WO2002091895A1

WO2002091895A1 - Soap sponge

Info

Publication number: WO2002091895A1
Application number: PCT/BR2002/000069
Authority: WO
Inventors: Paulo Roberto Jannotti Newlands
Original assignee: Newlands Paulo Roberto Jannott
Priority date: 2001-05-15
Filing date: 2002-05-14
Publication date: 2002-11-21
Also published as: BR0101943C2; BR0101943C3; BR0101943A; BR0101943C1

Abstract

The present invention for Soap Sponge (1) relates to a self-adapted set comprising a soap (5) and a sponge (2) obtained due to the complementary shape of each one of the two elements of the set in relation to the shape of the other element, to form a sole and unitary device for personal hygiene formed at the same time by a sponge (2) with an aperture for access, reception and retention of a soap (5) in a inner case (4) with shape and dimensions fully compatiblefor the reception of such soap (5), and the soap (5) itself, also fully compatible with the inner case (4) of the sponge (2) with which will form a sole and unitary hygienic set.

Description

"SOAP SPONGE"

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a self-adapted set comprising a soap and a sponge obtained due to the complementary shape of each one of the two elements of the set in relation to the shape of the other element, to form a sole and unitary device for personal hygiene. BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

The adequate human hygiene comprises necessarily the use of chemical products offered to costumers in varied forms such as solid, liquid and pasty soaps.

When using for bathing, for example, the solid soap is a very common form. Despite the fact that solid soaps could be rub all over the body without the help of any other material, from time immemorial the use of auxiliary natural sponges was remarked.

At present days, synthetic sponges such as those made up of polyurethane, for instance, are largely used by costumers.

Following that trend, sponges for bathing and many other application have been developed and many patents regarding the subject have been deposited, such as the patents listed below:

2,666.498 deposited in France in HSeptl990, by which a cavity is open in the plain surface of a sponge made up of synthetic material where the soap is inserted.

7,700.678, deposited in Brazil in April 24, 1997 by which a piece of synthetic foam is cut and sewed to form a kind of pouch in which interior the soap is inserted. In the first example, it is offered to the users of that kind of product, a cavity open over the surface of the sponge, in which the soap is simply deposited, allowing this way the direct contact between the soap and the user's body, however without any additional specific provision for the retention of that soap by the sponge.

In the second example, the soap is introduced inside the sponge through an aperture formed by the superposition of layers of foam, however without any means for the permanent contact between the soap and user's body.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The main object of the present patent is to provide a hygienic set formed at the same time by a sponge with an aperture for access, reception and retention of a soap in a inner case with shape and dimensions folly compatible for the reception of such soap, and the soap itself, also fully compatible with the inner case of the sponge with which will form a sole and unitary hygienic set. Another objective of the present patent is to permit the direct contact with user's body, of the main hygienic element of the set which is the soap.

Another objective of the present patent is to permit the use of the set without the risk of having the soap falling down from the sponge, irrespective the position the set is being used. Another objective of the present patent is to permit the total use of the soap up to its smaller final utilizable portion.

Such objectives are achieved through the creation of both a sponge with an aperture and a inner case, and an equivalent soap with shape and dimensions folly compatible with said aperture and inner case present in the sponge, transforming so in a sole and unitary hygienic set, two distinct elements of personal hygiene.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an external view of the Soap Sponge and a soap in a cylindrical shape; FIG. 2 shows a Soap Sponge after the insertion of the soap in the inner case; FIG. 3 is an external view of the Soap Sponge and a soap in a rectangular shape; FIG. 4 shows another Soap Sponge after the insertion of the soap in the inner case; FIGS. 5 and 6 show how the Soap Sponge is formed through the cut and glue method; FIGS. 7 and 8 show how the sponge is formed through mold injection; FIGS. 9a and 9b show a constructive variation for Soap Sponge; FIGS, from 10a to lOd reveal another constructive disposition for Soap Sponge. DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

FIG.l shows a possible model of Soap Sponge (1) represented by two distinct elements, as follows:

- the first one by is a cylindrical soap (5) with a brim (5a) having larger diameter than the soap diameter, aimed to help fixing the soap inside the inner case (4); - the second one, represented by a cylindrical portion of synthetic foam (2) with adequate dimensions for human hands having an access (3) open in one of the surfaces of the sponge (2) aimed to permit both the passage, reception and retention of the soap (5) in the inner case (4) and the exposure of a prominent portion of the soap (5) and, as consequence, its direct contact with user's body.

As shown by FIG. 1, the insertion movement is done by pressing the soap (5) against the sponge (2) as indicated by the two arrows existing in the figure. Once fitted, they will form a sole and unitary set that allows user the utilization of one of its side for the direct contact of the soap (5) with his body, and the other side for massage with the sponge's (2) foam, as shown in FIG.2.

FIGS. 3 and 4 reproduce the same characteristics of FIGS. 1 and 2 adopting however, among many other possible shapes, a rectangular design for the Soap Sponge (1). According to this example, a constructive disposition of soap (5) is shown based on which the portion (5b) has an angle suitable for the perfect lodging at the position (4) created under the border of the sponge (2).

FIG.5 shows a method for obtaining the sponge by which three pieces of foam with the same external dimensions are cut while the upper (6) and middle (7) pieces receive an internal cut being the size of the cut applied to the upper piece (6) smaller than the size of the cut applied to the middle piece (7) in order to create between the two pieces an inner case (4) where the soap will be lodged.

Upper (6) and middle (7) pieces are then fixed over the lower piece (8) getting ready for the insertion of the soap (5) as shown in FIG6.

Another production system for Soap Sponge (1) based on injection mold is disclosed by FIGS. 7 and 8.

The box (9) shown in FIG.8, which is to be closed by the cover of FIG. 7, is preferably made up of steel or epoxy with the internal measures compatible with the external measures of the related Soap Sponge (1).

Centralized in the bottom of the box (9) a removable piece (10) with the same shape and dimensions of the related soap (5) which might be even the soap (5) itself is inserted before pouring the raw material suitable for the expansion inside the mold such as polyurethane, standing that removable piece (10) far from the bottom of the box (9) at the same rate than the measure intending to be given for that section of the Soap Sponge (1).

In order to create an open space at the upper side of the Soap Sponge, the removable piece (10) will be sustained from the bottom of the box (9) by a portion of material with the same measures of the section of the soap (5) that will be exposed.

On FIGS. 9a and 9b another constructive method for Soap Sponge (1) is disclose.

On FIG. 9a a rectangular piece (11) of foam is fold at both ends to create two lateral upper sections (12a) and (12b) which are fixed over the remaining lower section (13). Between the two lower (13) and upper (12a) and (12b) sections it will be created firstly a space to accommodate the lateral portions (5c) of the soap and secondly, an open space (14) through which the prominent portion (5d) of the soap (5) will be exposed, as revealed in FIG. 9b.

FIGS, from 10a to lOd disclose another constructive method for the Soap Sponge (1). FIG. 10a shows two pieces of foam, being the first one an upper piece (15a) and the second one a low piece (15b), preferably with the same periphery measures and same or distinct height, but formed in any geometric format such as rectangular, round, cylindrical as well as any other suitable form to attend the objectives of the present patent .

At the upper piece (15a), it has been provided an aperture (16) aimed both to the insertion of the soap (5) to the inner case (4) created at the Soap Sponge (1) and to allow the set to be turned inside out after the two separated pieces have been sewed (17) as demonstrated in the example on FIG. 10b, forming so the inner case (4) in the middle of the two upper (15a) and lower (15b) pieces.

At FIG. 10c the fixed set has been turned inside out and is ready to receive the insertion of a soap

(5). At FIG. lOd, the two elements sponge (2) and soap (5) having complementary shape and dimensions have been fitted, leaving an exposed portion (5d) of the soap for direct contact with user's body and at the same time retaining the soap (5) in the inner case (4).

Claims

1. A SOAP SPONGE, represented by a sole and unitary set for personal hygiene wherein complementary soap and sponge are obtained due to the complementary shape and dimensions of each element of the set in relation to the shape of the other element.

2. A SOAP SPONGE, according to Claim 1, wherein a soap is fitted with a brim having larger diameter than the soap diameter, aimed to help fixing the soap inside the sponge inner case.

3. A SOAP SPONGE, according to Claim 1 and 2, wherein a portion of foam with adequate dimensions for human hands has an access open in one of the surfaces of the foam aimed to permit the passage, reception and retention of the soap in the sponge's inner case as well as to expose a prominent portion of the soap.

4. A SOAP SPONGE, according to Claim 1, 2 and 3, wherein the sponge has an inner case for lodging an equivalent soap.

5. A SOAP SPONGE, according to Claim 1, 2, 3 and 4 wherein a method for obtaining the sponge comprises three pieces of foam with the same external dimensions while the upper and middle pieces receive an internal cut being the size of the cut applied to the upper piece smaller than the size of the cut applied to the middle piece in order to create between the two pieces an inner case where the soap will be lodged, fixing thereafter upper and middle pieces over the lower piece.

6. A SOAP SPONGE, according to Claim 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 wherein a method for obtaining the sponge comprises a box dully closed by a cover with the internal measures compatible with the external measures of the related Soap Sponge, having centralized in its bottom a removable piece with the same shape and dimensions of the related soap which might be even the soap itself standing that removable piece far from the bottom of the box in the same rate than the measure intending to be given for that section of the Soap Sponge, being such removable piece sustained from the bottom of the box by a portion of material with the same measures of the section of the soap that will be exposed.

7. A SOAP SPONGE, according to Claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 wherein a method for obtaining the sponge comprises rectangular piece of foam folded at both ends to create two lateral upper sections which are fixed over the remaining lower section creating so between the lower and upper sections a space to accommodate the lateral portions of the soap and secondly, an open space through which the prominent portion of the soap will be exposed.

8. A SOAP SPONGE, according to Claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7, wherein a method for obtaining the sponge comprises an upper and a low pieces of foam, preferably with the same periphery measures and same or distinct height, but formed in any geometric format suitable for getting a Soap Sponge, having the upper piece an aperture aimed both to the insertion of the soap to the inner case created at the Soap Sponge and to allow the set to be turned inside out after the two pieces have been sewed.

9. A SOAP SPONGE, according to Claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8, wherein a soap formed in any geometric format has complementary shape and dimensions compatible with the internal case of the related Soap Sponge where it is going to be fitted to form a sole and unitary set.