GB2148927A

GB2148927A - Foil-faced soap tablets

Info

Publication number: GB2148927A
Application number: GB08426322A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Percival Walter Alston
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1983-10-26
Filing date: 1984-10-18
Publication date: 1985-06-05
Also published as: GB8328647D0; GB8426322D0; GB2148927B

Abstract

A bar or tablet of soap is provided on one face with a layer of flexible metal foil which is applied in the moist state and is in contact with the face over the whole of its area. Soap so provided can be used continuously without detachment of the foil. If the soap is put down after use with the foil layer downwardly, loss of soap is prevented with a substantial saving in use. Moreover, the foil layer holds the soap together.

Description

SPECIFICATION Method of treating soap to reduce wastage in use, and soap so treated The present invention relates to a method of treating soap in tablet or bar form so as to reduce its wastage in use, and to soap so treated.

With the ordinary bar or tablet of soap, whether it be toilet soap or household cleaning soap, it is well known that, in use, a high rate of wastage of the soap occurs when it is repeatedly put down, either on a flat surface such as a porcelain surface on a sink or washbasin, or in a soap-dish, or even on a socalled "soap economiser", i.e. a rubber mat having upstanding rubber studs thereon. In all these cases, the lower surface of the soap which is in contact with the surface or the mat tends to remain wet and slimy and to lose soap at this surface. During the whole useful life of a bar or tablet of soap, the total waste of soap which occurs in this way is appreciable. A further source of wastage in use is that with continued use, a bar or tablet of soap eventually becomes so thin that it disintegrates into fragments and can no longer form a single cake.The fragments formed are of little further use and are generally thrown away.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a method of reducing such wastage of soap in use by a single treatment and thus to provide a soap bar or tablet in which soap is not lost when the bar or tablet is repeatedly put down on a surface in the wet condition and in which the soap can be continued to be used even though its thickness is substantially less than would normally lead to its disintegration.

According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of reducing wastage of soap in use, which comprises applying to one face of a tablet or bar of soap, which face is moist or wetted, a layer of flexible metal foil in such manner that the foil layer is in overall contact with the face.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a tablet or bar of soap having on one face thereof a layer of flexible metal foil in overall contact with the face, the foil layer having been applied to the face whilst the face was in the moist or wetted state.

Surprisingly, it has been found that a soap tablet provided with such a layer of metal foil on one face can be used continuously, even in very hot water, without the metal foil becoming detached at any point on the face. Provided, therefore, that the soap is put down with the foil-covered face in contact with the supporting surface there is no loss of soap from this face by the action of water thereon.

Moreover, the presence of the metal foil on one face of the bar or tablet enables the soap to be used until it is considerably thinner overall than would normally be possible, since the metal foil acts to hold the soap together and prevent its fragmenting.

While it is believed that any metal foil can be used in the present invention, convenientiy the foil used is conventional aluminium kitchen foil as is used for cooking purposes.

It will, of course, be appreciated that once initially used, the soap tablet of the present invention is intended to be used continuously thereafter, so that it is always in a moist condition. If, however, it is allowed to dry out over a relatively long period of time, it may crack, although, even here, the chances of its cracking so as to be useless are considerably reduced by the presence of the metal foil.

The metal foil need only cover one face of the soap tablet and it is not necessary for that face to be flat, provided, of course, that the soap can be laid down on that face. Normally, with a relatively flat cake of soap, one of the larger faces will be covered with the metal foil. The metal foil should extend to the edge of the face of the tablet, but need not, and preferably does not, extend beyond this edge.

This allows maximum usage of the soap. It has been found that the presence of the foil layer does not interfere with the use of the soap for washing purposes; for example, when used to wash the hands, the normal washing motion ensures that soap is provided from the uncovered face of the bar or tablet.

The foil layer may be applied to the face of the bar or tablet during manufacture thereof, for example, while the soap is still moist, so that the soap is sold with the foil layer already in position. Alternatively, a layer of metal foil of the right size and shape can be applied to a conventional bar or tablet of soap, after it has been unwrapped and wetted.

1. A method of treating soap to reduce wastage in use comprising applying to one face of a bar or tablet of soap, which face is moist or wetted, a layer of flexible metal foil in such manner that the foil layer is in contact with said face over substantially the whole area thereof.

2. A method as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said flexible metal foil is aluminium foil.

3. A method as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein said foil is applied during manufacture of said bar or tablet of soap whilst the soap is in the moist state.

4. A method as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein said foil layer is applied to the face of a finished bar or tablet of soap after said face has first been wetted.

5. A method of treating soap as claimed in Claim 1 substantially as hereinbefore described.

6. A tablet or bar of soap having on one

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Method of treating soap to reduce wastage in use, and soap so treated The present invention relates to a method of treating soap in tablet or bar form so as to reduce its wastage in use, and to soap so treated. With the ordinary bar or tablet of soap, whether it be toilet soap or household cleaning soap, it is well known that, in use, a high rate of wastage of the soap occurs when it is repeatedly put down, either on a flat surface such as a porcelain surface on a sink or washbasin, or in a soap-dish, or even on a socalled "soap economiser", i.e. a rubber mat having upstanding rubber studs thereon. In all these cases, the lower surface of the soap which is in contact with the surface or the mat tends to remain wet and slimy and to lose soap at this surface. During the whole useful life of a bar or tablet of soap, the total waste of soap which occurs in this way is appreciable. A further source of wastage in use is that with continued use, a bar or tablet of soap eventually becomes so thin that it disintegrates into fragments and can no longer form a single cake.The fragments formed are of little further use and are generally thrown away. It is an object of the present invention to provide a method of reducing such wastage of soap in use by a single treatment and thus to provide a soap bar or tablet in which soap is not lost when the bar or tablet is repeatedly put down on a surface in the wet condition and in which the soap can be continued to be used even though its thickness is substantially less than would normally lead to its disintegration. According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of reducing wastage of soap in use, which comprises applying to one face of a tablet or bar of soap, which face is moist or wetted, a layer of flexible metal foil in such manner that the foil layer is in overall contact with the face. According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a tablet or bar of soap having on one face thereof a layer of flexible metal foil in overall contact with the face, the foil layer having been applied to the face whilst the face was in the moist or wetted state. Surprisingly, it has been found that a soap tablet provided with such a layer of metal foil on one face can be used continuously, even in very hot water, without the metal foil becoming detached at any point on the face. Provided, therefore, that the soap is put down with the foil-covered face in contact with the supporting surface there is no loss of soap from this face by the action of water thereon. Moreover, the presence of the metal foil on one face of the bar or tablet enables the soap to be used until it is considerably thinner overall than would normally be possible, since the metal foil acts to hold the soap together and prevent its fragmenting. While it is believed that any metal foil can be used in the present invention, convenientiy the foil used is conventional aluminium kitchen foil as is used for cooking purposes. It will, of course, be appreciated that once initially used, the soap tablet of the present invention is intended to be used continuously thereafter, so that it is always in a moist condition. If, however, it is allowed to dry out over a relatively long period of time, it may crack, although, even here, the chances of its cracking so as to be useless are considerably reduced by the presence of the metal foil. The metal foil need only cover one face of the soap tablet and it is not necessary for that face to be flat, provided, of course, that the soap can be laid down on that face. Normally, with a relatively flat cake of soap, one of the larger faces will be covered with the metal foil. The metal foil should extend to the edge of the face of the tablet, but need not, and preferably does not, extend beyond this edge. This allows maximum usage of the soap. It has been found that the presence of the foil layer does not interfere with the use of the soap for washing purposes; for example, when used to wash the hands, the normal washing motion ensures that soap is provided from the uncovered face of the bar or tablet. The foil layer may be applied to the face of the bar or tablet during manufacture thereof, for example, while the soap is still moist, so that the soap is sold with the foil layer already in position. Alternatively, a layer of metal foil of the right size and shape can be applied to a conventional bar or tablet of soap, after it has been unwrapped and wetted. CLAIMS

6. A tablet or bar of soap having on one face thereof a layer of flexible metal foil in contact with said face over substantially the whole area thereof, said foil layer having been applied to the face whilst said face is in the moist or wetted state.

7. A tablet or bar of soap as claimed in Claim 6, wherein said flexible metal foil is aluminium foil.

8. A tablet or bar of soap as claimed in Claim 6 substantially as hereinbefore described.