Soap sponge

Abstract

A soap sponge is disclosed. In a particular embodiment, the sponge includes a top layer and a bottom layer of a porous polyurethane foam material, where the layers each further include a netted mesh. The sponge also includes a seam securing together a continuous portion of a periphery of the top layer and the bottom layer so that an interior open volume between the top layer and the bottom layer is defined by the seam. A mouth is disposed at an edge of the sponge and is adapted to access the interior open volume. The sponge further includes an elastic band secured to the mouth of the sponge, where the elastic band is adapted to maintain the mouth in closed position and to stretch open only upon the application of force to place a bar of soap inside.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A soap sponge, the sponge comprising:
 a top layer;   a bottom layer;   a seam securing together a continuous portion of a periphery of the top layer and the bottom layer;   an interior open volume between the top layer and the bottom layer defined by the seam;   a mouth disposed at an edge of the sponge and adapted to access the interior open volume; and   an elastic band secured to the mouth of the sponge, wherein the elastic band is adapted to maintain the mouth in closed position and to stretch open only upon the application of force to place an item inside.   
     
     
         2 . The soap sponge of  claim 1 , the mouth of the sponge further comprising a V-shaped notch within the top layer and the bottom layer, wherein the mouth having a larger open end to form an inlet of the sponge and tapers to the interior open volume of the sponge. 
     
     
         3 . The soap sponge of  claim 2 , wherein the item is a solid soap bar or a portion of at least one solid soap bar. 
     
     
         4 . The soap sponge of  claim 3 , further comprising a loop stationary secured to the seam, the top layer, the bottom layer, or any combination thereof, and the sponge is adapted to hang from the loop in a vertical position. 
     
     
         5 . The soap sponge of  claim 4 , wherein the top layer is comprised of a porous polyurethane foam material. 
     
     
         6 . The soap sponge of  claim 5 , wherein the bottom layer is comprised of a porous polyurethane foam material. 
     
     
         7 . The soap sponge of  claim 6 , wherein the top layer further comprising a netted mesh. 
     
     
         8 . The soap sponge of  claim 7 , wherein the bottom layer further comprising the netted mesh. 
     
     
         9 . The soap sponge of  claim 8 , wherein the sponge is shaped to fit in a palm of a user's hand. 
     
     
         10 . The soap sponge of  claim 9 , wherein the elastic band secured to the mouth of the sponge is flat and adapted to hinge about a longitudinal axis aligned with the seam when being opened. 
     
     
         11 . A soap sponge, the sponge comprising:
 a pouch;   an interior space within the pouch and adapted to secure at least a portion of a bar of soap therein;   a mouth of the sponge adapted to access the interior space; and   an elastic band secured to the mouth, wherein the elastic band is adapted to maintain the mouth in a closed position and to stretch open only upon the application of force to place the soap inside.   
     
     
         12 . The soap sponge of  claim 11 , the mouth of the sponge further comprising a funnel shape into the interior space within the pouch. 
     
     
         13 . The soap sponge of  claim 12 , wherein the item is a solid soap bar or a portion of at least one solid soap bar. 
     
     
         14 . The soap sponge of  claim 13 , further comprising a loop stationary secured to an edge of the sponge, and the sponge is adapted to hang from the loop in a vertical position. 
     
     
         15 . The soap sponge of  claim 14 , wherein an inner surface of the pouch is comprised of a porous polyurethane foam material. 
     
     
         16 . The soap sponge of  claim 15 , wherein the pouch is comprised of a top portion and bottom portion secured together along a periphery to form the pouch. 
     
     
         17 . The soap sponge of  claim 16 , wherein the elastic band is adapted to lay flat around the funnel shape of the mouth. 
     
     
         18 . The soap sponge of  claim 17 , wherein the sponge is adapted to be grasped by a user's hand. 
     
     
         19 . A soap sponge, the sponge comprising:
 a top layer of a porous polyurethane foam material, wherein the top layer further comprising a netted mesh;   a bottom layer of the porous polyurethane foam material, wherein the bottom layer further comprising the netted mesh;   a seam securing together a continuous portion of a periphery of the top layer and the bottom layer;   an interior open volume between the top layer and the bottom layer defined by the seam;   a mouth disposed at an edge of the sponge and adapted to access the interior open volume; and   an elastic band secured to the mouth of the sponge, wherein the elastic band is adapted to maintain the mouth in closed position and to stretch open only upon the application of force to place an item inside;   wherein the item is a solid soap bar or a portion of at least one solid soap bar.   
     
     
         20 . The soap sponge of  claim 19 , wherein the mouth of the sponge further comprising a V-shaped notch within the top layer and the bottom layer.