Field of the Invention

[001 ] The present invention relates to a dispenser for dispensing liquid such as soap.

Background to the Invention

[002] The use of liquid soap is now quite common and there are a variety of containers available to store and dispense the liquid.

[003] The present invention relates to an improved version of such a dispenser. The dispenser of the present invention is designed to allow the soap to be dispensed directly onto the body during use. The dispenser is also easy to use, refill and transport.

Summary of the Invention

[004] According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a container for holding a liquid, the container having an opening in a first side wall thereof;

a cover member securable to said first side wall of the container;

a protruding portion provided extending from an inner side of the cover member;

a one way dispensing valve provided on the protruding portion;

wherein when the cover member is secured to the first side wall of the container, the one way dispensing valve is received within the opening.

[005] Preferably, the container comprises a second side wall parallel to the first side wall and an edge wall joining the periphery of the first side wall to the periphery of the second side wall and the cover comprises a side wall portion to extend across the first side wall of the container and an edge wall portion to receive a portion of the edge wall of the container. [006] Preferably, the one way dispensing valve comprises a flexible seal member secured to an end surface of the protruding portion adjacent an outer side of the cover and a plurality of holes in the end surface of the protruding portion.

[007] In a preferred embodiment, a one way inlet valve is provided on the second side wall of the container, the one way inlet valve being provided to allow entry of air into the container.

[008] The one way inlet valve preferably comprises a second flexible seal member secured across a plurality of holes provided in a recess in the second side wall.

[009] In one embodiment, the first and second side walls of the container are elliptical in shape.

[010] Preferably a cleansing member is provided to be secured across the outer surface of the cover, the cleansing member being constructed of a porous material such that liquid soap exiting the one way dispensing valve is received into and spreads through the cleansing member.

[01 1 ] An outer surface of the side wall portion of the cover preferably includes a plurality of channels therein extending radially outward from the protruding portion such that liquid exiting the one way dispensing valve can flow radially outward through the channels.

[012] Preferably an outer casing is provided to be received over the cleansing member.

[013] In one embodiment, the outer casing comprises an elliptical side wall portion and a transverse edge wall portion and is larger than the cleansing member such that the outer casing can be received over the cleansing member.

[014] In one embodiment, the outer casing is provided with a strap comprising a loop extending from an end of the outer casing for holding or hanging the dispenser. Brief Description of the Drawings

[015] The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the following drawings, in which:

[016] Figure 1 a is a top view of a soap dispenser in accordance with the present invention;

[017] Figure 1 b is an upper perspective view of the soap dispenser of Figure 1a;

[018] Figure 2a is a side view of the soap dispenser of Figure 1 ;

[019] Figure 2b is an end view of the soap dispenser of Figure 1 ;

[020] Figure 3a is a top view of the soap dispenser of Figure 1 ;

[021 ] Figure 3b is a side cross sectional view of the soap dispenser of Figure

3a through the line A-A;

[022] Figure 4 is an exploded view of the soap dispenser of Figure 1 ;

[023] Figure 5 is an upper perspective view of the soap dispenser of Figure 1 with the outer cover removed;

[024] Figure 6 is an upper perspective view of the soap dispenser of Figure 1 showing the refilling process; and

[025] Figure 7 is a view of the soap dispenser of Figure 1 in use.

Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments

[026] Referring to Figures, there is shown as soap dispenser 10 in accordance with the present invention. The soap dispenser 10 includes a container 12 into which is received a liquid such as liquid soap. The container 12 includes a first side wall 14 and a second opposite side wall 15. In the embodiment shown, the first and second side walls 14 and 15 are generally parallel and elliptical in shape and are joined by a tubular edge wall 16.

[027] The soap dispenser 10 is provided with a cover 18 that is secured to the soap dispenser 10 such that the cover 18 extends over the first side wall edge wall portion 21 . The side wall portion 18 is shaped to extend across the first side wall 14 of the container 12 and is therefore in this case also generally elliptical in shape. The edge wall portion 21 extends transversely to the side wall portion 20 from around the periphery thereof.

[028] The edge wall 16 of the container 12 includes a first portion 22 adjacent the first side wall 14 and a second portion 23 adjacent the second side wall 15. The first portion 22 is of a smaller circumference that the second portion 23 such that a shoulder portion is defined joining the first and second portions 22 and 23. The cover 18 is sized to be received over the first side wall 14 of the container 12 such that the side wall portion 20 of the cover 18 is adjacent the first side wall 14 and the first portion 22 of the edge wall 16 is received within the edge wall portion 21 of the cover 18 (as can be seen in Figure 3b).

[029] The edge wall 16 of the container 12 includes a groove 24 adjacent the shoulder portion. The edge wall portion 21 of the cover 18 is provided with a plurality of tabs 26 around the outer edge thereof. The tabs 26 are provided to be received in the groove 24 in order to secure the cover 18 to the container 12.

[030] The first side wall 14 of the container 12 is provided with an opening 28. The opening 28 is located generally centrally on the first side wall 14. The first side wall 14 is planar and the opening 28 comprises simply a hole in the planar first side wall 14 such that the first side wall 14 around the opening 28 lies generally all in the same plane.

[031 ] The side wall portion 20 of the cover 18 is also generally planar and includes a protruding portion 30 extending from an inner side surface thereof. The protruding portion 30 is provided to be received in the opening 28 when the cover 18 is secured to the container 12. In the embodiment shown, the opening 28 is circular and the protruding portion 30 of the cover 18 comprises a cylindrical protrusion. When the protruding portion 30 of the cover 18 is received in the opening 28, the protruding portion 30 closes off the opening 28 to prevent escape of liquid. [032] The protruding portion 30 includes a one way dispensing valve therein. The one way dispensing valve is provided to allow escape of liquid through the protruding portion 30 when pressure is applied from within the container 12 but to prevent fluid entering into the container 12. The one way dispensing valve comprises a flexible seal member 32 secured to an end surface of the protruding portion 30 on a side adjacent an outer side of the cover 18 and a plurality of holes 33 in the end surface of the protruding portion 30. The flexible seal member 32 can move to allow liquid to pass out through the holes 33 but is held against the holes 33 to prevent fluid passing inwardly.

[033] The container 12 also includes a one way inlet valve provided on the second side wall 15. The one way inlet valve is provided to allow air to enter the container 12 but to prevent an outward flow. The one way inlet valve comprises a second flexible seal member 34 secured across a plurality of holes 35 provided in a recess 60 in the second side wall 15. The second flexible seal member 34 works in the same manner as the first flexible seal member 32 but in reverse to allow air to enter the container 12.

[034] The container 12 is constructed of a material that allows compression of the first and second side walls 14 and 15 together to increase pressure within the container 12. The container 12 is to be held in use with the first side wall 14 directed downwardly such that liquid within the container 12 covers the one way dispensing valve. The increased pressure forces liquid out through the one way dispensing valve for use and, on release of the force, the container 12 expands again drawing air in through the one way inlet valve on the second side wall 15.

[035] The soap dispenser 10 is provided also with a cleansing member 36 to be secured across the outer surface of the cover 18. The cleansing member 36 is of a similar shape to the cover 18 in that it comprises also a side wall portion 40 and an edge wall portion 41. The cleansing member 36 is constructed of a suitable porous material such that liquid soap exiting the one way dispensing valve is received into and spreads through the cleansing member 36. The cleansing member 36 may be, for example, a sponge type material. [036] As the protruding portion 30 which contains the one way dispensing valve extends into the opening 28, the outer surface of the side wall portion 20 of the cover 18 is flat. This provides a flat surface over which the cleansing member 36 extends, thereby allowing the cleansing member 36 to be comfortably used against skin to spread the soap.

[037] The outer surface of the side wall portion 20 of the cover 18 includes a plurality of channels 42 therein. As can be seen in Figure 5, the channels 42 extend radially outward from the protruding portion 30 such that liquid exiting the one way dispensing valve can flow radially outward through the channels 42. The channels 42 therefore assist with even distribution of liquid soap across the cleansing member 36.

[038] The soap dispenser 10 is also provided with an outer casing 44. The outer casing 44 also comprises an elliptical side wall portion 45 and a transverse edge wall portion 46 and is larger than the cleansing member 36 such that the outer casing 44 can be received over the cleansing member 36. The outer casing 44 is provided to cover over the cleansing member 36 for transport to prevent leakage of liquid.

[039] The outer casing 44 is also provided with a strap 52. The strap 52 comprises a loop extending from an end of the outer casing 44 for holding or hanging the soap dispenser 10.

[040] In the embodiment shown, the second side surface 15 also includes a recessed portion 48 therein. The recessed portion 48 receives a complementary shaped inset 50. The recessed portion 48 and inset 50 can be provided in a shape to improve the appearance of the soap dispenser 10. In the embodiment shown the recessed portion 48 and inset 50 are provided in leaf shape.

[041 ] It will be readily apparent to persons skilled in the relevant arts that various modifications and improvements may be made to the foregoing embodiments, in addition to those already described, without departing from the basic inventive concepts of the present invention.