Soap holder

Abstract

A soap holder comprising: a holder member having a contact surface configured to support a soap block thereon; a tray member configured to receive the bracket member such that the contact surface of the bracket member is positioned above a base surface of the tray member; wherein the contact surface of the bracket member comprises an upper surface with a plurality of arms extending upwardly at an angle from a central point, and the tray member has one or more inner walls extending below the bracket member, each inner wall faces an outlet aperture formed in the base surface of the tray member at an angle such that any water entering the soap holder is directed away from the soap piece and towards the outlet aperture for release from the tray member.

Description

[0001] Related Applications

[0002] This application claims priority from Australian Provisional Patent Application No. 2022901463, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0003] The present invention generally relates to a soap stand, and more particularly to a soap box that preserves soap and minimizes unnecessary breakdown of the soap. Background Art

[0004] Soap has been used as a cleansing and / or moisturizing product since ancient times. Soap is typically composed of a mixture of fats / oils, water, and an alkali or alkaline salt, and is usually provided in a bar or "cake" form. When used as a cleansing product, the bar of soap is typically rubbed onto the user's hands or skin to create a lather. The soap molecules that form the lather act as a surfactant, combining with the water and oil molecules to remove oils, dirt, and bacteria that may be present on the user's skin.

[0005] Many people, especially those with sensitive skin or skin conditions, may react negatively to traditional soaps. For this reason, medicated soaps have been developed that contain ingredients that can provide medicinal benefits, which may include essential oils and other ingredients that are less reactive with the skin. Such soaps may contain medicinal ingredients that are effective in treating acne or eczema, and may be much gentler than traditional all-purpose soaps.

[0006] Therefore, medicated soaps usually break down more easily in the presence of water, thus acting more gently on the affected skin surface. This allows for simple foaming without friction. Due to their construction, medicated soaps are usually more expensive than conventional soaps, and since they break down more easily in the presence of water, they usually need to be stored more carefully than conventional soaps. Therefore, such soaps usually need to be stored in a dry place when not in use, as they tend to break down when exposed to water. Therefore, placing such soaps in a conventional soap dish or on the side of a basin when not in use may cause the soap to break down, especially if the soap dish or basin is exposed to water and the soap is suspended in the water. In addition, storing soap in used or contaminated water can lead to unsanitary conditions.

[0007] Therefore, it is desirable to provide a soap stand for supporting the soap in a manner that positions it above any potential source of water to minimize premature breakdown of the soap and to allow any accumulated water to drain away.

[0008] The above references and descriptions of prior art solutions or products are not intended to be, and should not be construed as, statements or admissions of common knowledge of the prior art. In particular, the above discussion of the prior art is not relevant to what is known or familiar to a person skilled in the art, but rather helps to understand the inventive steps of the present invention, of which the identification of relevant prior art solutions is only a part. Summary of the invention

[0009] One or more aspects of the present invention are defined by the independent claims. Some optional and / or preferred features of the present invention are defined by the dependent claims.

[0010] Therefore, in one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a soap holder, comprising:

[0011] a support member having a contact surface configured to support a bar of soap;

[0012] a tray member configured to receive the support member such that the contact surface of the support member is located above a base surface of the tray member;

[0013] wherein the contact surface of the support member includes an upper surface with a plurality of arms extending from a central point in an upwardly angled manner, and the tray member has one or more inner walls extending below the support member, each inner wall being angled toward an exit hole formed in the base surface of the tray member so that any water entering the soap holder is directed away from the soap bar and toward the hole for release from the tray member.

[0014] In one embodiment, the support member may be detachably supported by the tray member.

[0015] In another embodiment, the support member may be integrally formed with the tray member.

[0016] The support member may include at least three arms extending from the central point in an upwardly angled manner, the soap bar supported on each upper surface of these arms. In a preferred form, the support member may include four arms extending from the central point in an upwardly angled manner, each arm equidistant from each other to support the soap bar on its upper surface.

[0017] The tray member may have a plurality of recesses formed in an inner wall thereof to receive the arms of the bracket member to thereby secure the bracket member in place within the tray member.

[0018] The soap holder may further include a container member on which the tray member is mounted.

[0019] In one form, the container member may comprise a rectangular prism having an open top onto which the tray member may be mounted so that the support member can receive the bar of soap during use. The container member may receive water flowing from the outlet opening of the tray member and retain the water therein during use of the soap.

[0020] In another form, the container member may include a rectangular prism having an open top, and the tray member may be mounted thereon so that the tray member is inverted to form a lid of the container member to store soap when not in use. In this form, when the tray member is inverted to form a lid of the container member, the tray member may substantially prevent water from entering the container member and contacting the soap contained therein. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] The present invention will be more readily understood from the following non-limiting description of a preferred embodiment, in which:

[0022] Figure 1 is a three-dimensional view of a soap rack according to an embodiment of the present invention in a first orientation;

[0023] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 A side view of a soap stand;

[0024] Figure 3 yes Figure 1 A top view of a soap stand;

[0025] Figure 4 yes Figure 1 A perspective view of the soap rack in a second orientation;

[0026] Figure 5 yes Figure 4 A side view of a soap stand;

[0027] Figure 6 yes Figure 4 A top view of a soap stand;

[0028] Figure 7 yes Figure 1 A side view of the soap holder in use;

[0029] Figure 8 yes Figure 4 A side view of the soap holder in use;

[0030] Fig. 9 is installed on a conventional fixture according to one embodiment of the present invention Figure 1 A side view of a soap stand;

[0031] Fig.10is installed on a conventional fixture according to one embodiment of the present invention Figure 4 A side view of a soap stand;

[0032] Fig.11 is a perspective view of an insert for a soap holder according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention;

[0033] Fig.12 is to use Fig.11 A top view of an alternative embodiment of a soap holder having an insert;

[0034] Fig.13 yes Fig.12 A side view of the soap holder in use;

[0035] Fig.14 A three-dimensional diagram of another embodiment of a soap rack of the present invention;

[0036] Fig.15 yes Fig.14 A side view of the soap holder in use;

[0037] Fig.16 is a front view of another embodiment of a soap holder according to the present invention;

[0038] Fig.17 yes Fig.16 A top view of a soap stand;

[0039] Fig.18 yes Fig.16 A side view of the soap holder in use;

[0040] Fig.19 is a top perspective view of a drip tray for use with a soap holder according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0041] Fig. 20 yes Fig.19 A side view of a drip tray;

[0042] Fig.21 Shown with Fig.19 The drip tray is used in combination with a soap rack;

[0043] Fig. 22 yes Fig.21 A top view of the setup;

[0044] Fig.23 The device shown in the container according to one embodiment of the present invention is Fig. 22 Settings;

[0045] Fig.24 yes Fig.23 Stereoscopic view of the setting;

[0046] Fig.25A self-draining device for a container according to another embodiment of the present invention is shown;

[0047] Fig.26 yes Fig.25 A top view of the setup;

[0048] Fig. 27 A front perspective view of a mounting bracket for mounting the drip tray and soap rack assembly of the present invention is shown;

[0049] Fig.28 yes Fig. 27 Side view of the setup;

[0050] Fig.29 yes Fig.28 A main stereogram of the setting;

[0051] Fig. 30A and 30B A combined drip tray and soap holder is shown for forming a lid for a container for storing soap; and

[0052] Fig.31A and 31B A combined drip tray and soap holder is shown supported within a container. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0053] The preferred features of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, it will be appreciated that the features illustrated and described with reference to the accompanying drawings should not be construed as limiting the scope of the present invention.

[0054] The following will describe how the present invention can accommodate and / or support a soap bar or soap block having a traditional rectangular or disc shape. However, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the soap rack of the present invention can also be adapted to accommodate and / or support soaps of various shapes and sizes.

[0055] refer to Figure 1-3 , a soap holder 10 is shown in a first orientation according to one embodiment of the present invention. The soap holder 10 includes a body having a first portion 11 including a pair of end arms 12 and a pair of side arms 14 extending outwardly and vertically. The arms 12, 14 each extend from a central region forming a base 13 of the soap holder 10.

[0056] An opening structure is formed between the arms 12 and 14 for Figure 7The soap 5 is received in the manner shown. In this arrangement, when the soap 5 is placed on the arms 12, 14, each arm 12, 14 has an exposed surface 12a, 14a that supports the edge of the soap 5. The soap 5 is then supported on the base 13 of the soap holder and on any surface that supports the soap holder 10. In the embodiment shown, there are four arms 12, 14; however, the number of arms can be varied along with the spacing between the arms and the angle of inclination of the exposed surfaces 12a, 12b relative to the horizontal plane.

[0057] exist Figure 1-3 and Figure 7 In the arrangement shown, the first portion 11 is supported on a support surface by the second portion 15. The second portion 15 includes a plurality of protrusions 16 that protrude from the base 13 in a direction opposite to the arms 12, 14. The protrusions 16 are used to support the soap holder 10 on the support surface so that the soap holder 10 is elevated above the support surface. In the embodiment shown, there are four protrusions 16; however, the number of protrusions 16 may vary.

[0058] A central hole 18 is formed in the base 13 to extend through the central area of ​​the soap holder 10. The hole 18 serves as a drain opening as well as a means for attaching the soap holder 10 within a conventional soap dish fixture 3 that may be mounted to the wall 2 of a shower or basin, such as Fig. 9 In this regard, the soap holder 10 can be easily mounted to an existing fixture 3 by inserting a bolt 19 through the hole 18 and the drain hole of the fixture 3 and securing it in place with a nut or the like. In this manner, the soap holder 10 can be retrofitted to an existing soap dish 3 to provide a means for retaining soap above the soap dish, which would normally fill with water during normal use due to the drain hole becoming clogged with soap particles and residue.

[0059] like Figure 7 As shown, due to the configuration of the arms 12, 14 of the soap holder 10, the soap 5 is maintained in an elevated position above the support surface 6. As the soap 5 is consumed during use, its size will decrease, as shown in FIG. Figure 7 Shown is a bar of soap 5'. Because of the angled surfaces of arms 12a, 14a, as the bar of soap 5' decreases in size it will continue to be supported in an elevated manner by arms 12, 14 until it is completely dissolved. By using the soap holder 10, the soap 5 is elevated above any water collection points, thereby maximizing the useful life of the soap.

[0060] In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, Figure 4-6 and Figure 8 As shown, the soap holder 10 can be used in a second orientation. In this orientation, the soap holder is shown in a Figure 1-3The position shown is flipped 180°. In this orientation, the arms 12, 14 extend from the base 13 to the support surface 6 to support the base 13 in the raised position. The plurality of protrusions 16 then serve to provide a surface for receiving the soap 5 so that the soap is held in the raised position, as shown. Figure 8 As shown. Since the ends of the plurality of protrusions 16 are close together, the plurality of protrusions 16 form a support surface for the soap 5 which does not collect water and thus the soap does not remain in the sink where it might dissolve prematurely.

[0061] When the soap holder 10 is in this orientation, it can also be mounted to an existing soap dish fixture 3, which can be mounted to the wall 2 of a shower or basin, such as Fig.10 In this regard, the soap holder 10 is mounted to an existing fixture 3 by inserting a bolt 19 through the hole 18 and the drain hole of the fixture 3 and securing it in place with a nut or the like. In this manner, the soap holder 10 can be retrofitted to an existing soap dish 3 to provide a means of retaining soap above the soap dish, which would normally fill with water during normal use due to the drain hole becoming clogged with soap particles and residue.

[0062] Fig.14 and 15 It is shown in Figure 1 A variation of the soap holder 10 of FIG. 10 is shown generally at 30. In this embodiment, the soap holder 30 includes a plurality of equidistant arms 32 having substantially the same configuration and extending in an upwardly angled manner from a common point or source 31. The common point or source 31 defines a substantially flat surface on which the soap holder 10 can be positioned on a support surface for use.

[0063] Each arm 32 has an upper surface 33 for Fig.15 The soap bar 5 is supported in the manner shown. Due to the angular configuration of the arms 32, even if the soap is reduced in size during use, the edges of the soap 5 can be supported by the upper surfaces 33 of the arms 32 in an elevated position above the support surface. This ensures that the soap remains above any surface water that may collect on the support surface supporting the soap rack, avoiding any contamination of the soap or further unnecessary dissolution of the soap. Fig.23 and 24 As shown, the soap holder 30 may be configured to be mounted within a container 60 .

[0064] like Fig.15As best shown in the figure, the soap holder 30 can be secured to an L-shaped bracket 35. To secure the soap holder in place for use, the L-shaped bracket 35 can be attached to a vertical wall via a suction cup 36 or screws or similar mechanical fasteners (not shown). This mounting system allows the soap holder 30 to be used in a shower environment. Alternatively, the L-shaped bracket can be secured to a horizontal surface in a similar manner for use with a basin or vanity.

[0065] Fig.16 Another embodiment of the soap holder of the present invention is shown in FIG. 18 and is generally designated 40. In this embodiment, the soap holder 40 is configured to be used in a vertical position or where horizontal space is limited. The soap holder 40 includes a pair of upper arms 42 that protrude laterally and forwardly. The front surface 43 of the arm 42 is substantially flat to receive the body of the soap 5, such as Fig.18 shown.

[0066] A pair of leg members 44 extend from the central region of the upper arm 42 and extend in a divergent manner. The leg member 44 has a foot protrusion 45 extending outward from its distal end. The foot protrusion 45 extends in an upwardly inclined manner to provide an armrest, and the soap 5 can be placed as shown in FIG. Fig.16 and 18 It will be appreciated that the soap holder 40 supports the soap 5 in a manner elevated above the supporting surface so that the soap 5 is not exposed to any moisture that may accumulate.

[0067] like Fig.18 As shown, the soap holder 40 can be mounted on an L-shaped bracket 46 so that it is fixed to a wall or vertical surface by a suction cup 47 or any other suitable mechanical fastener. Similarly, the horizontal portion of the L-shaped bracket 46 can be fixed to a horizontal surface as needed.

[0068] The soap holder of the present invention may be used in conjunction with a tray or container configured to cooperate with the soap holder to keep the soap in a dry position when not in use. The manner in which this is achieved will be described in more detail below.

[0069] Fig.12 and Fig.13 Another embodiment of a soap holder 20 according to the present invention is shown. In this embodiment, the soap holder comprises two parts: a tray 22 and an insert 25 inserted into the tray 22.

[0070] The tray 22 is a conventional open rectangular container commonly used to store soap. Fig.11 25 is shown separately in the figure, and includes a pair of planar wing members 26 arranged in an orthogonal manner as shown. The upward edges 27 of the wing members 26 are arranged to extend downwardly from the distal ends 29 to a common central intersection area 28 in an angled manner.

[0071] Insert 25 is positioned within tray 22 such that distal end 29 is positioned around the upper periphery of tray 22, as shown in FIG. Fig.13 In this position, the distal end of each wing member 26 is able to support the soap 5 thereon so that the soap 5 is elevated above the tray 22. Because the upward edge 27 of the wing member 26 has a gradual angled nature, as the soap 5 is consumed and becomes smaller, the wing member 26 still supports the soap 5 in an elevated position, away from any water that may collect in the tray 22.

[0072] It should be understood that although the insert 25 is shown as being separate from the tray 22, the insert can be integrally formed with the tray 22 to form a single piece. Both the insert 25 and the soap holder 10 can be used alone or in combination with additional components such as a drip tray, a water collection container, and a wall attachment. In one embodiment, the soap holder 10 can be equipped with a suction cup or similar attachment device to secure it to a shower wall, etc. Such attachment device can be removable or permanently fixed to the soap holder 10.

[0073] According to another embodiment, the present invention provides a drip tray 50, which can be used with the above-mentioned Fig.14 and Fig.15 The soap holder 30 described herein is used in conjunction with the soap holder 30. Fig.19 and Fig. 20 An embodiment of such a drip tray 50 is shown.

[0074] The drip tray 50 includes a main body having an upper edge 52 formed with a recess 51 for receiving the soap holder 50. The main body of the drip tray 50 includes four walls 54a, 54b, 54c, 54d that protrude downwardly from the underside of the edge 52 to meet at a flat base portion 55, such as Fig. 20 50. A plurality of drain holes 56 are formed in the base portion 55 to facilitate draining of any water or fluid present in the drip tray 50. If desired, one or more plugs (not shown) may be provided to close the drain holes 56 to prevent water from draining from the drip tray 50. This may allow the drip tray 50 to be placed over a basin or the like to control the release of water from the drip tray 50 into the basin. This may ensure that the drip tray 50 does not leak or release water when placed on a surface without drainage facilities.

[0075] The surfaces of the walls 54a, 54b, 54c, 54d are provided with a plurality of grooves 58 extending from the recess 51 to the base portion 55. In the illustrated embodiment, there are four grooves 58 arranged to extend orthogonally from the base portion 55. It will be appreciated that the number of grooves 58 and their orientation will depend on the type of soap holder used with the drip tray 50. It will be appreciated that the edge 52 of the drip tray 50 may take a variety of shapes, such as circular, square, or a combination of the two, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art.

[0076] Fig.21 and Fig. 22 The soap holder 30 is shown for use with a drip tray 50. As shown, the soap holder 30 is securely received within the groove 58 and the recess 51 of the drip tray 50, with the flat center portion of the soap holder being received on the base portion 55. Fig. 22 In the arrangement shown, a soap bar 5 can be placed on the soap holder 30 to be supported thereon. Any water on the soap 5 will drain from the soap and flow along the walls 54a, 54b, 54c, 54d of the drip tray 50 to the drain hole 56 and out of the system. It will be appreciated that while the soap holder 30 and the drip tray 50 are shown as separate components, in alternative embodiments, the soap holder 30 and the drip tray 50 may be formed as a single piece.

[0077] like Fig.31A and 31B As shown, the combined soap holder 30 and drip tray 50 can be mounted within a container 60 to collect water that drips from the soap when used on a countertop. The combined soap holder 30 and drip tray 50 can also be used as a cover for the container 60 for storing and transporting soap. This can be accomplished by rotating or flipping the combination of the soap holder 30 and drip tray 50 180° (e.g., Fig. 30A and 30B In this position, the soap holder 20 and the drip tray 50 form a cover that can substantially prevent water from entering the container 60 during use and safely store the soap when not in use. In this configuration, one or more drain holes (not shown) can be formed in the container 60 to facilitate draining water from the container 60 after use. A plug can be used to close the one or more drain holes so that after use, the container 60 can simply be placed over the basin to selectively release water from it into the basin. This can ensure that the soap stored therein remains in a substantially dry environment to maintain the integrity of the soap contained therein. It will be appreciated that the shape of the container 60 can be varied to accommodate a variety of different shapes of soap holder and drip tray combinations.

[0078] The container 60 and the drip tray 50 can be configured with a hidden or concealed drain to drain any water or fluid present into a basin or the like. In this regard, the bottom surface of the container 60 can be configured with an uneven or angled bottom 62 that directs water to a hole 64 formed therein. The hole 64 can be located along the edge of the container 60, such as Fig.25 and 26 As shown, or located in a corner of the bottom 62 of the container 60. The hole 64 can be closed by a plug (not shown) so that the user can control when to release water from the container 60 to prevent unnecessary leakage of the container 60 during use.

[0079] Fig. 27 –29 shows yet another embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, a mounting bracket 70 is configured to be fastened to a wall to support the soap for use. The mounting bracket 70 can be attached to a wall or the like by mechanical fastening means (e.g., screws or suction cups). The mounting bracket 70 has a horizontal support with an inclined wall for receiving the soap and allowing any water to move away from the soap and into a basin or the like. The mounting bracket 70 can be used alone or in conjunction with a drip tray 60 (e.g., Fig.28 and 29 for use with the drip tray shown in .

[0080] It will be appreciated that the soap support system of the present invention can be used in a variety of applications, such as vertical / horizontal placement, on a shower wall, or on a countertop. Conventional soap dishes are often used on countertops, but they do not function effectively in showers because they cannot be mounted on shower walls. This can cause water to accumulate in the soap tray, keeping the soap wet and damaging the integrity of the soap. Likewise, soap dishes designed specifically for showers cannot be placed on counters because they tend to be bulky and have no mechanism to capture the water that runs through.

[0081] The device of the present invention can be combined with a container / drip tray to conveniently mount on a counter to catch drippings. The device is versatile and can be mounted on the wall of a shower while keeping the soap dry and can be easily transported between various wet areas for use. The device of the present invention can also be converted into a storage container for storing soap when not in use.

[0082] The present invention is configured to keep the soap dry when in use because the soap is supported by the edges of the support arms of the soap holder. The soap is supported by the arms of the soap holder so that the soap bar has minimal contact with the soap holder. The soap bar is supported only by the edges of the soap holder. This minimal surface area contact between the soap and the soap holder minimizes the possibility of water accumulating around the soap and compromising the integrity of the soap.

[0083] Throughout the specification and claims, the term "include" and its derivatives are intended to be open-ended rather than closed-ended, unless explicitly stated or the context requires a contrary meaning. That is, the term "include" and its derivatives refer not only to the components, steps or features directly listed, but also to other components, steps or features not explicitly listed, unless explicitly stated or the context requires a contrary meaning.

[0084] Directional terms used in the specification and claims, such as vertical, horizontal, top, bottom, upper, and lower, are to be interpreted as relative and based on the premise that a component, article, product, device, apparatus, or apparatus is generally viewed as being in a particular orientation, typically with the soap dish on top.

[0085] It will be appreciated that those skilled in the art can make various changes and modifications to the methods of the present invention described herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A soap rack, comprising: a support member having a contact surface configured to support a bar of soap; a tray member configured to receive the support member such that the contact surface of the support member is located above a base surface of the tray member; wherein the contact surface of the support member includes an upper surface with a plurality of arms extending from a central point in an upwardly angled manner, and the tray member has one or more inner walls extending below the support member, each inner wall being angled toward an exit hole formed in the base surface of the tray member so that any water entering the soap holder is directed away from the soap bar and toward the exit hole for release from the tray member.

2. The soap holder according to claim 1, characterized in that: The support member is detachably supported by the tray member.

3. The soap holder according to claim 2, characterized in that: The bracket component is integrally formed with the tray component.

4. A soap holder according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that The support member includes at least three arms extending upwardly at an angle from the center point, the soap bar being supported in an upper surface of each arm.

5. A soap holder according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: The support member includes four arms extending from the central point in an upwardly angled manner, each arm being equidistant from one another to support a bar of soap on its upper surface.

6. A soap holder according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that: The tray member is formed with a plurality of grooves on its inner wall for receiving the arms of the bracket member, thereby fixing the bracket member in position within the tray member.

7. A soap holder according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that Also included is a container member on which the tray member is mounted.

8. The soap holder according to claim 7, characterized in that The container member comprises a rectangular prism having an open top, upon which the tray member is mounted so that the support member is able to receive the bar of soap during use.

9. The soap holder according to claim 8, characterized in that The container member receives water flowing from the outlet hole of the tray member and retains the water therein during use of the soap.

10. The soap holder according to claim 9, characterized in that The container member includes one or more drainage holes formed therein for releasing water retained therein.

11. The soap holder according to claim 10, characterized in that A plug is provided to close the one or more drainage holes to selectively release water retained in the container member.

12. A soap holder according to any one of claims 7 to 11, characterized in that: The container member comprises a rectangular prism having an open top, and the tray member is mounted thereon such that the tray member is inverted to form a lid of the container member for storing the soap bar when not in use.

13. The soap holder according to claim 12, characterized in that When the tray member is inverted to form a lid for the container member, the tray member substantially prevents water from entering the container member and contacting the soap bar contained therein.

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