This disclosure relates to implementations of a back scrubber.
Washing of the entire body is essential to maintaining a proper level of hygiene. Washing is a way of physically removing dirt and debris from the body and reducing the concentration of microorganisms living thereon. Without a second person, or a purpose built device, it is not easy or possible for most people to wash their back thoroughly. This is particularly true for amputees and people with disabilities which impair arm movement.
Implementations of a back scrubber are provided. The back scrubber may be used to scratch, scrub, wash, apply moisturizer, and/or massage a user's back or a portion thereof.
In some implementations, the back scrubber may be defined by a top surface, a bottom surface, a front surface having a rib thereon, side surfaces, and a back surface. In some implementations, a cover may be used in conjunction with the back scrubber to provide a washing and/or scrubbing surface.
In some implementations, the front surface may be contoured based on the anatomy of a human back. For example, the contour may be S-shaped. In this way, a substantial portion of the front surface of the back scrubber may be in contact with a user's back during use. For example, an upper part of the front surface may be in contact with an upper part of the back (e.g., the shoulders), while a middle part of the front surface may be in contact with a middle part of the back (e.g., the ribcage), and while a lower part of the front surface may be in contact with a lower part of the back (e.g., a small of the back).
In some implementations, a rib may be located on the front surface of the back scrubber. In this way, a user may be able to better scrub the small of the back and/or other adjacent surfaces.
In some implementations, the back scrubber may be used with a mount. The mount may be used to secure the back scrubber to a wall or other suitable non-porous surface. In some implementations, the mount may be used to change the elevation of the back scrubber relative to the floor without disengaging the mount from the wall or other suitable non-porous surface.
As shown in
In some implementations, the front surface 105 of the back scrubber 100 may be contoured. In some implementations, the front surface 105 may be contoured based on the anatomy of a human back. For example, the contour may be S-shaped. In this way, a substantial portion of the front surface 105 of the back scrubber 100 may be in contact with a user's back during use. For example, an upper surface of the front surface may be in contact with an upper part of the back (e.g., the shoulders), while a middle part of the front surface may be in contact with a middle part of the back (e.g., the ribcage), and while a lower part of the front surface may be in contact with a lower part of the back (e.g., a small of the back). In some implementations, the front surface 105 may not be contoured to a human back.
In some implementations, a rib 115 may be located on the front surface 105 (see, e.g.,
In some implementations, the rib 115 may be integrally formed with the front surface 105 of the back scrubber 100. In some implementations, the rib 115 can be removably attached to the front surface 105 of the back scrubber 100. In some implementations, the rib 115 may extend along the entire length of a back scrubbers' 100 front surface 105. In some implementations, the rib 115 may extend from the bottom surface 135 of the back scrubber 100 along a portion of the front surface's 105 length (see, e.g.,
In some implementations, the back surface 110 of the back scrubber 100 may be a generally planar surface. In some implementations, the back surface 110 may have one or more elevated portions 111 thereon where each elevated portion includes a slot 120. In some implementations, a slot 120 may have an opening having a circular portion 140 connected to an elongated portion 145 (see, e.g.,
In some implementations, the back surface 110 may have eight (8) elevated portions 111 thereon (see, e.g.,
In some implementations, the back surface 110 may include a plurality of slots 120 integrally formed thereon.
In some implementations, as shown in
In some implementations, the cover 225 may be manufactured from a natural fiber (e.g., cotton, sisal, hemp), a synthetic fiber (e.g., nylon), a semi-synthetic fiber (e.g., rayon), or a combination thereof which would be known to one of ordinary skill in the art. In some implementations, the cover 225 may be manufactured from a material suitable for exfoliation. In some implementations, the cover 225 may be manufactured from a material suitable for the application of a moisturizer. In some implementations, the cover 225 may be manufactured from an absorbent fabric suitable for use as a wash cloth.
In some implementations, the front surface of the cover 225 may be manufactured from a different material than the other surfaces of the cover.
In some implementations, the cover 225 may have one opening 227 configured to receive the back scrubber 100 therein (see, e.g.,
In some implementations, the cover 225 may include hook and/or loop fasteners (e.g., Velcro®) thereon. In this way, the cover 225 may be secured to the back scrubber 100.
To secure the back scrubber 100 to a wall or other suitable surface, the back scrubber 100 may initially be oriented so that the bottom surface 135 of the back scrubber 100 is closest to the ground. The user may then press the back scrubber 100 and thereby the working face of the suction cups 121 against a wall, or other suitable surface, to secure the back scrubber 100 in place for use.
In some implementations, the elevated portion 311 of the back scrubber 300 may be shaped like a rectangle. In some implementations, the elevated portion 311 may be any suitable shape. In some implementations, the side walls 312 which define the elevated portion 311 may be recessed back from the side surfaces 340a,b of the back scrubber 300 (see, e.g.,
As shown in
To secure the back scrubber 300 to a wall or other suitable surface using the mount 350, the mount 350 may initially be oriented so that the bottom edge 354 of the mount 350 is closest to the ground and the suction cups 321 on the second side 352b are facing the wall, or other suitable surface. The user may then press the mount 350 and thereby the working face of the suction cups 321 against a wall, or other suitable surface, to secure the mount 350 in place for use.
Next, the back scrubber 300 may be oriented so that the bottom surface 335 of the back scrubber 300 is closest to the ground and the elevated portion 311 on the back surface 310 is facing the first side 352a of the mount 350. The user may then press the back scrubber 300 and thereby the hook and/or loop fasteners 315 thereon against the hook and/or loop fasteners present on the first side 352a of the mount 350. In this way, the mount 350 may be used to secure the back scrubber 300 in place for use.
In some implementations, the rib 315 may have a flat top with tapered sides (see, e.g.,
In some implementations, adhesive strips may be used to secure the back scrubber 100, 300 to a wall or other suitable surface if the back surface does not include slots and/or elevated portion(s). In some implementations, the back scrubber 100, 300 may be secured to a wall or other suitable surface through any means known, or which may be become known, to those of ordinary skill in the art.
In some implementations, the back scrubber 100, 300 may be manufactured from a polymer material. In some implementations, the back scrubber 100, 300 may be manufactured from any suitable material.
Reference throughout this specification to “an embodiment” or “implementation” or words of similar import means that a particular described feature, structure, or characteristic is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, the phrase “in some implementations” or a phrase of similar import in various places throughout this specification does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment.
Many modifications and other embodiments of the inventions set forth herein will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which these inventions pertain having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings.
The described features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. In the above description, numerous specific details are provided for a thorough understanding of embodiments of the invention. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, however, that embodiments of the invention can be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components, materials, etc. In other instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations may not be shown or described in detail.
While operations are depicted in the drawings in a particular order, this should not be understood as requiring that such operations be performed in the particular order shown or in sequential order, or that all illustrated operations be performed, to achieve desirable results.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 62/040,961, which was filed on Aug. 22, 2014, and is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
Number | Date | Country | |
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62040961 | Aug 2014 | US |