Brushing – scrubbing – and general cleaning – Implements – Brush or broom
Reexamination Certificate
2000-01-28
2003-03-04
Chin, Randall E. (Department: 1744)
Brushing, scrubbing, and general cleaning
Implements
Brush or broom
C015S104920, C015S210100, C015S244100, C004S606000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06526618
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a bath accessory, and, more particularly, this invention relates to a bath scrubber that can be used to scrub portions of the body not readily reachable by the hands of the bathers.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Scrubbing of the skin during bathing or showering is beneficial to clean the skin, remove dead skin cells, clean the pores and to invigorate the skin and massage underlying muscles and tendons. A widely used natural material known as luffa sponge is used for scrubbing. A luffa sponge can not be used to scrub the back of the bather easily and luffa sponges tend to become fouled with organic skin debris containing bacteria. The luffa sponges are too soft to massage back or shoulder muscles.
Long handled brushes with stiff bristles or luffa sponges mounted in a base, are used for scrubbing the back of bathers. However, the scrubbing action is parallel to the back. It is difficult to apply to the brush or sponge a massaging force perpendicular to the back by manipulating the long handle. Maintaining the fouled bristles or sponge sanitary is again a problem. The ability to manipulate a long-handled scrubber decreases with diminished joint mobility which usually accompanies advancing age. Of course bathers missing hands or arms are not able to manipulate long handled scrubbers.
LIST OF PRIOR PATENTS
PATENT
PATENTEE
585,086
Cox
621,920
Johnson
964,843
Booth
1,063,794
Hess
1,965,774
Jaynes
2,730,737
Herman
2,901,760
Nelson
3,040,337
Fjelstad
3,078,484
Briggs
3,209,372
Boyett, Sr. et al
3,612,044
Gurrola
3,289,215
Kennedy
3,631,560
Atkins
3,750,226
Morgan
4,020,519
Robison
4,417,362
Walker
DISCUSSION OF PRIOR PATENTS
Suction cups to anchor a scrubbing device to a wall are shown by Morgan, Walker or Gurrola. The scrubber or massager can be washcloths, brush bristles, foam rubber or plastic fingers.
Gurrola discloses a back massage and scrub fixture in which a suction cup mounted frame supports a pad carrying protruding, resilient, conical fingers. Morgan discloses a suction cup mounted massaging device. The massaging front surface may be toweling tufts or foam rubber tufts
15
as shown in FIG.
5
.
STATEMENTS OF THE INVENTION
The bath scrubber provided in accordance with the invention, can be used to readily scrub the formerly inaccessible surfaces of the body. The scrubber can be used to apply forces perpendicular to the surface of the body providing action which invigorates the skin and massages muscles, tendons and ligaments under the skin. The scrubber of the invention is not as subject to fouling by bacterial or fungal attack or organic material stuffed from the skin of the user.
The bath scrubber of the invention is formed of a layer of open mat of looped material formed of flexible, synthetic resin filaments attached to a stiff or flexible backing layer. The filaments and/or the backing layer can contain antibacterial and/or antifungal agents. Mounting means, such as suction cups or releasable Velcro straps, are provided on the rear surface of the backing for mounting the scrubber on the wall of a shower or bathtub enclosure. The mounting means are preferably a group of mini suction cups since a single large suction cup will not adhere to a tiled wall when the cup is placed over a grout line.
The bather need not use his/her hands to scrub his/her back. He/she first mounts the scrubber on a wall of a shower or tub enclosure. He/she then applies liquid or solid soap to the mat. He/she then moves backward until his/her back contacts the mat and then moves his/her back in a side to side motion while pressing his/her back against the mat. The loops abrade the skin of the back, removing dead skin cells and clean the pores. The pressure of the resilient loop filament layers invigorates the skin cleans and massages the back.
The scrubber can also be used to scrub the chest or other front portion of the bather. The scrubber is easily repositioned by releasing the suction cups or Velcro strips and repositioning the scrubber at a higher or lower location on the wall or tub. Also the scrubber can be removed from the wall to scrub any portion of body or limbs, feet, etc.
These and many other features and attending advantages of the invention will become apparent, as the invention becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 585086 (1897-06-01), Cox
patent: 621920 (1899-03-01), Johnson
patent: 964843 (1910-07-01), Booth
patent: 1063794 (1913-06-01), Hess
patent: 1965774 (1934-07-01), Jaynes
patent: 2730737 (1956-01-01), Herman
patent: 2901760 (1959-09-01), Nelson
patent: 3040337 (1962-06-01), Fjelstad
patent: 3055037 (1962-09-01), Fjelstad
patent: 3078484 (1963-02-01), Briggs
patent: 3209372 (1965-10-01), Boyett, Sr. et al.
patent: 3289215 (1966-12-01), Kennedy
patent: 3612044 (1971-10-01), Gurrola
patent: 3631560 (1972-01-01), Atkins
patent: 3750226 (1973-08-01), Morgan
patent: 4003372 (1977-01-01), Willoby
patent: 4020519 (1977-05-01), Robinson
patent: 4417362 (1983-11-01), Walker
patent: 4696068 (1987-09-01), Kenner
patent: 4699127 (1987-10-01), Schley
patent: 5175896 (1993-01-01), Zamir
patent: 5179755 (1993-01-01), Hill, Jr.
patent: 5403642 (1995-04-01), Landi
patent: 5628083 (1997-05-01), Hayes
patent: 5729858 (1998-03-01), Riffel
patent: 5822824 (1998-10-01), Dion
patent: 563146 (1975-06-01), None
Chin Randall E.
Jacobs Marvin E.
LandOfFree
Bath scrubber does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Bath scrubber, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Bath scrubber will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3081964