Tripod Soap Holder

Abstract

A soap holder is provided having a tripod projection suitable to receive a cake of soap that has a central hole (described in prior art as “Spindle Soap”). This invention simultaneously provides balanced support and multiple openings for improved drainage of the cake of soap between uses. The soap holder may be made of stainless steel, brass, plastics, resins, and porcelain, among other materials, and may be a single formed piece. The device may be easily cast or formed by injection mold technique. The soap holder may also be fabricated from wire, rod or plate stock.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]Not ApplicableSTATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT[0002]Not ApplicableREFERENCE TO A SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISC APPENDIX[0003]Not ApplicableBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0004]My invention relates to devices for mounting or supporting cakes of soap for hand or bath use.[0005]Cakes of soap are unpleasant to use when stored improperly between washings, since poorly drained soap becomes discolored, has a sticky surfaces and develops fissures ridden with grime. A variety of soap holders are therefore made to provide better drainage of cakes of soap, improving cake soap attractiveness and useful life. Unfortunately, state of the art soap holders are known to leave unaddressed one or more problems relating to drainage and drying of cakes of soap and furthermore can be difficult or uneconomical to use, such as when they are inherently unstable, when the soap is not firmly retaine...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0011]My invention, also referred to here as a “tripod soap holder” or “my device,” provides a tripod spindle type soap holder consisting of three equally spaced, outwardly spreading support ribs that converge to fit within a cylindrical hole fashioned through the center a hard cake of soap, permitting the soap to rest in elevated state without touching anything else. The primary objective of my invention is to provide a holder of improved utility and drainage for use with spindle cake soap described in prior art.

[0012]Unlike prior art soap holders, my invention does not depend on loose accessory articles embedded in or attached to a soap cake. The comparative advantages of my invention are that it eliminates potential user injury resulting from accessory articles exposed or separated from the cake of soap, it facilitates independent manufacture and marketing of the soap holder and the dispensed product (i.e. cake soap) and it reduces material waste due to disposal or potential loss of accessory articles.

[0013]Since my invention can be smaller than a cake of soap, it is inherently space-saving in nature and easy to place next to lavatory or bath. The proportionately wider base and central axis of symmetry of my device contribute to its overall stability during every state of use. Further contributing to ease of use, a person is able to see how to replace cake soap on my device, and soap may be replaced in either orientation.

[0014]Prior art soap holders for use with spindle type cake soap rely on a simple cylindrical projection fixed to a perpendicular base. This creates a problem of water held by capillary action between the cylindrical soap hole and the cylindrical projection. In addition, the cake soap slides down the cylinder and is stopped against a base that obstructs the hole in the soap, thereby trapping water against the soap. My invention eliminates both of these problems by means of a tripod support that minimizes capillary action and provides three openings to ensure drainage at the base of the hole.

[0015]Marks made by my device within the soap hole by its support edges are inherently free-draining vertical ridges, whichever way the cake soap is replaced. The location of these marks is confined to the interior of the soap, not affecting the primary user surfaces of the soap cake. Thus the cake soap remains hard and substantially unblemished, extending its attractiveness and its useful life.

[0016]The form of my invention renders it conveniently manufactured of a single piece from a variety of durable materials, such as stainless steel, brass, plastics, resins, and porcelain, among others. This invention may be easily cast or formed by injection molding techniques. The tripod may also be fabricated from wire, rod or plate stock, and is adaptable to a variety of conventional mounting methods such as suction cup or other mechanical fasteners.

Problems solved by technology

This creates a problem of water held by capillary action between the cylindrical soap hole and the cylindrical projection.

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