Improvements in Pocket-handkerchiefs.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Nov., 1899-Accepted, 23rd Déc., 1899
Improvements in Pocket-handkerchiefs.
I, HERMANN VON OLLECH, of Post Tzschecheln, No. 1, Wiesenthal, Land
Owner, do hereby declare the nature of this invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement, that is to say:-
This invention has for its object a pocket handkerchief of paper. For the
purpose of health it is at the present time especially important that disease germs
in human beings should not be desseminated more widely.
It is a known fact, that for instance colds can be very easily propagated from
one person to another.
It has often been attempted to discover different means for as far as possible
reducing the spread of this disease. Satisfactory results have not however been
obtained. It has especially been attempted in this respect, to effect as quick
as possible a cure of the discharge from the mucous membrane of the nose.
Unfortunately, by the use of means for this object there is more or less danger,
from incautious use (as the more sensitive parts of the nasal bone are easily
reached) that greater injury may result.
It has also been attempted by using pocket handkerchiefs impregnated with
medicinal substances, to obtain an alleviation, by their inhalation, of the patient's
trouble.
A greater objection consists in the fact that heretofore pocket-handkerchiefs
of linen, cambric, silk, or other like fabrics have been employed, and these
pocket-handkerchiefs used repeatedly, so that the diseased matter once absorbed
by the handkerchief, again infects the next one used, and a complete cure cannot
therefore be often effected.
To prevent this, the most simple means is to have the pocket handkerchief
cleaned after each using. But to do this entails great expense and trouble, as
30 to 40 pocket-handkerchiefs would have to be washed a day.
By the present invention the above-mentioned difficulties are entirely prevented,
by using, that is to say, for the handkerchiefs paper or paper-like material. The
chief advantage of such material lies in the fact that the handkerchief can be
made very thin and light, and above all cheap, so that it is possible for the
poorest to carry some dozens of these handkerchiefs with them, without their
becoming burdensome or in the way.
The separate pocket-handkerchiefs may be made in various patterns, and
manufactured of rough or more or less smooth texture. It is also advisable
to make them of different kinds and qualities for different classes of people.
That is to say, for the poorer classes to use a cheaper paper for the handker-
chiefs, whilst for the rich a paper very much finer and of better quality can
be used.
The handkerchiefs may be made with edges or borders, either by printing, or
produced upon the paper during the process of manufacture, to give an improved
appearance, and monograms or other devices may be produced in the corners.

page_text: The handkerchiefs are only used once, and have therefore little value, so that
they can without hesitation be thrown away.
It is evident that, by the use of paper in the way described for pocket-handker-
chiefs, a dissemination of diseased matter from one person to another, and par-
ticularly a continued infection of the diseased person by the frequent use of
the same pocket-handkerchief, cannot occur.
The pocket-handkerchiefs themselves may be agreeably scented, or they may
be impregnated with aromatic curative materials.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
1. A pocket-handkerchief made of paper or analogous material, so that it
is not only extremely cheap, but also takes up very little space, so that some
dozens may be carried, each handkerchief being only used once, and then thrown
away.
2. In the pocket-handkerchief described and claimed in Claim 1, the use of
different qualities of materials for different classes of people, so that for the
working classes and the like, coarser stuff, and for the higher classes finer stuff,
may be made use of..
3. In the pocket-handkerchiefs described and claimed in Claim 1, the method
of ornamenting them with designs printed upon them, or produced upon them
in the process of manufacture.
4. In the pocket-handkerchiefs described and claimed in Claim 1, the method
of impregnating them with any desired scent.
5. In the pocket-handkerchiefs described and claimed in Claim 1, the method
of impregnating them with medicinal or other curative substances, so that by
inhalation a cold is quickly got rid of.
6. In the pocket-handkerchiefs described and claimed in Claim 1, the use of
paper having a rough or slightly finished surface.
Dated this 31st day of October 1899
EDWARDS AND CO.,
Chartered Patent Agents, 65 and 66, Chancery Lane, London,
Agents for the Applicant.