Field of the Invention

This invention relates to washing sponges, and more particularly to a sponge with means for holding and delivering liquid soap from an integral reservoir.

Background of the Invention

Sponges are widely used for washing. A sponge can easily spread soap over the body. It is considered healthy for the skin and useful for cleaning.

Delivering soap to the sponge, however, arises several problems. A simple way involves the pouring of liquid soap from a bottle onto the sponge. This approach is not very convenient, since the bottle has to be picked frequently and located closely, thus the washing process using this method may take more time and is more complicated than using a soap directly.

It thus appears to be desirable to include soap in the sponge, and indeed attempts have been made to achieve this, however there apparently remained some unsolved problems, for example:

1. A reasonable amount of soap should be held isolated within the sponge, in order to prevent the constant filling of the sponge with soap.

2. The soap should be released when desired, in a simple manner and to a considerable area of the sponge.

3. When the soap is released to the sponge, it should not spatter out of the sponge.

4. The mechanism of releasing the soap should not be felt on the outside while using the sponge. Rather, the sponge should remain soft and pleasant to touch.

5. The mechanism for holding the soap should be sealed for water but should be capable of releasing the soap whenever required.

It should be integrated within the sponge in SL simple yet reliable manner.

6. The whole device should be simple, low cost and effective.

These problems apparently have not been satisfactorily solved in the art. Examples of prior art patents include the following:

Anderson , U. S. Patent 4,457,640 - Body wash, pad for bathing

Chen , U. S. Patent 4,674,903 - Fountain faci.al cleansing sponge head device

Washut , U. S. Patent 4,793,517 - Portable personal liquid storage and dispenser unit

Scott , U. S. Patent 4,817,227 - Body scrubber

Zafiroglu , U. S. Patent 4,820,435 - Liquid-dispensing pouch

Dumenigo , U. S. Patent 4,948,078 - Article support

Mattesky , U. S. Patent 5,152,809 - Scrub puff

Ong , U. S. Patent 5,507,414 - Liquid cleaneat? dispensing apparatus

Jackson , U. S. Patent 5,517,705 - Back scrubbing device

Gordon et al. , U. S. Patent 5,650,384 - Personal cleansing system comprising a polymeric diamond mesh bath sponge and a liquid cleanser with moisturizer

Ong , U. S. Patent 5,678,733 - Liquid cleanerr dispenser

Summary of the Invention

The present disclosure relates to a novel washing sponge which includes means for holding and delivering liquid soap from an integral reservoir or bottle to the sponge whenever necessary.

The delivery of the soap is done, for example, by pressing a button which can be integral within the sponge or external to the sponge.

The novel sponge enables to use only one hand for holding trae sponge with the integrated liquid soap bottle. The soap-releasing button can be used by the same hand. Thus, during the whole washing process, the sponge can be used with soap by using only one hand. There is no need to use any additional soap.

The novel sponge offers many advantages, and solves related problems:

1. A reasonable amount of soap is held isolated within the sponge, in order to save constant filling of the sponge with soap.

2. The soap can be released by simply pressing a button whenever required, in each press a significant area of the sponge is soaked with soap.

3. When the soap is released to the sponge it does not spatter out of the sponge, a reasonable amount of soap is released saving excessive use of soap.

k. The mechanism of releasing the soap is within a rigid part and is not felt while using the sponge, the sponge remains soft and pleasant for touch.

5. The mechanism for holding the soap is sealed for water and can release the soap by pressure whenever required, it is integrated within the sponge in a simple yet reliable manner.

6. The whole device is simple and effective - it can be implemented using a limited number of simple parts.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Fig. 1 illustrates a side view of a functional model of the sponge.

Fig. 2 illustrates a one embodiment of the sponge.

Fig. 3 illustrates a rear view of a possible appearance of the sponge.

Fig. 4 illustrates a side view detailing a soap spreading mechanism.

Fig. 5 illustrates a side view of the sponge with external handle.

Fig. 6 illustrates a side view of the sponge where the whole mechanism is integrated within the sponge.

Fig. 7 illustrates top and side views of a soap filling connector for the bottle at the sponge.

Fig. 8 illustrates a side view of the connection of the filling connect:or.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described ^" by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 2 illustrates one embodiment of the sponge. The novel sponge may comprise three main parts:

1. A handle and mechanism 40 - A rigid area which enables comfortable grasping by the user, and a mechanism which allows easy pressing by tbie user, in order to reliably emit soap into a sponge 10. The pressing m&chanism may be implemented by a button 50.

2. Soap container - an internal rigid container or bottle, which allows to store liquid soap and simple emission of the soap into a sponge, hy using the mechanism 40. The container can be implemented as a regular contaάLner or bottle, or in any other manner. The container must be compatible with the handle, the mechanism and the sponge. The container may include a fill-ing and/or container replacing opening 60.

3. Washing sponge 10 - A sponge that is designed to wash the body, can be implemented using a regular sponge or using a special sponge, that is built in a manner which allows optimal spreading of the soap within the sponge, for example as close as possible to its outer surroundings. The sponge should also be comfortable and pleasant to use.

Fig. 1 illustrates a side view of one embodiment of the sponge.

The sponge 10 itself may take most of the space. The bottle or container

20 may be closer to the back part, so that it is more distant from the side of the sponge which is used for washing. A mechanism 30 is used to spread the liquid soap from the container into the sponge, as closely as possible to its outer surrounding, or just making the sponge soaked properly with soap, to allow its efficient use.

The sponge may be held by special handles 40, or may include rigid parts which can be easily grasped in the palm.

The one or more handles provided with the mechanism may wrap the container or bottle, may be installed in a parallel manner to the bottle, or may connect to the bottle in various other forms. The container and/or sponge may be optionally disconnected from the handle. The pressing mechanism and handle may have various kinds of form and/or shape.

A button 50 may be used in order to emit the soap. The button may be part of the handle, or may be separated from the handle, as indicated in the drawing, and connected directly to the bottle and/or to the mechanism 30. The button may be placed at the top, at the rear part, at either sides of the sponge or in any other location around or within the sponge.

The bottle may be filled using a special opening 60, through which the liquid soap is inserted whenever necessary. Optionally, the whole bottle may be replaced with a new one.

The bottle or container may have a special, unique shape to match the sponge and/or for easy grasping and/or for efficient spread of the soap.

The bottle may be disposable and replaced each time it rans out, or may be refilled - both implementations are possible.

The bottle may be filled using a novel opening which is detailed below.

Fig. 3 illustrates a rear view of one embodiment of the sponge. The grasping handle 40 is designed to allow easy holding in the palm. Pressing the button 50 to release soap may be done easily, using one finger. The button may be located anywhere on the sponge or near or at the handle, for example as indicated in Fig. 3.

Thus, a more natural and comfortable soaping is possible and the sponge may be used and refilled with soap by just one hand. A strap may be added to clasp the palm to the sponge. The handle may be smaller than the sponge and the sponge may surround the handle, so that rubbing may be done by the sides of the sponge as well.

The sponge may be rectangular and/or rounded and/or may possess any kind of shape. The sponge may be optionally disconnected for cleaning or in order to replace it.

The outer surface of the sponge 13 may be made of a different material, or may include straps, in order to better keep the sponge in its original shape, and to create a rubbing effect while using the sponge.

The sponge may possess a varying degree of softness/hardness, depending on a user's needs and/or the desired implementation.

The bottle 20 may include one or more openings in order to release the soap to the sponge. A mechanism for spreading the soap 30 may be optionally included or may be implemented as a part of the bottle combined with the button to release the soap and open the openings.

The bottle 20 may include an internal spring or may have internal pressure, which will allow releasing the soap under pressure, thus the soap may be spread more effectively. Alternately, the whole operation of the device and the pressure built-up may be based only upon the energy which is created by pressing the button.

In one preferred embodiment, the bottle 20 may be optionally taken out and replaced with a new one.

Fig. k illustrates a side view which details a soap spreading mechanism. The liquid soap bottle 20, may be within the grasping handle, parallel to it, or combined with the grasping handle, as shown in this figure.

A vacuum suction or internal pressure means may be used with the mechanism 21, in order to spread out the soap, at the required pressure, as the user presses the button 50, using a cylinder for example.

A soap spreading mechanism 30 is comprised of a rigid part with one or more pipes 31, which spread the soap to different parts of the sponge 10. The spreading mechanism 30, may be part of the rigid holding handle and/or may be integrated with the bottle or container. It may spread the soap directly to specific area, or using several pipes to a larger area of the sponge. The pipes are within a rigid part and cannot be felt while using the sponge. Optional holes 11 along the sponge which are connected to the pipes 31, allow spreading the soap better in the sponge, and closer to its outer margins.

Fig. 5 illustrates a side view of the sponge with external handle. In this figure the pressing mechanism 50 is within a separate handle 40, which can allow holding the inner part together with the container 20, without pressing the button 50, and pressing the button by the back of the palm or separately, by holding the sponge from the handle k0. Filling of the container is done through a special opening 60. The holes 11 at the sponge, may be connected to the bottle directly, saving the need for additional pipes.

Fig. 6 illustrates a side view of the sponge where the whole mechanism is integrated within the sponge.

The sponge comprises two parts, the main part 10 which covers the button 50 and the mechanism and container 20, and another part of the sponge

12, which covers the container and may be optionally taken out in order to access the container. The button may be operated by moving it downwards, thus pressing on the sponge downwards will release soap to the sponge.

Fig. 7 illustrates a top and a side views of a soap filling connector for the bottle at the sponge. The parts 61 and 62 can be either in the state as indicated, wherein the reservoir is closed, or the part 62 is rotated, so as to open the reservoir for filling with liquid soap.

A square hole 63 may be used with a suitable tool, so that, when it is pressed down against spring 67, it can be rotated so as to rotate part 62 for opening the reservoir for filling.

The spring 67 may be supported by means 68 within the reservoir.

Fig. 8 illustrates a side view of the connection of the filling connector, including the upper part 61 and the lower part 62.