US2153840A

US2153840A - Soap holder

Info

Publication number: US2153840A
Application number: US94105A
Authority: US
Inventors: Margolith Mordicha
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1936-08-03
Filing date: 1936-08-03
Publication date: 1939-04-11
Anticipated expiration: 1956-04-11

Description

Patented Apr. 1v1, 1939 PATENT OFFICE SOAP HOLDER Mordicha Margolith, Hawthorne, Calif.

Application August 3,

8 Claims.

This invention relates to a device for handling soap,.or the like, and relates more particularly t a. soap holder for handling soap in the form of a. bar or cake. A general object of the invention is to provide a device or soap holder of the character mentioned that is particularly easy and convenient to use and that is effective and dependable in holding the soap.

Bar soap or cake soap as used in lavatories, washrooms and the like is usually contained 'in soap dishes or trays. Such soap dishes and trays are not entirely satisfactory, in that they do not allow the soap to properly drain oi'f or dry. When the soap is not allowed to dry properly it becomes soft and partially liquiiies. This makes the soap and the dish or tray carrying it very slippery and unsanitary. The soap in this condition is unpleasant and inconvenient to use and a large part of the soap 20 is wasted.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a device that effectively holds a bar or cake of soap in such a manner that its entire surface is exposed to the air, so that the soap 25 quickly dries. The device in allowing the soap to properly and quickly dry makes the soap pleasant and clean to handle and provides for economy in its use.

Another object of this invention is to provide a soap holder of the character mentioned that eifectively supports a cake of soap in a position that permits the user to remove or insert the soap without coming into contact with the soap holder.

A further object of the present invention is to providea device of the character mentioned that dependably holds a cake of soap in such a manner that the soap is free to be grasped andtli'en lifted, which releases the engagement of the holder with the soap, allowing its ready removal.

Another object of the present invention is to provide asoap holder that does not require careful placing of the cake of soap, as the soap holder will dependably grip and retain the cake of soap regardless of the particular points on the cake of soap engaged or gripped by the holder.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a soap holder of the character mentioned that will effectively hold cakes of soap of various sizes and shapes, thus giving the soap holder an unlimited range of effectiveness.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a device of the character mentioned that is small and compact, requiring a minimum 1936, Serial N0. 94,105

amount of space and that is inconspicuous and sightly in appearance.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a device that is constructed of but few small sturdy parts which makes it very simple 5 and inexpensive of manufacture.

The various objects and features of my invention will be fully understood from the following detailed description of a typical preferred form and application of my invention, throughout 10 which description reference is made to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the device or soap holder provided by this invention illustrating it carrying a cake of soap. Fig. 2 is a top or plan 15 elevation of the device. Fig. 3 is a side or end elevation of the device. Fig. 4 is a vertical detailed sectional view taken as indicated by line 4-4 on Fig. 3, and Fig. 5 is an-enlarged fragmentary vertical detailed sectional view taken as indicated by line 5--5 on Fig. 4.

The improved soap holder of my invention includes, generally, a bracket or body I0, gripping members or elements II carried by the body I0 and adapted to receive a cake of soap S, and 25 means I2 for controlling movement of the gripping elements II.

The bracket or body III may be varied considerably in shape and form without departing from broader aspects` of the invention. The body I0 30 illustrated in the drawing is a simple, one piece stamping or member that is subsequently rectangular in front elevation. 'Ihe body III has a main portion or outer face portion I5 which may lie in a substantially vertical plane and inwardly projecting upper and lower flanges I6, integrally joined to the outer face portion I5. 'Ihe flanges I6 may be in planes substantially normal to the plane of the portion I5. A strap or plate I'I is received between the flanges I6. 40 The plate I1 may be secured to the iianges I6 in any suitable manner. For example, it may be welded or soldered to the ilanges I6. The plate I1 received between the iianges I6, as illustrated, provides a space in the body for housing the means I2 and various parts of the device to be hereinafter described. The plate I'I has lugs or ears I8 projecting from the opposite ends of the body. The ears I8 provide means for mounting the device on a suitable support. To simplify the construction the .ears I8 are preferably'integral continuations of the plate II. The ears I8 may be attached to a suitable support, such as a Wall, post, panel, or the like, to render the device convenient and readily accessible for similar in shape and connguration and are paired or complementary. The elements Il may be formed from round stock and are substantially Lachaped in their general coniiguration each having branches 28 and 22. Thebranehes 28 ofthe elements I i project mitwardly fromtho face portion Il of the body I8 adjacent its opposite ends)` 'nie branches 28 of the elements Il are pivotably carriedin openingsli intheface portion Il of the body and project outwardly a substantial distance before joining the branches 22. 'Ihe outer branches 22 of the elements il have their longitudinal axes substantially normal to the longitudinal axes of the branches 28 and normally project upwardly and toward one another, as best illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawing,V The outer ends of the branches 22 are bevelled, as at 28, to form points or tips which are adapted to ei' fectively grip and hold the cake of soap S.

'Ihe invention provides means for supporting `the outer end portions of the branches 20. Outwardly projecting arms 22 are provided at the opposite ends of the body I 8 to assist in pivotably supporting the elements il. VThe armsl 23 are preferably formed integral with the body I0. In the drawing I have illustrated the arms 23 integral with the face portion i8 of the body and bent at right angles to the portion i8 to project outwardly from the ends of the body. The arms 28 may be parallel with the branches 28 and have angular portions 24 at their outer ends. The angular portions 24 of the arms 22 are provided with openings 25 for pivotably receiving the branches 20 to aid in supporting the elements ii. 'I'he elements Il are shiftable from a normal positlon where their tips 28 are adjacent one another, as illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawing, to a position where they are spaced -some distance apart, to allow the cake of soap S to be readily gripped by the tips of the branches 22. When the elements Ii are in their fully opened or extended positions the branches 22 are related so that there is sumcient clearance between them to readily receive a cake of soap of the size or character within the range that the device is intended to handle.

'Ihe means i2 for controlling the pivotal movement of the elements I i includes arms 28 secured to the inner ends of the branches 20. The arms 28 may be secured to the branches in any suitable manner. In the drawing I have illustrated the arms 28 pressed onto reduced portions on the inner ends of the branches 20. To insure rigid connections between the arms 28 and the elements ii the reduced portions of the branches 28 may be hammered or peened over. The arms 28 are within the space in the body i0 andare adapted to freely shift or swing. The arms 28 project upwardly and inwardly toward one another and are preferably longitudinally curved as best illustrated in Fig. 4. Washers 21 may be provided on the branches 28 to space the arms 28 from the body portion i8. The arms 28 are pivotin theupper portion of one arm 28 and a headed pin 4i is lecured to the other arm to operate in the slot. Awasher42 on thepin4i mayretainthearms 28 in spaced relation.l The slot 48-is preferably longitudinally curved to effect a more uniform motion of the arms 28. It is believed that it will be apparent how the pin 4i operating in the slot 42 effects simultaneous pivoting o'f the arms 28 and elements Il. l l

'Ihe means I2 forcontrolling movement of the elements ii preferably includes a spring means for urging the branches 22 of the elements Il into gripping engagement with the cake of soap 8. In practice means may comprise a singlespring 88. Thespring 28 maybeanysuitable type of spring'. For example,

.leafsprinmhelicalsprinoralimplepieoeof spring wire as I have illustrated inthe drawing. The spring 88 illustrated in the drawing is bowed or curved and has one endbearing against the upper ilange i8 and has its `other end bearing on the upper edge of one of the arms 28. A curved loop or part 44 may be provided onthe spring 28 to ride-or shii'tably bear on the upper edge of the arm 28. In the drawing I have illustrated a preferred manner in which the spring may be effectively held. A lug 82 is stamped out of the upper ange I8 of the body I8 and the spring 38 is received and held. between the lug and the upper flange I8 of the body I8 as clearly illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5 ofthe drawing. The spring 20 is bowed downwardly in a manner to effectively yieldingly urge the anns 28 towards one another and, therefore, urge the soap engaging branches 22 toward one another.

The utility and practicability of the soap holder of my invention will be readilyapparent from the foregoing detailed description. "Ihe soap holder embodies a minimum number of simple sturdy parts comprising only four principal parts or units, namely the unitary bracket or body I8. the two gripping elements ii shiftably can-led by the body i0 and the means i2 for yieldingly urg ing the elements into engagement with a cake of soap or thelike. The body i8 may be formed or stamped out of a flat blank. making it very cheap and easy to manufacture. The gripping elements inbeing formed of common round stock can be easily bent into the desired shape and at a nominal cost. It is believed that it will be understood that the improved soap holder of my invention can be mounted in any manner and in any place to be readily accessible to the user.

In operation, the user may pass the cake of' soap S upwardly between the gripping branches 22 to a position where the tips 28'L of the branches engage the opposite sides of the soap. The user then releases his hold on the soap allowing the branches 22 to support and retain it. 'I'he spring 30 urges the branches 22 into gripping engagement with the cake of soap S. 'I'he angular relationship of the branches 22 and the force exerted by the spring 30 insure a positive hold on the cake of soap. The branches 22 projecting upwardly and inwardly tend to bite into the soap S and the principal function of the spring 88 is to yieldingly hold the branches in cooperation with the cake of soap.

Regardless of the points at which the tips 28l of the gripping branches 22 engage the sides oi the cake oi' soap S the soap may pivot or swing to have its center of gravity at or below the points of contact of the tips 28Il with the soap. 1|

l The outer branches 22 of the elements I I in being spaced outward from the body I0, and in having only point contact with the cake of soap, allow the free pivoting or swinging of the soap to locate itself without interfering with the body. Thus the forces tending to rotate or pivot the cake of soap are equalized. y

To remove the cake of soap S the user merel picks up the soap or lifts it from between the gripping-branches 22. When moved upwardly the cake of soap freely passes out from between the gripping members H and the user is not obliged to contact or engage the soap holder. The soap holder only contacts the soap at two points and, therefore, allows the soap to properly dry after use. It also holds the cake of soap so that it can be readily grasped for use. The cake of soap in being allowed to properly dry does not become softened or slippery and is pleasant to grasp and easy to use.

Having described only a typical form and application of my invention, I do not wish to be limited or restricted to the specific form and application herein set forth, but wish to reserve to myself any modifications or variations that may appear to those skilled in the art or fall within the scope of the following claims.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A device of the character described including a body, a pair of L-shaped members carried by the body in spaced relation for pivotal movement to each have one branch project from the body and to have their other branches inclined upwardly and inwardly toward each other to grip a cake of soap passed between them, arms secured to the rst mentioned branches, one arm having a curved slot, a pin on the other arm shiftable in the slot, and spring means acting on the arms to urge the second mentioned branches against the soap.

I2.A device of the character described including a hollow body, a pair of L-shaped members supported by the body in spaced relation for pivotal movement to each have one branch projecting from the body and to have their other branches inclined upwardly and inwardly toward each other to receive a cake of soap passed upwardly between them, arms on the inner ends of the first mentioned branches within the body, one arm having a curved slot, a pin on the other arm shiftable in the slot to e'ect simultaneous movement of the members, for limiting their movement and a spring acting on the arms to yieldingly urge the members into cooperation with the cape of soap.

3.'A device oi' the character described including a body, and a pair of spaced substantially L-shaped members formed of elongate rod-like stock, each member having one branch pivotally supported by the body with its pivotal axis normal to the outer face of the body, the other branches of the members being carried on the outer ends of the first mentioned branches to be in spaced relation to the outer face of the body and converging upwardly and inwardly towards each other, the upper ends of said other branches being beveled to have substantially point contact with the opposite sides of a cake of soap passed between them, and means connecting the members for simultaneous' pivotal movement.

4. A device of the character described including a body having a substantially vertical outer face, two members pivotally carried by the body to project from its outer face with their pivotal axes substantially normal to said face, and pointed rod-like gripping fingers on the outer ends of the members in spaced relation to the outer-face to the body substantially converging upwardly and inwardly toward one another to have point gripping engagement with a cake'of soap introduced between them.

5. A device of the character described including a body adapted to be mounted on a support, two soap gripping elements, means pivotally supporting the elements on the body to have spaced parallel substantially horizontal axes of pivotal movement and to project forwardly beyond the body, and slender upwardly convergent arms on the forward ends of the elements having upper ends shaped to have limited supporting contact with the opposite sides of a. cake of soap in a plane spaced from the outer face of the body.

6. A device of the character described comprising a body having a recessed rear side adapted to be arranged against a support, the A body having two spaced substantially horizontal openings, gripping elements pivotally supported in the openings to project from the forward side of the body, the gripping elements having upwardly converging branches on their forward ends, and means at the recessed rear side of the body exerting a yielding pivoting force on the elements to urge their branches toward one another to grip an object introduced between the branches.

'1. A device of the character described comprising a body having a recessed rear side adapted to be arranged against a support, two elements, means supporting the elements on the body for pivotal movement about spaced substantially horizontal axes and to project from the front side of the body, the elements including branches on their forward ends converging upwardly toward one another, said branches having beveled upper ends adapted to have substantially point contact with an object introduced.

between them, and means at the rear side of the body exerting a yielding turning force on the elements to urge their branches into holding engagement with the object.

8. A device of the character described comprising, a body adapted to be attached to a support, two elements, each including an inner branch and a slender outer branch angularly related to the inner branch, and means pivotally supporting the inner branches of the elements on the body to project from the front thereof and to pivot about substantially horizontal axes so that the outer branches of the elements converge upwardly to have their upper ends engage and support an object introduced between them,

said upper ends engaging the object in a plane spaced a. substantial distance from the front of