US20140299731A1

US20140299731A1 - Soap stand

Info

Publication number: US20140299731A1
Application number: US13/855,981
Authority: US
Inventors: Kyoung Ha Kim; So Hye Park
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2013-04-03
Filing date: 2013-04-03
Publication date: 2014-10-09

Abstract

This invention relates to a soap stand, comprising a bottom portion, a skirt extending upwardly around the circumference of the bottom portion and defining an opening, and a tubular shaft which is fluted and annular, extending upwardly from the circumferential rim of the skirt. The bottom portion is preferably circular and so are the skirt and the tubular shaft. The tubular shaft extends radially and outwardly from the skirt as well as upwardly. Besides, the tubular shaft further comprises a plurality of ridges, with each adjacent pair of said ridges defining a depression therebetween. In addition, the soap stand further comprises a soap stop disposed in the opening and fixed to the bottom portion. The soap stop is preferably cylindrical and its top portion is flat.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a soap stand, and more particularly, to a soap stand having an annular fluted tubular shaft for secure interlocking with a cake of soap, thereby preventing displacement, twisting or turning of the soap.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Soap is used in bathrooms or kitchens. Soap is slippery and easily gets out of a person's grip. After soap is used in water, it becomes soft and messy and begins to crumble unless it is taken good care of. Moreover, the soap may be wasted a lot faster and make the bathrooms being exposed to the risk of slip and fall accidents.
To prevent these problems, a number of soap containers or soap holders have been known and used. For example, a soap holder as described in U.S. Pat. No. 2,475,500 has been disclosed to conserve soap and help fast drainage of water adhering to the soap. The soap holder comprises a base and receptacles for receiving and supporting the soap.
However, it is cumbersome for a soap user to place the soap back onto the soap container or soap holder following each period of use of the soap.
Accordingly, to solve the above problems, a need for a soap stand having an annular fluted tubular shaft has been present for a long time considering the expansive demands in the everyday life. This invention is directed to solve these problems and satisfy the long-felt need.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention contrives to solve the disadvantages of the prior art. The present invention provides a soap stand having an annular fluted tubular shaft for secure interlocking with a cake of soap, thereby preventing displacement, twisting or turning of the soap. The soap stand comprises a bottom portion; a skirt extending upwardly around the circumference of the bottom portion and defining an opening; and a tubular shaft, extending upwardly from the circumferential rim of the skirt. The tubular shaft is fluted and annular and extends radially and outwardly from the skirt. In addition, the soap stand further comprises a soap stand disposed in the opening and fixed to the bottom portion, for preventing the soap from being inserted unnecessarily deep into the soap stand, thereby breaking the soap.
Another object of the invention is to provide a soap stand, comprising a bottom portion; a skirt extending upwardly around the circumference of the bottom portion and defining an opening; and a tubular shaft which is fluted and annular, extending upwardly apart from and along the upper and outer circumferential rim of the skirt. The flat upper and outer rim of the skirt prevents the soap from being inserted unnecessarily deep into the soap stand.
Still another object of the invention is to provide a soap stand, comprising a bottom portion; a skirt extending upwardly around the circumference of the bottom portion and defining an opening; and a tubular shaft having outward threads, extending upwardly apart from and along the upper and outer circumferential rim of the skirt. The outward threads securely interlock the soap stand into the soap and the upper and outer rim of the skirt prevents the soap from being inserted unnecessarily deep into the soap stand.
The advantages of the present invention are: (1) the soap stand of the present invention helps conserving soap and keeping it dry when not being used; (2) with the use of the soap stand of the present invention, a cake of soap may not escape its user and slide across a floor of bathroom or kitchen; (3) the tubular shaft of the soap stand according to the present invention prevents displacement as well as twisting or turning of the cake of soap; (4) the soap stand of the present invention hastens drainage and evaporation of surface water which may be adhering to the soap following each period of use of the soap; (5) the soap stand of the present invention dispenses with the need for soap dishes or soap holders, saving time and water to clean the soap dish or holder; and (6) the soap stand of the present invention is environmentally friendly because it saves the use of soap, cleaning time and water consumption. Although the present invention is briefly summarized, the fuller understanding of the invention can be obtained by the following drawings, detailed description and appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the soap stand according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows a top view of the soap stand according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 shows a front view of the soap stand according to the present invention;

FIG. 4 shows an A-A′ cross sectional view of FIG. 2 according to the present invention;

FIG. 5 shows a cross sectional view of another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 shows a cross sectional view of still another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 shows a cross sectional view of still another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 shows a cross sectional view of still another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 shows a front view of still another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 shows a perspective view of FIG. 9 according to the present invention; and

FIG. 11 shows an embodiment of the present invention being inserted into a cake of soap which is described in the broken lines.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
FIGS. 1-3 respectively show a perspective view, a top view and a front view of the soap stand according to the present invention. The soap stand 100 comprises a bottom portion 10; a skirt 20 extending upwardly around the circumference of the bottom portion 10 and defining an opening 11; and a tubular shaft 30, extending upwardly from the circumferential rim of the skirt 20. The tubular shaft 30 is the part to be inserted into a cake of soap and the bottom portion 10 supports the integrated soap and soap stand 100. Preferably, about the center of largest side of the soap is inserted by the tubular shaft 30 and then, the bottom portion 10 can stably support the soap. The soap is soft and malleable and the upwardly fluted shaft 30 is easy to be inserted into the soap. Among many kinds of shapes, the bottom portion 10 is preferably circular and so are the skirt 20 and the tubular shaft 30. Alternatively the bottom portion 10 may be a regular polygon.
The tubular shaft 30 may be fluted and annular and extend radially and outwardly from the skirt 20 as well as upwardly. As the tubular shaft 30 extends upwardly and outwardly from the skirt 20, the tubular shaft 30 does not slip out from the soap once it is inserted thereinto.
The tubular shaft 30 may further comprise a plurality of ridges 31, with each adjacent pair of said ridges 31 defining a depression 32 therebetween. This structure of ridges 31 and depressions 32 is easy to manufacture and helps strong interlocking between the tubular shaft 30 and the soap. Once the tubular shaft 30 is interlocked into the soap, it does not slip out, nor rotate.
FIG. 4 shows an A-A′ cross sectional view of FIG. 2 according to the present invention. The soap stand 100 further comprises a soap stop 40 disposed in the opening 11 and fixed to the bottom portion 11. The soap stop 40 is preferably cylindrical and its top portion is flat. The soap stop 40 prevents the soap from being inserted unnecessarily deep into the part of the skirt 20. If the soap stand 100 is unnecessarily deeply inserted into the soap, the soap may become crumbly and breaks easily.
FIG. 5 shows a cross sectional view of alternative embodiment of the present invention. Here, the soap stop 42 is integrated with the bottom portion 10 and the skirt 20.
FIG. 7 shows a cross sectional view of still another embodiment of the present invention. The soap stand 100 further comprises a cylindrical cover 50 with a flat upper rim, outwardly covering the skirt 20. The cylindrical cover 50 may cover the bottom portion 10 as well. The flat upper rim plays the role of the soap stop 40 above, preventing the soap from being inserted unnecessarily deep into the part of the skirt 20.
FIG. 6 shows alternative embodiment of FIG. 7. Here, the cylindrical cover 50 is integrated with the skirt 20 to form a thickened skirt 20 with an outwardly extended flat upper rim. The cylindrical cover 50 may be further integrated with the bottom portion 10 to make the bottom portion 10 thicker. The soap stand 100 of FIG. 6 may be alternatively described as comprising a bottom portion 10, a skirt 20 extending upwardly around the circumference of the bottom portion 20 and defining an opening 11, and a tubular shaft 30 which is fluted and annular, extending upwardly apart from and along the upper and outer circumferential rim of the skirt 20. Here, the bottom portion 10 may be circular and the tubular shaft 30 may further extend radially outwardly from the skirt 20. In addition, the tubular shaft 30 may further comprise a plurality of ridges 31, with each adjacent pair of said ridges 31 defining a depression 32 therebetween.
FIG. 8 shows a cross sectional view of still another embodiment of the present invention. Here, the bottom portion 10, the soap stop 40 and the skirt 20 with an outwardly extended flat upper rim are integrated to form a solid block 60. Therefore the solid block 60 plays the roles of supporting the soap stand 100 and preventing the soap from being inserted unnecessarily deeply into the soap stand 100.
FIGS. 9 and 10 respectively show a front view and a perspective view of still another embodiment of the present invention. The soap stand 100 comprises a bottom portion 10, a skirt 20 extending upwardly around the circumference of the bottom portion 10 and defining an opening 11, and a tubular shaft 30 having outward threads, extending upwardly apart from and along the upper and outer circumferential rim of the skirt 20. The outwardly extended flat upper rim of the skirt 20 prevents the soap from being inserted unnecessarily deep into the soap stand 100. Preferably, the bottom portion 10 and the skirt 20 are integrated to form a sold block 60. This integrated structure is easier to manufacture and thus saves manufacturing cost.
FIG. 11 shows an embodiment of the present invention being inserted into a cake of soap which is described in the broken lines. Preferably, about the center of largest side of the soap is inserted by the tubular shaft 30 and then, the bottom portion 10 can stably support the soap.
While the invention has been shown and described with reference to different embodiments thereof, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that variations in form, detail, compositions and operation may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the accompanying claims.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A soap stand comprising:

a bottom portion;

a skirt extending upwardly around the circumference of the bottom portion and defining an opening; and

a tubular shaft, extending upwardly from the circumferential rim of the skirt.

2. The soap stand of claim 1, wherein the bottom portion is circular.

3. The soap stand of claim 1, wherein the tubular shaft is fluted and annular.

4. The soap stand of claim 3, wherein the tubular shaft extends radially outwardly from the skirt.

5. The soap stand of claim 3, wherein the tubular shaft comprises a plurality of ridges, with each adjacent pair of said ridges defining a depression therebetween.

6. The soap stand of claim 1, further comprising a soap stop disposed in the opening and fixed to the bottom portion.

7. The soap stand of claim 6, wherein the soap stop is cylindrical.

8. The soap stand of claim 1, further comprising a cylindrical cover with a flat upper rim, outwardly covering the skirt.

9. The soap stand of claim 8, wherein the cylindrical cover covers the bottom portion as well.

10. A soap stand comprising:

a bottom portion;

a tubular shaft, extending upwardly apart from and along the upper and outer circumferential rim of the skirt.

11. The soap stand of claim 10, wherein the bottom portion is circular.

12. The soap stand of claim 10, wherein the tubular shaft is fluted and annular.

13. The soap stand of claim 12, wherein the tubular shaft extends radially outwardly from the skirt.

14. The soap stand of claim 12, wherein the tubular shaft comprises a plurality of ridges, with each adjacent pair of said ridges defining a depression therebetween.

15. A soap stand comprising:

a bottom portion;

a tubular shaft having outward threads, extending upwardly apart from and along the upper and outer circumferential rim of the skirt.

16. The soap stand of claim 15, wherein the bottom portion and the skirt are integrated to form a solid block.