US2595412A - Toilet bowl brush cabinet - Google Patents

Description

y May 6, 1952 R. D. ROLLIE ET AL 2,595,412

TOILET Bowl. BRUSH CABINET Filed Nov. 8, 1948 Patented May 6, 1952 TOILET BOWL BRUSH CABINET Robert D. Rollie and Ada E. Rollie, St. Paul, Minn.

Application November 8, 1948, Serial N o. 58,942

3 Claims.

` I This invention relates to toilet bowl brush cabinets, and particularly to a cabinet that may either be substituted for the cover of a flush tank or hung on the wall, and when applied to a ilush tank may be easily attached and detached, and is adapted to t a great Variety of tanks.

Very little has been done in this field, notwithstanding the fact that a toilet bowl brush, without a proper cabinet to put it in, causes a disagreeable situation in being exposed to the view, and the dripping on the floor or elsewhere results in unsanitary conditions, that may readily result in contamination and contagion. The brush Y should be kept near the toilet, so it is handy and readily available for frequent use. If kept elsewhere, it obviously results in a messy and disagreeable situation. A compartment built into one end of a flush tank will store such a brush, but it is not easy of access since it requires the moving of a heavy cover, and it is quite expensive to provide such a compartment together with proper drainage facilities.

One important object of our invention is to provide a cabinet for a toilet bowl brush, which will store the brush in a location convenient to the toilet but hidden from View, and with provisions for draining to eliminate unsanitary conditions.

Another important object is to provide such a cabinet, that may either be hung on the wall or substituted for the cover of a flush tank, to which it may be readily attached and detached, and having means to adapt it to a great variety of tanks.

Another object is to provide such a cabinet with a deodorant dispenser, which is rendered self-acting by the customary opening and closing of the hinged door of the cabinet.

Another object is to provide such a cabinet with suitable space for toilet articles, cans of cleaning compound, rolls of toilet paper and the like.

Another object is to provide a cabinet with such desirable features, which nevertheless can be economically manufactured.

Other objects will be apparent from the description and appended claims.

right half v`thereof shown in section, taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. l. l

--'.-Fig. 3Li's a sectional view on line 3-3 ofFig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional plan view showing a spring device at bottom of cabinet, for adapting it to a variety of flush tanks.

Sheet metal in section in this case, is for the purpose of clarity indicated by a single line.

Referring now to the several gures of the drawing, the reference character Ill indicates a sheet metal cabinet, preferably with an enameled surface. The front corners of the cabinet are preferably rounded to render same unobstructive and of good appearance. A downwardly extending flanged base IIl is similarly provided with rounded corners, and the flanged edge extends down over the flush tank, from which the cover has been removed. This edge is turned over and rolled, so there is no sharp contact. It extends across the front and the ends, terminating at the wall on each side. The base has an inwardly projecting shelf I2, within the cabinet, extending around both sides and ends., This provides support for a drip pan I3, to be used in case the cabinet is hung on the wall, which matter will be subsequently referred to. In such use, the shelf I2 rwith the pan I3 in place provides closed construction, so flies cannot get into the.cabinet. For

positioning on a flush tank, and in which case the drip pan I3 is not used, we provide a positioning spring I4 with contacts I5 at each end. One of these springs is provided in each front corner, and secured in a diagonal position to the under side of the shelf I2 by a clip I6. This positioning spring adapts itself to variation in width and length of tanks, so that the cabinet positions itself symmetrically and securely to the particular tank lon which it is placed. If further securement is desired, screws or nails may be properly placed .for engagement in the slotted holes II, which holes are used for supporting the cabinet on the wall. The contacts I5 consist of ends of Spring bent in circular shape to encompass pegs of wood or plastic. These pegs are subject to vertical ad- J'ustment, which may be desirable in placing the cabinet on the flush tank. It will be observed, that the cabinet can be readily placed, by each hand deflecting a spring by thrust of the fingers against the pegs and allowing the cabinet to seat itself on the flush tank.

j-The cabinet is provided with-a shelf or tray y. LB for a bowl brush', a shelf I9 for cans of clean- 50 ing compound, toilet paper and the like, and in ...perforated dish shaped areas 2l, to provide for lcluding flies and insects. space, out of sight, is provided for cans of cleancomplete drainage of the bowl brush in either end for end position. The tray 2l] has a continuous rim around same, formed by the top edge of the cabinet. Like the base of the cabinet, this edge is turned over and rolled, so there is no sharp contact. The cabinet is tightly closed by a door 22, which pivots on hinges 23, and closes against the edges of the backwardly inclined front of the cabinet and against the rim of the top tray. To prevent damage to the door and cabinet, by forceful opening of the door, and to facilitate removal of dript pan i3, when cabinet is mounted on the wall, a 'check link 24 is provided on each side of the door. This link is secured to the door and the cabinet respectively by clips 2 5. The door in open position is indicated in dotted outline in Fig. 3. To provide for practical dispensing of a deodorant, We provide a cylindrical container 26, which is detachably secured to a tube 21 by a screw threaded connection. The tube is securely attached to and passes through the door 22. On the outward end, we preferably provide a simulation of a ower 28, which may be made of metal or plastic. In the center of the flower, are a number of' tiny holes, which give access of the deodorant vapor to the room. In the bud space 29 of the iiower, cotton is packed, which automatically becomes saturated with deodorant every time the door is opened. A convenient handle 30 is provided for the door. This handle, provided in rather small dimension material and painted green, simulates the stern of the flower.

If instead of placing the cabinet on top of a flush tank, it is desired to hang same on the wall, it can be securely held in position with two screws or nails arranged for engagement with the slotted holes Il. As previously referred to, this requires the use of the drip pan i3. In all other respects, its use is the same as when positioned on top of the flush tank. It may be desirable to use an antiseptic in the drip pan to treat the drippings, which when employing the flush tank, are frequently disposed of through the flushing operations. Since drippings are inconsiderable,v the drip pan might be formed of Water proof card board, which would be disposable after a period of use. The card board might also be impregnated by an antiseptic. With the drip pan in the cabinet and the door in normally closed position, the cabinet excludes all flies and insects, in the same manner as when positioned on a flush tank.

From the foregoing, it is apparent how our cabinet is constructed and that it must have many desirable features. A toilet bowl brush is in general a source of inconvenience, being unsightly, as well as unsanitary and messy to store in any place ordinarily available in a bath room. With the use of our cabinet, the bowl brush is in the handiest location possible, is hidden from view, may be returned to the cabinet after use without scattering drippings, and the draining and storing of it accomplished in a sanitary manner, without spreading disease germs. The cabinet is devised to satisfactorily fit a great variety of flush tanks, to which it may be readily attached and detached. It provides automatic dispensing of a deodorant by the opening of the door, whenever the brush is used. The backwardly sloping front of the cabinet against which the door closes, together with the manner in which the deodorant dispenseris attached, causes the door to assume a tightly closed position, eX-

Convenient storage ing compound, a supply of toilet paper and the like, and a tray with a rim around it is provided for such toilet articles as are commonly placed on top of a flush tank cover. There appears toy be a great need for such a handy cabinet and which can be economically manufactured.

While we have shown and described a preferred form of our invention, it is obvious that many changes, which are within the scope of our invention, will be apparent to those skilled in the art. vWe therefore desire to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

What we claim is:

1. In a cabinet for a toilet bowl brush, wherein a base is employed having an inwardly projecting supporting structure arranged to rest upon the top edge of a flush tank and a downwardly extending flange over the outside of the flush tank arranged to nt various flush tank dimensions; the combination with said base .of spring holding devices, each comprising a leaf spring secured at its mid-point by a clip to the under side of said base in a diagonal position at locations facing each of the front corners thereof, loops formed at the ends of the spring and vertically adjustable pins encompassed and frictionally held by said loops, said loops and pins engaging the inside of the flush tank and exerting pressure thereagainst endwise in opposite directions and towards the front as directed by the springs, whereby, by reason of the latitude of self adjustment of the springs, the cabinet is symmetrically and rmly positioned on variously sized flush tanks.

2. In a cabinet for a toilet bowl brush, wherein a base is employed having an inwardly projecting supporting structure arranged to rest upon the top edge of a flush tank and a downwardly extending ange over the outside of the flush tank arranged tot various flush tank dimensions; the combination with said base of a drip pan supported on the top of said inwardly projecting supporting structure and supported directly above said pan a shelf for accommodating a toilet bowl brush, said shelf comprising a iiat supporting surface with a downwardly inclined drainage basin at each end to accommodate the bowl brush in its respective end for end positions, whereby moisture is quickly drained from the bowl brush and directed into the drip pan eliminating unsanitary conditions.

3. In a cabinet for a toilet bowl brush, wherein a base is employed having an inwardly projecting supporting structure arranged to rest upon the top edge of a flush tank and a downwardly extending flange over the outside of the flush tank arranged to fit various ush tank dimensions; the combination with said base of an inclined cabinet front sloping rearwardly toward the top, a door opening in said front, a door for said opening hingedly connected to said base and arranged to assume a normal closed position against said inclined front, a deodorant dispenser attached to said door, said dispenser comprising a container, a tube and a perforated nozzle, said container being detachably secured to said tube, said tube being securely attached to and passing through an'opening in said door, said nozzle being attached to the end of said tube on the outside of said door, said nozzle having a space containing absorbent material, said material being kept saturated by the deodorant contacting it by the customary opening of the door to .eiectivelyproduce and 'uniformly dispel 5 6 a vapor, said container being positioned on the UNITED STATES PATENTS inside of said door, which has a favorable inclina- Number Name Date tion. whereby dispenser weight operation acts to 1 024 591 Michels Apr 30 1912 keep Sad door tightly Closed- 1,215,294 MacDonald Feb. 6,1917

ROBERT D ROI-'LIE' 5 1 366 426 Silvers Jan. 25 1921 ADA E- R0LLIE` 1,710,036 Tilden Apr. 23:, 1929 1,861,802 Kelly June 7, 1932 REE ERENCES CITED 2,003,006 Michelson May 2B, 1935 The following references are of record in the 2,033,629 Goepel Mar. 10, 1936 le of this patent: 10 2,170,776 Goepel Aug. 22, 1939 2,373,339 Roberts Apr. 10, 1945 2,434,399 Duckeneld Jan. 13, 1948

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