Patent Grant
11445864
The present disclosure relates to shower soap cases used to hold soap between uses. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to a collapsible shower wall soap holding device that can be installed in a bath or shower wall and holds in a standing position handmade soap as well as other soaps sold by commercial retailers.
An increased number of consumers have switched from using bar soap to liquid soap. Many are turned off by the gooky waste that is collected from soap holding apparatuses when soap is place in them between uses. This is particularly a problem for consumers who use all-natural handmade soap. With the increase among consumers for natural products, handmade soap makers are experiencing an increase in demand for their products. Handmade soap is larger and shaped differently than traditional soaps sold on the market. A traditional bar of soap may be 1″×2″×3.75″ or often smaller. Handmade soap may be 1″×3″×4″. Seeing that handmade soaps are not sold in grocery store chains or department stores, options are limited for storing the soap between uses.
Handmade soap makers have either resorted to making their own packaging or just wrapping it in regular paper. In addition to that, the soap doesn't fit very well into the traditional soap cases/dishes sold in stores. They are either stored in loofah soap pouches or wrapped up in paper or plastic. This decreases the amount of uses a customer will get out of that soap because the soap needs air to dry and keep it from dissolving or melting away. Soap cases/dishes on the market are made to have the soap lay on the dish. In between washes, the water drains from the soap and the soap is laying in the bacteria from the water causing it to quickly dissolve from laying in the excess water. None of the soap holders provide a way for the soap to be able to stand instead of laying on the dish and none of them are designed in a way that allows the excess water to drain out while the soap is in the holder.
A need exists in the field for a soap hosting apparatus that will accept a range of different sized soaps including handmade soap. The soap will be positioned on the collapsible holster standing upright instead of laying. The collapsible soap holster has a hole on each arm that clamps into the recessed soap case. There is also a drip tray below to catch the water that drains from the soap. A further need exists for this apparatus to collapse and fold into the recessed soap case to keep the soap from falling when wet and slippery. Finally, there is also a need for the configuration of additional apparatuses to accommodate the dimensions of other soap molds and sizes.
The present invention comprises a recessed soap case with pins that the collapsible soap holster clamps into that rest on a drip tray which is in place to catch the excess water that drips from the soap when it has been used. The hosting device is configured in different sizes to accommodate different shapes and molds of soap.
The recessed soap case can be mounted in a wall. The collapsible soap holster is attached to the recessed soap tray and can hold a bar of soap in a standing position. The collapsible soap holster may transition between an open and a closed holster configuration by application of push-to-open force that engage and disengage a push-to-open latch. The drip tray can sit underneath the soap holster and may transition between a closed drip tray configuration and an open drip tray configuration by application of a push-to-open force that engages and disengages a push-to-open latch.
Some embodiments of the present invention are illustrated as an example and are not limited by the figures of the accompanying drawings, in which like references may indicate similar elements and in which:
It should be noted that the accompanying figures are intended to present illustrations of example embodiments of the present disclosure. The figures are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. It should also be noted that accompanying figures are not necessarily drawn to scale.
The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any or all combinations of one or more of the associated listed terms. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an, “and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well as the singular forms, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.
Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one having ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and the present disclosure and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.
In describing the invention, it will be understood that a number of techniques and steps are disclosed. Each of these has individual benefit and each can also be used in conjunction with one or more, or in some cases all, of the other disclosed techniques. Accordingly, for the sake of clarity, this description will refrain from repeating every possible combination of the individual steps in an unnecessary fashion. Nevertheless, the specification and claims should be read with the understanding that such combinations are entirely within the scope of the invention and the claims.
New soap hosting devices, apparatuses, and methods for positioning soap in a standing position on top of a dish and operating a push-to-open shower wall upright soap holder are discussed herein. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. It will be evident, however, to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details.
The present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the invention, and is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments illustrated by the figures or description below.
The present invention will now be described by referencing the appended figures representing preferred embodiments.
The recessed soap case 106 has a soap case back 103, a right soap case wall 105 and an inside bottom surface 107 in the right soap case wall 105 with a hole 113′, the inside left surface 109 (shown in
The collapsible soap holster 110 that has a holster bottom 101, two side arms (a right side arm 102 and a left side arm 102′) with a front bracket 104 attached on the front of the right side arm 102 and the front of the left side arm 102′, where the front bracket 104 serves as a front retainer for a bar of soap. The holster bottom 101, the right side arm 102 and left side arm 102′ and the front bracket 104 create a space for a bar of soap. The space may be 4.1″ wide 3.75″ high and 1.5″ deep. The space may be bigger or smaller than these dimensions. The front bracket 104 is shown with a single arch that has a decorative sculptured design.
The drip tray 116 is shown located under the collapsible soap holster 110. The drip tray 116 slides under the collapsible soap holster 110 and can catch the excess water that drips from the soap. The drip tray 116 rests on the inside bottom surface 107 of the recessed soap case 106. The drip tray 116 is generally rectangular shaped with the longer side running left to right and the short side running front the back. The bottom left edge 118 of the drip tray 116 and bottom right edge 120 of the drip tray 116 are rounded to match the contour of the front rim 111. The drip tray 116 is not as deep as the collapsible soap holster 110 so the drip tray 116 can be behind the front of the holster 110 as front of the holster pivots forward and the front bows down.
The left side arm 102′ has an enclosed left upper opening 115′ and an enclosed left lower opening 117′. These openings allow the soap to air dry. The left upper enclosed opening 115′ is enclosed with a LU rear edge, a LU top edge, a LU front edge, and a LU bottom edge. The LU rear edge, LU top edge and LU front edge of the left upper enclosed opening 115′ are contoured to follow the outside shape of the left side arm 102′. The LU bottom edge of the left upper enclosed opening 115′ shares a contour edge with the left bottom enclosed opening 116′. The left bottom opening 116′ has a LB rear edge, a LB top edge, a LB front edge, and a LB bottom edge. The LB back edge, LB bottom edge and LB front edge are contoured to follow the outside shape of the left side arm 102′.
The collapsible soap holster 110 may hold a bar of soap in a standing position and prevents it from sliding out on the side and touching the recessed soap case 106. The collapsible soap holster 110 has a pair of holster holes 114, one on each arm (left side arm 102′ and right side arm 102) that can clamp onto the pins (left pin 108 and right pin 108′). The holster holes 114 are coaxial. The pins 108 and 108′ may fit inside the pair of holster holes 114 enabling angular motion of the collapsible soap holster 110 on a holster rotation axis 180. The pins 108 and 108′ may be mounted in the inside left surface 109 and the inside right soap case wall 105 of the recessed soap case 106. Alternatively, the recessed soap case 106 may have a pair of holes 113 and 113′ and the collapsible soap holster 110 may have coaxial pins. In general, the shape and the location of holes and pins may vary so long as angular motion of collapsible soap holster 110 is enabled. Other mechanisms may be used to replace pin-holes combination with equivalent mechanisms that allow the collapsible soap holster 110 to pivot.
On the collapsible soap holster 110 the front bracket 104 may have one or more front openings 148. The holster bottom 101 may have one or more bottom openings 145. The side holder surfaces may have one or more side openings 147. The one or more openings 145, 147 and 148 may leave open 40%, 60%, 80% or more of the holster bottom 101, the side arms 102 and 102′ and the front bracket 104 open for air flow. The holster bottom 101 may have one, two or more rails running from front to back to support the bar of soap. The side of the soap holster may have curved rails to contain the soap. The rails may be skinny rails. The rails may be ¼″, 3/16″, ⅛″ or less the ⅛″.
By holding the bar of soap in the standing position, water may better drip off and the openings 145, 147 and 148 allows the air to freely circulate around the bar of soap to facilitate drying and hardening of the bar of soap thus extending the useful life of the soap.
The push-to-open shower wall upright soap holder 300 may only have the push-to-open recessed soap case 305 with the push-to-open collapsible soap holster 310. Water dripping off the bar of soap could land the inside bottom surface 107 and those drips may be directed out the front of the push-to-open recessed soap case 305. For example, the inside bottom surface 107 may have a slight forward tilt to direct the water out.
When the plunger 202 is pushed with a pusher it will begin to travel into in body 206 of the push-to-open latch 201. As the plunger travels the left clasp arm 203 and the right clasp arm 204 will swing into a closed position. In the closed position the clasp arms 203 and 204, create a narrower gap between the ends of the clasp arms 203 and 204 that can hold onto what has pushed the plunger, if the pusher has a corresponding narrow portion. For example, the pusher that engages the plunger 202 could be an extended cylinder with a ball or bulb shaped head. As the plunger 202 continues into the body 206 it will pass a catch position at which point when the pusher stops pushing the plunger may move out slightly but will stop in a catch position, with the clasp arms 203 and 204 in a closed position. The latch will stay in this position holding any bulb on the pusher. If the pusher is pushed on again then the plunger 202 can travel into the body 206 until it passes a release point. After passing the release point then when the pusher stops pushing the plunger can travel out of the body 206 going past the catch point so the clasp arms 203 and 204 open up again then any bulb on the plunger is free from constraint and can be removed from the latch.
In this document the push-to-open latch 201 may have other construction or functions that allow transition from an open configuration to a closed configuration, for example instead of the push-to-release latch having a mechanical clasps arms 203 and 204, magnets could be used, or the push to release mechanism could be integral to the collapsible soap holster.
The flow chart 500 starts at oval 505 with the push-to-open collapsible soap holster 310 in the open holster configuration.
At box 510, the front of the push-to-open collapsible soap holster 310 is pushed and moves the push-to-open collapsible soap holster 310 inward past a catch position. Application of finger-force causes angular motion of the push-to-open collapsible soap holster 310 on the soap holder rotation axis 330 such that the push-to-open collapsible soap holster 310 engages with the holster push-to-open latch 318. After the push-to-open collapsible soap holster 310 is engaged with the holster push-to-open latch 318, application of finger-force may be stopped.
Next, at box 515, the finger-force is stopped. The push-to-open collapsible soap holster 310 remains in a closed holster configuration, securing the push-to-open collapsible soap holster 310 inside the push-to-open recessed soap case 305 and accommodating the standing bar of soap 415. In the closed holster configuration, the holster bottom may be substantially parallel to the inside bottom surface of push to open recessed soap case 305.
Immediately after the finger force is stopped the push-to-open collapsible soap holster 310 may move outward to a closed holster configuration. Alternatively, once past the catch position the push-to-open collapsible soap holster 310 may already be in the closed holster configuration. Staying in the closed holster configuration can be achieved in a number of ways, for example stopping the pushing on the front of the push-to-open collapsible soap holster 310 may happen after the holster latch engagement arm 335 has engaged with the holster push-to-open latch 318 which has been pushed past the catch point. When the finger-force was applied on the front bracket 104 that caused the push-to-open collapsible soap holster 310 to rotate in an angular motion on the soap holder rotation axis 330 till the holster latch engagement arm 335 engaged with the holster push-to-open latch 318. After push-to-open collapsible soap holster 310 is engaged with the holster push-to-open latch 318, the push-to-open collapsible soap holster 310 can remain in the closed holster configuration.
Next at box 520, the front of the push-to-open collapsible soap holster 310 is pushed again to initiate the transition of the push-to-open collapsible soap holster 310 to the open holster configuration. This transition could be accomplished in a number of ways for example by use of the holster push-to-open latch 318 being pushed past the release point.
Next at box 525 the push is stopped when the push-to-open collapsible soap holster 310 is past the release point. Then the push-to-open collapsible soap holster 310 may transition from the closed holster configuration to the open holster configuration. The push-to-open collapsible soap holster 310 may transition to the open holster configuration by rotating on the soap holder rotation axis 330. The transition may occur due to a biasing force. The biasing force may come from a biasing spring, the spring may be located in the holster push-to-open latch 318. Gravity may apply the biasing force once the push-to-open collapsible soap holster 310 is past a tipping point. Biasing force may come from a separate biasing spring attached to the push-to-open collapsible soap holster 310. Alternatively, other mechanisms may be used to pivot the push-to-open collapsible soap holster 310 to the open holster configuration. In the open holster configuration, the holster latch engagement arm 335, may be disengaged from a holster push-to-open latch 318.
The rotation of the push-to-open collapsible soap holster 310 may stop because the holster latch engagement arm 335 has run into the front top edge 345 of the recess 320. Alternatively, with the push-to-open drip tray 315 in the closed configuration the gap between the front top edge 345 of the push-to-open drip tray 315 and the push-to-open collapsible soap holster 310 may go to zero and stop the rotation of the collapsible soap holster at the predefined angle.
Finally, at oval 530 the flow chart 500 ends.
Next at box 610, with the push-to-open drip tray 315 resting on the inside bottom surface 107 the tray front 355 is pushed inward with a finger-force. The push-to-open drip tray 315 may slide from an open tray configuration to a closed tray position. When the push-to-open drip tray 315 is pushed passed a catch point then upon releasing of the finger-force of the push-to-open drip tray 315 may stay in a closed tray configuration.
Next at box 615, pushing is stopped when the push-to-open drip tray 315 is past the catch position. Past the catch position, the push-to-open drip tray 315 stays in the closed tray configuration. For example, the push-to-open drip tray 315 is pushed till the tray latch engagement arm 340 is engaged with the tray push-to-open latch 316. The push-to-open drip tray 315 remains in the closed tray configuration till the tray latch engagement arm 340 remains engaged with the tray push-to-open latch 316.
Next at box 620, with the push-to-open drip tray 315 in the closed tray configuration. In the closed tray configuration, the tray latch engagement arm 340 is releasably engaged with a tray push-to-open latch 316. For example, the tray latch engagement arm 340 is engaged with the tray push-to-open latch 316.
Next at box 625, the push-to-open drip tray 315 transitions to the open tray configuration. The push-to-open latch may slide the push-to-open drip tray forward due to a biasing force exerted by the push-to-open latch. In the open tray configuration, the tray latch engagement arm 340 is disengaged from the tray push-to-open latch 316. The push-to-open drip tray 315 is then free to slide forward and the push-to-open drip tray 315 may be removed.
Thereafter, the flow chart 600 ends at oval 630.
The shower wall upright soap holder may be integral to a pre-formed shower unit, with the recessed soap case being integral to a wall of a pre-formed shower unit. The pre-formed shower unit may be used in original builder home construction or in homeowner remodels.
While preferred materials for elements have been described, the device is not limited by these materials. Wood, plastics, rubber, foam, metal alloys, aluminum, stone and other materials may comprise some or all of the elements of the soap hosting dish/case positioning devices and apparatuses in various embodiments of the present invention.
Although the present invention has been illustrated and described herein with reference to preferred embodiments and specific examples thereof, it will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that other embodiments and examples may perform similar functions and/or achieve like results. All such equivalent embodiments and examples are within the spirit and scope of the present invention, are contemplated thereby, and are intended to be covered by the following claims.
This is a Continuation In Part of application Ser. No. 15/933,340.
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| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20200329922 A1 | Oct 2020 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 15933340 | Mar 2018 | US |
| Child | 16909923 | US |
