INTEGRATED SOAP AND FABRIC SYSTEM

Abstract

An integrated soap and washcloth that is inexpensive to produce, light to pack, easy to use, recyclable and brings peace of mind is provided. The washcloth may be embedded into the soap by a process involving urging melted soap into a mold containing a portion of washcloth fabric so that when the former solidifies, the mold can be removed and the soap and the portion of the washcloth fabric is an integrated single unit

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. provisional application No. 61/942,712, filed 21 Feb. 2014, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to personal hygiene and, more particularly, to an integrated soap and fabric system, and a method of producing the same.

Bringing piecemeal bars of soap and washcloths for personal use at places like gyms, hotels and the like is cumbersome, inconvenient, messy and unhygienic. Bar soaps and liquid soaps can be heavy and spill into or otherwise mess up your bag or suitcase. People also have an understandable aversion to relying on the “house” washcloths and soaps provided by the gyms and hotels for the following reasons. For one, there may be a concern that the washcloth is not sufficiently clean, since washcloths can be an active breeding ground for germs and other contagions. The house soup may be cloyingly scented, may irritate the user's skin, or not be very effective.

As can be seen, there is a need for a convenient hygienic personal single use integrated soap and washcloth that is inexpensively produced, light to pack, easy to use, recyclable and provides peace of mind.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, an integrated soap and fabric system includes a soap matter; and a fabric, wherein a first portion of the fabric is embedded in the soap matter, and wherein a second portion of the fabric extends from the soap matter.

In another aspect of the present invention, a method of producing an integrated soap and fabric involves providing a mold forming a predetermined mold space; providing a fabric having a first portion and a second portion; positioning the first portion of the fabric within the predetermined mold space; and urging a soap matter into the predetermined mold space, wherein the soap matter takes the form of at least a portion of the predetermined mold space containing the first portion of the fabric.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a section detail view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides an integrated soap and washcloth that is inexpensive to produce, light to pack, easy to use, recyclable and provides peace of mind. The washcloth may be embedded into the soap by a process involving urging melted soap into a mold containing a portion of washcloth fabric so that when the former solidifies, the mold can be removed and the soap and the portion of the washcloth fabric is an integrated single unit.

Referring to FIGS. 1 through 4, the present invention may be defined as an integrated soap and fabric system 10 embodying the method of production of an integrated soap and fabric.

The integrated soap and fabric system 10 may include a fabric 12 integrated into a soap matter 16. The soap matter 16 may be conventional white soap or other cleaning soaps. The soap matter 16 may be adapted to change from a liquid state to a solid state at a predetermined temperature. In the solid state, the soap matter 16 may be various sizes and any shape including, but not limited to, rectangular, circular and oval. The soap matter 16 may include at least one additive. The at least one additive may include, but not be limited to, shae butter, goat's milk, buttermilk base, essential oils, a scent, dyes, texture-providing components, vitamins, moisturizers, dermal medicaments, combinations thereof, and the like. The at least one additive can be added to the soap matter 16 during its solid or liquid state. The at least one additive and the soap matter 16 can be mixed together in a predetermined ratio.

The fabric 12 can be made of any standard towel type material normally used to make washcloths. In certain embodiments, the fabric 12 may be defined as a mesh-type material having a network of strands 14, like a mesh viscose material. The fabric 12 may be formed from polymeric materials, nylon, organic material, cloth, blends thereof and the like. The fabric 12 may be adapted to facilitate exfoliation. The fabric 12 may be a predetermined size and any shape including, but not limited to, substantially rectangular, circular and oval. In certain embodiments, the fabric 12 may be cut into a 5 inch by 8 inch rectangle, but could also be a 12 inch by 1 inch strip.

The integrated soap and fabric system 10 may include a portion of the strands 14 and/or the fabric 12 embedded into the solid state soap matter 16.

The method of producing the integrated soap and fabric system 10 may include an individual melting the soap matter 16 to a liquid state, and adding the at least one additive, if desired. In another step, the individual may cut the fabric 12 to a predetermined size and shape before or after placing a portion thereof within a mold. The mold may be a press, matrix, frame and/or machine for forming the soap matter 16 into of any desired shape or size. The mold may form an aperture for receiving liquid soap matter 16, wherein the liquid can change to a solid state mass of soap matter 16, “soap mass.” In this form, the soap matter 16 can either be coupled to and/or at least partially embedded in a cloth fabric 12, or coupled to and/or have a portion of the plurality of strands 14 of a mesh fabric 12 be embedded in the soap matter 16. The mold may be adapted to be removed so as to leave the portion of the fabric 12 integrated with the soap mass, forming the integrated soap and fabric system 10. The remaining portion of the fabric 12, extending from the soap mass to a periphery 18 of the fabric 12 can be used to scrub with. The periphery 18 may be defined by a cutting, searing, rendering of the like of the fabric to a predetermined shape and/or size.

Now a user has an integrated soap and washcloth in one unit that is light to pack, easy to use, recyclable and provides peace of mind.

In one aspect, if the soap matter 16 and the at least one additive is a solid material, the soap matter 16 and the at least one additive can be heated until at least a portion of the soap matter 16 and the at least one additive are in liquid form. In such form, the soap matter 16 and the at least one additive mixed together until substantially homogenous. Alternatively, the soap and additives can be mixed together until portions of the soap matter 16 are substantially homogenous. For example, an additive such as a dye can be non-homogenously mixed with the soap and/or other additives to provide an interesting look to the soap mass.

The fabric 12 can be positioned on a pliable frozen surface. For example, the pliable frozen surface can be a plastic bag containing a blend of about 80% water and 20% isopropyl alcohol that has been chilled to below 32 degrees Fahrenheit. In this example, the water and isopropyl alcohol blend can form a slightly icy cold surface.

The mold may be a press of two compartments housings that close together to form the enclosed mold space for forming the soap mass. The mold may have a latch to seal the two compartments housings together. The enclosed mold space can be any predetermined size or shape. A portion of the mold may facilitate positioning the fabric 12 within the mold space at a desired orientation and placement. In one aspect, the fabric 12 can be positioned so that the mold space is generally centered about the fabric 12. Optionally, the mold can be offset from the center of the fabric 12.

In certain embodiments, the at least partially liquid state of the soap matter 12 and any at least one additive can be poured into the mold positioned on the fabric 12 until at least a portion of the fabric 12 positioned within the mold is covered. In one aspect, the fabric 12 may be positioned near the bottom of the mold space, or near the top of the mold space, or nearly bisecting the mold space. In other words, the integrated soap and fabric system 10 may have the fabric 12 bisecting the soap mass, as illustrated in FIG. 2, offset from the center, or near one of the soap mass's outer surfaces.

In use, the integrated soap and fabric system 10 can be used to clean a person, an animal or other object. After cleaning, the fabric 12 and any of the soap matter 16 remaining on the fabric 12 can be reused, disposed of and/or recycled.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

Claims

1. An integrated soap and fabric system comprising:

a soap matter; and

a fabric, wherein a first portion of the fabric is embedded in the soap matter, and wherein a second portion of the fabric extends from the soap matter.

2. The integrated soap and fabric system of claim 1, wherein the soap matter comprises at least one additive.

3. The integrated soap and fabric system of claim 1, wherein the fabric further comprises a plurality of strands, wherein the soap matter is embedded between a portion of the plurality of strands.

4. The integrated soap and fabric system of claim 3, wherein the fabric is a polymeric material.

5. A method of producing an integrated soap and fabric, comprising:

providing a mold forming a predetermined mold space;

providing a fabric comprising a first portion and a second portion;

positioning the first portion of the fabric within the predetermined mold space; and

urging a soap matter into the predetermined mold space, wherein the soap matter takes the form of at least a portion of the predetermined mold space containing the first portion of the fabric.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising the initial step of melting the soap matter so as to be at least partially liquid.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the soap matter comprises at least one additive.

8. The method of claim 6, further including allowing the soap matter to solidify.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein urging is pouring.

10. The integrated soap and fabric system of claim 5, wherein the fabric further comprises a plurality of strands.

11. The integrated soap and fabric system of claim 10, wherein the fabric is a polymeric material.

12. The method of claim 5, further comprising the step of cutting the fabric to a predetermined shape and size.

13. The method of claim 5, further comprising the step of cutting the second portion of the fabric to a predetermined shape and size.

14. The method of claim 5, further comprising the step of searing a periphery of the second portion of the fabric to a predetermined shape and size.