Device for attaching a bar of soap to a magnetic soap holder

• US 6,857,616 B1
• Filed: 07/11/2002
• Issued: 02/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Noveletti, LLC
• Original Assignee: Noveletti, LLC
• Inventors: Gasperi, Nancy R., Cascio, Steven S., Gasperi, Michael L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kramer, Dean J.
• Application Number:
  US10/194,759
• Time in Patent Office: 957 Days
• Field of Search: 294/1.1, 294/65.5, 248/682, 248/683, 248/686, 248/206.5, 248/309.4, 411/372.6, 411/374, 411/429, 411/372.5, 411/373, 510/100, 510/143
• US Class Current: 248/683
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 5/05 having fixing devices for cakes of soap, e.g. clamps, pins, magnets soap-cakes provided with supports to avoid melting C11D

Abstract

An improved cap style soap gripper for a magnetic soap holder including a hole in the side wall of the cap to facilitate insertion into a bar of soap and textured grooves on the inside surface to increase pullout force. A powder coating further increases the pullout force by increasing the surface energy of the cap. Elevating the temperature of the cap prior to insertion also facilitates the cap'"'"'s insertion into a bar of soap and increases the required pullout force. A decreased diameter to height ratio, in addition, eases the insertion of the cap into a bar of soap, and lessens the effect of soap erosion.

Claims

1. An improved cap style soap gripper for a magnetic soap holder, comprising:

a metallic body having a top portion and a sidewall portion, the top and sidewall portions having an inside surface and an outside surface;

at least one hole extending through the sidewall portion of the metallic body for allowing air to escape during insertion of the metallic body into a bar of soap;

textured grooves formed on the inside surface of the sidewall of the metallic body;

wherein the top portion includes a diameter, wherein the sidewall portion includes a height, and wherein the diameter to height ratio is 3.5 or less; and

wherein the diameter is 16 millimeters and wherein the height is 5 millimeters.

2. The improved cap style soap gripper of claim 1, wherein the metallic body includes a powder paint coating.

3. The improved cap style soap gripper of claim 1, wherein the metallic body is formed of a material inert to the caustic environment of a bar of soap, and wherein the metallic body is formed of a material that is attracted to magnetic fields.

4. The improved cap style soap gripper of claim 3, wherein the material is a stainless steel alloy.

5. The improved cap style soap gripper of claim 1, wherein the temperature of the metallic body includes a surface temperature, the surface temperature being elevated prior to insertion into a bar of soap.

6. The improved cap style soap gripper of claim 5, wherein the surface temperature is at least 93 degrees Celsius.

7. A method of manufacturing a cap style soap gripper, the method comprising the steps of:

stamping a circular blank from a metallic material;

indenting the circular blank with a pattern of grooves;

forming at least one opening through of the circular blank;

drawing the circular blank into a cap shape, wherein the grooves are located on the inside surface of the cap, and wherein the hole is located on the side wall of the cap;

forming at least one opening in a sidewall of the drawn cap;

coating the cap with powder paint; and

elevating the temperature of the cap just prior to insertion into a bar of soap.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of elevating the temperature to at least 93 degrees Celsius.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of indenting the circular blank with a plurality of texturing.