US3220040A - Sponge holder - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 30, 1965 F. R. KNAEBE 3,220,040

SPONGE HOLDER Filed May 26, 1964 INVENTOR FRANK R. KNAEBE ATTO RN EY United States Patent 3,220,040 SPGNGE HOLDER Frank R. Knaebe, 6048 N. 114th St., Milwaukee, Wis. Filed May 26, 1964, Ser. No. 370,328 1 Claim. (Cl. 15244) This invention relates to a sponge holder.

More specifically it is an object of this invention to provide a novel handle for removably clamping a sponge useful as a scrubbing element.

It also is an object to provide a novel handle for removably clamping a sponge and in which those parts of the handle which clamp the sponge are concealed by the sponge, thereby avoiding contact with the object with which the sponge is in contact when in use.

The foregoing and other objects will become apparent in the description of the drawings, in which FIG. 1 is a view, in perspective, illustrating a sponge and clamping handle therefore.

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 with the sponge removed.

FIG. 3 is a transverse section of the sponge.

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal section of the sponge taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the handle taken intermediate the ends thereof.

The combined handle and sponge clamping device A shown in the drawings comprises a single length of wire bent intermediate its ends at 1 to provide two arm portions B and C each including respectively a handle portion 2 paralleling that of the other and jointly embracing a plastic handle filler 3 shown in broken lines in FIG. 1. The ends of the portions 2 opposite the bend 1 are curved inwardly toward each other at 4 and may be affixed to each other at 5 in any suitable manner, as by spot welding. From this point 5 each arm portion B and C is curved outwardly away from each other at 6 and includes a sponge gripping section 7 spaced from and paralleling that of the other arm portion. Each arm portion is then bent back upon itself at 8 to provide a second sponge gripping section 9 substantially paralleling, when gripping the sponge S, the opposing gripping section '7. Each second sponge gripping section 9 is then bent inwardly at 10 and 11, respectively, toward the other, the arm portion C terminating in a hook 12 and, as shown in FIG. 1, releasibly embracing the adjacent secured portions 5 of the Wire. The inwardly bent portion 10 of the arm portion C terminates at 13 and is secured to the portion B in any suitable manner, such as spot welding.

The wire is preferably resilient, especially at the bends 8 so that, when the hook 12 is released, the sponge gripping portions 7 and 9 will spring apart from the position shown in FIG. 1 to the position shown in FIG. 2, thereby releasing the sponge.

As indicated in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4, the sponge S is provided with longitudinally extending, relatively spaced, parallel slots 14 on its upper side receiving the sponge gripping sections 9 of the wire and on its under side with longitudinally extending, relatively spaced, parallel slots 15 which are also parallel to the slots 14 and receive the gripping sections 7 of the wire. Thus the wire will be concealed at its gripping sections and will not contact a surface with which the sponge S is in contact.

The sots in the sponge also insure that the sponge will not be accidentally displaced when in use. Although it has not been illustrated in the drawings, it will be obvious that end slots in the sponge may be provided connecting the upper slots 14 with the lower slots 15 to further conceal the bends 8 in the wire.

The handle filler 3 serves as a hand gripping element giving the user a firm control of the novel brush and handle combination.

The above described combination is the preferred form. However, other modifications may be substituted without departing from the spirit of this invention.

From the foregoing it is apparent that I have disclosed a novel, simple handle for removably holding a sponge, which conceals portions of the metal gripping portions and which insures against displacement of the sponge when in use.

One of the novel uses of this combination is that it may be used as a back scratcher or as a back washer, par-= ticularly by persons who have difficulty in reaching areas of the back with their hands.

Having described my invention, I claim:

A sponge holder comprising a wire having a bend intermediate its ends to provide two substantially parallel, relatively spaced portions converging at a point remote from said bend and terminating in adjacent relatively aflixed portions, then diverging and merging into two substantially parallel, relatively spaced gripping portions each terminating in a reverse bend merging into a second gripping portion cooperatively related to its first mentioned gripping portions and in substantially parallel, relatively spaced relation to each other and to the first mentioned gripping portions, the end of each said second gripping portions remote from said reverse bend converging toward the other and aflixed together, the extreme end of one of said second gripping portions having a hook releasably engageable with said aifixed portions.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 523,127 7/1894 Miller 99-402 858,937 7/1907 Adams 99402 1,168,708 1/1916 Byram 15147.0 1,248,846 12/ 19 17 Goeltsch 2111 19 1,433,326 10/1922 Wolfe 15244 1,658,153 2/1928 Applin 15209.51

I FOREIGN PATENTS 390,630 8/ 1908 France. 163,645 5/ 1921 Great Britain. 118,570 4/ 1947 Sweden.

DANIEL BLUM, Primary Examiner.

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