.

A feature of the invention resides in constructing the device with a case and in providing within said case a rack for supporting the cleansing pads.

An object of the invention resides in constructing said rack with a plate-like member extending across said case to form two compartments, one for. the reception of said pads, and in providing guides for slidably mounting said rack in said case.

Another object of the invention resides in constructing said rack with a perforate platform issuing outwardly from said plate-like member for supporting the pads.

A still further object of the invention resides in forming said rack so that the same may be bodily removed from the case.

mo onsansnva p James 'B. Dar-gavel,

e30. Serial N... ssasee (or. oil-is) "An object of the invention resides in formin in the bottom of said case and below said rack a receptacle for the moistcning liquid.

Another object of the invention resides in providing a reservoir for delivering moistening liquid to said receptacle.

An object of the invention resides in utilizin a bottle for said reservoir and in disposing said. bottle in inverted position with the neck thereof extending into said receptacle.

A feature of the invention resides in disposing said bottle in the other compartment in said case.

An object of the invention resides in forming in said case an opening opposite the lowermost pad in the stack for the removal of said pad from the stack, said opening being above the elevation of said receptacle.

A still further object of the invention resides in providing means for lowering the rack along said guideway to bring the lowermost pad in contact with the liquid in said receptacle.

Other objects of the invention reside in the novel combination and arrangement of parts, and in the details of construction hereinafter illustrated and/or described.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a device for moistening and dispensing cleansing pads illustrating an embodiment of my invention.

Fig. 2 is an elevational sectional view taken on line 2-1 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional elevational view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the device empty and with the cover removed.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the rack for supporting the stack of pads.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view of the operating mechanism of the'invention taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is a plan sectional detail view of the guides for the supporting rack.

Fig. 8 is a cross mtional view of the neck and cap for the bottle forming the reservoir of the invention.

My invention comprises primarily a case which I have indicated at it which may be constructed of sheet metal or any other suitable material. This case is formed with a front wall H, a rear wall 92, and side walls i3 and It. At the lower portion of the case M) is provided a bottom l5. when the case is constructed of sheet metal, the bottom It is attached to the wall structure of the case through a seam i 6 such as is now well known in the m. The upper end of the case In is open and the upper edge of the case It is bent over to form a rim II which stifiens the case and serves to finish the same. The open end of the case is adapted to be closed through a closure I8. This closure is constructed with a top l9 and witha flange 20 extending about the same and connected to the top l9. The flange 29 is adapted to be inserted into the interior of the case M to close the same. The rim seats against a bead 2| on the flange 20 of the closure l8 which limits the movement of said closure into the case.

Within the interior of the case III are dis posed a rack 22 for supporting a plurality of pads 23 and a reservoir 24. The reservoir 24 is adapted to deliver the liquid contained within the same into a receptacle 25 at the bottom of said case and from which the liquid is applied to the pads. These various parts will now be described in detail.

The pads used with my invention are best shown in Fig. 3 and are constructed with a sheet of non-absorbent material 26 such as certain kinds of paper or the like, a sheet of porous material indicated at 21 such as a loosely woven fabric, and a layer of absorbent material 26 therebetween such as cotton batten or some similar material. The sheets 26 and 21 may be stitched together or glued along the edges 39 thereof or otherwise secured together to form a unitary structure which may be utilized for the desired purpose as will be presently more fully described. In the' construction of these pads, the sheets 26 and 21 are preferably constructed of dimensions greater than the intervening layer of absorbent material 28 so that the attached edges 39 of said pad are considerably thinner than the remaining portion of the pad. This construction permits of readily grasping the pad through said edges for the purpose of removal of the pad from the rack 22 as will be later morefully described. These pads may also be constructed without the sheet 26 by waterproofing the backof the pad as by applying a suitable chemical preparation thereto.

The rack 22 comprises a vertical plate-like member 29 which is disposed between the front wall II and the rear wall l2 of the case l and which divides said case into two compartments 90 and 3|. This plate is constructed with two offset portions 32 and 33 through which the rack is guided for vertical sliding movement within the interior of the case. 'At the lower end of the plate-like member 29 is a platform 34 which may be bent outwardly from the material forming the plate 29 or which may be formed in any other suitable manner. The platform'is, when constructed as a part of the plate 29, formed with a number of elongated openings 35 extending from the forward edge 31 to the rearward edge 36 of said platform. These openings leave spaced bars 36 connected to the edges 31 and 38 of said platform whereby the pads are supported upon said platform in a manner to permit of immersing the lower surface of the lowermost pad in the stack into the liquid within the container 25. For the purpose of permitting the liquid to readily drain from the platform 34 when the same is raised, the bars 35 are constructed with a cross section in the shape of an inverted U as best shown in Fig. 2, which causes the liquid picked up by the same. to quickly drain back into the container 25. This construction, at the same time, minimizes the surface of the platform contacting with the undersurface of the pad to be moistened thereby causing the liquid to be more uniformly applied to the surface of the pad. At the same time, the bars 36 form rails or supports for the pads and along which said pads slide in the removal of the same from the device which permits of readiLv withdrawing the lowermost pad 40 will be described in detail which guide is shown in detail in Fig. 7. This guide is preferably constructed of sheet metal and is formed with a back 42. The metal at the edges of said back is doubled up upon the back to provide overlying portions 43 and 44. These portions have bent outwardly therefrom spaced flanges 45 and 46 to provide a guideway 41 therebetween of sufficient width to freely receive the portion 23 of the plate-like member 29 of rack 22. By means of the guides 49 and 4| the rack may be slid vertically for the purpose of moistening the pads 25 as will be later more fully described.

The rack .22 is supported in elevated position within the guides 40 and 4| as follows: The upper part of 'the offset portion 22 of the platelike member 29 is cut away as best shown in Fig.

5 to form two fingers 46 and 5| extending toward one another and spaced from one another. These fingers are adapted to extend into the ends .of a coil spring 49 and to hold the same attached to the plate 29. Both of these fingers are of a width less than the width of said offset portion to leave shoulders 50 on either side of said fingers against which the ends of said spring may seat. At the upper end of the offset portion 32 is attached to it a lever 52 which is adapted to extend through a slot 53 formed in the front wall ll of case II. This slot extends completely through the rim ll of said case so that the entire rack may be disengaged from the guides 40 and 4| and bodily removed from the case. To further permit of such removal, notches 54 are formed in the platform 34 of rack 22 which receive the flanges 46 and 41 of said guides, and permit of sliding the platform 34 upwardly above the lower portions of said guides. The rack 22 is supported at the proper elevation within the case l0 through the lower end of the coil spring 49 which rests upon the upper ends 55 of the flanges 46 and 41 of the guide 4|. The spring 49 is preferably formed of sufficient stiffness so that said spring is not deflected through the weight of the rack and the pads carried thereby so that when said rack is inserted into the guides 40 and 4| the rack comes to rest when the lower end 'of the spring 49 engages the upper end 55 of the flanges of the guide 4|. When the parts are so disposed, the lever 52 is near the upper end of the slot 52 .but at a position below the flange 29 of the closure l6. when the lever 52 is depressed through a thumb piece 56 formed upon the protruding end thereof, the entire rack 22 together with the parts carried thereby is lowered until said lever reaches the end of the slot 52.

The pads used with my invention which are indicated at 23 are constructed of such a size as to fit loosely between the front and rear walls I I and I2 of case Ill and between the plate-like member 29 of the rack 22 and the end wall H of said case. In placing the pads within the case. the rack 22 is either partially or completely a es removed from'the case and the pads arranged indicated in its entirety at 62 is placed upon the uppermost pad 83 of the stack which holds the pads 28 in proper position within the interior of the receptacle and upon the platform as.

Near the lower portion of the case It and shortly above the bottom thereof is'i'ormed in the front wall ll of said case a horizontal slot 51 which extends completely through the side wall it of said case and up to the guide M. This slot is positioned at such an elevation that the edge 39 of the lowermost pad 58 of the stack 60 lies opposite said slot. Said slot is constructed with a thumb notch ti communicating therewith by means of which the fingers maybe inserted into said slot and the edge as of the pad 68 so as to permit of the withdrawal of said pad through said slot. In the withdrawal of the pad the lower surface of the same slides along the bars 3% of platform 36 while the superim-' posed pads are held from movement through engagement with the front wall ll of the case proper. As the pad 58 is removed from the device, the superimposed pads fall by gravity to cause the next pad to lie upon the bars 36 in identically the same manner as the preceding pad.

The weight 62 used for holding the pads in contact with the platform 36 may have a dual function. In such event said weight is constructed from sheet metal being formed in the nature of a container having a body portion 6% closed through a suitable closure 65. The interior of this device may be iilledwith a suitable chemical which is indicated at 6'! which furnishes part of the weight and which may be used for maintaining the pads 59 sterile. The body 6d of this device is provided with a number of openings 66 through which the medicated gases escaping from the chemical 61 may pass into the interior of the case it to maintain the said pads sterile.

The receptacle 25 at the bottom of the case Ill is formed through the front and rear walls H and i2 and the side wall It of said case through a short upright partition 68 within said case which extends from the wall H to the wall l2 thereof. This partition is soldered to the bottom I5 of the case and to the front and rear walls thereof and is arranged to form a pocket 69 disposed immediately below the center of the compartment 30 of said case. The liquid in said receptacle which is indicated at 10 in Fig. 2 of the drawing is maintained at an elevation not to exceed that illustrated in the drawing and designated by the reference numeral H so the liquid will not overflow the upper edge of the partition 68. Upon depressing the thumb piece 56 of the lever 52 the entire rack 22 is lowered in opposition to the spring 39, the lower end of which remains seated against the upper edge 55 of the guide ii. As the platform 34 of said rack, together with the pads carried thereby, descends the pad 58 is brought in contact with the upper surface of the liquid 10 which causes the said liquid to moisten the lowermost surface of said pad. Due to the construction of the under portion of said pad of porous material, the moisture is readily absorbed by the sheet 21 'and layer the finger piece 56 is released and the pad brought back to normal position. When so disposed the lowermost pad 58, as previously brought out, is opposite the slot 51. Said pad may then be readily removed from the device by grasping the edge 89 thereof and withdrawing the same laterally from the stack 66 and through the slot 51.

" During the removal of the lowermost pad 58 from the device the under surface thereof is scraped-over the edge 59 of the front wall ll edge 31 of platform 86. This removes the surplus water from the pad before the same leaves the device.

For the purpose of supplying the liquid for the container 25 and for maintaining theliquid at a predetermined elevation within said "container, a bottle H is employed which forms the reservoir 26. This bottle may be of ordinary construction and is preferably substantially rectangular in cross section to readily fit within the compartment 39 in the case it; This bottle is formed with a body portion l2 terminating in the usual neck it. The neck It, however, is constructed in a different manner than the necks of ordinary bottles. This neck is provided at the extreme end thereof with an annular bead it. Over this head is placed a penetrable closure 15 which is held in place over the end of said bottle through a ring 16 of metal which is rolled over the head it. The closure 15 may be constructed in any desired manner as long as the same is readily penetrable. If desired, the same may be constructed with paper lined with tin foil or some other suitable material so as to form a tight seal for the bottle when the same is applied thereto and the ring 16 attached to the bead M. For the purpose of protecting the closure H5 a screw cap ll of ordinary construction may be employed which is adapted to be screwed upon threads 18 cast upon the neck 73 of the bottle inwardly of the head 14. It is to be noted that the threads 18 are of a diameter appreciably greater than the bead It so that the cap ll will clear the ring 16 when screwed upon the neck i3.

In conjunction with the reservoir 26, a pierc- P ing device which I have indicated in its entirety at 19 is employed. This piercing device may be constructed of sheet metal and comprises two parts 80 and 8! bent away from one another.

These parts have issuing outwardly therefrom lugs 82 and 83 by means of which said device may be secured to the bottom I5 of the case it through rivets 86. The piercing device 19 is formed with a prong 85 and with two shoulders at on the bent parts 8!! and 8! thereof. The

.piercing device i9 is disposed centrally within the pocket 69 of the receptacle with the prong 85 projecting upwardly. In filling the receptacle 25 with liquid, ca W is removed from the bottle H and the bottle inverted and inserted into the compartment 30.

As the bottle reaches the bottom of said compartment the prong 86 pierces the closure I0 and permits the fluid within the bottle to escape through said closure and along the pocket 69 and into the receptacle 25. When the bottle H reaches its lowermost position, the bead It thereof rests upon the shoulders 86 of the bent portions 80 and 8| of said piercing device holding the lowermost portion of the neck of the bottle of absorbent material zetherebetweena After a sufficient amount of moisture has been absorbed,

above the bottom I! of the case proper. This permits the liquid to flow from the bottle until the liquid reaches an elevation such as indicated at H in Fig. 2 above the lowermost portionof the neck of said bottle. When such elevation is reached a seal is formed which prevents the further escape of the liquid from the bottle until the liquid within said receptacle drops below the lowermost portion of the neck of the bottle. In this manner the elevation of the liquid within the receptacle 25 is maintained at approximately the same elevation so that the device is at all times ready to be used. When the contents of the reservoir 24 have been emptied, bottle. Il may be removed and a full bottle replaced in case It. In order to more easily remove the bottle from the case, the rim ll of -the case is caused to lie below the upper part of .the bottle as best shown in Fig. 2. When the closure i8 is removed from the case, this portion of the bottle is exposed and is readily grasped to permit of raising the bottle upwardly from the case and withdrawing the same therefrom.

The invention is preferably attached to a wall at a suitable elevation so that the pads may be readily accessible and removable therefrom. For this purpose, the rear wall l2 of the case is provided at the lowermost portion thereof with a lug 86 which is formed with a screw hole 81 through which a suitable screw may be inserted and screwed into the wall on which the device is mounted. A similar hole 88 in the upper portion of the rear wall I! permits of further attaching the case to the wall. When properly mounted, the case is firmly and rigidly held in position so that the same-may be readily refilled and the pads removed therefrom when desired.

In the use of the device, the rack 22 is filled with pads as previously brought.out and liquid discharged into the receptacle 25 by inserting the bottle H in the compartment 30. when the user desires a moistened pad, he first presses upon the finger piece 56 which lowers the entire rack 22 and the pads carried thereby so that the lowermost pad 58 of the stack 60 is brought into contact with the liquid ID in the receptacle 25. He then holds the finger piece 56 at such elevation until the pad has absorbed the desired amount of liquid. Upon releasing pressure on the finger piece 56 the spring 45 returns the rack to normal position in which the lowermost pad lies opposite the slot 51 in case iii. By now grasping the forward edge 39 of the pad through the notch ii and the slot 51 and by drawing the said pad laterally from the stack and along the bars 36 of the platform 34, the pad in moistened condition may be removed from the receptacle and used for the desired purpose. If desired, the pads may be removed from the device without moistening the same by simply withdrawing the lowermost pad from the stack without depressing the finger piece 56.

In applying the pads, the same are placed with the back 26 thereof against the index finger, middle finger, and fourth finger of the hand. The pad is held in place upon these fingers through the thumb which engages the marginal portion 39 thereof. Upon first withdrawing the pads from the dispenser the pads are grasped solely through the portions 39. After they have been partly removed they may be grasped as described above, making it possible to directly apply the pads after removal thereof without necessitating additional handling of the pad or repositioning thereof. This makes it quite unnecesmay be manipulated without getting the fingers sary to touch the moistened part of the pad with the fingers, thereby-making the use of the pads highly sanitary.

The uses of the invention are many. The pads may be used for washing and cleansing various portions of the body. Various medicated solutions may be used for moistening the pads to sterilize andsoothe the parts so cleansed. By employing proper medicines the pads may be utilized for treating sores and the like. 10

The pads may be used dry for rubbing oi! cold cream and for similarpurposes. If desired, the pads may be used for removing spots from garments by applying to the same a suitable solvent, and in general, for applying a liquid to any'surface.

My invention is highly meritorious in that the same encourages cleanliness and sanitation. Due to the non-absorbent back on the pad, the same wet. The moistening and dispensing of the pads and the use of the same may all be accomplished without touching the moistened portion of the pad so that the portion of the pad applied to the body will be clean and sterile. The amount of liquid absorbed by the pads may be varied by varying the length of time that the finger piece 56 is depressed. The pads may be used either wet or dry. The device is fully automatic. There are no valves or other troublesome parts to get out of order and the device may be easily refilled as the occasion demands. The application of' the moisture or medical preparation is made at the time the pad is to be used.

Changes in the specific form of my invention as herein described may be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having described my invention what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is: 40 1. A device for moistening and dispensing pads comprising a case having a front and a rear wall, a plate extending across said case from said front wall to said rear wall, guides for slidably supporting said plate for vertical movement within said case, a perforated platform carried by said plate for supporting a stack of pads, and means at the bottom of said case forming a receptacle for a liquid to be applied to the pads, said plate and platform being slidable to bring the pad resting upon said platform in contact with the liquid within said receptacle.

2. A device for moistening and dispensing pads comprising a case having a front and a rear wall,

a plate extending across said case from said front wall to said rear wall, guides for slidably supporting said plate for vertical movement within said case, a perforated platform carried by said plate for supporting a stack of pads, means at the bottom of said case forming a receptacle for a liquid to be applied to the pads, said plate and platform being slidable to bring the pad resting upon said platform in contact with the liquid within said receptacle, and a reservoir within said case positioned upon the other side of said plate and feeding liquid into said receptacle.

3. In combination, means for supporting adjacent one another a plurality of pads, each having an absorptive surface, means for applying moisture to the absorptive surface of one of said pads, and means for precluding absorption by adjacent pads, of moisture absorbed by the moistened pad.

'4. In combination, means for supporting adjacent one another a plurality ofv pads each hav- 76 ing an absorptive surface, means for applying moisture to the absorptive surface of one of said pads, and a sheet of non-absorbent material overlying the absorptive surface of the adjacent pad to preclude the absorption by said pad of moisture absorbed by the moistened pad.

5. In combination, means for supporting adjacent one another a plurality of pads each having an absorptive surface, means for applying moisture to the absorptive surface of one of said pads, and a sheet of non-absorbent material overlying the absorptive surface of the adjacent pad to preclude the absorption by said pad of moisture absorbed by the moistened pad, said sheet being attached to the moistened pad.

6. In combination, a rack for supporting a plurality of pads, a support therefor including a guideway in which said rack is slidably mounted,

said rack being bodily removable fromsaid support, a resilient member attached to and normally carried by said rack, means for sliding said rack along said guideway, and on said support for engaging said resilient member to oppose the flexing thereof, said means serving to hold said rack in normal position and a stop for said resilient member carried by said rack.

'7. In combination, a case, a rack slidable within said case for supporting a plurality of pads and including a platform on which the pads rest, said case having an opening therein through which the pads may be removed, said opening lying opposite said platform, and a receptacle in said case for liquid for moisteningsaid pads, said receptacle being disposed below said opensaid receptacle.

8. In combination, a rack for supporting a plurality of pads in a stack, means at one end of said rack for holding the last pad in the stack in a manner so that the same may be removed therefrom and for restraining the others from simultaneous movement in the same direction, a receptacle below said stack having a liquid therein, and means fixed relative to said receptacle and engaging said rack for guiding said rack for movement bodily toward the liquid to bring the lowermost pad in contact with the liquid.

9. A device for moistening and dispensing pads comprising a frame, a vertical rack for the reception of a stack of pads, means at the lower end of said rack for holding the last pad in the stack in a manner so that the same may be removed therefrom, a receptacle carried by said frame for holding a quantity of liquid to be applied to said pads, means carried by said frame for guiding said rack for movement bodily toward said receptacle to bring the lowermost pad in contact with the liquid in said receptacle, and a reservoir carried by said frame for feeding liquid into said receptacle.

10. A device for moistening and dispensing pads comprising a frame, a vertical rack carried by said frame and disposed at one side thereof, said rack being adapted to hold a stack of pads, means at the lower end of said rack for holding the lowermost pads in the stack for individual removal therefrom, a reservoir carried by said frame and disposed alongside of said rack, said reservoir having an outlet at-the lowermost portion thereof and a receptacle communicating with said outlet and extending below the lowermost pad in the rack, and means for procuring relative movement of the lowermost pad in the rack and the receptacle to bring the lowermost padin contact with the liquid in said receptacle.

11. In combination, a frame, a rack for holding a plurality of pads in a stack, a receptacle for a. liquid, carried by said frame, means for movably supporting said rack with respect to said frame to bring the lowermost pad of said rack in con- 5 tact with the liquid in said receptacle, and means for limiting the movement of said rack to hold the adjacent pad in the stack away from the liquid in said receptacle.

12. A device for moistening and dispensing pads comprising a frame,, a vertical rack for the reception of a stack of pads, a guide carried by said frame for slidably supporting said rack for movement in a vertical direction, means at the lower 'end of said rack for holding the last pads in the rack for individual removal therefrom, a receptacle carried by said frame for holding a quantity of liquid to be applied to said pads, said receptacle being disposed below said stack to receive the lowermost pad when the rack is slid downwardly along said guide.

13'. A device for moistening and dispensing pads comprising a frame, a vertical rack for the reception of a stack of pads slidable relative thereto, a receptacle for a quantity of liquid to be applied to said pads carried by said frame, and means for moving said pads with respect to the frame successively into contact with said liquid to cause the absorption of a portion of the liquid by each of said pads.

14. In combination, means for supporting adjacent one another a plurality of pads each having an absorptive surface, means for applying moisture to the absorptive surface of one of said pads, and means disposed between said pad and the adjacent pad for precluding absorption of the adjacent pad of moisture absorbed by the moistened pad.

15. In combination, means for supporting adjacent one another a plurality of pads each hav- 4,0 ing an absorptive surface, means for applying moisture to the absorptive surface of one of said pads, and an impervious sheet of non-absorbent material overlying the absorptive surface of the adjacent pad to preclude the absorption by said pad of moisture absorbed by the moistened pad.

16. In combination, means for supporting adjacent one another a plurality of pads each having an absorptive surface, means for applying 1 moisture to the absorptive surface of one of said pads, and an impervious sheet of non-absorbent material overlying the absorptive surface of the adjacent pad to preclude the absorption by said pad of moisture absorbed by the moistened pad, said sheet being attached to the moistened pad.

17. In combination, a case for a plurality of pads, a support for the lowermost of said pads, said case having an opening therein through which the pads may be removed, a receptacle in said case in proximity to said opening and means for guiding said support for movement to bring said pad opposite said opening or into said receptacle.

18. In combination, a case for a plurality of pads, said case having an opening therein through which the pads may be removed, a support for supporting'the lowermost of said pads, a receptacle positioned in proximity to said support, and means for guiding one thereof for movement with respect to the other to bring the lowermost pad either into said reieptacle or opposite said opening.

19. In combination, a rack for supporting a plurality of pads, a support therefor including a w guideway in which said rack is slidably mounted, said rack being bodily removable from said support, a resilient member attached to and normally carried by said rack, means for sliding said rack along said guideway, means on said support for engaging said resilient member for holding said rack and pads in supported position, and means for normally tensioning said resilient member to hold the rack in normal position prior to the operation of said means for sliding the rack.

20. In combination, a rack for supporting a plurality of pads, a supporttherefor including a 'guideway in which said rack is slidably mounted, said rack being bodily removable from said support, a coil spring, means attached to said rack for engaging each end of the coil spring, said coil spring being normally tensioned, and means carried by said guideway for engagement with said spring to support the rack within said guideway and for further tensioning the spring upon further movement of said rack within said guideway.

21. In combination, supporting means for bolding a plurality of pads in a stack with the lowermost pad exposed, moistening means below said stack of pads presenting a moistening surface for contact with the exposed pad, guide means between said support and moistening means for guiding said support and moistening means for vertical relative movement, means for holding said moistening means and supporting means with the lowermost pad spaced from the moistening surface, means for moving the lowermost pad in said stack and said moistening means vertically relative to one another to bring the lowermost pad in contact with the moistening surface, and means for guiding said lowermost pad for movement relative to the stack in a substantially horizontal direction out of the stack.

JAMES B. DARGAVEL.

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