Toiletry bag

A clear plastic toiletry bag

A toiletry bag (also called a toiletry kit, ditty bag, doc kit, bathroom kit, sponge bag, toilet bag, toilet kit, body hygiene kit, travel kit, wash bag, or wet pack) is a portable container—usually a pouch with a drawstring or zippered closure—which holds body hygiene and toiletry supplies such as toothbrush and toothpaste, dental floss, cotton swabs, deodorant, nail clippers, tweezers, soap, shaving supplies, hair brush, tampons, contact lenses and supplies, and similar items while travelling and in other circumstances where permanent shelves and cupboards are unavailable or impractical for use.

Dopp kit

Dopp kit is a term particularly in use in the US for toiletry bags. The name derives from the early 20th century leather craftsman Charles Doppelt, whose company designed the case in 1926.^[1]

Dopp kits became widely known during World War I^[2] and World War II^[3] when they were issued to soldiers by the US military. The Dopp brand name was purchased by Samsonite in the early 1970s^[3] and was acquired by Buxton in 1979.^[2]

The trademark Dopp was filed by Samsonite for registration at the US Trademark Office on March 24, 1980.^[4] The class of goods for which it was applicable was “toilet cases sold empty, briefcases, briefcase type portfolios, sample and catalog cases sold empty, luggage identification tags, and traveling bags”. An additional filing for the trademark Dopp Kit was made on April 3, 1980 for the class of goods “travel kits, sold empty”.^[5] In both of those applications, Samsonite stated that the trademarks were first used in July 1936. The registration for Dopp Kit was cancelled in March 2003 when no one filed a required (Section 8) Declaration of Continued Use, but the required declarations have been filed for Dopp. The marks were assigned to DHP Limited Partnership (dba Buxton) in 1990; the current owner of the Dopp trademark is listed as Buxton Acquisition Co., LLC, of Chicopee, Massachusetts.

References