Technical Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a packaging system which can be used as a package for a soap bar product and can be converted into and used as a soap case.
Background of the Invention
It has been a conventional practice to pack the soap bar products in different forms of packaging systems such as paperboard carton, plastic boxes, and paper and plastic wrappings. These packaging systems prevent the soap bar product from contamination and provide aesthetic value to the product during sale. Once the soap bar product is removed from these packaging systems, it cannot be resealed again. Therefore, there is a need of another container to store the soap bar product when it is being used, to prevent the soap bar from softening and getting quickly dissolved in the water that is present as moisture on the soap bar and other water that is splashed thereon. As per the conventional practice, after removing from the package system the soap bar is stored in a soap case. The various designs of the soap case are widely disclosed in the art where the primary objectives of these designs are to hold the soap bar ready for use and to allow the water and the soap residue to drain quickly from the soap bar. Hence, it would be advantageous to design a packaging system which can be used as a package for the soap bar product and can later be converted into and used as a soap case.
There are few references in the art that describes the packaging designs where the soap bar package can be used as a soap case. The U.S. patent no. 4,858,757 describes a combined package and dish for a soap bar product. In this case, the soap dish consist of a four walled container with open top and bottom sides. A plurality of dowels are extended between two opposite sides near the bottom. When used as a packaging, the soap bar is piaced inside the container resting on the dowel. When used as a soap dish, the structure is inverted to permit the soap bar to rest on the top of the dowels. The U.S. patent no. 4,754,874 provides a bar soap package that also serves as the mold for the bar, travel case, and a soap case. The soap bar packaging system of the present invention has a consumer friendly feature of easy tear along perforation to convert a soap bar package into a soap case and the plastic nature of the packaging system prevents microbial growth despite carrying a wet product for a long time.

Summary of the Invention
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a unique packaging system which can be used as a package for the soap bar product and can be converted into and used as a soap case. The packaging system, according to the present invention is designed in such a way, that the structure of the package comprises of a closed box inside which a soap bar can be easily placed. The closed box is provided with a tear along perforation, such that when the box is teared along the perforation, the closed box can be converted into a soap dish. The bottom surface of the box comprises of a plurality of holes which enables the drainage of the collected water from the casing to prevent the soap from getting soggy and wasting away. The bottom surface of the box further comprises of spikes at the four corners, such that the base does not touch the ground surface, thereby allowing the easy drainage of water from the drainage holes of the casing.
The packaging system in the form of a closed box, is used as a package for the soap bar in which the product is safely carried to the user. The same package can be later converted into a soap dish by tearing along the perforation and the product may be stored when it is being used.
These features makes the package of the soap bar ready to use as a soap case by tearing away the portion that needs to be removed as guided by the perforations. Further features and advantages of the package system of the present invention will be described in more details with specific reference to the preferred embodiment as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Brief Description of the Drawings
FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of the packaging system showing the closed box which
is used as a package for the soap bar product in accordance with the teachings of the
invention.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the packaging system showing the pattern in which the
package needs to be teared along the perforation for converting it into a soap case.
FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of the formed soap case showing the spikes at the bottom
surface of the case.

FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of the packaging system showing the drainage holes. FIG. 5 is a plan view of the packaging system
Detailed Description of the Invention
A packaging system in accordance with the invention is illustrated in FIG. 1-5. Referring to FIG. 1, the packaging system can be in the form of a closed box 10 having two opposite end walls 12 and 13, the front and rear side walls 14 and 15, a bottom surface 16 and a top surface 18. The hollow chamber of the box 10 formed by the side and end walls and top and bottom surfaces as illustrated above should be such that the dimensions allows proper holding of the soap bar product 20 inside the chamber. The soap bar product 20 may optionally be sealed, laminated or wrapped with a transparent film, which preferably comprises of a single layer clear polyolefins such as biaxially-oriented polypropylene (BOPP) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or other clear sealable films. The closed box 10 of the present invention is fabricated from any material that does not lose the strength due to excessive moisture and does not support or suffer from any microbial growth. The preferred materials include polypropylene, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride and polyethylene terephthalate.
The packaging system may optionally be printed with logos identifying the product and with instructions or directions in the form of written texts and/or graphics to instruct the user with the steps to convert the package into a soap case. The packaging system may further optionally contain an information leaflet.
Referring to FIG. 2 and 3, the package for the soap bar product can be converted into a soap case by initiating a notch at position 22 of the closed box 10 and tearing along the perforation provided in the packaging system. After the portion as guided by the perforation is teared off, the closed box 10 is converted into a soap case as illustrated in FIG. 3. The soap bar product 20 is placed on the inner side of the bottom surface 16 of the so formed soap case. The packaging system is provided with spikes 24 on all corners of the outer side of the bottom surface 16 which prevents the direct contact of the bottom surface with the ground thereby allowing proper drainage of water from the soap case.
Referring to FIG. 4, the bottom surface 16 of the packaging system further comprises of a plurality of holes 26 which enables the easy drainage of water from the soap case.
For a more complete understanding of the above invention, reference is made in FIG. 5, showing the plan view of the carton adapted to be folded into a packaging system similar to that shown in FIG. 1.

WE CLAIM:
1. A soap case convertible packaging system for a soap bar product comprising:
four side walls, a bottom and a top surface to form a closed box, wherein the said box has a hollow chamber with dimensions to hold the soap bar product therein; and the said closed box being convertible into a soap dish by initiating a notch and tearing along the perforation provided on the box.
2. A packaging system as in claim 1 wherein the bottom surface of the box comprises of spikes at all the corners to prevent the contact between the bottom surface and the ground and to allow easy drainage of the water.
3. A packaging system as in claim 1 wherein the bottom surface of the box further comprises of a plurality of holes to drain out the water from the soap case.
4. A packaging system as in claim 1 wherein the box is fabricated from polypropylene.