Patent Grant
12042463
This application claims the benefit of provisional patent application No. 63/260,316 filed on 2021 Aug. 17 by the present inventor.
Not applicable
Not applicable
Humans have devised a variety of inventions to address the need to reach hard-to-reach places such as high places or one's own back for scratching, scrubbing, massaging, or lotion/medication application. Associated with the reach problem are other problems including: direction, adaptivity, pressure, and coverage. For instance, directing the device to reach the right spot, adapting to body/shape contours of the spot, applying needed pressure at the spot, and being able to cover all desired spots timely without much repositioning or frustration are issues seldom addressed collectively. Additional important usage factors include ease of use, time, and effectiveness. All these objectives, in addition to modularity, were driving forces behind this invention.
Generally, prior art solutions for back scratching/scrubbing could be classified as manual by moving a hand-held device over the body or by moving the body against a wall-mounted device. The mechanism could also be automatic where scrubbing parts are moved by electric/battery or by mechanical power using water flow to move scrubbing mechanical parts
One reachability solution approach in prior art is to use an aid such as a long rigid arm with a cleaning/scratching head at the end, as in patent classification A47K7/028. Another approach is to mount the scrubbing device to a wall and move one's back against the device. A third approach is to use a belt-like device with handles on both ends.
Solutions that mount to a vertical surface like a wall are not portable, quick, or easy to use. Height of the mounting point is an issue not just for different people but even for the same person reaching different body parts.
Belt-like solutions such as patents US20130098381A1 and US20180116901A1 have loops for the hands and a scrubbing surface in between made of cloth or silicon and shaped like a belt to be pulled back and forth across the desired scratching/scrubbing area. Frequent repositioning is required and too little pressure can be exerted where needed. It is also easy to miss areas due to the typical elongated shape of scrubber.
Solutions with a rigid handle (classification A47K7/028) such as U.S. Pat. No. 8,967,898B1 typically have a head with small surface area that does not work with existing scrubs like gloves or washcloths that users may be accustomed to. This usually leads to demanding too much repositioning making the mechanism not so effective or popular.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,500,282B1, Modular system for stimulation and exfoliation of human skin, to Stewart Park discloses a hand-held device detachably interconnected with other like devices to form a variety of differently configured arrays formed by a multitude of interconnected scrubbing devices. The user applies a selected amount of pressure on the prongs or elastically resilient projections to secure different intensities of pressure and scrubbing or exfoliation action on selected areas of the skin. Park's modularity is a matter of configuration arrangement of the same device. As disclosed, the device seems more fit for therapeutic application rather than uniform and quick scrubbing. Directionality and back reachability are not disclosed.
Patent US20130098381A1 has compartments for soap bars making the device stiff, heavy, and not able to adapt to body contours. Since handles are at the ends, there is no pressure from the device onto the middle to create effective pressure for scrubbing.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,740,150A to Charles E Wilding discloses a back scrubber with a convex circular head to which a washcloth is secured using an elastic ring while U.S. Pat. No. 3,085,276A uses a concave strip to adapt to shoulders and body sides. Both approaches may be needed but are not possible using the same device unless modularity of different purpose-built plugins is possible.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,456,782A is similar to US20130098381A1 in mounting a washcloth on a convex head but using a different mechanism to affix the washcloth onto the head. While this may work for the disclosed purpose, it is not versatile or general enough for different kinds of applications or overlays.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,020,242B2, Human torso scrubbing apparatus, uses a grasping handle that is 75 to 115 degrees from the distal part ending with a scrubbing element. The limited length and shape of the handle adversely impact reach, pressure, and coverage without too much repositioning.
Patent EP1764019B1, Device for cleaning the skin, is a skin cleanser device with a surface that is made from elastically-deformable synthetic material other than a foam for better contact with the skin.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,381,766A, Back applicator is used to apply lotions or meds to the back area where it is difficult to reach. The applicator's free-floating pad allows it to conform to the back as it slides over skin but it has one-axis up/down degrees of freedom. Being one-handed and having to move the device from one hand to the other are limiting.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,568,237A discloses a sponge detachably connected to a curved handle for washing one's back using a pivot pin. Movement of the sponge head is limited to one axis of rotation. Like U.S. Pat. No. 4,381,766A, being one-handed operation is limiting.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,078,865A discloses a liquid applicator with a straight rigid handle making it hard to reach all parts of the back.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,058,234A focuses on the curvature of the handle claiming that the most optimal degree of curvature is between 15 and 18 degrees based on experimentation but does not indicate any scientific basis or hypotheses made related to gender, age, body proportions, etc.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,184,221A discloses a bath brush with clips for a removable face cloth. The brush has a continuously curved handle at a rate of curvature comparable to a clothes hanger. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,171,171A, 6,438,787B1, 3,568,237A also use curved rigid handle with a grip.
Patent US20090093743A1, Versatile back treatment implement system, to Jean P. Corzine has a telescopic rigid stick ending with a rectangular implement that can be turned up, down, or in a horizontal direction to ensure various contours of the surface of the human back can be equally treated with lotion, message, or brushing. Too much repositioning is required and the ability to apply adequate pressure could be lacking. The design does not incorporate fixing and using existing scrubbing overlays. Modularity is limited as well.
Patent US20050005385A1, Washcloth holder, to Gale Smith attaches an external scrubbing member to a scrubbing head via a band that goes on top of the scrubbing member into a groove on the scrubbing head. The head is connected to a rigid handle as one piece. The head itself is rigid and is not movable which negatively impacts good reach and closer body contact. The surface of the head is not designed for plug-in replacements.
Patent US20060168749A1 discloses a bendable bathing scrubber for hard-to-reach areas like the back.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,546,588B1 uses an elastometric coupler like a spring to allow an extension arm to move pivotally with unlimited angular relation with respect to the primary arm.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,012,544A discloses a rigid handle ending with a plate to which a washcloth can be secured using two straps at plate ends.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,070,123A discloses a stiff wire shaped to receive a rubber bath sponge at one end of a right angle stem and shaped as a handle on the other end with a coil loop for a finger to protect against slipping out of the hand as often happens if soap or soapy water is on the handle or the hand.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,571,837A discloses a scrubber with a means for securing the scrub to the head is via passing the cloth through a pair of spaced apart openings with a clamp on the back.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,100,477A, Washrag holder, clamps a hinged ring over a rag covering a round head.
U.S. Pat. No. 10,334,994B1 basically encloses a top ring over a bottom ring with the cleaning implement in between.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 10,442,072B2 and 8,020,242B2 address reachability using an elbow shaped arm with an angle around 90 degrees.
Out of the multitude of issued patents in this space, many have expired due to fees, which may indicate the patents may not have made it to the commercial market possibly due to issues related to reachability, direction, adaptivity, pressure, coverage, time/effort, ease of use, or effectiveness. These issues were motivations that led to the current invention.
Advantages: It is believed that the current invention presents a novel, simple, portable, affordable, quick, easy to use, and effective solution that solves many challenges in ways not seen in prior art or in the market. This invention is also uniquely customizable allowing the device to be outfitted with preferred surface overlays in different configurable ways. Additionally, it opens the door for creativity via the modular design that allows newly needed future plugins and overlays to be added. Therefore, this invention is expected to yield superior results.
FIELD: The present invention relates to a modular platform made of base, plugins overlays, and reach arms intended for multiple miscellaneous applications. Specifically, the applications include body washing, scrubbing, scratching, and massaging implements.
This invention constitutes a modular platform of base, plugins, overlays, and reach arms assembled into device embodiments serving different purposes. As such, included embodiments are presented as a matter of illustration not limitation.
According to one embodiment, a base is connected to a miscellaneous plugin with anti-sliding layer for better grip with overlays.
According to another embodiment, a base is connected to an adaptive plugin which may also have an overlay such as a washcloth/scrubber. Adaptivity allows better conformance of plugin surface to body contours of target object.
According to another embodiment, a base is connected to a purpose-built massager plugin.
Modularity allows other new potential embodiments to be created for purpose-built functions.
Reach arms serve the purpose of having more control over the device serving hard-to-reach areas. Better control means better reach coverage, better directionality, and the ability to apply more pressure on the served area, which is otherwise not easy for hard-to-reach areas.
Reach arms are two kinds: 1) connectable to device handle directly, such as stick reach arms; 2) connectable to device handle via a handle insert, such as ball/socket reach arms that work in a ball-and-socket joint allowing multi-axial rotation.
The handle may be used with and without any reach arms.
The handle may be used with one stick reach arm passing through the handle and extending on both ends.
The handle may have separate/different reach arms on both ends.
The ball/socket reach arm may be detachably connected to a ball/socket joint insert at either end.
The reach arm may be fixed in length or may be telescopic.
The base, plugin, and reach arm can be made of firm material which may be bendably flexible.
Parts are numbered in multiples of 100.
All parts have 3-digit numbers appearing on corresponding part detail sheets.
Drawing items that are similar or work together are given similar numbering. For instance, tubular feature 765 is similar to 865, both are insertable into tubular feature. Similarly, spring ball 130 snaps into the corresponding plugin hole 230, 430, or 530. The same applies for 660/160; 794/194; 894/194; 892/192.
The following table has a section for each drawing sheet. It starts with the title of the drawing sheet, a brief description, a listing of parts and sub-figures on the sheet, followed by a table of reference numerals.
Drawing sheet 1 of 11 shows included embodiments, which are not to be construed as the only possible embodiments consistent with the spirit of this invention.
To show different permutations of reach arm configurations, Embodiment 1b shows no each arms; Embodiment 1a shows one socket reach arm (903) and one half-length stick reach arm (902); embodiment 2 shows one socket reach arm (903) and one ball reach arm (904); and, embodiment 3 shows one full-length stick reach arm (901).
The next section is common and applicable to all embodiments in terms of description and operation. Sections thereafter inherit everything from the common section and add what is specific to a particular embodiment in its own section.
Base and base-relevant parts
Parts 100, 300, 600, 700, 800, or 900.
The base part 100, is mandatory for all embodiments. Base 100 is one rectangular member with a hollow handle 190 mounted on two columns 102 to leave space for a hand grip. The handle has two vertical holes 194 at both ends and two horizontal holes 192 in the middle where fastener pin 970 is inserted. The tubular feature 165 is where reach arm tubular features 765, 865, and 965 are inserted. The top surface of the base may have weight-saving cavities 180. A spring bar groove 150 and finger notch 170 are on each side of the rectangle. Notch 170 is an example of the second means of pulling spring bar part 600 from its groove housing. Other equivalent means for pulling spring bar part 600 from its groove housing are possible. The base has a front primary track 110 that is mandatory for all plugins. Use of side female tracks 120 on the right and left sides of the base is optional. Plugin-adaptive part 400 is an example that does not use side tracks. Spring bar head cavity 160 is where springs 660 at the end of the spring bar are terminally fixed. The first means of locking into place a plugin's main track to base's primary track is illustrated by ball 130 which is permanently fixed to spring 140 behind it, both being part of the primary track side walls. Ball 130 of the base snaps into plugin's snap hole 230, 430, or 530.
Overlay part 300 on sheet 5 apply to all embodiments. Although the figure has the appearance of solid material, any material including a washcloth may serve as an overlay. The texture, pattern, and material of the overlay are purpose-specific.
Part 600: spring bar, sheet 8 of 11, is a U-shaped bar with bar 610 in the middle bent on both sides at 90-degree angle and ending with spring 660 which is fixed within the body of base part 100 (not shown). Springs 660 pull the spring bar into its groove housing 150 capturing an overlay such as a washcloth in between.
Part 700: ball joint, sheet 9 of 11, is needed to mount socket reach arm 903 thereon. The tubular feature 765 is fastened into hollow handle 190 at one end using centrically aligning hole 794 to the vertical reach arm end hole 194 using fastener pin 970. The ball joint 719 projects outside the end of handle 190 to be coupled to socket joint 819 for multi-axial free rotation.
Part 800: socket joint, sheet 10 of 11, is needed to mount socket reach arm 38 thereon. The tubular feature 865 is fastened into hollow handle 190 at one end using centrically aligning hole 794 to the vertical reach arm end hole 194 using fastener pin 970. The socket cup 819 is coupled to ball joint 719 for multi-axial free rotation.
The socket joint has socket wall 810 which has a plurality of vertical slits 820 to allow circumference expansion of the cup to snap ball 719 into socket cup 819. Flexible clamp 840 illustrates the third means of securing the ball inside the socket cup once they are snapped together. Other means of securing the ball inside the socket are possible.
Part 900: reach arms, is not drawn to scale since the length of a reach arm is much more than that of either side of the base. For example, as a matter of relative comparison, the typical length of a reach arm (when not telescopic) is probably more than that of a human arm length while the dimension of either side of the base rectangle is only a few inches. Reach arms are of two types: 1) directly attachable by insertion into the hollow handle 190; 2) indirectly attachable using a hollow handle insert to which the reach arm is connected with a matching reach arm. For instance,
Common parts to all configurations are: 100, 300, 600, 700, 800, and 900. Base 100 is needed in all cases while reach arms and other parts are optional in all cases except for certain combinations. For instance, spring bars are used/needed only when overlays are used. Plugin-massager 500 does not need spring bars.
There are two primary configurations: a base with overlay, and a base with plugin (with optional overlay). To install overlay part 300, at least 2 of the 4 sides 330 need to be tall enough to be captured by spring bars part 600. This is one minimal configuration. Reach arms are discussed next.
Reach arms are optional and can be freely combined in any permutation. Included embodiments show configuration variations for the sake of illustration.
Embodiment 1b shown in
When stick reach arm 901 or 902 is used, tubular feature 765, 865, or 965 is inserted into tubular feature 165 of handle 190 until horizontal fastener hole for handle middle 192 aligns with reach arm middle hole 992, and vertical fastener hole for handle end 194 aligns with reach arm end hole 994. Then, fastener pins 970 are inserted into 992 and 994.
Indirectly attached reach arms such as ball/socket reach arms (904/903) must follow the attachment of a corresponding insert such as 700/800.
The only difference between embodiments 1a and 1b is that 1b does not have an overlay and does not have any reach arms. Only description of Embodiment 1a is included because it is more inclusive.
Plugin-misc with overlay, socket reach arm, and half-length stick reach arm
Part 200: plugin-misc, sheet 4 of 11, serves as a general-purpose plugin to work with different overlays. The surface of plugin expands the full width under main track 210, which justifies the need for side male track 220 if a stronger structure is needed. Detail sections of the side female track show it as a kidney shape although other shapes are possible. Main track 210 slides into base's primary track 110. Side male track 220 gives weight and lateral stability for the plugin material around the main track 210. Spring ball 130 snaps into Snap hole 230 to lock the plugin-misc into base. The shown square pattern of anti-sliding layer 240 at the surface of the plugin in the bottom is only for illustration and so is the weight-saving cavities 250. Any pattern and material providing friction for overlays serves the intended purpose.
Exploded view
Plugin-adaptive with one ball reach arm and one socket reach arm
Part 400; common parts 100, 300, 600, 700, 800, and/or 900
Plugin-adaptive, sheet 6 of 11, shows a front view
Snap holes for base spring ball 430 on the right and left sides are used to lock plugin-adaptive into base using base spring ball 130. An overlay part 300 such as a washcloth may be used and fixed in place using spring bars part 600 shown in
Plugin-adaptive part 400 is slid into base primary track 110 until spring ball 130 snaps into hole 430 locking it in place. If an overlay such as a washcloth is desired, it can be fixed on the sides using spring bars part 600. Reach arms exert pressure on the base via handle allowing springs to adapt to body contours of the target object of use. Having reach arms gives better coverage, pressure, and directional control of the device over the target area. Operation of the ball-and-socket joint/reach arm was elaborated earlier in the common section of this specification.
Plugin-massager with full-length stick reach arm
Part 500; common parts 100, 300, 600, 700, 800, and/or 900
Part 500: plugin-massager modifies plugin-misc only by replacing the middle part with a massage tool such as massage balls 540 and by removing spring bars part 600 since the plugin is purpose-built for massage where no overlays are needed. The message ball arrangement shown is only for illustration; other arrangements are possible. This embodiment is illustrated with a full-length stick reach arms 901.
Plugin-massager 500 is slid into the primary track 110 of base until spring ball 130 snaps into hole 530 locking it in position. Plugin main track 210 is aligned to base primary track 110 and side male track 220 is aligned to side female track 120, then plugin-massager 500 is slid into base 100. The full-length stick reach arms 901 passes through handle 190 on both sides and can be fixed using any two or more fastening holes.
Accordingly, the reader will see that, certain specific challenges have been addressed and resolved by the illustrated embodiments while providing a modular platform for new plugins/overlays to fill other existing or future needs.
Modularity allows the base handle of the device to have different kinds of insert configurations in addition to a choice of plugins and/or overlays.
Overlays allow reusability of existing devices by fitting them on top of the base illustrated using side spring bars. An exfoliating washcloth is an example of that. A back scratcher overlay would be another foreseeable example that isn't illustrated.
Plugins give ultimate flexibility for adding purpose-built functionality. The adaptive plugin and massager plugin embodiments are examples of that. A back scratcher would also work as a plugin.
Although the device may be used with any configuration of reach arms, the ability to have the device between both handles solves multiple problems at once including reachability, directionality, coverage, and pressure.
Reachability has been addressed by reach arms that connect either directly to the base handle of the device or indirectly via a handle insert. Two handle inserts and matching arms were illustrated in different embodiments to give better directional control over the device via ball-and-socket joint which affords multi-axial free rotation of the reach arm allowing fine-tuned control of positioning the device over hard-to-reach areas. Other types of handle insert configurations with purpose-built functionality are possible.
Directionality naturally leads to better and faster coverage of desired target area.
Being able to exert the right amount of pressure added to good directional control over hard-to-reach areas are major benefits, especially when combined, not seen in prior art.
While the above description contains many specificities, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments but as merely providing illustrations of some of the presently illustrated embodiments. For example, a special adaptive plugin may be created for different objects or different parts of the body. A plugin may come with a different shape of the adaptive surface than the shown convex shape; the shape could be concave or something else. The handle may have more than two sides or may have the angle between the sides different from the illustrated 180 degrees.
Thus, the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, and not by the examples given.
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4258414 | Sokol | Mar 1981 | A |
| 5012544 | Verry | May 1991 | A |
| 5365631 | Emerick | Nov 1994 | A |
| Number | Date | Country |
|---|---|---|
| 920002812 | May 1992 | KR |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20230390141 A1 | Dec 2023 | US |
