US2044520A - Soap dish - Google Patents

Description

June 16, 1936. w. s. WEIANT, JR

SOAP DISH 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 17, 1955 June 16, 1936. w. s. WEIANT. JR 5 SOAP DISH Filed Jan, 17, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I nventov Patented June 16, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

This invention relates to that class of bathroom and kitchen accessories embracing various types of trays, receptacles and the like and it has more particular reference to a new and improved soap dish.

In particular, the invention has to do with the discovery and perfection of a soap dish of a reticular form calculated to compensate for effective drainage wherein rubber suction cups are employed as unique hangers; whereby to permit the dish to be attached to and suspended from the wall, portions of the bath tub, medicine cabinets and the like.

Concerned with novel refinements and adaptations, I have evolved and produced a simplified and economical dish construction characterized especially by the sheet metal part forming the body, the reinforcing frame, adjustable suction cups and the special adapter brackets or fixtures for efiectively associating said cups with the receptacle portion.

As will be hereinafter discerned, the essence of the invention resides, not so much in the coordination of the special soap dish and particular adapter or hanger bracket, but rather in the specific construction of the hanger bracket itself. That is to say, an outstanding purpose and object of the invention is to provide a unique fixture susceptible of use in conjunction with soap dishes and the like wherein it is characterized by a longitudinally elongated, U-shaped bracket with depending end portions constituting proper accommodation means for pivotally mounted suction cups, the cups being spaced apart and adjustable in relation to each other to accommodate varying adjacent angular supporting surfaces.

Other features and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description and drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a soap dish constructed in accordance with the principles of my invention showing the manner in which it is attached to a vertical wall.

Figure 2 is an end view of the structure observed in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail front or face elevational view of the especially formed rubber suction cups.

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the sheet metal blank from which the receptacle portion of the dish is formulated.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary} view similar to Figure 1 showing the manner in which the two cups may be angled or adjusted with respect to each other to accommodate wall surfaces either curved or in angular relation such as would be at the corner of a tub or the like.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary detailed view show- 5 ing the terminal or end formation of the adapter fixture.

It is believed logical to introduce the detailed description by directing attention first to Figure 4. Here is shown the foraminous or reticular sheet metal from which the body or receptacle portion of the structure is formulated or fashioned. I have found it expedient and practical to use some sort of light weight sheet metal and this is formed with appropriately proportioned apertures and in particular I call .attention to the oval aperture 1 which is formed in the part 8 constituting the bottom of the receptacle. This opening 1 is merely a finger hole to facilitate lifting of the cake of soap so that it can be conveniently grasped and removed. It is evident that soap sometimes sticks to the metal and this arrangement is desirable. Incidentally, it is unnecessary that the material be metal for it may be of wire, bakelite or porcelain form. In reducing the invention to practice, however, I have provided fold lines 9 along the four marginal edges of the part 8 and these serve to define extensions which may be described as a. pair of duplicate end walls l0, a front or outer wall II and a rear wall I2. The two walls II and I2 are the longitudinal walls and the one denoted at ll may be further described as the front wall and the one 12 as the rear or inner wall. The front wall is quite narrow in respect to the height and width of the other wall and the outer edge portions of all of the walls are provided with additional fold or score lines l3 which serve to define laterally bent attaching lips l4. To these lips I attach a rather sturdy wire frame l5. This may be accomplished by welding, soldering or otherwise. It will be noted that the front portion of the frame has depending end members l6 so as to dispose the intervening bar I! on a relatively low plane. This in conjunction with the low front wall H leaves the entire front of the receptacle or dish open to permit a cake of soap to be inserted and removed expeditiously. An outstanding feature of the construction has to do with the adoption and use of the adjustable rubber suction cups l8. These are of duplicate construction and I employ two and at the center of the convex portion thereof is an integral vertically bored lug 19 which serves as an attaching and hinge element. Just below this and eccentric thereto is a substantially segmental shaped boss 20 whose outer face is formed with a curved depression 2| which serves as a keeper seat for the laterally directed terminal or keeper finger 22 formed on the lower end of the adjacent arm 23 of the U-shaped hanger or adapter 24. This part 24 is made from wire of appropriate tensile strength and the bight portion is fastened to the rear bar member of the frame 15, or cast in the rim of a porcelain or bakelite dish.

Briefly, then it will be observed, that the receptacle portion, which is of general rectangular form, is of appropriate depth and made from suitable sheet material and preferably apertured for ventilation and proper drainage. The upstanding marginal walls thereof are provided with outstanding lips and attached to these is the wire frame l5. Secured to the rear frame member is a substantially U-shaped adapter 24 having depending arms 23 on which the hinge lugs I9 are rockably mounted and the terminals or free ends of the arms 23 rest in curved depressions formed in the keeper lugs 20. This makes for convenient adjustment of the suction cups l8.

All of these parts have been carefully selected and mechanically coordinated to provide for proper stress and strain distribution, resulting in the provision of a highly satisfactory soap dish. Owing to the particular arrangement of the adapter bracket 24 and the associated suction cups, said cups can be arranged to fit against either a concave or convex wall surface such as in the corner of a bath tub. As a matter of fact, the cups can be pulled around sufficient far into relatively diverging position to fit against two walls approaching each other at right angles such as is the case in the cornenformation of the room. It is evident therefore that the range of utility of this particular type of a soap dish is believed to transcend that found in similar prior art devices. I shall not, however, attempt to delve into the various commercial phases of the invention and I will depend largely upon the accompanying claims to portray the structural refinements and improvements believed to exist in this particular contribution to the art.

It is thought that persons skilled in the art to which the invention relates will be able to obtain a clear understanding of the invention after considering the description in connection with the drawings. Therefore, a more lengthy description is regarded as unnecessary.

Minor changes in shape, size and rearrangement of details coming within the field of invention claimed may be resorted to in actual practice, if desired.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. An adapter fixture and hanger for a soap dish or the like comprising a substantially U- shaped bracket including a relatively long connective portion, a pair of spaced parallel duplicate down-bent end portions, the extremities of said end portions being bent laterally in corresponding directions to function as braces, and a pair of selectively usable individually adjustable suction cups, said suction cups being pivotallyattached at their central portions on the intermediate portions of the down-bent ends of said bracket, the laterally bent extremities being rockably engageable with the marginal portions of the cups, said cups being swingable in horizontal planes on vertical axes in the manner and for the purposes described.

2. An adapter fixture and hanger for a soap dish or similar receptacle susceptible of permitting the dish to be suspended diagonally across a corner of an associated structure comprising a substantially U-shaped wire member circular in cross-sectional shape and including a longitudinally elongated relatively straight bight portion and a pair of right angularly bent end-portions, said end-portions being of corresponding construction and having the sectors adjacent said bight portion straight to function as pivot pintles, the extremities thereof being gradually curved laterally to function as stabilizing fingers, and a pair of selectively usable individually adjustable rubber suction cups, each suction cup being provided on its convex side with a centrally disposed integral lug, said lug being formed with a vertical pivot pintle bore, and the marginal portion of each cup being provided with a second lug eccentrically arranged, said second lug being of general segmental form and provided with a concavity, the aforementioned pintles extending through said pivot bores in the first named lugs and the curved extremities being disposed in rockable contact with the concavities in the second named lugs.

3. An adapter fixture and hanger for a soap dish or the like comprising a bracket structure including a pair of spaced parallel duplicate down bent end portions, the extremities of said end portions being bent laterally in correspond- 'ing directions to function as braces, and a pair of selectively usable independently adjustable suction cups, said suction cups being pivotally attached at their central portions on the intermediate portions of the down bent ends of said bracket structure, the laterally bent extremities being rockably engageable with the marginal portions of the cups, said cups being swingable in horizontal planes on vertical axes in the manner and for the purposes described.

- WARREN S. WEIANT, JR.

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