Improved Means and Apparatus for Suspending, Securing, and Locking Tablets of Soap and other Toilet Requisites, chiefly designed for Use in Lavatories and the like Places.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Mar., 1894-Accepted, 28th Apr., 1894
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means and Apparatus for Suspending, Securing, and
Locking Tablets of Soap and other Toilet Requisites, chiefly
designed for Use in Lavatories and the like Places.
I, SAMUEL JAMES WISEMAN, of 15, Above Bar, Southampton, in the County
of Hampshire, Fine Art Dealer and Frame Maker, 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:-
My invention chiefly relates to soap, and the means, and apparatus I use for
securing, suspending, and locking same in position.
The main object of my said invention is to prevent waste of soap following upon
the tablets lying in wet positions, and the bodily removal of the said tablets, or
other articles, used with my apparatus from the place where they are required
for use.
My improved apparatus may be fitted to lavatories, baths and the like places.
I will describe my apparatus as applied to soap, for use in a hand basin.
In the accompanying drawings :-
Fig. 1. is a side elevation of my apparatus shewing same with the soap A, in
position when not in use, but available for same.
Fig. 2. is also a side elevation of my apparatus shewing same when the soap A,
is placed in position for use in the basin F.
Fig. 3. is a vertical central section of a soap tablet A, apart from the apparatus,
shewing one method I adopt, and the device I use-hereinafter described-for
attaching the chain E, to the tablet.
Figs. 4. and 5. are views, hereinafter described, shewing another method I adopt,
and the device I use, for attaching the chain E, to the tablet A'.
Like letters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.
B, is a socket plate into which I suitably fit and secure a spring C, the said spring
may be of coil, or any suitable form for the purpose in view.
D, is a lock, which may be of any suitable form, for instance, an ordinary
padlock.
E, is a chain, or its equivalent secured at one end by the ring E¹, to the lock D,
and consequently to the spring C, and at the other end to the tablet of soap.
The tablets of soap used with my apparatus may be of any desired form.
The socket plate with the attached parts-is secured near the basin F, or other
desired position, and the whole is then available for use.
For the purpose of connecting the chain E, to a tablet of soap I adopt-according
to one form or modification of my invention the following means and methods..
By means of a suitable tool which I provide for the purpose, I cut out of the
centre of a tablet of soap at the lower half, a core J, leaving a round hole F¹, in
the tablet, and bore through the upper half of tablet a smaller hole F2.
Upon the lower end of the chain E, I secure a block or button H, of a size and
form convenient for passing into the hole F¹.
In mounting the soap on the chain I pass the upper end of the latter through the
holes F1, F2, with the block H, attached to the chain, and draw the latter through
until the block is stopped by the shoulder formed by reason of the bole F', being
larger than the hole F, I then re-insert the core J, of soap, previously cut out of
n

page_text: the tablet, pressing it tightly into the hole F¹, and the tablet is thus secured to
the chain.
The ring E', will be connected to the chain E, after the latter has been passed
through the tablet.
may sometimes however arrange that a perforated block or disc H', of a form
such as is shown at Figs. 4. and 5. shall be enclosed in the tablet A', during the
process of manufacture of the soap, in this case the holes F, F, will not require
to be made, in the finished tablet, in manner hereinbefore described, and the form
of the disc H', will preferably be that shewn at Figs. 4, and 5, which shew a vertical
central section, and central cross section, of a tablet of another form, in which the
perforated disc is enclosed during the manufacture of the tablet, but it is obvious
I may attach tablets of soap of any convenient form to my apparatus, and may use
any suitable form of block for the purpose in view.
The apparatus is manipulated in the following manner :-
Taking it that the soap is hanging suspended in manner as shewn at Fig. 1. and
it is desired to use the soap in the basin F, the operator will simply have to grasp
the tablet and draw it down into the water in basin, into the position as shewn at
Fig. 2. meanwhile the spring C, is brought into tension, but upon releasing the soap
the re-action of the spring restores it to its normal position, as shewn at Fig. 1
where it remains until required for further use, the soap will then be in position for
drying.
An important feature of my invention is that by reason of the soap being
normally suspended in the air, instead of as now ordinarily in wet, or at least
damp positions, little or no waste of the soap will occur when not in use.
Another important feature of my invention is that the soap or other article
cannot be removed from the positions where they are fixed without unlocking the
chain E, they are thus always available for use where placed.
K, represents an eyebolt through the eye of which the chain E, is passed and in
which it is free to move up and down, the advantage of using this fitting is, that it
keeps the tablet, or other article, from swinging about, and prevents them from
rebounding by reason of the re-action of the spring-beyond the eye of bolt when
released from the hand after use.
I have thus described and shewn in the accompanying drawings my invention as
applied to, and with, soap, but it is obvious other articles-such for instance, a nail
brush can be advantageously suspended, secured, and locked in any desired position
by means of my apparatus, in somewhat similar manner as hereinbefore described,
the nail brush or other article being suitably secured to the chain E.
Upon the block, or disc H, and H', I may sometimes engrave or stamp the name
of say, the maker of the soap used with my apparatus, the lettered block, or disc
serving as an advertisement when the soap is used up, and the former consequently
exposed; or when transparent soap is used the name on block, or disc may be seen
through the soap.
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
1st. The improved means, and apparatus for suspending, securing, and locking
tablets of soap, and other articles, consisting of the parts arranged, constructed,
and combined, substantially as hereinbefore described, and illustrated in the
accompanying drawings, and operating as, and for the purpose specified.
2nd. In an apparatus designed for suspending, securing, and locking tablets of
soap, and other articles, the combination of parts comprising a spring C, an eye
bolt K, a lock D, a chain or its equivalent E, attached to the lock, and to the block
or disc H, H',-contained in a tablet of soap,-or to another article, all arranged
and constructed, substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated with
reference to the accompanying drawings, and operating as, and for the purpose
specified.

page_text: 3rd. The herein described methods of inserting or enclosing a block or disc H,
or H¹, or similar thereto-in a tablet of soap either during, or after the
manufacture of the latter.
Dated this 22nd day of March 1894.
SAMUEL JAMES WISEMAN.
Herbert P. Blake,
70, High Street, Southampton, Agent for the Applicant.