US2886916A - Floatable soap container and scrubber - Google Patents

Description

May 19, 1959 P. ROSS] FLOATABLE SOAP CONTAINER AND SCRUBBER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 11, 1956 INVENTOR. Pa uZR ass L May 19, 1959 P. ROSSI FLOATABLE SOAP CONTAINER AND SCRUBBER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 11. 1956 INVENTOR. PauZRos si 3 Q Q) United States Patent ffice Patented May 19, 1959 FLOATABLE SOAP CONTAINER AND SCRUBBER Paul Rossi, Warren, Ohio Application September 11, 1956, Serial No. 609,243

1 Claim. (CI. 45-28) This invention relates to soap containers and scrubbers.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a floatable soap container and scrubber which will hold a toilet or laundry soap and will prevent the same from sinking in the water, thereby avoiding the main disadvantage of conventional soap containers.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a floatable soap container and scrubber of the above type which may also be used for scrubbing purposes by the provision of a resilient corrugated surface forming a part of the container and scrubber which is supplied with soapy water.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a soap holder and scrubber of the above type which will prevent the soap from slipping out of the hands when being used.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a fioatable soap container and scrubber bearing the above objects in mind which is of simple construction, has a minimum number of parts, is inexpensive to manufacture and efiective in operation and use.

For other objects and for a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure l is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention taken along the line 11 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view thereof;

Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view;

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of a modified form of the present invention and illustrating in phantom the position of the soap therewithin;

Fig. 6 is an end elevational view of the modified form of Fig. 5 with the soap removed;

Fig. 7 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view taken along the line 77 of Fig. 5 and showing the soap in position therewithin;

Fig. 8 is an end elevational view of a still further modified form of the present invention; and

Fig. 9 is a top plan view of the modified form of the invention of Fig. 8.

Referring now more in detail to the drawing, and more particularly to Figs. 1 through 4, there is shown a soap container and scrubber including a substantially rectangular bottom wall 10 of sponge rubber integrally formed around its four edges with the vertical side wall 11, the upper surface of the bottom wall 10 on each side sloping inwardly and downwardly towards the central longitudinal portion thereof where the bottom wall 10 is provided with the longitudinally spaced vertical bores 12 therethrough, substantially as illustrated.

The bottom wall 10 and the side wall 11 thereof are completely encased in a coating 13 of rubber so as to retard the absorption of water by the bottom and side wall, this coating 13 extending within the bores 12.

The bottom wall 10 with the side walls 11 forms the compartment 14 within which is resiliently retained the bar or laundry or toilet soap 15.

The bottom wall 10 is also provided with laterally extending bores 16 which communicate at their inner ends with the vertical bores 12 and at their outer ends with the edge of the container.

A substantially rectangular pad 17 is suitably secured to the undersurface of the rubber coating 13, for example by means of rubber cement of other suitable adhesive and is provided with the longitudinally spaced, laterally extending semicircular grooves 18 which define the semicircular ridges 19. The bores 12 extend downwardly through the bottom of the pad 17.

Due to the sponge rubber construction of the bottom wall 10 and side wall 11 as well as the lower pad 17, the container will float on the water and prevent the soap 15 from sinking therein. This will effect an economy of time normally employed in locating the soap. The rubber coating 13 prevents the sponge rubber from absorbing too much water, as a soaked container would require a longer time to dry the soap. The ridges 19 and grooves 18 on the lower pad 17 permit the device to be used for scrubbing, the soapy water being supplied to this scrubbing surface through the bores 12. The sloping walls of the bottom of the container (Fig. 2) towards the bores 12 will facilitate the drainage of the water when the container is not in use and to facilitate the drying of the soap. The bores 16 extending laterally will also facilitate the drying of the soap, as well as providing convenient openings for mounting the container on a nail or the like mounted in a wall.

The soap container and scrubber may also be manufactured without the tough rubber coating 13, at a reduced cost.

Referring now particularly to Figs. 5 through 7, there is shown a modified form of the present invention which will not only permit the soap tofioat but will also prevent the soap from slipping out of the users hands, including a pair of substantially rectangular laterally spaced side walls 20 of foam rubber connected at their upper and lower ends by means of the semicylindrical top wall 21 and bottom wall 22, the upper and lower surfaces of the top wall 21 and bottom wall 22 being integrally formed with the reduced ridges or extensions 23 and 24, respectively. Each of the side walls 20 is provided with the spaced, substantially parallel openings 25. The bar of soap 15 is inserted intermediate the laterally spaced side walls 20 and retained thereat by the natural resiliency of the foam rubber as shown in Figs. 5 and 7, the container assuming the six-sided configuration of Fig. 7 when the soap is positioned therewithin and including the air spaces 26 at opposite ends which facilitate the circulation of air and the drying of the soap when not in use. The device will prevent the soap from slipping out the hand as well as preventing it from sinking. Soaping is ob tained by rubbing, by turning or pressing inwardly through the various openings. This device can also be used 00-. casionally to scrub the sink or the like, provided the surface of the sink is prepared previously by the use of a detergent. The soap will be removed for quicker results. An additional advantage resides in the fact that when a surface is very soiled and hard to clean, steel wool may be inserted into the container to give a better grasping of the same without bringing the bare hands into contact with the steel wool.

Referring now particularly to Figs. 8 and 9, there is shown a still further modified form of the present invention which is particularly adapted to facilitate the removal of soot, grease and dirt due to its particular construction and which effects an economy of soap.

An oval shaped pad 27 of rubber or other substance having similar physical characteristics is provided with a central, transversely extending bore 28 having the rounded end portions 29 and which is adapted to receive there- Within the bar of soap 15. The opposite sides of the pad 27 are provided with the laterally spaced, substantially parallel openings 30 which communicate with the bore 28 and which are provided with rounded end portions, substantially as illustrated. The opposite ends of the pad 27 will also be provided with the laterally extending grooves 31. The soap container and scrubber of Figs. 8 and 9 of rubber or other substance having similar physical properties will, when soaping the hands and rubbing on surfaces, aid to remove soot, grease and dirt. Furthermore, by having the container provided with the openings 30, it is possible to effect an economy of soap, not only by rubbing the hands against the ends of the openings but the partly opened container enables the user to obtain only as much soaping as necessary. Still another advantage resides in the fact that whether a piece of soap is just the size of the container or considerably smaller, the container enables the user to grasp the soap in the hand with much greater assurance against slipping. The openings 30 at both sides and 31 at opposite ends permit the circulation of air to keep the soap dry after using it and also enable the water to drain oft" and save the soap by keeping it raised from the supporting surface where usually a certain amount of water may gather. The openings 30 will also provide a grasping area for the fingers. The soap may be partially displaced from the container for more ready access, while at the same time the container will still provide a firm grasping action.

While various changes may be made in the detail construction, it shall be understood that such changes shall be within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claim.

What I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United States is:

A soap container and holder comprising, in combination, a compressible sponge pad having an integral peripheral side Wall defining a compartment for receiving a cake of soap, said pad having a plurality of drainage openings extending therethrough, said pad and side wall being enclosed within a water resistant covering, a separable uncovered pad secured to said covered pad including a plurality of laterally spaced apart longitudinally extending parallel ridges on the under surface of said pad, said drainge openings extending through both of said pads, the upper surface of said covered pad sloping toward the longitudinal center thereof, said drainage openings being located along the longitudinal center of said pads, said ridges providing means for distributing the suds emanating from the soap supported within said compartment, and said covered pad having laterally extending openings communicating at their inner ends with said drainage openings and at their outer ends with the edge of said container on one side, whereby to increase the aeration of the soap and to provide a convenient means for supporting the container.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS D. 84,489 Murray June 23, 1931 1,659,644 Vernet Feb. 21, 1928 1,660,729 Strock Feb. 28, 1928 FOREIGN PATENTS 165,348 Great Britain June 30, 1921 230,660 Germany Mar. 19, 1925

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