Coating implements with material supply – Material flows through porous tool – Including compartment for soluble solid material
Reexamination Certificate
1999-05-26
2001-05-08
Walczak, David J. (Department: 3751)
Coating implements with material supply
Material flows through porous tool
Including compartment for soluble solid material
C401S006000, C401S008000, C015S208000, C601S138000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06227742
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a device for use in washing the back of a person, for ease in the harder to reach areas of the back and to benefit people with a limited range of motion.
2. Description of Related Art
Back washing devices are known in the art. However, the prior devices, although beneficial for many with handicaps and for larger persons who have difficulty washing their backs, have shortcomings or are intended to provide combined washing and massaging effects.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,545,456 to Suida discloses a device for washing and massaging the back of a person. It has a plurality of pockets to accommodate the soap and massaging accessories. It is made from both coarse and smooth wash cloth material. The handles are fixed and are adapted to engage a thumb, thereby adding concentrated stresses to a handicap's person hand in the thumb area. Other known related art includes a sponge assembly with straps attached at each end to D-shaped rings depicted in U.S. Pat. No. 4,196,490 to Jonzon, a body scrubber depicted in U.S. Design Pat. No. Des. 363,810 to Smith, Jr., a combination body and back bath scrubber depicted in U.S. Pat. No. 5,509,164 to Weill, a bathing implement depicted in U.S. Pat. No. 2,035,014 to Schaefer, a bathing accessory for the back depicted in U.S. Pat. No. 3,860,349 to Scott and a back scrubber depicted in U.S. Pat. No. 3,674,374 to Jennings.
None of the devices in the above references solve the problem of providing a simple and easy to use device which can be used by people with medical handicaps related to hand, fingers, shoulders and/or arm problems as well as by large people who have difficulty reaching hard to reach areas of the back. For example, the handles in the present invention slidingly engage a loop formed at the ends of the sleeve forming the wash cloth, whereby as the user moves the wash cloth in any direction, the ring reorients itself by the sliding movement to minimize any stress on a person's hands. In addition, the present invention does not utilize a plurality of sheets with differing coarseness for combined scrubbing or massaging and washing. Instead the present invention provides for a wash cloth made from a single material, preferably a nylon cloth material. Such constructive features allow the device to effectively wash and condition the skin while being gentle enough for daily use by adults and children, especially those with disabilities.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a device for use in washing the back of a person which includes an elongate sheet of flexible material having a first lateral end, a second lateral end, a first longitudinal edge and a second longitudinal edge, the sheet being folded such that the edges are secured together to form a sleeve. Means for holding cleaning means at an intermediate portion of the sleeve is included and forms a pocket by securing opposing internal faces of the sleeve along predetermined stitch lines which form a perimeter of the pocket. The pocket further has an opening for inserting the cleaning means into the pocket and for removing the cleaning means therefrom. The opening in the pocket further has means for releasably securing the cleaning means within the pocket.
Handle means at each of the first and second ends of the sleeve are provided. Each handle means is slidingly engaged in a loop formed at each of the ends of the sleeve wherein each opposing end is wrapped around a portion of the handle means and secured onto itself to form the loop. The handle means comprise an endless-shaped ring for easy grasping by a person's hands.
The cleaning means is preferably a bar of soap; however, a combination of a bar of soap and a sponge body, a combination of liquid soap and a sponge body, a combination of a bar of soap, liquid soap and a sponge body, or a combination of segments of nylon material and a bar of soap or liquid soap, may also be used. The means for releasably securing the cleaning means within the pocket is preferably hook and loop fastener material such as that made by Velcro™; although other means such as buttons and zippers may be used.
The flexible material forming the sleeve or wash cloth is preferably made from nylon cloth material; although other materials such as terry cloth, bath towel, jute cloth or cotton cloth may be used, including synthetic materials, rayons, polyesters and other similar materials. The handle means is an endless-shaped ring made from polymeric material and can be rigid or flexible. The preferred material is flexible vinyl tubing wherein the ends of the tubing are joined and secured to form the ring.
REFERENCES:
patent: D. 363810 (1995-10-01), Smith
patent: 1404401 (1922-01-01), Novick
patent: 2035014 (1936-03-01), Schaefer
patent: 2333436 (1943-11-01), Novick
patent: 2363697 (1944-11-01), Schirmer
patent: 3124827 (1964-03-01), Hull
patent: 3674374 (1972-07-01), Jennings
patent: 3812849 (1974-05-01), Guinta
patent: 3860349 (1975-01-01), Scott
patent: 3959841 (1976-06-01), Horne
patent: 3977796 (1976-08-01), Gillespie
patent: 4196490 (1980-04-01), Jonzon
patent: 5486064 (1996-01-01), Schulte
patent: 5509164 (1996-04-01), Weill
patent: 5545456 (1996-08-01), Suida
Corn Gwendolyn P.
Corn John F.
LaPointe Dennis G.
Mason & Associates P.A.
Walczak David J.
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