Improvements in Cases or Receptacles for Sponges and the like.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Nov., 1893-Accepted, 9th Dec., 1893
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Cases or Receptacles for Sponges and the like.
I, EDWARDS ARTHUR EVERARD VIVIAN of Stanwell House, Stanwell,
Staines, in the County of Middlesex, Gentleman, 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:-
This invention relates to cases or receptacles for carrying wet or damp sponges,
the receptacles being particularly applicable for use in hot climates or while
travelling as they can be used as substitutes for the canvas or indiarubber sponge
bags at present employed which quickly become rotten and unfit for use.
The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings
in which :-
Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of one form of the case ready to have the sponge
placed in it,
Figure 2 representing the same case closed up.
Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 1 of a modified case, and
Figure 4 shows the same closed and partly in section.
Like letters represent like parts throughout the drawings.
The receptacle consists of an outer shell or cup A preferably circular and with
a closed bottom A', the shape of which may be varied, but may with advantage
be as shown in Figure 1. B represents a peripheral groove formed by forcing in
the material so that the inside edge of the groove where it projects into the inside
of the shell A is at B' of smaller diameter than the rim C₁ of the interior and
preferably conical cup C so that while C can be freely turned round in A, it
cannot be withdrawn. Upon C, in the well known manner commonly employed
for drinking cups is a similarly coned and slightly larger ring of metal D so
arranged that while it may be drawn from the position indicated in dotted lines in
Figure 1 up to that shown in full lines in that figure, it cannot be pulled further
out except by the exercise of excessive power which would damage the cup C.
The upper edge of D is preferably wired or curled over at D' to strengthen it.
The shell A is provided a short distance from the top with a seating ring A*
preferably formed by spinning or pressing, and above this with projections or
equivalent E of which there may be conveniently three adapted to form part of a
bayonet joint, or other suitable means of securing the lid to the shell A. The
lid F may be of any suitable construction and provided with slots F¹ to pass over
the projections E and an enlarged circular groove or recess F adapted to pass
over these projections E so that the lid may be secured by placing it with the
slots over the pins and then when sufficiently far on with the edge of the lid resting
upon the ring A² turning the lid so that the projections E lie inside the groove F
and the lid cannot then be removed except by turning it.
The cup A is provided in any suitable part say conveniently in the groove B
with holes or openings A which when the case is closed up and the sponge within
it, serve as ventilation holes and also if the sponge be placed in wet and water be
squeezed out of it when the case is closed and the sponge compressed allow that
water to escape. The cup C I prefer to have solid walls and no holes at all as
the sponge when in the case lies in that cup, but the upper cup or ring D may be
provided where desired with holes D' through which any water forced out of the
sponge in the compressing process may escape when it would run down the annular
space between the walls of A and C and escape by the holes A³ before the
receptacle was placed in the trunk.
In use the sponge may be taken wet or preferably roughly squeezed dry and
placed in the receptacle when in its raised position as in Figure 1; then the lid F

page_text: is placed on top of the sponge and forced down, compressing the sponge and also
telescoping the ring D between the cup C and the shell A. and when forced home
with the openings F over the pins E the lid is turned and securely held as will be
well understood.
In the modifications shown in Figures 3 and the same principle is adopted,
but instead of a solid cup and one perforated ring D there are two perforated
rings D and G having perforations D' and G¹ where required and the cup C is
in this case shown perforated although I still prefer to leave the bottom portion of
it with solid walls. In this case the cup C may be rigidly connected with the
shell A. as the form of fastening shown does not necessitate the turning of the lid
upon the shell, the fastening shown consisting simply of a yoke H hinged or
pivotted to A and adapted to be turned upon its hinge so as to embrace both the
cup A. and its lid F which latter for convenience may as shown in Figure 4 fit
inside the shell A. The operation and use of this receptacle are substantially the
same as that already described.
It will thus be seen that with this case the sponge is entirely enclosed and may be
safely carried in a trunk or bag without danger of spoiling the articles with
which it may come in contact while ventilation is supplied through the holes A',
and it is not even necessary to squeeze the sponge very dry as any water that may
be forced out of it when the case is being compressed and the lid applied will
escape through the holes A' after which the case can be dried and no further
water can escape.
The case may be made of any suitable materials such as metal, hard rubber or
the like, but I prefer to use aluminium on account of its lightness and inoxidizable
qualities.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A sponge case or receptacle having an inner telescopic cup such as C D
or C D G and an outer protecting case such as A substantially as described and
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
2. In a sponge case or receptacle the combination with the receptacle_with
which the sponge is in contact of an outer case such as A between which and the
inner case is a space to which the air has access substantially as described.
3. A sponge case or receptacle comprising an inner case having perforations
an outer case also having perforations and leaving an air space between it and
the inner case and a lid adapted to be secured to the outer case substantially as
described.
4. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting the complete sponge
case or receptacle substantially as described and illustrated in Figures 1 and 2
of the accompanying drawings.
5. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting the complete sponge
case or receptacle substantially as described and illustrated in Figures 3 and 4 of
the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 6th day of November 1890.
E. ARTHUR E. VIVIAN.
W. P. Thompson & Boult,
Agents for the Applicant.