Liquid soap dispensing bath brush

• US 6,983,866 B2
• Filed: 01/22/2003
• Issued: 01/10/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Absolutely Smart, LLC
• Original Assignee: Absolutely Smart, LLC
• Inventors: Sticht, Chris, Smart, Tracy
• Primary Examiner(s): Nicolas, Frederick C.
• Application Number:
  US10/349,296
• Publication Number:
  US 20040140326A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,084 Days
• Field of Search: 222/192, 222/385, 222/383.1, 222/352, 222/496, 222/481.5, 222/323, 401/188.R, 401/205, 401/151, 401/270, 401/276, 401/291, 151/11, 151/64, 151/049.3, 151/049.4
• US Class Current: 222/192
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 2200/1018 comprising a pad, i.e. a cushion-like mass of soft material, with or without gripping means
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 34/042 using a brush or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 7/03 containing soap or other cleaning ingredients, e.g. impregnated

Abstract

The invention provides a soap dispenser. In general, the soap dispenser includes a handle having a hollow interior, and a coupling on a first end of the handle. The first end of the handle also has a fluid passage for transferring a fluid from the hollow interior to outside the hollow interior. The coupling is adapted to receive a soft attachment having a coupling member.

Claims

1. A soap dispenser, comprising:

a handle comprising

a hollow interior chamber, and

a coupling on a first end of the handle,

the first end also having a fluid passage,

the fluid passage adapted to transfer a liquid soap from the hollow interior to outside the hollow interior,

a portion of the fluid passage being sufficiently narrow to prevent the free-flow of the liquid soap to the outside of the hollow interior; and

a soft attachment having a coupling member that is removably attachable to the coupling of the handle such that the coupling member does not block the fluid passage;

wherein

the hollow interior of the handle comprises a first end and a second end, and wherein the hollow interior maintains a first valve that separates the hollow interior into a fluid portion at the second end, and a pump chamber at the first end, the first valve allows fluid to traverse from the hollow interior into the pump chamber and to the fluid passage, wherein the coupling comprises a generally planar mounting having a first hole for allowing the liquid to traverse through an exit passage and into the soft attachment; and

a breather pipeline coupled and extending between in the generally planar mounting and the hollow interior chamber.

2. The soap dispenser of claim 1 further comprising the liquid soap in the hollow interior chamber.

3. The soap dispenser of claim 1 wherein the soft attachment comprises a poof ball.

4. The soap dispenser of claim 1 wherein the soft attachment comprises soft bristles.

5. The soap dispenser of claim 1 wherein the soft attachment comprises a soft sponge.

6. The soap dispenser of claim 1 wherein the soft attachment comprises a loofah.

7. The soap dispenser of claim 1 further comprising a cap on a second end of the handle, the cap being removable to allow a user to fill the hollow interior of the handle with the liquid soap.

8. The soap dispenser of claim 1 wherein the handle further comprising a grip that at least partially covers an exterior portion of the handle.

9. The soap dispenser of claim 1 wherein the coupling having a flaring-lip that is adapted to couple to the coupling member.

10. The soap dispenser of claim 1 further comprising a second valve located near the first end to separate the hollow interior into the pump chamber and an exit passage, so as to place the pump chamber between the first valve and the second valve, and wherein the second valve allows the liquid soap to traverse from the pump chamber and into the exit passage.

11. The soap dispenser of claim 9 wherein the first valve is a one-way valve.

12. The soap dispenser of claim 9 wherein the first valve is a spring-loaded ball-stop type one-way valve.

13. The soap dispenser of claim 12 wherein the pump chamber comprising a pump button defining a portion of the hollow interior, the pump button for moving the liquid soap through the pump chamber.

14. The soap dispenser of claim 13 wherein the pump button is rubber.

15. The soap dispenser of claim 13 wherein the pump chamber has a first volume when the pump button is at rest, and the pump chamber has a second volume when the pump button is in a depressed position, the second volume being less than the first volume.

16. The soap dispenser of claim 2 wherein the coupling member mounts to the coupling of the handle via a clip.