U.S. patent application number 11/786732 was filed with the patent office on 2008-10-16 for wall mountable back body scrubbing device.
Invention is credited to George David Green.
Application Number | 20080250594 11/786732 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39852396 |
Filed Date | 2008-10-16 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080250594 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Green; George David |
October 16, 2008 |
Wall mountable back body scrubbing device
Abstract
A mountable scrubber comprised of a rectangular base (not to
exclude other shapes) with scrubbing element attached to the
surface to be applied to the skin and suction cups on the opposite
side for attaching to a fixed surface as desired. Subsequent units
will have a rear mounted hand strap allowing easier hand operation
while still maintaining it's mountable qualities. The scrubbing
surface is of synthetic mesh material, which can be varied in
texture (soft or firm) and size (the actual opening in the mesh) to
increase and/or decrease the amount of exfoliation produced. This
scrubber has particular utility not only in scrubbing and massaging
but also in exfoliating and stimulating the dermis layer of the
body, in particular the back area. This is made possible because of
the abrasive nature of the scrubbing surface and the ability to
apply as much pressure as necessary due to it's wall mounting
capability.
Inventors: |
Green; George David; (Queen
City, TX) |
Correspondence
Address: |
George David Green
2807 CR 3778
Queen City
TX
75572
US
|
Family ID: |
39852396 |
Appl. No.: |
11/786732 |
Filed: |
April 13, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
15/210.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47K 7/024 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
15/210.1 |
International
Class: |
A47K 7/02 20060101
A47K007/02 |
Claims
1. A personal hygiene cleansing device, comprising: a flexible
backing of i.e. natural or synthetic rubber, vinyl, polyethylene or
similar water Proof material, with multiple suction cups (or other
devices) on one side, covering 50% to 70% of the surface area (but
not to exclude other amounts of suction devices) and, a finely
woven or extruded mesh material (netting) comprised of nylon or
like water resistant fabric gathered and twisted into a resilient
pad affixed to and completely covering the smooth side of the
backing by sewing, gluing of other means.
2. The body scrubber of claim 1, will cleanse, stimulate and
exfoliate the dermis layer of the body.
3. The body scrubber of claim 1 when affixed to the shower or tub
wall will allow the user to reach the hard to cleanse portions of
the back without the aid of others.
4. The scrubber of claim 1, will when used in accordance with claim
3 allow the user to apply sufficient force to thoroughly clean,
exfoliate and stimulate the back.
5. The scrubber of claim 1 will after use (due to the properties of
the scrubbing medium) rinse clean and when affixed to the wall
drain and dry rapidly improving hygiene and extending the life of
the product.
Description
REFERENCES CITED
TABLE-US-00001 [0001] 5,179,755 January 1993 Hill 15/160 5,228,165
July 1993 Westberry 15/160 5,628,083 May 1997 Hayes 15/244.3
5,836,035 November 1998 McElfish 15/160 6,370,722 April 2002
Duckworth 15/104.92 6,647,564 November 2003 Smith 4/606
PRIOR ART
[0002] During the course of my search I found multiple examples of
personal cleansing devices many of which are wall mounted and
designed to scrub the back. However, none of these used the
technology that enables this device to exfoliate and stimulate. The
woven scrubbing medium does a superior job of cleansing and
exfoliating while being porous enough to rinse clean and drain
rapidly. This gathered and twisted netting maintains its resilience
even after repeated use. Also the device of this invention solves
the problem of wall mounting being easily affixed with one hand
utilizing its suction cup design.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The present invention generally relates to personal bathing
and scrubbing devices, and in its preferred embodiments more
specifically relates to a scrubbing device that may be affixed to a
shower wall or tub for use in scrubbing a person's back and that
may also be separated from the stationary surface and used as a
hand held scrubbing device. After the bather has completed his body
the scrubber can be dropped on the floor of the shower and used as
a foot scrubber. This aspect of the device is enhanced due to the
suction sides ability to resist slippage.
BACKGROUND
[0004] A person bathing alone, e.g., in a shower or bathtub, is
normally able to reach the majority of his or her body for washing
or scrubbing without difficulty, but very few people are able to
reach the entire surface of his or her back. As a result, the
inaccessible portion of the back may not be directly washed or
scrubbed. The need to thoroughly wash or scrub the skin of the
entire back can be particularly important for people with skin
conditions, such as acne, and incomplete cleansing may be
ineffective in controlling the condition. Various approaches have
been used in an effort to overcome this problem and provide a means
for scrubbing the back during bathing. In one approach a long
handled brush is held by the bather in one of his or her hands and
used to reach, e.g., over the bather's shoulder to scrub the back.
Although such a brush can be effective in allowing a bather to
reach his or her back, the long handle can make the device
cumbersome to use, and it may be difficult for many people to apply
the desired pressure to the back. Further, manipulation of the
brush can be difficult for people who may have limited arm
mobility.
[0005] In another approach a wall mounted device may be used,
either permanently mounted to the wall of a shower or tub enclosure
or temporarily mounted with means such as suction cups. Permanently
mounting a scrubbing device presents a number of disadvantages. A
permanently mounted device cannot be removed for cleaning either
the device or the wall behind it. Further, a device mounted in one
position may be appropriately located for one person in a
household, but not others, so the usefulness of such a device is
limited. Temporarily mounted devices known in the prior art resolve
some of these difficulties, but are often subject to other
disadvantages. In one known approach a large deice, sized to cover
the entire back of a typical adult, with a base incorporating a
significant number of suction cups to hold it to the wall has been
used. The large size of these devices make them difficult to remove
from the wall, difficult to clean, and cumbersome to reposition. In
another approach, devices with a permanently or temporarily mounted
base and a removable scrubbing element have been used. In such
devices the base is typically rigid, and has portions extending
outwardly from the base, to engage the removable scrubbing element,
and those extensions can be uncomfortable to a person leaning
against the device to scrub his or her back. The engaging
structures of the base and removable element can also be difficult
to clean. The ability to thoroughly clean all parts of the device
is considered to be important to avoid mold or mildew growth, and
to eliminate other sources of contamination.
[0006] Wall mounted scrubbing devices often use a sponge or other
water retaining substance as the scrubbing material, sometimes
though not always covered by a cloth or other material to increase
friction. Water retaining structures, even though they will
eventually drain the water and dry, remain wet or damp for a
sufficiently long period after use to allow the growth of mold or
mildew and other contaminants, and are hygienically undesirable.
The present invention provides a wall mountable back scrubbing
device that is easily attachable and removable from a shower or tub
enclosure wall, that is constructed of materials that will quickly
drain and dry and discourage the growth of mold, mildew and other
contaminants, and that is designed to be used as a hand held body
scrubber as well as a wall mounted back scrubber. The structure and
features of the device of the invention will be described in detail
with reference to the accompanying drawing figures.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] FIG. 1 is an elevation view of the front, or outer face of a
preferred embodiment of the device of the invention.
[0008] FIG. 2 is an elevation view of the rear face of a preferred
embodiment of the device of the invention.
[0009] FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of a preferred embodiment of
the device of the invention.
[0010] FIG. 4 is an elevation view of the rear face of an
alternative embodiment of the device of the invention,
incorporating a hand strap to facilitate use of the device as a
body scrubber.
[0011] FIG. 5 is a side view of the alternative embodiment of the
device of the invention shown in FIG. 4, in a curved orientation
for use as a body scrubber.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0012] Referring to the drawing figures, the device of the
invention, generally designated by reference number 10, comprises a
generally planar base, or backing, 11 with a rear face 12 and front
face 13. A plurality of suction cups 14 are disposed on the rear
face of base 11, preferably in a symmetrical array, and
interconnected to the base. It is preferred that the base be formed
of a flexible synthetic rubber or rubber-like plastic material, and
it is further preferred that suction cups 14 be integrally formed
with base 11 as a unitary construction. In the preferred embodiment
base 11 is generally rectangular in configuration, approximately
five inches in width and approximately seven inches in length. The
corners of the base are preferably rounded. It is to be understood,
however, that neither the configuration nor the dimensions of the
base are critical to the invention, and any desired configuration
and size may be utilized within the scope of the invention. As a
non-limiting example, the base may readily be formed in an oval
configuration. Although the base may be formed in any size within
the scope of the invention, it is preferred that the length and
width of the base be selected so that the size of the base does not
greatly exceed the size of a typical adult hand, in order to
facilitate use of the device as a body scrubber as well as a wall
mounted back scrubber.
[0013] The device of the invention further comprises a scrubbing
structure 15, interconnected to the front face 13 of the base 11,
and extending fully over the front face and outwardly from the
front face a short distance. In the preferred embodiment of the
device the scrubbing structure is formed of an open mesh or open
celled polymeric netting. The preferred material of construction is
highly durable and resilient or elastic, and the netting is formed
of a multiplicity of thin strands of non-porous material. A
suitable material for the construction of the scrubbing structure
is a commercially available material generally referred to as a
diamond mesh netting, formed of a polyethylene material. This
preferred material of construction is soft and resilient to the
touch, provides sufficient friction on the skin for effective
scrubbing action without excessive abrasion, and drains and dries
rapidly when wet. The strands forming the netting do not absorb
water, soap, or dirt and the material does not encourage mold or
mildew growth or bacterial growth on the surface of the
strands.
[0014] In the preferred embodiment of the device of the invention,
the scrubbing structure is formed by gathering the netting material
into overlapping folds or loops to form a matting of generally
uniform thickness. The gathered material, or matting, is
interconnected to the front face 13 of base 11 to fully cover the
front face. The scrubbing structure may be connected to the base by
any desired secure conventional means, such as by stitching or with
an adhesive suitable to the materials and intended use. In the
preferred embodiment the thickness of the scrubbing structure, and
its extension outwardly from the front face of the base is
approximately one inch. However, the specific thickness is not
critical within the scope of the invention, and differing
thicknesses may be utilized if desired. It is also preferred that
the scrubbing structure extend outwardly beyond the edges of the
base a short distance so that the edges of the base do not normally
rub against a bathers skin during use of the device. It is
preferred that the netting material be gathered tightly to provide
a relatively dense scrubbing structure that is resilient when
pressed against the skin but does not compress or collapse fully
against the base of the device under normal washing or scrubbing
force. The gathering of the netting material creates a multiplicity
of fairly convoluted passages through the scrubbing structure,
through which water will readily, but somewhat slowly drain. During
use of the device for bathing, soapy water will be retained in the
scrubbing structure a sufficient period of time for effective
bathing, but will be easily and quickly washed through and drained
from the scrubbing surface after bathing. Because liquid drains
quickly from the device, and because none of the materials of
construction are absorbent, the device will dry quickly, and
discouraging the growth of potentially harmful and/or odor causing
organizers.
[0015] The embodiment of the device of the invention described
above is used as a wall mounted back scrubber by pressing the
suction cups 14 extending from the rear face 12 of the base against
a flat, smooth surfaced wall such as a wall of a shower or tub
enclosure, at an appropriate height relative to the back of the
intended user. In the preferred embodiment of the device the total
area of the suction cups in contact with the wall is equal to at
least fifty percent of the area of the rear face 12 of base 11, in
order to assure secure adhesion of the device tot eh wall, although
it is to be understood that the specific relationship of the area
of the suction cups to the area of the obese is not critical to the
invention, so long as the suction cups achieve a secure adhesion
and the device will remain inn place during use as a back scrubber.
A bather may scrub his or her back by leaning against the device
and moving his or her body to provide the desired scrubbing effect.
The device may also be easily removed front the wall and fastened
in the bather's hand for use as a body scrubber. The device may
still further be removed from the wall and adhered to the floor of
the shower enclosure or the bottom of a bathtub and used to scrub
the bathers feet by rubbing each foot back and forth and of side to
side over the scrubbing structure. When the bath is completed the
device may be left on the wall or returned to the wall to drain and
dry.
[0016] Although the embodiment of the device described above can be
used as a hand held body scrubber, it may be cumbersome for some
bathers to use in that manner. An alternative embodiment of the
device illustrated in FIGS. 4a and 5d is provided to facilitate
that manner of use without diminishing the usefulness of the device
as a wall mounted back scrubber. In the alternative embodiment
suction cups 14 are omitted from a portion of tear face 12 and base
11, in a line extending along a majority of the length of rear face
12. It is preferred that the portion of the rear suction coups
extends around the perimeter of the rear face to ensure secure
attachment of the device or other flat surface. An elongate hand
strap 16 is interconnected at each of its ends to the rear face of
the base so that the hand strap extends through the space free of
suction cups. The orientation of the longitudinal axis of the hand
strap relative to the base, perpendicular to the longitudinal axis
of the base or at a diagonal. With the base in a flat or planar
orientation the hand strap preferably extends parallel to and flat
against the rear face of the base. The thickness of hand strap 16
is less than the distance of extension of suction cups 14 outwardly
from rear face 12, so that when the rear face of the base is
pressed against a flat surface to engage the suction cups with that
surface the hand strap dies not interfere with the adhesion of the
device to the surface.
[0017] Hand strap 16 is formed of a flexible material, so that when
the base 11 is deformed into the curved configuration illustrated
ion FIG. 5, the strap will flex away from the rear face of the base
into an oppositely curved configuration, allowing a person to
extend his or her hand between the hand strap and the rear face of
the base of the device, with the palm of the hand against the rear
face of the base and with the hand strap extending over the back of
the hand. The device is thus removably secured on the hand to
facilitate use of the device as a body scrubber. It is preferred
that the material of construction of hand strap 16 be elastic and
shape retentive as well as flexible, so that the front face 13 and
scrubbing structure 15 into a convex curvature to match the
curvature of a bather's body without exerting an uncomfortable
constriction on the bather's hand.
[0018] It is readily understood that this embodiment of the device
of the invention can readily be adhered to a wall and used as a
wall mounted back scrubber, easily removed from the wall and as a
securely retained hand held body scrubber, and then easily returned
to the wall to dry.
[0019] In a further alternative embodiment, not illustrated in the
figures, base 11 could be formed of two parallel sheets of
material, interconnected at their edges along three sides of a
rectangularly configured base or along a sufficient portion of
their edges to secure the sheets together leaving an opening for
the insertion of a bather's hand between the two sheets. In this
alternative embodiment suction cups 14 are connected to the outer
face of the rear sheet and the scrubbing structure 15 is
interconnected to the outer face of the front sheet. The two sheets
of the base are formed of a material of sufficient rigidity to
maintain the two sheets in parallel orientation when the device is
adhered to a wall by the suction cups, but sufficiently flexible to
allow the sheets a to separate when a bather inserts his or her
hand between them. When a bather desires to use the device as a
hand held body scrubber he or she may insert his or her hand into
the cavity to secure the device on the bather's hand. Although
fully functional for bathing this embodiment of the device is not
preferred because water and soap will be introduced into the cavity
between the front and rear sheets of the base during use of the
device as a hand held body scrubber. When the device is removed
from the hand of the bather the sheets will close against each
other, retaining moisture within the cavity, and inhibiting the
circulation of air through the cavity for drying. As a result this
alternative embodiment of the device will be more difficult to
clean and will be subject to the growth of undesirable organisms to
a much grater extent than the previously described embodiment.
[0020] The foregoing description of preferred and alternative
embodiments of the device of the invention is intended to be
illustrative and not limiting. The device of the invention is
susceptible too other embodiments and variations within the scope
of the invention, which is intended to broadly construed.
* * * * *