Back scrubbing device

Abstract

A scrubbing device that allows a user to scrub or massage his or her back while taking a shower or a bath without the use of the user's hands and without arm movement, said scrubbing device comprising a scrubbing pad, at least two spaced apart suction cups for detachably attaching the scrubbing pad to a shower wall or the side of a tub, a plurality of screws for attaching the suction cups to the scrubbing pad, and a plurality of separators.

Description

CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] U.S. Provisional Application for Patent No. 60/289,889, filed May 10, 2001, with title “Back Scrubbing Device” which is hereby incorporated by reference. Applicant claims priority pursuant to 35 USC ¶119(e)(i).

[0002] Statement as to rights to inventions made under Federally sponsored research and development: Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] 1. Field of the Invention

[0004] This invention relates to a “hands-free” back scrubbing device primarily developed for the purpose of scrubbing and massaging the back of a user while taking a shower or bath.

[0005] 2. Background Information

[0006] The use of back scrubbing devices is known in the prior art. Such prior art includes various devices for scrubbing the back and lower body of a user. U.S. Pat. No. 6,058,545 to Roach discloses such a device. The device of Roach includes generally a U-shaped housing having a spaced apart pair of arm portions and a main portion connecting the arm portions of the housing together, a scrubbing member positioned between the arm portions of the housing, and a motor for rotating the scrubbing member about the longitude axis of the scrubbing member. This is a relatively costly, and uneconomical means of achieving the particular objective of scrubbing a user's back while taking a shower or bath.

[0007] Other prior art devices for scrubbing the back of a user comprises a scrub brush and handle, where the user is required to hold the handle and direct the brush to the area of the back to be scrubbed or massaged. Such device requires, at a minimal, use of the user's hand and excessive arm movement. Even where the said prior art handle is extendable and retractable, it is often difficult to reach certain areas of the back with this type device. Further, a user lacking in agility, or otherwise physically challenged would not be able to use such a scrubbing device.

[0008] As will be seen from the subsequent description, the preferred embodiments of the present invention overcome these and other shortcomings of prior art. The present invention provides an economical and efficiently manufactured hands-free device for scrubbing the user's back while taking a shower or bath.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] The present invention is an improved back scrubbing device, and specifically, a “hands-free” back scrubbing device primarily developed for the purpose of scrubbing and massaging the back of a user while taking a shower or a bath. Such device comprising a scrubbing pad, at least two spaced apart suction cups for detachably attaching the scrubbing pad to a surface such as a shower wall or the side of a tub, screws for attaching the suction cups to the scrubbing pad, and preferably, a plurality of separators.

[0010] The present invention provides a new and improved back scrubbing device which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed. The present invention is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making the present invention economically available to the buying public.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a back scrubbing device mounted to a shower wall.

[0012] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the device of FIG. 1.

[0013] FIG. 3 illustrates a sectional view of the device of FIG. 1.

[0014] FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of the scrubbing pad of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0015] FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a preferred embodiment of an improved “hands-free” back scrubbing device 1 made in accordance with the present invention. Said back scrubbing device 1 for scrubbing or massaging the user's back while taking a shower or bath. As best shown in FIG. 3, such back scrubbing device 1 comprising a scrubbing pad 10, and attaching means to attach said scrubbing device 1 to a surface 100 such as a shower wall 200 (shown in FIG. 1) or the side of a tub (not shown). In the preferred embodiment, said attaching means includes at least two spaced apart suction cups 23 for detachably affixing the scrubbing pad 10 to said surface 100, a plurality of screws 21 having a head end 21A and a threaded end 21B, said screws 21 for attaching the suction cups 23 to the scrubbing pad 10, and a plurality of separators 22. In the preferred embodiment, said separators 22 are rosettes. As shown in FIG. 4, the scrubbing pad 10 further includes at least two spaced apart diametric openings 11 formed therethrough. As best shown in FIG. 3, said openings 11 sized to receive said screws 21 that extend through the scrubbing pad 10, where said threaded end 21B of the screws 21 is threadably connected to the suction cups 23. The separators 22 having a separator clearance 22A for receiving the screw 21 therethrough. The suction cups 23 having a threaded clearance 23A for threadably accepting the screw 21.

[0016] Referring again to FIG. 3 which best illustrates assembly of the scrubbing device 1, said screw 21 is passed through said separator clearance 22A and down through one of the openings 11 of the scrubbing pad 10. Said screw 21, is passed entirely through the opening 11 of the scrubbing pad 10 and the threaded end 21B of the screw 21 threadably attached to one of the suction cups 23. Said separator 22 on one side of the scrubbing paid 10 and the suction cup 23 on the opposite side of the scrubbing pad 10. The plurality of separators 22 are in communication with the scrubbing pad 10 and the head end 21A of the screws 21 to prevent the head end 21A of the screw 21 from puncturing the surface of the scrubbing pad 10. Said suction cups 23 are in communication with the opposite side of the scrubbing paid 10 to attach the scrubbing device 1 to the surface 100.

[0017] Referring again to FIG. 1, illustrates the scrubbing device 1 attached to the surface 100 of the shower wall 200. As shown in the drawings, when the scrubbing device 1 is attached to the surface 100 such as a shower wall 200 or the side of a tub, the scrubbing pad 10 horizontally extends from the surface 100. As will be further discussed, the user is able to scrub or massage his or her back by sliding his or her back in contact with the scrubbing pad 10 of the scrubbing device 1. The scrubbing device 1 is releasably secured in place with the said spaced apart suction cups 23. The scrubbing device 1 is removed from the surface 100 by simply detaching the said suction cups 23 from the surface 100. The scrubbing device 1 may then be easily detached from the surface 100 and attached at a higher or lower location on the surface 100 in order to easily reach various areas of the user's back, and/or to service taller or shorter in height users.

[0018] In use in a shower stall for example, the user attaches the back scrubbing device 1 to the surface 100 of the shower wall 200 by affixing the suction cups 23 to the surface 100 of the shower wall 200. When positioning the scrubbing device 1 on the surface 100, the scrubbing pad 10 is located at a height of approximately the middle of the user's back when standing. By standing in place and simply raising or lowering his or her back in constant contact with the scrubbing pad 10, the user is able to clean his or her back efficiently without the use of his or her hands and without arm movement. Likewise, while lying in a bath tub, the user may simply slide his or her back along in constant contact with the scrubbing pad 10 of the back scrubbing device 1 while the same is attached to the side of the tub. Again, the user is able to scrub or massage his or her back efficiently without use of his or her hands and without arm movement. While the drawings illustrate the scrubbing device 1 mounted horizontally to the surface 100, so that the user scrubs his or her back by raising or lowering his or her back in constant contact with the scrubbing pad 10, it should be obvious to one skilled in the art that the scrubbing device 1 may be situated on the surface 100 vertically. When mounted vertically, the user would then simply shift his or her back from side to side in constant contact with the scrubbing pad 10.

[0019] In the preferred embodiments of the present invention, the materials of construction of the scrubbing pad 10, is preferably polyurethane, or like material.

[0020] The present invention provides a new and improved back scrubbing device which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed. The present invention is susceptible of the low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making the present invention economically available to the buying public.

[0021] Although the description above contains many specificities, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention but as merely providing illustrations of some of the presently preferred embodiments of the invention. Thus the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims in the formal application and their legal equivalence, rather than by the examples given.

Claims

1. A back scrubbing device comprising:

a pad having at least two spaced apart openings formed therethrough,

a plurality of screws having a head end and a threaded end, said screws extending through said openings,

attaching means attached to the threaded end of said screws for detachably attaching the scrubbing device to a surface such as a shower wall or side of a tub, and

a plurality of separators in communication with the head end of said screws and the scrubbing pad.

2. The back scrubbing device as recited in claim 1, wherein said attaching means are suction cups.

3. The back scrubbing device as recited in claim 1, wherein the separators are rosettes.

4. A back scrubbing device for the purpose of scrubbing and massaging a user's back while taking a shower or a bath without using the user's hands and without arm movement, said back scrubbing device comprising:

a scrubbing pad having at least two spaced apart openings formed therethrough,

a plurality of screws having a head end and a threaded end,

at least two spaced apart suction cups attached to the threaded end of the screws and in communication with a first side of the scrubbing pad for detachably attaching the scrubbing device to a surface such as a shower wall or side of a tub, and

a plurality of separators in communication with the head end of the screws and the opposite side of the scrubbing pad.

5. The back scrubbing device as recited in claim 4, wherein the separators are rosettes.