KIK-N-IT CALLUS REMOVER

Abstract

The device is a callus reducing appliance in the shape of a circular disk. It is a multilayered, flexible device. On the front or working side of the disk is an abrasive grit which is held in place by means of a waterproof adhesive that is pre-cured. The backside of the disk is the mounting side adapted to attach to a bathing conveyance. The adhesive backing side of the device is covered with a disposable protective cover that is removed by the consumer prior to placement in the working environment. The device uses biomechanical energy and is used in a bathtub or other bathing conveyance utilizing either full immersion in water or free running water.

Description

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This patent application claims priority to U.S. provisional patent application No. 60/927,043 filed Apr. 30, 2007 and International Application Number PCT/IB2007/052117 filed on Jun. 6, 2007 both disclosures of which are incorporated herein in its entirety by reference. This patent application is the national phase in the US of International Application Number PCT/IB2007/052117.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a callus removing device employed by those who are troubled by calluses and more particularly to a hands-free device containing an abrasive grit that is mounted and immersed in a bathtub or other bathing conveyance and is primarily used for the reduction of calluses on the feet.

2. Description of the Related Art

Corns and calluses are one of the three major foot problems in the United States. The other two are foot infections and toenail problems. Corns and calluses affect about 5% of the population.

Calluses are thick, hardened layers of dead skin that develop when the skin tries to protect itself against friction and pressure. They may appear grayish or yellowish, be less sensitive to the touch than surrounding skin, and feel bumpy. The medical term for the thickened skin that forms calluses is hyperkeratosis.

The treatment options are to either see a doctor to trim the callus with a small knife or to reduce the size of the callus yourself by soaking your callus in warm water and then using a pumice stone to lightly wear away the dead skin.

Several callus removing devices have been developed which attempt to achieve this goal. They are either manually operated or electrically powered. U. S. Publication No. 2005/0103357 A1 discloses a device used for callus removal that requires a user to manipulate the device with his/her hand by rubbing the afflicted surface with a sander. The user has to sit or bend awkwardly to reach the afflicted area while in the shower or tub. An electrically operated sander for removing calluses from hands or feet is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,347,211. Since this is an electrical device, the user is not able to use it in the shower or tub and the process becomes more complex as it is advisable to soak the afflicted area prior to usage in order to soften the callus before sanding.

While these devices may be suitable for the particular purpose, they would not be as suitable for the purposes of the present invention as disclosed hereafter.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

There is disclosed a callus reduction device for use in a bath tub or other bathing conveyance going under the trade name of “KIK-N-IT”. It consists of a thin, flat, circular shaped, multilayered composite made out of a flexible plastic material acting as a mounting disk. The front surface of this mounting disk, serving as the working surface, has an abrasive grit attached to it. This is held in place by a water proof adhesive that is pre-cured. An adhesive layer on the backside of the mounting disk serves as a disposable protective backing.

Another use of this hands-free composite, traditionally applied horizontally to the interior of bathing/showering areas provides improved traction for the purpose of stability during bathing/showering activities as well as providing full contact on the entire device surface to the user while being immersed in water.

It is manufactured in such a manner as to be a replaceable component used primarily for the reduction and incident of calluses on the feet.

The foregoing has outlined, rather broadly, the preferred feature of the present invention so that those skilled in the art may better understand the detailed description of the invention that follows. Additional features of the invention will be described hereinafter that from the subject of the claims of the invention. Those skilled in the art should appreciate that they can readily use the disclosed conception and specific embodiment as a basis for designing or modifying other structures fore carrying out the same purposes of the present invention and that such other structures do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention in its broadest form.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other aspects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following detailed description, the appended claim, and the accompanying drawings in which.

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a hands free device that can be used to remove callus on a person's foot without bending or sitting in accordance with the principles of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the following detailed description of the invention, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of various aspects of one or more embodiments of the invention. However, one or more embodiments of the invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, and/or components have not been described in detail so as not to unnecessarily obscure aspects of embodiment of the invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown an exploded view of a device that can be used to remove callus on a person's foot without bending or sitting in a hands free process. The callus removing device 10 consist of a disk having a plurality of layers where each layer is for a specific purpose. The different layers of the composite disk cooperate to provide a combination that produces a new result.

The composite disk consists of a base member 12 that can be of a suitable flexible plastic and immersed in warm and cold water for a long period of time without displaying any adverse affects. The front surface 14 of base member 12 is covered with an abrasive grit 16 that lies in the range of between 60 to 80. The grit is applied to the front surface of the base member with a water proof adhesive. The back surface of the disk is covered with an adhesive 18 that allows a user to mount the disk either vertically or horizontally in a shower or bath tub. The adhesive on the back surface is covered with a disposable protective cover that is removed prior to the disk being used for the first time and requires up to 24 hours to fully cure.

The disk has a thickness that is between 5/64 and 6/64 of an inch and a diameter of substantially 4 inches. It is replaceable and can be used for removing dead skin components such as calluses that are located on a person's feet without being overly abrasive to the surrounding and underlying skin on the users feet. The distribution of the abrasive grit on the disk is substantially uniform to provide full contact on the entire surface that presents itself for usage.

In use, the disk is placed in a convenient place, either horizontally or vertically in a bath tub or shower area where the disk will be immersed in water during usage. A user, while bathing, rubs his/her feet on the abrasive disk to remove calluses. The user can do this while standing in a shower of sitting on the edge of a tub. When the disk is placed on a side of a bath tub, the user can remove calluses while sitting on the tub bottom.

In another use embodiment of the disk, a user can place one or more disks on the floor of a shower or bathtub to provide improved traction and prevent falls.

While there have been shown and described and pointed out the fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to the preferred embodiments, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes of the form and details of the apparatus illustrated and in the operation may be done by those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Claims

1. A device for removing calluses from a person's feet comprising:

a disk having a front surface and a back surface;

abrasive grit located on the front surface of said disk;

adhesive located on the back surface of said disk; and

a protective coating covers the adhesive coating on the back surface of said disk;

wherein, without using a hand, calluses can be removed by rubbing a foot on said front surface of said disk immersed in water while standing or sitting.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said abrasive grit of the front surface of the disk is in a range of 60 to 80 grit.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein said protective coating is removed from said adhesive coating prior to using said disk for the first time to adhere said disk to a vertical surface in a shower or bath tub.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein said protective coating is removed from said adhesive coating prior to using said disk for the first time to adhere said disk to a horizontal surface in a shower or bath tub.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein said disk is flexible.

6. The device of claim 5 wherein said abrasive grit is attached to the front surface of said disk with waterproof adhesive.

7. The device of claim 6 wherein said disk is not adversely affected by warm or cold water.

8. The device of claim 7 wherein said disk is adhered to a floor of a shower to provide improved traction for increasing stability while bathing.

9. A method for removing calluses from a person's feet comprising the step of:

providing a disk having a front surface and a back surface;

locating abrasive grit on the front surface of said disk;

locating adhesive on the back surface of said disk; and

covering the adhesive coating on the back surface of said disk with a protective coating;

wherein, without using a hand, calluses can be removed by rubbing a foot on said front surface of said disk immersed in water while standing or sitting.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein said abrasive grit of the front surface of the disk is in a range of 60 to 80 grit.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein said protective coating is removed from said adhesive coating prior to using said disk for the first time to adhere said disk to a vertical surface in a shower or bath tub.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein said protective coating is removed from said adhesive coating prior to using said disk for the first time to adhere said disk to a horizontal surface in a shower or bath tub.

13. The method of claim 9 wherein said disk is flexible.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein said abrasive grit is attached to the front surface of said disk with waterproof adhesive.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein said disk is not adversely affected by warm or cold water.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein said disk is adhered to a floor of a shower to provide improved traction for increasing stability while bathing.