Soap dish

Abstract

A soap dish comprises a pot-shaped insert (4) having a surrounding wall (2) and a perforated base (3), a first cap (6) and a second cap (7). The first cap (6) can be connected to a first connecting section (8) of the insert (4) by means of a rotationally fixed plug connection; and the second cap (7) can be connected to a second connecting section (16) of the insert (4) by means of a swivel connection.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a soap box.

[0002] Soap boxes, particularly those used for storing bars of soap while traveling, are well known. Common soap boxes typically consist of a (bowl-shaped, usually rectangular) base and a lid that can be placed on top. The base may have a bottom with ribs or knobs that protrude into the interior of the soap box to provide some space under the bar of soap for draining water; this is intended to prevent (local) softening or dissolving of the bar of soap that would otherwise be immersed in draining water. Instead of being two separate parts, the base and lid may, if necessary, be connected to each other via a hinge (see, for example, CN 103876670 A and KR 10-1504826 B1).

[0003] The patent literature also discloses more elaborately designed soap boxes, for example, those – see CN 208447398 U – with a height-adjustable intermediate base on which the bar of soap rests, intended to facilitate access to the bar of soap, which gradually decreases in size during use. Reference should also be made, for example, to CN 2287888 Y, CN 2287887 Y, and CN 218355932 U. However, the latter soap boxes have not proven successful in practice. They have not gained widespread acceptance – apparently due to excessively difficult handling and / or unreasonably high costs.

[0004] Given that, due to sustainability considerations, particularly to avoid packaging waste and conserve natural resources, the use of liquid soap has recently declined and that of bar soap has increased again, the present invention aims to provide a particularly practical soap container. In this respect, particular emphasis is placed on providing good protection for the bar of soap against (local) softening or dissolving, while simultaneously ensuring easy handling.

[0005] The above-mentioned object is achieved by the soap box specified in claim 1. This has a three-part construction, comprising a pot-shaped insert having a circumferential wall and a perforated base, a first cap, and a second cap, wherein the first cap can be connected to a first connecting section of the insert by means of a rotationally fixed plug-in connection, and the second cap can be connected to a second connecting section of the insert by means of a rotary connection. The insert defines, delimited by the perforated base and the circumferential wall, an interior space for receiving the bar of soap, which can be closed by one of the two caps. On the side of the perforated base of the insert facing away from the interior space, there is a receiving space for dripping water, delimited by the other cap.What is essential for the soap box according to the invention, in conjunction with its other characteristic features, is that the two caps can be connected to the insert in different ways, independently of one another; a first of the caps can be connected to a first connecting portion of the insert by means of a rotationally fixed plug-in connection, whereas the other, second cap can be connected to a second connecting portion of the insert by means of a rotary connection - this is preferably designed as a screw connection, although a bayonet connection, for example, is also conceivable.This makes it intuitive, immediately understandable and easy for everyone to handle the soap box in the sense that a first movement (namely pulling the two caps apart) towards each other makes the interior of the soap box accessible, in particular to remove the bar of soap, whereas a second movement (namely twisting) of the two caps towards each other makes the space for dripping water accessible, in particular to pour or pour off the latter.

[0006] The aforementioned good handling of the soap box benefits from the fact that each of the two opening processes (opening the interior or the space for dripping water) can be carried out by a specific, individual movement of the two caps towards each other. In either case, the user grasps one of the caps with each hand. Only these caps therefore need to be designed to be grasped by the user's hands, for example by means of an anti-slip surface design. The lifespan of the soap bar is not only benefited by the fact that the interior of the soap box - which serves to store the soap bar - is separated from the dripping water space by the perforated base, whereby the soap bar is better protected from dripping water than in the case of the prior art described at the beginning, i.e. in soap boxes with a base having knob-like or rib-like projections.The intuitively easy emptying of the drip tray by removing the cap assigned to it, while the bar of soap is safely stored in the interior of the soap box closed off by the other cap, ultimately ensures that the bar of soap is stored gently, i.e. as dry as possible, when the soap box is closed. Another aspect of the soap box's good handling is that the bar of soap can be presented to the user not only lying in the interior of the soap box, but - with the soap box or insert turned upside down - also lying on the side of the perforated base of the insert facing the drip tray. In this way, the insert - with or without the cap closing the interior - can be used as a soap holder presenting the bar of soap, on which the bar of soap dries thoroughly and from which it can be removed particularly easily for use - even with wet hands.When the cap sealing the interior of the soap dish according to the invention is placed on the insert during this use, dripping water from the bar of soap resting on the perforated base collects in this cap. Contamination of the surface (washbasin, etc.) by dripping soapy water is prevented.

[0007] The intuitive operation of the soap box according to the invention is facilitated if, according to a first preferred embodiment of the invention, the second cap—connectable to the insert via a rotary connection—is assigned to the drip water receiving space, and the first cap—connectable to the insert via a rotationally fixed plug connection—is assigned to the interior of the soap box, which serves to hold the bar of soap. In this embodiment, the first connecting section is typically provided on the wall of the insert, i.e., on the open end region of the insert facing away from the base.

[0008] Another preferred development of the soap dish according to the invention is characterized in that the first cap and the second cap, in their respective end connection positions with the insert, contact each other circumferentially. In particular, the two caps can abut one another in this sense in the region of opposing annular end faces. In this way, a good seal between the two caps can be achieved using simple means—if necessary using a separate annular seal or an elastically flexible support on the annular end face of at least one of the two caps. In this way, dripping water cannot escape from the soap dish, regardless of its respective position.

[0009] According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, the base of the insert is curved toward its interior (or the interior of the soap dish). This not only makes the bar of soap stored in the interior of the soap dish difficult to reach for dripping water collected in the dripping water receiving space, even when the soap dish is in motion. This design of the base of the insert also facilitates the aforementioned additional usability of the insert as a soap holder; the bar of soap rests securely in the recess formed by the curved base of the insert.

[0010] According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, the wall of the insert has at least one opening in the region of the connecting section provided there. Such an opening allows the cap sealing the interior of the soap box to dry without having to be completely removed from the insert. Instead, even with the cap in question in an intermediate position, namely by slightly lifting it, ventilation of the interior of the soap box is provided, which promotes the drying of the soap bar.

[0011] Yet another preferred development of the soap box according to the invention is characterized in that the cap, which can be connected to the open end region of the insert and is assigned to the interior of the soap box, has a ribbed or nubby structure on its inner face. Even when the soap box is upside down and drip water has thus (at least partially) entered the interior from the drip water receiving space, the soap bar does not lie in the latter.

[0012] In the following, the present invention is explained with reference to an embodiment illustrated in the drawing. Fig. 1 the soap box according to the example in section, Fig. 2 the soap box according to the embodiment in an exploded view from a first perspective and Fig.3 the soap box according to the embodiment in an exploded view from a second perspective.

[0013] The soap box 1 according to the invention, illustrated in the drawing, is constructed in three parts. It comprises a pot-shaped insert 4 with a circumferential wall 2 and a perforated base 3, which defines an interior space 5 for accommodating a bar of soap, and two caps, namely a first cap 6 and a second cap 7, which can be independently connected to the insert 4.

[0014] The first cap 6 is assigned to the interior 5 of the soap box 1, concluding this. The first connecting section 8 serving to connect the first cap 6 to the insert 4 is provided on the wall 2 of the insert 4, i.e. on the open end region of the insert 4 facing away from the base 3. The insert 4 and the first cap 6 can be connected to one another via a rotationally fixed plug connection 9. For this purpose, a wall section 10 of the first cap 6 engages over the end region 11 of the wall 2 of the insert 4. The rotational stability of the (clamping) plug connection 9 is achieved by the interlocking of the ribs 12 on the wall 2 of the insert 4 and the complementary bulges 13 of the wall section 10 of the first cap 6.

[0015] The second cap 7, on the other hand, can be connected to the insert 4 by means of a rotary connection 14. This is designed as a screw connection 15. The second connecting section 16, formed on the insert 4 near its base 3, accordingly comprises an external thread 17, which interacts with a corresponding internal thread 19 formed on a wall section 18 of the second cap 7. The perforated base 3 of the insert 4, together with the second cap 7 placed on the insert 4, defines and delimits a receiving space 20 for dripping water. The dripping water receiving space 20 forms a pronounced annular space 27, which represents a significant volume portion of the latter and is delimited (externally) by the wall section 18 of the second cap 7 and (internally) by the wall-base transition zone 26 of the insert 4.This prevents drip water collected in the drip water receiving space 20 from flowing back into the interior space 5 via the perforated base 3 when the soap box 1 is tilted.

[0016] The base 3 of the insert 4 is curved toward the interior 5 of the soap dish 1. It has a central opening 21 and, distributed around it, holes 22 that are smaller than the central opening 21. In the respective end connection position of the two caps 6, 7 with the insert 4, the first cap 6 and the second cap 7 contact each other circumferentially in the region of the abutting annular end faces 23 of the wall sections 10, 18 of the two caps 6, 7.

[0017] The wall 2 of the insert 4 has two slot-like openings 24 in the area of ​​the first connecting section 8 provided there. And on the first cap 6, a knob structure 25 is provided on its inner side facing the interior 5 of the soap box 1. QUOTES CONTAINED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents submitted by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the convenience of the reader. This list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] CN 103876670 A

[0002] KR 10-1504826 B1

[0002] CN 208447398 U

[0003] CN 2287888 Y

[0003] CN 2287887

[0003] CN 218355932

[0003]

Claims

[1] Soap box (1), comprising a pot-shaped insert (4) having a circumferential wall (2) and a perforated base (3), a first cap (6) and a second cap (7), wherein the first cap (6) can be connected to a first connecting section (8) of the insert (4) by means of a rotationally fixed plug connection (9) and the second cap (7) can be connected to a second connecting section (16) of the insert (4) by means of a rotary connection (14). [2] Soap box (1) according to claim 1, characterized by that the rotary connection (14) is designed as a screw connection (15). [3] Soap box (1) according to claim 1, characterized by that the rotary connection (14) is designed as a bayonet connection. [4] Soap box (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by that the first cap (6) and the second cap (7) in their respective connection end position with the insert (4) touch each other circumferentially. [5] Soap box (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by that the first connecting section (8) is provided on the open end region of the insert (4) facing away from the base (3). [6] Soap box (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by that the base (3) of the insert (4) is curved towards the interior (5) of the soap box (1). [7] Soap box (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized by that the wall (2) of the insert (4) has at least one opening (24) in the region of the connecting section formed thereon. [8] Soap box (1) according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized by that the cap which can be connected to the open end region of the insert has a rib or knob structure (25) on the inner end face.

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