Patent Publication Number: US-6983866-B2

Title: Liquid soap dispensing bath brush

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
   Generally, the invention relates to devices used to bathe, and more particularly, the invention relates to devices that dispense soap. 
   STATEMENT OF A PROBLEM ADDRESSED BY THIS INVENTION 
   Bathing has been a ritual since the earliest days of the Egyptian Pharos. Even the 5000-year-old Temple of Karnack in Thebes, Egypt, was constructed about a bathing facility. Today, bathing is not only associated with ritual, but with cleanliness and hygienics. For example, some skin diseases, such as athletes&#39;-foot type fungal infections, become worse and are transmitted due to a lack of cleanliness. In fact, some skin diseases, such as poison ivy infections, are treated via normal bathing. Regarding cleanliness, who enjoys being in the presence of someone who has not properly bathed? Accordingly, there are many motivations to bathe regularly. 
   Proper bathing typically requires the application of soap (or some other cleanser or disinfectant) to the person being bathed, and it is also preferred to apply the soap to the entire body. Unfortunately, persons frequently apply soap haphazardly to their body, and frequently cannot reach all of their body—particularly areas of the back. For some individuals, the application of soap to the entire body is physically difficult or even impossible. In addition, the effort it takes to continually pick up a dropped bar of soap, or to replenish soap in a washcloth, may result in the failure to apply soap as needed. In less medically severe circumstances, one may simply wish to have a better way to more conveniently and easily completely lather with soap. Accordingly, to overcome these and other disadvantages associated with existing methods of applying soap, it would be advantageous to provide a device that is easily manipulated to apply soap to all areas of a body, and to provide a device that reliably supplies soap or some other desired skin application. The present invention provides such a device. 
   SELECTED OVERVIEW OF SELECTED EMBODIMENTS 
   The present invention provides technical advantages as a soap dispenser that includes a handle having a hollow interior, and a coupling on a first end of the handle for attaching a soft attachment thereto. The first end also has a fluid passage for transferring a fluid from the hollow interior to outside the hollow interior. The coupling is adapted to receive coupling member of a soft attachment, such as a pouf, a loofah, a sponge, or soft bristles, for example. Accordingly, the length and shape of the handle are designable to enable a bather (of course, also meaning a person taking a wet or dry shower) to soap all areas of his or her body with a constant application of soap (or other fluid) without the distraction of dropping soap, or the need to reapply soap to some soap delivery platform, such as a washcloth. 
   Of course, other features and embodiments of the invention will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. After reading the specification, and the detailed description of the exemplary embodiment, these persons will recognize that similar results can be achieved in not dissimilar ways. Accordingly, the detailed description is provided as an example of the best mode of the invention, and it should be understood that the invention is not limited by the detailed description. Accordingly, the invention should be read as being limited only by the claims. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Various aspects of the invention, as well as an embodiment, are better understood by reference to the following EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT OF A BEST MODE. To better understand the invention, the EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT OF A BEST MODE should be read in conjunction with the drawings in which: 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a soap dispenser configured according to the invention; 
       FIG. 2  is an interior view of the soap dispenser of  FIG. 1  taken along cut line A—A; 
       FIG. 3  is a close up of the chambers of the pump chamber; 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a coupling member attached to a soft attachment; and 
       FIG. 5  shows a soft attachment with bristles. 
   

   AN EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT OF A BEST MODE 
   Many people enjoy the feeling a shower with an exfoliating soap applicator, such as a loofah. Other persons appreciate water conservation that is achieved by using a sponge to take a shower. Others enjoy the lather that can be produced by a sponge, loofah, or “pouf.” All of these persons would benefit from an invention that allows them to lather better and shower more quickly. Accordingly, the invention is a soap dispenser for use with a soft soap applicator, such as a loofah, sponge, pouf, or a bristle brush. In general, the soap dispenser includes a handle having a hollow interior that is attachable to a soft soap applicator (or “soft attachment”) via a coupling on a first end of the handle. The coupling is adapted to receive a coupling member maintained on the soft attachment. The first end of the handle also has a fluid passage for transferring a fluid from the hollow interior to outside the hollow interior. 
   When reading this section (An Exemplary Embodiment of a Best Mode, which describes an exemplary embodiment of the best mode of the invention, hereinafter “exemplary embodiment”), one should keep in mind several points. First, the following exemplary embodiment is what the inventor believes to be the best mode for practicing the invention at the time this patent was filed. Thus, since one of ordinary skill in the art may recognize from the following exemplary embodiment that substantially equivalent structures or substantially equivalent acts may be used to achieve the same results in exactly the same way, or to achieve the same results in a not dissimilar way, the following exemplary embodiment should not be interpreted as limiting the invention to one embodiment. 
   Likewise, individual aspects (sometimes called species) of the invention are provided as examples, and, accordingly, one of ordinary skill in the art may recognize from a following exemplary structure (or a following exemplary act) that a substantially equivalent structure or substantially equivalent act may be used to either achieve the same results in substantially the same way, or to achieve the same results in a not dissimilar way. 
   Accordingly, the discussion of a species (or a specific item) invokes the genus (the class of items) to which that species belongs as well as related species in that genus. Likewise, the recitation of a genus invokes the species known in the art. Furthermore, it is recognized that as technology develops, a number of additional alternatives to achieve an aspect of the invention may arise. Such advances are hereby incorporated within their respective genus, and should be recognized as being functionally equivalent or structurally equivalent to the aspect shown or described. 
   Second, the only essential aspects of the invention are identified by the claims. Thus, aspects of the invention, including elements, acts, functions, and relationships (shown or described) should not be interpreted as being essential unless they are explicitly described and identified as being essential. Third, a function or an act should be interpreted as incorporating all modes of doing that function or act, unless otherwise explicitly stated (for example, one recognizes that “tacking” may be done by nailing, stapling, gluing, hot gunning, riveting, etc., and so a use of the word tacking invokes stapling, gluing, etc., and all other modes of that word and similar words, such as “attaching”). Fourth, unless explicitly stated otherwise, conjunctive words (such as “or”, “and”, “including”, or “comprising” for example) should be interpreted in the inclusive, not the exclusive, sense. Fifth, the words “means” and “step” are provided to facilitate the reader&#39;s understanding of the invention and do not mean “means” or “step” as defined in §112, paragraph 6 of 35 U.S.C., unless used as “means for—functioning” or “step for—functioning” in the Claims section. 
   Description of the Figures 
   Better understanding of the invention may be gained by examining the drawings, in which  FIG. 1  illustrates a soap dispenser  100  configured according to the invention. Generally, the soap dispenser  100  includes a handle  110  having a hollow interior, and a coupling  116  (not shown) on a first end  112  of the handle  110 . A coupling is any component either integral with or attached to the handle  110  that enables a soft attachment to couple to the handle  110 . Accordingly, the coupling  116  is adapted to receive a soft attachment  120 , such as a pouf, soft bristles, body sponge, or loofah (shown), for example, via a coupling member  122 . 
   A coupling member is any component integrally formed with or attached to a soft member, and that is also attachable to a coupling of a handle. The coupling member  122  of the soft attachment  120  is adapted to mount onto the coupling  116  of the handle  110  (the soft attachment  120  being attached to the coupling member  122 ). Although not viewable in  FIG. 1  the coupling member  122  is adapted to slide and lock onto, and to unlock and slide off of the coupling  116 . Accordingly, the coupling  116  can be said to have a flaring-lip that is adapted to accept the coupling member  122 . 
   Also illustrated in  FIG. 1  is a cap  130  on a second end  114  of the handle  110 . The cap  130  is removable (such as by screw-action or snap-on) to allow a user to fill the hollow interior of the handle with a fluid such as liquid soap. Although not completely viewable in  FIG. 1 , the cap  130  has a notch  132  which allows the soap dispenser  110  to hang from a hook. In addition, the handle  100  preferably has a grip  140  that at least partially covers an exterior portion of the handle  110 . Although other materials may be chosen, in a preferred embodiment the grip  140  is a rubber grip. Furthermore, a button  150  protrudes through the handle  110 . The button  150  is preferably a rubber button  150 , and by pressing the button  150  a user may dispense a liquid into the soft attachment  120 . 
     FIG. 2  is an interior view of the soap dispenser of  FIG. 1  taken along cut line A—A. From this view, one can see that the handle  110  has a hollow interior portion  210 . In one embodiment (not shown), the hollow interior portion of the handle is detachable from the rest of the handle so that various liquids may be provided pre-loaded into a hollow handle portion. In addition, the cap  130  is also seen as being coupled to the handle via screw threads  230 . 
   The hollow interior  210  of the handle  110  has a first end  212  and a second end  214 . The hollow interior  210  maintains a first valve  215  that separates the hollow interior  210  into a fluid portion  216  at the second end  214 , and a pump chamber  250  at the first end  212 . The first valve  215  allows fluid to traverse from the fluid portion  216  into the pump chamber  250 . 
   Referring briefly to  FIGS. 2 and 3  where  FIG. 3  is a close up of the chambers of the pump chamber  250 , a second valve  256  separates the pump chamber  250  into a first pump cylinder  320  and a second pump cylinder  330 . The first pump cylinder  320  is preferably arched at the first valve  315  so that the first valve  215  may function as a one-way valve via a ball-stop  252  that maintains a predefined pressure against the valve  215  via a first spring  254 . A base  322  in the first chamber  320  functions as a spring seat for the first spring  254 . Similarly, the second pump cylinder  330  is preferably arched toward the second valve  256  so that the second valve  256  may function as a one-way valve via a second ball-stop  253  that maintains a predefined pressure range against the second valve  256  via a second first spring  255 . The structure of the handle itself functions as a spring seat for the second spring  255 . 
   The first pump cylinder  320  has a button opening  310 . The button opening allows fluid to flow into the button  150  so that as the button  150  is depressed, fluid pressure in the first pump cylinder  320  increases. This increase in fluid pressure secures the first ball-stop  252  to the first valve  215  preventing the fluid from flowing back into the hollow portion of the handle  216 . The increase in pressure also forces the second ball-stop  253  to dislodge from the second valve  256 , thus allowing fluid to flow into the second pump cylinder  330 . Since the second pump cylinder  330  is in fluid communication with an exit passage  260 , fluid may freely flow from the second pump cylinder  300 , through the exit passage  260  and into a soft attachment (not presently shown). Preferably, the exit passage  260  terminates into a generally planar-surfaced coupling. Furthermore, a breather  270  is coupled between the coupling and the hollow interior  216  so that the pressure in the interior  216  does not become a vacuum relative to ambient pressure. In one alternative embodiment, the breather  270  is embodied as a hollow tube that is coupled between an air hole in the generally planar mounting/coupling, and the hollow portion of the handle  216 . At this point it can be seen that the hollow interior  216  is separated from the  250  via a radial lip  217 , which is of a radius smaller than that of the pump chamber  250 . A cavity  218  traverses the length of the radial lip  217  from the hollow interior  216  to the side nearest to the pump chamber  250 , and is in alignment with the breather pipeline  317 . Preferably, the cavity  218  is about radially as large as the breather pipeline  317 , however, any cavity radius is acceptable as long as it will allow the air pressure in the hollow interior  216  to stabilize at approximately ambient pressure, while allowing a minimal amount (preferably, none) of a desired liquid to travel through the breather pipeline  317 . Of course, many alternatives to the breathers shown and described herein are readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art, and are accordingly encompassed within the scope of the invention as defined in the claims. 
   Accordingly, referring again to  FIG. 2 , the pump chamber  250  may also comprise the pump button  150 , which may also comprise part of the hollow interior  210 . The first pump cylinder has a first volume when the pump button  150  is at rest, and a second volume when the pump button  150  is in a depressed position (the second volume being less than the first volume). The exit passage  260  is preferably a tubular shaped portion of the housing  110  that traverses from the second pump cylinder  300  to a coupling portion of the housing. However, it should be understood that the exit passage may have any shape and is limited only by its function of providing a passage for liquid to travel from inside the hollow portion of the handle to outside the hollow portion of the handle. 
     FIG. 4  illustrates a coupling member  430  attached to a soft attachment  420 , embodied as a soft sponge. The coupling member  430  is attachable to a coupling comprising a generally planar mounting that is adapted to secure within the frame of the coupling member  430  via a first rail  432  and a second rail  434 , and is securable via a latch  440 , as is readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. Holes  450  allow for a soft screw or other attaching coupling to secure the soft attachment  420  to the coupling member  430 . Of course, many alternatives for coupling the soft members to the hollow handle exist, such as a clip, magnets, or VELCRO®, for example, and these alternatives do not depart from the scope or spirit of the claims. 
   Though the invention has been described with respect to a specific preferred embodiment, many variations and modifications will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the present application. It is therefore the intention that the appended claims be interpreted as broadly as possible in view of the prior art to include all such variations and modifications.