Patent Application
20160183741
The present disclosure relates to a foot and toe cleaning device, and more particularly to an adjustable foot and toe cleaning device with detachable replacement components, for allowing a user to easily and safely clean his or her feet and toes, with minimal bending and minimal bodily harm, due to movement in the shower or while bathing.
Many people elect to use special devices for cleaning their feet and toes in lieu of a standard brush, sponge, or other items. Typically, foot and toe cleaning devices comprise some form of handle for holding the device and a cleaning element, such as a brush or pumice stone, for cleaning the user's feet and toes or for exfoliating the skin thereon. While these devices may assist somewhat in the cleaning process, they lack the sophistication necessary to maximize cleaning efficiency and/or make the cleaning process easy for the user. Firstly, such devices generally comprise only a single cleaning element; however, different portions of the human foot require different cleaning components. For example, while a large cleaning brush may be optimal for cleaning the top and bottom of a user's foot, a smaller brush would be preferable for cleaning in between his or her toes.
Another common issue with foot and toe cleaning devices is that they require the user to bend or otherwise move or contort their body in a way that may be physically difficult or impossible for the user. By way of example, these devices are often short in length and therefore require the user to bend his or her body in order for the device to reach his or her feet and toes. This can be overly strenuous on persons incapable of so bending, and such persons may accidentally injure themselves in the process of using such devices. In other situations, the particular shape of the device prevents the user from accessing all areas of his or her feet and toes, which may result in unsuccessful cleaning and/or injury to the user should he or she attempt to access physically unreachable portions by contorting his or her body.
A further problem with these devices is that the components that actually perform the cleaning (e.g. the brush or pumice stone) tend to wear out over time, and, generally, they cannot be removed from such device without causing significant damage thereto. Upon such an occurrence, the user is forced to choose between refraining from further using the device, continuing to use the device despite its diminished cleaning efficiency and potential, and purchasing a new cleaning device.
As such, and notwithstanding the other benefits prescribed by foot and toe cleaning devices known in the art, it is apparent that the prior art fails to disclose an adjustable foot and toe cleaning device for allowing a user to easily clean his or her feet and toes with minimal effort and minimal bodily movement.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present disclosure to provide a foot and toe cleaning device that overcomes the shortcomings known in the art. It is further an object of the present disclosure to provide a foot and toe cleaning device specially designed to clean each portion of a user's feet and toes, or to allow a caregiver, spouse, podiatrist, nail technician, for example, to clean each portion of a person, patient, or client's feet and toes. It is further an object of the present disclosure to provide a foot and toe cleaning device that is shaped or may be adjusted to access each portion of a user's feet and toes with minimal effort and bodily movement. It is further an object of the present disclosure to provide a foot and toe cleaning device wherein the cleaning components are removably coupled so that a user may replace them as necessary or otherwise adjust them as desired.
The advantages and features of the present disclosure will become better understood with reference to the detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which
The best mode for carrying out the present disclosure is presented in terms of its preferred embodiments, herein depicted in the accompanying figures. The preferred embodiments described herein detail for illustrative purposes are subject to many variations. It is understood that various omissions and substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstances may suggest or render expedient, but are intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the spirit or scope of the present disclosure. Furthermore, although the following relates substantially to one embodiment of the design, it will be understood by those familiar with the art that changes to materials, part descriptions, and geometries can be made without departing from the spirit of the disclosure.
The terms “a” and “an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced item.
Referring to
Referring to
In a preferred embodiment, two finger-like projections 26 extending from the head implement 20, which finger-like projections 26 are capable of comfortably fitting within adjacent spaces between a user's toes and are comprised of a soft, absorbent material. Preferably, and as shown in
In an embodiment, the finger-like projections 26 may comprise hollow interior region, which hollow interior region may receive a vibration mechanism to allow the finger-like projections 26 to vibrate. In an embodiment, the vibration mechanism comprises a motor with a rotating gear and a weight coupled to said gear. The weight is mounted away from the center of the gear, such that when the motor causes the gear to rotate, the off-center mounting of the weight causes the vibration mechanism to vibrate, which vibrating is imparted to the finger-like projections 26. It will be apparent that the vibrational mechanism includes a power source (such as a battery) and a switch for activating and deactivating the motor. The power source may be disposed within a finger-like protection 26, or may be disposed in the elongate handle 10, and the switch may be disposed on a finger-like projection 26 or elsewhere on the device 100. In the embodiment where the power source and switch are disposed elsewhere than in and on a finger-like projection, it will be apparent that the device will comprise requisite couplings to permit the transmission of power and control to the vibration mechanism. The vibration of the finger-like projections 26 may improve the cleaning efficacy of the device by gently, but with more force, removing dirt and other contaminants from a user's toes.
Each of the brush element 22, porous element 24, and finger-like projections 26 is preferably removably coupled to the head implement 20, which allows the user to switch out the various components for replacements when the existing ones exhaust their useful life, or where the user desires to change the components available on the device. In providing for such removable coupling, the present disclosure provides for locking and fastening mechanisms 50 to engage and secure each of the aforesaid components to the head implement 20. Once the user is ready to remove any of the components thereof, he or she need only disengage the corresponding locking mechanism 50, exchange or replace the subject component, and thereafter reengage that locking mechanism 50. Furthermore, the head implement 20 may be detachable from the elongate handle 10, such that a user may perform cleaning with the head implement 20 (and accompanying brush element 22, porous element 24 and finger-like projections 26) directly.
In an exemplary embodiment, the locking mechanism 50 of the brush element 22 comprises a set of interlocking pieces comprising at least one peg 52 disposed on the brush element 22 and at least one aperture 54 (shown in
In an embodiment, the locking mechanism 50 of the porous element 24 is similar to that of the brush element 22, provided however that the pegs 52, apertures 54, and tracks of the brush element 22 and porous element 24 are configured in a manner such that the locking and unlocking of each such component may be performed without any interference to the other such component. For example, the apertures 54 of the locking mechanisms 50 of the brush element 22 and the porous element 24 may be disposed in separate, generally concentric, non-intersecting regions of the head implement 20. In an embodiment, and as shown in
In another exemplary embodiment and as shown in
By providing the brush element 22, porous element 24, and finger-like projections 26 via removable coupling, the disclosed device permits the user to replace those components as desired, such as where any of them become worn out from use. This obviates the purchase of an entire new foot and toe cleaning device 100 and precludes the user from having to either stop using the disclosed device or from continuing to use the disclosed device but with diminished cleaning potential and efficiency.
In order to further support the user in using the disclosed device with minimal effort and bodily movement, and in a further embodiment, the elongate handle 10 may comprise at least one joint 28 (shown in
The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present disclosure have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present disclosure to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The exemplary embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the present disclosure and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the disclosure and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.
The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 on the U.S. provisional patent application, Ser. No. 62/043,084, filed on Aug. 28, 2014, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62043084 | Aug 2014 | US |
