GB2123281A

GB2123281A - Washing device

Info

Publication number: GB2123281A
Application number: GB08219704A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Brian Lawton
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1982-07-08
Filing date: 1982-07-08
Publication date: 1984-02-01

Abstract

Slab-like holder 10 (Figure 3) has on one side a multitude of suction discs or cups 12 whereby the holder 10 may be caused to adhere to a smooth surface such as a bathroom wall. On its other side it has strips 13 of a hook pile/loop pile fabric fastener component. The holder 10 serves to receive and retain a complementary pad 14 (Figure 6) having on one side respective strips 15 of the complementary component of the fabric fastener and on the other side a multitude of brush-like bristles 16. The device can be used by being soaped and the user then rubbing his body against the bristles 16. It may comprise a plurality of the pads each with a different rubbing or massaging surface, for selective use with the holder as desired. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Washing device This invention concerns a washing device, that is to say a device which can be employed buy a userto assist the washing of his body.

Persons having disabilities which restrict or prevent mobility of the arms and/or hands can experience substantial difficulties in washing themselves adequately, e.g. when bathing and/or showering. As a result, such persons may have to rely upon others to wash them orto assist in washing them. This can, in many instances, be embarrassing.

An object of the present invention is to provide a device which can be used by a disabled person as aforesaid, (and which may be used by a nondisabled person, if so desired) to enable him to wash his body adequately, including portions thereof, such as his back, which are not readily accessible, and which may, if desired, be converted into a device by which massaging can be achieved.

With this object in view, the present invention provides a washing device comprising a holder adapted for securing to a support surface such as a wall, and a pad movably engageable with the holder, said pad having a multiplicity of protrusions for engagement with the user's body in a washing operation.

The holder is preferably in the form of a slab-like component of elastomeric material formed on one face thereof with a plurality of suction cups whereby it may be secured to a support surface. This component may have lips along two opposite edges for location of the pad therebetween.

In turn, the pad may also be in the form of a slab-like component, of dimensions corresponding to the holder aforesaid, so as to fit snugly thereto, and the protrusions thereon may be in the form of bristles and/or protuberances.

For holding the pad to the holder, these may each be provided with respective components of a hook pile/looped pile fabric fastener device, such as is known under the Trade Mark "Velcro".

The device of the invention may, if desired, comprise a plurality of alternative pads for use with one and the same holder. These alternative pads may include, for instance hard bristles, soft bristles, a loofah surface, a sponge surface and other suitable materials for facilitating washing and/or massaging.

In using the device of the invention, the device is fixed in place to an appropriate surface, such as a wall of a bathroom, shower cubicle or the like. It is then wetted, and if desired soaped, and the user can then effect washing and/or massaging by moving his body against the device.

The invention will be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which: Figure lisa view of the reverse side or underside of the holder of a preferred embodiment of the device of the invention; Figure 2 is a corresponding view of the front or upper side of the holder of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a section corresponding to the lines III-III of Figures 1 and 2; Figure 4 is a view of the reverse side or underside of the pad of the preferred embodiment of the device of the invention, this pad and the holder of Figures 1, 2 and 3 constituting the entire preferred embodiment of the device; Figure 5 is a corresponding view of the front or upper side of the pad of Figure 4; Figure 6 is a section corresponding to the lines VI-VI of Figures 4 and 5;; Figure 7 is a view comparable with Figure 5, but illustrating an alternative embodiment of pad; and Figure 8 is a section taken along the line VIII-VIII of Figure 7.

Referring firstly to Figures 1 to 3, as already stated these Figures show respectively the reverse side of, the front side of, and a section through a holder, indicated generally by the reference numeral 10, of a preferred embodiment of the washing device of the invention. This holder is in the form of a slab-like body, generally of rectangular configuration, but with its corners rounded, and provided along three edges, on its front side (Figure 2) with an edge lip or flange 11.

The body is moulded of a suitable semi-rigid plastics material, such as polyvinylchloride, and incorporates, on its reverse side (Figures 1 and 3) a multitude of suction discs or cups 12. In the illustrated case, there are thirty-two of such suction cups 12, being arranged in eight rows each of four such cups, but any suitable arrangement, distribution and number of such cups can be employed, provided they will provide sufficient suction effect to enable the holder to be held reasonably reliably against a smooth surface, such as a tiled bathroom or shower room wall, or the wall of a bath or bath screen.

Adhered to the front surface of the body (see Figure 2) are three strips 13 each of which constitutes one part of a two part fabric fastener of the type comprising a hooked-pile fabric and a looped-pile fabric, such as are commercially available under the registered Trade Mark "Velcro". In the illustrated case, these three strips 13 extend longitudinally of the body from end to end thereof, one along each longitudinal edge of the body and one midway therebetween, but other arrangements are possible.

Thus, for instance the entire front surface of the body could be faced with the fastener component, or such components could, if desired, be present at very small local areas, as patches.

The function of the holder just described is to receive and hold a pad, one construction of which is illustrated in detail in Figures 4, 5 and 6, and which comprises a slab-like body 14 dimensioned to fit snugly within the area defined by the lip or flange 11 of the holder 10. On its undersurface, this pad has adhered thereto three strips 15, being fabric fastener components complementary to the strips 13 on the holder 10, so that the components 13 and 15 will interengage up on the pad being fitted to the holder 10. As a result the pad is held in place, but can be removed by the application of a suitable separating force sufficient to disengage the hooks of the pile of the one component from the loops of the pile of the other.

Naturally, if local or patches of fabric fastener components are provided on the holder 10, corresponding complementary fastener component will be provided on the pad for engagement therewith.

As can be seen particularly from Figures 5 and 6, the body 14 of the pad is fitted with a multitude of brush-like bristles 16. In the illustrated case, there are thirty-two of such bristles, arranged in eight rows of four, but of course any suitable number, arrangement and distribution of such bristles 16 may be employed.

The pad body 14 is formed integrally, at one of its ends, with an apertured extension 17 forming a handle which facilitates fitting of the pad to and removing it from the holder 10.

The device as so far described is for use in washing the body, and is particularly (but not exclusively) suitable for use by persons having difficulty in moving their arms and/or hands to any substantial extent. With the device adhered to a suitable surface in a bathroom or shower room, as described, the bristles are suitably moistened and soaped. This can be done by the user, facing the device, or before the device is fixed in position, or with the holder fixed in position and the pad removed. Thereafter, with the entire device fixed and the bristles soaped, the user can apply the same to his body, including parts (e.g. the middle of his back) which he cannot normally reach, by rubbing the selected part against the bristles, as appropriate to achieve a washing action.

Figures 7 and 8 illustrate an alternative form of pad which may be used in the device of the invention, in the place of the pad shown in Figures 3 to 6. In this form, the pad comprises a convex body 20, somewhat more rigid than the body 14, formed with a plurality of rows of finger-like protuberances 21 arranged in rows and columns over the entire area of the pad which, also, has its respective fabric fastener strips 22.

This embodiment of the device of the invention can be used in exactly the same manner as that of Figures 1 to 6. Its action on the user's skin is, however, more vigorous than that achieved with the bristled pad of Figures 4 to 6, and can have a massaging effect.

Naturally, the invention is not confined to the precise details of the foregoing example and variations may be made thereto. Thus, the device of the invention may comprise a single holder with a number of alternative forms of pad with different forms of protuberances thereon. The pads may be provided with protuberances, bristles or the like of different stiffnesses, shapes and/or distributions, or combinations thereof, as may be desired.

CLAIMS (Filed on 14June 1983) 1. Awashing device comprising a holder adapted for securing to a support surface such as a wall, and a pad removably engageable with the holder, said pad having a multiplicity of protrusions for engagement with the user's body in a washing operation.

2. Awashing device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the holder is in the form of a slab-like component of elastomeric material formed on one face thereof with a plurality of suction cups whereby it may be secured to a support surface.

3. Awashing device as claimed in claim 2 wherein the holder has lips along two opposite edges for location of the pad therebetween.

4. A washing device as claimed in claim 2 or 3 wherein the pad is also in the form of a slab-like component, of dimensions corresponding to the holder, so as to fit snugly thereto.

5. Awashing device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the protrusions are in the form of bristles and/or protuberances.

6. Awashing device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the pad and the holder are provided with respective components of a hook pile/looped pile fabric fastener device, for holding the pad to the holder.

7. Awashing device as claimed in any preceding claim, and comprising a plurality of alternative said pads for use with the one and the same holder.

8. Awashing device as claimed in claim 7 wherein the alternative pads include, respectively, hard bristles, soft bristles, a loofah surface and a sponge surface.

9. Awashing device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. Naturally, if local or patches of fabric fastener components are provided on the holder 10, corresponding complementary fastener component will be provided on the pad for engagement therewith. As can be seen particularly from Figures 5 and 6, the body 14 of the pad is fitted with a multitude of brush-like bristles 16. In the illustrated case, there are thirty-two of such bristles, arranged in eight rows of four, but of course any suitable number, arrangement and distribution of such bristles 16 may be employed. The pad body 14 is formed integrally, at one of its ends, with an apertured extension 17 forming a handle which facilitates fitting of the pad to and removing it from the holder 10. The device as so far described is for use in washing the body, and is particularly (but not exclusively) suitable for use by persons having difficulty in moving their arms and/or hands to any substantial extent. With the device adhered to a suitable surface in a bathroom or shower room, as described, the bristles are suitably moistened and soaped. This can be done by the user, facing the device, or before the device is fixed in position, or with the holder fixed in position and the pad removed. Thereafter, with the entire device fixed and the bristles soaped, the user can apply the same to his body, including parts (e.g. the middle of his back) which he cannot normally reach, by rubbing the selected part against the bristles, as appropriate to achieve a washing action. Figures 7 and 8 illustrate an alternative form of pad which may be used in the device of the invention, in the place of the pad shown in Figures 3 to 6. In this form, the pad comprises a convex body 20, somewhat more rigid than the body 14, formed with a plurality of rows of finger-like protuberances 21 arranged in rows and columns over the entire area of the pad which, also, has its respective fabric fastener strips 22. This embodiment of the device of the invention can be used in exactly the same manner as that of Figures 1 to 6. Its action on the user's skin is, however, more vigorous than that achieved with the bristled pad of Figures 4 to 6, and can have a massaging effect. Naturally, the invention is not confined to the precise details of the foregoing example and variations may be made thereto. Thus, the device of the invention may comprise a single holder with a number of alternative forms of pad with different forms of protuberances thereon. The pads may be provided with protuberances, bristles or the like of different stiffnesses, shapes and/or distributions, or combinations thereof, as may be desired. CLAIMS (Filed on 14June 1983)

1. Awashing device comprising a holder adapted for securing to a support surface such as a wall, and a pad removably engageable with the holder, said pad having a multiplicity of protrusions for engagement with the user's body in a washing operation.