GB2517769A - A foot care device - Google Patents

Abstract

A foot file comprising an arcuate body having two opposing faces, separated by side edges, a proximal end 1 and a distal end 2 defining an axis therebetween. Said edges 3, 33 comprise concave or convex arcs or curves and said faces are arranged off-axis in a continuous curvature. At least some of the edges and faces comprise abrasive material 6. The side edges ideally comprise two variant arcs with respect to the axis. The proximal end includes a lanyard or tether attachment point 9.

Description

A FOOT CARE DEVICE

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a foot care device, in particular a foot care device for caring for hardened skin or the like; more particularly but not exclusively a foot care device for use in tending feet without undue bodily contortions, suitable for such as persons of limited or restricted physical abilities.

Background

It is important to look after feet, for example removing hard skin, in order to ensure good foot hygiene by prevent cracking of the feet, fungal infections or other associated foot problems linked with poor toot care.

It is possible for foot care to be carried out by a user on their own feet by use of various implements such as a foot file, however some users may struggle to easily reach their feet and in particular certain pails of their feet.

Even users of standard physical ability will be dissuaded from tending for their own feet as they get older and joints stiffen.

Therefore a user may require assistance to file their feet. or may avoid doing this as they are unable to reach their feet. This may be problematic as a user may not be able or willing to pay for their feet to be maintained, but if no action is taken their foot condition may deteriorate.

Prior Art

Accordingly a number of patent applications have been filed in an attempt to resolve the problem or similar, including the following: United States patent application US 2004 254 587 (PARK) discloses a pedicure implement for removing human foot callus and corn comprising: a body comprising at least two surfaces, wherein said surfaces meet at a circumferential rim area, at least one of said surfaces having distinctively concave and convex areas, and at least one of said surfaces is abrasive at its external surface, wherein said rim area is not abrasive at its external surface so as to reduce a chance for cutting a skin.

United Kingdom patent application GB 1 026 500 (EMERSON) discloses a corn and callous tile comprising (a) a handle, (b) a working element connected to said handle, (c) a coating of abiasive material of substantially unifoim thickness on said working element, and (d) said element being longitudinally convex and tiansveisely convex at a sharper curvature on one side, and longitudinally concave and transversely straight on the other side, and (e) said element having a square cut end of the thickness of the element also coated with abrasive.

United Kingdom patent application GB 920 960 (EMERSON) discloses a coin and callous file comprising an outwardly and laterally flaring spatulate core terminating in a rounded end, said core having one entire face thereof slightly concave along the longitudinal center line and slightly transversely convex in vertical section, the other entire face being slightly transversely concave and convex along the longitudinal center line, a hardened mass of matenal including a comminuted abrasive baked on said spatulate core, and a handle at the narrower end of said core.

Summarvofthe Invention According to the present invention there is provided a foot care device compnsing an arcuate body having two opposing faces, separated by two side edges, the body having a proximal end and a distal end mutually defining an axis therebetween, said edges describing concave or convex arcs with respect to the axis and said faces arranged substantially off-axis in a substantially continuous curvature; wherein at least some of the edges and faces, in pad or whole, comprise abrasive material.

In preferred embodiments the edges each describe vanant arcs. Typically the body includes arcuate shaping with respect to at least one axis, including for example concave or convex doming of the faces.

In preferred embodiments the faces are curved to either side of the axis so as to form a sinuous shape extending from one end to the other, wherein the shape is substantially elongated with respect to axial distance.

In this way the device enables a user to manipulate the device about their foot from a distance, requiring less stretching and dexterity, and in addition the user is enabled to better manipulate the abrasive material into effective locations, orientations and attitudes with respect to their feet.

In preferred embodiments the abrasive material is primarily dispersed across the distal end of the device, along the side or side edges and about the faces at the distal end. As a consequence the proximal end may be envisaged as a handle, lacking in abrasive material and typically narrower, and/or more curved, bulbous or cylindrical in order to aid grip for users with less dexterity.

Typically therefore there is provided a foot device having a body describing an elongated S-shape, with an upper and lower face, a proximal end that comprises a handle and a distal end which includes at least one abrasive or textured material portion suitable for filing feet.

In this way the device can be held in the user's hand at the handle and the portions can be used to file or interact with a foot, for example so as to remove hard skin.

Advantageously the device is S-shaped so as to be able to fit the foot without the user having to awkwardly position their hand in order to reach some parts. For example the curvature of the device may be arranged so as to match that of the user's heel. In this way the body can cup the heel so as to reach more than one part of the foot at one time.

In preferred embodiments the upper and lower faces are substantially shaped so as to be capable of interfacing a foot from a plurality of attitudes, comprising substantially planar areas and cupped regions. In some preferred embodiments the distal end may include a gentle transverse curvature so as to have a convex upper face in order to more fully cup the heel.

In some embodiments transverse curvature may be included at the proximal end of the device to aid with grip.

Advantageously the handle reduces how far the user must stretch in order to reach their feet; therefore the user may find it easier to file their own feet.

Typically the body has rounded edges and curved distal and proximal ends so as to have no sharp parts that may cause discomfort to the user if accidently jabbed against the foot or other body part.

Preferably the body has a wider distal end so as to provide a greater surface for the filing portions therefore enabling a greater area of the foot to be filed at one time.

Typically the distal end tapers towards the proximal end so as to provide the handle, which can be easily held in the user's hands during use.

In preferred embodiments the proximal end of the device is offset so that the device does not include symmetrical edges in plan view, such that the handle is offset for the user to easily position the distal end fully under the foot whilst the proximal end and handle extends adjacent to the foot.

In this way the device can be readily manoeuvred around the foot, in particular under the foot. without requirement for uncomfortable positioning of the leg or arm in order to reach parts of the foot. This enables improved foot care and reduces chances of strain injury caused by the user attempting to reach certain pads of their feet.

Ideally the upper and lower faces at the body's distal end include textured or abrasive portions suitable for filing hard skin and/or nails. Therefore the device can be arranged and held to have either face interfacing the skin. For example the face may include an emery board, a knurled or crosshatched portion that can act as a file.

Preferably the textured portions cover the majority of the upper and lower faces of the distal end so that the textured portions can be easily engaged with the feet and/or nails.

In a preferred embodiment the upper face of the distal end may be completely covered by a textured portion, whilst the lower face may only be partially covered by a textured portion.

In some embodiments the textured portion(s) may include a plurality of perforations so as to allow filing residue to pass through the perforations. In some examples the device may include a cavity beneath portions which serves as collection point for filing residue. Ideally in such embodiments after use the portions, or part of the portions, may be displaced so as to empty contents of the cavity and enable it to be cleaned.

Preferably the distal end may include portions of variant levels of abrasion so as to be suitable for different parts of the foot and/or for different users. Typically portions of different levels of abrasion may be provided in different colours so as to be readily distinguished from one another.

In some embodiments the portions may be padded so as to be resiliently deformable or accepting of pressure. This may improve comfort to the user and enable a greater part of the foot to be filed at any one time. Furthermore the padding may serve to raise the portions from the body so as to be more readily engaged with the feet in use.

Typically padding is provided under the face(s) or portion(s). Ideally the padding may be provided by a cellular structure such as a resiliently deformable foam or neoprene which can be compressed during use, and returns to the original shape when pressure is no longer applied.

In preferred embodiments the edges of the body also include portions with abrasive material suitable for filing purposes. Preferably the edges may be have higher levels of abrasion so as to be suitable for targeting specific areas of the foot, for example where extensive hard dry skin has built up. As the edges are narrow by comparison to the faces they can be more easily used to target precise regions and contours on the feet and in some embodiments a plurality of textured portions may be provided around the edge.

In preferred embodiments the body is enabled with some flexure so as to flex to different contours in order to reach different parts of the foot that may traditionally be harder to reach with standard files. The body is typically resiliently deformable to as to return to original shape when not being flexed.

Preferably the body is formed from a strong, durable material such as a synthetic plastic, metal or a metal alloy. For example the body may be formed from brushed steel or satin finish aluminium.

It may be envisaged that different shapes and size of the device may be provided, for example the distal end may be provided in different sizes to correspond to foot sizes, and length of the device may be varied so as to aid users of different height and/or mobility to reach their feet.

In some embodiments device may be formed from more than one part. For example the device may comprise two parts, comprised by the proximal end and the distal ends, wherein the parts are interchangeable. In other words replacement ends may be provided or provideable, for example distal ends of different sizes or with different arrangements of textured portions may be provided and attached to for example a handle.

Additionally or alternatively proximal ends or handles of different lengths may be provided so that the user is not required to reach as far in order to file their feet. In this way the device may be adapted for use by different users.

Preferably the handle may include a grip to make the device easier to hold and manipulate in use without slipping. Typically the grip may comprise a band of resiliently deformable material embedded in or arranged around the handle, resiliently deformable coating located about the handle or a resiliently deformable cover. For example the handle may have silicone portions at regular spaced intervals on both faces of the device. Therefore the device can be readily held in any orientation.

In some embodiments the handle may include raised and lowered sections such as ridges which serve as grips.

In preferred embodiments the handle may include an aperture so that the device may be hung up when not in use.

Brief Description of Figures

Figure 1 shows an isometric view of a preferred embodiment of the foot care device according to the present invention; Figure 2 shows a view from above of the embodiment shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 shows a view from below of the embodiment shown in Figure 1; Figure 4 shows a view from in front of the embodiment shown in Figure 1; Figure 5 shows a side view of the embodiment shown in Figure 1; and Figure 6 shows a reverse isometric view of the embodiment shown in Figure 1.

Detailed Description of Ficiures

With reference to the figures the body 10 stretches from a proximal end 1 to a distal end 2.

The body includes two edges 33,3, which include abrasive material 6. The distal end's edge 7 is continuous from the side edges 3 and also includes abrasive material.

A first edge 3 is offset to allow for avoidance of limbs or otherwise for improvement of filing attitude with regards to leading hand. In accordance with this relatively to leading hand, two variant versions may be provided for left-and right-handers.

An upper face includes abrasive portions 4,5 of different grades, and the lower face also includes an abrasive portion 8. This lower portion 8 is ideally arranged with a finer abrasive material in order to accomplish cosmetic or nail work.

The proximal end includes a lanyard attachment point 9.

The invention has been described by way of examples only and it will be appreciated that variation may be made to the above-mentioned embodiments without departing from the scope of invention.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realised that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

Therefore! the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as set out in the accompanying claims.