Sponge Containing Dead Sea Mud and Minerals and Method for Preparation

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention refers to a sponge that contains mud and minerals from the Dead Sea in either solid or viscous (gel) state. In addition, the invention refers also to a method for inserting the mud and minerals into the sponge and for drying the liquids, as well as a set-up for implementing the method. The invention also refers to a sponge that contains tearless shampoo or soap, which is designed mainly for use with infants and young children. The present invention is also refers to a method for preparing a gel or liquid soap and/or

Dead Sea mud mixture for injection into a sponge. The purpose is to create a sponge that contains soap, shampoo or tearless soap, or Dead Sea mud in a solid or viscous (gel) state.

BACKGROUND ART

The general public occasionally uses mud and minerals that originate from the Dead Sea or mud and minerals that contain components similar to those that originate from the Dead Sea (for the sake of convenience, products of all origins will hereinafter be referred to as "Dead Sea mud and minerals"). Dead Sea mud and minerals are usually used for medical or cosmetic reasons, and particularly to improve the user's skin condition and sometimes also in order to cure skin injuries or flaws. Dead Sea mud and minerals are used by applying the mud and minerals on the user's body and then rinsing the body with soap and water. The inventor and applicant of the present invention is also the inventor and applicant of a patent application filed with respect to a sponge containing soap and a sponge containing Dead Sea mud and minerals. The present invention is a method for preparing a liquid soap mixture and/or soap and Dead Sea mud mixture in order to enable the efficient injection of the mixture into a sponge.

THE INVENTION

The present invention refers to a sponge that contains Dead Sea mud and minerals and soap. The mud, minerals and soap are present in the sponge in solid or viscous (gel) state. The mud, minerals and soap that are in the sponge can be a separate and independent unit from the sponge, and be located in a separate cavity within the sponge. Nevertheless, the inventor believes that it is preferable that the mud, minerals and soap be dispersed throughout the sponge, and particularly in the middle part of the sponge, so that when the mud, minerals and soap are in solid or gel state, they contain parts of the sponge and there is no clear and defined boundary between the sponge and the solid or viscous mud, minerals and soap. This matter will be further clarified in the description of the method, subject of the invention.

The method, subject of the present invention, enables to insert existing kinds of mud, minerals and liquid soap into a wide variety of existing sponges, and to turn the mud, minerals and soap into a solid or very viscous material.

The method of inserting liquid mud, minerals and soap into a sponge and turning them into a solid or very viscous state within the sponge comprises the following steps: (a) A tubule with one or more perforations is inserted into the middle of the sponge, (b) The liquid mud, mineral and soap are injected into the sponge through the tubule and are dispersed throughout most parts of the sponge, (c) The liquids (i.e. the watery parts of the mud, minerals and soap) in the sponge are dried to yield a sponge that contains solid or very viscous mud, minerals and soap.

The tubule can have only one hole, but the method, subject of the invention, is more effective if the tubule has several holes around the entire circumference and length of the part of the tubule that is inserted into the sponge. Thus, dispersion of the mud, minerals and soap within the sponge is achieved to a greater distance and in a more uniform manner.

The liquid mud, minerals and soap that are injected into the sponge can be of the kinds sold today by various manufacturers as off-the-shelf products. However, the method, subject of the invention, will be more effective if the mud, minerals and soap are diluted with water or etheric oils or any other desirable liquid, at a ratio of at least 10% of the volume of the crude mud, minerals and soap, so as to achieve more effective injection, insertion and dispersion of the mud, minerals and soap throughout the entire sponge.

The sponge containing the liquid mud, minerals and soap can be dried by leaving it in the work room. However, the method, subject of the invention, is more effective if drying takes place by placing the sponge in a warm place, such as a microwave oven or convection oven, in order to evaporate and dry the liquids from the sponge.

Insertion of the liquid mud, minerals and soap into the sponge should be executed in predetermined and pre-measured doses.

The method, subject of the invention, is effective if the insertion of the mud, mineral and soap into the sponge through the tubule is executed using a pump that injects a measured dose of the liquid mud, mineral and soap through the tubule each time a certain button is pressed or the pump receives a certain signal to inject a measured dose as mentioned.

The set-up, subject of the present invention, enables to implement the method of inserting the liquid mud, mineral and soap into the sponge and turning the material into a solid or very viscous state. The system, subject of the invention, is composed of the following components: (a) A container with liquid mud, minerals and soap, (b) A pump that is attached to the container and enables to pump the liquid from the container through a tube that connects to the tubule, to be described hereafter, (c) A tubule with one or more holes that is designed to be inserted into the sponge. The system may, but does not have to, include also the following components: (d) A pedal that when pressed operates the pump for a certain and preset time so that a measured dose of liquid is injected into the sponge.

(e) A work table that serves as a production line, to which the tubule is affixed. The sponges are passed along the table and attached to the tubule one by one, inserting it into the sponge. Stepping on the pedal injects the dose of desired material into the sponge. Naturally, there can be several tubules that operate simultaneously, and it is also possible that the tubule is the one to move and be inserted into the sponge rather than vice versa.

The product, subject of the invention, is a sponge that contains solid or viscous mud, minerals and soap and that enables multiple usage, for an extended period of time. Whenever the user wets or moistens the sponge, a small portion of the mud, minerals and soap (hereinafter referred to as the "material") within the sponge dissolves and enables the material's action. The product, subject of the invention, offers users several advantages, including the following: (a) The product, subject of the invention, renders it unnecessary to have a variety of containers or packages of Dead Sea mud and minerals, (b) The user can have a large number of sponges, each containing a different concentration or kind of

mud and minerals, (c) The use of the product subject of the invention in many places outside the user's home, such as picnics, trips, hotels, and so on, renders it unnecessary to carry and have a container and packages of mud and minerals.

The method and set-up, subject of the present invention, enable to inject existing kinds of liquid mud, minerals and soap into a wide variety of existing sponges and to make the mud, minerals and soap solid or very viscous. The invention also refers to a sponge that contains tearless shampoo or soap, designed mainly for use with infants and young children. Injection of the tearless shampoo or soap into the sponge is executed as in the case of the injection of mud and minerals.

The present invention is a method for preparing a mixture of soap and/or a mixture of soap and Dead Sea mud in order to enable injection of the mixture into a sponge. The soap mixture, subject of the invention, is injected into the sponge where it hardens and become viscous (gel) or solid.

The first (preferred) variation of the invention is as follows: The method, subject of the present invention, for preparing the said soap mixture is based on the use of the following ingredients: soap, foam, aromatic oils, preservative, stabilizer, and water. If it is desired that the sponge contain Dead Sea mud, then powdered Dead Sea minerals should be added to the above ingredients. These ingredients are familiar to anyone who is knowledgeable in the manufacturing of soap mixtures.

The soap may be any kind of soap that is sold and marketed in liquid or viscous (gel) state. The foam is a substance that is sold and marketed in liquid form and creates the foam component of the soap mixture. Aromatic oils of any kind known and sold in the market. The preservative is a substance that is sold as in powdered, granulated or liquid form and its function is to preserve the soap so that it is suitable for use for an extended period of time. The stabilizer is a substance that is sold in powered or liquid form. Its role is to bind the components in the final formulation of the mixture so that is does not separate.

In other words, it serves as a kind of glue between the components of the mixture. Water - regular water or, in fact, any liquid. Powdered Dead Sea minerals are sold on the general market.

The ratio of each of the said ingredients can vary according to the manufacturer's requirements. Nevertheless, the inventor wishes to state that to obtain a good soap mixture and/or soap and Dead Sea mud mixture that will be suitable for injection, the following proportions should be used: Soap - 65 kg., foam - 1 kg., preservative - 1 kg., stabilizer - 1 kg., aromatic oils - 12-15 kg., water - 15 kg. (powdered minerals - about 5 kg.).

The method for preparing the soap mixture and/or soap and Dead Sea mud mixture, subject of the present invention, is based on the use of two mixers. One mixer is used for mixing, heating and circulation of the mixture (hereinafter referred to as "the first mixer"); another mixer is used to stir the mixture (hereinafter referred to as "the second mixer").

The first (preferred) variation of the method, subject of the present invention, includes the following stages:

Stage I - in the first mixer: The soap, foam, preservative, stabilizer, aromatic oils and water (hereinafter referred to as "the mixture") are placed in the first mixer and the mixture is mixed for several minutes. If it is desired that the sponge contain Dead Sea mud, then powdered Dead Sea minerals should be added to the above components.

Stage II - in the first mixer: When the first stage of mixing is completed, the mixture is heated to a temperature that can range between 30 and 80 degrees centigrade and mixed for 2 to 3 more hours at that temperature. (The first mixer is equipped with a heating device as well as a mixing device.) At the end of this state, the mixture is in gel form.

Stage III - in the first mixer: After the end of the second stage, the mixture is circulated in the first mixer for about 2 hours, and the temperature is maintained at the said temperature (which can range between 30 and 80 degrees centigrade). In this process, circulation means that the mixture is pumped from the bottom of the mixer and transferred to the upper part of the mixer.

Stage IV - in the second mixer: After the third stage, the mixture is transferred from the first mixer to the second mixer. The mixture is now stirred at room temperature for 3 to 4 days, without heating. Stirring is performed using a mixing arm located within the second mixer, which moves in circular motions (completing a full revolution every several seconds).

Stage V - in the second mixer: After the fourth stage is over, the second mixer is turned off and the mixture is left to rest in the mixer at room temperature for about 36 hours. i

Stage VI - in the first mixer: At the end of the fifth stage, the mixture is pumped back into the first mixer and is heated to a temperature that can range between 30 and 80 degrees centigrade. The mixture is then mixed at that temperature for about 24 hours.

After the sixth stage, the soap and/or soap and Dead Sea mud mixture is ready for injection into the sponge; it is in liquid form and has a specific viscosity. The soap and/or soap and Dead Sea mud mixture can be injected immediately

after it is obtained at the end of the sixth stage or it can be saved the end of the sixth stage for future injection. In such a case, the mixture must be heated later, prior to injection, in order to enable efficient injection.

There are several variations on the method, subject of the present invention (which is intended, as mentioned, for the preparation of soap and/or soap and Dead Sea mud mixtures). The preferred variation was described above; nevertheless, additional variations exist and are described below.

The second variation of the method, subject of the present invention (for preparing the said mixture) is based on the use of soap that is in liquid or gel form, whereby it is mixed with another liquid such as water, oil and/or any other liquid. The mixture obtained can be injected into a sponge to obtain the required result. If it is desired that the sponge contain Dead Sea mud, then powdered Dead Sea minerals should be added to the above components.

The third variation of the method, subject of the present invention (for preparing the said mixture) is based on the use of soap that is in liquid or gel form, whereby it is mixed with another liquid such as water, oil and/or any other liquid, as well as one or more of the following components: foam, aromatic oils, preservative, and stabilizer. If it is desired that the sponge contain Dead Sea mud, then powered Dead Sea minerals should be added to the above components.

The second and third variations of the method, subject of the present invention, include the following stages: Mixing the ingredients, heating, and injecting into the sponge.