HOLDER FOR CLEANING PRODUCTS

Abstract

A holder for cleaning products is provided. The holder comprising: a body having a plurality of walls defining a recess area, the recess area having a bottom surface, one of the plurality of walls having a drain formed thereon, the drain being in fluid communication with the bottom surface; and an attachment member coupled to a bottom of the body, the attachment member having a cupped shape that is sized to form a perimeter seal when the holder is pressed onto a surface.

Description

BACKGROUND

The subject matter disclosed herein relates to a holder for cleaning products, such as a sponge or wash cloth.

Cleaning products such as sponges are often hard to manage when not in use. It is desirable to allow the product, which is wet in use, to dry between uses. Often users use holders that have suction cups that stick the holder to the side of a sink. These holders, which are often made from wire, or have holes in the bottom, allow the water to drain into the sink. Unfortunately these holders often move due to poor suction.

Accordingly, while existing holders for cleaning products are suitable for their intended purpose the need for improvement remains, particularly in providing a holder that includes the features described herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

According to one aspect of the disclosure a holder for cleaning products is provided. The holder comprising: a body having a plurality of walls defining a recess area, the recess area having a bottom surface, one of the plurality of walls having a drain formed thereon, the drain being in fluid communication with the bottom surface; and an attachment member coupled to a bottom of the body, the attachment member having a cupped shape that is sized to form a perimeter seal when the holder is pressed onto a surface.

These and other advantages and features will become more apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The subject matter, which is regarded as the disclosure, is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the claims at the conclusion of the specification. The foregoing and other features, and advantages of the disclosure are apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a holder for cleaning products in accordance with an embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a holder for cleaning products in accordance with another embodiment

FIG. 3 is a bottom perspective view of the holder of FIG. 1 and FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a side sectional view of the holder of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is another perspective view of the holder of FIG. 2; and

FIGS. 6-9 are various view of the holder of FIG. 2.

The detailed description explains embodiments of the disclosure, together with advantages and features, by way of example with reference to the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide for a holder for cleaning products, such as sponges that are used to clean dishes, flatware, pots and pans for example. The holder provides for a drain that allows water from the cleaning products to flow back into a sink or other drain. The holder further provides for an attachment means that allows the holder to be removably attached to a counter or other surface next to a sink or drain where the attachment means provides for a perimeter attachment that does not allow water or other fluids to flow beneath the holder.

Referring now to FIGS. 1-5, a holder 20 is shown. The holder 20 includes a body 22 having a plurality of walls 24, 26, 28, 30 that define a recess 32 having a bottom surface 34. A drain portion 36 is centrally disposed in wall 24. The drain portion 36 is in fluid communication with a central portion of the bottom surface 34. In the exemplary embodiment, the drain portion 36 shape that is both curved downward and has a curved trough 38. In an embodiment, the lower edge 41 of the drain portion is offset or vertically disposed in a position equal to or below the edge of the surface that the holder 20 is attached. The shape of the drain portion 36 allows fluid to flow into the sink or drain.

In an embodiment, the bottom surface 34 includes opposing side portions 34A, 34B (FIG. 4) that are angled to allow fluids to flow from an area adjacent the walls 26, 30 towards the center of the bottom surface 34. In an embodiment, the portions 34A, 34B have a plurality of ribs, protrusions or a wave shapes that are shaped and positioned to direct or allow fluids to drain towards the center of the bottom portion 34 while keeping the cleaning product (e.g. sponge) out of the draining fluid. In an embodiment, the angle of the bottom surface 34 is about 1 degree relative to a horizontal counter surface. In an embodiment, the bottom surface 36 further includes a trough 34C that collects fluid from the portions 34A, 34B and directs the flow of fluid towards the drain portion 36.

In an embodiment, the holder 20 may include one or more brackets 40 (FIG. 2) that extend from the bottom surface 34. In an embodiment, the brackets 40 may be removably coupled to the bottom surface 34. The brackets 40 are arranged to be disposed generally parallel with the ribs of the portions 34A, 34B. The brackets 40 are spaced apart to provide space to hold the cleaning products.

Attached to the body 22 is a coupling member 42. In the exemplary embodiment, the coupling member 42 includes a bottom surface 44 (FIG. 3) that is cupped or recessed such that the edge 46 is offset relative to a center area 48 in a direction away from the body 22. The edge 46 is sized to extend about the periphery of the bottom of the body 22. The coupling member 42 is made from a soft material, such as a rubber, an elastomer, or a plastic for example. When the holder 20 is pressed onto the surface that it is to be attached, the edge 46 deflects, causing suction to be formed between the coupling member 42 and the surface. Thus, the coupling member allows the holder 20 to be easily and repeated coupled to surfaces. In an embodiment, the coupling member 42 includes a tab 43 that extends from the edge 46 to facilitate the release of the suction allowing the holder 20 to be removed from the counter surface.

In an embodiment, the holder will provide water to have multidirectional flow. The fluid will flow from the left edge and the right edge to the center of the body. Once the fluid is in the center of the device it will flow forward into the sink by drain spout.

In an embodiment, the side, front and back walls of the holder will be sized to be tall/high enough to pour a hot cup of water (e.g. 8 oz) into the recess of the holder and not allow the water to splash out but flow through the drain. Hot or boiling water is and easy way to clean the device.

In an embodiment, the internal ridges or ribs on the bottom surface consist of level peaks and sloped valleys. This allows bottles and or utensils to stand up straight and as the water falls off of said items, the valleys carry the water to the center and then from the center to the sink. In an embodiment, the curved ridges allow for an easy clean with just the wipe of a hand towel as opposed to other models that have sharp corners in there ridges.

In an embodiment, the holder has a perimeter suction attachment means. The suction material may be a soft material. The user can decide to press the device down firmly to utilize the suction or just simply set in place as the suction material will act like rubber. The perimeter suction allows water to not get underneath the device. The perimeter suction allows the user to simply clean around the device.

The drain spout is configured to drain the fluid back into the sink. In an embodiment, the drain spout is integral with the multidirectional flow body that is integral with the perimeter suction. The perimeter suction attachment may be attached to the outer edge of the flow body or attached anywhere on the flow body to create a perimeter suction. The suction attachment may have an integral tab to 43 allow the user to easily release the suction and move the holder.

In some embodiments, the holder will utilize tubes 40 for sponge or sponge utensil separation and or soap bottle or other types of guides. The tubes 40 may be made from stainless steel. In an embodiment, the tubes 40 are disposed on one half of the holder 20. The tubes 40 may be disposed generally parallel with the longitudinal direction of the holder 20. In an embodiment, the portion of the holder 40 opposite the tubes 40 may be used to hold objects, such as a bottle 50 for example (FIG. 9)

The term “about” is intended to include the degree of error associated with measurement of the particular quantity based upon the equipment available at the time of filing the application.

Additionally, the term “exemplary” is used herein to mean “serving as an example, instance or illustration.” Any embodiment or design described herein as “exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments or designs. The terms “at least one” and “one or more” are understood to include any integer number greater than or equal to one, i.e. one, two, three, four, etc. The terms “a plurality” are understood to include any integer number greater than or equal to two, i.e. two, three, four, five, etc. The term “connection” can include an indirect “connection” and a direct “connection”.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the disclosure. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, element components, and/or groups thereof.

While the disclosure is provided in detail in connection with only a limited number of embodiments, it should be readily understood that the disclosure is not limited to such disclosed embodiments. Rather, the disclosure can be modified to incorporate any number of variations, alterations, substitutions or equivalent arrangements not heretofore described, but which are commensurate with the spirit and scope of the disclosure. Additionally, while various embodiments of the disclosure have been described, it is to be understood that the exemplary embodiment(s) may include only some of the described exemplary aspects. Accordingly, the disclosure is not to be seen as limited by the foregoing description, but is only limited by the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A holder for cleaning products comprising: a body having a plurality of walls defining a recess area, the recess area having a bottom surface, one of the plurality of walls having a drain formed thereon, the drain being in fluid communication with the bottom surface; andan attachment member coupled to a bottom of the body, the attachment member having a cupped shape that is sized to form a perimeter seal when the holder is pressed onto a surface.

2. The holder of claim 1, wherein the bottom surface includes a first portion and an opposing second portion with a trough disposed therebetween, the trough being in fluid communication with the drain.

3. The holder of claim 2, wherein the bottom surface is angled to communicate fluid into the trough.

4. The holder of claim 3 wherein each of the first portion and second portion are angled about 1 degree relative to a horizontal counter surface.

5. The holder of claim 1, further comprising at least one bracket coupled to the body.

6. The holder of claim 5, wherein the at least one bracket includes a plurality of brackets.

7. The holder of claim 5, wherein the at least one bracket is a tube having a length substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the body.

8. The holder of claim 5, wherein the at least one bracket is made from stainless steel.

9. The holder of claim 1, wherein the attachment member includes a bottom surface that is recessed relative to a center area such that an edge of the bottom surface extends about a periphery of the body.

10. The holder of claim 9, wherein the attachment member is configured to deflect the edge when the holder is pressed onto a counter surface and generate a suction therebetween.

11. The holder of claim 10, wherein the attachment member is made from a rubber, an elastomer, or a plastic material.

12. The holder of claim 1, wherein the drain includes a curved trough portion that curves in a direction away from a top of the holder.

13. The holder of claim 12, wherein the trough portion includes an edge that is arranged to be positioned equal to or vertically offset below an edge of a counter surface that the holder is installed.

14. The holder of claim 1, wherein the bottom surface includes a plurality ribs shaped to direct fluid towards the drain.

15. The holder of claim 1, wherein the drain is centrally disposed on the body.