US2641506A - Soap container and dispenser - Google Patents

Description

June 9, 1953 Filed March 50, 1950 F. J. LOWTHERS SOAP CONTAINER AND DISPENSER 2 Sheets-Sheet l June 9, 1953 F. J. Low'rHERs n 2,641,505

SOAP CONTAINER AND DISPENSE Filed March so, 1950 I j Y 2 Sheets-Sheet z Patented June 9, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT oF Icsj SOAP CONTAINER AND DISPENSER Frank J. Lowthers, Boston, Mass. Application March so, 1950, Serial No. 152,889

1 Claim.

My present invention relates to a container for the disposal of fragments and small used pieces of soap, includes attaching means therewith to suspend such container beneath a water faucet or tap, and embodies means therein to dispense the soap in suds form when it is liquefied by water from such faucet or tap.

At present, it is well known that there exists a constant wastage in the use of both hand and bath soaps, since it is the customary practice to discard and throw away any soap that has become substantially used up or broken into small fragments. This practice has developed not because these small pieces of soap have lost their cleansing value, but primarily because they are difficult to handle and inconvenient'to use. In-. asmuch as the current popular brand soaps are of soft consistency, they dissolve very rapidly,

. and it therefore becomes a costly proposition not to utilize the same to the fullest extent.

I have discovered that such presently discarded bits of soap may readily be used, if collected together in a suitable container and allowed to flow therefrom as suds. These suds serve as efficient water softeners, and may well serve as a substitute for soap powders or bath salts. If desired, several of these containers may be employed, one to receive perfumed soap bits for bath purposes, another to receive bits of naptha soap for scrubbing purposes, and so forth. The applications are numerous, but in every case, each cake of soap will be completely used up and thus no wastage will result.

In carrying out my invention I prefer to provide an attractive container for the soap scraps,

made of plastic in varying colors to harmonize with the kitchen or bathroom appointments, and for which I have coined the fanciful trade-mark of Sudsifier. My container is fitted with ready attaching means to suspend the same in filling position beneath the water supply and formed with predeterminedly spaced openings about the circumference thereof to act as spraying outlets when the container is being filled with water.

In designing my soap receptacle, I have found that it is preferable to arrange the spray open ings throughout two-thirds of the circumference side of the sink or tube. As the jet of water '.thllS flows against this solid surface, it is directed (against the supply of soap scraps in the bottom thereof, with sufficient force to"-'agitate them, which will cause the immediate provision of suds.

My container is a handy, simple, inexpensive,- and highly useful article which will be found of real advantage as a soap receptacle and as a dispensing means for the same when converted into suds by the agitation'thereof of a stream of water.

Further objects, advantages, and details of construction will be hereinafter more 1 fully pointed out in the accompanying description and more clearly defined in the appended claim.

Referring to the drawings wherein I show a preferred embodiment of my invention:

Fig.1 is a side elevational view, partly in cross section, illustrating my soap'container suspended within a bathtub, partially shown, and being attached to the water tap fixture;

Fig. 2 isan enlarged cross-sectional view on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; 1

Fig. 3 is a front elevational view of the soa container illustrating the. solid water striking surface; and

Fig. 4. is a fragmentary side elevational view, partly in cross-section, illustrating my soap container suspended within a bathtub, and being hooked thereto thru an opening in the overflow outlet.

In the drawings, I have shown my invention associated with a standard type of bathtub, designated generally as H], of the type having an overflow fitting ll formed with a plurality of openings l2-l2 in the forepart thereof set in the face of the tub l0 and with the rear part leading into the usual connecting drain-pipe l4.

Positioned above the tub l0 directly above the fitting H and projecting from the tile or other wall covering are the water faucets l5l5, and the intermediate tap 16 showing a jet of water I! being dispensed therefrom.

Adapted for use with the above is my novel soap container and dispenser which I have designated generally as 20 and which I prefer to construct of light metal or translucent plastic ma-.- terial. As shown, I desire to form this container 20 of cylindrical design and preferably tapered from an open top portion to a closed bottom. The cylindrical surface of my unit is provided with a plurality of spray openings 2l2l arranged in predetermined design so as to leave a solid surface 22 on one circumference and extending around the bottom portion of such surface. Integral with the container 20 and extending outwardly adjacent the top thereof is a hooking element 23 adapted for attachment in any suitable opening, such as l2 in the fitting I I. Also pivotally secured in diametrically opposite holes adjacent the top of the container 20 are the ends of a bale 25 which is designed to carry a spring clip 28 of appropriate size to snap onto a water tap, such as [6.

When not in use my container may be placed on a shelf or any other handy location where it may lend color to the room and serve as a receptacle for fragments of soap 30 when they become too small for convenient handlmg.

But when a water softener is desired, the container 20 may be readily suspended beneath the tap l6 either by hooking the element- 23 in an opening I2 or by snapping the spring clip *28 mounted on the bale 25 around the tap 16.. .155 thus suspended, the bottom of the container 20 mllrtend to swing toward the face of the ,tub L and @be balanced thereby.

When the .hot water faucet i is now turned on, thejet of water I will flowagainst .theclosed surface .22 and thence to the bottom of the container 12-0, where "it duly agitates the soap frag- 111811158130 thru the force of the stream itself.

From this agitation copious suds immediately form .andfas the water fills the container 2.0 and "reaches the "level :of the opening 2.'|-2,|., sudsy water is sprayed into the tub l0 and will continue "to be so sprayed until the desired amount is in -;solution, whereuponthe water is shutoff and the ;-appropriat position therebeneath, lbutit is apparent that other equally efficient attaching de- 4 vices may be utilized, if and when desired or required. And, of course, I may desire to form my novel soap container and dispenser with either one of the attaching means incorporated therewith separately.

My container may be made of any preferred form, shape, or size, and the solid area 22 provides an ideal surface on which to inscribe advertising matter or any attractive pattern or design.

From the foregoing, therefore, it be seen that I have devised a novel, useful, inexpensive, attractive, and highly eficient receptacle for smalland fragmentary pieces of soap and means therein 'tocause-the soap to be dispensed in suds form, when duly agitated by water from any standard tap or water supply.

I claim:

Asoap container and dispenser of the kind described, comprising an open-ended cylindrical receptacle having a closed base and integral upper and lower portions formed with longitudinally tapering sides and with the c osed base at the smaller diameter, said lower portion eing unperforated approximately one-fourth its length above the base to provide a soap-"holding ompartment, said upper portion comprising apartly -.perfor.ated area and adiametrically ouposit solid water-striking area, and means disposed adjacent the top of said upper portimi .to ret insai nontainer in water-receiving position beneath .a

water-faucet FRANK J. .LOWTIHERS- References lined in the me of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

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