Patent Publication Number: US-6662940-B1

Title: Draining soap dish for multiple bars of soap

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a draining soap dish for multiple bars of soap and more particularly pertains to holding a plurality of bars of soap while preventing their softening. 
     The use of soap holding receptacles is known in the prior art. More specifically, soap holding receptacles heretofore devised and utilized for the purpose of containing soap are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements. 
     By way of example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,548,572 to Hoffman discloses a soap saving rack capable of holding two or more pieces of soap in a vertical orientation. U.S. Pat. No. 5,743,388 to Kerr discloses a package for holding multiple bars of soap. U.S. Pat. No. Des. 345,067 to Shafer discloses an ornamental design for a soap dish. 
     While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objective and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not describe a draining soap dish for multiple bars of soap for holding a plurality of bars of soap while preventing their softening. 
     In this respect, the draining soap dish for multiple bars of soap according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in doing so provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of holding a plurality of bars of soap while preventing their softening. 
     Therefore, it can be appreciated that there exists a continuing need for a new and improved draining soap dish for multiple bars of soap which can be used for holding a plurality of bars of soap while preventing their softening. In this regard, the present invention substantially fulfills this need. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In the view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of soap holding receptacles now present in the prior art, the present invention provides an improved draining soap dish for multiple bars of soap. As such, the general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new and improved draining soap dish for multiple bars of soap which has all the advantages of the prior art and none of the disadvantages. 
     To attain this, the present invention essentially comprises a top plate having a generally rectangular configuration. The top plate has a plurality of rectangular shaped opening&#39;s therethrough in a spaced relationship. The openings each are dimensioned for receiving a bar of soap therethrough. The top plate has four support walls extending downwardly therefrom. One of the support walls has a drainage recess extending upwardly of a free edge thereof. A bottom plate is disposed below the top plate. The bottom plate has a generally rectangular configuration. The bottom plate is secured to the four support walls of the top plate whereby a space is disposed between the top plate and the bottom plate. The bottom plate has a ridged upper surface. A plurality of containers are coupled with respect to the openings of the top plate for receiving a bar of soap therein. Each of the containers have an open upper end, a closed tapered lower end, opposed end walls, and opposed side walls. The open upper ends of the containers are positioned within the openings of the top plate. The plurality of containers each have U-shaped drainage slots therein extending along the opposed side walls and the closed tapered lower end. 
     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
     In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
     As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved draining soap dish for multiple bars of soap which has all the advantages of the prior art soap holding receptacles and none of the disadvantages. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved draining soap dish for multiple bars of soap which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new and improved draining soap dish for multiple bars of soap which is of durable and reliable construction. 
     An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved draining soap dish for multiple bars of soap which is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such a draining soap dish for multiple bars of soap economically available to the buying public. 
     Even still another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved draining soap dish for multiple bars of soap for holding a plurality of bars of soap while preventing their softening. 
     Lastly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved draining soap dish for multiple bars of soap including a top plate having a plurality of rectangular shaped opening&#39;s therethrough in a spaced relationship. The openings each are dimensioned for receiving a bar of soap therethrough. The top plate has four support walls extending downwardly therefrom. One of the support walls has a drainage recess extending upwardly of a free edge thereof. A plurality of containers are coupled with respect to the openings of the top plate for receiving a bar of soap therein. Each of the containers have an open upper end, a closed tapered lower end, opposed end walls, and opposed side walls. The open upper ends of the containers are positioned within the openings of the top plate. 
     The plurality of containers each have U-shaped drainage slots therein extending along the opposed side walls and the closed tapered lower end. 
    
    
     These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the draining soap dish for multiple bars of soap constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the present invention. 
     The same reference numerals refer to the same parts through the various figures. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     With reference now to the drawings, and in particular, to FIGS. 1 through 3 thereof, the preferred embodiment of the new and improved draining soap dish for multiple bars of soap embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference number  10  will be described. 
     Specifically, it will be noted in the various figures that the device relates to a draining soap dish for multiple bars of soap for holding a plurality of bars of soap while preventing their softening. In its broadest context, the device consists of a top plate, a bottom plate, and a plurality of containers. Such components are individually configured and correlated with respect to each other so as to attain the desired objective. 
     The top plate  12  has a generally rectangular configuration. The top plate  12  has a plurality of rectangular shaped openings  14  therethrough in a spaced relationship. The openings  14  each are dimensioned for receiving a bar of soap  16  therethrough. Note FIGS. 1 and 2. The top plate  12  has four support walls  18  extending downwardly therefrom. One of the support walls  18  has a drainage recess  19  extending upwardly of a free edge thereof. 
     “The bottom plate  20  is disposed below the top plate  12 . The bottom plate  20  has a generally rectangular configuration. The bottom plate  20  is secured to the four support walls  18  of the top plate  12  whereby a space is disposed between the top plate  12  and the bottom plate  20 . In the preferred embodiment, the device  10  is essentially free standing whereby the top plate  12  and the bottom plate  20  are in parallel relationship. Note FIG.  1 . It should be noted that in an alternate embodiment, where the device  10  is secured to a wall area or the like, the bottom plate  20  can be angularly disposed with respect to the top plate  12  to provide a drainage gradient. 
     The plurality of containers  24  are coupled with respect to the openings  14  of the top plate  12  for receiving a bar of soap  16  therein. Each of the containers  24  have an open upper end, a closed tapered lower end  26 , opposed end walls  28 , and opposed side walls  30 . The open upper ends of the containers  24  are positioned within the openings  14  of the top plate  12 . The plurality of containers  24  each have U-shaped drainage slots  32  therein each extending vertically along the opposed side walls  30  and connecting across the closed tapered lower end  26 . The drainage slots  32  will allow water to drain off of the bar of soap  16  therethrough so that the bar of soap  16  will not sit in collected water and soften. The water will then exit the present invention through a space created between the recess  19  and the bottom plate  20 .” 
     As to the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided. 
     With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and the manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
     Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.