US771546A - Sponge-cup. - Google Patents

Description

No. 771,546. v: PATENTED OCT. 4, 1904.

I T. -L. HARDING & H. E. HEAL.

SPONGE CUP.

APPLICATION FILED FEBJQ, 1904.

N0 MODEL.

2 mglggnd nd LL 3:

ATTORNEY UNITED STATES Patented October 4, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

THEODORE L. HARDING AND HARRY E. HEAL, OF NETV YORK, N. Y.

SPONGE-CUP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 771,546, dated October 4, 1904.

Application filed February 19, 1904. Serial No. 194:,i12. (N0 model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that we, THEODORE L. HARD- ING and HARRY E. HEAL, citizens of the United States, and residents of New York city, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Sponge-Cups, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to improvements in sponge-cups, a well-known article for holding a moistened sponge. They are much used by bankers and others for moistening the tip of the fingers when counting paper money and for other similar purposes, the construction and operation of which is hereinafter fully described, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, of which Figure 1 is a perspective view of the cup, the neck or band around the opening grasping the sponge, and a permanently-attached cover for the same. Fig. 2is a central crosssection' of Fig. 1, showing the sides of the cup, the position of the sponge suspended above the bottom of the cup, the reservoir, and the relative thickness of the 'material.

The difierent parts are designated as A, cup; S, sponge; C, cover; R, reservoir; Gr, band; B, base, and H, hinge.

Our improvement consists in constructing a sponge-cup of vulcanized rubber or of other elastic or flexible material in a manner by which the sponge or a substitute therefor may be tightly held in the opening to the cup and there suspended, as shown in Fig. 2, or retained in a central position when resting upon the bottom of the cup. It further consists in enlarging the lower part of the body of the cup, so as to form a reservoir for retaining water and to admit of the cup and sponge being depressed or laterally compressed at pleasure; also, of a cover of suitable material permanently attached to the cup, all as and for the purposes shown and hereinafter described.

Heretofore sponge cups have been constructed of glass and other hard material and necessarily in a form to only loosely retain the sponge and without any means for retaining water'with which to remoisten the sponge indefinitely. Thus constructed they are unwieldy, clumsy, and the sponge has to be frequently and at much incovenience supplied with water. Besides, they are never provided with covers to parry dust and prevent evaporation.

Our invention obviates these objections. To this end we construct the sponge-cup of vulcanized rubber or it may be of any suitable elastic substitute therefor, substantially as shown in Fig. 1, in which the opening is drawn in toward the center of the cup, the edge of the opening being strengthened by thickening or forming a band integral around it, the body being expanded outwardly from the opening down to the base, thus forming the reservoir B, Fig. 2. The baseBis thicker than the sides of the cup. The object is to keep the cup expanded properly.

The cover G is permanently attached to the cup by an elastic hinge, for which purpose a metal hinge may be substituted, if desired. The cup being constructed of elastic material, substantially as shown and described, its operation is as follows: The sponge is cut to suitable shape and a little larger than the contracted opening in the cup. Then it may be by stretching the band G placed within the opening, where it will be firmly held by the contracting band.

To fill the reservoir R, compress the body of the cup laterally. While thus compressed immerse the sponge in water. While in this position release the pressure. Then the reexpansion of the cup will draw the water through the sponge. This operation being repeated, by lessening the pressure each time will soon fill the vacuum which constitutes the reservoir, or the reservoir may be filled by removing the sponge. If desired, the water may be completely forced out of the cup through the sponge by repeatedly compressing the cup. The sponge may be or not of a much less depth than shown in the cup. (See Fig. 2, S.) In either case the sponge may be quickly moistened, if dry, while there is water in the reservoir by depressing the cup. It is now ready for moistening the fingers, gummed stamps, &c. y

The cover C is an important adjunct. It serves to protect the sponge from dust and to prevent evaporation when the device is not in use... The cover may be made integral or of metal or other material.

We believe that our elastic sponge-cup has many advantages over all others of which we have knowledge. It is simple and cheap of construction, practical, durable, economical, and being made of soft material it is pleasant to handle. It will not mar the smoothest surface. The cup and cover may be of any suitable size or shape, plain or artistically ornamental.

What We claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. An elastic sponge-cup made of rubber, said cup having an opening at its top to receive a sponge, said opening being of a smaller York and State of New York, this 14th day' of December, A. D. 1903.

THEODORE L. HARDING. HARRY E. HEAL. WVitnesses:

T. SHERMAN HARDING, W ILLIAM EWALD.

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