Abstract:
A soap holding and scrubbing device for holding soap and allowing a user to scrub his or her body. An example soap holding and scrubbing device comprises a porous tubular housing having a first end, a second end, and an outer surface. A seam is formed in the housing with the seam extending above the outer surface of the housing. A closing mechanism closes the second end of the housing. A securing mechanism secures the soap between the seam and the second end of the housing and maintains the soap within the housing. The first end of the housing is open with the soap insertable into the housing through the first end and positionable against the closed second end. The securing mechanism is initially positioned against the seam and, as the soap dissolves, is movable in general direction toward the second end of the housing thereby maintaining the soap against the second end of the housing.

Description:
The present application claims benefit of priority of pending provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/403,361, filed on Sep. 14, 2010, entitled “Soap Holder and Scrubber”. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates generally to a soap holding and scrubbing device and, more particularly, the invention relates to a soap holding and scrubbing device for holding soap and allowing complete use of the soap until the soap is used up. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     A variety of hand-held washing devices are available such as scrub brushes, sponges, and the like. These require that soap be separately applied prior to using the device. After the soap is applied, the device is used for scrubbing or otherwise distributing the soap along a user&#39;s body. This is inconvenient as it either requires the user to hold the soap in one hand and the device in the other, or requires the user to repeatedly pick up and set down the device and soap as needed. 
     Some designs feature integrated soap contained within the device. However, these designs are difficult for the user as the soap either cannot be refilled or is difficult to replenish once depleted. Designs that cannot be refilled are obviously not effective after they are extinguished and must be replaced by a new device. Designs that are difficult to refill may not be favored by users. Refilling of these devices is often difficult because the soap is located in the device interior that is difficult to access. Conversely, some designs feature the soap on the device exterior which is easy to access, but may result in the soap repeatedly falling out of the device, or scratching the user during use such as when the soap is contained within a fluid dispenser. 
     The device should further be designed such that the soap is not damaged or discharged when not in use. By way of example, the bar of soap stored within a wet Soap Holding and Scrubbing Device device will become soft and fall apart during a subsequent washing. Fluid dispensers should be able to contain the washing liquid such that it does not leak or discharge when the device is not in use. 
     It is also advantageous that the device be aesthetically pleasing. Washrooms and bathrooms are often fancifully decorated and users do not want to put an unattractive object within the environment. It is advantageous if the device itself can further add to the aesthetic qualities of the room. 
     Accordingly, there exists a need for a soap holding and scrubbing device which is easy to use and easy to refill for all soap types. Additionally, a need exists for a soap holding and scrubbing device which holds the soap completely until the soap is completely used up. Furthermore, there exists a need for a soap holding and scrubbing device which is aesthetically pleasing. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present invention is a soap holding and scrubbing device for holding soap and allowing a user to scrub his or her body. The soap holding and scrubbing device comprises a porous tubular housing having a first end, a second end, and an outer surface. A seam is formed in the housing with the seam extending above the outer surface of the housing. A closing mechanism closes the second end of the housing. A securing mechanism secures the soap between the seam and the second end of the housing and maintains the soap within the housing. The first end of the housing is open with the soap insertable into the housing through the first end and positionable against the closed second end. The securing mechanism is initially positioned against the seam and, as the soap dissolves, is movable in general direction toward the second end of the housing thereby maintaining the soap against the second end of the housing. 
     In addition, the present invention is a soap holding and scrubbing device for holding soap and allowing a user to scrub his or her body. The soap holding and scrubbing device comprises a porous tubular housing having a first end, a second end, and an outer surface. A seam is formed in the housing with the seam extending above the outer surface of the housing. A tightening cord extends from the second end of the housing with the tightening cord having a first cord portion and a second cord portion. A receptacle is formed on the second end of the housing with the tightening cord receivable within the receptacle. A first tightening bead is positioned over the first cord portion and the second cord portion. A first knot is formed in the tightening cord for securing the first cord portion to the second cord portion and limiting the travel extent of the first tightening bead. The first knot forms a first loop in the tightening cord between the first knot and the first tightening bead. A second knot is formed above the first knot forming a second loop in the tightening cord. A second tightening bead is positioned between the first knot and the second knot. The first end of the housing is open with the soap insertable into the housing through the first end and positionable against the closed second end. Upon pulling the tightening cord tight, the second end of the housing bunches together thereby decreasing the width of the second end. The first tightening bead is securable against the bunched housing maintaining the second end of the housing in the bunched condition. The first end of the housing is positioned through the first loop with the tightening cord initially positioned against the seam. The second tightening bead is tightened against the housing thereby closing the first end of the housing. As the soap dissolves, the tightening cord is movable in general direction toward the second end of the housing thereby maintaining the soap against the second end of the housing. 
     The present invention further includes a method for holding soap and allowing a user to scrub his or her body. The method comprises providing a porous tubular housing having a first end, a second end, and an outer surface, forming a seam in the housing, extending the seam above the outer surface of the housing, closing the second end of the housing, inserting the soap into the housing through the first end, positioning the soap against the closed second end, securing the soap into an area of the housing between the seam and the second end of the housing, continually shrinking the area of the housing as the soap dissolves, and maintaining the soap against the second end of the housing. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a an elevational side view illustrating a soap holding and scrubbing device, constructed in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an elevational side view illustrating an embodiment of the soap holding and scrubbing device, constructed in accordance with the present invention, with the device having a folded edge at a first end; 
         FIG. 3  is an elevational side view illustrating still another embodiment of the soap holding and scrubbing device, constructed in accordance with the present invention, with the device having a fringed edge at the first end; 
         FIGS. 4   a - 4   d  are a series of elevational side views illustrating the process of inserting a bar of soap into the soap holding and scrubbing device, constructed in accordance with the present invention; and 
         FIG. 5   a - 5   e  are a series of elevational side views illustrating the process of inserting a round soap into the soap holding and scrubbing device, constructed in accordance with the present invention, with the round soap having a hole in the middle. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 1-5 , the present invention is a soap holding and scrubbing device, indicated generally as  10 , for holding soap  12  and allowing complete use of the soap  12  until the soap  12  is used up. The soap holding and scrubbing device  10   of the present invention is usable with all types of soap  12  including, but not limited to, bar soap, round soap, round soap with a hole, liquid soap within a porous dispenser, etc. 
     The soap holding and scrubbing device  10  of the present invention includes a tubular housing  14  for holding the soap  12  with the housing  14  having a first end  16  and a second end  18 . The housing  14  is preferably constructed of a durable, pliable, fabric mesh material although constructing the housing  14  from other porous materials is within the scope of the present invention. A seam  20  is formed by doubling the first end  16  of the housing material back upon the housing  14  and sewing the first end  16  of the housing  14  to a point on the housing  14 . The first end  16  remains open for receiving the soap  12 , as will be described in further detail below. 
     In an alternative embodiment of the soap holding and scrubbing device  10  of the present invention, the seam  20  is formed by sewing or otherwise securing two or more pieces of material together. In both embodiments, the seam  20  creates a “washer” to hold the soap  12  adjacent the second end  18 , as will be described in further detail below. 
     The position of the seam  20  of the soap holding and scrubbing device  10  of the present invention is preferably positioned at a location closer to the first end  16  as compared to the second end  18 . By positioning the seam  20  as described and illustrated, the area of the housing  14  for receiving the soap  12  is sized for receiving larger soap. It should be noted, however, that the seam  20  can be positioned anywhere on the housing  14  and should not be limited by the description and illustrations herein. 
     As briefly mentioned above, the first end  16  of the housing  14  of the soap holding and scrubbing device  10  of the present invention is open allowing soap  12  to be inserted into the tubular housing  14  through the first end  16  of the housing  14 . The second end  18  of the housing  14  can be either open or closed. In the open second end embodiment, the second end  18  is folded back onto the housing  14  and sewn thereto forming a receptacle  22  for receiving a tightening cord  24 . The tightening cord  24  has a first cord portion  26  and a second cord portion  28  extending from the receptacle  22 . A first tightening bead  30  is positioned over the first cord portion  26  and the second cord portion  28 . The tightening cord  24  can be pulled tight causing the second end  18  of the housing  14  to bunch together thereby decreasing the width of the second end  18 . The first tightening bead  30  is securable against the bunched housing  14  maintaining the second end  18  of the housing  14  in the bunched condition. Preferably, the tightening cord  24  is an elastic cord although having the tightening cord  24  be non-elastic is within the scope of the present invention. 
     In the closed second end embodiment of the soap holding and scrubbing device  10  of the present invention, the second end  18  of the housing  14  is sewn closed with the second end  18  of the housing  14  bunched or otherwise formed into a narrow point or the like, similar to the bunching of the first embodiment with the tightening cord  24 . In this embodiment, the second end  18  is in a fixed closed position and the first cord portion  26  and the second cord portion  28  of the tightening cord  24  extend from the bunched second end  18 . As stated above, actual operation and use of the soap holding and scrubbing device  10  will be described in further detail below. 
     The soap holding and scrubbing device  10  of the present invention further includes a first knot  32  formed in the tightening cord  24  securing the first cord portion  26  to the second cord portion  28  and limiting the travel extent of the first tightening bead  30 . The first knot  32  forms a first loop  34  in the tightening cord  24  between the first knot  32  and the first tightening bead  30 . A second knot  36  is formed above the first knot  32  forming a second loop  40  in the tightening cord  24 . A second tightening bead  38  is positioned between the first knot  32  and the second knot  36 . Actual use and operation of the first loop  34 , the second loop  40 , the knots  32 ,  36 , the first tightening bead  30 , and the second tightening bead  38  will now be described further below. 
     The manner of use of the soap holding and scrubbing device  10  of the present invention will now be described. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the manner of use of the soap holding and scrubbing device  10  described herein is merely one method of use and other methods of use of the soap holding and scrubbing device  10  are within the scope of the present invention. 
     For purposes of example only, the manner of use of the soap holding and scrubbing device  10  of the present invention will be described for two different soap types: bar soap and round soap with a hole. It should be noted that the soap holding and scrubbing device  10  can be used with a variety of different soaps  12  including, but not limited to, liquid soap in a porous dispenser. 
     To use the soap holding and scrubbing device  10  of the present invention with bar soap, in the case of the second open end, the user first tightens the tightening cord  24  at the second end  18  of the housing  14  and manipulates the first tightening bead  30  against the bunched material thereby effectively closing the second end  18  of the housing  14 . Next, the user inserts the bar soap into the tubular housing  14  through the open first end  16 . The second tightening bead  38  is then positioned directly against the second knot  36  and the first end  16  of the housing  14  is then pulled through the second loop  40  formed in the tightening cord  24  between the first knot  32  and the second knot  36 . Then, the second tightening bead  38  is tightened against the housing  14  directly adjacent the seam  20  and between the seam  20  and the second end  18  of the housing  14 . The seam  20  inhibits movement of the second loop  40  toward the first end  16  of the housing  14 . As the soap  12  gets smaller through use, the user continually moves the second tightening bead  38  in a general direction toward the second end  18 . Once the soap  12  disappears, the user can then disassemble the soap holding and scrubbing device  10  and insert a new bar soap using the process as described immediately above. 
     To use the soap holding and scrubbing device  10  of the present invention with round soap having a hole formed therethrough, in the case of the second open end, the user first tightens the tightening cord  24  at the second end  18  of the housing  14  and manipulates the first tightening bead  30  against the bunched material thereby effectively closing the second end  18  of the housing  14 . Next, the second end  18  of the housing  14  is manipulated through the hole in the soap  12  above the seam  20 . The tightening cord  24  at second end  18  of housing  14  is loosen with the first tightening bead  30  to allow the housing  14  at the second end  18  to be wrapped upward around the soap  12  adjacent the seam  20  securing the soap  12  between the seam  20  and the second end of the housing  14 . Then, the tightening cord  24  at the second end  18  of the housing  12  is tightened against the housing  14  by manipulating the first tightening bead  30  against the material adjacent the seam  20 . Once again, the seam  20  inhibits movement of the tightening cord  24  toward the first end  16  of the housing  14 . If wanted, the user can next insert the first end  16  of the housing  14  through the second loop  40  and tighten the second tightening bead  38  against the housing  14  thereby reducing the amount of the excess tightening cord  24 . As the soap  12  gets smaller through use, the user continually moves the first tightening bead  30  in a general direction away from the first end  16 . If the excess amount of the tightening cord  24  is reduced, the user tightens the beads  30  and  38  in a general direction away from the first end  16 . Once the soap  12  disappears, the user can then disassemble the soap holding and scrubbing device  10  and insert a new round soap using the process as described immediately above. 
     The soap holding and scrubbing device  10  of the present invention keeps the soap  12  in place to the end of the soap&#39;s life. A user can continue to tighten the soap holding and scrubbing device  10  against the soap  12  as the soap  12  gets smaller. Even the small pieces of soap  12  at the end stay in place and are easy to use as they dissolve. The one-piece design of the soap holding and scrubbing device  10  makes it easy to load the soap  12 . The first end  16  of the housing  14  extends above the soap  12  making the soap holding and scrubbing device  10  easy to hold and has a unique seam washer  20  designed to hold the soap  12  in place when the tightening cord  24  is pulled tight. The first end  16  of the housing  14  not only makes it easier to hold but also functions as a small wash cloth. The tightening cord  24  not only holds the soap  12  tight against the second end  18 , but allows a user to hang it on a hook or faucet which means they do not have to set the soap holding and scrubbing device  10  on the side of a tub or soap dish helping prevent the soap  12  from dissolving faster. With the durable mesh fabric of the housing, the soap holding and scrubbing device  10  can be constructed with a variety of thread patterns, material finishes, cords, and closing mechanisms, but not limited to beads that are illustrated. The versatility of the mesh offers the opportunity to use the soap holding and scrubbing device  10  for many cleaning applications, not just in the bath tub and not just on people. The pattern of the material of the housing can be adjusted to accommodate different diameters, thickness and overall sizes of soap  12 . The foregoing exemplary descriptions and the illustrative preferred embodiments of the present invention have been explained in the drawings and described in detail, with varying modifications and alternative embodiments being taught. While the invention has been so shown, described and illustrated, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that equivalent changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention, and that the scope of the present invention is to be limited only to the claims except as precluded by the prior art. Moreover, the invention as disclosed herein may be suitably practiced in the absence of the specific elements which are disclosed herein.