US2366421A - Soap dish - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 2, 1945. G. N. NELSON 2,366,421

SOAP DISH- Filed May 5, 1944 6- i g r A k INVENTOR 7 George N Ale/son by rod members 8.

Patented Jan. 2, 1945 U N 1 TE 1) STAT E S PATEN T F Fl C E "soar msn Z George Iii Nelson, Martinez, Calif. Application May 1944, Serial No. 534,260 4 Claims. (01. 45-28):

- This invention is concerned with improvements in. soap dishes or racks and particularly with a device for supporting the soap so that it dries quickly and the under surface does not become gummy due to water absorption. r

Another object of the present invention is. to provide a soaprack which supports. a cake of soap in a tilted position to drain surplus. water therefrom while permitting ready access of air. to minimize softening of thesoap and so reduce the extentof water erosion.

A further object of the invention is to provide a simple, inexpensive soap rack fabricated from inexpensive materials such as wood, plastic or the like.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a soap rack which will accommodate soap cakes of various sizes and shapes.

The inventionincludes other objects and ad vantages, some of which, together with the foregoing, will become further apparent upon consideration of the detailed description of the soap rack of the present invention.

Referring to the drawing which accompanies and forms a part hereof, Figure 1 is a plan view of a preferred form of rack. Figure 2 is an end elevation of the rack shown in Figure 1, while Figure 3 is a side elevation showing the rack in use.

Figure 4 is a modification illustrating how the principles of construction of the present invention can be applied to another form of soap rack.

Figure 5 is an end elevation, while Figure 6 is a side elevation showing the modified rack in use.

The rack shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3 comprises a plurality of similar fiat members I, each of which is relatively thin in transverse section, as appears in Figures 1 and 2. The several members are joined together, preferably at their ends, The flat members can be separateh formed and the rod members inserted through suitable apertures, or the flat members and rod members can be formed integral with one another as when the structure is made by molding of a suitable plastic material. The'overall width of the structure is such that it fits readily into place in usual bathroom fixtures. In the device illustrated, four flat members are utilized. This can be increased, or decreased to as few as two.

, Each of the flat support members includes terminal ends or legs 9 and l I positioned at the end of a central support section '12. In the form of provided. in the form of discs. which project on opposite sides: away from. the central support section 12 whereby each. member is bilaterally symmetrical. By providingithe: terminal ends 9 and H on the central. support section so that each of the members is symmetrical bilaterally about a-v plane passed through the member at a right angle to the-longitudinal axis of the central support section 12, the soap dish can be readilyutilized in either of two positions. For example,

'inFigure 3 the dish. is shown with a cake of soap ting more of the soap surface to be exposed for dry g.

In Figures 4, 5 and 6 I have shown a modified device made up of a plurality of thin, flat support members generally indicated at 2|. In this form of device, however, the outer support members 22 are made of a shorter over-all length than intermediate members 23 of which one or more may be present. Each of the support members 22,includes opposite terminal ends 24 and 26 while intermediate member 23 includes terminal ends 2'1 and 2B. As appears in Figure 6, the terminal ends 24 and 26 are positioned at a slightly smaller obtuse angle to the central support section 29 device shown in Figure 1, the terminal ends are of member 22, while terminal ends 21 and 28 are, positioned at a slightly greater obtuse angle. This is to permit all of the terminal ends to engage a flat support surface when they are positioned downwardly, as appears in Figure 6. Also, because terminal ends 21 and 28 are at a greater obtuse angle to their associated central support sections 3| than are the ends 24 and 26, a cake of soap which has a straight side and is placed in engagement with the ends 26 will engage only these, as is apparent from Figure 6. -If, however, an oblong cake of soap or a cake of dimini'shed size is placed upon the support, it may be engaged only with the ends 28 or with one of these and with an associated end 26. The obtuse angle of the several ends ensures a minimum of contact with the side of a cake of soap. In the form of device shown in Figures 4, 5 and 6, rods 32 extend through the several members and join these together as a unit. However, if desired the device can be made in one piece and of a suitable material such as a plastic.

While I have described my invention in detail in its present preferred embodiment, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art, after understanding my invention, that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit thereof or scope thereof as the same is defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. A soap support comprising a plurality of substantially similar support members, each of said members including a first leg, a second leg and a central section joining said legs, saidlegs repectively extendin away from said central section at substantially the same angle but on opposite sides thereof, each of said members being relatively narrow in transverse section and being substantially symmetrical bilaterally on each side of a plane passed through the midpoint of said central section and substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said section, and members joining said support members together in a spaced side by side relation in which the first legs on the support members project upwardly to provide a support for a cake of soap positioned on said central section and the second legs project to engage a horizontal surface support and with said central section, support said cake of soap at an acute angle to the horizontal whereby the cake, if wet, drains and dries.

2. A soap support as in claim 1 wherein the first leg and the second leg are each provided by substantially circular discs.

3. A soap support as in claim 1 wherein the first leg and the second leg are each provided by continuation of the central section having the same cross-sectional configuration, said legs extending at an obtuse angle from said section.

4. A soap support comprising a pair of outer substantially similar support members, at least one intermediate support member positioned intermediate said outer members, each of said members including a first leg, a second leg and a central section joining said legs, said legs respectively extending away from the central section of each outer member at substantially the same obtuse angle but on opposite sides thereof, the legs on said intermediate member each extending away from its central section at an obtuse angle greater than said first mentioned obtuse angle, each of said members being rela- I tively narrow in transverse section and bein individually substantially symmetrical bilaterally on'each side of a plane passed through the midpoint of said central section and substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said section, said outer members also being substantially alike, and members joining said support members together in a spaced side by side relation in which the first legs on the support members project upwardly to provide a support for a cake of soap positioned on said central section and the second legs project to engage a horizontal surface support and, with said central section, support said cake of soap at an acute angle to the horizontal whereby the cake, if wet, drains and dries.

GEORGE N. NELSON.

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