US3332540A

US3332540A - Shaving mug

Info

Publication number: US3332540A
Application number: US383148A
Authority: US
Inventors: Arthur J Browning
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1964-07-16
Filing date: 1964-07-16
Publication date: 1967-07-25
Anticipated expiration: 1984-07-25

Description

July 25, 1967 A, J, BRO ING 3,332,540

SHAVING MUG I Filed July 16, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet l Fm. I

INVENTOR. PEG 2 ARTHUR J. BROWNING BY MORGAN, FINNEGAN,DURHAM 8: PINE ATTORNEYS July 25, 1967 BROWNING 3,332,540

SHAVING MUG Filed July 16, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. 'ARTHUR J. BROWNING BY MORGAN, FINNEGAN, DURHAM a PlNE ATTORNEYS July 25, 1967 r J, owm 3,332,540

SHAVING MUG INVENTOR.

ARTHUR J. BROWNING.

BY FGf? 'MORGAN,FINNEGAN, DURHAM a PINE ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,332,540 SHAVING MUG Arthur J. Browning, 4001 Harold St., Downers Grove, Ill. 60515 Filed July 16, 1964, Ser. No. 383,148 4 Claims. (Q1. 206-1) This invention relates to an improved, lightweight, resilient and durable shaving mug for firmly and securely holding a cake of shaving soap, and to an improvement in a cake of shaving soap.

Prior to the large scale commercialization of shaving creams, and, much later, foam compositions, the predominant lather producing medium for shaving purposes was soap. Of all commercially popular and available shaving preparations, it is believed that shaving soap is, in the long run, the most inexpensive to use. The factors of personal preference, especially among the users of shaving soaps before the popularization of shaving creams and foam compositions, the high quality of the lather produced from shaving soaps, and cost have led a substantial number of consumers to remain users of shaving soap, even in the face of the benefits, especially convenience, claimed for shaving creams and foam compositions.

However, while the shave preparation industry has made significant strides in the production and marketing of shaving creams and foam compositions, there have been little or no efli'orts to cure those conditions attending the use of shaving soap which have given rise to contentions that shaving creams and foam compositions are more convenient to use than shaving soaps. Thus, even though the market for shaving preparations has markedly increased, the number of persons using shaving mugs and soaps has not increased in proportion to the increased number of persons shaving.

Several factors traceable to the shaving mug constructions, and to the commercially available soaps, have de tracted from shaving mugs and soaps and may have played a significant role in the failure of these materials to keep pace with the increased consumption of shaving creams and foam compositions. For example, shaving cups or mugs have most usually been made of rigid materials such as various ceramic materials, glass, metal and wood, and to some extent from molded rubber. They have been made in various sizes and configurations and many available forms possess "a complex structure. Most often, the shaving mugs have been either quite substantial in size or weight, or, conversely, were fragile. In either case, they are deemed objectionable in that the former are cumbersome and the latter were readily broken unless handled with extreme care.

In addition, shaving mugs have been criticized as being messy. This condition may result not only from the configurations of the mug itself, but, also, to a great measure from the fact that the cakes of soap do not fit properly within the mug.

The commercially available cakes of shaving soap intended for use with the existing mugs have, for the most part, been produced in a substantially uniform range of diameters. The most frequently encountered cakes of shaving soap range in diameter from about 2 /2 inches to slightly under 3 inches.

The shaving mugs for which such cakes of shaving soap are intended have been made, and are still being made, with diameters substantially larger than the cakes of shaving soap available. For this reason, the soap cakes do not fit snugly within the mugs, and there may be as much as A inch, or more, between the diameter of the cake of shaving soap and the inner diameter of the mug.

Further, when lather is developed from the shaving soap by swirling the brush over the soap surface, the soap frequently is caused to move, slip, or spin within the ice mug. For a considerable time after a fresh cake of soap has been placed in a mug, it will rest loosely on the bottom of the mug. During this period, and until the soap adheres to the base of the mug, there is a likelihood that the soap will fallout of the mug when the mug and soap are rinsed after use. This condition exists even as to mugs provided with an annular recess in the base of the mug for the ostensible purpose of holding the soap in place as is shown, for example, in United States Patent 1,430,917.

Another attempt to avoid slipping or spinning of the cakes of shaving soap within the mug included the use of projections or ridges spaced along the inner wall of the mug near its bottom. These projections, though effective with cakes of soap having diameters approximating the diameter of the mugs, are of no value in those instances when the mug diameters are significantly greater than the cake diameter so as to leave an open space between the projections and the outer circumference of the cakes.

In those instances when a consumer purchases a commercially available cake of shaving soap which, by chance, fits snugly and firmly within the shaving mug, an additional problem is encountered. As a fresh cake of shaving soap is pressed firmly into the mug, a pocket of air is formed between the bottom face of the soap and the bottom surface of the mug. The snug fit between the circumferential surface of the soap and the inner surface of the mug prevents the trapped air from escaping. Consequently, a soap is not fully seated within the mug and the likelihood of the soap falling out of'the mug during rinsing is increased.

The disadvantages attending the use of the existing cumbersome, fragile, essentially rigid, shaving mugs which do not properly accommodate the commercially available shaving soaps have tended to diminish the popularity of shaving soaps as contrasted with the other shaving preparations.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a shaving mug which obviates the difliculties flowing from the inherent nature of the existing mugs and shaving soaps presently available for use in such mugs, and to provide a cake of shaving soap having a configuration which effectively precludes the formation of an undesirable air pocket between the lower surface of the cake of shaving soap and the bottom surface of the mug.

A further object of this invention is to provide a lightweight and resilient shaving mug which, by reason of its resiliency, will accommodate different sizes of soaps, yet

. snugly and firmly hold them in place while, at the same time, being of sufficient rigidity to maintain its shape.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a shaving mug which may be readily and inexpensively fabricated, but which, at the same time, will be strong and resist breakage. Another object of this invention is to provide a sturdy, lightweight, and resilient shaving mug whose internal construction will snugly and firmly hold a cake of shaving soap in place while, at the same time, precluding the formation of an undesirable pocket of air in the base of the mug when a new cake of shaving soap is inserted into the mug.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a cake of shaving soap having a novel configuration which will effectively prevent the formation of a trapped pocket of air between the lower face of the soap and the base of the mug, even in those instances when the soap of this invention is utilized with rigid shaving mugs of known construction Whose diameter closely approximates the diameter of the shaving soap.

Other objects, features and advantages will become obvious to those skilled in the art from the detailed description of illustrative embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Patented July 25, 1967 FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of one embodiment of my improved shaving mug;

FIGURE 2 is an elevational view of the shaving mug illustrated in FIGURE 1 with a portion cut away to show, generally, the configuration of the wall and base;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of a cake of shaving soap according to my invention;

FIGURE 4 is a view, in section, of the shaving mug illustrated in FIGURE 1 taken along line 1VIV;

FIGURE 5A is an elevational view, in phantom, of one form of acommerically available cake of shaving soap;

FIGURE 5B is an elevational view, in phantom, of another form of a commercially available cake of shaving soap;

FIGURE 6 is an elevational view of another embodiment of my improved shaving mug with a portion cut away to illustrate the means in the base of the mug for escape of air; and

FIGURE 7 is a sectional plan view of the shaving mug illustrated in FIGURE 6 taken along line VIIVII.

According to one embodiment of my invention, the shaving mug is generally cup-shaped and is fabricated of resilient plastic material capable of slight expansion or distortion, laterally, to firmly and snugly accommodate a cake of shaving soap pressed within the cup. It is also provided with means to permit the escape of air from the shaving mug when a cake of shaving soap is pressed into snug fitting relationship with the interior walls of the mug.

Referring to the drawings, and, more particularly, to FIGURES 1, 2 and 4, a shaving mug according to one embodiment of the invention is shown generally at 10. The mug is cup-shaped having a closed end serving as the base, an open end, and, circumferentially, is generally circular. The mug has a wall, designated 14, a base 18 and is provided with a handle 12 to facilitate handling and use. The wall 14 extends upwardly from base 18, and as shown in FIGURE 2, has a substantially vertical lower section 13 and an upwardly and outwardly flared upper section 15. The upper flared section 15 provides the mug with an enlarged opening or mouth to facilitate the placement of the brush inside the mug for the purpose of developing lather from the shaving soap resting on the bottom of the mug.

The base 18 is shown, by way of illustration, as being concave. However, it should be understood that the base may take other forms, and, for example, be substantially planar. If desired, the base may also be provided with projections or other non-skid surfaces to reduce the likelihood of the mug slipping or skidding on smooth stnfaces,

as sinks, where the mug is generally used.

As best shown in FIGURE 2, the mug is provided with an annular depression 24 with a sloping wall leading upwardly to a planar surface 20. The annular depression 24 and planar surface of the mug conform generally to the configurations of the form of a commercially available cake of shaving soap illustrated in FIGURE 5A.

The soap cake 40 of FIGURE 5A is round with a smooth circumference 41, is provided with a concavity in its upper and lower faces, as shown at 42 and 43, and an annular rim on each of these faces. Soaps of this configuration, as is well-known, are distributed by the J. B. Williams Co., Inc. and the Colgate-Palmolive Company.

As will be understood, a cake of shaving soap having the configuration of cake 4%), when placed in mug 10, will rest on the bottom of the mug with the lower face of the cake 43 in contact with surface 20 and the lower annular rim of the soap cake resting on the annular depression 24, as shown in FIGURE 4.

The substantially vertical lower section 13 of wall 14 extends upwardly to about the mid-point of the wall height, although it may extend above or below the midpoint depending on the overall external configuration desired. It is contemplated that, in this embodiment of the invention, the lower section extend vertically to a height greater than the thickness of the cakes of shaving soap, as 49, to be used with mug 10. Above the lower section 13, the wall extends upwardly and is flared outwardly, as shown at 15, to provide mug 10 with the enlarged open end.

The interior circumferential surface 16 of the mug is also generally circular and is preferably smooth and continuous with the exception of a vertical groove 22, as shown in FIGURES 1 and 4. Groove 22, preferably, extends upwardly from the vicinity of the annular depression 24 to slightly beyond the point on wall 14 at which the upper flared section 15 begins. Itis contemplated that wall 14, with the exception of groove 22, be of uniform thickness.

Shaving mug 10 may be fabricated as a unitary structure, as by molding, from resilient plastic materials, as polyethylene or polypropylene, which are capable of withstanding the hot water temperatures usually encountered in shaving without significant deformation or loss of shape. These materials make for a lightweight, durable shaving mug having a long, useful life In addition, such plastic compositions possess a high degree of resiliency which not only serves to reduce the likelihood of breakage, but also permits the wall of the mug to expand laterally to firmly and snugly accommodate the commercially available soap cakes.

According to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGURES 1, 2 and 4, it is contemplated that the inner diameter of mug 10, especially of lower section 13, be made substantially equal to the diameter of the commercially available soap cakes having the configuration shown in FIGURE 5A. When cakes of soap are placed into the mug 10 having an internal diameter in the lower section 13 substantially equal to the diameter of the cake, there will be, as may be appreciated, a snug fit. As the cake is lowered into place on the bottom of the mug, the pocket of air between the lower face of the cake and the planar surface 20 will not be trapped, but will escape via groove 22. In this way, an undesirable pocket of trapped air will be avoided and the cake seated snugly and properly on the bottom of the mug.

It should also be understood that the resiliency of the materials from which the mug 10 is formed will also permit cakes of soap having diameters slightly larger than the internal diameter of the mug to be firmly and snugly seated in the mug. When a cake of soap having a slightly larger diameter is placed in the mug 10, the wall 14 may expand slightly from the position of the wall when the mug is empty, as indicated by the broken line 16a (see FIGURE 4), to the position shown by the full line 16. In this instance, groove 22 adequately provides for the escape of air from beneath the cake and permits a full seating of the cake on surface 26. At the same time, the mug 10 firmly and securely holds the cake in place.

Another embodiment of my invention is illustrated in FIGURES 6 and 7. The shaving mug of this embodiment is also generally cup-shaped and is fabricated of resilient plastic material capable of slight expansion, laterally, to firmly and snugly accommodate a cake of shaving soap, especially of the type having the configuration illustrated in FIGURE 53. The mug 50 is, circumferentially, generally circular, has a base 58, and at its upper end is provided with an enlarged opening or mouth. The mug has a wall, designated 54, and a handle 52.

Wall 54 extends upwardly from base 58, and as shown in FIGURE 6, has a substantially vertical lower section 53 and an upwardly and slightly outwardly flared upper section 55. The diameter of lower wall section 53 is less than the diameter at any point along the upper wall section 55, with the two wall sections divided by a sloped shelf portion indicated generally at 51. 7

Base 58 is shown as being concave, but may, if-desired, be substantially flat. It should be understood that base 58 may, as with base 18, be additionally provided with non-skid surfaces to reduce the likelihood of the mug slipping or skidding on smooth surfaces.

Base 58 is provided with a small centrally located opening 62 fitted with a stopper 64. In its preferred form, stopper 64 has an enlarged head, and is of a length such that when it is fitted in aperture 62, its end face, 68, is flush with the inner bottom surface 60 of mug 50. Preferably, stopper 64 is formed with a circumferential bead 66 adapted to fit within an annular groove 70 formed in the circumference of opening 62. Stopper 64 is adapted to firmly seal aperture 62, yet be easily removed therefrom with a light pull. The enlarged head of stopper 64 facilitates removal of the stopper.

The soap cake 44 of FIGURE 5B is round with smooth circumferential surfaces. The upper face is formed with a concavity 48, while the lower face 49 is generally fiat. The upper section 46 is of a larger diameter than lower section 45. An inwardly and downwardly sloping section 47 is located between the upper and lower sections. Soap cakes of this configuration are distributed by Shulton, Inc. under the trademark Old Spice.

The mug of the embodiment of FIGURES 6 and 7 is adapted to accommodate soap cakes having the configuration illustrated in FIGURE 5B. It is contemplated that the inner diameter of mug 50, especially lower section 53, and, preferably, the inner diameter of upper section 55 as well, particularly in the vicinity of shelf 51, be made substantially equal to the corresponding diameters of lower and

upper sections

45, 46 of commercially available soap cakes having the configuration illustrated in FIGURE 5B. It may be appreciated that when such a soap cake is placed in mug 50, the lower face 49 of the cake will rest on surface 60 of the mug, and sloping section 47 will coincide and conform with shelf 51 of the mug.

It will be understood that when the diametral relationship of the soap and mug are as here described, there will be a snug fit of the soap within the mug. As the cake is being lowered into place, the pocket of air between lower face 49 and planar surface 60 will be permitted to escape by removal of stopper 64 from opening 62. Once the cake is firmly and properly seated, stopper 64 may be reinserted to seal the mug and prevent accidental leakage of water and lather from the base of the mug through opening 62.

The resiliency of mug 50 will also permit cakes of soap having diameters slightly larger than the internal diameter of wall section 53 to be firmly and snugly seated in the mug. When a cake of soap having a slightly larger diameter is placed in mug 50, wall 54 may expand slightly from the position 'of the wall when the mug is empty, as indicated by the broken line 56a (see FIGURE 6) to the position shown by full line 56. In this respect, the lateral expansion of wall 56 is as described with mug 10.

According to another embodiment of my invention, there is provided a cake of shaving soap having an external configuration which provides means for the prevention of an undesirable air pocket and which may be used with existing shaving mugs not provided with vent means for the elimination of the air pocket, as well as with shaving mugs in accordance with my invention.

Referring to FIGURE 3, there is illustrated a generally circular cake of soap 30 having a circumferential surface 34, and a concavity 32 formed in its upper surface. Although a concavity is shown in the upper face, it should be understood that a similar concavity may be formed in the lower face, or, if desired, one or both of these faces may be fiat.

Circumference 34 is generally smooth, except for a groove 36 which extends the entire thickness of the cake. Groove 36 serves as the means for venting the pocket of air which forms when a tightly fitting cake of soap is inserted into a shaving mug. Accordingly, it should be appreciated that cakes of soap embodying a venting groove 36 may be made in various diameters and configurations so that they may be used with many of the existing shaving mugs, as well as with mugs in accordance with my invention. I

As the shaving mugs of my invention will be light in weight and unbreakable, it is recognized that they will be ideally suited for travel purposes. It is, therefore, contemplated that the mugs may be provided with inexpensive lids which can be easily snapped over the opening to seal the mug. I also contemplate that the shaving mugs may be prepared with letters or symbols embossed or printed on the outer walls of the mugs. Thus, the mugs may 'be readily personalized by the placement of names on the walls. Further, the mugs, being inexpensive to manufacture, are ideally suited for use in promotional programs. For such purposes, the mugs may bear the name of a company, with or without other advertising copy.

Although my invention has been described with particular reference to specific illustrative embodiments, the same are not to be construed as in any way limiting the invention. Reference is, therefore, to be had solely to the appended claims for the purpose of determining the scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A shaving mug for holding a cake of shaving soap firmly and securely in place, comprising: a resilient plastic cup-shaped container having a base and walls extending upwardly from said base, said container having an interior diameter at and near its base sufliciently smaller than that of the shaving soap used in conjunction therewith whereby when a cake of shaving soap is in place in said container, the walls will firmly and securely grasp the soap and means in said container for the escape of air which would ordinarily be trapped between the base of said container and the lower face of a cake of soap being pressed therein.

2. A shaving mug of the character described in claim 1, in which the base of said container has an opening formed in it, whereby when said opening is exposed, air, which would ordinarily be trapped between said base and the lower face of a cake 'of soap being pressed therein, may escape, and a stopper removably fitted in said openmg.

3. A shaving mug of the character described in claim 1, in which said means for the escape of air is a vertical groove formed in the interior wall of the container.

4. A shaving mug and a cake of shaving soap, the combination comprising: a resilient plastic cup-shaped container having a base and walls extending upwardly therefrom, and a cake of shaving soap in said container, said container having an interior diameter at and near its base sufficiently smaller than that of the shaving soap used in combination therewith whereby when a cake of shaving soap is placed in said container, the walls will finm-ly and securely grasp the soap, said soap having a vertical groove on its circumferential surface providing a passage for the escape of air which would ordinarily be trapped between the base of said container and the lower face of said soap being pressed therein.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 328,020 10/1885 Fuchs et al 20656 970,779 9/ 1910 Arnone 206-56 1,369,767 3/ 1921 Amis 206-1 1,898,654 2/ 1933 Breslauer. 3,091,360 5/1963 Edwards 22097 FOREIGN PATENTS 332,413 7/ 1930 Great Britain. 760,398 10/1956 Great Britain.

THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner.

WILLIAM T. DIXSON, JR., Examiner.

Claims

1. A SHAVING MUG FOR HOLDING A CAKE OF SHAVING SOAP FIRMLY AND SECURELY IN PLACE, COMPRISING: A RESILIENT PLASTIC CUP-SHAPED CONTAINER HAVING A BASE AND WALLS EXTENDING UPWARDLY FROM SAID BASE, SAID CONTAINER HAVING AN INTERIOR DIAMETER AT AND NEAR ITS BASE SUFFICIENTLY SMALLER THAN THAT OF THE SHAVING SOAP USED IN CONJUNCTION THEREWITH WHEREBY WHEN A CAKE OF SHAVING SOAP IS IN PLACE IN SAID CONTAINER, THE WALLS WILL FIRMLY AND SECURELY GRASP THE SOAP AND MEANS IN SAID CONTAINER FOR ESCAPE OF AIR WHICH WOULD ORDINARILY BE TRAPPED BETWEEN THE BASE OF SAID CONTAINER AND THE LOWER FACE OF A CAKE OF SOAP BEING PRESSED THEREIN.