US2921324A - Scouring device - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 19, 1960 E. J. GIBBONS 2,921,324

SCOURING DEVICE Filed Feb. 3, 1956 INVEN TOR.

EDWARD JAMES G'IBBON-S Unite States Patnt SCOURING DEVICE Edward James Gibbons, New York, N.Y., assignor to Colgate-Palmolive Company, Jersey City, N.J., a corporation of Delaware Application February 3, 1956, Serial No. 563,227

4 Claims. (Cl. 15-134) The present invention relates to an improved device for scouring surfaces. More particularly the invention is of a scouring device for attachment to a container of scouring powder.

Commercial scouring powders are used in the home mainly for cleaning sinks, bathtubs, walls, floors and kitchen utensils. These powders are employed almost universally for cleaning porcelain-surfaced sinks and bathtubs. In the usual cleaning operation the powder is sprinkled on the surfaces to be cleaned, with sufficient moisture being present to enable formation of a thin paste and is then rubbed against the surface with a damp cloth or sponge. I

The present invention provides an attractive inexpensive functional attachment for a scouring powder container whereby a scouring member and powder dispensing container may be combined in a unitary cleansing device. The structure, function and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a non-elected form, the scouring attachment afiixed to a scouring powder container;

Fig. 2 is an elevation of the device of Fig. l, the upper portion being a longitudinal section view along line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of one embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 4 is a separated longitudinal section view along line 4--4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of another embodiment of the invention attached to a scouring powder container;

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section view along line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a scouring attachment for a scouring powder container having an opening in an end for dispensing the powder comprising a scouring member having a scouring face and a hole through said member, and means for removably holding the scouring member against the dispensing end of the container in selected positions of registry and non-registry of the opening in the container end and the hole in the scouring member.

Referring now to the drawing, in which for purposes of illustration several embodiments of a scouring attachment have been shown, the numeral 11 designates a standard cylindrical scouring powder container having a perforatable circular end 12 in which are holes 13 for dispensing the powdered contents 14.

In Figs. 1 and 2 a substantially flat scouring attachment 15 has a scouring face 16, a sealing face 17, and

holes 18 connecting these faces. The scouring member is preferably made of resilient and flexible material adaptable to the shape of sinks, tubs and so forth. The scouring face 16 has radially extending raised surfaces or ribs 19 for better scouring contact with surfaces to be cleaned. These flat narrow ribs are less in height than width. The sealing face 17 is adapted to make Patented Jan. 19, 1960 waterand powder-tight contact with container end 12. Holes 18 are of approximately the size of those of the container at the sealing end but are appreciably larger (about twice that diameter) at the scouring face.

Scouring member 15 has a collar portion 20 having resilient and flexible walls adapted to hold onto the external wall surface 21 of the scouring powder container. The collar is made with its internal diameter at relaxation less than the outside diameter of the container so that when placed on the scouring powder can it will grip the side wall of the container and thereby hold the scouring member tightly against the can end.

The hole or holes in the scouring member are so located that they may be either registered as shown or non-registered with respect to the hole(s) in the container end, thereby either permitting or preventing the passage of powder, and Water. Rotation of the scouring member to change registry may be easily efiected. In some cases itmay be desirable to spring the collar 20 away from the container wall before turning.

A preferred embodiment illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4 is similar to the non-elected form already described. Scouring member 22 is made of resilient material and has a substantially flat scouring face 23 on which are rather evenly distributed a plurality of low hemispherical projections or knobs 24 to improve scouring action. Sealing face 25 makes a tight seal with container end 12. Dispensing opening 26, connecting scouring surface 23 with sealing face 25 has a ledge portion 27. A transverse hole or cavity 28 in scouring member 22 has within it a strap clamp member 29 having inwardly turned ends 30 adapted to grasp head 31 of container 11 and hold scouring member 22 to container end 12 in sealing contact. Clamp 29 may be molded into scouring member 22 or may be passed through hole 28 prior to the bending of one end 30. The inwardly turned ends 30, when unstressed, are separated by a distance less than the container diameter. When sprung open by the can they act to press clamp 29 toward, and scouring member 22 against container end '12. It will be noted that the scouring surface shown, while irregular, as are all sponge surfaces, is substantially flat, i.e., substantially smooth, having no unyielding pointed projections thereon, like the other illustrated embodiments in this respect.

In Figs. 5 and 6 another scouring device of this invention is shown, this time with the scouring member holes out of registry with the container openings. The illustrated scouring attachment is like that of Figs. 3 and4 except for two modifications. Instead of a single material of construction for the scouring member body the said body portion has a sealing surface portion 32" of suitable composition, e.g., rubber, fastened to a scouring surface section 33 of material adapted for scouring, e.g., cellulose or plastic sponge. Through both materials is a cone-shaped delivery passage 34.

The drawings illustrate scouring attachments for cylindrical cans of scouring powder; however it is plain that the invention is also applicable to other styles of containers, e.g., those of rectangular cross-section.

To use the invented scouring attachment one need only snap it onto a perforated end of a can of scouring powder, turn until the openings and holes are registered and commence sprinkling the powder onto dampened surfaces to be cleaned. After a sufficient amount of powder has been applied the cap is slid or rotated to a cut-off position and the powder is rubbed over the porcelain, the can body serving as a convenient means for holding the scouring surface and powder in contact with the fixture to be cleansed. Should additional powder be necessary to complete the task it is a simple matter to rotate the scouring attachment to the open posiion and add more, then continuing as before.

The dispensing holes in the scouring attachment do not fill with caked scouring powder when the attachment is used properly. This is attributable to the enlarged portions of these holes near the scouring surface. Scouring surfaces containing ribs or knobs also help prevent such caking by keeping the exit holes of the'scouring member away from the surface to be cleaned and the paste thereon.

Many advantages attend the useof the invented scouring attachment. No longer is it necessary to have an unsightly wash cloth or brush about for cleaning the bathtub. Instead, the scouring attachment becomes a part of the scouring powder container, making a neat attractive package. Being attached to the container it is always at hand when needed.

In cleaning large fixtures such as bathtubs it is often difficult to reach all portionsthereof with a cloth or sponge. The invented devices when affixed to cans of scouring powder increase reach and decrease the necessity for stretching, the can itself serving as a fhandle.

When the scouring attachment is in place ,on a can and in the non-registered position in a preferred embodiment the can is sealed off by the attachment sealing surface so that it is waterand powder-tight. Thus, if held inverted or if dropped no powder will spill. If stored where subjected to water spray or splashing the-powder will be kept dry and free-flowing. The barrier over the openings in the can will also decrease the amount of moisture vapor entering the can and will help to prevent lumping of the powder in cans stored in humid atmospheres.

The present invention has been described inconjunc- 'tion with drawings of specific embodiments thereof. The

invention is not limited to the specific embodiments given but, to the contrary, it is obvious that numerous modifications may be made and equivalents substituted Without departing from the spirit of the invention ongoing outside the scope of the claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A scouring attachment for a cylindrical scouring powder container having a circumferentially rimmed end and an opening in that end for dispensing powder. comprising a resilient scouring member having a substantially flat scouring face adapted for scouring contact .with surfaces to be cleansed, a sealing face, an opening inthe member communicating the scouring and sealing faces for dispensing the powder and a transverse hole through the member between the scouring and sealing faces,- and a resilient clamp member extending through the transverse hole and having inwardly turned ends adapted removably to hold onto the container at the rim thereof and thereby rotatably to hold the scouring member to the container in selected positions of registry and nonregistry of the opening in the container end andthe dispensing opening in the scouring member, the said inwardly turned ends of the clamp member, when unstressed, being at a distance from each other lessv than the diameter of the container'and being adapted to press the clamp member toward, and the scouring member against, the container end when said inwardly turned ends are forced apart by afiixation of the scouring attachment to the container, and the aforesaid sealingface of the scouring member being adapted to make watertight and powdertight contact with the containerend when the said opening and hole are non-registered. and

the scouring member is held against the container dispensing end, therebyvpreventing entrance of water into ,and passage of powder out of said end of the scouring powder container.

4 2. A scouring attachment for a cylindrical scouring powder container having a circumferentially rimmed end and an opening in that end for dispensing powder, cornprising a resilient scouring member having a scouring face adapted for scouring contact with surfaces to be cleansed, a sealing face, an opening in the member communicating the scouring and-sealing faces for dispensing the powder, and a resilient clamp member having inwardly turned end portions adapted removably to hold onto the container'at the rim thereof and thereby rotatably to hold the scouring member to the container in selected positions of registry and non-registry of the opening in the container end and the dispensing opening in the scouring member, the said inwardly turned ends of the clamp member, when unstressed, being at a distance from each other less than the diameter of the container and being adapted to press the clamp member toward, and the scouring member against, the container end when said inwardly turned ends are forced apart by affixation of the scouring attachment to the container, and the aforesaid sealing face of the scouring member being adapted to make watertight and powder-tightcontact with the container end when said opening and hole are non-registered and the scouring member is held against the container dispensing end, thereby preventing entrance of water into and passage of powder out of said end of the scouring powder container.

3. The scouring attachment of claim 2 in which the scouring surface is made of synthetic sponge and the sealing surface is of suitable organic waterproof sealing material.

4. A scouring attachment for a scouring powder container having a rimmed end and an opening in thabend for dispensing powder, comprising a resilient scouring member having a scouring face adapted for scouring contact with surfaces to be cleansed, a sealing face, an opening in the sealingface for dispensing the powder, and a resilient clamp member having inwardly turned end portions adapted removably to hold onto the container at the rim thereof and thereby movably to hold the scouring member to the container in selected positions of registry and non-registry of the opening in the container end and the dispensing opening in the scouring member, said inwardly turned ends of the clamp. memher, when unstressed being at a distance from each other less than the distance across the'container and being adapted to press the clamp membertoward, and the scouring member against, the container end when said inwardly turned ends are forced apart byafiixation of the scouring attachment to the container, and the aforesaid sealing face of the scoun'ng member being adapted to make watertight and powder-tight contact'withthe container end when the said opening and hole are nonregistered and the scouring member is held against the container dispensing end, thereby preventingentrance of water into and passage of powderout ofsaid end of the scouring powder container.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,074,522 Nelson Sept-.30, 1913 1,088,797 Smith Mar. 3, 1914 1,222,875 Lerch Apr. 17, 1917 1,646,324 Stewart Oct. .18, 1927 1,969,905 Segal Aug.-14, 1934 2,225,540 Tainton Dec. 17, 1940 2,574,601 Swanson Nov. 13, 1951

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