Soap case

Abstract

This soap case prevents bar soap from dissolving and crumbling, providing excellent usability for all types of dirt. [Solution] A soap case 1 for storing a bar of soap S comprises a case body 2 having an opening 20 at one end, and a grater 3 that is detachably provided in the opening 20. The case body 2 is made of a flexible material, and the size of the case body 2 is set such that there is a space between the bar of soap S and the case body 2 when the bar of soap S is stored inside.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a soap case for containing solid soap.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, a soap case has been proposed that allows a solid soap to be directly rubbed against local stains on an object to be washed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0003] The soap case described in Patent Document 1 includes a bottomed cylindrical case body in which one longitudinal end of a peripheral wall covering the periphery of the solid soap is open and the other end has a bottom. When trying to rub the exposed portion of the solid soap exposed from the opening against local stains on the object to be washed by applying force, the solid soap is supposed to be wrapped by the peripheral wall and can be gripped with difficulty to prevent slipping.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] When rubbing a solid soap, it is necessary to moisten the soap surface in order to produce lather. However, in the soap case of Patent Document 1, since the solid soap is accommodated in a state of being in close contact with the case body, the surface of the solid soap is difficult to dry after use. For this reason, the soap is likely to be kept in a softened state, and as a result, there is a problem that the solid soap is likely to melt and collapse. Further, in the soap case of Patent Document 1, when the stains are in places where it is difficult to directly apply the solid soap, such as in details or narrow parts, or when it is not suitable to directly rub the solid soap for overall stains, the usability is poor.

[0006] This invention was made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide a soap case that prevents solid soap from dissolving and crumbling, and is easy to use for all kinds of dirt. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The characteristic configuration of the soap case according to this invention, which solves the above problems, is as follows: A soap case for storing solid soap, A case body having an opening at one end, A grater is provided in the opening in a removable manner, Equipped with, The case body is made of a flexible material, The size of the case body is set such that, when the solid soap is contained within the case, there is a space between the solid soap and the case body.

[0008] With this soap case configuration, a space is formed between the bar of soap and the case body when the bar of soap is stored inside. This allows the surface of the bar of soap to come into contact with the outside air more easily after use, promoting the rapid evaporation of surface moisture and accelerating drying. As a result, the bar of soap is prevented from remaining in a softened state, thus preventing it from dissolving and crumbling. Furthermore, a removable grater is provided at the opening, allowing the bar of soap to be exposed from the case body and rubbed against the grater to grate it into fine pieces (powder). By adding water to the grated bar of soap, it can be used as liquid soap or foaming soap. Therefore, it is possible to soak the object to be cleaned in areas that are difficult to reach directly with bar soap, such as fine details or narrow spaces, or in cases where direct rubbing with bar soap is unsuitable, such as general dirt. Thus, this soap case has a wide range of uses for cleaning with bar soap and is easy to use for all kinds of dirt.

[0009] In the soap case according to the present invention, Preferably, the case body has a plurality of ribs extending from one end to the other.

[0010] In this soap case configuration, the case body has multiple ribs extending from one end to the other, which securely holds the bar of soap and maintains an appropriate space between the soap and the case body. This allows air to circulate more easily around the soap, further improving its drying properties after use. Furthermore, because the ribs provide stable support for the soap within the case body, the soap is less likely to move inside the case when the user presses it against a grater to grate it, making it easier to grip. As a result, the soap can be grated safely and efficiently, and finely flaked soap suitable for cleaning small areas can be easily obtained.

[0011] In the soap case according to the present invention, The case body preferably has ventilation holes on the other end.

[0012] With this soap case configuration, the presence of ventilation holes on the other end allows outside air to easily flow into the space formed between the bar of soap and the case body. As a result, the surface of the bar of soap dries quickly after use, and the soap is not kept in a softened state. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the bar of soap from dissolving and crumbling, and the bar of soap can be used in good condition for a longer period of time.

[0013] In the soap case according to the present invention, The aforementioned grater is, A grater for grating the aforementioned bar of soap, A tray for holding the solid soap grated by the aforementioned grater, When grating the aforementioned bar of soap, a guide portion is provided to guide the bar of soap, It is preferable that it has

[0014] With this soap case configuration, the guide section allows the bar of soap to be pressed against the grater in a stable position, and the bar of soap is properly held, preventing it from sliding or tilting during the grating process. Therefore, the bar of soap can be grated into fine pieces safely and efficiently. In addition, the grated bar of soap is collected in a tray, and by adding water to the tray, liquid soap or foam soap can be easily made, allowing for cleaning of fine details and narrow areas.

[0015] In the soap case according to the present invention, The grater preferably has a hemispherical blade.

[0016] With this soap case configuration, the grater has a hemispherical blade, allowing for efficient grating of solid soap into fine pieces when rubbed against it. Furthermore, because the hemispherical blade has a point-like contact surface with the solid soap, when the solid soap is placed on the grater after use (with the solid soap contained in the case and the grater attached to the case), the contact area between the solid soap and the grater is small, allowing for efficient evaporation of moisture from the surface of the solid soap.

[0017] In the soap case according to the present invention, The grater has a projection that secures the grater and the case body, When grating the bar of soap, it is preferable that the opening comes into contact with the protrusion to maintain a constant amount of the bar of soap protruding from the case body.

[0018] According to the soap case of this configuration, the grater has a protrusion, and the opening of the case body abuts against the protrusion during the grating operation, so the protruding amount of the solid soap can always be kept constant. As a result, the force pressing the solid soap against the grater is stable, and the user can efficiently obtain soap pieces with uniform thickness and size. In addition, since the protruding amount is prevented from becoming excessively large, it is possible to suppress the solid soap from breaking or chipping, and it is possible to perform the grating operation safely and without waste.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0019] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is an overall perspective view of a soap case according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is an explanatory view of the usage state of the soap case according to this embodiment, where (a) shows the case of directly rubbing the solid soap against the object to be cleaned, and (b) shows the case of grating the solid soap. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of the soap case of this embodiment. [Figure 4] Figure 4 shows the case body of the soap case according to this embodiment, and is an explanatory view seen from the opening side in the state where the solid soap is accommodated. [Figure 5] Figure 5 is a plan view of the grater of the soap case according to this embodiment. [Figure 6] Figure 6 is an overall perspective view of a soap case according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0020] Hereinafter, embodiments of the soap case of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6. However, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments and configurations described in the following embodiments and drawings.

[0021] 〔Overall Configuration〕 Figure 1 is an overall perspective view of a soap case 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention. The soap case 1 is for storing a bar of soap S. As shown in Figure 1, the soap case 1 comprises a case body 2 and a grater 3. The case body 2 has an opening 20 at one end, and the bar of soap S is stored inside the case body 2 through the opening 20, and the grater 3 is detachably provided at the opening 20. Figure 2 is an explanatory diagram of the usage state of the soap case 1 according to this embodiment, where (a) shows the case in which the bar of soap S is rubbed directly onto the object to be cleaned, and (b) shows the case in which the bar of soap S is grated. For localized soiling of the object to be cleaned, as shown in Figure 2(a), the soap case 1 allows a portion of the bar of soap S to be exposed from the case body 2 and rubbed directly onto the object to be cleaned. Furthermore, since the soap case 1 is equipped with a grater 3 that is removable from the opening 20, as shown in Figure 2(b), a portion of the solid soap S can be exposed from the case body 2 and rubbed against the grater 3 to grate the solid soap S into fine pieces (powder). By adding water to the grated solid soap S, it can be used as liquid soap or foaming soap. Therefore, it is possible to soak the object to be cleaned in places where it is difficult to directly apply the solid soap S, such as fine details or narrow areas, or in cases where it is not suitable to directly rub the solid soap S, such as general dirt. Thus, the soap case 1 has a wide range of cleaning applications using solid soap S and is easy to use for all kinds of dirt. Examples of "objects to be cleaned" include clothing such as clothes and socks, hats, shoes, etc. The soap case 1 of this invention can be particularly suitable for pre-treating localized dirt that cannot be removed by washing machine during washing. The following describes in detail each component of the soap case 1.

[0022] <Case body> Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of the soap case 1 of this embodiment. As shown in Figure 3, the case body 2 is a rounded rectangular tube-shaped container, a bottomed cylindrical member having an opening 20 at one end in the longitudinal direction (the lower end in Figure 3), and a solid soap S can be placed into the case body 2 through the opening 20. The case body 2 has a side portion 21 and a top portion 22. The side portion 21 surrounds the solid soap S and, in this embodiment, is formed in a rounded, substantially rectangular tube shape. The top portion 22 closes the other end of the side portion 21 (the upper end in Figure 3) and has a ventilation hole 23 which will be described later.

[0023] The case body 2 is made of a flexible material. In this specification, a flexible material means a material that has deformation properties such that it can be bent by hand. Because the case body 2 is made of a flexible material, it becomes soft and deforms when gripped by a person's hand, allowing the solid soap S contained inside the case body 2 to be gripped through the case body 2. Furthermore, because the case body 2 is made of a flexible material, when the solid soap S is pressed against the grater 3, the case body 2 deforms slightly in accordance with the movement of the user's hand, resulting in good force transmission to the solid soap S. In addition, because the case body 2 is made of a flexible material, the attachment and detachment operation of the grater 3, which will be described later, becomes easier. Examples of flexible materials include synthetic resins such as polyurethane resins and polyvinyl acetate resins, elastomers such as silicone rubber, fluororubber, and urethane rubber, or composites of the above materials.

[0024] The case body 2 is preferably made of a transparent or translucent resin. By making the case body 2 of a transparent or translucent resin, the solid soap S can be seen from the outside, and the remaining amount of solid soap S stored inside can be checked. Examples of transparent or translucent resins include acrylic resins, polycarbonate resins, polyester resins, and polyvinyl chloride resins.

[0025] Figure 4 is an explanatory diagram showing the case body 2 of the soap case 1 according to this embodiment, viewed from the side of the opening 20 when a solid soap S is contained inside. The case body 2 is set such that a space V is formed between the solid soap S and the case body 2 when a solid soap S is contained inside. That is, the inner dimensions of the case body 2 are formed to be larger than the outer dimensions of the solid soap S to be contained, and a space V through which air can circulate is formed between the outer surface of the solid soap S and the inner surface of the case body 2. Specifically, it is preferable that the inner dimensions of the case body 2 are formed to be 1 to 10 mm larger than the outer dimensions of the solid soap S. The formation of space V makes it easier for the surface of the solid soap S to come into contact with the outside air after use, and surface moisture evaporates quickly, promoting drying. As a result, the solid soap S is prevented from remaining in a softened state, and the dissolution and collapse of the solid soap S can be prevented. In this embodiment, the space V is formed in the lateral direction of the solid soap S (between the side surface 21 and the side surface of the solid soap S), but it is preferable that the space V is also formed on the top side of the solid soap S (between the top surface 22 and the top surface of the solid soap S). This ensures ventilation around the entire surface of the solid soap S, further improving drying performance.

[0026] The case body 2 has a ventilation hole 23 on the other end (the side with the top surface 22). The ventilation hole 23 is a hole that penetrates the top surface 22 in the thickness direction, allowing outside air to flow into the space V formed between the solid soap S and the case body 2. The shape of the ventilation hole 23 is not particularly limited and may be circular, elliptical, polygonal, etc. Also, in this embodiment, one ventilation hole 23 is located near the center of the top surface 22, but multiple holes may be provided. Having the ventilation hole 23 on the other end makes it easier for outside air to flow into the space V formed between the solid soap S and the case body 2. In addition, in this embodiment, the case body 2 is configured so that the solid soap S can be temporarily placed by turning the case body 2 upside down (with the top surface 22 touching the ground) with the grater 3 removed when the solid soap S is contained inside. In this way, when using the grated soap in the grater 3, there is no need to worry about where to store the solid soap S. Furthermore, by placing the case body 2 upside down, any moisture adhering to the solid soap S is discharged to the outside of the case body 2 through the ventilation holes 23. As a result, the surface of the solid soap S dries quickly after use, and the solid soap S is not kept in a softened state. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the solid soap S from dissolving and crumbling, and to use the solid soap S in good condition for a longer period of time. Alternatively, water may be introduced into the case body 2 through the ventilation holes 23 to keep the solid soap S moist and improve lathering.

[0027] As shown in Figure 4, the case body 2 has a plurality of ribs 24 extending from one end (opening 20 side) to the other end (top surface 22 side) inside. In this embodiment, the ribs 24 are integrally formed so as to protrude inward from the inner surface of the side surface 21 and extend along the longitudinal direction of the case body 2 (direction from the opening 20 to the top surface 22). The number of ribs 24 is not particularly limited, but for example, it is preferable to provide two or more on each side of the side surface 21, and more preferably three or more on each side. By having a plurality of ribs 24, the solid soap S can be held securely and the space V formed between the solid soap S and the case body 2 can be appropriately maintained. This makes it easier for air to circulate around the solid soap S, further improving drying after use.

[0028] Furthermore, the presence of the ribs 24 ensures that the solid soap S is held within the case body 2 in contact with the tips of the ribs 24. Therefore, a space V is reliably maintained between the solid soap S and the inner surface of the side portion 21, allowing air to circulate easily around the solid soap S. In addition, the ribs 24 provide stable support for the solid soap S within the case body 2, making it easier for the user to grip the solid soap S when pressing it against the grater 3 to grate it. As a result, the solid soap S can be grated safely and efficiently, and finely flaked soap suitable for cleaning small areas can be easily obtained.

[0029] The cross-sectional shape of the rib 24 is not particularly limited and can be selected as appropriate, such as rectangular, semi-circular, or trapezoidal. The height (protrusion amount) of the rib 24 is not particularly limited as long as contact with the solid soap S is ensured, but it is preferable to set it to be half or less of the difference between the inner dimensions of the side portion 21 and the outer dimensions of the solid soap S. By setting the height (protrusion amount) of the rib 24 to half or less of the difference between the inner dimensions of the side portion 21 and the outer dimensions of the solid soap S, a sufficient space V can be formed between the solid soap S and the case body 2.

[0030] In this embodiment, the case body 2 has an engagement hole 25 in the side portion 21. The engagement hole 25 is a hole that penetrates the side portion 21 in the thickness direction and engages with a projection 34, which will be described later. The shape of the engagement hole 25 is not particularly limited and may be circular, elliptical, polygonal, etc. The case body 2 and the grater 3 can be fixed together by the projection 34 engaging with the engagement hole 25.

[0031] <Grater> The grater 3 is detachably installed in the opening 20. The grater 3 is a device for grating solid soap S into fine pieces (powder), and in this embodiment, as shown in Figure 3, the grater 3 has a grater 31, a receiving tray 32, a guide part 33, and a projection part 34. Because the grater 3 is detachably installed in the opening 20 of the case body 2, the grater 3 can be removed and washed, maintaining a hygienic state of use. In addition, by removing the grater 3, solid soap S can be easily put in and taken out of the case body 2.

[0032] Figure 5 is a plan view of the grater 3 of the soap case 1 according to this embodiment. The grater 31 is used to grate solid soap S and is made of a resin material such as ABS resin or polypropylene resin, or a metal material such as stainless steel or aluminum alloy. The grater 31 has a blade portion 31a for grating solid soap S and a through hole 31b. In this embodiment, the blade portion 31a is hemispherical, as shown in Figure 5. Multiple blade portions 31a are formed on the surface of the grater 31 facing the solid soap S, and each blade portion 31a protrudes in a hemispherical (dome-shaped) manner. The hemispherical blade portion 31a allows for efficient grating of solid soap S into fine pieces when rubbed against it. Furthermore, because the hemispherical blade portion 31a has a point-like contact surface with the solid soap S, when the solid soap S is placed on the grater 31 after use (with the solid soap S contained in the case body 2 and the grater 3 attached to the case body 2), the contact area between the solid soap S and the grater 31 is small, allowing for efficient evaporation of moisture from the surface of the solid soap S. The size and arrangement density of the hemispherical blade portion 31a are not particularly limited, but it is preferable to set them appropriately so that the size of the shaved soap pieces is suitable for making liquid soap or foam soap. When the arrangement density of the blade portion 31a is high, fine soap powder is obtained, and when the arrangement density is low, relatively large soap pieces are obtained. In addition, multiple types of graters 31 may be prepared according to the application and made interchangeable.

[0033] The receiving tray 32 holds the solid soap S grated by the grater 31. The receiving tray 32 is positioned below the grater 31 (in the direction in which the soap pieces fall when the solid soap S is grated) and receives and holds the soap pieces that pass through the through hole 31b. By adding water to the soap pieces held in the receiving tray 32, liquid soap or foam soap can be easily made and used for cleaning details and narrow areas by soaking a sponge or cloth in it. In addition, stubborn dirt and dirt over a wide area can be effectively removed by soaking the object to be cleaned in the liquid soap or foam soap. The shape of the receiving tray 32 is not particularly limited as long as it can reliably receive the soap pieces that fall from the through hole 31b, but in this embodiment, it is formed in the shape of a shallow dish with a planar shape corresponding to the outer circumference shape of the grater 31. The depth of the receiving tray 32 can be appropriately set considering the amount of soap pieces that are grated in one use. Furthermore, it is preferable that the receiving tray 32 be detachable from the grater 31, which facilitates cleaning of the receiving tray 32.

[0034] As shown in Figure 3, the bottom surface of the receiving tray 32 is provided with multiple anti-slip parts 35. The anti-slip parts 35 are preferably made of a soft resin (for example, a thermoplastic elastomer). This makes the receiving tray 32 less likely to slip when using the grater 3 while it is placed on a washbasin or table, allowing the solid soap S to be grated in a stable position.

[0035] The guide portion 33 guides the solid soap S when grating it. The guide portion 33 is positioned on the side of the solid soap S so that the solid soap S is pressed against the grater 31 in a stable position. In this embodiment, the guide portion 33 is formed in a frame shape that extends from both ends in the short direction of the grater 31 toward the solid soap S side (case body 2 side), restricting the movement of the solid soap S in the short direction. The guide portion 33 allows the solid soap S to be pressed against the grater 31 in a stable position, and the solid soap S is properly held, so that the solid soap S does not slide or tilt during the grating operation. Therefore, the solid soap S can be grated into fine pieces safely and efficiently.

[0036] The projection 34 is a component that fixes the grater 31 and the case body 2, and also functions as a stopper to maintain a constant amount of protrusion when grating the solid soap S. In this embodiment, the projection 34 is formed to protrude outward from the guide portion 33. As shown in Figure 5, the projection 34 is provided at two opposing locations along the longitudinal direction of the grater 3. The projection 34 engages with the engagement hole 25 provided in the case body 2, thereby fixing the grater 31 and the case body 2. Furthermore, during the grating operation, the opening 20 of the case body 2 comes into contact with the projection 34, so that the amount of protrusion of the solid soap S can always be kept constant. As a result, the force applied to press the solid soap S against the grater 31 is stable, and the user can efficiently obtain soap pieces of uniform thickness and size. In addition, since it is prevented that the amount of protrusion becomes excessively large, it is possible to suppress the breaking or chipping of the solid soap S, and the grating operation can be performed safely and without waste. The position of the projection 34 (the height of the projection 34 relative to the top surface of the grater 3) can be appropriately set to obtain a projection amount suitable for grating solid soap S.

[0037] [Another embodiment] Figure 6 is an overall perspective view of a soap case 1A according to another embodiment of the present invention. In this other embodiment, the case body 2 has a finger guide 26 on the side portion 21. The finger guide 26 is an elliptical recess provided on the side portion 21, and is provided so that the user can intuitively grasp the position to press the case body 2 when removing the grater 3 from the case body 2. The surface of the finger guide 26 is formed to be coarse, for example, so that fingers can easily get caught. When the user presses the finger guide 26 from both sides, the case body 2 elastically deforms and the engagement hole 25 disengages from the projection 34, so that the case body 2 and the grater 3 can be easily separated.

[0038] The soap case of the present invention has been described above based on embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to the configuration described in the above embodiments, and its configuration can be modified as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the invention, such as by appropriately combining the configurations described in each embodiment. [Industrial applicability]

[0039] The soap case of this invention can be used to pre-treat localized stains that cannot be removed by a washing machine during laundry. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0040] 1. 1A Soap Case 2 Case body 3. Grater 20 openings 23 Ventilation holes 24 Ribs 31. Grater 31a Blade part 32 Drip tray 33 Guide Section 34 Protrusion S Solid Soap V space

Claims

1. A soap case for storing solid soap, A case body having an opening at one end, A grater is provided in the opening in a removable manner, Equipped with, The case body is made of a flexible material, A soap case in which the size of the case body is set such that there is a space between the solid soap and the case body when the solid soap is contained within the case.

2. The soap case according to claim 1, wherein the case body has a plurality of ribs extending from one end to the other inside.

3. The soap case according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the case body has a ventilation hole on the other end.

4. The aforementioned grater is, A grater for grating the aforementioned bar of soap, A tray for holding the solid soap grated by the aforementioned grater, When grating the aforementioned bar of soap, a guide portion is provided to guide the bar of soap, A soap case according to claim 1 or 2, having the following features.

5. The grater is a soap case according to claim 4, having a hemispherical blade.

6. The grater has a projection that secures the grater and the case body, The soap case according to claim 4, wherein when the solid soap is grated, the opening abuts against the projection, thereby maintaining a constant amount of protrusion of the solid soap from the case body.

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