Patent Publication Number: US-2018035849-A1

Title: Bath sponge with soap container and retractable handle

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Technical Field of the Invention 
     The instant disclosure generally relates to bath accessories. More particularly, the instant disclosure relates to bath sponges, brushes, loofahs, the like, etc. And even more particularly, the instant disclosure relates to a bath sponge with a soap container and a retractable handle. 
     Description of the Related Art 
     A sponge is a tool or cleaning aid consisting of soft, porous material. Sponges are usually used for cleaning impervious surfaces. They are especially good at absorbing water and water-based solutions. Sponges are typically made from cellulose wood fibers or foamed plastic polymers. Some natural sponges are still sold, but most are now used either as body or facial sponges (bath sponges). 
     Bath sponges help cleanse the skin by scraping away the dead skin and washing away dirt. In order to use soap with bath sponges, liquid soap is typically added to the sponge by pouring the liquid soap onto the bath sponge. This process is time consuming. In addition, this process is also very inefficient as it typically leads to a lot of wasted soap that does not make it on the sponge or falls off of the sponge before it is absorbed into the sponge. 
     As such, there is clearly a need to make the process of adding liquid soap to a sponge faster and more efficient. 
     Another known problem associated with back sponges and bathing in general is the ability to reach and wash one&#39;s back with the bath sponge. Currently, there are bath brushes with handles that provide the ability to reach one&#39;s back. However, these bath brushes have fixed handles making them difficult to use on other parts of the body besides the back. As such, some users may use a bath sponge for most parts of their body and the bath brush just for their back. In addition, getting the liquid soap to stay on the bath brush while maneuvering the brush to the back area can cause the soap to run off or fall off the brush head. As such, there is clearly a need to provide a bath sponge that can be easily used on all parts of the body including one&#39;s back. 
     The instant disclosure of a bath sponge with a soap container and a retractable handle is designed to address at least some aspects of the problems discussed above. 
     SUMMARY 
     Briefly described, in a possibly preferred embodiment, the present apparatus overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages and meets the recognized need for such a device by providing a bath sponge with a soap container and a retractable handle. 
     In one aspect, the instant disclosure embraces a bath sponge with a container, a sponge, and a pump. The container may be configured for holding soap. The container may have a top part and a bottom part. The sponge may be attached to the bottom part of the container. The pump may have a push button exposed on the top part of the container. The pump may be configured to force soap from the container out of the bottom part of the container into the sponge by depressing the push button on the top part of the container. 
     One feature of the sponge may be at least one vein inside the sponge. The vein or veins may be in communication with a bottom hole in the bottom part of the container in communication with the pump. Wherein, the vein or veins may be configured to distribute soap from the container into the sponge via the pump. In select embodiments, the at least one vein may include a plurality of vein holes configured to distribute the soap in the veins into the sponge from the plurality of vein holes. In other select embodiments, the at least one vein may include a trunk vein, a plurality of branch veins, and a plurality of stick veins. The trunk vein may be connected to the bottom hole in the bottom part of the container and may be in communication with the pump. The plurality of branch veins may be branched off from the trunk vein. The plurality of stick veins may be branched off from each of the branch veins. In these embodiments, the trunk vein, the plurality of branch veins, and the plurality of stick veins may create a tree like vein structure for distributing the soap from the container to the sponge in a plurality of locations. In other select embodiments, the vein or veins may include a flexible material. In these embodiments, the flexible material of the at least one vein may be configured to deform and squeeze when compressed thereby forcing any soap in the veins into the sponge, like when the sponge is depressed. 
     Another feature of the sponge may be a string and a plurality of hooks or loops around a periphery of the bottom part of the container. The string may be woven between the sponge and the plurality of hooks or loops for attaching the sponge to the bottom part of the container. 
     Another feature of the sponge may be that the pump may include a plunger, a spring, a cap, and a depressable cover. The plunger may have a top end and a bottom end and may be configured to force soap out of the bottom end through the bottom part of the container. The spring may bias the plunger toward the top part of the container. The cap may be on the top end of the plunger and may extend out of a top hole in the top part of the container. The cap may be configured for depressing the plunger to force soap out of the bottom part of the container. The depressable cover may be on top of the cap and may be configured to receive a user&#39;s finger or hand for depressing the pump and for sealing the top hole in the container around the cap. The depressable cover and the cap connected to the plunger may create the push button of the pump. 
     Another feature of the sponge may be that the container may include a port that may be positioned on a side of the container and may be configured for filling the container with soap. In select embodiments, the port may include a slidable door configured for opening and closing the port. 
     Another feature of the sponge may be a retractable handle that may be connected to a side of the container. The handle may be configured for reaching a back of a user with the sponge. The retractable handle may include a plurality of telescoping sections configured to retract from an extended brush length to a retracted hand sponge length. The extended brush length may be configured for reaching the back of the user with the sponge. In select embodiments, a grip may be included at a distal end of the handle. In select embodiments, the grip may be made from a non-slip flexible grip material. In select embodiments, the handle may be removably affixed to the side of the container. For example, the handle may include a threaded hole at a connection end configured to receive a corresponding threaded protrusion from the side of the container, whereby the handle can be screwed on and off of the threaded protrusion on the side of the container via the threaded hole. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present bath sponge with soap container and retractable handle will be better understood by reading the Detailed Description with reference to the accompanying drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, and in which like reference numerals denote similar structure and refer to like elements throughout, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  schematically depicts a perspective view of the bath sponge with soap container and retractable handle according to select embodiments of the instant disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  schematically depicts a top view of the bath sponge with soap container and retractable handle according to select embodiments of the instant disclosure; 
         FIG. 3  schematically depicts a top view of the bath sponge with soap container and retractable handle from  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  schematically depicts a bottom view of the bath sponge with soap container and retractable handle from  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  schematically depicts a left side view of the bath sponge with soap container and retractable handle from  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 6  schematically depicts a right side view of the bath sponge with soap container and retractable handle from  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 7  schematically depicts a front view of the bath sponge with soap container and retractable handle from  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 8  schematically depicts a back view of the bath sponge with soap container and retractable handle from  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 9  schematically depicts a zoomed in side view of the bath sponge with soap container and retractable handle from  FIG. 1  with the container partially broken away to show the pump according to select embodiments of the instant disclosure; 
         FIG. 10  schematically depicts a zoomed in side view of the bath sponge with soap container and retractable handle from  FIG. 1  with the container partially broken away and the sponge removed to show the tree-like vein structure according to select embodiment of the instant disclosure; 
         FIG. 11A  schematically depicts a right side view of the bath sponge with soap container and retractable handle from  FIG. 1  with the handle extended in the extended brush length according to select embodiments of the instant disclosure; 
         FIG. 11B  schematically depicts a right side view of the bath sponge with soap container and retractable handle from  FIG. 1  with the handle retracted in the retracted hand sponge length according to select embodiments of the instant disclosure; and 
         FIG. 12  schematically depicts an environmental perspective view of the bath sponge with soap container and retractable handle from  FIG. 1  in the extended brush length for reaching the back of the user according to select embodiments of the instant disclosure. 
     
    
    
     It is to be noted that the drawings presented are intended solely for the purpose of illustration and that they are, therefore, neither desired nor intended to limit the disclosure to any or all of the exact details of construction shown, except insofar as they may be deemed essential to the claimed disclosure. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In describing the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, as illustrated in  FIGS. 1-12 , specific terminology is employed for the sake of clarity. The present disclosure, however, is not intended to be limited to the specific terminology so selected, and it is to be understood that each specific element includes all technical equivalents that operate in a similar manner to accomplish similar functions. Embodiments of the claims may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed to be limited to the embodiments set forth herein. The examples set forth herein are non-limiting examples, and are merely examples among other possible examples. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1-12  by way of example, and not limitation, therein is illustrated example embodiments of bath sponge  10  with container  12  and retractable handle  84 . 
     Bath sponge  10  may be for quickly and efficiently introducing liquid soap  14  from container  12  into sponge  20 . Bath sponge  10  may also be for providing a bath sponge that can be conveniently used on all parts of a user  88 , including the back  86  via retractable handle  84 . Bath sponge  10  may generally include container  12 , sponge  20 , pump  22 , and handle  84 . These parts and components will be discussed in detail below. 
     Container  12  may be included in bath sponge  10 . Container  12  may be for holding soap  14 , like liquid soap. Container  12  may have top part  16  and bottom part  18 . The bottom part  18  may be attached to sponge  20 . As such, container  12  may be configured for holding soap  14  and allowing soap  14  to be pumped out of its bottom part  18 . The top part  16  of container  12  may include top hole  64  for push button  24  of pump  22 . In select embodiments, container  12  may have an oval shaped cross-section  70 . This oval shaped cross-section  70  may provide for an ergonomic feel and shape to bath sponge  10 . In other select embodiments, container  12  may have puck shape  72 . Puck shape  72  may include side  74  between the top part  16  and the bottom part  18 . Puck shape  72  may be where the side  74  may have thickness  76  smaller than width  78  of the container  12 . In select embodiments, container  12  may have port  80 . Port  80  may be configured for filling the container  12  with soap  14 . Port  80  may include any device or means for opening and closing (sealing) for allowing soap  14  to be inserted into container  12  and sealed inside of container  12  once inserted. In select embodiments, port  80  may include slidable door  82  configured for opening and closing port  80 . Slidable door  82  may be slid in a sealed groove on the interior wall of side  74  of container  12  for opening and closing port  80 . Port  80  may be positioned at any desired location for filling container  12  with soap  14 . In select embodiments, port  80  may be positioned on side  74  of container  12 . 
     Sponge  20  may be included in bath sponge  10 . Sponge  20  may be for helping cleanse the skin by scraping away the dead skin and washing away dirt. Sponge  20  may be configured for absorbing soap  14  from container  12  and helping in creating a lather of soap and water. Sponge  20  may be any standard bath sponge, loofah, the like, etc. In one embodiment, sponge  20  may be mesh bath sponge  52 , like a polyethylene plastic mesh bath sponge. Sponge  20  may be attached to the bottom part  18  of container  12 . Sponge  20  may be attached to the bottom part  18  of container  12 . Sponge  20  may be attached to the bottom part  18  of sponge  20  by any means. In select embodiments, as shown in the figures, bath sponge  10  may include string  46 , and hooks or loops  48  for attaching sponge  20  to the bottom part  18  of container  12 . The hooks or loops  48  may be anywhere on or around bottom part  18 , including, but not limited to, around the periphery  50  of the bottom part  18  of the container  12 . The string  46  may thus be woven between the sponge  20  and the plurality of hooks or loops  48  for attaching the sponge  20  to the bottom part  18  of the container  12 . In select embodiments, the sponge  20  may be permanently fixed to the bottom part  18  of the soap container  12 . In other select embodiments, the sponge  20  may be removably attached to the bottom part  18  of the soap container  12 . 
     Pump  22  may be included in bath sponge  10 . Pump  22  may be for forcing soap  14 , like liquid soap, out of the bottom part  18  of container  12  and into sponge  20 . Pump  22  may be any device or mechanism for forcing or moving soap  14  out of the bottom part  18  of container  12 . In select embodiments, pump  22  may include push button  24  exposed on the top part  16  of the container  12 . In these embodiments, pump  22  may be configured to force soap  14  from the container  12  out of the bottom part  18  of the container  12  into the sponge  20  by depressing the push button  24  on the top part  16  of the container  12 . Pump  22  may take any shape or form, and may include any components or parts for forcing liquid out of bottom part  18  of container  12 . In select embodiments, pump  22  may include plunger  54 , spring  60 , and cap  62 . The plunger  54  may have top end  56  and bottom end  58 . The plunger may be configured to force soap  14  out of the bottom end  58  through the bottom part  18  of the container  12 . The spring may bias plunger  54  toward the top part  16  of the container  12 . The cap  62  may be on the top end  56  of the plunger  54 . The cap  62  may extend out of top hole  64  in the top part  16  of the container  12 . As such, the cap  62  may be configured for depressing the plunger  54  to force soap  14  out of the bottom part  18  of the container  12 . In select embodiments, the pump  22  may further include a depressable cover  66 . The depressable cover  66  may be on top of the cap  62 . The depressable cover  66  may be configured to receive a user&#39;s finger or hand  68  for depressing the cap  62  and for sealing the top hole  64  in the container around the cap  62 . The depressable cover  66  may be made from any flexible material, including, but not limited to, a rubber and/or a plastic. The depressable cover  66  and the cap  62  connected to the plunger  54  may create the push button  24  of pump  22 . 
     Referring now specifically to  FIG. 10 , vein or veins  26  may be included in bath sponge  10 . Vein or veins  26  may be for distributing soap  14  from container  12  into sponge  20 . As such, vein or veins  26  may be positioned inside sponge  20 . Vein or veins  26  may be in communication with bottom hole  28  in the bottom part  18  of the container  12 . The pump  22  may be in communication the bottom hole  28 . As a result, the vein or veins may be configured to distribute soap  14  from container  12  into the sponge  20  via pump  22 . The vein or veins  26  may include a plurality of vein holes  30  configured to distribute the soap  14  in the veins  26  into the sponge  20  from the plurality of vein holes  30 . The vein holes  30  may be positioned at the ends of each vein  26 , equally spaced throughout each vein  26 , and/or randomly placed throughout each vein  26 . Vein holes  30  may be configured to distribute soap  14  to any desired plurality of locations  40  inside sponge  20 . In select embodiments, the vein or veins  26  may include trunk vein  32 , branch veins  34  and stick veins  36  that form tree-like vein structure  38 , as shown in  FIG. 10 . The trunk vein  32  may be connected to the bottom hole  28  in the bottom part  18  of the container  12  that is in communication with the pump  22 . The plurality of branch veins  34  may be branched off from the trunk vein  32 . And the plurality of stick veins  36  may be branched off from each of the branch veins  34 . This embodiment with tree-like vein structure  38  with trunk vein  32 , branch vein  34  and stick veins  36  may be for distributing soap  14  from container  12  to the sponge  20  in a plurality of locations. In select embodiments, the tree like vein structure  38  may have substantially oval shaped cross-section  42 , which may help align the shape of veins  26  with the oval shaped cross section  70  of container  12 . In other select embodiments, the vein or veins  26  may be made from flexible material  44 . Flexible material  44  of the veins  26  may allow veins  26  to conform to sponge  20  while in use, where flexible material  44  may allow sponge  20  to conform to the body of the user  88  without any scrapes or scratching. In select embodiments, flexible material  44  in veins  26  may be configured to deform and squeeze when compressed thereby forcing any soap  14  in the veins into the sponge  20 . This feature may produce further lather of soap  14  and water on sponge  20  during operation as the user  88  compresses sponge  20  and thus veins  26  inside sponge  20 . 
     Retractable handle  84  may be included with bath sponge  10 . Retractable handle  84  may be configured for reaching the back  86  of the user  88  with the sponge  20 , as shown in  FIG. 12 . Retractable handle  84  may be connected to container  12 , including anywhere on container  12 . In select embodiments, retractable handle  84  may be connected to side  74  of the container  12 . In select embodiments, handle  84  may be permanently affixed to container  12 , like permanently fixed or integrally formed with side  74  of container  12 , as shown in  FIG. 10 . In other select embodiments, handle  84  may be removably affixed to the side  74  of the container  12 . For example, as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 9 , handle  84  may include threaded hole  90  at connection end  92 . Threaded hole  90  may be configured to receive a corresponding threaded protrusion  94  from the side  74  of the container  12 . In this removable embodiment of handle  84 , the handle  84  can be screwed on and off of the threaded protrusion  94  on the side  74  of the container  12  via the threaded hole  90 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 11A and 11B , the retractable handle  84  may be retractable from extended brush length  96  (see  FIG. 11A ) to retracted hand sponge length  98  (see  FIG. 11B ), as shown with movement M. The extended brush length  96  may be configured for reaching the back  86  of the user  88  with the sponge  20 , as shown in  FIG. 12 . The retracted hand sponge length  98  may be configured for allowing user  88  to manipulate bath sponge  10  around other areas of their body without the hindrance of a long handle, including the user  88  gripping the retracted handle  84  and/or gripping the container  12 . Retractable handle  84  may be retractable or extendable by any means. In select embodiments, retractable handle  84  may include a plurality of telescoping sections  100 . The telescoping sections  100  may be for retracting the handle  84  from the extended brush length  96  to the retracted hand sponge length  98 . The telescoping sections  100  may have notches or turn locks for securing the telescoping sections  100  at various lengths between and at extended brush length  96  to the retracted hand sponge length  98 . As examples, and clearly not limited thereto, in select embodiments retractable handle  84  may extend up to 18 inches long for extended brush length  96 , like for reaching the lower backs of adults, or 10 or 15 inches long for reaching the lower backs of children, and may retract down to approximately 4 inches long or less for retracted hand sponge length  98 . 
     In select embodiments, the retractable handle  84  may include a grip  102 . Grip  102  may be positioned at distal end  104  of retractable handle  84 . Grip  102  may cover the last telescoping section  100  or at least a portion thereof. Grip  102  may be made from non-slip flexible grip material  106 . 
     In other select embodiments, retractable handle  84  may include a fixed length handle with no telescoping sections  100 , as shown in  FIG. 2 . In these fixed length embodiments of handle  84 , handle  84  may be retractable by removing the handle from container  12 , like by unscrewing the threaded hole  90  in the connection end  92  of handle  84  from the threaded protrusion  94  from side  74  of container  12 . 
     In operation, user  88  may first fill container  12  of bath sponge  10  with soap  14  by opening slidable door  82  of port  80 . Once container  12  is filled with soap  14 , slidable door  82  may be closed for sealing soap  14  inside container  12 . The user may then depress push button  24  (may require multiple pumps or presses) of pump  22  for forcing soap from container  12  into and out of veins  26  and into the inside of sponge  20 . Once the desired amount of soap  14  is inside sponge  20 , the user  88  may create a nice lather with water and soap  14  in and around sponge  20  for cleaning their body. The user  88  may utilize retractable handle  84  in extended back brush length for scrubbing their back  86  with sponge  20  by gripping grip  102  and manually moving sponge  20  along their back  86 . In addition, the user  88  may utilize retractable handle in retracted hand sponge length  98  for scrubbing other parts of their body by gripping grip  102  and/or container  12  and manually moving sponge  20  along the other parts of their body. If at any point more soap  14  is desired or needed in sponge  20 , the user can easily press push button  24  with their fingers or hands  68  for increasing the soap inside sponge  20 . 
     As a result, bath sponge  10  may allow for quick and efficient introduction of liquid soap  14  from container  12  into sponge  20 . In addition, bath sponge  10  may also be conveniently used on all parts of a user  88 , including the back  86  via retractable handle  84 . 
     The foregoing description and drawings comprise illustrative embodiments. Having thus described exemplary embodiments, it should be noted by those skilled in the art that the within disclosures are exemplary only, and that various other alternatives, adaptations, and modifications may be made within the scope of the present disclosure. Merely listing or numbering the steps of a method in a certain order does not constitute any limitation on the order of the steps of that method. Many modifications and other embodiments will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which this disclosure pertains having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Although specific terms may be employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation. Accordingly, the present disclosure is not limited to the specific embodiments illustrated herein, but is limited only by the following claims.