초록 ▼

Techniques of transporting bath sponges involve holding a used bath sponge in a case that will carry and compress the used bath sponge. Such a case separates the soiled water and debris that is drained from the used bath sponge. The case is designed to facilitate the drainage of water and debris tha

Techniques of transporting bath sponges involve holding a used bath sponge in a case that will carry and compress the used bath sponge. Such a case separates the soiled water and debris that is drained from the used bath sponge. The case is designed to facilitate the drainage of water and debris that have accumulated in the bath sponge after it is used. The action of compression of a bath sponge within this case will also help to maintain the original shape of the bath sponge. This case will keep all water and debris that has collected by the action of compression of the bath sponge contained in the lower sections of the case. In addition, when this case is stored in an upright position, the water and debris will not be able to flow back into the top section where the sponge is being stored.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An article holding apparatus comprising: a housing which defines a holding space to hold a wet article over a draining space;a separator which couples to the housing, the separator being constructed and arranged to separate the holding space from the draining space;a base which couples to the sep

1. An article holding apparatus comprising: a housing which defines a holding space to hold a wet article over a draining space;a separator which couples to the housing, the separator being constructed and arranged to separate the holding space from the draining space;a base which couples to the separator at an end of the separator facing the draining space, the base providing an enclosure around the draining space; anda loop assembly including a loop attached to a top end of the housing, the loop assembly being constructed and arranged to support the article holding apparatus in an upright position as the loop assembly is supported externally by the loop,wherein the separator further includes a base coupling portion which is constructed and arranged to couple to the base, andwherein the separator includes (i) a housing coupling portion which is constructed and arranged to couple the separator to the housing and (ii) a guiding portion which is constructed and arranged to guide fluid from the holding space to the draining space,wherein the housing, the separator, and the base together form a closed container, wherein the separator has an external sidewall extending around the separator, and wherein the guiding portion includes a funnel extending inwardly from the external sidewall and downwardly toward the draining space, the funnel having (i) a first end having a first width and facing the holding space and (ii) a second end having a second width and facing the draining space, the second width being smaller than the first width. 2. An article holding apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the separator fits inside the housing; wherein housing coupling portion of the separator is located on an outside surface of the separator; andwherein the housing coupling portion of the separator includes attachment threads which enable the coupling of the separator to an inner surface of the housing by a screwing motion. 3. An article holding apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the base includes (i) a separator coupling portion which is constructed and arranged to couple the base to the separator and (ii) a sealing portion which is constructed and arranged to contain fluid from the wet article within the apparatus. 4. An article holding apparatus as in claim 3, wherein the separator coupling portion includes attachment threads on an interior surface of the base, the attachment threads enabling the coupling of the base to an outer surface of the separator by a screwing motion. 5. An article holding apparatus as in claim 3, wherein the sealing portion of the base includes a gasket located in an interior surface of the base, the gasket being recessed into a grooved well in the base along a circumference of the base. 6. An article holding apparatus as in claim 3, wherein the base further includes a set of gripping lobes arranged circumferentially around an exterior surface of the base, each of the set of gripping lobes radially protruding from the base and having a rounded edge away from the base. 7. An article holding apparatus as in claim 1, wherein, when the funnel is coupled to the separator, the funnel is disposed at least partially within the housing to provide compression to the wet article. 8. A method of manufacturing an article holding apparatus, the method comprising: defining, within a housing, a holding space to hold a wet article over a draining space;providing a separator to separate the holding space from the draining space using a separator which couples to the housing, the separator having an external sidewall extending around the separator;providing an enclosure around the draining space using a base which couples at an end of the separator facing the draining space;providing a loop assembly including a loop attached to a top end of the housing, the loop assembly being constructed and arranged to support the article holding apparatus in an upright position as the loop assembly is supported externally by the loop,wherein providing the separator includes:defining a housing coupling portion which is constructed and arranged to couple the separator to the housing; anddefining a guiding portion within the separator, the guiding portion being constructed and arranged to guide fluid from the holding space to the draining space,andwherein defining the guiding portion includes providing a funnel extending inwardly from the external sidewall and downwardly toward the draining space, the funnel including (i) a first end having a first width and facing the holding space and (ii) a second end having a second width and facing the draining space, the second width being smaller than the first width. 9. A method as in claim 8, wherein providing the enclosure includes: defining a separator coupling portion which is constructed and arranged to couple the base to the separator; anddefining a sealing portion which is constructed and arranged to contain fluid from the wet article within the apparatus. 10. A method as in claim 9, wherein defining the separator coupling portion includes providing attachment threads on an interior surface of the base, the attachment threads enabling the coupling of the base to an outer surface of the separator by a screwing motion. 11. A method as in claim 9, wherein defining the sealing portion includes a providing gasket located in an interior surface of the base, the gasket being recessed into a grooved well in the base along a circumference of the base. 12. A method as in claim 9, wherein providing the enclosure further includes providing a set of gripping lobes arranged circumferentially around an exterior surface of the base, each of the set of gripping lobes radially protruding from the base and having a rounded edge away from the base. 13. A method of containing a wet article, the method comprising: providing a housing that defines a holding space to hold a wet article over a draining space;providing a separator constructed and arranged to separate the holding space from the draining space, the separator having an external sidewall and a funnel extending inwardly from the external sidewall and downwardly toward the draining space; andcoupling the separator to the housing with a wet article placed in the housing, such that, when the housing is positioned upright with the housing above the separator, liquid drains from the wet article, through the funnel in the separator, and into the draining space,wherein coupling the separator to the housing compresses the wet article and causes liquid to drain from the wet article. 14. A method as in claim 13, wherein the method further comprises attaching a base to the separator, the base forming a leak-resistant seal with the separator and catching liquid draining into the draining space.