Methodology and apparatus for a flexible back exfoliator

Abstract

One possible embodiment for the invention could be a surface-mounted flexible back exfoliator. The flexible back exfoliator could generally comprise a flexible mounting portion, a flexible exfoliation pad, and a flexible locking device. The flexible mounting portion could be a two-sided pad with at least one side generally presenting one or more flexible attaching devices for reversibly securing the flexible mounting portion to a surface of a washing area. The other side of the flexible mounting portion, through the locking device, could generally provide for attachment of the flexible exfoliation pad to the flexible mounting portion. The flexible exfoliation pad could generally be a flexible perforated envelope containing a flexible absorbent pad. The flexible absorbent pad could generally dispense liquid(s). The flexibility of the invention could generally allow it to be generally applied to a non-planar surface and be compacted for easy transport.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED

RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

REFERENCE TO A “MICROFICHE APPENDIX”

Not Applicable.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to back exfoliators and more specifically to those back exfoliators, which may generally be flexibly mounted on surface(s) of a washing area

BACKGROUND

Taking care of the skin, the largest organ of the human body, is generally considered important to overall health of the person. One of the ways of taking care of the skin could be the regular cleaning of the skin, particularly, through exfoliation. Exfoliation could be considered a process wherein the skin could be scrubbed with an abrasive-type device to basically foster the disassociation (e.g., loosening) and the removal of undesired containments and impurities of the skin such as dead skin cells, dirt, grease, bacteria, and the like. This scrubbing could be accompanied in at least some instances with a flushing of the scrubbed skin with a liquid (e.g., such as water, a soap and water combination, and the like) to assist in the removal of the loosened contaminants. It is also generally believed that the removal of such dead skin cells fosters the generation of new skin cells, which is generally believed to be beneficial and healthy for the skin.

Exfoliation could be accomplished through the use of a scrubbing device upon the skin. The scrubbing device could include, but not be limited to a brush with stiff bristles, a perforated or mesh-like material bundled together, or any other suitable device whose surface was a rough, irregular or otherwise abrasive.

Due to the general limitations of the articulation of the limbs of the human body, a person could have some trouble reaching and touching hard to reach areas of his or her back with the scrubbing device to perform exfoliation. To extend their reach to the hard to reach areas of the back, a person could employ a long handled scrubbing device or the like. However, due to the generally awkward motion of reaching backwards to operate such a long handled scrubbing device, the force applied could be insufficient for a through and proper exfoliation.

Another possible solution for exfoliation of the hard to reach areas could be use of a back exfoliator (e.g., back exfoliation device), which is generally vertically mounted to a surface of washing area. A person could generally lean and rub his or her back against the back exfoliator to exfoliate the hard to reach area(s) of the back. Possible limitations to this solution could be seen in the means of attachment used to mount the back exfoliator to a generally vertical surface of a washing area. Such attachment means, generally tending to be permanent or semi-permanent in nature, could fix the back exfoliation device at a height for use by initial or particular user. This height placement could force subsequent other users (who could be taller or shorter that the initial or particular user) to either slouch or stand on their toes (possibly in discomfort) to properly employ the fixedly placed back exfoliation device. Further, if permanent or semi-permanent attachment means are employed, this may prevent the original user (and others) from utilizing (and mounting) the back exfoliator with (to) other washing areas in which user(s) may have access (e.g. a hotel bath, gymnasium shower, and other washing facilities).

Additionally, various attachment means for mounted back exfoliators could be seen as being generally limited for use on a planar or flat surface. If a washing area has one or more non-planar surfaces, e.g., generally curved surfaces or two or more planar surfaces that do not generally lie in a common plane, many attachment means may generally lack the necessary flexibility to attach the back exfoliation device to such surfaces of the washing area. An example of a non-planar surface(s) could be curved surfaces which may generally found in a bathtub. Here, the operator wishing to sit in (or lie in) and exfoliate in a bathtub would generally not be able generally attach a back exfoliator to sides and bottom of the bathtub that generally can be seen to have such non-planar characteristics.

There is a therefore, a need for a flexible back exfoliator that can be easily transported as well as be easily and reversibly mounted to planar and non-planar surfaces of washing areas. The flexible back exfoliator should also be readily compacted for transportation to different locales. The mounting of the flexible back exfoliator to the surfaces of the washing area should be easily adjusted to meet the placement requirements by two or more users of different heights.

SUMMARY OF ONE EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

Advantages of One or More Embodiments of the Present Invention

The various embodiments of the present invention may, but do not necessarily, achieve one or more of the following advantages:

provide a back exfoliator that is flexible,

the ability to generally reversibly secure a back exfoliator to one or more non-planar surfaces of a washing area;

provide a back exfoliator that has ability to resist the growth of microorganisms on its components;

provide a back exfoliator that does not generally require modification of a surface of washing area for attachment to the surface of the washing area;

provide a back exfoliator that can be reversibly secured to non-planar as well as non-planar surfaces of washing areas; and

the ability to be easily placed into a compact state for storage and transport.

These and other advantages may be realized by reference to the remaining portions of the specification, claims, and abstract.

Brief Description of One Embodiment of the Present Invention

One possible embodiment of the invention could be a flexible back exfoliator comprising of at least a flexible exfoliation pad connected by a flexible locking device to a flexible mounting portion, which mounts the flexible back exfoliator to the surface of a washing area.

Another embodiment could be a flexible back exfoliator generally comprising an exfoliating means for the general loosening and removal of contaminants from at least a portion of the back; a microorganism growth inhibitor means for generally resisting the growth of microorganisms; and a flexible mounting means for generally attaching the flexible back exfoliator to a non-planar surface of a washing area.

Another embodiment could generally be a method of using a flexible back exfoliator generally comprising of the following steps, not necessarily in the order shown, generally attaching the mounting portion to the exfoliation pad; generally flexing the mounting portion and exfoliation pad to generally conform to one or more contours of a surface; and generally attaching the mounting portion to a surface having one or more curves.

The above description sets forth, rather broadly, a summary of one possible embodiment of the present invention so that the detailed description that follows may be better understood and contributions of the present invention to the art may be better appreciated. Some of the embodiments of the present invention may not include all of the features or characteristics listed in the above summary. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described below and will form the subject matter of claims. In this respect, before explaining at least one preferred embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of the construction and to the arrangement of the components set forth in the following description or as illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is substantially a perspective cutaway view of one possible embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is substantially an elevation cutaway view of one possible embodiment of the invention in use in a bathtub.

FIG. 3 is substantially an elevation cutaway of one possible embodiment of the invention in a compact state.

FIG. 4 is substantially a flow chart for one possible embodiment of a process for using the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN EMBODIMENTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

In the following detailed description of the following embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this application. The drawings show, by way of illustration, specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

As generally shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the one possible embodiment of the present invention could generally comprise a flexible back exfoliation device (or exfoliator), generally indicated by reference number 20, for exfoliation of at least a portion of the operator's skin that is generally not easily reached by the operator, generally indicated by reference numeral 200, such as the operator's back 202 or a portion of thereof. The flexible back exfoliator 20 could generally comprise a flexible mounting portion, generally indicated by reference number 30, a flexible exfoliation pad, generally indicated by reference number 50, and a flexible locking device, generally indicated by reference number 70, which reversibly attaches the flexible mounting pad 30 to the flexible exfoliation pad 50. Due to its generally flexible nature, the flexible back exfoliator 20 may be attached to portion(s) of the surface 12 of a washing area 10, wherein one or more portions may be generally considered as being non-planar in that portions may be curved, the portions may be planar but lie in one or more planes, or combinations thereof.

The flexible mounting portion 30 could be used to reversibly attach the flexible back exfoliator 20 to the surface 12 of the washing area 10. Such a washing area 10, could include, but not necessarily be limited to, shower facilities, bathtubs 14 and other possible bathing facilities. Shower facilities 16 could include, but not necessarily be limited to, a single shower stall containing at least one showerhead (not shown), a shower area containing multiple shower heads (e.g., a gymnasium showering facility) or any other showering system. As generally shown in FIG. 2, the flexible mounting portion 30 attaches the flexible back exfoliator 20, to a surface 12 that may have one or more curved portions such as found in a bathtub 14. The flexible back exfoliator 20 (e.g., its components) could also be flexed to match and attach to one or more non-planar surfaces 12 (e.g. generally flat or planar surfaces).

The flexible mounting portion 30 could at least comprise a flexible polymer pad 32 with two sides 34, a first side 36 and second side 38. The first side 36 could generally provide one or more attachment devices 40 for reversibly securing the flexible mounting portion 30 (hence, the flexible back exfoliation device 20) to a surface 12 of a washing area 10. The attachment device 40 could be seen as being flexible and generally adhesion-based, in that it could be, in at least in one embodiment, one or more flexible suction cups 42. In such an embodiment, the suction cup(s) 42 could be generally integral with the first side 36 (e.g., similar in construction to that of an anti-skid mat that is applied to the bottom of a bathtub, a shower and the like to prevent a bather from slipping and falling in such areas).

In another embodiment, the attachment device 40 could generally be one or more flexible pads of low adhesion adhesive (not shown) that are generally attached or otherwise made captive to the first side 36. In this manner, the exposed portion of the low adhesive pad (not shown) could generally make it possible for the mounting portion 30 to generally reversibly attach to a portion of a surface 12 of a washing areas 10 that is generally too irregular or too rough so as to interfere with the attachment capabilities of the suction cup(s) 42.

The second side 38 of the mounting portion 30 could support one or more flexible locking device(s) 70 to generally assist in the reversible attachment of the secondary side 60 of the flexible exfoliation pad 50 and second side 38 of the flexible mounting portion 30 together.

The exfoliation pad 50 could generally comprise a liquid permeable flexible envelope 52 containing a flexible absorbent pad 54. The envelope 52 could generally have two sides, a primary side 58 and a secondary side 60. The secondary side 60, in conjunction with the locking device 70, could provide for the general attachment of the exfoliation pad 50 with the second side 38 of the flexible mounting portion 30. In at least one embodiment, this attachment is generally reversible. The primary side 58 could generally provide for an abrasive contact with the skin of the operator 200 for the actual exfoliation. This abrasive contact could be provided by having the envelope 52 made out of perforated or mesh-like material. In at least one embodiment, this mesh-like material may be obtained from Apex Mills Corporation, of 168Doughty Blvd, Box 960670, Inwood, N.Y. 11096-0670.

The pad 54, in at least one embodiment could generally be absorbent so as to generally store and dispense liquids such as soap, skin oils, skin conditioners and the like. In addition, the pad 54 could generally hold and dispense water to generally assist in the removal of the contaminants. The pad 54 could also be generally constructed to generally resist microbial growth to limit the noticeable intrusion into the pad 54 of mold, bacteria, mildew and the like. The pad 54 could also be constructed to have various indentations and folds to aid in enhancing its flexibility. In at least one embodiment, the pad 54 could be an open cell polyether foam, which could be obtained from E.N. Murray Company, 707 Umatilla street Denver, Colo. 80204-4225.

Locking device 70 could be one of several flexible attachment mechanisms known in the art. In at least one embodiment, the flexible locking device 70 could generally be hook and loop. In such an embodiment, at least one loop pad 72 and at least one corresponding hook pad 74 could generally be used. For example, a hook pad 74 could generally be attached to second side 38 of the flexible mounting pad 30 while its corresponding loop pad 72 could generally be attached to the secondary side 60 of the exfoliation pad 50. In this manner, at least one embodiment could use several such combinations of hook pads 74 and their corresponding loop pads 72 as a locking device(s) 70.

As shown in FIG. 3, in at least one embodiment, the flexible back exfoliator 20 could also be fitted with one or more straps 80 for generally assisting in holding the flexible back exfoliator 20 in a compacted state for storage, travel and the like. In at least one embodiment, the strap(s) 80 could generally be attached proximate to the edges of the mounting portion 30, the exfoliator pad 50 or both. The strap(s) 80 could generally be wrapped around a folded flexible back exfoliator 20 and subsequently tied to hold the folded flexible back exfoliator 20 into its folded (e.g., rolled) compact state for storage (e.g., stowage), transport and the like.

As generally shown in FIG. 4, one possible embodiment for the process, generally indicated by reference numeral 100, for operating the flexible back exfoliation device 20 could compromise of a step 1, readying the flexible back exfoliator 20. Step 1 could include actions such as unwrapping any strap(s) 80 binding the flexible back exfoliator 20 together and then unfolding the flexible back exfoliator 20 from a folded state of storage. Once step 1 is completed, the process 100 could then proceed to step 2, determination of attachment of flexible exfoliation pad 50 to the flexible mounting pad 30.

This step 2, determination of the attachment of flexible exfoliation pad 50 to the flexible mounting portion 30, could include the general determination of whether the second side 38 of the flexible mounting pad 30 was properly attached to the secondary side 60 of the flexible exfoliation pad 50 through use of the flexible locking device 70. If the answer is no, then the process 100 could generally proceed to step 3, the securing of the exfoliation pad 50 to the flexible mounting portion 30. If the answer is yes, then the process 100 could generally proceed to step 4, the securing the flexible exfoliation device 20 to the surface 12 of washing area 10.

At step 3, the securing the flexible exfoliation pad 50 to the flexible mounting portion 30, the operator could undertake those actions which could result in the proper attachment or securing of the second side 38 of the flexible mounting portion 30 to the secondary side 60 of the flexible exfoliation pad 50. For example, when the flexible locking device 70 comprise a hook and loop pad(s), the operator could be seen as orienting the flexible mounting portion 30 to the flexible exfoliation pad 50 so that the hook pad(s) 74 will correctly line up with their respective loop pad(s) 72. The operator could generally then press the flexible mounting portion 30 to the flexible exfoliation pad 50 so that the hook and loop pads 74, 72 generally properly engage one another to reversibly secure the flexible mounting portion 30 to the flexible exfoliation pad 50. After generally completing step 3, the process 100 could generally proceed to step 4, the securing the flexible back exfoliator 20 to the surface 12 of washing area 10.

Step 4, the securing the flexible back exfoliator 20 to the surface 12 of washing area 10, could generally include conforming or flexing at least a portion of the assembled flexible back exfoliator 20 (e.g., the flexible mounting portion 30) to one or more contour(s) or shape(s) (e.g., curve[s], non common plane areas) of the surface 12 of the washing area 10. If one or more contours of the surface 12 have a curved portions, then the operator could generally flex the flexible back exfoliator 20 (and hence, the flexible mounting portion 30, flexible exfoliation pad 50, and flexible lock device [s]) to match the one or more curved portions of the area 12. After flexing the flexible back exfoliator 20, or if the area 12 did not require such flexing, then operator could place (after suitable wetting the area 12, if suction cups 42 are used) the first side 36 of the flexible mounting pad 30 against the area 12 to suitably and reversibly engage the attachment device(s) 40 with the surface 12 of the washing area 10. After step 4 is generally completed, the process 100 could proceed to step 5, the preparation of the flexible back exfoliation device 20.

Step 5, the preparation of the flexible back exfoliator 20, could include the placing (e.g., the holding) quantities of one or more liquids into the pad 54 to be dispersed during exfoliation. These liquids could include, but necessarily be limited to, water, soap, skin conditioners, skin treatment oils and the like. After completion of step 5, the process 100 could proceed to step 6, the exfoliation.

Step 6, the exfoliation, could include actions such as wetting (and possibly soaping) at least a portion of the operator's back 202, then pressing and rubbing that portion of the back 202 against the primary side 58 of the flexible exfoliation pad 54. After rubbing the selected portion of the back 202 to exfoliate it, the operator could rinse off the portion of the back 202 with water or other suitable liquid. In this manner, the operator can be seen as disassociating (e.g., loosening and the like) contaminants (dead skin cells and the like) from the back 202 and then removing (e.g., washing away) the dissociated contaminants from the back 202. After completion of step 5, the process 100 could proceed to step 7, the cleaning of the flexible back exfoliator 20.

Step 7, the cleaning of the flexible back exfoliator 20, could include the removal of the flexible back exfoliator 20 from the area 12. This removal could further continue with the separating of the mounting portion 30 from the exfoliation pad 50 and the cleaning of these two parts. After this step 7 is completed, the process 100 could generally proceed to step 8, the storage of the flexible back exfoliator 20.

Step 8, the storage of the flexible back exfoliator 20, could include the disassembly of the flexible back exfoliator 20 as necessary or otherwise desired. The flexible back exfoliator 20 either assembled or unassembled) could then can be placed (e.g., folded, rolled or the like) into a compact state (e.g., compacted). If strap(s) 80 are provided, then they can be used at this point to hold the flexible back exfoliation device 20 into its compacted state. After step 7 is generally completed, the process 100 can generally return to step 1, readying the flexible back exfoliation device 20 as needed or desired.

CONCLUSION

As the above description demonstrates, the flexibility of invention allows it to be applied to one or more non-planar surfaces as well as being easily adjusted for the heights of different users. The invention may also be easily removed and applied to other surfaces for use in different wash areas. Although the description above contains many specifications, 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 this invention. Thus, the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents rather than by the examples given.

Claims

1. A flexible back exfoliator comprising:

(A) a flexible mounting portion, the flexible mounting portion comprising at least two sides, first side and second side, the first side having one or more attachment devices for reversibly attaching the back exfoliator to a surface of a washing area;

(B) the flexible exfoliation pad, the flexible exfoliation pad comprising of an absorbent pad encapsulated by liquid permeable envelope, the liquid permeable envelope having at least a primary side and secondary side, the primary side provides for abrasive contact with skin of the operator; the secondary side being reversibly attached to a the second side of the flexible mounting portion and

(C) a flexible locking device, the locking device reversibly attaches the second side to the secondary side.

2. A flexible back exfoliator of claim 1 wherein the mounting portion, exfoliation pad and locking device can be flexed to match one or more non-planar portions of the surface of the washing area.

3. A flexible back exfoliator of claim 2 wherein the one or more attachment devices of the mounting pad is flexed to be applied to the non-planar portions.

4. A flexible back exfoliator of claim 1 wherein the absorbent pad has microbial growth resistant properties.

5. A flexible back exfoliator of claim 3 wherein the absorbent pad is used to dispense one or more items of a set of items consisting of soap, skin conditioners, water, skin oils.

6. A flexible back exfoliator of claim 1 wherein the surface of the washing area includes a surface of a bathtub.

7. A flexible back exfoliator of claim 1 wherein the attachment device uses adhesion for attachment to the surface of the washing area.

8. A flexible back exfoliator of claim 7 wherein the attachment device is a suction cup.

9. A flexible back exfoliator of claim 1 wherein the flexible mounting portion is a pliable two-sided mat with one or more suction devices on one side of the mat.

10. A flexible back exfoliator of claim 1, wherein the flexible back exfoliator can be placed into a compact state.

11. A flexible back exfoliator of claim 1, wherein the flexible back exfoliator further compromises of at least one strap to retain the back exfoliator in its compacted state.

12. A method of using a flexible back exfoliator comprising of the following steps, not necessarily in the order shown:

a) providing a flexible back exfoliator comprising a flexible exfoliation pad connected to a flexible mounting portion;

b) conforming the flexible back exfoliator to one or more non-planar portions of a surfaces of a washing area;

c) attaching the flexible mounting portion to a surface of a washing area; and

d) contacting at least a portion of the operator's skin with at least a portion of the flexible exfoliation pad;

13. A method of using an exfoliator of claim 12 further comprising of resisting the growth of microorganisms.

14. A method of using an exfoliator of claim 12 further comprising of removing the flexible back exfoliator from the surface of the washing area.

15. A method of using an exfoliator of claim 14 further comprising compacting the flexible back exfoliator.

16. A method of using an exfoliator of claim 12 wherein the attaching the mounting portion to a surface further includes placing the mounting portion at position respective to the height of the back are of the operator.

17. A flexible back exfoliator comprising:

a) An exfoliating means for the removal of contaminants from at least a portion of the back area of operator, the exfoliating means further comprising: i) an abrasive means for scrubbing at least a portion of the back area; ii) a microorganism growth inhibitor means for resisting the growth of microorganisms; iii) an absorbent means for holding and dispensing liquids; and

b) a mounting means for attaching the flexible exfoliating means to a surface of a washing area; the mounting means further including an adhesion means for reversibly attaching the mounting means to the surface; and

c) a locking means for reversibly attaching the exfoliating means to the mounting means.

18. A flexible back exfoliator of claim 17 wherein the surface may have one or more portions that are non-planar.

19. A flexible back exfoliator of claim 17 wherein a locking means, the mounting means, abrasive means, the adhesion means, absorbent means, and the locking means are flexible.

20. A flexible back exfoliator of claim 17 further comprising a strapping means for holding the flexible back exfoliator in a compacted state.