Improvements in Devices for Dispensing Liquid Soap, Perfumes, or the like.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Apr., 1894-Accepted, 12th May, 1894
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Devices for Dispensing Liquid Soap, Perfumes, or
the like.
I, ELMER LEE, of 103 State Street, Chicago, Illinois, United States of
America, Physician, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement :-
The object of this invention is to provide for dispensing liquid soap in a
convenient and economical manner. To this end there is provided by the invention
a device which can be readily applied as a fixture in a lavatory and by means of
which desired quantities of liquid soap can be withdrawn for toilet purposes without
waste and without personal contact with the soap, each user withdrawing only such
quantity for himself as he desires and without opportunity of placing his hands in
contact with the store.
In carrying out my invention there is provided a suitable reservoir, which is
permanently attached adjacent to a wash bowl or bath tub in some convenient place,
so as to form one of the fixtures of a lavatory. Said reservoir is preferably
constructed of glass or other vitreous material and in the form of a cylinder with
constricted ends and tapering slightly in its body and having a cap or cover applied
to its top and a self-closing valve to the aperture in its opposite end, the valve stem
protruding so that by simple pressure or a light blow on the protruding stem the
valve is unseated, opening from within the reservoir and a quantity of liquid soap is
discharged in the palm of the hand which operates the valve.
One feature of my invention relates to the manner of supporting the reservoir;
another feature relates to the particular construction and manner of mounting the
valve, and still another feature relates to the provision of a guide plug for the valve
stem, which is perforated suitably to regulate the quantity of soap which is supplied
to the valve.
In the accompanying drawing,
Figure 1 is a view in side elevation, showing the reservoir secured in position
for use.
Figure 2 is a broken sectional detail of the lower end of the reservoir, showing
the preferred construction of the valve.
Figure 3 is a plan view of the cap for the lower end of the reservoir in which
the valve is mounted and showing the neck or constricted end of the reservoir in
section.
Figures 4 and 5 are views corresponding, respectively, to Figures 2 and 3, but
showing a modified construction of the valve.
6 represents a reservoir which is composed of crystal glass; its main body being
cylindrical and slightly tapering from end to end, as indicated by the dotted vertical
line of Figure 1. The ends of the cylinder are shouldered and beyond the shoulders
are projecting open-ended necks 6, 6%, which form, respectively, filling and
discharge openings. To the neck 6 is applied the cap or closure 7 having a
minute perforation 7" to admit air above the liquid and to the neck 6b is applied a
cap 8 having a central aperture 8* axially of the discharge opening. Concentrically
within this cap 8 is the thimble 10 having its upper end interiorly threaded to
adapt it to receive the threaded plug 11. Said plug is centrally and vertically
bored to furnish an aperture through which the valve stem 12 may play, said valve
stem having a small metallic collar or washer 13 thereon, and below said collar or
washer a valve 14. A coiled spring 15 surrounds the valve stem, its upper end

page_text: bearing upon the under side of the plug, and its lower end bearing on the metallic
collar of the valve stem. Said valve stem is made long enough so that its lower
end protrudes through the aperture of the cap. The cap 8 and thimble 10 are
secured to the neck 6 by means of a suitable cement, indicated at 17-18.
As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the screw plug has the vertical apertures 19 through
which the liquid soap may find its way into the sub-chamber 20, where it will be
confined until, by a slight pressure of, or blow from, the hand on the protruding end
of the valve stem, the valve will be unseated and permit a quantity of soap
contained in said sub-chamber to escape through the aperture in the lower end of
the cap and around the valve stem into the palm of the hand. The aperture in the
cap is, of course, sufficiently larger in diameter than the valve stem to permit such
escape.
In the construction shown in Figures 4 and 5, instead of the apertures 19, I
have shown the upper end of the valve stem as hollow, as seen at 21, with
transverse apertures 22 in its walls, which will permit the liquid soap to flow down
through such hollow stem and escape into the sub-chamber through the openings in
the wall of the valve stem. In this construction when the valve stem is raised the
apertures will be closed by passing above the plane of the lower face of the screw
plug as to the upper apertures, and the lower ones will be closed by the close
impingement of the coils of the spiral spring. The flow of the soap is thus cut off
in this case while the valve is unseated.
To affix the reservoir in place, I have provided the annular supporting ring 23,
having a bracket arm 24 provided with a rose or flush plate 25 and a screw 26.
The supporting ring, bracket arm, rose and screw may be formed in one piece.
When the reservoir is made slightly tapered, it will wedge itself into this ring
when inserted therein from above, thus supporting it in the desired position.and
fitting the ring so tightly that it will not be moved upward by pressure on the
valve stem sufficient to unseat the valve. The fixture may be readily secured in
place by inserting the reservoir in the ring and then using the reservoir as a
handle to turn the screw into place.
To withdraw a quantity of the liquid soap for toilet use, the palm of the hand
is placed underneath the reservoir and, by a slight upward pressure or blow upon
the protruding end of the valve stem, the valve is raised and the liquid soap flows
down into the palm. The amount withdrawn at a single actuation will be
determined by the extent to which the valve is raised above and the length of
time it is held off its seat in the construction shown in Figures 1 to 3 inclusive,
while in the construction shown in Figures 4 and 5 the quantity withdrawn will
depend upon the size of the sub-chamber and the extent to which the flow of the
soap is cut off by closure of the perforations in the valve stem.
From the foregoing description it will be seen that there is provided a convenient
method of and means for dispensing liquid soap, which can be furnished as an
appurtenance to a lavatory, and the device may form one of the fixtures of a bath
tub, stationary wash bowl or stand. It can be so arranged that it will not take up
any room required for other purposes. It takes the place of the unsightly soap
dish, and furnishes a superior form of soap in an economical manner and without
any liability of spreading contagion by personal contact with the soap. The
particular construction of the supporting bracket and also of the valve may be
varied. I prefer to use a glass reservoir because it will not corrode and because
by reason of its transparency the quality and quantity of soap can at all times be
observed. By locating the valve below the plane of the bottom of the reservoir
the latter may be drained of soap, while the valve is kept submerged, thus
providing for its thorough lubrication and preventing its corrosion.
While I have described my improved fixture as particularly adapted for the
dispensing of liquid soap, I do not, of course, intend to limit my invention to this
single use, as I contemplate employing the same for dispensing toilet waters,
perfumes, and other lotions or liquids.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A toilet or lavatory fixture for dispensing liquid soap for individual use,.
comprising a reservoir and a fixed support therefor, said reservoir having a filling
opening and having a suitable discharge aperture in its bottom, a valve normally
closing said discharge aperture and means external to the reservoir whereby the
valve may be unseated to permit the discharge of the liquid, substantially as
described.
2. A fixture for dispensing liquid soap for individual use, comprising a reservoir,.
a support therefor adapted to be permanently attached, and said reservoir having
a filling opening and a suitable discharge aperture in its bottom and a valve
Dormally closing said discharge aperture and having its stem projected there-
through and external to the reservoir and adapted to be raised by the upward
pressure of the palm of the hand thereon, whereby a quantity of the liquid soap
may be received in the same hand which manipulates the valve, substantially as
described.
3. A reservoir for liquid soap, comprising a slightly tapered glass body, haring
a filling aperture at one end thereof and a discharge aperture at its opposite end,
a cap or closure applied to the filling aperture and a cap and a self-closing valve
applied to the discharge aperture, and a support for the reservoir, substantially as
described.
4. In a device for dispensing liquid soap, the combination with a reservoir
composed of a vitreous material and having openings at both of its ends and
provided with a cap or closure for one of said openings and with a valve controlled
closure at the opposite end and a support for said reservoir substantially as
described.
5. In a fixture for dispensing liquid soap, the combination with a glass reservoir
having a neck providing a discharge orifice, of a valve applied to said orifice
below the plane of the bottom of the body whereby the body of the reservoir
may be drained of the liquid and the valve may be kept submerged in the liquid,
substantially as described.
6. A fixture for dispensing liquid soap, comprising in combination a tapering
reservoir and a support therefor comprising an annular supporting ring or
clamp having a shank or bracket arm and a screw formed integral with said shank,
substantially as described.
7. A fixture for dispensing liquid soap, comprising in combination a tapering
reservoir and a support therefor comprising an annular supporting ring or clamp
having a shank or bracket arm, substantially as described.
8. A reservoir for liquid soap, comprising a glass body constricted at its ends to
provide annular necks, a cap or closure applied to the upper neck and a second cap
having a perforation in its bottom applied to the lower neck, and a valve to control
the discharge aperture supported by the cap, the valve stem protruding through
the aperture thereof, substantially as described.
9. In a reservoir for liquid soap, the combination with a containing body having
a filling opening and a discharge aperture, a cap applied to the reservoir about the
discharge aperture, a thimble within the cap, a plug fitted in the upper portion of
said thimble and providing a sub-chamber, the cap having an aperture in its wall,
a valve applied thereto and a valve stem protruded through the aperture of the
cap and having a bearing in the plug and inlet apertures or ports to permit the
flow of the liquid soap into the sub-chamber, substantially as described.
10. In a reservoir for liquid soap, the combination with the reservoir having a
filling opening and a discharge aperture, a cap applied to the reservoir about the
discharge aperture, a thimble secured to the cap concentrically to the discharge
aperture and secured to the wall thereof, a plug fitted in the upper portion of said
thimble and providing a sub-chamber below it, the cap having an aperture in its

page_text: wall, a valve applied thereto, a valve stem protruded through the aperture of the
cap and having a bearing in the plug, inlet apertures or ports to permit the flow
of the liquid soap into the sub-chamber, and a spring for holding the valve upon
its seat, substantially as described.
Dated this 10th day of April 1894
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.