US2527557A - Soap chipper - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 31, 1950 c. L. LANG EI'AL SOAP CHIPPER Filed Jan. 22, 1949 \NVENTORS CLAYTON L. LANG, DECEASED BY MAR/0N V LANG, ADMINISTRATRIX CARL A. SETTERSTEDT ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 31, 1950 SOAP CHIPPER Clayton L. Lang, deceased, late of Park Ridge,

111., by Marion V. Lang,

administratrix, Park Ridge, 111., and Carl A. Setterstedt, Chicago, 111. Application January 22, 1949, Serial N 0. 72,212

6 Claims.

This invention relates to a device for shavin or chipping bar soap and it is particularly adapted for domestic use.

It is well known that bar soaps are used extensively for various purposes, for example, laundry, dishwashing, personal cleansing and sundry other purposes. Although it is generally recognized that soap in bar form is most economical, certain disadvantages accompany its use, such as the time required to effect a solution of sufficient concentration for the intended use. Manufacturers of soap products have recognized this disadvantage of bar soap and have made soap avallable in the form of flakes, chips, granules, powder, etc., all of which are capable of more readily forming a soap solution. However, many users prefer to use the economical bar soap regardless of the disadvantages encountered. Further, many types of special purpose soaps can be obtained only in bar form and therefore they cannot be used to best advantage except by performing a laborious chipping or shaving operation on the bar soap with a common knife or other equally unsatisfactory means. Hence, one of the objects of this invention is to provide an inexpensive device for shaving or chipping bar soap.

Another object is to provide a device that has domestic utility to eliminate the disadvantages in the use of bar soap and thereby increase its economic advantage over soap in other than bar form. I

An additional object is to provide a, cutting device for bar soaps that will notbecome clogged during use when cutting comparatively thin soap chips that may readily be dissolved in solution A' more specific object is to provide a device-of the foregoing character having a rotatable cylinder' in the walls of which are located a plurality of' axially aligned elongatedslots, circumferentially'spaced around the cylinder in staggered relation with the circumferential spacing portions of the cylinder wall forming a fiat surface between each adjacent axially aligned series of slots, whereby a bar of soap held in contact with the periphery of the rotating cylinder will be shaved by the elongated slots and the soap shavings will be received interiorly of the cylinder and then be discharged from its open end.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the appended drawings wherein: e

Figure l is an end elevational view of asoap' chipper embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of'the soap chipper shown in Fig. 1; i

Fig. 3 is an enlarged, separated side elevational view of the rotatable chipper cylinder embodied in the soap chipper shown in Figs. 1 and 2; and

Fig. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a portion of the rotatable chipper cylinder taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawings, the soap chipper illustrated in Fig. 1 is provided with a base I!) preferably formed of sheet metal strips II and !2, respectively having outwardly directed ear portions [3 and M disposed in planar alignment. The ear portions l3 and M are spaced one from the other by a plate l5 which is permanently secured to the ear portions such as by a weld (not shown) or other suitable means.

The upper ends of metal strips II to 12 are respectively formed with diverging, arcuately shaped ear portions l6 and i! which are shaped to conform with the outer contour of a cylindrically shaped shell or case member l8 having an open end Ilia. Access to the interior of the shell l8 and through the side wall thereof is provided by a generally rectangular-shaped chutelike member I9 having an open top 20 and being disposed diametrically opposite the base ill. The chute 19 also has an open bottom in registration with an opening 2| provided in the side wall of the shell 58. Both the base l0 and the chute 19 are fixedly secured to the shell l8, such as by spot-welds 22.

One end of the shell I8 is closed by a snugly received end plate 23 secured to the shell and which is preferably formed of wood having an opening 24 disposed in axial alignment with the shell. The opening 24 is adapted to freely receive a stub-shaft 25 projecting beyond each side of the end plate 23. The outer end of shaft 25 is secured to a crank arm 26 having a rotatable knob 21 carried at its outer end and by means of which the stub-shaft may be rotated in the end plate 23. The inner end of the stub-shaft 25 has a reduced, threaded end portion 28 which is adapted to receive and support the rotatable means for shaving or chipping bar soap.

The shaving or chipping means of this invention is comprised of a generally cylindrical shaped chipper member 29 (Fig. 3) adapted to be tele scopically received within the shell 18 and having one of its ends 29a open and the other end substantially closed by an end plate 36 secured to the sidewall of the membe 29. The end plate 30 has an opening 3! disposed in axial alignment with the chipper member 29 so that when the end 28 of the stub-shaft 25 is received in the opening 3| and the chipper member is secured in this position by means are lock nut 83, the

chipper member may be rotated with the crank arm 26 in concentric relation with and spaced from the internal side walls of the shell l8. It will be noted that the chipper member 29 has end portions 33 and 34 extending longitudinally inwardly of the member a short distance and which end portions are circular in shape and have a slightly larger diameter than a wall portion 35 of the chipper member located therebetween, whereby the chipper member is made more rigid to prevent its distortion when pressures are applied thereon in a direction normal with its axis.

The adhesive nature of soap is well known and this characteristic makes the use of an ordinary grater or shredder type of cutting element impractical when applied to the problem of shaving or chipping bar soap because the cutting elements become clogged with adhering soap particles and thereafter are ineffective. The cutter of this invention solves the problem by means of the novel arrangement of the cutting elements in the side wall of the chipper member 29. Specifically, the portion 35 of the chipper wall disposed between the circular ends 33 and 34 is provided with a series of circumferentially disposed fiat surfaces 36 (Fig. 4) extending longitudinally of the chipper member 29 between theend portions 33 and 34. It will be noted that succeedingfiat surfaces 36 are disposed at a relatively wide obtuse angle one with another about the chipper member 29 and it has been'found that this arrangement materially aids in the prevention of the accumulation of soap particles which would tend to clog and make the ordinary cutter inoperative. Between each adjoining flat surface 36, a series of elongated, medially aligned openings 31 is provided in the cylinder wall portion 35 and each series of aligned openings 31 is displaced longitudinally relative to the adjacent aligned series of openings circumferentially spaced on each side thereof, so that when proceeding around the wall portion 35, each corresponding opening in alternate series of openings will be similarly spaced from the end of the chipper member 29. The openings 37 are further arranged so that the longitudinal edges 38 of each opening are disposed parallel and are equally spaced radially from the axis of the chipper member 29', This arrangement is illustrated in. Fig. 4 whereinradial lines R designate the spacing of the edges 38- from the axial center C of the chipper member 29. Further, end walls 35 for eachopening 31 are semi-circular in shape to aidin the chipping action without clogging of the openings.

The soap chipper of this invention. may be mounted either vertically or horizontallyon: a supporting surface; however, it has been found to be preferable to mount itw-ith the axis of the shell H3 in a vertical position so that during useof the device the. soapchips or shavings will drop under the urge of gravity from the open end 290. of the chipper member into any suitable container (not shown) that may be placed under the device. The device may be secured to a wall or other support surface by adequate fastening means, for example screws 39 or appliancerotate the chipper member. As succeeding series of openings 3! encounter the bar soap, small chips or flakes are cut therefrom which pass through the openings into the cylindricallyshaped chipper member and are then discharged from its open end 29a. The succeeding flat surfaces 36 being mutually inclined at a wide obtuse angle cooperate with the interposed series of openings 31 to effectively chip the bar soap into small flakes that can be readily dissolved in solution for maximum efficiency and economy. There is no tendency of the device to become clogged and inoperative. Therefore, it may be used continuously without interruption for cleaning until the desired quantity of soap chips have been produced.

We claim:

1. A soap chipper for bar soap comprising a cylindrical shaped shell having an open end, a generally cylindrically-shaped chipper member supported concentrically with and interiorly of said shell for rotation relative thereto, an opening in the side wall of said shell registering with a portion of the side wall of said chipper member, and means connected to said chipper member for rotating said chipper member interiorly of said shell, said chipper member having an open end and a series of elongated and medially aligned openings in said portion of its side wall disposed axially of said chipper member and forming cutting elements adapted to chip, said side wall portion adjoining the corresponding longitudinal edges on one side of said series of openings having a fiat surface inclined with a second fiat surface at a wide obtuse angle on said side wall portion adjoining the longitudinal edges on the other side of said series of openings whereby, with a bar of soap in registration with said shell side wall opening and in contact with said side wall portion of said chipper member, rotation of said chipper member in either direction will cause the bar soap to be chipped and the soap chips will pass through said series of openings interiorly of said. chipper member and be discharged from the said open ends of said chipper member and shell.

2. A soap chipper for bar soap comprising a cylindrical shaped shell having an open end, a generally cylindrically-shaped chipper member telescopically and concentrically supported within said shell for rotation relative thereto, an opening in the side wall of said shell registering with the side wall of said chipper member for receiving the bar soap to be chipped, and means connected to said chipper member and extending exteriorly of said shell for rotating said chipper member, said chipper member having an open end, aplurality of longitudinally disposed fiat wall surfaces circumferentially arranged about the periphery of said chipper element with adjacent said wall surfaces mutually inclined at a relatively wide obtuse angle, and a plurality of series of elongated, longitudinally aligned openings in the side wall of said chipper member forming cutting elements for chipping the bar soap during rotation of said member in either direction, each said series of openings being disposed intermediate adjacent said flat wall surfaces with succeeding said series of openings being relatively axially displaced along said chipper member, and with alternate said series of openings being axially aligned along said chipper member.

3. A device of the class described including a cylindrically-shaped case member having an open end, support means for said case member secured to the outer side wall thereof, an opening in the side wall of said case member disposed diametrically opposite said support means, a cylindrically-shaped chipper member having an open end, said chipper member being supported interiorly of said case member in common axial relation therewith and with said open ends of,

said members disposed at the same end of the common axis, and means for rotating said chipper member on the common axis and relative to said case member, said chipper member having its side wall provided with at least two adjacent, elongated, flat surfaces extending axially of the chipper member and inclined with a radial line of said chipper member at a similar, relatively wide acute angle therewith, and a series of elongated openings in the side wall of said chipper member disposed in spaced relation and in relative longitudinal, axial alignment between said adjacent flat surfaces and forming cutting elements, whereby when a bar of soap is inserted through said side wall opening in said case member and against the side wall of said chipper member and said chipper member is rotated, the bar of soap will be chipped by the edges of said series of openings in said chipper member and the soap chips will be discharged from said open ends of said case and chipper members.

4. A rotatable cylinder for chipping bar soap, said cylinder having an open end, a plurality of elongated flat surfaces on the side wall thereof circumferentially disposed and spaced from the ends of said cylinder, and a plurality of elongated openings in the side wall of said cylinder disposed in relative longitudinal medial alignment with the longitudinal medial line parallel with the axis of the cylinder and forming cutting elements, said openings being disposed between adjacent said flat surfaces and havingtheir longitudinal edges disposed equidistant from the axis of the cylinder, whereby when said cylinder is rotated in either direction and the bar of soap is held in contact with the side wall of said cylinder, the bar of soap will be chipped by the edges of said openings in said cylinder wall and the soap chips will be discharged from said open end of the cylinder.

5. As an article of manufacturing, a rotatable cylinder for chipping bar soap, said cylinder having an open end, a plurality of elongated flat surfaces on the side wall thereof circumferentially disposed and spaced from the ends of said cylinder, a plurality of cutting elements for chipping bar soap, said cutting elements formed by the axially extending longitudinal edges of a plurality of elongated openings in the side wall of said cylinder disposed in relative longitudinal medial alignment with the longitudinalmedial line parallel with the axis of the cylinder, and said openings being disposed between adjacent said flat surfaces and having their longitudinal edges forming the cutting elements disposed equidistant from the axis of the cylinder, whereby when said cylinder is rotated and the bar of soap is held in contact with the side wall of said cylinder, the bar of soap will be chipped by the longitudinal edges of said openings in said cylinder wall and the soap chips will be discharged from said open end of the cylinder.

6. The combination with a soap chipper for bar soap comprising a cylindrical shaped shell having an open end, of a rotatable cylinder for chipping bar soap, said cylinder having an open end, a plurality of elongated flat surfaces on the side wall thereof circumferentially disposed and spaced from the ends of said cylinder, a plurality of cutting elements for chipping bar soap, said cutting elements formed by the axially extending longitudinal edges of a plurality of elongated openings in the side wall of said cylinder disposed in relative longitudinal medial alignment with the longitudinal medial line parallel with the axis of the cylinder, and said openings being disposed between adjacent said fiat surfaces and having their longitudinal edges forming the cutting elements disposed equidistant from the axis of the cylinder, whereby when said cylinder is rotated and the bar of soap is held in contact with the side wall of said cylinder, the bar of soap will be chipped by the longitudinal edges of said openings in said cylinder wall and the soap chips will be discharged from said open end of the cylinder.

MARION V. LANG, Administratrix of the Estate of Clayton L. Lang,

Deceased.

CARL A. SETTERSTEDT.

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

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 26,711 Schutte Jan. 3, 1860 544,807 Grote Aug. 20, 1895 1,095,001 Lade Apr. 28, 1914 1,513,880 Astesano Nov. 4, 1924 2,228,025 Apfelbeck Jan. 7, 1941

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