US2475500A

US2475500A - Soap holder

Info

Publication number: US2475500A
Application number: US654126A
Authority: US
Inventors: George C Heliote
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1946-03-13
Filing date: 1946-03-13
Publication date: 1949-07-05
Anticipated expiration: 1966-07-05

Description

y 1949. G. c. HELIOTE 2,475,500

SOAP HOLDER Filed March 15, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. Georye C HZ/IOZZ July 5, 1949. G. c. HELIOTE 2,475,500

SOAP HQL'DER Filed March 13, 1946 V 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Z4 INVENTOR. I George C. fi/[oze Patented July 5, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT "OFFICE SOAP HOLDER George C. Heliote, Oakland, Calif.

Application March 13, 1946, Serial No. 654,126

2 Claims. 1

This invention relates to receptacles for receiving and supporting bars of soap between periods of use of the latter.

An object of the invention is to provide a device of the character described which effects conservation of the soap in a cake thereof by hastening drainage and evaporation of surface water which may be adhering thereto following each period of use of the cake.

Another object of the invention is to provide a soap holder in which the cake of soap, irrespective of its state of consumption, is engaged at a plurality of points which total a very small area of contact with the support members of the holder so as to effect exposure of as large a surface area as possible of the cake to drainage and to the drying action of the ambient air.

A further object of the invention is to provide a soap holder designed to eliminate sharp corners, crevices or comparatively inaccessible pockets in which evaporated soap solution may collect and which might interfere with ready and thorough cleaning of the device.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a soap holder constructed of comparatively unbreakable highly transparent material which, by permitting a substantially unobstructed view through the device of underlying or adjacent colored surfaces, effects a material reduction in conspicuity of the device.

The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some of which, with the foregoing, will be set forth in the following description of the preferred form of the invention which is illustrated in the drawings accompanying and forming part of the specification. It is to be understood, however, that variations in the showin made by the said drawings and description may be adopted within the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a soap holder comprising the preferred embodiment of my invention.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of the soap holder of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a modified form of soap holder.

Figure 4 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of the soap holder of Figure 3.

In carrying out my invention and with reference to Figure 1, I provide a unitary device constructed of moldable plastic material, preferably the transparent variety commonly known to the trade as Lucite, comprising a base 6 of any suitable geometric form, in this case an ellipse,

having a centrally disposed protuberance l rising therefrom and provided with a raised peripheral rim 8 which, in conjunction with the protuberance l defines, in the upper face of the base, an annular well 9. Rising from the protuberance I is a plurality of angularly related stems II each of which, at its upper end, terminates in an integral wing l2 extending outwardly in a generally horizontal direction to a position substantially perpendicularly above the periphery of the base. The upper edge of each wing l2, which is comparatively narrow in relation to its length, is provided with an entrant curve I3 descending from the outer end of the wing toward and to intersect the vertical central axis of the base in common focus with the curved surfaces of the other wings. This correlation of the surfaces l3 forms in the top of the holder a recessed receptacle in which a cake of soap may be placed so as to rest at a plurality of spaced points on the bottom surface thereof against the respective wings. When the cake is in a wet condition and is placed on the holder, water in excess of that which is absorbed by surface portions of the soap will drip from the cake and will be received in the well 9 from where it, together with the slight amount of dissolved soap carried thereby, may be periodically removed by dumping the contents of the well into the wash basin and by removing the accumulated soap stains by holding the device under a stream of running water. It will be seen that the wet cake will be so held, at its minimized-area contact points with the holder, that a maximum surface area of the cake will be exposed to the drying action of the ambient air thus hastening the evaporation both of surface water and that which has been absorbed by the soap. There is therefore little chance for surface jelly to form or remain on the cake which will be Washed therefrom during the subsequent use of the cake with the attendant wastage of the soap.

The modification of the invention shown in Figures 1 and 2 is intended for use on surfaces which are to be protected against contact with the soap solution which may drain from the cake. In Figures 3 and 4 I have shown a modified form of the invention intended for use with a wash basin or with any other such device having a drainage surface or duct sloping toward or into a Waste conduit or hopper. In this device, the base M is provided with a peripheral rim I6 and with a central opening I! towards which the upper surface N3 of the base slopes downwardly thus causing any fluid which may fall on the latter surface to flow into the opening IT. A concavity [9 formed in the bottom surface of the base and extending beyond the borders of the opening produces a vertically narrow perimetral ledge around the opening from which fluid may drop directly onto the surface on which the soap holder may be supported. Formed integrally with the base l4 and rising from the surfaces "3 thereof is a plurality of relatively thin wings 2| extending from points immediately within the peripheral rim I6 of the base and terminating in relatively spaced relation near the center of the base and with a substantial portion thereof overlying the opening I1. Each of the wings, as in the previously described form of the invention, is provided with a downwardly and inwardly curving upper surface 23 which cooperates with the similar surfaces of the other wings to provide a depressed receptacle in which a cake of soap may be placed. As previously explained, drippings from the wet cake may either fall directly through the opening I! onto the subjacent drain surface or will be intercepted by the surfaces l8 which will conduct the drippings into the opening vents, comprising grooves 24 formed in the bottom surface of the base and opening into the concavity IQ of the latter, are provided for permitting escape of the fluid from the holder so that it may flow into the basin or other drain device with which the holder may be associated. As in the previously disclosed form of the invention, the cake of soap rests on the wings 2| at a plurality of dispersed points of comparatively small contact area which serves to expose a maximum surface of the cake to the drying action of the surrounding air and thereby prevents formation on the cake of softened surface areas which may be wastefully washed away during succeeding usage of the soap.

The material used in the construction of the holders of my invention lends a definite advantage thereto. It has been found that when the holders are made of moldable plastic material possessing a high degree of transparency, such as the substance commercially known as Lucite, the fact that an observer may clearly view, through the holder, the underlying surface on which the holder may be resting, renders the holder highly inconspicuous and seemingly reduces its overall bulk.

Iclaim:

1. A soap holder comprising a base, an upper surface sloping inwardly and downwardly, a plurality of wing members formed integrally with and rising vertically from said base, said wing members being disposed in cruciform arrangement on said base, and each of said wing members further having thereon a curved upper surface rising upwardly from a point adjacent the center of said base and extending along said wing member to the outer end thereof, said upper curved surfaces of said Wing members being of convex and concave curves which are connected to each other, said concave curved surface of each wing member being cooperative with the concave curved surfaces of the other wing members to form a recess in which a cake of soap may be placed to rest at a point on each curved surface.

2. A soap holder comprising a. base, an upper surface sloping inwardly and downwardly, a plurality of wing members formed integrally with and rising vertically from said base, said wing members being disposed in cruciform arrangement on Said base, and each of said wing members further having thereon a curved upper surface rising upwardly from a point adjacent the center of said base and extending along said wing member to the outer end thereof, said upper curved surfaces of said wing members being of convex and concave curves which are connected to each other, said concave curved surface of each wing member being cooperative with the concave curved surfaces of the other wing members to form a recess in which a cake of soap may be placed to rest at a point on each curved surface, said base having a central opening therein, the convex surfaces of said wing members overlying said openings.

GEORGE C. HELIOTE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,643,450 Heloian Sept. 27, 1927 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 9,356 Great Britain 1899 246,394 Italy Mar. 22, 1926 740,225 France Nov. 12, 1932