Patent Application
20090206110
This application relates a device for recycling drippings, bits and slivers of a bar of soap that is placed for use in a soap dish by mixing them with water or liquid soap in a reservoir and then dispensing the resulting soap solution by means of a valve or pump.
Bars of soap, such as those commonly used to wash one's hands, to bath and to shower, usually are kept in a soap dish. They are removed from the soap dish for use, and when they are returned to the soap dish after use, the wet bar of soap deposits soap drippings in the soap dish. Typically, the soap dish periodically is cleaned and the drippings are discarded. Also typically discarded are bits and small pieces of soap that may come off of the bar, as well as the small slivers of bars that remain at the end of the bar's life. This is wasteful. The present invention allows soap drippings, small pieces and slivers to pass through an opening in the soap dish and be collected in a reservoir, to be recycled into a useful liquid soap.
The bar soap recycler of the invention comprises side walls and a bottom panel attached together to define a reservoir for containing a quantity of liquid. The reservoir has an open top, at which a soap dish is installed for receiving a bar of soap. The soap dish has an opening which communicates with the reservoir for permitting drippings, bits and slivers of soap and liquids to be introduced into the reservoir. Dispensing means are provided for dispensing liquid from the reservoir, whereby the drippings, bits and slivers of soap and liquids that have been passed into the reservoir are combined to be recycled and dispensed for use.
In one embodiment of the invention the bar soap recycler comprises a front wall, a back wall, a pair of opposed side walls and a bottom panel attached together to define a generally rectangular reservoir for containing a quantity of liquid. The reservoir has an open top, at which a soap dish installed for receiving a bar of soap. An opening in the soap dish communicates with the reservoir for permitting drippings, bits and slivers of soap and liquids to be introduced into the reservoir. A valve is installed in the bottom panel, in communication with said reservoir, for dispensing liquid from the reservoir, and a mounting bracket is attached to the reservoir to permit it to be mounted on a vertical surface. Thus, drippings, bits and slivers of soap and liquids combined in said reservoir can be dispensed for use.
In another embodiment, the invention comprises an upstanding curvilinear side wall and a bottom panel attached together to define a reservoir for containing a quantity of liquid. The reservoir has an open top, and a soap dish is installed at the open top for receiving a bar of soap. An opening is located in the soap dish in communication with the reservoir for permitting drippings, bits and slivers of soap and liquids to be introduced into the reservoir. A liquid dispensing pump is mounted on the reservoir extending upwardly therefrom and in communication with the reservoir, allowing the device to be operated when placed on a horizontal surface.
The drawings, when considered in conjunction with the following description, are presented for the purpose of facilitating an understanding of the invention sought to be protected.
As shown in
Reservoir 1 is defined by a front wall 7, a back wall 8, side walls 9 and 10, and a bottom panel 11. Reservoir 1 is shown as being right rectangular in shape, but it can be of other shapes, such as cylindrical or stylistic designs. Reservoir 1 is open at the top. Valve housing 3 is mounted vertically oriented in bottom panel 11 of reservoir 1, and is in communication with the interior thereof. Valve housing 3 can be formed integrally with reservoir 1, or it can be a separate piece that is attached thereto by means such as screw threads. A dispensing valve 4 is installed within valve housing 3, and can be one of the commonly used valves such as a spring-biased piston which allows liquid to flow from reservoir 1 when pressed inwardly by a user. Alternatively, valve housing 3 can be oriented horizontally in the lower portion of front wall 7 or either of side walls 9 and 10.
Reservoir 1 is seated on mounting bracket 2, with valve housing 3 passing through bracket 2. Mounting bracket 2 can be secured to a wall or other vertical face by means of screws or the like, by gluing, or by an interlocking attachment device which can allow reservoir 1 to easily be removed. Reservoir 1 can be fixedly or releasably attached to mounting bracket 2.
The components of this invention may be made of any suitable material, such as plastic, metal, glass, or recycled material.
Soap dish 5 is installed in the opening at the top of reservoir 1. As shown in
In a first mode of operation, reservoir 1 initially is filled or partially filled with liquid soap 17, and the soap drippings, bits and slivers collected in soap dish 5 as a result of the use of a bar of soap 18 enter reservoir 1 through opening 16, there to mix with the liquid soap contained therein. Periodically, soap dish 7 can be flushed with water to cause any drippings, bits and slivers present therein to flow into reservoir 1. Bits and slivers of soap collected from other sources, as well as other liquids, also may be added to the liquid in the reservoir through opening 16 or directly by removing soap dish 7. In a second mode of operation, water is placed in reservoir 1, which will mix with soap drippings, bits and slivers entering reservoir 1 to form a liquid soap mixture. In both cases, the user has the option of utilizing the recycled liquid soap mixture, rather than a bar of soap in soap dish 5, by operating dispensing valve 4.
Another option for the use of the device is to close opening 16 by installing a closure plug 19 (
A second embodiment of the invention for use on a horizontal surface is shown in
A soap dish 27 is installed atop the wall 19 of reservoir 20 to receive a bar of soap 29. Soap dish 27 is shown as being decoratively configured in a scalloped pattern 30. As was the case with the first embodiment, soap dish 27 can be removable, as shown, or can be integral with reservoir 20. At least one opening 32 is provided in soap dish 27. It also is within the scope of the invention to utilize multiple openings, or other shapes of single or multiple openings. Again, the components of this embodiment of the invention may be of plastic and may be formed by conventional means such as molding, or other suitable materials and methods of manufacture.
Shapes and decorative designs other than those shown in the two embodiments described above are within the scope of the invention. For example, the entire device, or parts of the device, can be made in shapes which are especially appealing to children, such as an elephant or other animal or cartoon character. They also can be of any color or be transparent.
The operation of this embodiment of the invention is the same as that explained above with regard to the first embodiment, except for the fact that the liquid 33 in the reservoir is delivered by dispensing pump 22 to a point above soap dish 27. Also as is the case with the first embodiment, closure plug 19 can be installed in opening 32, which allows the reservoir to be utilized to dispense another fluid such as hand lotion.
While the present invention has been described in connection with what are considered practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that it is not to be limited to the disclosed arrangements, but is intended to cover various arrangements which are included within the spirit and scope of the broadest possible interpretation of the appended claims so as to encompass all modifications and equivalent arrangements.
This application claims the benefit of the filing date under 35 USC 119(e) of the filing date of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/028,976, filed Feb. 15, 2008, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61028976 | Feb 2008 | US |
