SOAP SPONGE

Abstract

A soap sponge is disclosed. In a particular embodiment, the sponge includes a top layer and a bottom layer of a porous polyurethane foam material, where the layers each further include a netted mesh. The sponge also includes a seam securing together a continuous portion of a periphery of the top layer and the bottom layer so that an interior open volume between the top layer and the bottom layer is defined by the seam. A mouth is disposed at an edge of the sponge and is adapted to access the interior open volume. The sponge further includes an elastic band secured to the mouth of the sponge, where the elastic band is adapted to maintain the mouth in closed position and to stretch open only upon the application of force to place a bar of soap inside.

Description

I. FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure is generally related to a soap sponge.

II. BACKGROUND

Mesh bags have been used in the past to store bars of soap. The bags are adapted to allow water to penetrate and to make the soap bar soft and to form lather. A drawstring is used to open and close the bag. However, a shortcoming of the mesh bags is the drawstring interferes when using the bag as a washcloth. In addition, the drawstring is susceptible to becoming loose during use causing the contents to spill out. Accordingly, there is a need for a soap sponge that is easy to place soap inside and to securely hold the soap inside without accidently spilling out. There is also a need in the art for a soap sponge that is ergonomic in nature.

It is, therefore, to the effective resolution of the aforementioned problems and shortcomings of the prior art that the present invention is directed.

However, in view of the prior art at the time the present invention was made, it was not obvious to those of ordinary skill in the pertinent art how the identified needs could be fulfilled.

III. SUMMARY

In a particular embodiment, the sponge includes a top layer and a bottom layer of a porous polyurethane foam material, where the layers each further include a netted mesh. The sponge also includes a seam securing together a continuous portion of a periphery of the top layer and the bottom layer so that an interior open volume between the top layer and the bottom layer is defined by the seam. A mouth is disposed at an edge of the sponge and is adapted to access the interior open volume. The sponge further includes an elastic band secured to the mouth of the sponge, where the elastic band is adapted to maintain the mouth in closed position and to stretch open only upon the application of force to place a bar of soap inside.

One particular advantage provided by embodiments of the soap sponge is the ability of the elastic mouth of the sponge to secure soap inside without spilling out. This is particularly advantageous when bathing where the soap sponge is being used to scrub body parts and being subjected to shower spray that would tend to cause the soap sponge to accidentally open if not secured closed by the elastic.

Other aspects, advantages, and features of the present disclosure will become apparent after review of the entire application, including the following sections: Brief Description of the Drawings, Detailed Description, and the Claims.

IV. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top view of a particular embodiment of a soap sponge;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view of the soap sponge of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front view of the soap sponge of FIGS. 1 and 2; and

FIG. 4 is cross sectional view along line 4-4 of FIG. 3 of the soap sponge.

V. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a particular illustrative embodiment of a soap sponge is disclosed and generally designated 100. The sponge 100 includes a top layer 104 and a bottom layer 106. A seam 102 secures together a continuous portion of a periphery of the top layer 104 and the bottom layer 106 to form a pouch. A loop 108 may be secured to the seam 102, the top layer 104, the bottom layer 106, or any combination thereof. Each end of the loop 108 is fixed stationary to the sponge 100 so that the loop 108 maintains a fixed length. The sponge 100 is adapted to hang from the loop 108 in a vertical position.

An interior open volume is formed between the top layer 104 and the bottom layer 106 and is defined by the seam 102. Accordingly, a bar of soap or sliver(s) of soap may be placed within the interior open volume. A mouth 110 of the sponge 100 is disposed along an edge of the sponge 100 and it is adapted to provide access to the interior open volume. The mouth 110 may have a V-shaped notch or flange within the top layer 104 and the bottom layer 106. This V-shaped notch gives the mouth 110 of the sponge 100 somewhat of a “clam-like” or funnel shape appearance. The V-shaped notch has a larger open end to form the inlet of the sponge 100 and tapers to the interior of the sponge 100. The configuration of the mouth 110 helps to prevent the soap from accidentally spilling out from the sponge 100. The sponge 100 may be shaped to be ergonomic and to fit in a palm of a user's hand.

As best shown in FIG. 3, the mouth 110 provides access to the interior open volume 114 described above. An elastic band 112 is secured around the mouth 110 of the sponge 100, where the elastic band 112 is adapted to maintain the mouth 110 in a closed position and will stretch open only upon the application of force to place an item, such as a bar of soap inside. The band 112 may be flat and adapted to hinge about a longitudinal axis aligned with the seam 102 when being opened.

Referring now to FIG. 4, which is a cross sectional view along line 4-4 of FIG. 3 of the sponge 100, the cross section shows that it may be made of a porous material 116. This porous material allows water and soap lather to pass through the top layer 104 and the bottom layer 106, but to retain the soap inside the sponge 100. The interior open volume 114 of the sponge 100 is defined by two mostly similar halves comprised of the top layer 104 and the bottom layer 106, where each half includes an interior generally planar surface 120 that transitions to curved, sloping sidewalls 118. The porous material 118 may be polyurethane foam, netting material, cotton material, open weave, or any combination thereof. For example, the top and/or bottom layers 104, 106 may be comprised of a polyurethane foam covered by netted mesh.

One or more embodiments of the disclosure may be referred to herein, individually and/or collectively, by the term “invention” merely for convenience and without intending to voluntarily limit the scope of this application to any particular invention or inventive concept. Moreover, although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, it should be appreciated that any subsequent arrangement designed to achieve the same or similar purpose may be substituted for the specific embodiments shown. This disclosure is intended to cover any and all subsequent adaptations or variations of various embodiments. Combinations of the above embodiments, and other embodiments not specifically described herein, will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the description.

The Abstract of the Disclosure is provided to comply with 37 C.F.R. §1.52(b) and is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. In addition, in the foregoing Detailed Description, various features may be grouped together or described in a single embodiment for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed embodiments require more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive subject matter may be directed to less than all of the features of any of the disclosed embodiments. Thus, the following claims are incorporated into the Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as defining separately claimed subject matter.

The above-disclosed subject matter is to be considered illustrative, and not restrictive, and the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications, enhancements, and other embodiments, which fall within the true spirit and scope of the present invention. Thus, to the maximum extent allowed by law, the scope of the present invention is to be determined by the broadest permissible interpretation of the following claims and their equivalents, and shall not be restricted or limited by the foregoing detailed description.

Claims

1. A soap sponge, the sponge comprising:

a top layer;

a bottom layer;

a seam securing together a continuous portion of a periphery of the top layer and the bottom layer;

an interior open volume between the top layer and the bottom layer defined by the seam;

a mouth disposed at an edge of the sponge and adapted to access the interior open volume; and

an elastic band secured to the mouth of the sponge, wherein the elastic band is adapted to maintain the mouth in closed position and to stretch open only upon the application of force to place an item inside.

2. The soap sponge of claim 1, the mouth of the sponge further comprising a V-shaped notch within the top layer and the bottom layer, wherein the mouth having a larger open end to form an inlet of the sponge and tapers to the interior open volume of the sponge.

3. The soap sponge of claim 2, wherein the item is a solid soap bar or a portion of at least one solid soap bar.

4. The soap sponge of claim 3, further comprising a loop stationary secured to the seam, the top layer, the bottom layer, or any combination thereof, and the sponge is adapted to hang from the loop in a vertical position.

5. The soap sponge of claim 4, wherein the top layer is comprised of a porous polyurethane foam material.

6. The soap sponge of claim 5, wherein the bottom layer is comprised of a porous polyurethane foam material.

7. The soap sponge of claim 6, wherein the top layer further comprising a netted mesh.

8. The soap sponge of claim 7, wherein the bottom layer further comprising the netted mesh.

9. The soap sponge of claim 8, wherein the sponge is shaped to fit in a palm of a user's hand.

10. The soap sponge of claim 9, wherein the elastic band secured to the mouth of the sponge is flat and adapted to hinge about a longitudinal axis aligned with the seam when being opened.

11. A soap sponge, the sponge comprising:

a pouch;

an interior space within the pouch and adapted to secure at least a portion of a bar of soap therein;

a mouth of the sponge adapted to access the interior space; and

an elastic band secured to the mouth, wherein the elastic band is adapted to maintain the mouth in a closed position and to stretch open only upon the application of force to place the soap inside.

12. The soap sponge of claim 11, the mouth of the sponge further comprising a funnel shape into the interior space within the pouch.

13. The soap sponge of claim 12, wherein the item is a solid soap bar or a portion of at least one solid soap bar.

14. The soap sponge of claim 13, further comprising a loop stationary secured to an edge of the sponge, and the sponge is adapted to hang from the loop in a vertical position.

15. The soap sponge of claim 14, wherein an inner surface of the pouch is comprised of a porous polyurethane foam material.

16. The soap sponge of claim 15, wherein the pouch is comprised of a top portion and bottom portion secured together along a periphery to form the pouch.

17. The soap sponge of claim 16, wherein the elastic band is adapted to lay flat around the funnel shape of the mouth.

18. The soap sponge of claim 17, wherein the sponge is adapted to be grasped by a user's hand.

19. A soap sponge, the sponge comprising:

a top layer of a porous polyurethane foam material, wherein the top layer further comprising a netted mesh;

a bottom layer of the porous polyurethane foam material, wherein the bottom layer further comprising the netted mesh;

a seam securing together a continuous portion of a periphery of the top layer and the bottom layer;

an interior open volume between the top layer and the bottom layer defined by the seam;

a mouth disposed at an edge of the sponge and adapted to access the interior open volume; and

an elastic band secured to the mouth of the sponge, wherein the elastic band is adapted to maintain the mouth in closed position and to stretch open only upon the application of force to place an item inside;

wherein the item is a solid soap bar or a portion of at least one solid soap bar.

20. The soap sponge of claim 19, wherein the mouth of the sponge further comprising a V-shaped notch within the top layer and the bottom layer.