U.S. patent application number 10/810622 was filed with the patent office on 2005-09-29 for soap dish.
Invention is credited to Li, Hung-Yu.
Application Number | 20050211575 10/810622 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34988483 |
Filed Date | 2005-09-29 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050211575 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Li, Hung-Yu |
September 29, 2005 |
Soap dish
Abstract
A soap dish comprises an open first container including a
plurality of parallel slits on a bottom; and a second container
fitted in the first container, the second container including a
plurality of rows of cones on a bottom, the rows of cones being
adapted to support a soap, and a plurality of rows of apertures
each row of apertures being disposed between two adjacent rows of
cones, wherein water stored in the second container is adapted to
carry off through the rows of apertures by passing the cones; and
outside air is adapted to reach the soap via the rows of
apertures.
Inventors: |
Li, Hung-Yu; (Feng Yuan
City, TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
DENNISON, SCHULTZ & DOUGHERTY
612 Crystal Square 4
1745 Jefferson Davis Highway
Arlington
VA
22202-3417
US
|
Family ID: |
34988483 |
Appl. No.: |
10/810622 |
Filed: |
March 29, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/77.1 ;
D6/536; D6/540 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47K 5/04 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/077.1 ;
D06/536; D06/540 |
International
Class: |
A47K 005/08 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A soap dish, comprising: an open first container including a
plurality of parallel slits on a bottom; and a second container
fitted in the first container, the second container including a
plurality of rows of tapered projections on a bottom, the rows of
projections being adapted to support a soap, and a plurality of
rows of apertures each row of apertures being disposed between two
adjacent rows of projections, wherein water stored in the second
container is adapted to carry off through the rows of apertures by
passing the projections; and outside air is adapted to reach the
soap via the rows of apertures.
2. The soap dish of claim 1, wherein the first and the second
containers are formed integrally.
3. The soap dish of claim 1, wherein the first and the second
containers are separate components.
4. The soap dish of claim 1, wherein the aperture comprises a
slanted annular top surface and a lower upright channel in
fluid.
5. The soap dish of claim 1, wherein the aperture is upright.
6. The soap dish of claim 1, wherein apexes of the rows of cones
are flush.
7. The soap dish of claim 1, wherein a height of the innermost row
of cones is gradually increased to a maximum at either outermost
row of cones.
8. The soap dish of claim 1, wherein the second container further
comprises a raised pad at either side for supporting the second
container on the bottom of the first container.
9. The soap dish of claim 1, wherein the projection is a cone.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to soap dishes and more
particularly to such a soap dish with improved characteristics.
[0003] 2. Description of Related Art
[0004] A conventional soap dish is shown in FIG. 1. A plurality of
apertures are formed on the bottom of the dish such that water in
the dish can be carried off through the apertures. However, the
apertures are subject to blockage due to small bores thereof. Thus,
it is typical that a soap in the dish is partially melted by water
stored therein as illustrated in FIG. 2. Such condition can be
worse if ventilation of the surrounding environment (e.g., in the
kitchen or bathroom) is poor. Also, this is not hygienic and its
appearance is not aesthetic.
[0005] Another conventional soap dish is shown in FIG. 3. The dish
comprises a removeable cover 90 including a plurality of parallel
ribs 92 on a top inner surface and a plurality of parallel slits 93
each being adjacent the rib 92, the slits 93 being in communication
between outside and an internal receiving space 91; and a brush
assembly 80 formed on the bottom of the dish, the brush assembly 80
including a plurality of rows of bristles 81 and a plurality of
second slits 82 each second slit 82 being disposed between two
adjacent rows of bristles 81, the second slits 82 being in
communication between outside and the receiving space 91. The brush
assembly 80 is adapted to matingly engage with the cover 90 for
enclosing a soap held on the bristles 81. However, the bristles 81
are subject to elastic fatigue after a period of time of use,
resulting in a partial blockage of water flow. Further, the soap
still can be partially melted by water stored therein if the
ventilation is poor. Hence, a need for improvement exists.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] It is an object of the present invention to provide a soap
dish comprising an open first container including a plurality of
parallel slits on a bottom; and a second container fitted in the
first container, the second container including a plurality of rows
of tapered projections on a bottom, the rows of projections being
adapted to support a soap, and a plurality of rows of apertures
each row of apertures being disposed between two adjacent rows of
projections, wherein water stored in the second container is
adapted to carry off through the rows of apertures by passing the
projections; and outside air is adapted to reach the soap via the
rows of apertures.
[0007] The above and other objects, features and advantages of the
present invention will become apparent from the following detailed
description taken with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional soap
dish;
[0009] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a partially melted soap
in the dish;
[0010] FIG. 3 is a sectional view of another conventional soap
dish;
[0011] FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view of a preferred
embodiment of soap dish according to the invention;
[0012] FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the dish shown in FIG. 4;
[0013] FIG. 6 is a sectional view schematically depicting a
substantially parallelepiped soap held by the second container in
the dish shown in FIG. 4 with air passed apertures of the second
container; and
[0014] FIG. 7 is a sectional view schematically depicting a
substantially oval soap held by the second container in the dish
shown in FIG. 4 with air passed apertures of the second container
according to another preferred embodiment of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0015] Referring to FIGS. 4 to 6, there is shown a soap dish
constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the
invention. The dish comprises a large open first container 20
including a plurality of parallel slits 21 on the bottom for
carrying off water stored therein; and a removeable, rectangular,
small second container 10 fitted in the first container 20, the
second container 10 including a frame 11, a shallow recess 12
confined by the frame 11, a plurality of rows of cones 13 on the
recess 12, a plurality of rows of apertures 14 each row of
apertures 14 being disposed between two adjacent rows of cones 13,
and a raised pad 15 at either side for supporting the second
container 10 on the bottom of the first container 20.
[0016] Each aperture 14 comprises a slanted annular top surface 141
and a lower upright channel 142 in fluid communication with outside
through the slits 21. The apexes of all cones 13 are flush such
that a substantially parallelepiped soap 1 shown in dash line can
be stably held by the cones 13. Further, water stored in the second
container 10 can be effectively carried off through the slanted
annular top surfaces 141, the upright channels 142, and the slits
21. Furthermore, outside air can freely reach the soap 1 via the
slits 21, the upright channels 142, and the slanted annular top
surfaces 141 for effecting good ventilation.
[0017] Referring to FIG. 7, another preferred embodiment of the
invention is shown. The differences between these two preferred
embodiments, i.e., the characteristics of another preferred
embodiment are detailed below. The aperture 14 is formed without
the slanted annular top surface 141. The height of the innermost
row of cones 13 is gradually increased to a maximum at either
outermost row of cones 13 (i.e., a slightly curved dash line is
formed by connecting the apexes of the rows of cones 13) such that
a substantially oval soap 1 shown in dash line can be stably held
by the cones 13.
[0018] Note that in still another embodiment the second container
10 can be used independently as a soap dish. In a further
embodiment the second container 10 and the first container 20 are
formed integrally. This can increase applications of the invention.
Moreover, water stayed on the soap 1 can be easily dropped off due
to the provision of cones 13. In addition, ventilation is made more
effective due to the point contacts between the soap 1 and the
cones 13.
[0019] While the invention herein disclosed has been described by
means of specific embodiments, numerous modifications and
variations could be made thereto by those skilled in the art
without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention set
forth in the claims.
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