Soap Insert

Abstract

A plate-like insert is positioned within the center of a bar of soap adapted to keep the soap from breaking as it is used. The insert is preferably resilient and designated to stick to the soap.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Prior to this invention there was much waste in the use of soap because the bars of soap became too small to keep from disintegrating even though there was usable soap left. Also, because of brittleness, bars of soap often broke during use which further accelerated their disintegration because of the reduced size of the pieces. It is the purpose of this invention to alleviate these defects and to provide a means for salvaging soap bars which might be wasted because of the size thus achieving a significant economy.

Because of this invention, softer more malleable soap than is normally produced in bar form can be used. Such soap conventionally comes in liquid form.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, to solve these defects of the prior art and to effect economy in the utilization of soap bars this invention contemplates making bars of soap with material inserted generally centrally within them so placed to minimize such premature deterioration and breakage during use of the soap.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a bar of soap in ghost outline showing an insert in accordance with this invention positioned therein.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of this invention taken through 2--2 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of this invention taken through 3--3 in FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the drawings a bar of soap 10 is formed with an insert 12 positioned approximately in its center. This insert 12 is a generally plate-shaped device which has exterior peripheral edges 14, 16, 18 and 20 which are shaped to conform with the exterior side walls 22, 24, 26 and 30, respectively, of the soap 10. However, the size of the insert 12 is just large enough to conform to the bar of soap as it reaches the point where it would normally seriously begin to deteriorate as it is dissolved in water and is used in a normal manner in washing. The insert is made of a non-water soluble material so that as the soap is used it is prevented from disintegrating or breaking when the normal integral strength of the soap to maintain its shape has been reached.

In the form shown the insert 12 is a rectangular piece of rubber or soft material 2 1/4 inches long, 1 1/4 inches wide and 1/8 inch thick. It is perforated with 1/8 inch holes 32 so that the soap 10 within which it is centrally inserted will cling to it. Also, in order to make the soap cling a sticky substance such as a glutamate could be used on the exterior surfaces of the insert 12.

As a further precaution, in order to prevent bending the rubber insert too much, it is desirable to provide the insert with a paper or cover which is wrapped around it.

In order to make the unique form of soap with the insert contained within it, as previously described, special steps and procedures are required to be taken during manufacture. Basically, this includes, selecting the insert material, perforating it if desired and cutting it to the size required for the particular bar of soap. Then the insert is positioned within the soap. Normally, this is done while the soap is molten and being formed into a bar.

Briefly, and without intending to include all the detailed processes in the manufacture of soap, a method of making this special bar of soap includes flowing the selected soap in a molten condition into the soap bar mold until it is about one-half filled. Then, before the soap solidifies the insert previously described is placed in the center of this one-half bar of soap. It will normally float there. The remainder of the soap is then added to the mold. When it has cooled sufficiently to solidify the bar of soap is removed. It is now ready for use with the insert within it. As a manufacturing convenience, since short bars of soap may be cut off in sections from a long bar mold in practice the insert may also be a long strip which is centered in the soap while molten. When cut, the inserts will then extend to the ends of each bar.

Though a particular form and method for making this invention have been described herein, this invention is not intended to be strictly limited to these examples, but rather comprehends all forms and methods within the spirit of the following claims.

Claims

I claim:

1. A bar of soap including an internal insert made of a solid rubber material, said insert being just large enough in size and rigid enough to maintain the integrity of the soap as a unit when it has reached the point at which the soap itself would ordinarily disintegrate or break when further dissolved.

2. A bar of soap as defined in claim 1 wherein the insert is perforated with approximately 1/8 inch holes.

3. A bar of soap as defined in claim 1 wherein the insert is plate-like in shape and each side-wall conforms essentially to the adjacent shape of the soap.

4. A bar of soap as defined in claim 1 which is covered with sticky glutamate and sufficiently porous to induce the soap to cling to it.

5. A bar of soap and covered with paper as defined in claim 1 wherein the insert is centered within the soap.

6. A method for making a bar of soap containing an insert to prevent premature disintegration comprising: pouring molten soap into a soap bar mold until it is part way filled; positioning solid rubber insert smaller than said soap bar mold in said mold while said soap is still molten, pouring more molten soap over said insert until said mold is filled and removing the bar of soap so formed with said internal insert when it has solidified.

7. A method for making soap as defined in claim 6 wherein the mold is an elongated form, the insert is an elongated strip the length of said form but smaller than said mold, the said insert strip is positioned within said mold while the soap is molten and the elongated soap bar is cut into preselected short bars containing internal inserts when the soap has solidified.