AN IMPROVED CASE OR BOX FOR HOLDING SOAP, TOOTH-BRUSHES, AND OTHER ARTICLES FOR THE TOILET
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake,
& Co., Patent Agents; Southampton Buildings, London, for an Invention
of "AN IMPROVED CASE OR BOX FOR HOLDING SOAP, TOOTH-BRUSHES, AND
OTHER ARTICLES FOR THE TOILET." A communication from abroad by
Sullivan Haslett, of the City and State of New York, United States of
America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 30th August 1881.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "AN IMPROVED CASE OR BOX FOR HOLDING
SOAP, TOOTH-BRUSHES, AND OTHER ARTICLES FOR THE TOILET." [A communi- '
cation from abroad by Sullivan Haslett, of the City and State of New York,
United States of America.]
This Invention relates to an improved case or box for holding soap, tooth
brushes, and other articles for the toilet, and comprises a toilet case provided with
an inner perforated cover, whereby the nail, tooth, and shaving brushes, soap, and
other toilet articles may be locked within the said case, and at the same time be
freely exposed to the air for ventilation and drying, as hereinafter described.
It frequently happens that when travellers and others leave their nail, hair, and
other brushes and combs exposed in their absence, the latter are used by other
persons, and also that under some circumstances it becomes necessary to place
them in a bag or trunk while they are still wet or damp, in which state they will
cause injury to garments and the like with which they may come in contact. To
obviate these objectionable features I construct my improved toilet case as follows,
that is to say, the said case is formed of any suitable material (preferably of
Britannia metal, or other non-corroding and non-absorbing material), and of any
desired dimensions, and is made in two parts binged together, so that the edges of
these two parts will fit snugly together when closed, and will make practically a
tight case or box. Hinged to the lower part of this box is a wire netting or

page_text: perforated cover. This perforated cover extends upward to such a height as not to
come in contact with the brushes and other articles within the case, and at one end
of the said cover is fixed a lug. To the lower part of the box is fixed another lug
having perforations formed in it, so that when the perforated plate is in its closed
position the lug upon the same is brought in contact with the lug on the lower part
of the box and between the perforations therein. To the upper part or cover of
the box is hinged a ferrule, so that when this upper part is closed the said ferrule
will lie between the perforations of the said lug.
Within the lower part of the box or case are placed racks. These racks are
formed of bars loosely fitted into the said lower part of the case and parallel with
its sides, and are united by cross bars. These cross-bars have placed on them
sleeves, so that the spaces between any two of the bars forming the racks can be
increased or diminished by interposing between them a greater or less number of
these sleeves; the said bars act as partitions between which are received the several
brushes and other articles of various widths. These bars near one end of the box
lie closely against the bottom of the lower part thereof and form a "grid," on
which a cake of soap may be placed.
When it is desired to make use of my improved toilet case after the articles
therein have been used, they are placed on the sleeves surrounding the cross-bars
and between the bars which constitute the racks, each article in its proper position,
and the perforated plate is placed over them with its lug resting on the lug on the
lower part of the case; a combination lock of simple construction, or some other
similar device, is passed through the perforations in the last named lug, and over
the lug of the perforated plate, so as to effectually secure the latter over the toilet
articles within the lower portion of the case, and prevent the raising of this
perforated plate and the removal of the toilet articles from the case, while at the
same time the wet or damp articles are freely exposed to the action of the air,
whereby they may be ventilated and dried. The case in this condition, that is to
say, with its perforated plate locked, may be left exposed, and the toilet articles
within it cannot be used by unauthorized persons.
When it is desired to place or pack the case within a travelling bag or valise
while the toilet articles are still wet or damp, before inserting the lock to secure
the perforated plate, the cover of the case is shut down over the said perforated
plate with the ferrule within the aforesaid openings; the lock is then placed
through these openings and the ferrule and there secured,-enclosing-the-articles
within the-case-in-substantially a tight box, which will prevent them from
coming in contact with garments or other articles in the said bag or valise, and the
consequent injury or soiling of the same.
The aforesaid racks being loosely placed within the lower part of the case, can
readily be removed therefrom for the purpose of cleansing it when desired.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on, the
28th February 1882.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "AN IMPROVED CASE OR BOX FOR HOLDING
SOAP, TOOTH-BRUSHES, AND OTHER ARTICLES FOR THE TOILET." A communi-
cation from abroad by Sullivan Haslett, of the City and State of New York,
United States of America.
This Invention relates to an improved case or box for holding soap, tooth
brushes, and other articles for the toilet, and comprises a toilet case provided with
an inner perforated cover, whereby the nail, tooth, and shaving brushes, soap, and
other toilet articles may be locked within the said case, and at the same time be
freely exposed to the air for ventilation and drying, as hereinafter described.
6
In the accompanying Drawing,-
Figure 1 represents a perspective view of the said improved toilet case with the
several parts locked together for packing in a valise bag or the like.
Figure 2 represents a perspective view with the cover of the case raised for
drying the toilet articles locked under the perforated plate, and shewing the
perforated plate partly broken away.
Figure 3 is a longitudinal section of the said case closed, and
Figure 4 is a transverse section through line x, x, Figure 3.
It frequently happens that when travellers and others leave their nail, hair, and
other brushes and combs exposed in their absence, they are used by other persons,
and also that under some circumstances it becomes necessary to place them in a
bag or trunk while they are still wet or damp, in which state they will cause
injury to garments and the like with which they may come in contact. To obviate
these objectionable features I construct my improved toilet case as follow, that is
to say, the said case is formed of any suitable material (preferably Britannia metal,
or other non-corroding and non-absorbing material), and of any desired dimensions,
and is made in two parts A and B hinged together as at a, so that the edges of
these two parts will fit snugly together when closed, and will make practically a
tight case or box. Hinged to the lower part B of this box is a wire netting or
perforated cover C. This perforated cover extends upward at b so as not to come
in contact with the brushes and other articles within the case; and at one end of
the said cover is fixed a lug D. To the lower part B of the box is fixed a lug E
with perforations e, e, formed in it, so that when the perforated plate C is in its
closed position, the lug D is brought in contact with the lug E on the lower part B
of the box, and between the perforations e, e, therein. To the upper part or
cover A of the box is hinged a ferrule F, so that when this upper part A is closed
this ferrule will lie between the perforations e, e, of the lug E.
Within the lower part B of the box or case are placed racks G, G. These racks
are formed of bars H, H, loosely fitted into the lower part B of the case and
parallel with its sides, and are united by cross-bars f. These cross-bars have
placed on them sleeves h, h, so that the spaces between any two of the bars H can
be increased or diminished by interposing between them a greater or less number
of these sleeves. The said bars act as partitions between which are received the
several brushes and other articles of various widths. The bars H near one end of
the box lie closely against the bottom of the lower part B, thereby forming a
grid," on which may be placed a cake of soap g.
When it is desired to make use of my improved toilet case after the various
articles have been used, they are placed on the sleeves h of the cross bars f and
between the bars H, each article in its proper place, and the perforated plate C is

page_text: closed over them with its lug D resting on the lug E; and a combination lock I of
simple construction, or some similar device is passed through the perforations e in
the lug E, and over the lug D of the perforated plate C, so as to effectually secure
the perforated plate Cover the toilet articles within the lower portion B of the
case, and prevent the raising of this perforated plate, and the removal of the toilet
articles from the case, while at the same time the wet or damp articles are freely
exposed to the action of the air, whereby they may be ventilated and dried. The
case in this condition, that is to say, with its perforated plate locked, may be left
exposed, and the toilet articles within it cannot be used by unauthorized persons.
When it is desired to place or pack the case within a travelling bag or valise
while the toilet articles are still wet or damp before inserting the lock I to
secure the perforated plate C, the part A or cover of the case is shut down over-
the perforated plate C with its ferrule F within the openings e, e, and the lock
is then placed through these openings e and the ferrule F, and there secured,
enclosing the articles within the case in substantially a tight box, which will
prevent them from coming in contact with garments or other articles in the bag or
valise, and the consequent injury or soiling of the said articles.
The racks G, G, being loosely placed within the lower part B of the case can
readily be removed therefrom for the purpose of cleansing when desired.
Having thus fully described the said Invention, as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it understood
that I claim,
First. A toilet case constructed with a hinged perforated plate and provided
with a lock, whereby the toilet articles within the case are secured from
unauthorized use, and at the same time ventilated and dried, substantially as
described.
Second. In a toilet case, the racks fitted so as to be capable of removal and
constructed with devices, whereby the spaces on the said racks for the reception of
the toilet articles may be adjusted, substantially as and for the purpose described.
Third. In a toilet case made in two parts, the inner perforated plate or netting
in combination with a lock, whereby the two parts of the case and the perforated
plate are secured, substantially as described..
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty eighth of February, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty-two-