CLOSED AND DEFORMABLE SOAP CASE

Abstract

A soap case (1) including an elongated hollow body (1a) to accommodate a block of soap and having a closed rear longitudinal end (1b) and a front longitudinal end (1c) that is deformable between closed and open positions for using the block. The front end (1c) has a through-slot (2) with two lips (2a, 2b) extending parallel to each other, with a distance of 1 to 20 mm between them in the closed position of the front end (1c) and diverging from one another. The opposite front longitudinal end (1c) is deformable between a closed position and an open position for using the block of soap, the hollow body having connecting faces without any perforations and being made of a material having a hardness on the Shore scale between 30 and 60.

Claims

1. A soap case (1) comprising: an elongated hollow body (1a) to accommodate in its interior a block of soap, the body (1a) having a closed rear longitudinal extremity (1b) and an opposite front longitudinal extremity (1c) which are deformable and connected by connecting faces, having a through-slot (2) emerging at the front longitudinal extremity (1c); a mouth extending over a major portion of a length of the front longitudinal extremity (1c), the mouth comprising two lips (2a, 2b) that extend toward the rear extremity (1b) parallel to each other with a distance of 1 to 20 mm between them in a closed position of the front extremity (1c), and diverging from each other in an open position of the front extremity (1c); wherein one of the two lips (2a, 2b) called the free lip (2a) is flexible so that it can be separated from the other lip (2b) by pressure against the free lip (2a), while returning into the closed position of the front extremity (1c) when no pressure is exerted on the free lip (2a); and wherein the opposite front longitudinal extremity is deformable between a closed position and an open position for use of the block of soap, the hollow body (1a) having connecting faces without any perforations and made of a material having a hardness on the Shore scale between 30 and 60.

2. The soap case of claim 1, wherein the material of the body (1a) is silicone, natural rubber or a thermoplastic elastomer, in particular a fluoroelastomer.

3. The soap case of claim 1, wherein in the closed position of the front extremity (1c), a gap between the two lips (2a, 2b) is smallest at the final extremities of the two lips (2a, 2b) at the mouth of the through-slot (2).

4. The soap case of claim 1, wherein a through-slot (2) extends into the body (1a) with a length extending in an inclined manner in relation to a length of the body (1a).

5. The soap case of claim 4, wherein the through-slot (2) extends over at least one-fifth of the length of the body (1a) forming an angle of 20 to 70° in relation to a median longitudinal axis of the body (1a).

6. The soap case of claim 4, wherein the through-slot (2) ends, opposite the mouth, in a final portion (2c) that has a circular section.

7. The soap case of claim 1, wherein the rear extremity (1b) comprises at least one opening (3) that is just sufficient for the passage of at least one retaining cord through the rear extremity (1b), said at least one retaining cord having a portion outside the body (1a) of the soap case (1).

8. The soap case of claim 1, wherein the at least one retaining cord forms a loop having two strands traversing the rear extremity (1b) via one of two respective openings (3).

9. The soap case of claim 1, wherein the body (1a) has a parallepiped shape with front (1c) and rear (1b) longitudinal extremities that are convex toward the outside.

10. A kit consisting of a soap case (1) and a block of soap accommodated in the interior of the soap case (1), characterized in that the soap case (1) is according to claim 1, the soap case (1) being designed with a shape and dimensions so that the block of soap can slide in the body (1a) between a position in which it is fully retracted into the body (1a) and at least one position in which a portion of the block of soap projects outside the body (1a), the lips (2a, 2b) of the through-slot (2) pressing against the block of soap and blocking it in this at least one projecting position when no force is applied to the block of soap by a user to push it farther outside the body (1a) or back into the body (1a), an inside width and an inside height of the body (1a) of the soap case (1) being respectively greater than an outside width and an outside height of the block of soap with barely sufficient clearance between these widths on one hand and these heights on the other hand, so that the block of soap can slide inside the body (1a), an internal length of the body (1a) being greater than a length of a new block of soap.

11. The kit according to claim 10, in which the user induces the sliding of the block of soap so that it projects outside the body (1a) by pressing near the rear extremity (1b) of the soap case (1), at the level of the edge of the soap farthest inside the body (1a), the body (1a) being made of a material that is sufficiently deformable to transmit the pressure to the block of soap.

Description

[0030] Other characteristics, objects and advantages of the present invention are described in greater detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate non-restricting exemplary embodiments in which:

[0031] FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of an overhead view of a soap case in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention,

[0032] FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of an overhead view in perspective of a soap case in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention,

[0033] FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of a head-on view in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention, the front longitudinal extremity and its through-slot being visible in this figure,

[0034] FIG. 4 is a schematic representation of a side view of a soap case in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention, the two lips of the through-slot of the front longitudinal extremity being visible in this figure,

[0035] FIG. 5 is a view from below of a soap case in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention,

[0036] FIG. 6 is a schematic representation of a rear view of a soap case according to the embodiment of the present invention, the rear longitudinal extremity and two openings for the passage of a fastening cord being visible in this figure.

[0037] The drawings are provided by way of example and are in no way restrictive of the invention. They constitute schematic illustrations intended to facilitate an understanding of the invention and are not necessarily drawings to scale of practical applications. In particular, the dimensions of the different parts are not representative of reality.

[0038] In the following text, reference is made to all the figures considered in combination. When reference is made to one or more specific figures, these figures are intended to be consulted in combination with the other figures for the identification of the designated numerical references.

[0039] With reference to FIGS. 1 to 6, this invention relates to a soap case 1 comprising an elongated hollow body 1a to accommodate in its interior a block of soap, the block of soap partly projecting from the body 1a during washing.

[0040] The body 1a has a closed rear longitudinal extremity 1b and an opposite front longitudinal extremity 1c which can be deformed between a closed position and an open position for use of the block of soap as a result of the projection of a portion of the block of soap outside the body 1a of the soap case, the extremities 1b and 1c being connected by connecting faces.

[0041] In one particular configuration covered by the present invention, the body 1a can have circular connecting faces, in which case the longitudinal extremities are then diametrically opposite each other. Likewise, in another configuration, the connecting faces can be essentially square.

[0042] The front longitudinal extremity 1c has a through-slot 2 which emerges at the front longitudinal extremity 1c and has a mouth that extends over a major portion of the length of the front longitudinal extremity 1c. This through-slot 2 comprises two lips 2a, 2b that extend toward the rear extremity 1b of the body 1a but end before they reach this rear extremity 1b. The through-slot 2 is visible in FIGS. 1 to 4 and most particularly in FIG. 4.

[0043] The two lips 2a, 2b of the through-slot 2 extend parallel to each other with a distance of 1 to 20 mm between them in the closed position of the front extremity 1c. In the open position of the front extremity 1c, by deformation of the through-slot 2, the two lips 2a, 2b can be made to diverge from each other and extend, creating a gap sufficient for the introduction or emergence of the block of soap into or out of the body 1a.

[0044] One of the two lips 2a, 2b called the free lip 2a is sufficiently flexible so that it can be separated from the other lip 2b by pressure of the block of soap against this free lip 2a and can be returned to the closed position of the front extremity 1c when no pressure is exerted on the free lip 2a.

[0045] In the closed position of the front extremity 1c, a separation between the two lips 2a, 2b can be smallest at the final extremities of the two lips 2a, 2b, at the mouth of the through-slot 2 so that the interior of the body 1a of the soap case 1 is watertight, the front extremity 1c then being almost completely closed. However, it is advantageous to leave a small ventilation space between the lips 2a, 2b for the interior of the body 1a and to allow the block of soap contained in the interior of the body 1a to dry.

[0046] According to the invention, the opposite front longitudinal extremity 1c is deformable between a closed position and an open position for use of the block of soap, the block of soap then projecting out of the soap case. The hollow body 1a has connecting faces with no perforations so that the interior of the hollow body is watertight. In addition, the hollow body 1a is made of a material that has a hardness on the Shore scale between 30 and 60, so that pressing on the hollow body 1a can cause the block of soap to project at least partly from the soap case 1.

[0047] Only the portion of the block of soap projecting from the soap case is wetted and the rest of the block of soap inside the hollow body 1a does not come in contact with water and does not melt.

[0048] The material of the body 1a can be silicone, natural rubber, or a thermoplastic elastomer, for example of the type SBS, SEBS or MBS. A fluoroelastomer of the type FKM, FFKM or FEKM can also be used.

[0049] In FIG. 4, this separation is shown as remaining constant, which is also possible in the framework of the present invention.

[0050] As shown particularly clearly in FIG. 4, the through-slot 2 can extend into the body 1a, having a length that extends in an inclined matter in relation to a length of the body 1a viewed parallel to a longitudinal axis of the body 1a of the soap case 1.

[0051] The through-slot 2 can extend over at least one-fifth of the length of the body 1a forming an angle of 20 to 70° in relation to a portion of the median longitudinal axis of the body 1a starting from the front extremity 1c. This angle can advantageously be 45°.

[0052] The through-slot 2 can end in a final portion 2c which has a circular section with a larger diameter than the separation between the two lips 2a, 2b.

[0053] With reference in particular to FIGS. 5 and 6, the rear extremity 1b can comprise at least one opening 3 that is just sufficient to allow the passage of at least one retaining cord through the rear extremity 1b. However, the opening 3 can be larger than the retaining cord and can have an oval shape to ventilate the interior of the body 1a and allow the block of soap to dry more quickly.

[0054] This at least one retaining cord, not shown in the figures, can have a portion outside the body 1a of the soap case 1 for the fastening of the soap case 1.

[0055] FIGS. 5 and 6 show two openings 3 on the rear extremity 1b of the soap case 1. In this configuration, the at least one retaining cord can form a closed loop having two strands traversing the rear extremity 1b via one of two respective openings 3, the extremity of each strand being fastened to the interior or exterior of the body 1a to prevent it from escaping from the body via one of the openings 3.

[0056] As shown most clearly in FIG. 2, the body 1a can be in the form of a parallelepiped with respective front and rear longitudinal extremities 1c and 1b that are convex toward the outside, i.e. they bulge outward.

[0057] The invention also relates to a set consisting of a soap case 1 and a block of soap accommodated inside the soap case 1. The block of soap is not shown in the figures although references to the FIGS. 1 to 6 will be used below to identify the elements of the soap case 1 as described above.

[0058] The soap case 1 is designed with a shape and dimensions so that the block of soap can slide inside the body 1a between a position in which it is fully retracted into the body 1a and at least one projecting position in which a portion of the block of soap projects outside the body 1a. This makes possible an easy passage of the block of soap from a retracted, protected position into a projecting position for use and vice-versa.

[0059] Likewise, the lips 2a, 2b of the through-slot 2 can press against the block of soap in the at least one projecting position when no force pushing it outside the body 1a or retracting it back into the body 1a is being applied by the user to the block of soap.

[0060] This makes it possible to hold the block of soap in a projecting position and to prevent the block of soap from being pushed out farther or from retracting into the soap case 1. The stability of the block of soap in the projecting position is thus guaranteed as long as the user does not want to retract the block of soap into the soap case 1 or wishes to have the block of soap project even farther out of the soap case 1.

[0061] Consequently, an inside width and an inside height of the body 1a of the soap case 1 can be respectively greater than an outside width and outside height of the block of soap with a clearance between these widths on one hand and these heights on the other hand that is just sufficient to allow the block of soap to slide inside the body 1a and ensure sufficient ventilation around the block of soap.

[0062] With regard to the length of the soap case 1, an internal length of the body 1a can be greater than the length of a new block of soap, advantageously greater than the longest length of a batch of new blocks of soap of different lengths, so that the soap case can be adapted to the largest possible number of types of blocks of soap.

[0063] The user can initiate the sliding of the block of soap so that it projects outside the body 1a by applying manual pressure to a portion of the external wall of the body 1a close to the rear extremity 1b of the soap case 1 at the level of the most inside edge of the body 1a of the block of soap. The body 1a can be made of a material that is sufficiently deformable to transmit the pressure to the block of soap.

[0064] The user can exert a pinching action on the rear edge of the block of soap to advance it so that it passes beyond the front extremity 1c through the through-slot 2. The user can also push it by its rear edge toward the front extremity 1c by pressing on the rear extremity 1b.

[0065] It is a simple matter to insert a block of soap into a soap case of this type. When the block of soap is introduced into the soap case 1, it can be moistened to facilitate its introduction. The block of soap is inserted into the through-slot 2 by separating one 2a of the lips 2a, 2b from the other, lip 2a which returns to the closed position once the block of soap is completely inside the body of the soap case.

[0066] When it is time to use the block of soap, the block of soap is pushed toward the front longitudinal extremity 1c having the through-slot 2 by simple manual pressure applied by the user to the external wall of the body 1a of the soap case 1. The lips 2a, 2b of the through-slot 2 are separated under the force of the advance of the block of soap but press on the block of soap to prevent it from escaping altogether or retreating into the body 1a of the soap case 1 when no force is applied to it by the user. A block of soap is ready for use by rubbing on a glove or a shower puff. The block of soap can also be extracted completely from the soap case 1 and then returned to the soap case after use.

[0067] After use, the block of soap is pushed back or returned inside the body 1a of the soap case 12 to prevent it from falling out or being exposed to water. This can be accomplished by manual pressure applied by the user to the projecting forward edge of the block of soap, advantageously via the intermediary of the glove or the shower puff.

[0068] The soap case can be recyclable and be made of plastic or another material, advantageously of food-grade silicone or bio-sourced polyurethane. It is advantageous that the soap case is not slippery even under water, which is why food-grade silicone or polyurethane are preferred.

[0069] The block of soap with its soap case can be used as shampoo in a location other than a bathroom, for example in the kitchen or as a portable block of soap, in particular while camping or as a detergent in a utility room.

[0070] The invention is in no way restricted to the embodiments described above and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which are given only by way of example.