Patent Publication Number: US-11638502-B2

Title: Cleansing bar reusage system

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     The present application claims priority to, and the benefit of, U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/071,603, which was filed on Aug. 28, 2020 and is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to the field of cleansing products. More specifically, the present invention relates to a soap bar reusage system. The system is comprised of a soap or other cleansing product dispensing device and a method that allows a user to turn soap bar fragments or other cleansing products that are provided in a bar or solid form such as shaving and shampoo bars, into a liquid solution that can then be dispensed from the device. The dispenser has at least one suction cup and a removable hook to allow it to easily be stored within a shower, on a wall near a sink or other locations where the dispenser may be helpful. Further, the dispenser includes a spout and a push-button assembly that controls the flow of a liquid solution from the spout. Further, the method allows a user to place fragments of the formerly solid form of the soap into the device and add warm water to turn the fragments into a liquid solution that can then be poured from the dispenser and used to wash the hands, body, face and hair of the user. Accordingly, the present disclosure makes specific reference thereto. Nonetheless, it is to be appreciated that aspects of the present invention are also equally applicable to other like applications, devices and methods of manufacture. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In 2020, 71 million Americans used soap bars and other solid forms of cleansing products for personal cleaning. However, after prolonged usage, the solid form cleaning product, such as soap bars, withers to a small piece creating a fragment that is difficult to use because of its small size, which also makes it harder to grip. As a result, many individuals simply discard this fragment and use a new, full soap bar or other solid cleansing product. However, this discarding of fragments is extremely wasteful, as a user is not getting the complete value out of each product they purchase when they discard a portion of the bar they deem to be “unusable” because of its small size and reduced surface area for creating a lather. 
     Currently, there is no system or device known in the art that allows the upcycling of consumer cleansing products to utilize the last portion of a soap bar or other solid form cleansing bar. Therefore, there exists a long-felt need in the art for a system and device that allows an individual to utilize the remaining fragment or pieces of a solid cleansing bar product that is otherwise typically deemed “unusable” by the individual. Further, there exists a long-felt need in the art for a system and device that allows an individual to easily use the remaining portion of the product for cleaning and washing. Finally, exists a long-felt need in the art for a system and device that allows a user to easily apply the remaining fragments or pieces of cleansing products to their body. The device can be placed in a shower or other areas where personal cleaning products are dispensed for convenience purposes. 
     The subject matter disclosed and claimed herein, in one embodiment thereof, comprises a personal cleansing bar reusage system. The system includes a cleansing solution dispensing device and a method of reusing a fragment or other pieces of a personal cleansing bar product to form a liquid solution. The personal cleansing dispensing device has a water-resistant or waterproof dispenser that further includes a dispensing spout. Using a method of reusing a fragment or pieces of a solid personal cleansing bar product to form liquid cleansing solution, a user can then place product fragments into the container, fill the container with warm water, and close the lid of the dispenser. Then, once the hot water melts the pieces or fragments into liquid form, a user can then use the spout of the dispenser to apply the now liquid cleansing product to his or her hands, body, face and hair. The dispenser includes a reservoir to hold the fragments and the base and or sides of the reservoir may be provided with projections which can help break up the fragments when the dispenser is shaken. 
     In this manner, the personal cleansing bar reusage system of the present invention accomplishes all of the forgoing objectives and provides a system wherein a user can reuse fragments of solid cleaning products that would otherwise be unused and thrown away. Therefore, the system provides a way to upcycle a product and avoids the unnecessary waste of a still functional cleansing bar fragment. Further, the system ensures a user gets the full amount of value out of the personal cleaning product that was purchased. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The following presents a simplified summary in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the disclosed innovation. This summary is not an extensive overview, and it is not intended to identify key/critical elements or to delineate the scope thereof. Its sole purpose is to present some general concepts in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later. 
     The subject matter disclosed and claimed herein, in one embodiment thereof, is a solid cleansing bar reusage system. The system includes a soap dispensing device and a method of reusing bits, pieces and fragments of a personal care bar or product to form a liquid solution. The dispensing device preferably includes a water-resistant or waterproof plastic body that contains a side surface with a plurality of indentations that allow a user to better grip the container. The body further includes a body surface that has a textured rubber base that prevents the device from sliding on wet surfaces. The body also has a lid assembly that contains male and female or mating lid components, with each component having threads or cooperating snap fitting engagement elements that allow the lid assembly to be secured upon the container. The male lid component may also include a spout. The spout can be opened or closed via a push button assembly on the top surface of the male lid. Accordingly, the push button assembly controls an internal spout gate such that the flow of liquid soap solution from the interior cavity of the body can be allowed or inhibited via pressing or releasing the button. Further, the body may include a plurality of features that allow it to be stuck to a shower wall or from a shower caddy, such as at least one suction cup and a removable hook. In addition, the interior of the container has a reservoir area for holding the solution, and may also include a plurality of protuberances so that the container can be shaken to help break up the bits and pieces in order to create the solution. 
     Further, the system includes a method of reusing fragments, bits and pieces of soap bars or other solid cleansing bars to form liquid soap. The first step of the method requires placing at least one cleansing bar fragment or bit into the interior cavity of the dispensing device. Next, the second step involves adding warm/hot water to the interior cavity. In the third step, a user must then wait for the water to melt the fragment(s) into liquid soap. Alternatively, the user can shake the container to break up the bits and pieces through use of an agitating action and potentially the use of protuberances in the base of the container. In the fourth step, the user can then pick up and tilt the dispensing device by grabbing the body and pressing down the push button to allow the liquid solution to flow onto his or her hand or body for washing and cleaning. 
     Accordingly, the improved cleansing bar reusage system of the present invention is particularly advantageous as it allows a user to get value out of the remaining fragments, bits or pieces of a cleansing bar. This then prevents a user from wasting the fragments, bits and pieces and ensuring that they obtain the full value they paid for when using a solid cleansing bar. Further, the dispensing device and method provide an easy way to convert fragments, bits and pieces into a liquid soap or cleansing solution, making it extremely usable, economical and desirable for users. 
     To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, certain illustrative aspects of the disclosed innovation are described herein in connection with the following description and the annexed drawings. These aspects are indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principles disclosed herein can be employed and are intended to include all such aspects and their equivalents. Other advantages and novel features will become apparent from the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The description refers to provided drawings in which similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the different views, and in which: 
         FIG.  1    illustrates a perspective view of one potential embodiment of a liquid cleaning solution dispensing device of the solid cleansing bar reusage system of the present invention in an opened position in accordance with the disclosed structure; 
         FIG.  2    provides a perspective view of one potential embodiment of a solution dispensing device of the solid cleansing bar reusage system of the present invention in a closed position in accordance with the disclosed specification; 
         FIG.  3    depicts a graphical representation of one potential embodiment of a method of reusing fragments, bits or pieces of a solid cleansing bar to form the liquid cleansing solution of the soap bar reusage system of the present invention in a closed position in accordance with the disclosed description; 
         FIG.  4    displays a perspective view of one potential embodiment of a cleansing solution dispensing device of the solid cleansing bar reusage system of the present invention in a closed position showing a user pouring liquid soap out of the device in accordance with the disclosed structure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The innovation is now described with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to refer to like elements throughout. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding thereof. It may be evident, however, that the innovation can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form in order to facilitate a description thereof. Various embodiments are discussed hereinafter. It should be noted that the figures are described only to facilitate the description of the embodiments. They are not intended as an exhaustive description of the invention and do not limit the scope of the invention. Additionally, an illustrated embodiment need not have all the aspects or advantages shown. Thus, in other embodiments, any of the features described herein from different embodiments may be combined. 
     As noted above, there is a long-felt need in the art for a system and device that allows a user to utilize the remaining portion of solid cleansing bar fragments, bits and pieces that would otherwise by thrown out for being “unusable.” Further, there exists a long-felt need in the art for a system and device that allows a user to easily apply the remaining portion of a solid cleansing bar of soap, shampoo, shaving bar or the like to their body. Finally, there exists a long-felt need in the art for a system and device that allows a user to easily apply the remaining portion of a solid cleansing bar to their body. In addition, the system can be used in a shower or placed on a wall for convenient access. 
     The present invention, in one exemplary embodiment, is comprised of a liquid cleansing bar reusage system that further includes a cleaning solution dispensing device and a method of reusing fragments, bits and pieces of a cleansing bar to form a liquid cleansing solution. The dispensing device preferably has a water-resistant or waterproof plastic body that contains a reservoir, a side surface with a plurality of indentations that allow a user to better grip the device, as well as a textured rubber base that prevents the device from sliding on wet surfaces. The body also includes a lid assembly that has male and female lid components. Each component is further comprised of threads or cooperating snap elements that allow the lid assembly to be secured upon the container. The male lid component further includes a spout that can be opened or closed via a push button assembly or other actuator on the top surface of the male lid that controls an internal spout gate such that the flow of the liquid cleaning solution from the interior cavity of the body can be allowed or inhibited by pressing the button. Further, the body may have a plurality of features that allow it to be secured to a shower wall or from a shower caddy, or other wall in a bathroom, with at least one suction cup and a removable hook. 
     The system also includes a method of reusing fragments, bits or pieces of a solid cleansing bar to form a liquid cleansing solution such as soap. The first step of the method requires placing at least one fragment into the interior cavity of the dispensing device so that the fragment or other bits and pieces are in the reservoir. The second step involves adding warm or hot water to the interior cavity. In the third step, a user must then wait for the water to melt the fragment(s) into a liquid cleansing solution. Finally in the last step, the user can then pick up and tilt the dispensing device by grabbing the body and pressing down the push button or other actuator to allow the liquid cleansing solution to flow onto his or her hand or body for washing or cleaning. 
     Therefore, the improved solid cleansing bar reusage system of the present invention allows an individual to use the remaining fragments, bits and pieces of a solid cleansing bar, such as a soap bar, shampoo bar or shaving bar, that would otherwise be discarded. As a result, the system prevents a user from wasting the fragments and ensures that the individual obtains the full value he or she paid for when purchasing a solid cleansing bar. Further, the dispensing device and method provide an easy way to convert solid cleansing bar fragments into a liquid solution for reuse, making it extremely usable and desirable for users. 
     Referring initially to the drawings,  FIG.  1    illustrates a perspective view of one potential embodiment of a liquid cleansing solution dispensing device  200  of the solid cleansing bar reusage system  100  of the present invention in an opened position. The system  100  preferably includes a soap dispensing device  200  and a method of reusing fragments, bits or pieces  12  of a solid cleansing bar to form a liquid cleaning solution  400  (see  FIG.  4   ). The liquid cleaning solution dispensing device  200  is constructed from a water-resistant or waterproof, rigid plastic body  210 . The body  210  further includes a continuous side surface  212  (see  FIG.  2   ) which may contain a plurality of indentions  2120  that may be textured or non-textured to allow the hand  10  of a user to better grip the container  200 . Further, the side surface  212  may have at least one integrated suction cup  2122  that allows the device  200  to be temporarily adhered to the wall of a shower or near a sink or other area where people may wash up. Further, the side surface  212  may also have a removable magnetic hook  2124  that attaches to the side surface  212  via a magnetic plate  2126  which allows the device  200  to be supported from a shower head or attached to a shower caddy or other personal accessory that may be used in a bathroom or other cleansing area. To this effect, both the at least one suction cup  2122  and removable hook  2124  allow the dispenser  200  to easily be used within a shower while bathing. 
     The body  210  also includes a bottom surface  214 . The bottom surface preferably has a textured rubber base  2140  which has a plurality of rubber nubs  2142  that allows the container  200  to remain stable and upright when placed on a countertop, and to prevent the device  200  from sliding on wet surfaces (e.g., such as within a shower or on another surface). It is also contemplated that in differing embodiments of the system  100 , the container  200  may have a suitable plastic material including but not limited to: acrylic, polycarbonate, polyethylene, thermoplastic, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, low density polyethylene, medium density polyethylene, high density polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polyvinyl chloride, polystyrene, polylactic acid, acetal, nylon, fiberglass, etc. The body  210  of the container may further be of any suitable shape such that it easily fits in the hand  10  of a user, however the preferred shaped of the body  210  is an hour-glass-like shape, as shown in the FIGS. 
     As also seen in  FIG.  1   ., the body  210  includes a lid assembly  220 . The lid assembly  220  has a plurality of components such as a male lid component  222  and a female lid component  232 . The female lid component  232  is preferably fixedly attached to the body  210  and has a rigid, plastic protective outer surface or side surface  234  and an inner surface  236 . The inner surface  236  further contains a plurality of female threads or snaps  2360  which can be engagingly received by the male lid component  222 . Accordingly, the bottom surface  230  of the male lid component  222  has a male threaded member or snap  2330  that extends downward (e.g. away from) the bottom surface  230  such that it can be received by the female threads or corresponding snap  2360  of the female lid component  232 . In this respect, each pair of threads  2330 ,  2360  allows the male lid component  222  and female lid component  232  to be twisted or snapped together such that any liquid cleansing solution  400  contained within the interior cavity  240  of the body  210  does not leak from the interior cavity  240  unintentionally.  FIG.  1    also shows a series of protuberance  260 ,  262  which are on the interior of the container and can be used to provide agitation to help in breaking up the pieces or fragments of the solid cleansing bar. The container may also be provided with heating elements  265  and a plug  264  to allow the container to be plugged in to an electrical outlet to help with the melting of the fragments or pieces of the solid cleansing bar, or the remelting of the solution if it hardens. 
       FIG.  2    illustrates a perspective view of one potential embodiment of a soap dispensing device  200  of the solid cleansing bar reusage system  100  of the present invention in a closed position. In this figure, the male lid component  222  can also be observed. The male lid component  222  is preferably round in shape and has a flat top surface  226 . The component  222  also has an outer side surface  224  which further includes a spout  228 . However, it should be noted that the top surface  226  may alternatively have a spout  228  in one embodiment of the container  200 . The spout  228  preferably contains a continuous opening  2280  that allows the liquid cleansing solution  400  to exit the body  210 . The continuous opening  2280  of the spout  228  may also have an internal spout gate  2282 , which allows or inhibits the flow of the liquid cleansing solution  400  from the body  210 . The gate  2282  can be opened or closed via a push button assembly  2260  located on the top surface  226  of the male lid component  222  such that when the assembly  2260  is pressed down, the spout gate  2282  opens and liquid soap  400  may flow from the spout  228 . However, when the assembly  2260  is not pressed down, the spout gate  2282  remains closed and the liquid cleansing solution  400  may not flow from the spout  228 . 
       FIG.  3    illustrates a graphical representation of one potential embodiment of a method of reusing a fragment  12  of a solid cleansing bar to for a liquid cleansing solution  400  of the soap bar reusage system  100  of the present invention in a closed position. As noted, the system  100  is designed to allow an individual to utilize a remaining bar fragment or piece  12 , such that it need not be thrown away and wasted. Accordingly, the fragment or piece  12  can be turned into a liquid cleansing solution using the method  300  of the system  100 . The first step  302  of the method  300  involves placing at least one bar fragment or piece  12  into the interior cavity area or reservoir  240  of the dispensing device  200 . The second step  304  of the method then involves adding warm or hot water to the interior cavity  240 . In other embodiments, a different liquid may be used as the warming solution, such as essential oils, so that an individual can add other attributes to the cleansing solution. 
     Alternatively, the heating elements discussed with respect to  FIG.  1    may be activated in order to melt the fragments or pieces without the need of adding water or other heated material. Thirdly  306 , a user must then wait for the water or other liquid to melt the fragment(s) or pieces  12  into the liquid cleansing solution  400 . In the fourth step  308  an individual can then pick up and tilt the dispensing device  200  by grabbing the body  210  via the indents  2120 , pressing down the push button  2260  (in an embodiment of the device  200  that is comprised of a push button  2260 ) and allowing liquid cleansing solution, such as soap  400 , to flow onto their hand  10  or body for washing, which can be observed in  FIG.  4   . Together, waiting for the liquid to melt and pouring the liquid is known as “store and pour”. It should also be noted that the interior cavity  240  of the dispensing device  200  may have an agitator  242  that aids in the breakdown of bar fragments or pieces  12  by further breaking down the fragments or pieces  12  if a user chooses to swirl or shake the device  200  after adding hot water. 
     Certain terms are used throughout the following description and claims to refer to particular features or components. As one skilled in the art will appreciate, different persons may refer to the same feature or component by different names. This document does not intend to distinguish between components or features that differ in name but not structure or function. As used herein “soap bar reusage system” and “system” are interchangeable and refer to the soap bar reusage system  100  of the present invention. Further, “soap dispensing device” and “device” refer to the soap dispensing device  200  of the present invention. 
     Notwithstanding the forgoing, the soap bar reusage system  100  of the present invention and its various components can be of any suitable size and configuration as is known in the art without affecting the overall concept of the invention, provided that they accomplish the above-stated objectives. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the size, configuration and material of the soap bar reusage system  100  as shown in the FIGS. are for illustrative purposes only, and that many other sizes and shapes of the soap bar reusage system  100  are well within the scope of the present disclosure. Although the dimensions of the soap bar reusage system  100  are important design parameters for user convenience, the soap bar reusage system  100  may be of any size, shape and/or configuration that ensures optimal performance during use and/or that suits the user&#39;s needs and/or preferences. 
     Various modifications and additions can be made to the exemplary embodiments discussed without departing from the scope of the present invention. While the embodiments described above refer to particular features, the scope of this invention also includes embodiments having different combinations of features and embodiments that do not include all of the described features. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications, and variations as fall within the scope of the claims, together with all equivalents thereof. 
     What has been described above includes examples of the claimed subject matter. It is, of course, not possible to describe every conceivable combination of components or methodologies for purposes of describing the claimed subject matter, but one of ordinary skill in the art may recognize that many further combinations and permutations of the claimed subject matter are possible. Accordingly, the claimed subject matter is intended to embrace all such alterations, modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Furthermore, to the extent that the term “includes” is used in either the detailed description or the claims, such term is intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising” as “comprising” is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim.