Abstract:
A squeezable container for dispensing liquid soap, including a plurality of walls for simulating different shapes. The walls define an internal chamber for containing said liquid soap to be dispensed. One of the walls include closure means for opening and closing the container and for refilling the internal chamber with the liquid soap, wherein the closure means includes a passageway which allows liquid soap to pass into the internal chamber but not out of the internal chamber. At least one of the walls is formed of a squeezable material having a plurality of slits formed therein to allow the liquid soap to be dispensed from the internal chamber through the slits or holes when a squeezing pressure is applied to the container. The walls have an outer surface forming a scrubbing surface for cleaning.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a squeezable container having at least one squeezable wall having a plurality of slits or holes therein for dispensing liquid soap when squeezed and a dispenser passageway for refilling the container with liquid soap to allow it to be reused. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Containers for dispensing liquid soap are known in the prior art and include walls having a permeable material with a sufficient porosity to dispense liquid soap, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,820,435. However, such prior art containers are not refillable and reusable and thus must be disposed of after only a single use. 
         [0003]    Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a liquid soap dispenser which has at least one porous wall for dispensing liquid soap, is squeezable, includes at least one scrubbing surface, and is refillable and reusable. 
         [0004]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a liquid soap dispenser that includes a detachable cap having a check valve therein for allowing air to pass into an internal chamber in order for the squeezable container to return to its original shape. 
         [0005]    Another object of the present invention is to provide at least one squeezable wall having a plurality of slits or holes therein for dispensing liquid soap when the wall is squeezed by the user. 
         [0006]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a squeezable liquid soap dispenser that is long-lasting, durable and easy to clean for repeated use. 
         [0007]    A further object of the present invention is to provide a squeezable liquid soap dispenser that can be mass-produced in an automated and economical manner and is readily affordable by the consumer. 
       SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
       [0008]    In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a squeezable container for dispensing liquid soap. The container includes a plurality of walls for simulating different shapes. The walls define an internal chamber for containing the liquid soap to be dispensed. One of the walls include closure means for opening and closing the container and for refilling the internal chamber with the liquid soap, wherein the closure means includes a passageway which allows liquid soap to pass into the internal chamber but not out of the internal chamber. At least one of the walls is formed of a squeezable material having a plurality of slits formed therein to allow the liquid soap to be dispensed from the internal chamber through the slits when a squeezing pressure is applied to the container. The walls have an outer surface forming a scrubbing surface for cleaning. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    Further objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon consideration of the detailed description of the presently-preferred embodiment, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein: 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the squeezable container of the preferred embodiment of the present invention showing a container housing having a plurality of slits thereon and a cap for attaching to a threaded neck with a check valve therein; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the squeezable container of the present invention showing the container housing, the slits and a flush-mounted cap for attaching to an interior-threaded passageway with a check valve therein; 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a sectional view of the squeezable container of the present invention showing the container housing; an interior compartment and a plurality of holes on a container wall; 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a top perspective view of the squeezable container of an alternate embodiment of the present invention showing a container housing having flexible walls and a scrubbing surface and a plurality of slits on the flexible walls and a cap; 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is a side perspective view of the squeezable container fo the present invention showing the slits on the scrubbing surface of the flexible walls and the cap; 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of the squeezable container of the present invention taken along lines  6 - 6  of  FIG. 4  in the direction of the arrows showing the container housing having an interior compartment and a semi-flush cap attached to a side wall; 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  is a bottom perspective view of an exterior cap of the squeezable container fo the present invention showing an interior stem and interior threading within a cap cover; 
           [0017]      FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view of the exterior cap of the squeezable container of the present invention taken along lines  8 - 8  of  FIG. 7  in the direction of the arrows showing a check valve having a shut-off ball and compression spring within the interior stem; 
           [0018]      FIG. 9  is a bottom perspective view of a semi-flush cap of the squeezable container of the present invention showing an interior stem having exterior threading on the upper end of an interior stem; 
           [0019]      FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional view of the semi-flush cap of the squeezable container of the present invention taken along lines  10 - 10  of  FIG. 9  in the direction of the arrows showing the check valve having the shut-off ball and compression spring within the interior stem; 
           [0020]      FIG. 11  is a bottom perspective view of a flush-mounted cap of the squeezable container of the present invention showing an exterior stem and a cover cap having exterior threading thereon; 
           [0021]      FIG. 12  is a top perspective view of the flush-mounted cap of the squeezable container of the present invention showing the exterior stem and the cover cap having a turning slot and exterior threading; and 
           [0022]      FIG. 13  is a cross-sectional view of the flush-mounted cap of the squeezable container of the present invention taken along lines  13 - 13  of  FIG. 12  in the direction of the arrows showing the check valve having the shut-off ball and compression spring within the exterior stem. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0023]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , there is a container  10  for dispensing liquid soap  12  molded in a plastic material. The container  10  is shown in the shape of a bar of soap, but the container  10  may be of any other desired shape, such as a bar of soap, a toy (ie. a baseball, a football, a hockey puck, etc.) or a 3-dimensional character (ie. Mickey Mouse, Bugs Bunny, etc.). The container  10  includes upper wall  14 , lower wall  16 , and side walls  18 ,  20 ,  22 , and  24 . The walls define an internal chamber  26  for holding the liquid soap  12 . 
         [0024]    At least one of the walls  14  is formed of a squeezable material, being a nonwoven porous material, or a high-density polyethylene or polypropylene. The outer surface  14   a  of squeezable wall  14  forms a scrubbing surface for cleaning. In another embodiment, lower wall  16  is also squeezable, and its outer surface  16   a  forms a scrubbing surface. In still another embodiment, all the walls are squeezable and form outer scrubbing surfaces. It is understood that depending upon the viscosity of the liquid soap  12 , the size of the slit or hole will vary. For example, if a liquid soap  12  with a high viscosity is used, then the slit or hole size will have to be made larger to release the soap  12  from the container  10  when it is squeezed during use, and to prevent leaking of the soap  12  from the container  10  when it is not squeezed. 
         [0025]    In the preferred embodiment, the squeezable walls  14  and  16  are high-density polyethylene (HDPE). The dispensing slits are shown at  28 , and the preferred slit size is at least ⅛ of an inch but can be in the range of 1/16 of an inch to ¼ of an inch. The thickness of the squeezable walls is preferably ⅛ of an inch but can be in the range of 1/32 of an inch to ¼ of an inch. For example, when the liquid soap  12  has a low viscosity of between 10,000 to 25,000 centipoise, the slit size is in the range of 1/16 of an inch to 3/16 of an inch in order to release the low viscosity liquid soap  12  from the container  10  when squeezed during use. When the liquid soap has a high viscosity of between 25,001 to 40,000 centipoise, the slit size  28  is larger being in the range of over 3/16 of an inch to ¼ of an inch in order to release the higher viscosity liquid soap from the container  10  when squeezed during use. 
         [0026]    In an alternate embodiment, the dispensing hole  29 , as shown in  FIG. 3 , in squeezable walls  14  and  16 , have a diameter of at least 0.015 of an inch. For example, when the liquid soap  12  has a low viscosity of between 10,000 to 25,000 centipoise, the hole size is in the range of 0.015 of an inch to 0.032 of an inch in order to release the low viscosity liquid soap  12  from the container  10  when squeezed during use. When the liquid soap  12  has a high viscosity of between 25,001 to 40,000 centipoise, the hole size is larger being in the range of over 0.032 of an inch to 0.064 of an inch in order to release the higher viscosity liquid soap  12  from the container  10  when squeezed during use. 
         [0027]    The outer surfaces  14   a  and  16   a  cannot be too abrasive to the skin and preferably are of the fine or extra fine grade of HDPE. Of course, other similar or equivalent soft plastic materials may be employed within the scope of the invention. 
         [0028]    The squeezing pressure to be applied to container  10  to dispense the liquid soap  12  from internal chamber  26  through the squeezable walls  14  and  16  varies with the slit size, the material, the thickness of the material, surface characteristics, and the viscosity of the liquid soap. Ivory liquid soap has a suitable viscosity for the slit size and thickness of the preferred embodiment. The squeezing pressure to dispense the liquid soap  12  can be as low as 0.2 PSI but preferably is in the range of 1 PSI to 10 PSI. When no pressure is applied to the container, the porosity of the slit size of the squeezable wall  14  is such that no liquid will be dispensed or seep (leak) through the squeezable walls of the container  10 . Thus, the container has a long shelf life. 
         [0029]    After all or part of the liquid soap  12  has been dispensed and used, the container  10  may be refilled and reused. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the container  10  includes a passageway  30  having exterior threading  31  (threaded exterior neck) through side wall  22  and into internal chamber  26 , and a removable filler cap  32  which is screwed on the exterior threading  31  for closing passageway  30  after the internal chamber  26  is refilled. To fill chamber  26 , the liquid soap  12  may be poured or squeezed through passageway  30 . 
         [0030]    Alternatively, a one-way recessed, plastic, check valve may be placed in passageway  30  to allow liquid soap  12  to pass into, but not out of, internal chamber  26 . In such an embodiment, the soft filler cap  32  is optional. 
         [0031]      FIG. 2  shows an alternative cap closure, wherein passageway  30   a  is recessed into the container, and cap  32   a  is a flush, molded cap having a flush head  32   b.    
         [0032]      FIG. 3  illustrates an alternative method of making the container, wherein upper container section  10   a  is molded separately from lower container section  10   b,  and the two sections snap together or are heat sealed or glued along a seam  10   c  to form the container  10 . 
         [0033]      FIGS. 4 and 5  show another embodiment of the invention. Container  110  has walls  114 ,  116 ,  118 ,  120 ,  122 , and  124  which define an internal chamber  126  for holding the liquid soap  112 . Container  110  is molded from a soft, squeezable plastic material, such as polyethylene or polylpropylene. Dispensing slits  128  are molded into container wall  114  or punctured into wall  114 . Outer surface  114   a  forms a scrubbing surface, and it is pressed against the body with a squeezing pressure applied to container  110  to dispense the liquid soap  112  from internal chamber  126  through dispensing slits  128 . When not in use, the squeezable wall  114  may face upward to help prevent the liquid soap  112  from seeping out. In addition, a closing cap  132  with internal threads is employed to close passageway  130  after the internal chamber  126  is refilled. The dimensions discussed above are also applicable to this embodiment. 
         [0034]      FIGS. 6 to 10  show the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , except that alternative closures are illustrated in side wall  22 . For example, in  FIG. 6 , a plastic insert  150  having threads is molded into the wall  22  of container  10 . The plastic insert  150 , on its interior, may be heat sealed or glued to the wall  22  of the container. 
         [0035]      FIGS. 7 and 8  show a second alternate cap closure design, wherein a molded exterior cap  42  includes a cap head cover  44  having interior threading  46  for attaching to the exterior threading  31  of passage  30  (see  FIG. 1 ). Cap head cover  44  also includes an interior stem  48  having a stem passageway  50  for receiving a check valve  52  therein. Check valve  52  includes a shut-off ball  54  and a compression spring  56  within the cap passageway  50  of interior stem  48 , as depicted in  FIG. 8  of the drawings. Check valve  52  is used to allow air  58  to pass into the internal chamber  26  in order for the squeezable container  10  to return to its original shape. 
         [0036]      FIGS. 9 and 10  show a third alternate cap closure design, wherein a molded semi-flush exterior cap  62  includes a cap head cover  64  having exterior threading  66  at an upper end  67  of an interior stem  68 . Interior stem  68  includes a cap passageway  70  for receiving check valve  52  therein. 
         [0037]      FIGS. 11 ,  12  and  13  show a fourth alternate cap closure design, wherein a molded flush-mounted cap  72  includes a cap head cover  74  having exterior threading  76  thereon. Cap head cover  74  also includes an exterior stem  78  and a turning slot  80  thereto. Exterior stem  78  includes a cap passageway  82  for receiving check valve  52  therein. 
       ADVANTAGES OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
       [0038]    Advantageously, in accordance with the present invention, there has been provided a unique squeezable container for dispensing liquid soap, which is refillable and reusable, has a removable closure, and includes one or more scrubbing surfaces. 
         [0039]    Another advantage of the present invention is that it provides for a liquid soap dispenser that includes a detachable cap having a check valve therein for allowing air to pass into an internal chamber in order for the squeezable container to return to its original shape. 
         [0040]    Another advantage of the present invention is that it provides for at least one squeezable wall having a plurality of slits or holes therein for dispensing liquid soap when the wall is squeezed by the user. 
         [0041]    Another advantage of the present invention is that it provides for a squeezable liquid soap dispenser that is long-lasting, durable and easy to clean for repeated use. 
         [0042]    A further advantage of the present invention is that it provides for a squeezable liquid soap dispenser that can be mass-produced in an automated and economical manner and is readily affordable by the consumer. 
         [0043]    A latitude of modification, change, and substitution is intended in the foregoing disclosure, and in some instances, some features of the invention will be employed without a corresponding use of other features. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the spirit and scope and of the invention herein.