Soap dish

Abstract

A soap dish comprises an open first container including a plurality of parallel slits on a bottom; and a second container fitted in the first container, the second container including a plurality of rows of cones on a bottom, the rows of cones being adapted to support a soap, and a plurality of rows of apertures each row of apertures being disposed between two adjacent rows of cones, wherein water stored in the second container is adapted to carry off through the rows of apertures by passing the cones; and outside air is adapted to reach the soap via the rows of apertures.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to soap dishes and more particularly to such a soap dish with improved characteristics.

2. Description of Related Art

A conventional soap dish is shown in FIG. 1. A plurality of apertures are formed on the bottom of the dish such that water in the dish can be carried off through the apertures. However, the apertures are subject to blockage due to small bores thereof. Thus, it is typical that a soap in the dish is partially melted by water stored therein as illustrated in FIG. 2. Such condition can be worse if ventilation of the surrounding environment (e.g., in the kitchen or bathroom) is poor. Also, this is not hygienic and its appearance is not aesthetic.

Another conventional soap dish is shown in FIG. 3. The dish comprises a removeable cover 90 including a plurality of parallel ribs 92 on a top inner surface and a plurality of parallel slits 93 each being adjacent the rib 92, the slits 93 being in communication between outside and an internal receiving space 91; and a brush assembly 80 formed on the bottom of the dish, the brush assembly 80 including a plurality of rows of bristles 81 and a plurality of second slits 82 each second slit 82 being disposed between two adjacent rows of bristles 81, the second slits 82 being in communication between outside and the receiving space 91. The brush assembly 80 is adapted to matingly engage with the cover 90 for enclosing a soap held on the bristles 81. However, the bristles 81 are subject to elastic fatigue after a period of time of use, resulting in a partial blockage of water flow. Further, the soap still can be partially melted by water stored therein if the ventilation is poor. Hence, a need for improvement exists.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a soap dish comprising an open first container including a plurality of parallel slits on a bottom; and a second container fitted in the first container, the second container including a plurality of rows of tapered projections on a bottom, the rows of projections being adapted to support a soap, and a plurality of rows of apertures each row of apertures being disposed between two adjacent rows of projections, wherein water stored in the second container is adapted to carry off through the rows of apertures by passing the projections; and outside air is adapted to reach the soap via the rows of apertures.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional soap dish;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a partially melted soap in the dish;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of another conventional soap dish;

FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view of a preferred embodiment of soap dish according to the invention;

FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the dish shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view schematically depicting a substantially parallelepiped soap held by the second container in the dish shown in FIG. 4 with air passed apertures of the second container; and

FIG. 7 is a sectional view schematically depicting a substantially oval soap held by the second container in the dish shown in FIG. 4 with air passed apertures of the second container according to another preferred embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIGS. 4 to 6, there is shown a soap dish constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention. The dish comprises a large open first container 20 including a plurality of parallel slits 21 on the bottom for carrying off water stored therein; and a removeable, rectangular, small second container 10 fitted in the first container 20, the second container 10 including a frame 11, a shallow recess 12 confined by the frame 11, a plurality of rows of cones 13 on the recess 12, a plurality of rows of apertures 14 each row of apertures 14 being disposed between two adjacent rows of cones 13, and a raised pad 15 at either side for supporting the second container 10 on the bottom of the first container 20.

Each aperture 14 comprises a slanted annular top surface 141 and a lower upright channel 142 in fluid communication with outside through the slits 21. The apexes of all cones 13 are flush such that a substantially parallelepiped soap 1 shown in dash line can be stably held by the cones 13. Further, water stored in the second container 10 can be effectively carried off through the slanted annular top surfaces 141, the upright channels 142, and the slits 21. Furthermore, outside air can freely reach the soap 1 via the slits 21, the upright channels 142, and the slanted annular top surfaces 141 for effecting good ventilation.

Referring to FIG. 7, another preferred embodiment of the invention is shown. The differences between these two preferred embodiments, i.e., the characteristics of another preferred embodiment are detailed below. The aperture 14 is formed without the slanted annular top surface 141. The height of the innermost row of cones 13 is gradually increased to a maximum at either outermost row of cones 13 (i.e., a slightly curved dash line is formed by connecting the apexes of the rows of cones 13) such that a substantially oval soap 1 shown in dash line can be stably held by the cones 13.

Note that in still another embodiment the second container 10 can be used independently as a soap dish. In a further embodiment the second container 10 and the first container 20 are formed integrally. This can increase applications of the invention. Moreover, water stayed on the soap 1 can be easily dropped off due to the provision of cones 13. In addition, ventilation is made more effective due to the point contacts between the soap 1 and the cones 13.

While the invention herein disclosed has been described by means of specific embodiments, numerous modifications and variations could be made thereto by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention set forth in the claims.

Claims

1. A soap dish, comprising: an open first container including a plurality of parallel slits on a bottom; and a second container fitted in the first container, the second container including a plurality of rows of tapered projections on a bottom, the rows of projections being adapted to support a soap, and a plurality of rows of apertures each row of apertures being disposed between two adjacent rows of projections, wherein water stored in the second container is adapted to carry off through the rows of apertures by passing the projections; and outside air is adapted to reach the soap via the rows of apertures.

2. The soap dish of claim 1, wherein the first and the second containers are formed integrally.

3. The soap dish of claim 1, wherein the first and the second containers are separate components.

4. The soap dish of claim 1, wherein the aperture comprises a slanted annular top surface and a lower upright channel in fluid.

5. The soap dish of claim 1, wherein the aperture is upright.

6. The soap dish of claim 1, wherein apexes of the rows of cones are flush.

7. The soap dish of claim 1, wherein a height of the innermost row of cones is gradually increased to a maximum at either outermost row of cones.

8. The soap dish of claim 1, wherein the second container further comprises a raised pad at either side for supporting the second container on the bottom of the first container.

9. The soap dish of claim 1, wherein the projection is a cone.