Sponge cleaning utensil with inner core for solid soap

• US 8,061,919 B2
• Filed: 01/04/2007
• Issued: 11/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/04/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Jesus Salvador Alarcon Grajeda
• Original Assignee: Jesus Salvador Alarcon Grajeda
• Inventors: Alarcon Grajeda, Jesus Salvador
• Primary Examiner(s): WALCZAK, DAVID J
• Application Number:
  US11/649,473
• Publication Number:
  US 20080166178A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,783 Days
• Field of Search: 401/201, 401/196, 152/444
• US Class Current: 401/201
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 7/03 containing soap or other cleaning ingredients, e.g. impregnated

Abstract

A sponge cleaning utensil has an inner core for holding a cleaning agent and encouraging the cleaning agent to be continually in contact with water drawn into the inner core preferably via a plurality of conduits which are preferably molded into the sponge material. The inner core is fabricated so as to be substantially larger than the solid cleaning agent therein allowing the cleaning agent free movement within the core. This allows water to freely surround the cleaning agent creating rich lather production and the lather to be easily removed to the surface. The conduits preferably have openings at a plurality of positions on the sponge exterior surface so as to provide even moisture and lather to all portions of the sponge exterior including the edges.

Claims

1. A sponge cleaning utensil, comprising:

a body made of sponge material, the body having an inner core;

a solid soap stored in the inner core;

an entrance for the solid soap structured and arranged as a single opening in a side of the body; and

a substantially horizontal pathway leading from the single entrance to the inner core, the inner core situated entirely inline and below the substantially horizontal pathway;

wherein the inner core retains its shape after insertion of the solid soap into the inner core such that after the insertion, a majority of an outer surface of said solid soap does not contact an inner surface of said inner core; and

wherein the entrance maintains an open configuration when no outside force is applied thereto.

2. The sponge cleaning utensil of claim 1, wherein the solid soap is allowed free movement within the inner core to encourage water drawn into the inner core to mix with the solid soap to produce lather.

3. The sponge cleaning utensil of claim 1, further comprising at least one conduit, each of the at least one conduit forming a pathway from a starting point on an exterior surface area of the body to a terminal point at the inner core for supplying liquid to the inner core.

4. The sponge cleaning utensil of claim 3, wherein the starting point is any given point on the exterior surface area of the body.

5. The sponge cleaning utensil of claim 3, wherein the at least one conduit is formed by process molding.

6. The sponge cleaning utensil of claim 1, wherein the sponge material comprises one or more of synthetic urethane sponge, natural sponge, cellulose sponge, open cell foam, close cell foam, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), fiber pads, cloth, and mesh.

7. The sponge cleaning device of claim 1, wherein the solid soap is a replaceable solid soap.

8. The sponge cleaning utensil of claim 1, wherein the inner core is coated with a water-repellant material.

9. The sponge cleaning utensil of claim 1, wherein the sponge cleaning utensil is fabricated such that the volume of the inner core is at least ten percent larger than the solid soap that is initially placed therein during a fabrication process.

10. The sponge cleaning utensil of claim 1, wherein the body includes one or more of a hard side and a soft side.

11. The sponge cleaning utensil of claim 1, further comprising a clip holder for holding the sponge cleaning utensil.

12. The sponge cleaning utensil of claim 1, further comprising a handle connected to the body.

13. The sponge cleaning utensil of claim 1, further comprising a secondary chamber connected to the inner core to hold the solid soap when it shrinks to a predetermined size.

14. The sponge cleaning utensil of claim 1, wherein the inner core is located at the approximate center of the body.

15. The sponge cleaning utensil of claim 1, wherein the inner core includes a plurality of tabs used to securely hold the solid soap in place within the inner core.

16. The sponge cleaning utensil of claim 1, wherein the inner core includes an extension area to extend the inner core to facilitate enhanced water flow.

17. The sponge cleaning utensil of claim 1, wherein the inner core includes a post to for inserting soap having a ring hole.

18. The sponge cleaning utensil of claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of conduits, each of the conduits starting at any arbitrary point on an outer surface of the body and extending to the inner core.