IPC分类号：
A47K7/02 | A47L13/46 | A47L13/16 | F16B47/00
国民经济行业分类号：
C2239 | C3029 | C1772 | C3373 | C3054 | C2927 | C3383 | C3074 | C1779 | C3072
当前申请(专利权)人：
ANNIE INTERNATIONAL, INC.
原始申请(专利权)人：
ANNIE INTERNATIONAL, INC.
当前申请(专利权)人地址：
500 Church Road, North Wales, Pennsylvania, US
发明人：
SHINN, KEVIN C. | SUH, JOHN J. | BAI, HUA | BERARDINUCCI, TONY | SOL, ARAM
代理机构：
CLARKE, GEOFFREY HOWARD
摘要：
A holder suitable for use with a variety of sponges is presented. The suction-enabled sponge holder (11) includes a suction cup (12), a protrusion (13), and a spike (14). The protrusion (13) and the spike (14) extend from the suction cup (12). The protrusion (13) slidably engages a permanent cavity (17) at a front surface (21) of a sponge (16) when the sponge (16) is either pushed onto or pulled away from the sponge holder (11). The spike (14) penetrates the front surface (21) of the sponge (16) to form a temporary cavity (18) adjacent to the permanent cavity (17) when the sponge (16) is pushed onto the sponge holder (11). The temporary cavity (18) closes when the sponge (16) is pulled away from the sponge holder (11). The temporary cavity (18) is characterized by localized damage to the sponge (16) caused by the spike (14). A localized compressive force (20) is applied by the sponge (16) onto said spike (14) within the temporary cavity (18). The compressive force (20) closes at least a portion of the temporary cavity (18) when the spike (14) is withdrawn from the temporary cavity (18).
技术问题语段：
The patent text describes a problem with existing suction-enabled sponge holders, which can result in the sponge rotating when attached to the holder. The technical problem to be solved is to create a suction-enabled sponge holder that can securely attach to a mounting surface and prevent the sponge from rotating when attached.
技术功效语段：
The invention provides a suction-enabled sponge holder that allows for easy attachment and removal of a sponge to a surface. The holder ensures that the sponge remains in place without rotating or getting damaged during use. The technical effects of the invention include facilitating sponge retrieval, avoiding sponge damage, and ensuring proper sponge orientation for maximum efficiency in fluid drainage and drying.
权利要求：
1. A suction-enabled sponge holder (11) comprising: (a) a sponge (16) having a body portion, a front surface (21) including a permanent cavity (17) extending into the body portion from the front surface (b) a suction cup (12); (c) a protrusion (13) that extends from said suction cup; and (d) a spike (14) that extends from said suction cup adjacent to said protrusion; wherein: said protrusion (13) slidably engages a permanent cavity (17) extending into the sponge (16) from the front surface (21) when said sponge is either pushed onto or pulled away from said suction-enabled sponge holder; said spike (14) penetrates said sponge at said front surface to form a temporary cavity (18) adjacent to said permanent cavity (17) when said sponge is pushed onto said suction-enabled sponge holder; said temporary cavity closes when said sponge is pulled away from said suction-enabled sponge holder.
2. The suction-enabled sponge holder of claim 1, wherein said protrusion (13) and said spike (14) cooperate to prevent separation of said sponge (16) from said suction-enabled sponge holder (11).
3. The suction-enabled sponge holder of claim 1, wherein said protrusion and said spike cooperate to prevent rotation of said sponge about said protrusion.
4. The suction-enabled sponge holder of claim 1, wherein said protrusion extends into at least a portion of said permanent cavity.
5. The suction-enabled sponge holder of claim 1, wherein said suction cup is attachable to and removable from a mounting surface.
6. The suction-enabled sponge holder of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of said spike penetrates said sponge.
7. The suction-enabled sponge holder of claim 1, wherein said temporary cavity is characterized by localized damage to said sponge caused by said spike.
8. A method for securing a sponge (16) to a suction-enabled sponge holder (11) comprising the steps of: (a) pushing said sponge onto said suction-enabled sponge holder so that a permanent cavity (17) beginning at a front surface (21) of said sponge engages a protrusion (13) extending from said suction-enabled sponge holder; (b) penetrating a front surface of said sponge via a spike (14) extending from said suction-enabled sponge holder adjacent to said protrusion, said penetration forms a temporary cavity (18) along said sponge, said temporary cavity is characterized by localized damage to said sponge caused by said spike, said temporary cavity conforms to the shape of said spike residing within said sponge; and (c) preventing separation between said sponge and said suction-enabled sponge holder via interaction between said protrusion and said sponge along said permanent cavity and interaction between said spike and said sponge along said temporary cavity.
9. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of: (d) applying a localized compressive force via said sponge onto said spike disposed along said temporary cavity.
10. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of: (e) pulling said sponge away from said suction-enabled sponge holder so that said permanent cavity separates from said protrusion and said temporary cavity separates from said spike.
11. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of: (f) closing at least a portion of said temporary cavity via said localized compressive force as said sponge is pulled away from said suction-enabled sponge holder.
12. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of: (g) closing at least a portion of said temporary cavity via said localized compressive force after said sponge is pulled away from said suction-enabled sponge holder.
13. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of: (h) avoiding relative rotation between said sponge and said suction-enabled sponge holder via said interactions.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein said interactions cooperate to secure said sponge to said sponge holder.
15. The method of claim 14, wherein said interactions are due at least in part to shrinkage of said sponge whereby said sponge is laterally pulled into tighter contact with each of said protrusion and said spike.