PERSONAL HYGIENE POD

Abstract

A personal hygiene pod comprises a base, a lid, and a substance. The base includes a first dome-shaped member and a handle. The first dome-shaped member forms a first outer curve and a first inner curve. The substance is located and positioned on the first outer curve of the first dome-shaped member, and the handle is located and positioned within the first inner curve of the first dome-shaped member. The lid includes a second dome-shaped member. The base is selectively engageable with the lid to contain the substance between the first outer curve of the first dome-shaped member and the second dome-shaped member of the lid.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/549,535, filed Aug. 24, 2017, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Perspiration is an important human function, which has a cooling effect on the human body due to evaporative cooling. However, perspiration can cause body odor due to the bacterial breakdown of perspiration. Applying deodorant can prevent body odor by temporarily killing bacteria and is a common part of a person's daily hygiene routine, while applying antiperspirant can prevent or reduce the amount of perspiration. Deodorant and/or antiperspirant are often sold in large packaging (e.g., sticks of deodorant) which makes deodorant and/or antiperspirant difficult to pack and take when traveling. It would therefore be useful to bring travel sized deodorant/antiperspirant pods, which allow for multiple uses, but packaged within a small container allowing it to be easily transportable.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the various embodiments of the present invention, reference may be made to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective bottom view of a closed personal hygiene pod;

FIG. 2 is an elevational cross-sectional view of the opened personal hygiene pod of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective underside view of the opened personal hygiene pod of FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a perspective top view of the closed personal hygiene pod of FIGS. 1-3.

While the disclosure is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof are shown by way of example in the drawings and will herein be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the drawings and detailed description presented herein are not intended to limit the disclosure to the particular embodiment disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described with reference to the drawing figures, in which like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout. For purposes of clarity in illustrating the characteristics of the present invention, proportional relationships of the elements have not necessarily been maintained in the drawing figures.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, a personal hygiene pod 1 constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention includes a lid 5 and a base 10. The lid 5 and the base 10 are preferably made out of polylactic acid (PLA), though other materials are envisioned and foreseeable. The personal hygiene pod 1 also includes a substance 15, which may be a deodorant, or antiperspirant substance, or the like as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The base 10 of the personal hygiene pod 1 includes a first dome-shaped member 20, a handle 25, and a first protruding rim 30. The first dome-shaped member 20 of the base 10 is preferably shaped so it substantially resembles at least a portion of the hollow upper half of a sphere, e.g., a hemispherical dome. In one embodiment of personal hygiene pod 1, the handle 25 is located and positioned at a first intrados or first inner curve 35 of the first dome-shaped member 20. The handle 25 is preferably a substantially planar member that extends across the first inner curve 35 and into a first crown 40 of the first dome-shaped member 20. In alternative embodiments, handle 25 may be different sizes and shapes, as long as the handle 25 allows a person to hold personal hygiene pod 1 without getting substance 15 on their hands. The first protruding rim 30 is located and positioned opposite from the first crown 40 on the first extrados or first outer curve 45 of first dome-shaped member 20. The first protruding rim 30 projects outwardly from the first dome-shaped member 20 and extends around the entirely of the circumference to create a lip or annular ring around the base 10. The first projecting rim 30 therefore has a larger circumference than the circumference of the first dome-shaped member 20. The first projecting rim 30 includes a first set of threads 50 which extend radially outwardly from an outer surface of the first protruding rim 30, which allows the base 10 to releasably engage with lid 5 (in conjunction with a second set of threads located on the lid).

The lid 5 of the personal hygiene pod 1 includes a second dome-shaped member 55, an aperture 60, and a second protruding rim 65. Similarly to the first dome-shaped member 20, the second dome-shaped member 55 is preferably shaped so it resembles at least a portion of the hollow upper half of a sphere (e.g., a hemispherical dome), but differs in that the sides of the second dome-shaped member 55 extend upwards into a second crown 70, which is substantially planar, instead of the curved first crown 40 of the first dome-shaped member 20. Therefore, if the personal hygiene pod 1 is dropped or placed with its lid side down, the substantially planar second crown 70 creates a flat surface for the personal hygiene pod 1 to rest on so it does not roll or rock from side to side.

The aperture 60 is located and positioned in the second crown 70 of second dome-shaped member 55. Similarly to first protruding rim 30 of the first dome-shaped member 20, the second dome-shaped member 55 includes a second protruding rim 65 located and positioned opposite to the second crown 70 on a second outer curve 75 of the second dome-shaped member 55. The second protruding rim 65 extends around the entire circumference of the second dome-shaped member 55 to create a lip or annular ring around the second dome-shaped member 55. The second protruding rim 65 includes a second set of threads 80 which extend radially inwardly from an inner surface or a second inner curve 85 of the second protruding rim 65. The second protruding rim 65 therefore has a greater circumference than the circumference of the second dome-shaped member 55. Furthermore, the second protruding rim 65 has a greater circumference than the circumference of first protruding rim 30 of base 10 so that lid 5 may be placed over base 10.

Base 10 and lid 5 may releasably engage one another when the personal hygiene pod 1 is opened or closed as shown in FIGS. 1-4. In one embodiment, in order to close personal hygiene pod 1, personal hygiene pod 1 may use a threaded engagement as known in the art. The lid 5 is placed over base 10 so that the second protruding rim 65 is above, adjacent, and abuts the first protruding rim 30. The lid 5 is then twisted so that first set of threads 50 engages with second threaded member 80. In order to open personal hygiene pod 1, lid 5 and base 10 may be twisted in the opposite direction until first set of threads 50 disengages with second threaded member 80 and the lid 5 may be lifted off the base 10. In alternative embodiments, personal hygiene pod 1 may have a snap top or friction fit as a method of closure. Other methods of closure are envisioned and foreseeable.

Substance 15 is located and positioned adjacent to and abuts the first outer curve 45 of the first dome-shaped member 20 as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3. In order to add substance 15 to the personal hygiene pod 1 when personal hygiene pod 1 is manufactured, the personal hygiene pod 1 is closed. The substance 15 is preferably heated so that substance 15 becomes a liquid, but not heated to a hot enough temperature to melt or deform lid 5 or base 10. In a hot liquid form, substance 15 may be poured through aperture 60 of the second dome-shaped member 55 onto the first outer curve 45 of first dome-shaped member 20, where the substance 15 can cool and harden within the personal hygiene pod 1, best shown in FIG. 4. In one embodiment, the substance 15 preferably has a high viscosity so that when the heated substance 15 cools, it covers the entirely of the first dome-shaped member 20, instead of pooling above the first protruding rim 30. The substance 15 is preferably poured in an amount where it allows for multiple uses, but does not abut lid 15 (due to the amount poured and its high viscosity).

In order to use personal hygiene pod 1, the personal hygiene pod 1 should be opened and the lid 5 removed from the base 10. The user may then use one hand to grasp the handle 25 and apply the substance 15 where necessary.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that the various embodiments of the present invention are well adapted to attain all the objectives and advantages hereinabove set forth together with still other advantages which are obvious and which are inherent to the present structures. It will be understood that certain features and sub-combinations of the present embodiments are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and sub-combinations. Since many possible embodiments of the present invention may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention, it is also to be understood that all disclosures herein set forth or illustrated in the accompanying drawings are to be interpreted as illustrative only and not limiting. The various constructions described above and illustrated in the drawings are presented by way of example only and are not intended to limit the concepts, principles and scope of the present invention.

Many changes, modifications, variations and other uses and applications of the present invention will, however, become apparent to those skilled in the art after considering the specification and the accompanying drawings. All such changes, modifications, variations and other uses and applications which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention are deemed to be covered by the invention which is limited only by the claims which follow.

Claims

1. A personal hygiene pod comprising:

a base, a lid, and a substance;

the base including a first dome-shaped member and a handle, the first dome-shaped member forming a first outer curve and a first inner curve, wherein the substance being located and positioned on the first outer curve of the first dome-shaped member, and wherein the handle being located and positioned within the first inner curve of the first dome-shaped member;

the lid including a second dome-shaped member;

the base being selectively engageable with the lid to contain the substance between the first outer curve of the first dome-shaped member and the second dome-shaped member of the lid.

2. The personal hygiene pod of claim 1, wherein the first dome-shaped member further including a first set of threads located and positioned on the first outer curve of the first dome-shaped member;

the second dome-shaped member including a second set of threads located and positioned on the second inner curve of the second dome-shaped member; and

the first set of threads being selectively engageable with the second set of threads thereby allowing the lid and the base to selectively engage one another.

3. The personal hygiene pod of claim 1, wherein the first dome-shaped member further includes a first protruding rim located and positioned on the first outer curve of the first dome-shaped member and extends around the entirely of the circumference of the first dome-shaped member, a first set of threads extends radially outwards from the first protruding rim;

the second dome-shaped member further includes a second protruding rim located and positioned on a second inner curve of the second dome-shaped member and extends around the entirely of the circumference of the second dome-shaped member, a second set of threads extends radially inwards from the second protruding rim; and

the first set of threads being selectively engageable with the second set of threads thereby allowing the lid and the base to selectively engage one another.

4. The personal hygiene pod of claim 1, wherein the handle is a planar member that extends across the first inner curve and into a first crown of the first dome-shaped member.

5. The personal hygiene pod of claim 1, wherein the first dome-shaped member is a hemispherical dome.

6. The personal hygiene pod of claim 1, wherein the lid includes an aperture located and positioned at a second crown of the lid.

7. The personal hygiene pod of claim 1, wherein the lid is a hemispherical dome with a second crown that is planar.

8. The personal hygiene pod of claim 1, wherein the personal hygiene pod is made out of polylactic acid.

9. The personal hygiene pod of claim 1, wherein the substance is antiperspirant.

10. The personal hygiene pod of claim 1, wherein the substance is deodorant.

11. The personal hygiene pod of claim 1, wherein the substance is both an antiperspirant and a deodorant.

12. A personal hygiene pod comprising:

a base including a first dome-shaped member and a handle; wherein the first dome-shaped member being a hemispherical dome;

wherein the first dome-shaped member includes a first protruding rim extending around the entirely of the circumference of an outer curve of the first dome-shaped member, the first protruding rim including a first set of threads extending radially outwards from the first protruding rim; the handle being a planar member that extends across a first inner curve and into a first crown of the first dome-shaped member; the first dome-shaped member having a substance located and positioned on the first outer curve of the first dome-shaped member;

the lid including a second dome-shaped member being a hemispherical dome with a second crown that is substantially planar, the lid further including an aperture located and positioned at the second crown of the lid; the lid further including a second protruding rim located and positioned on a second inner curve of the first dome-shaped member and extending around the entirely of the circumference of the second dome-shaped member; the second protruding rim having a second set of threads extending radially inwards from the second protruding rim; and

the first set of threads being selectively engageable with the second set of threads thereby allowing the lid and the base to selectively engage one another.

13. The personal hygiene pod of claim 12, wherein the personal hygiene pod is made out of polylactic acid.

14. The personal hygiene pod of claim 12, wherein the substance is antiperspirant.

15. The personal hygiene pod of claim 12, wherein the substance is deodorant.

16. The personal hygiene pod of claim 12, wherein the substance is both an antiperspirant and a deodorant.