Abstract:
A fabric bathing toy in the shape of a figure appealing to children that has a mesh pocket for holding soap. Preferably, the figure resembles an animal or insect. The toy includes a fastening component to contain the soap in the mesh pocket. The toy includes a cavity in the body of the toy for holding a sponge. The toy includes a fastening component to contain the sponge in the cavity. A suction cup is attached to the toy so that the toy adheres and hangs from a surface to promote drying.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to the field of bathing implements and, more particularly, to a plush toy and soap holding device. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Children have a notorious propensity for making themselves dirty, and this is often accompanied by an unfortunate predisposition for avoiding bathing. It is also often a difficult task to convince a child to bathe, and sometimes an outright battle. For a child to bathe on their own accord is often an even more difficult, if not an insurmountable, proposition. 
     Fortunately, most children have highly active imaginations and immensely enjoy playtime activities. An age-old mechanism to coax a child into enduring bath-time is through the use of bath toys. 
     Though bath toys may convince a child to enter a bath, bath toys provide little, if any, benefit for actually cleaning the child. To have a child remain placidly in a bath tub is only half of the equation. The other significant hurdle is the actual utilization of soap to clean a child. 
     With the foregoing in mind, a primary object of the present invention is to provide a bathing toy that is enjoyable for a child to use for play, yet is also a means of providing soap for a bathing child in an appealing and effective way. 
     Another object of the invention is to promote enjoyment of bathing by children through play, thereby minimizing resistance to bathing and fostering good personal hygiene habits by children. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide an incentive for children to bathe with soap so that good personal hygiene habits are instilled into children while young with the goal that these children will bathe with soap on their own accord when older or unsupervised. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing background, it is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a soft and safe bathing toy that is enjoyable for a child to use for play, yet is also a means of providing soap and a sponge to a child in an appealing and effective way. The bath toy contemplated by this invention comprises a fabric outer sheath having a first side, a second side, and a hollow inner cavity between the first side and the second side, formed to substantially define the shape of the toy. Additionally, a first mesh panel is attached to the first side of the outer sheath having a non-attached edge that defines a first opening, thereby forming a first pocket to hold soap. A first fastener closes the first opening of the first pocket for the purposes of securing the soap. The first fastener is at least one of a snap, hook &amp; loop fastener, button, zipper, buckle, and hook &amp; eye fastener. 
     The fabric for the outer sheath is selected from the group consisting of cloth, leather, suede, plush, fustian, velvet, mohair, worsted yarn, silk, cotton, polyester, terry cloth, lycra, neoprene, fleece, and combinations thereof. 
     In another embodiment, the invention comprises a second opening on the second side of the outer sheath that provides access to the hollow inner cavity of the outer sheath. This forms a compartment capable of encasing a sponge. A second fastener closes the second opening of the outer sheath for the purpose of securing the sponge. The second fastener is at least one of a snap, hook &amp; loop fastener, drawstring, button, zipper, buckle, and hook &amp; eye fastener. 
     In one embodiment, a suction cup, having a suction side and a mounting side, is attached by the mounting side to the second side of the outer sheath so the suction side faces outwards from the outer sheath, allowing the toy to be suctionably held to a surface capable of engaging a suction cup. 
     In one embodiment, a second mesh panel is attached to the second side of the outer sheath forming a second pocket to hold a sponge, and a third fastener closes the second pocket for the purpose of securing the sponge. The third fastener is at least one of a snap, hook &amp; loop fastener, drawstring, button, zipper, buckle, and hook &amp; eye fastener. 
     In one embodiment, the first fastener is a drawstring having a first end, a second end, and a middle portion between the first and second ends. The drawstring is threaded through the first mesh panel so that the middle portion of the drawstring is proximate the non-attached edge. At least one first hole in the first side of the outer sheath accommodates passage by the first and second ends of the drawstring through the first hole, while at least one second hole in the second side of the outer sheath accommodates passage by the first and second ends of the drawstring through the second hole so that the drawstring may be tightened, thereby drawing the first pocket against the first side of the outer sheath. 
     In some embodiments, the outer sheath is configured to resemble an animal. In one embodiment, a body member is substantially formed by the outer sheath, a head member attached to the body member, and at least one limb attached to the body member. The animal is one of an aardvark, alligator, American bison, buffalo, ant, anteater, antelope, ape, armadillo, ass/donkey, baboon, badger, barracuda, bat, bear, beaver, bee, bison, boar, buffalo, bunny, bush baby, butterfly, camel, caribou, cat, caterpillar, chamois, cheetah, chicken, chimpanzee, chinchilla, cobra, cockroach, cormorant, cow, coyote, crab, crane, crocodile, crow, deer, dog, dogfish, dolphin, donkey, dove, dragonfly, duck, dugong, eagle, echidna, eel, eland, elephant, elephant seal, elk, falcon, ferret, finch, fish, fly, fox, frog, gaur, gazelle, gerbil, giant panda, giraffe, gnu, goat, goose, gorilla, silverback, guanaco guinea fowl, guinea pig, gull, hamster, hare, hawk, hedgehog, heron, hippopotamus, hornet, horse, human, hyena, iguana, jackal, jaguar, jellyfish, kangaroo, koala, komodo dragon, kouprey, kudu, lark, lemur, leopard, lion, llama, lobster, locust, loris, louse, lyrebird, magpie, mallard, manatee, meerkat, mink, mole, monkey, moose, mouse, mosquito, mule, narwhal, newt, nightingale, okapi, oryx, ostrich, otter, owl, ox, oyster, panther, partridge, peafowl, pelican, penguin, pig, pigeon, platypus, pony, porcupine, quelea, rabbit, raccoon, rail, ram, rat, raven, red deer, red panda, reindeer, rhinoceros, salamander, sea lion, seahorse, seal, seastar, shark, sheep, shrew, skunk, snail, snake, spider, squid, squirrel, stinkbug, swan, tapir, tarsier, tiger, toad, turkey, turtle, walrus, wasp, water buffalo, weasel, whale, wolf, wombat, worm, yak, zebra, and any other animal, insect, or figure known in the art. 
     The invention also comprises a method of bathing comprising the steps of inserting a bar of soap into a fabric toy comprising an external mesh pocket, fastening the mesh pocket to prevent the soap from escaping the pocket, exposing the soap to water, and forming a lather with the soap for the purpose of cleaning a skin surface. In another embodiment a sponge is additionally inserted into a hollow inner sponge-holding cavity of the toy followed by fastening the inner cavity to prevent the sponge from escaping the inner cavity. 
     The fabric is made of a material selected from the group consisting of cloth, leather, suede, plush, fustian, velvet, mohair, worsted yarn, silk, cotton, polyester, terry cloth, lycra, neoprene, fleece, and combinations thereof. 
     The toy is configured in some embodiments to resemble an animal. This may comprise a body member substantially formed by an outer sheath, a head member attached to the body member, and at least one limb attached to the body member. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For a fuller understanding of the invention, reference is made to the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings illustrating various embodiments of the present invention, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a front perspective view illustrating one embodiment the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a rear perspective view illustrating one embodiment the invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a partially exploded front perspective view illustrating one embodiment the invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a front perspective view illustrating one embodiment the invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a front perspective view illustrating one embodiment the invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a front perspective view illustrating one embodiment the invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a partially exploded rear perspective view illustrating one embodiment the invention; 
         FIG. 8  is a rear perspective cutaway view illustrating one embodiment the invention; and 
         FIG. 9  is a side view illustrating one embodiment the invention interacting with a vertical surface. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which preferred embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout, and prime notation is used to indicate similar elements in alternate embodiments. 
     Soap and Sponge Holding Toy 
     Referring initially to  FIG. 1 , one embodiment of the invention is illustrated. The bath toy  10  comprises an outer sheath  12  made from a soft textile. The outer sheath is substantially hollow, having a first side  12   a  and a second side  12   b  ( FIG. 2 ) with the hollow inner cavity substantially defined by the first side  12   a  and second side  12 b. The material is selected from the group consisting of cloth, leather, suede, plush, bamboo, fustian, velvet, mohair, worsted yarn, silk, cotton, polyester, terry cloth, Lycra, neoprene, fleece, and combinations thereof. In a preferred embodiment the textile(s) is/are fabric capable of holding enough water to foster the creation of soap lather, yet dry rapidly. 
     The outer sheath  12  is made from at least one textile panel. In one embodiment, a plurality of textile panels are attached to each other by means well known in the art. In a preferred embodiment, the textile panels are sewn together. The sizes and shapes and orientation of the panels substantially define the shape of outer sheath  12  and also the toy  10 . In a preferred embodiment, the outer sheath is configured to resemble an animal. Additional body member segments are formed from textile panels that are attached to the outer sheath  12  to further define the animal resemblance. In one embodiment, the outer sheath  12  defines the main body of the animal. A head member  14   a  is formed from textile panels, and is attached to the outer sheath  12 . In some embodiments, at least one limb member  14   b  is formed from textile panels, and is attached to the outer sheath  12 . Other projections such as ears, tails, noses, antennae, horns, wings, probosci, trunks, scales, pouches, beaks, fins, gills, mains, tentacles, stingers, tusks, humps, hooves, talons, and any other feature known in the art are also utilized in some embodiments. 
     The animal that the toy  10  resembles one of an aardvark, alligator, American bison, buffalo, ant, anteater, antelope, ape, armadillo, ass/donkey, baboon, badger, barracuda, bat, bear, beaver, bee, bison, boar, buffalo, bunny, bush baby, butterfly, camel, caribou, cat, caterpillar, chamois, cheetah, chicken, chimpanzee, chinchilla, cobra, cockroach, cormorant, cow, coyote, crab, crane, crocodile, crow, deer, dog, dogfish, dolphin, donkey, dove, dragonfly, duck, dugong, eagle, echidna, eel, eland, elephant, elephant seal, elk, falcon, ferret, finch, fly, fox, frog, gaur, gazelle, gerbil, giant panda, giraffe, gnu, goat, goose, gorilla, silverback, guanaco guinea fowl, guinea pig, gull, hamster, hare, hawk, hedgehog, heron, hippopotamus, hornet, horse, human, hyena, iguana, jackal, jaguar, jellyfish, kangaroo, koala, komodo dragon, kouprey, kudu, lark, lemur, leopard, lion, llama, lobster, locust, loris, louse, lyrebird, magpie, mallard, manatee, meerkat, mink, mole, monkey, moose, mouse, mosquito, mule, narwhal, newt, nightingale, okapi, oryx, ostrich, otter, owl, ox, oyster, panther, partridge, peafowl, pelican, penguin, pig, pigeon, platypus, pony, porcupine, quelea, rabbit, raccoon, rail, ram, rat, raven, red deer, red panda, reindeer, rhinoceros, salamander, sea lion, seahorse, seal, seastar, shark, sheep, shrew, skunk, snail, snake, spider, squid, squirrel, stinkbug, swan, tapir, tarsier, tiger, toad, turkey, turtle, walrus, wasp, water buffalo, weasel, whale, wolf, wombat, worm, yak, and zebra. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates that the toy  10  comprises a first mesh panel  16  attached, preferably sewn, to the first side  12   a  of the outer sheath  12 . The mesh panel  16  comprises a non-attached edge  16   a , creating a first opening so that the mesh panel forms a first pocket  18  of a size and dimension suitable for holding a bar of soap  20 . A first fastener  22  closes the first opening to secure the soap  20 . The first fastener is at least one of a snap  22   a  ( FIG. 4 ), hook &amp; loop fastener  22   b  ( FIG. 5 ), button, zipper, buckle, hook &amp; eye, and any other fastening means known in the art. 
     In one embodiment illustrated by  FIG. 6 , the first fastener  22  is a drawstring  22   c . The drawstring  22   c  is a flexible line that is attached to the first mesh panel  16  proximate the non-attached edge  16   a  of the first mesh panel  16 . In a preferred embodiment, the drawstring  22   c  is threaded through the mesh panel  16  proximate the non-attached edge  16   a.  At least one first hole  24   a  is on the first side  12   a  of the outer sheath  12  that allows the drawstring  22   c  to pass through the first hole  22   c . At least one second hole  24   b  is on the second side  12   b  of the outer sheath  12  that allows the drawstring  22   c  to pass through the second hole  24   b . The drawstring  22   c  is attached to the non-attached edge  16   a  of the mesh panel  16  and projects through the first hole  24   a  and then through the second hole  24   b , projecting outwardly from the second side  12   b  of the toy. Pulling the drawstring  22   c  outwards from the second side  12   b  of the toy causes the first pocket  18  to substantially close by being pulled inward towards the first side  12   a  of the outer sheath  12 . If a bar of soap  20  is in the pocket  18 , pulling the drawstring  22   c  outwards from the second side  12   b  of the toy secures the soap  20  in the pocket  18 . 
       FIG. 7  illustrates one embodiment of the toy  10  wherein a sponge  26  is inserted through a second opening  28  on the second side  12   b  of the outer sheath  12  so that the sponge  26  may be encased in a compartment  27  of a suitable size and dimension to hold the sponge  26 . The compartment  27  is substantially defined by the outer sheath  12 . A second fastener  30  closes the second opening  28  to securely capture the sponge within the compartment  27 . The second fastener  30  is at least one of a snap, hook &amp; loop fastener, button, zipper, buckle, hook &amp; eve, drawstring, and any other fastening means known in the art.  FIG. 8  illustrates the toy  10  having a sponge  26  secured within the compartment  27  and the second fastener  30  in a substantially closed state. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates the toy  10  having a suction cup  32  attached to the outer sheath  12  of the toy  10 . The suction cup  32  is a flexible disc having a curvature so that when the center of the suction cup  32  is pressed against a substantially nonporous surface  34  ( FIG. 9 ), the suction cup  32  flattens and creates a pressure differential between a low pressure cavity formed between the suction cup  32  and the surface  34  and the external pressure of the atmosphere. This promotes adherence of the suction cup  32  to the surface  34 . The non-suctioning side of the suction cup  32  is attached to the outer sheath  12  of the toy  10  so that the suction cup  32  is positioned to be capable of engaging a suctionable surface. This allows the toy  10  to be hung on vertical bathroom surfaces by the suction cup to promote drying of the toy  10  between uses. 
     Method for Using the Soap and Sponge Holding Toy 
     A method of using the toy  10  for lathering comprises inserting a bar of soap  20  into a mesh pocket  16  of the toy. The mesh pocket  16  is fastened close using a first fastener  22  on the mesh pocket. The first fastener is at least one of a snap  22   a , hook &amp; loop fastener  22   b , button, zipper, buckle, hook &amp; eye, drawstring, and any other fastening means known in the art. 
     In one embodiment, a sponge  26  is inserted into a hollow inner cavity  27  of a suitable size and dimension to hold the sponge  26 . Then the hollow inner cavity is fastened with a second fastener  30  to substantially shut to encase the sponge  26 . The second fastener is at least one of a snap, hook &amp; loop fastener, button, zipper, buckle, hook &amp; eye, drawstring, and any other fastening means known in the art. 
     The toy  10  is exposed to water, and lather is made with the soap  20  due to agitating the wet toy  10  and soap  20 , preferably on a bather&#39;s skin. The lather seeps through the mesh pocket  16  holding the soap  20 , so that an individual bathing with the toy  10  is exposed to soap lather. Water captured by the sponge  26  contributes to the water needed to lather the soap  20 . A person using the toy  10  is exposed to soap lather for bathing purposes. The toy  10  is hung on a vertical surface  34  using a suction cup  32  attached to the toy. This promotes draining of the toy  10  and more rapid drying. 
     Many modifications and other embodiments of the invention will come to the mind of one skilled in the art having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Therefore, it is understood that the invention is not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed, and that modifications and embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims.