US20150289726A1

US20150289726A1 - Universally attachable magnetic soap bar holder

Info

Publication number: US20150289726A1
Application number: US13/999,963
Authority: US
Inventors: Arthur Kalpakchian
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2014-04-10
Filing date: 2014-04-10
Publication date: 2015-10-15

Abstract

A magnetic soap holder, comprising substantially: base, bracket, and a magnetic link consisting of two separable parts—top and bottom. The base securely mounts to a soap dish and extends the bracket upwardly over it. The top part of the magnetic link, hanging from a joint at the top portion of the bracket, magnetically attracts the bottom part of the magnetic link—which is pressed into a soap bar, thereby suspending the bar of soap above the soap dish. The design of the present soap holder allows it to be incorporated with sets of bathroom accessories therefore provides the benefits of soap preservation with lesser maintenance and convenience of situation it at any desired place.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to the field of magnetic soap holders. The advantage of this holder is that securely mounts over a soap dishes, keeping a soap bar away from excessive water, also giving convenience of situating it any place that is desired.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Soap dishes are simple solutions for holding a bar of soap between uses. Soap laying in a dish or a holder with excess water from constant use causes the soap to dissolve more rapidly, reducing the useful life of the soap and leaving a residual coating on the dish or holder that requires periodic cleaning. Soap supporting features (such as ridges, etc.) in soap dishes help, but they still get messy and require cleaning (and dig into the soap, compromising the lifespan and structural integrity of the soap).
Magnetic soap holders, like the present invention, were invented to solve this problem. The concept of a magnetic soap holder has been around since at least 1947, when U. W. Edger invented a wall-mounted soap holder as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 2,597,925. A bar of soap is suspended from a magnet on the soap holder by a metallic anchor embedded into the bar of soap. Since that time, many variations and improvements to the wall-mounted arrangement have been developed. Many design patents have been granted for wall-mounted magnetic soap holders as well.
Wall-mounting a magnetic soap holder with the base positioned vertically on the wall is far from optimal. For one thing, the location of the soap is not conveniently accessible with respect to the faucet controls. Drips of excess soapy water falling from the soap and/or hands after washing may soil counter tops or other surfaces near the wall. Remounting of the soap after use requires dexterity so that the user's hand or the soap does not touch the wall. Generally, the soap holder weight must be kept to a minimum and lightweight products are often associated with low value products.
Another magnetic soap holder is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,169,743 to J. S. Page, Jr. This patent describes a small plastic magnetic soap holder that can be horizontally or vertically mounted to a wall. The holder positions the soap at an angle on the edge of the sink basin or on a wall near the sink. The holder is short and mounts entirely below the center of gravity of the soap. Again, although some of the drips from excess soapy water may land in the sink basin, a portion of the soapy residue must run down the sides of the holder and onto surfaces near the holder, soiling both the holder and surfaces near the holder. Also, remounting of the soap after use may be difficult with the design in question due to an obfuscated view of the mounting point. U.S. Pat. No. D277,820 to Maayeh, shows a design for a magnetic soap holder that can be either vertically wall-mounted or horizontally mounted. A product that employs this design is sold by Uniplast, Incorporated of Grand Prairie, Tex. under the trademark MAGNA-HOLD.™. The MAGNA-HOLD.™ soap holder is fabricated from lightweight injection molded plastic and uses double-sided foam tape for attachment to a vertical wall or horizontal surface. When affixed to a horizontal surface, the Maayeh holder elevates the soap to an insufficient height to overcome the edge or lip on drop-in style sinks. The center of gravity of the Maayeh soap holder is located well past the front of the base, which causes the holder to be totally dependent on the mounting adhesive for support. Initial trial placement of the soap holder is also impossible, due to the single use adhesive, as the holder would topple over into the sink. Making the holder from higher quality materials would tend to increase the weight of the holder and infringe on the nominal operating capacity of the adhesive.
Accordingly, there is a need for an improved soap holder allowing easy cleanup and simplified positioning it at any desired location.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A soap holder, which may be universally attached to various shapes of soap dishes manufactured, yet permits rapid drying and preservation of the entire surface of a wet bar of soap suspended over the soap dish; said holder having an attaching/locking base with cantilevered (or any) bracket suspending one component of a magnetized element and a magnetically attracted element pair, while the other element of the pair is embedded in one major surface of the bar of soap. Slight horizontal counter movement disengages from said that bar of soap for usage. After usage the bar is turned with the embedded element of the pair facing vertically upwardly beneath the suspended element of the pair, to be reengaged by magnetically attracted elements to suspend the bar over the dish.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Sheet # 1. Various versions invention implementation.

Sheet #

2. Perspective and exploded views of version “A”.

Sheet #

3. Perspective and exploded views of version “B”.

Sheet #

4. Perspective and exploded views of version “C”.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Sheet # 1 presents a few of many versions of the invention implementation. Although there are many possible ways to comply with the invention in claim 1, sheets # 2, 3, and 4 demonstrate possible versions that employ the same key elements: base (2), bracket (1) and the magnetically re-attachable link (3).
The base (2) or the soap dish, can be any shape and material suitable for its purpose. The bracket (1) attaching/locking cantilevered or any other type, have to be made of rigid and anticorrosive material to demonstrate a long life performance.
The structure of the locking mechanism (c) can vary and be acceptable as long as it provides a secure and firm (weight-bearing) connection between (2) and (1). The magnetic link (3) is comprised of: a magnetized element (a) attached by a joint to bracket (1), and a magnetically attractive element (b)—which is embedded in one major surface of the bar of soap (4), thereby suspending the bar of soap (4) above the soap dish (2), once elements (a) and (b) make contact with one another. After usage, the bar is turned with the embedded element (b) of the pair facing vertically upwardly beneath the suspended element of the pair (a), to be reengaged by magnetically attracted elements (3) to suspend the bar over the dish.
A plastic PVC or DEHP coating (silicon/soft material) (d) must be applied on all areas of the bracket (1) where it may come into contact with any part of the soap dish/base (2) in order to create traction for secure attachment of the bracket (1), and also to prevent the damage to base (2).

Claims

What is claimed is:

1) A magnetic soap holder, comprising substantially: base, bracket, and a magnetic link consisting of two separable parts—top and bottom.

2) The magnetic soap holder of claim 1, universally attachable to various shapes of soap dishes.

3) The magnetic soap holder of claim 2, wherein allows to be incorporated with sets of bathroom accessories still providing the benefits of the soap preservation.

4) The magnetic soap holder of claim 2, wherein allows to be situated anywhere desired, around the sink or tub, because of no hard attachments by hardware or adhesives to walls, countertops or any other surface.

5) The magnetic soap holder of claim 1 has a top part of magnetic link hanging via joint at the top of the bracket and magnetically attracts the bottom part - the member pressed into a soap bar, and thereby suspends the bar of soap above the soap dish.

6) The magnetic soap holder of claim 1, wherein the magnetic soap holder is formed of rigid and anticorrosive material suitable to each and every structural version.

7) The magnetic soap holder of claim 6, wherein the rigid material is an anticorrosive material such as stainless still, titanium, aluminum alloy, super strong plastic masses such as carbon fiber or fiberglass/metal combinations and etc.

8) The magnetic soap holder of claim 1, wherein locking prongs of the base have clear coating of silicon/soft material somewhat similar to PVC or DEHP to create traction for secure attachment, also to prevent a soap dish surface from damage.