Soap bar and holder

A soap bar and holder combination wherein the holder has a base, a shank and a head, the axis of which is perpendicular to the plane of the base, and the soap bar has an insert embedded therein formed with a cavity adapted to be telescoped over the head of the holder to removably support the soap bar on the holder. The diameters of the head and cavity are related so that the soap bar may be retained on the holder either loosely or firmly.

This invention relates to a soap bar and holder. 
In my copending application Ser. No. 884,768, filed Mar. 9, 1978, there is 
disclosed a soap bar and holder designed such that the soap bar can be 
removed from the holder and used in the manner of a conventional soap bar 
or the soap bar may be retained on the holder, either firmly or loosely, 
and used when so retained by rubbing the hands or a washcloth over and 
around the soap bar. The soap bar and holder are also designed so that 
when the soap bar is retained on the holder it is generally parallel to 
the plane of the support surface to which the holder is affixed, 
regardless of whether such support surface is horizontal, vertical or 
inclined. The holder includes a suction cup base which enables the soap 
bar to be mounted on a horizontal surface of a washbowl, on the vertical 
side wall of a shower stall or bathtub, or on an inclined surface--such as 
within a washbowl. The holder and soap bar are also designed such that 
when the soap bar is retained on the holder it is spaced substantially 
from the base of the holder and the support surface. This not only enables 
one to rub his hands over substantially the entire surface of the soap 
bar, but also facilitates drying of the soap when not in use and cleaning 
of the support surface around the base of the holder without removing the 
soap bar from the holder. 
The primary object of the present invention is to provide a soap bar and 
holder of the type described capable of being manufactured economically 
while still possessing the desirable basic functional and structural 
features of the soap bar and holder described as well as additional 
features. 
More specifically, the present invention includes a soap bar having a 
plastic insert embedded therein. The insert reinforces the soap bar, is 
arranged so that it does not present an uncomfortable feeling to the 
user's hands or body when the soap bar diminishes in size through use, and 
can be formed inexpensively in molds of simple and economical design. 
The present invention also includes a holder shaped so that it can be 
formed inexpensively from a plastic material in molds of economical 
design. The holder preferably has a base in the form of a suction cup 
which enables it to be removably, but securely, mounted at any desired 
location on a smooth surface which may be flat or even slightly concave or 
convex. 
Furthermore, the soap bar and holder of this invention are designed such 
that the soap bar can be readily mounted on the holder without any 
conscious effort on the part of the user to orient the soap bar relative 
to the holder. This latter feature is achieved by disposing the head of 
the holder on an axis perpendicular to the suction cup base so that the 
user subconsciously realizes that the soap bar is properly oriented 
relative to the holder when the plane of the soap bar in the palm of the 
user's hand is generally parallel to the plane of the support surface on 
which the holder is mounted. In this connection the head of the holder is 
slightly smaller than the cavity in the insert which not only enables the 
soap bar to be loosely retained on the holder, but also enables the soap 
bar to be applied to and removed from the holder while slightly tilted 
with respect thereto. 
Another feature of the invention resides in the construction of the soap 
bar and holder so that the soap bar can be either loosely retained on the 
holder without being accidentally dislodged therefrom or firmly and 
frictionally mounted on the holder.

In the accompanying figures the holder is generally designated 10 and the 
soap bar is generally designated 12. Holder 10 includes a base 14 in the 
form of a suction cup, a shank 16 and a head 18. In the embodiment 
illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 head 18 is in the form of a circular 
cylindrical extension on shank 16 at the end thereof opposite base 14. The 
outer periphery of head 18 is defined by a cylindrical surface 20 of 
generally uniform diameter. The end face 22 of head 18 is connected to the 
cylindrical surface 20 by an annular curved surface 24. Preferably holder 
10 is molded as one piece from a suitable plastic material (preferably 
resilient), such as rubber or the like. If desired, the suction cup 14 can 
be molded from rubber and the shank molded from a different material and 
affixed to the suction cup by any suitable means. In the drawing the 
holder is shown removably mounted on a vertically extending support 
surface 26 which may, for example, be the side wall of a shower stall or 
the vertical side wall of a bathtub or sink. As explained hereinafter, 
support surface 26 may also be a horizontal or an inclined surface. 
Soap bar 12 is generally circular in shape as viewed in plan and has 
opposed faces 28,30 which are connected by an annular surface 32 around 
the periphery of the soap bar. The diameter of the soap bar is 
substantially larger than its thickness, that is, the distance between 
faces 28,30. For example, a typical soap bar according to the present 
invention would have a diameter of about three inches and a thickness of 
about one and one-half inches. 
An insert 34 is embedded in the soap bar, preferably centrally between the 
faces 28,30 or closer to face 30 than face 28. Insert 34 is preferably in 
the form of a relatively thin circular disc having a central cavity 36 of 
circular cross section. The depth and the diameter of cavity 36 are 
relatively small in relation to the diameter of the insert. At one end 
cavity 36 is closed by an end wall 38. The other end of cavity 36 is open 
as at 40. The central portion of face 30 of the soap bar is in the form of 
an outwardly tapered socket 42 the inner end of which merges with insert 
34 around a line spaced slightly radially outwardly from opening 40. 
Insert 34 is preferably molded from a somewhat rigid plastic material such 
as polyethylene so that it actually forms a relatively thin, but 
structurally strong, reinforcement located generally centrally within the 
soap bar. Insert 34 is fashioned with concentric annular ribs 44 on one or 
both sides thereof to insure a secure bonding of the insert with the soap 
bar at the interfaces thereof. 
Location of the insert closer to face 30 than to face 28 is desirable when 
the soap bar will be used predominantly while on the holder since, when so 
used, face 28 will be worn down more rapidly than face 30. A relatively 
thin insert is desirable so that it will not interfere with the use of the 
soap bar until the bar is substantially completely consumed. 
In the arrangement illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 cavity 36 is defined by a 
circular cylindrical, axially outer portion 46 of uniform diameter and an 
inner cavity portion 48 of smaller diameter than cavity portion 46. The 
diameter of cavity portion 46 is slightly larger than the outer diameter 
of the cylindrical surface 20 of the head 18. A small clearance on the 
order of 0.005 to 0.010 inches enables the soap bar to be freely and 
readily telescoped over and removed from head 18 even though the soap bar 
is slightly inclined to support surface 26 as shown in FIG. 1. When the 
soap bar is placed loosely on the holder, the holder being affixed to a 
horizontal surface, it can be easily removed therefrom for use in the 
manner of a conventional soap bar or it may be used while so retained on 
the holder by simply rubbing the hands or a washcloth transversely over 
the generally flat top and peripheral surfaces of the soap bar. It is 
important to note, however, that the shank 16 of the holder is of such 
length that when the soap bar is retained on the holder loosely (FIG. 1) 
or firmly (FIG. 2), face 30 is spaced from the horizontal or vertical 
mounting surface 26 a distance amply sufficient (preferably at least 
three-quarters of an inch) to permit the user to encircle both faces 28,30 
of the soap bar with his hands or a washcloth. It is also important to 
note that, even when the soap bar tilts or is cocked to the maximum 
allowable extent, the shank of the holder is out of contact with the 
surrounding outwardly flared portion 42 of the soap bar. 
With the arrangement of this invention, if it is desired to retain the soap 
bar firmly on the holder, this can be accomplished by merely pushing the 
soap bar closer to the support surface 26 so that the free end of head 18 
is seated in the smaller cavity portion 48 of the insert as shown in FIG. 
2. In the arrangement illustrated cavity portion 48 has a diameter 
dimensioned so as to produce a close or an interference fit with the free 
end portion of head 18. Likewise, the portion 54 of shank 16 directly 
adjacent head 18 is dimensioned so that when the head 18 is fully seated 
in the smaller diameter cavity portion 48 of the holder it has an 
interference fit with the edge of opening 40. A difference in diameter of 
as little as 0.005 inches between opening 40 and portion 54 is sufficient 
to produce an interference fit. Thus, in the position illustrated in FIG. 
2 the holder 10 is tightly embraced by the edge of opening 40 to firmly 
retain the soap bar on the holder. If the clearance between head 18 and 
cavity portion 46 is slight (0.005 to 0.010 inches), the provision of the 
smaller cavity portion may not be necessary. The interference fit between 
the edge of opening 40 and the bearing portion 54 on shank 16 may be all 
that is necessary to retain the soap bar firmly on the holder. It is 
apparent, of course, that in order to obtain such firm retention one or 
both of the mating parts must be relatively yieldable. At the same time it 
will be apparent that either head 18 or the cavity of the insert should be 
provided with one or more axially extending grooves or slots such as 
illustrated at 56 to prevent the entrapment of air or water between the 
head of the holder and the insert cavity. This prevents a pressure 
differential between the cavity and the surrounding atmosphere which would 
make it difficult to apply the soap to the holder or remove it from the 
holder. 
It will be appreciated that holder 10 can be mounted on a vertical, a 
horizontal or an inclined support surface. In any event, the construction 
of the holder and the soap bar is such that the soap bar can be applied to 
the holder so as to be supported thereon without any conscious effort on 
the part of the user to align the axis of the insert cavity with the axis 
of the holder. This results from the fact that the axis of head 18 is 
perpendicular to the plane of support surface 26 and the annular curved 
surface 24 at the free end of the head cooperates with the curved surface 
58 on the insert around opening 40 to form natural "lead-in" faces between 
the insert and the holder. Thus, the user unconsciously realizes that, if 
he positions the soap bar generally centrally over the holder and in a 
plane generally parallel to the plane of the support surface, movement of 
the soap bar toward the support surface will automatically interengage the 
insert with the holder. This is true even if the plane of the soap bar is 
inclined to a plane perpendicular to the axis of the holder at a slight 
angle as shown at a in FIG. 1. The relative dimensions of head 18 and 
cavity 36 should be such that angle a does not exceed 15.degree. and is 
preferably about 5.degree.. I have found that when the relative dimensions 
of the head 18 and cavity 36 are such that the maximum permissable tilt of 
the soap bar is not more than about 15.degree., the soap bar can be used 
while on the holder by rubbing one's hands transversely across face 28 and 
over the peripheral surface 32 without accidentally displacing the soap 
bar from the holder. If the holder is mounted on a horizontal surface, the 
soap bar will tilt as the hands are rubbed thereover such that the outer 
periphery of head 18 adjacent the free end thereof will bear against the 
cylindrical surface of cavity 36 at point 50 and on the opposite side 
thereof head 18 will bear against the cavity wall adjacent opening 40 at 
point 52. As long as bearing points 50,52 are located on generally 
cylindrical bearing surfaces, are spaced axially apart at least about 
one-third of the diameter of head 18, and prevent tilting of the soap bar 
not more than about 15.degree., the transverse force on the soap bar which 
results from rubbing one's hands across it will not have a tendency to 
cause the soap bar to ride up and over head 18 and off the holder, even 
though it is loosely supported thereon. On the other hand, if the spacing 
between bearing points 50,52 is at least one-third the diameter of the 
cavity and the maximum permissable tilting of the soap bar is on the order 
of 5.degree. or less, then the soap bar will be supported in a stable 
position on the holder even when the holder is affixed to a vertical 
surface as shown in FIG. 1. 
The embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 differs slightly from that 
illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. In the arrangement illustrated in FIGS. 3 
and 4 the head 60 of the holder 10 is formed with a very slight taper as 
illustrated at 62. This taper should not be so large as to cause the soap 
bar to slide off the end of the holder when the holder is mounted on a 
vertical support surface. The taper should provide a generally horizontal 
support surface for the soap bar when the holder is mounted on a vertical 
surface and should not exceed about 5.degree.. The annular inner surface 
64 of the cavity 66 of the insert is correspondingly tapered. However, the 
diameters of these surfaces are so related relative to the axial 
dimensions thereof such that when the soap bar is fully inserted over head 
60 of the holder an interference fit between the head of the holder and 
the insert results. If desired the depth of cavity 66 can be dimensioned 
so that head 60 will not bottom against the end of the cavity if the soap 
bar is applied to the holder with only a slight force. In any event, when 
the soap bar is forced on the holder it is firmly retained thereon 
regardless of whether the holder is mounted on a vertical, horizontal or 
an inclined surface. If the insert is not forced over the head of the 
holder the soap bar will be loosely retained. However, the depth of cavity 
66 is sufficient so that the soap bar may be loosely retained on the 
holder in the manner illustrated in FIG. 3 without being accidentally 
displaced from the holder, such as when it is inadvertently bumped. When 
the taper on the head of the holder is more than about 5.degree. the soap 
bar will of its own accord tend to slide off the end of the holder when 
the latter is mounted on a vertical support surface. At the same time, if 
the axial spacing between the two bearing points 68,70 is equal to at 
least about one-third of the diameter of the head at the bearing point 70, 
the soap bar will be supported on the holder in a relatively stable 
position, provided that the respective diameters prevent the soap bar from 
tilting more than about 5.degree. to the vertical. The slight taper 
referred to not only results in an interference fit with a slight 
application force, but also facilitates removal of the soap bar from the 
holder since the insert is completely loosened from the head of the holder 
after the soap bar is retracted only a very slight extent. 
When the soap bars illustrated are removed from the holder and used in a 
conventional manner, the face 30 with the socket 42 will wear down at a 
faster rate than the face 28. On the other hand, when the soap is used 
predominantly while it is retained on the holder, the face 28 will wear 
down more rapidly than face 30. In any event, regardless of which side of 
the soap bar is consumed first, the insert is constructed so that it 
remains thoroughly bonded at its interface with the soap. As the soap bar 
diminishes in size the insert provides a reinforcement therein which 
reduces the likelihood of breakage and also tends to maintain the soap bar 
in a desirable shape until substantially all of the soap is consumed, 
except for a very small amount on the opposite faces of the insert between 
the outer peripheral edge thereof and the wall of the insert cavity on one 
side and the cavity opening on the other side. In the arrangement shown in 
FIGS. 3 and 4 a small radial flange 72 is incorporated on the insert 
around the extreme outer periphery thereof. Flange 72 prevents the 
peripheral edge of soap from breaking up and separating from the insert as 
the soap bar reduces in size through use. The soap bar can be considered 
substantially completely consumed when it wears down to the configuration 
illustrated by broken lines in FIG. 4. However, even when the soap bar 
wears down to this extent it can be rubbed between the hands or over the 
body without any uncomfortable sensation since there is an absence of 
surfaces on the insert protruding substantially beyond the adjacent soap 
surfaces. This is enhanced by the fact that in cross section the insert is 
widest at the central portion thereof and becomes thinner and tapers at 
the opposite faces thereof to a progressively smaller dimension in a 
direction radially outwardly by reason of the ribs 44 and the flange 72. 
In addition, the insert is preferably shaped so that its outer peripheral 
edge lies generally in the central plane of the insert. Thus, the shape of 
the insert not only reinforces the soap bar and prevents its separation 
from the soap, but also imparts an ideal configuration to the soap bar as 
it wears down to the shape designated by broken lines in FIG. 4. 
It will be understood, of course, that the interference fit referred to 
previously is of significance for retaining the soap bar firmly on the 
holder. This is of particular importance when the holder is mounted on a 
vertical surface. However, the interference fit should not be so tight as 
to require an unduly large force to remove the soap bar from the holder. 
The interference fit should be such as to enable removal of the soap bar 
with just a slight pull. For example, a typical soap bar according to the 
present invention would have a diameter of about three inches, a thickness 
of about one and one-half inches, and would weigh about six ounces. With 
such a soap bar the degree of interference fit between the insert and the 
head of the holder should be such as to require a pull on the soap bar of 
not more than about eight or ten ounces to remove the soap bar from the 
holder. When the head of the holder is a roughened surface, as 
distinguished from a slippery smooth surface, a better gripping action is 
obtained and, at the same time, the need for a groove or slot such as 
shown at 56 may be avoided since the entrapment of air or water between 
the insert cavity and the head of the holder is less likely.