Refillable personal hygiene product dispenser

Abstract

A cleaning implement includes an implement body that receives a bar of solid hygiene product in a cavity extending through the implement body. The hygiene product is selectively movable downward to protrude through an opening among bristles or in a sponge. The implement allows for replacement of the solid hygiene product within the implement. The product may be advanced within the implement by means of a threaded rod or a helical cylinder and an abutment member. A resilient sleeve seals against water ingress while also retaining the product as it is consumed or dissolves.

1 . A dispenser for retaining and presenting a solid stick of hygiene product for application of said solid stick to a surface, comprising:
 a dispenser body;   an elongated cavity in said body, said cavity having an opening at an end of said cavity;   said cavity being configured to receive said solid stick such that an end of said solid stick protrudes through said opening; and,   a flexible, elastic sleeve disposed co-axially about said opening, said sleeve having an inner diameter that is smaller than an inner diameter of said opening whereby to snugly engage said solid stick; wherein said sleeve is configured to deform when said solid stick is inserted through said inner diameter so as to provide a seal against ingress of water to said cavity.   
     
     
         2 . The dispenser according to  claim 1  wherein said sleeve is in the shape of a flat ring. 
     
     
         3 . The dispenser according to  claim 1  wherein said sleeve has an elongated hollow portion and an outwardly extending annular portion about said elongated hollow portion. 
     
     
         4 . The dispenser of  claim 3  wherein said elongated hollow portion is a hollow cylindrical portion. 
     
     
         5 . The dispenser of  claim 4  wherein said annular portion is about an end of said elongated hollow portion. 
     
     
         6 . The dispenser of  claim 1  wherein said dispenser is a brush or a sponge and said hygiene product is soap. 
     
     
         7 . The dispenser according to  claim 1  wherein:
 said dispenser is a brush; 
 said solid stick of hygiene product is a solid stick of soap; 
 said body comprises a plurality of bristles on a surface of said body; and, 
 said opening opens among and between said bristles. 
 
     
     
         8 .- 12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . A dispenser for retaining and presenting a solid stick of hygiene product for application of said solid stick on a surface, comprising:
 a dispenser body having an elongated cavity, said cavity having an opening at an end of said cavity;   a hollow cylindrical member disposed within said cavity and being rotatable within said body, said hollow cylindrical member comprising at least two radially opposed helical members extending towards said opening;   said at least two radially opposed helical members defining between them at least two parallel helical grooves that are radially opposed to one another;   said cylindrical member being configured to receive said solid stick and said cylindrical member being disposed in said body such that an end of said solid stick received in said cylinder member protrudes through said opening of said cavity;   an abutment element disposed within said cylindrical member and having at least two radially opposed extensions that extend into said opposed grooves;   whereby rotation of said cylindrical member causes said abutment element to migrate along said grooves.   
     
     
         14 . The dispenser of  claim 13  wherein each of said radially opposed extensions engages in respective straight guide channels formed in said body parallel to a longitudinal axis of said cylindrical member, whereby to prevent rotation of said abutment element when said cylindrical member rotates and to force said abutment member to migrate along said grooves. 
     
     
         15 . The dispenser of  claim 13  wherein said grooves are open at an end of said hollow cylindrical member facing said opening. 
     
     
         16 . The dispenser of  claim 13  wherein said dispenser is a brush or a sponge and said hygiene product is soap in solid form. 
     
     
         17 . The dispenser of  claim 16  wherein said body comprises a detachable base threadedly engaged with said body. 
     
     
         18 . The dispenser of  claim 17  further comprising an elastic sleeve retained co-axially about said opening and having an inner diameter that is smaller than an inner diameter of said opening, wherein said sleeve is configured to deform when said solid stick is inserted through said inner diameter so as to provide a seal against ingress of water to said cavity. 
     
     
         19 .- 30 . (canceled) 
     
     
         31 . A brush for retaining and presenting solid soap in the vicinity of bristles of the brush, comprising:
 a brush body;   a plurality of bristles retained on at least one surface of said brush body;   a cavity extending through the brush body, said cavity having an opening in said surface;   a flexible, elastic sleeve disposed co-axially about said opening, said sleeve having an inner diameter that is smaller than an inner diameter of said opening; and,   said cavity being configured to slidably receive a bar of solid soap such that an end of said bar protrudes among the plurality of bristles and such that said sleeve snugly engages sides of said bar;   wherein said sleeve is configured to deform when said solid stick is inserted through said inner diameter so as to provide a seal against ingress of water to said cavity.   
     
     
         32 . The brush of  claim 31  wherein said cavity is cylindrical. 
     
     
         33 . The brush of  claim 31  wherein said opening is in a center of said plurality of bristles. 
     
     
         34 .- 40 . (canceled)