BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Many devices exist that allow a person to scrub or otherwise clean his or her body. However, such conventional devices have several disadvantages. By way of example, such conventional devices cannot clean two areas of the person's body at the same time.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a personal hygiene device for use by a person to clean or otherwise attend to his or her stomach area and back area. The device comprises a body comprising a first arm portion, a central body portion, and a second arm portion. The first and second arm portions extend outward from the central body portion. The first arm portion is spaced apart from the second arm portion so the body may fit substantially about the stomach area and back area of the person. Each of the first and second arm portions comprise an end portion. The device further comprises a first cleaning member engaged with the end portion of the first arm portion. The device further comprises a second cleaning member engaged with the end portion of the second arm portion. The second cleaning member substantially faces the first cleaning member. The device according to the present invention provides significant advantages over conventional devices. By way of example, the device according to the present invention provides easier mobility to wash different part's of a person's the same time such as back and stomach, legs, and neck.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The following description of the invention will be more fully understood with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a personal hygiene device according to a first embodiment of the present invention showing cleaning members in the form of bristle brushes.
FIG. 2 is a front view of the personal hygiene device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a personal hygiene device according to a second embodiment of the present invention showing cleaning members in the form of sponge brushes.
FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the personal hygiene device according to the second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a front view of the personal hygiene device according to the second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a personal hygiene device according to a third embodiment of the present invention showing cleaning members in the form of fabric mesh brushes.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the present invention is a personal hygiene device 10 that may be used by a person to wash, clean and/or scrub two areas of the person's body at the same time such as the stomach and back area or a single area if desired. In the embodiment shown, device 10 generally comprises a body 12 comprising a first arm portion 14, a central body portion 16, and a second arm portion 18. First and second arm portions 14 and 18 extend outward from central body portion 16 in a substantially u-shaped manner. First arm portion 14 is moveable or flexible relative to second arm portion 18. First arm portion 14 is spaced apart from second arm portion 18 so body 12 can fit substantially about the stomach area of a person. First arm portion 14 has an end portion 15. Second arm portion 18 has an end portion 19. Body 12 may be made from one or more pieces and from a variety of materials. In the embodiment shown, body 12 is a single tube made from plastic that may be fabricated by conventional processes. Device 10 further comprises a first cleaning member 20 engaged or connected with end portion 15 of first arm portion 14 by a threaded cavity in first cleaning member 20 (not shown) adapted to receive threads of end portion 15 (not shown). Device 10 further comprises a second cleaning member 22 engaged or connected with end portion 19 of second arm portion 18 by a threaded cavity in second cleaning member 22 (not shown) adapted to receive threads of end portion 19 (not shown). First cleaning member 20 substantially faces second cleaning member 22. In the shown embodiment shown, each of first and second cleaning members 20 and 22 are brushes 24 having a plurality of bristles 26. A wide variety of other types of cleaning members may be used such as a sponge brush, a fabric mesh brush or any other previously developed or futurely developed cleaning member. Although not show, first cleaning member 20 may be one type of cleaning member, such as a textile fabric, while second cleaning member 22 may be a different type of cleaning member such as a brush. Although not shown, one or more gripping members, such as cushions, could be attached to central portion 16 of body 12 to allow a person to grip and manipulate device 10.
Referring to FIGS. 3-5, where a personal hygiene device 100 according to a second embodiment of the present invention is shown. Device 100 comprises a body 102 comprising a first arm 104, a central body 118, and a second arm 124. First and second arms 104 and 124 extend outward from central body 118 in a substantially u-shaped manner. Central body 118 comprises first and second end portions 120 and 122. Central body 118 is made from plastic or any other conventional material and fabricated by conventional methods such as injection molding. First arm 104 comprises a first end portion 106 having a cavity 108 adapted to securely receive first end portion 120 of central body 118. First arm 106 further comprises a second end portion 110 comprising protrusions 112. Second arm 124 comprises a first end portion 126 having a cavity 128 adapted to securely receive second end portion 122 of central body 118. Second arm 124 further comprises a second end portion 130 comprising protrusions 132. First and second arms 106 and 124 are made from plastic or any other conventional material and fabricated by conventional methods such as injection molding.
Device 100 further comprises a first cleaning member 134 engaged or connected with first end portion 110 of first arm 106. First cleaning member 134 has a plurality of mounting holes 136 adapted to receive protrusions 112 of first end portion 110 of first arm 106. Device 100 further comprises a second cleaning member 138 engaged or connected with end portion 130 of second arm 124. Second cleaning member 138 has a plurality of mounting holes 140 adapted to receive protrusions 132 of second end portion 130 of second arm 124. First cleaning member 134 substantially faces second cleaning member 138. In the shown embodiment shown, each of first and second cleaning members 134 and 138 is a sponge brush. A wide variety of other types of cleaning members may be used such as a bristle brush, or a fabric mesh brush. First cleaning member 134 may be one type of cleaning member, such as a fabric mesh brush, while second cleaning member 138 may be a different type of cleaning member such as a bristle brush. Although not shown, one or more gripping members, such as cushions, could be attached to central portion 118 of body 102 to allow a person to grip and manipulate device 100.
Referring to FIG. 5, where a personal hygiene device 200 according to a third embodiment of the present invention is shown that may be used by a person to wash, clean and/or scrub two areas of the person's body at the same time such as the stomach and back area or a single area if desired. In the embodiment shown, device 200 generally comprises a body 202 comprising a first arm portion 204, a central body portion 206, and a second arm portion 208. First and second arm portions 204 and 208 extend outward from central body portion 206 in a substantially u-shaped manner. First arm portion 204 is moveable or flexible relative to second arm portion 208. First arm portion 204 is spaced apart from second arm portion 208 so body 202 can fit substantially about the stomach area of a person. First arm portion 204 has an end portion 210 (not shown). Second arm portion 208 has an end portion 212 (not shown). Body 12 may be made from one or more pieces and from a variety of materials. In the embodiment shown, body 202 is a single tube made from plastic that may be fabricated by conventional processes. Device 200 further comprises a first cleaning member 214 engaged or connected with end portion 210 (not shown) of first arm portion 204. Device 200 further comprises a second cleaning member 216 engaged or connected with end portion 212 (not shown) of second arm portion 208. First cleaning member 214 substantially faces second cleaning member 216. In the shown embodiment shown, each of first and second cleaning members 214 and 216 are made from a fabric sheet wrapped around end portions 210 and 212 respectively, to form a fabric mesh. Each of end portions 210 and 212 may have an opening for the fabric sheet to pass thru and be secured by conventional means such as a knot or adhesive.
Devices 10, 100 and 200 according to the present invention provides significant advantages over conventional devices. By way of example, devices 10 and 100 provide easier mobility to wash different part's of a person's the same time such as back and stomach, legs, and neck.
While particular embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the sprit and scope of the claimed invention.
Patent Grant
11412898
