US2670019A - Hand soap flaking and dispensing apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 23, 1954 D. DE G. CUYLER HAND SOAP FLAKING AND DISPENSING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 19, 1949 49' .Z' "ff ATTORNEY D. DE G. CUYLER HAND SOAP FLAKING AND DISPENSING APPARATUS Feb. 23, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 19, 1949 IN VEN TOR. 0A W0 05 GUEJCA //v umEm A TIOE/VEY Patented Feb. 23, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE David De Guesclin Cuyler, Mamaroneck, N. Y.

Application January 19, 1949, Serial No. 71,578

3 Claims.

This invention relates to a soap flaking apparatus and dispenser of the type which may be carried in the pocket.

In washing the hands, in places other than a home, or office, in which adequate toilet facilities are available, it is often difiicult to obtain a supply of soap.

This'is particularly true of public wash rooms, such as those in restaurants and gasolene filling stations, or in country places in which soap is frequently not available.

Even where one carries a cake of soap, it becomes a problem to properly protect the clothes from the soap cake, after it becomes wet in use.

While soap dispensers and soap flaking machines of various types are available, they are generally attached to a washstand, or otherwise mounted in a wash-room, so that they can be used only in the place in which they are permanently attached.

It is frequently necessary to have available a personal supply of soap, in fiake or other convenient form, which can be carried in a pocket or handbag, so that it is convenient for use at all times.

The object of my invention is to provide a soap flaking unit and dispenser, which is small, compact, and can be carried in a pocket or handbag. A further object is to provide a soap flaking unit, in which the cake of soap can be readily replaced without tools or special skills.

A further object is to provide a soap flaking apparatus, in which a cake of soap is flaked, in the quantity required for each application, thus reducing the waste to a minimum.

A primary object of my invention is to produce a soap flaking and supply unit, which is light in weight, small, compact, and can be operated without delay by a person, who is relatively unskilled.

A further object is to provide a unit which is inexpensive to produce, can be handled and operated by a person with wet hands, and can be transported with a minimum of inconvenience.

The accompanying drawings, illustrative of one embodiment and several modifications of my invention, together 'with the description of their construction and the method of operation thereof, will serve to clarify further objects and advantages of my invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 represents a front elevation of the soap flaking unit and dispenser.

Fig. 2 is a right side elevation of the unit of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a bottom view of the unit of Fig. 1, with the lower cap removed.

Fig. 4 is an isometric view of the unit of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a vertical section, taken at 5--5, Fig. 2, showing the interior of the unit.

Fig. 6 is a vertical section, taken at 6-45, Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is a cross-section thru the body of the unit, taken at 1-1, Fig. 1.

Fig. 8 represents an enlarged section thru the soap lifting knob, taken at 8-8, Fig. 1.

Fig. 9 represents an enlarged side elevation of one type of soap-flaking rotor, fitted with longitudinal slots.

Fig. 10 is a cross-section thru the rotor of Fig. 9, taken at IDIU, Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is an enlarged side elevation of a modifled type of soap-flaking rotor fitted with longitudinal spiral slots and cutting edges.

Fig. 12 is another modification of the rotor of Fig. 11, in which the spiral slots form a sharper angle with the rotor axis.

Fig. 13 is a section thru the rotor, taken at l3-l3, Fig. 12 showing the form and spacing of the cutting edges and the spiral slots.

Fig. 14 is a section, similar to Fig. 13, showing a modified type of slot and cutting edge.

Fig. 15 is an enlarged side elevation of another modification of the rotor, fitted with a plurality of spiral slots.

Fig. 16 is a cross-section thru the rotor of Fig. 15, taken at lE-IG, Fig. 15, showing the slot spacing and the form of the cutting edge.

Fig. 17 is an enlarged side elevation of another embodiment of the rotor, in which a plurality of substantially circular openings is formed in the rotor.

Fig. 18 is a section thru the rotor and rotor openings, taken at l8l8, Fig. 17.

It will be understood that the following description of the construction and operation of the pocket SOap flaking apparatus and dispenser, are intended as explanatory of the invention and not restrictive thereof.

In the drawings, the same reference numerals designate the same parts throughout the various views, except where otherwise indicated.

The unit, as indicated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, comprises essentially a hollow casing ID, of substantially rectangular cross-section, the upper end of which is rounded to receive a substantially tubular rotor H, the rotor engaging the top of a cake of soap H, or similar cleansing material, slidably fitted to the interior of the casing. The casing may be molded in one piece of a plastic material, or formed of sheet metal depending upon the size of the unit and manufacturing expediency.

A cap 13, the flanges of which are pressed into the opening at the bottom of the casing is fitted into the lower end of the casing, to close the opening. The flange sides and i6, accurately fit the space between the vertical walls ll, 18 and iii of the casing, to enable the cap to be snapped into place, thus retaining the cap in the closed position, and retaining the soap cake in the interior of the casing. The outer edges of the plate 29, of the cap, are knurled to facilitate removal and insertion of the cap. The cap may be moulded in one piece of a plastic material, or made of any other suitable material.

A sliding knob 22, the body 23, of which, is slidably fitted into a longitudinal slot 24', formed in the forward vertical wall IQ of the casing; may be mounted at one side of the casing, as indicated in Figs. 1, 7 and.8.,..

The knob comprises a head 25, in the form of a thin circular disc, the outer circumference of which is knurled to facilitate handling, thehead being formed integral with or attached to a substantially cylindrical body 23, the diameter of which is less than the Width of the slot 2t, to facilitate the sliding movement.

'A soap gripping element 26, of substantially circular, or other suitable cross-section, may be attached to the free end of the neck by riveting or other suitable'means.

The edge 2'1, of the inner circumference of the gripping element, is thinned down to a substantially sharp edge, as indicated Fig. 8,,the thin edge being imbedded in theside ofthe soap cake in order to grip the soap toenable it to be manually lifted by means of theknob.

The length of the cylindrical body 23 or" the knob is made greater than the thickness of the forward Wall 53 of the casing, to enable the op.-

erator to press the gripping edge into the side of the soap cake after the soap is inserted in the interior of the casing.

The soap cake is thinner than the space between the forward and rear Walls 18 and 19. of the easing, to enablethe soap to be slid into posiden in the casing, when the sliding knob is held in the outer position, shown in Fig. 6.

After the soap is slid into the casing, the slidin; knob is pressed inward, the thinned edges-21' of the gripping element being imbedded into the soap, as indicated. in Fig. 8.

As indicated in Fig. 6, a thin walled tubular rotor l I may be mounted adjacent the semi-cylindrical upper Wall 29, of the casing. A plurality of openings 39', Figs. 5 and 17, may be cut thru the outer circumference of the rotor, a thin cutting lip 3t; being formed at one side of the subjfs tanti'ally circular openings, the wall thickness 32,

of the rotor at the opposite side of the circular opening being reduced, to p'royi declearance for -.the soap flakes, thus enabling them to pass thru theope'nings' into the interior of the rotor.

The soap'cake i'Zis pushediipward by means of the sliding until the upper edge of the soap, engagestheputer circumference of the rotor, the cutting lips fi I atone side of the openings in the rotor, cutting intothe soap to form thin flakes which passthru the openings 38 into the interior ofthe rotor.,, W V 1 ,..,,,One side. of the rotor is closedby a head 32, formed integral with, the rotor body, as indicated shorter than the 'evereiir reterieiig ii, in s i the edge oft 4 of the rotor tube being left open to facilitate dis- Charging of the soap flakes.

A knurled cylindrical knob 34, may be attached to the rotor head 32 by means of a stem 35, formed integral with the knob, which is fitted thru an opening formed in the wall, and riveted over the rotor wall, as indicated in Fig. 6. The 'rotor is manually rotated in the direction shown by the arrows, Figs. 10', 1'6 and 18, by means of the cylindrical knob 34, the soap flakes passing thru the openings 36 in the rotor, into the interior of the rotor, while the casing is held in a substantially vertical position. After the required quantity of soap flakes is formed in the interior of the rotor tube, the tube may be tilted thru an angle, the flakes dropping thru the open end '33 ofthe'rotor tube to the palm of the hand, or. other point at which the soap flakes are to be used.

P sa; t 15 ho r t ns... edifi iens .iqii

.0- viding solid sections 39'""iid '40, at -1E: th ends'ef the rotor,

fAn exte sion or up side or each or the slot terme dicateldin re; 10, net, to provide .a

cutting edge "to cut the He. s from the top of the soap cake.

ff'ormedj thru the outer'rot'or wall.v The slotsfdrm an anglewith the head 32', at the end of the rotor, a solid section 44 being forine'dbetwe'en theends of adjacent slots', to maintain the strength or therot'orbody.

V Fig. 13 showsa, seern thru lth'e' rotorslots of Fig, I2, the sl ots forming, anene e With tl'ie rotor axis. 'An extension or lip {ll may be formed at one side of each of the slots as indicated in Fig. 13, the edge of the lip being sharpened to provide a cutting edge. I In another modification'of the rotor siots, as indicated in Fig. the edge at one side of the slot projects very slightly beyond the outer circurnference of the rotor, with a short sharp .edge 41,; or extension formed at the outer edge of the Wall of the slot; The wall thickness. of the tube at the oppositesideof .the slotmay be reduced, asindicatedin Figdi, toprovidelearaims for. the. soap .'flakes,-.cut by .the \cuttingedge, in passing thru the slots to the interior of the rotor..-

circumf r nce, t e lO iiQmfl n an an e .With

the rotor axis. A solidsegtiop lfihsimilarto-that shown irrjig. 12, is formed between the ease of adjacent slots. In the cross-section thru the rotor, as shown in Fig. 16, the cutting edge of the slot, is substantially flush with the outer circumference of the rotor. The wall thickness 5!, at the opposite side of the slot, is reduced in the manner shown in Fig. 13, and previously described. In all other respects the slots are essentially the same as those shown in Fig. 10.

While the casing It is shown of a substantially rectangular cross-section in 3 and '7, casings of other suitable cross-section may be substituted to provide for particular applications, or to fit special forms or sections of soap cake.

The casing ll shown in Figs. 1 to 5, and the lower cap i3, are molded of a plastic material, the entire casing being molded in one piece, with the cap fitted to the open end of th bottom.

A casing formed of sheet metal. sections welded, soldered, or otherwise connected to form a unit,

or a die-casting, made of an aluminum alloy may be substituted in place 0:? the plastic casing, depending upon the size of the unit, the decorative effects desired, and cost considerations, which would combine to determine the shape of the unit, the material utilized, and the method of manufacture.

Although a sliding knob is fitted to the side wall of the casing, and embedded into the soap cake to manually move the upper edge of the soap into engagement with the rotor, other methods of controlling the movement of the soap cake may be substituted to suit particular requirements.

Spring-actuated devices of various types, or other types of automatic, semi-automatic or manually-controlled devices may be utilized to press the soap into engagement with the rotor, located near the top of the casing,

It will b apparent to those skilled in the art that my present invention is not limited to the specific details described above and shown in the drawings, and that various modifications are possible in carrying out the invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A pocket type combination soap flaking and dispensing apparatus, comp-rising a hollow casing of rectangular cross-section, said casing being adapted to slidably retain a cake of soap, one end of said casing being outwardly semi-circular in cross-section in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal casing axis, one wide Wall of said casing having a longitudinal slot therethru, a substantially tubular rotor fitted within the semicircular end of said casing the rotor axis being substantially perpendicular to the wall slot, a head formed integral with one end of said rotor, the opposite end being open, said rotor having a plurality of spiral slots, formed thru the outer wall thereof, with a solid wall section formed between the ends of adjoining slots, the sides of said slots being angularly disposed to the rotor circumference, a cutting edge formed at one side of each of said slots, the wall at the opposite side of said slot being bevelled, to provide clearance for the soap flakes, a knob attached to said rotor head for manually revolving the rotor, a sliding control knob having a portion thereof fitted thru the casing wall slot, a cupped substantially circular soap gripping element attached to the control knob, inside the casing wall, the inner edge of said gripping element in a plane parallel to the slotted casing wall being sharpened to grip the soap cake, said knob and gripping element co-operating to manually slide one edge of the soap cake into engagement with the rotor circumference, the cutting edges of the rotor'cutting the soap into flakes, the soap flakes passing thru th slots into the interior of the rotor, when the rotor is manually revolved, said flakes being discharged thru the open end of the rotor when the rotor and easing are tilted.

2. A pocket type combination soap flaking and dispensing apparatus, comprising a relatively fiat hollow casing of rectangular cross-section, said casing being adapted to slidably retain a cake of soap, one end of said casing being outwardly semi-circular in cross-section in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal casing axis, one wide wall of said casing having a longitudinal slot therethru, a substantially tubular rotor fitted within the semi-circular end of said casing, the rotor axis being substantially perpendicular to the wall slot, a head formed integral with one end of said rotor, the opposite end being open, said rotor having a plurality of substantially circular openings formed thru the outer wall thereof, with cutting edges formed integral with said rotor, at one side of said openings, a knob attached to said rotor head for manually revolving the rotor, a sliding control knob having a portion thereof fitted thru the casing wall slot, a cupped substantially circular soap gripping element attached to the control knob, inside the casing wall, the inner edge of said gripping element in a plane parallel to the slotted casing wall being sharpened to grip the soap cake, said knob and gripping element co-operating to manually slide one edge of the soap cake into engagement with the rotor circumference, the cutting edges of the rotor cutting the soap into flakes, the soap flakes passing thru the openings into the interior of the rotor, when the rotor is manually revolved, said flakes being discharged thru the open end of the rotor when the casing is tilted.

3. A pocket-type combination soap flaking and dispensing apparatus, comprising a relatively flat hollow casing of rectangular cross-section in a plan perpendicular to the longitudinal casing axis, said casing having a pair of wide walls, with a pair of relatively narrow walls perpendicular to the wide walls, said casing being adapted to slidably retain a cake of soap, one end of said casing being outwardly semi-circular in cross-section in a plane parallel to the longitudinal casing axis, one wide wall of said casing having a long, substantially vertical slot therethru, a substantially tubular rotor fitted within the semi-circular end of said casing, the rotor axis being substantially perpendicular to the slot thru the wide casing wall, a head formed integral with one end of said rotor, the opposite end being open, said rotor having a plurality of openings thru the outer circumference thereof, the sides of said openings being angularly disposed to the rotor circumference, a cutting edge integral with the rotor formed at one side of each of said openings, a knob attached to rotor head for manually rotating the rotor, a control knob slidably mounted outside the wide casing wall adjacent the vertical slot, said control knob having a reduced diameter portion thereof slidably fitted thru the casing wall vertical slot, and a substantially circular gripping element attached to the reduced diameter portion of the control knob adjacent the inner surface of the casing wall, said gripping element having a thinned edge around the outer circumference thereof, the thinned edge of said gripping element being located in a plane parallel to the wide slotted casing wall, the inner surface of the

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