Pre-Soaped Disposable Luffah
Described is a disposable luffah. During manufacturing of the luffah, a water-soluble pouch is positioned within, or attached to, the luffah. The water-soluble pouch may contain a liquid or powered cleansing and/or moisturizing agent. During use the pouch breaks down upon contact with water such that the contained cleansing and/or moisturizing agent is released.
This application is a continuation-in-part of patent application Ser. No. 11/836,701 filed Aug. 9, 2007.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe embodiments of the present invention relate to a ready-to-use, pre-soaped luffah.
BACKGROUNDLuffahs (aka Loofahs, Luffas and bath nets) are now ubiquitous items found in most households. Luffahs are used to apply soap and other cleansers to the body. In general, a luffah is soaked with water and then an ample amount of liquid soap, gel or similar cleansing and/or moisturizing agent is applied to the luffah and then used on the body in a sponge-like manner. However, luffahs are difficult to effectively rinse after use because of the ruffled configuration such that bacteria and other germs can be transferred from one user to another.
Thus, there exists a need for ready-to-use, disposable luffah.
SUMMARYAccordingly, a first embodiment of the present invention is a cleansing article comprising: a luffah formed of a series of ruffles; said ruffles of said luffah coated with a substantially dry, water-soluble, cleansing and/or moisturizing agent such that said luffah may be used one or more times without an application of additional cleansing and/or moisturizing agent.
Another embodiment of the present invention is a method comprising: applying a substantially wet, cleansing and/or moisturizing agent to at least a portion of a luffah; and drying said luffah such that said applied substantially wet, cleansing and/or moisturizing agent forms into a generally dry, water-soluble, cleansing and/or moisturizing agent on at least a portion of a series of luffah ruffles. In one embodiment, the luffah is then packaged.
An alternative embodiment of the present invention is a cleansing article comprising: a luffah having of a series of ruffles; and a pouch positioned within said ruffles of said luffah wherein said pouch contains a cleansing and/or moisturizing agent, said pouch being water-soluble. In a first embodiment, the pouch contains a liquid cleansing and/or moisturizing agent. In an alternative embodiment, the pouch contains a powered cleansing and/or moisturizing agent.
The cleansing and/or moisturizing agent may be a soap, body gel, anti-bacterial soap, moisturizing soap and the like. By adding water to the pre-soaped luffah, the luffah is ready to use without the application of a separate liquid cleansing and/or moisturizing agent. As a result, using the luffah in a shower or bath is as simple as unpacking the luffah, placing it in the water stream or tub of water and using it in a sponge-like fashion.
Other variations, embodiments and features of the present invention will become evident from the following detailed description, drawings and claims.
It will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that the invention can be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential character thereof. The presently disclosed embodiments are therefore considered in all respects to be illustrative and not restrictive.
Initial reference is made to
The embodiments of the present invention comprise a luffah 100 as shown in
In an alternative embodiment, the cleansing and/or moisturizing agent is applied only to a central portion or core of the luffah 100. In this embodiment, the cleansing and/or moisturizing agent dries near the core of the luffah 100 and as such is not on the outer portions of the ruffles 110. With such an embodiment, the luffah 100 has the same feel as a conventional non-soaped luffah. However, once water is applied, the cleansing and/or moisturizing agent quickly disperses throughout the ruffles 110 of the luffah 100.
In one embodiment, as shown in
In another embodiment, as shown in
Regardless of the manner in which the luffahs 100 are sold or provided to users, it is envisioned that they shall be disposed of after limited use. That is, the luffah 100 is disposed of once the substantially dry, water-soluble cleansing and/or moisturizing agent is exhausted. Such disposability prevents the spread of bacteria, germs and the like. The cost of fabricating the luffahs 100 according to the embodiments of the present invention allows them to be easily and inexpensively replaced on a small budget. The luffahs according to the embodiments of the present invention are also ideal for travel.
Although the invention has been described in detail with reference to several embodiments, additional variations and modifications exist within the scope and spirit of the invention as described and defined in the following claims.
Claims
1. A cleansing article comprising:
- a luffah having of a series of ruffles; and
- a pouch positioned within said ruffles of said luffah wherein said pouch contains a cleansing and/or moisturizing agent, said pouch being water-soluble.
2. The cleansing article of claim 1 wherein said cleansing and/or moisturizing agent is selected from the group consisting of liquid soap, gel, bath wash or body wash.
3. The cleansing article of claim 1 wherein said cleansing and/or moisturizing agent is selected from the group consisting of powered soap, gel, bath wash or body wash.
4. The cleansing article of claim 1 wherein said pouch is fabricated of polyethylenetelephthalate.
5. A cleansing article comprising:
- a luffah having of a series of ruffles; and
- a pouch attached to said luffah wherein said pouch contains a cleansing and/or moisturizing agent, said pouch being water-soluble.
6. The cleansing article of claim 5 wherein said cleansing and/or moisturizing agent is selected from the group consisting of liquid soap, gel, bath wash or body wash.
7. The cleansing article of claim 5 wherein said cleansing and/or moisturizing agent is selected from the group consisting of powered soap, gel, bath wash or body wash.
8. The cleansing article of claim 5 wherein said pouch is fabricated of polyethylenetelephthalate.
9. A method of fabricating a cleansing device comprising:
- folding an elongated opened-end net tube along its length;
- tying said net tube using a string to form a luffah having one or more ruffles;
- inserting a water-soluble pouch containing a cleansing and/or moisturizing agent into one open end of the net tube; and
- positioning the water-soluble pouch within the ruffles of the luffah.
10. The method of claim 9 further comprising filling said pouch with a liquid soap, gel, bath wash or body wash.
11. The method of claim 9 further comprising filling said pouch with a powered soap, gel, bath wash or body wash.
12. The method of claim 9 further comprising attaching said pouch to said luffah.
13. The method of claim 9 further comprising said pouch of polyethylenetelephthalate.
14. A method of fabricating a cleansing device comprising:
- applying a substantially wet, cleansing and/or moisturizing agent, said cleansing and/or moisturizing agent having a percentage of alcohol to facilitate drying, to at least a portion of a luffah; and
- drying said luffah such that said applied substantially wet, cleansing and/or moisturizing agent forms into a generally dry, water-soluble, cleansing and/or moisturizing agent on at least a portion of a series of luffah ruffles.
15. The method of claim 14 further comprising utilizing a conveyor belt passing by a heat source to dry said luffah.
16. The method of claim 14 further comprising said pouch of polyethylenetelephthalate.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 17, 2008
Publication Date: Feb 12, 2009
Inventors: Bruce T. Larsen (Las Vegas, NV), Bryan W. Larsen (Las Vegas, NV)
Application Number: 12/049,955
International Classification: A47K 7/03 (20060101); B65B 3/04 (20060101); B65B 9/06 (20060101);