US2590614A - Bath sponge holder - Google Patents

Description

March 25, 19 2 H. HAWKINS, SR

BATH SPONGE HOLDER Fild April 13. 1949 E hi 'tl In ventor Henry Leonard Hawkins, Sr,

y @860 and Patented Mar. 25, 1952 UNITED SA'ES This invention relates to a device adapted to hold and form a detachable handle for a bath sponge.

An object of the present invention is to provide a device of the above kind which is simple and durable in construction, and which may be readily operated to quickly grasp and securely hold a sponge for use, and to quickly release said sponge when desired.

A further object is to provide a device of the above kind which will not readily contact and injure the surface being cleaned or scrubbed by means of the sponge held thereby.

With the above objects in View, the present invention consists in the novel form, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, shown in the accompanying drawing and claim.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a sponge holder constructed in accordance with the present invention and holding a sponge for use;

Figure 2 is a. top plan view of the sponge holder in released condition;

Figure 3 is a side elevational View of the sponge holder in sponge-holding condition;

Figure 4 is an enlarged end elevation of the sponge holder as shown in Figure 3;

Figure 5 is an enlarged transverse section taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 1; and

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse section taken on the line 66 of Figure 2.

Referring in detail to the drawing, the present sponge holder includes two symmetrical or complementary stifl wire members A and B, each having a straight elongated shaft portion 5, a sponge-gripping portion 6 including a lateral arm a on the front end of the shaft portion 5, and a depending prong b on the other end of the arm a and provided with an inwardly directed pointed terminal 0, a crank portion 9 on the rear end of the shaft portion 5 composed of a laterally outward and upwardly extending forward arm d and a laterally inward and downwardly extending longer rear arm e, and an inwardly and upwardly and then forwardly extending slideretaining arm It] on the rear end of the crank portion 9 having a short lateral terminal ii. A sponge-gripping element I2 similar to the portion Bis welded to the shaft portion 5 inwardly of and in spaced relation to said portion 6.

The two wire members are disposed side by side so. that the shaft portions 5 are in parallel contacting relation and the gripping portions 6 and elements I2 of the wire members extend 1 Claim. (Cl. 15154) ,,portions 6 and the gripping elements I2.

away from each other. The shaft portions 5 are journaled in bearing sleeves I3 and I 4 respectively extending between the gripping elements I2 and the crank portions 9, and between the gripping When the gripping portions and elements are in'released position, as shown by full lines in Figure 2 and by dotted lines in Figure 4, the terminals I I of arms I0 extend sidewise away from each other. Also, the arm ID of each wire member is aligned with the shaft portion 5 thereof.

A slide I5 is movable on the rear arms e of the crank portions 9 for rotating the wire members about the axes of the shaft portions 5 so as to swing the gripping portions 6 and elements I2 toward and away from each other. This slide consists of a flexible metallic plate having rolled side edge portions I6 loosely encircling the arms e. The arrangement is such that when the slide I5 is moved rearwardly, the crank portions 9 are swung apart and the gripping portions 6 and elements I2 are swung toward each other into gripping engagement with opposite sides of the sponge S. At this time, the arms ID are also rotated to turn the terminals I I downwardly and inwardly to depending positions in front of the slide I5, so as to retain the latter in the rear position, and thereby releasa'bly hold the portions 5 and elements it in gripping engagement with the sponge. By pressing down on the central portion of the slide while moving it forwardly, said slide may be flexed to pass the terminals I I, and continued forward movement of the slide will cause the crank portions 9 to be moved toward each other and the gripping portions 6 and elements I2 to be swung apart so as to release the sponge. When gripping the sponge, the device provides an efficient handle therefor. The prongs of the portions 6 and elements I2 are of considerably less length than the thickness of the sponge, so that they will not readily contact and injure the surface being cleaned or scrubbed.

From the foregoing description, it is believed that the construction, operation and advantages of the present invention will be readily under-. stood and appreciated by those skilled in the art. Modifications and changes in details of construction are contemplated, such as fairly fall within the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

A Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

A device adapted to hold and form a detachable handle for a bath sponge or the like, comprisin two symmetrical stiff wire members, each having a straight elongated shaft .portion, a sponge gripping portion including a lateral arm on the front end of the shaft portion and a depending prong on the outer end of the arm and provided with an inwardly directed pointed terminal, a crank portiongon the rear end of the shaft portion composed of a laterally outward and upwardly extending forward arm and a laterally inward and downwardly extending longer rear arm, and an inwardly and upwardly and then forwardly extending slide-retaining arm on the rear end of the crank portion having a short lateral terminal, a sponge gripping element similar to the sponge gripping portion secured to the shaft portion inwardly of and in spaced relation to said sponge gripping portion, said wire members being disposed side by side so that the shaft portions thereof are in parallel contacting relation and the gripping portions and elements extend away from each other, bearing sleeves in which the shaft portions of said wire members are journaled, said bearing sleeves respectively extending between said gripping elements and said crank portions and between said gripping portions and said gripping elements, and a slide movable on the rear arms of said crank portions for rotating the wire members about the axes of said shaft portions so as to swing the gripping portions and elements toward and away from each other, the lateral terminals of said slide retaining arms being movable to depending positions in front of the slide to hold the latter in its rearward position when said slide is moved rearwardly to swin the gripping portions and elements into gripping engagement with the sponge.

HENRY LEONARD HAWKINS, SR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 515,242 Markham Feb. 20, 1894 583,576 Losee June 1, 1897 955,219 Spinney Apr. 19, 1910 1,289,325 Wake Dec. 31, 1918 1,371,790 Kelly Mar. 15, 1921 2,014,494 Fiumefreddo Sept. 17, 1935 2,477,471 Wolfe July 26, 1949

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