GB2526117A

GB2526117A - Foot rake

Info

Publication number: GB2526117A
Application number: GB1408556.7A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Richard James White
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2014-05-14
Filing date: 2014-05-14
Publication date: 2015-11-18
Also published as: GB201408556D0

Abstract

The Foot rake is a device that consists of a handle 1, a head 2 and an abrasive rake portion 5 which is used to remove thick skin build up from the soles of feet in an effective and safe manner. The foot rake may preferably have interchangeable rake strips, constructed from different parts or be a whole unit. The foot rake may typically be 20 to 30 cm long and be constructed from a variety of material such as wood, bamboo, metal or any composition/combination of these materials. The foot rake may also be extendable.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Background:

Since the middle of the twentieth century, the trend for personal hygiene has moved away from bathing to showering, but unfortunately with that change, our feet have lost the benefit of a good, skin softening soak. Periodic soaking is essential for the health and condition of the feet, and to remove hard skin from the soles. Soaking the feet prior to cleaning, aids tremendously in the removal of hard skin buildup.

Without that essential soak, many people find their neglected feet accumulate a thickening crust of unsightly, uncomfortable, hard dry dead skin, and if left will eventually crack and cause painful splits into the soft tissue of the feet Without pre-softening the feet by soaking, hard skin buildup is very difficult to remove. Feet do get wet in a shower, and do become cleaner and fresher, but showering does not soak the feet, nor does it aid removal of thick skin buildup. Soap helps soften skin, but again without a soak, not sufficiently to remove skin buildup, and furthermore as a slipping hazard, it is very inadvisable to soap feet while standing in a shower.

Responding to the need to remove hard skin, multitudes of foot care products are sold in the marketplace, and in review, every single one of these products is either inefficient ineffective, or carries a risk of injury or consequence to the user. There is not one single foot care device or product recognized as being the preferred method or treatment for removing hard skin buildup from the soles of feet Without efficient, effective and safe foot care remedies, people fail to give their feet the attention they need, and in severe cases of neglect, their feet can deteriorate to terrible conditions with very thick dry flaking skin, which may crack and cause painful splits into soft skin tissue. So desperate for foot care, many resortto extreme solutions like shaving their feet with a razor, or sanding them with a power tool such as a belt sander.

Another problem confronting many wishing to apply a personal foot care treatment to their feet, is their limitation of reach. The soles of our feet are not the easiest place to access, and with advancing age, it becomes more and more difficult for many to do anything to their feet.

Normal healthy skin is moist, and under normal conditions does not split. When feet are neglected the skin thickens and forms a dry crust, which will eventually crack, a natural process where the body is attempting to shed unwanted dead skin. Cracks and splits develop mostly at pressure points such as the heel and ball of the foot, and when splits into soft tissue become painful, that is when many are prompted to finally apply some kind of care to their suffering feet. Unfortunately when thick cracked skin is removed from the feet the exposed sub-layer of skin being thinner and weaker, may further split and bleed before the injured foot eventually heals.

The essence of the Foot Rake invention is to provide a better means to remove hard skin, by connectingthe benefit of soaking the feet, and using the Foot Rake to remove hard skin buildup more efficiently, effectively and safely than any other known foot care device, method or treatment. To substantiate this claim, we will review all known foot care devices and methods, marketed or devised to remove hard skin buildup from feet.

Prior Art:

Before soaps were invented or were available, the Romans had the Strigil,' a hand held metal hook device used primarily after bathing to strip dirt from the pre-oiled skin of the torso and limbs. In its application, the Strigil,' is the closest known personal hygiene device or instrument to the concept of the Foot Rake.

Patent searches found a hand held foot care device called a Foot Care Instrument,' filed under Canadian Patent 1127933. This device consists of a handle with a roller used to position a sharp cutting blade to the skin. Compared to the Foot Rake, the Foot Care Instrument' not intended or considered for use after a softening pre-soak of the feet, and radically compensates for dealing with hard skin by utilizing a sharp cutting blade, making this Instrument' dangerous and risky to use.

Current Foot Care Devices and Methods: Typically, foot treatments are either wet or dry, and to rid dead skin from the feet the current known methods and devices involve cutting, shredding, abrading, sanding, brushing scraping fish nibbling and chemicals. The hand held Foot Rake utilizing a skin softening pre-soak together with a stroking or raking motion, is a unique device and method) and the best way to remove unwanted skin from the feet Foot care devices made with sharp metal cutting blades, are an obvious hazard.

Applying a sharp blade to the bottom of the feet is awkward and lacks control, so nicks and cuts should be expected, and when such injuries occur, they are indeed painful. Prone to aggravation at the pressure points, nicks and cuts may open and bleed, and of course risk infection. There is also a secondary risk from using a foot care device with sharp metal cutting blades, when the device is accidently dropped and possibly causing injury Lu Lhe user, or damage Lo baLhroom fixtures.

Shredding foot care devices with several shallow angle cutting edges intended to shred off skin like a kitchen grater, can gouge and groove the skin leaving it tender and rough to snag clothing and hosiery, and furthermore, grooved skin is thinner and weaker, and prone to drying out and splitting.

Foot care products that utilize abrasion as their method, are usually made from either rock based materials or metal. When used wet, fine grade abrasive foot care products are hindered by loss of friction. Pumice or other silica rock products can smooth skin to a limited degree, but cannot remove significant thick skin buildup, and when used dry, these products quickly glaze over with removed skin ceils.

When coarse grade filing or abrasive devices are used wet, they are also hindered by loss of friction, and when used dry they produce messy dust, or may inflict friction burns, or become clogged and ineffective, and if hard skin is forcibly stripped dry from the feet, the newly exposed hydrated skin not only resists further removal, but within a day or so, rapidly dries to form more dry skin.

Many wet application foot care devices take the form of elaborate floor standing devices, most intended for use in the shower. Typically these devices are supposed to clean the feet with various driven or non-driven brushes, or stationary scraping or abrasive surfaces. Such foot care devices are really overboard in their concept and are not found to be desirable. In their crude approach, they often expose soft skin tissue to excessive abrasion, and they are bulky, inconvenient; awkward to store, use or accommodate in the bathroom, and are a tripping hazard, and because of their impracticality and cost, such devices are never seen in the marketplace.

Garra rufa' or Doctor fish,' are used to nibble hard skin buildup from feet immersed in a tank containing these animals, but considered as a possible source of contamination from one person to another, the use of these fish for cleaning feet is prohibited in many jurisdictions, and they are certainly not practical for home use.

Chemical preparations have been developed to remove hard skin from feet and work something like paint stripper. The feet are first soaked in the chemical preparation for a short period, then over the next week or so, the dead skin loosens and has to be repeatedly picked off the feet Although effective in the end result, this foot care treatment is expensive, slow, time consuming, inconvenient and very messy with dead skin shedding into footwear, bedding, and elsewhere.

Description of the Foot Rake Invention:

Referring to Figure 1, the Foot Rake is a personal handheld foot care device used to stroke, rake and remove hard skin from the feet, after first preparing the hard skin for removal by soaking in a warm saponaceous or Epsom Salt solution. Handle (1) is connected to the rake head (2), which by means of its design, contains, retains or holds, and enables one or more rake strips illusLraLed in Lhree basic design options and shown as details (3, 4 & 5), to be presented and stroked along the feet, to rake away unwanted hard skin buildup.

The Foot Rake as described in this claim, is intended for use only after the feet are first prepared by soaking, and under this condition, the Foot Rake as described, will provide the best, most efficient, most effective, and safest foot care for removal of hard skin from the soles of the feet.

With its fundamental handle design with a nominal length of 12 inches, the Foot Rake empowers the user to reach the soles of their feet and apply the required stroking and raking motion of the rake head, and indeed a Foot Rake handle of more than 12 inches in length, similarly empowers users with reduced reaching ability.

There are three basic stroking motions to using the Foot Rake, and they are: A] Stroking the Foot Rake backwards with the handle raised at an angle to the skin, so only the outer end rake strip (3] contacts and rakes the skin. This stroking motion is good for raking the soles of the feet.

B) Stroking the Foot Rake forwards with the handle level with the skin, so only the inner end rake strip (4) contacts and rakes the skin.

This stroking motion is good for raking the heels of the feet C] Stroking the Foot Rake backwards and forwards, so the center rake strips (5] contact and rake the skin. This stroking motion is good for raking all parts of the feet with thicker skin buildup, and to give a smoothing finish to the skin.

The Foot Rake performance, capability and stroking method will vary with the configuration, number of rake strips, rake strip profile, and the material or materials from which the rake strips are made. The Foot Rake user will have a choice of rake strip, and will be able to select the rake strip design found most suitable for their personal needs, such as skin smoothing or more aggressive thick skin removal. Rake strips when made as separate component parts, will be shaped and profiled to facilitate their attachment to the rake head) and be designed and made from materials to best suit the users foot care needs.

All rake strips whether made as separate or integral parts of the rake head, are also shaped and profiled with rake faces set at a suitable rake angle (6], for efficient, effective and safe removal of unwanted skin material. The center rake strips (5) in Figure 1, are shown with a 900 rake angle, but this angle can be varied to best suit the raking function, the rake strip materials, and the spacing between rake strips, but in general, the rake angle provides for the best angle to provide the most effective raking of dead skin.

To facilitate use of the outer rake strip (3], clearance space (7] provides for when the Foot Rake handle is inclined from the skin surface. To facilitate use of the inner rake strip (4], used particularly at corner locations such as the heels of the feet, clearance space (8] provides for clearance of the handle with the feet.

The hand held Foot Rake as designed, gives the user excellent control to rake and remove only pre-softened dead skin, but if inadvertently applied to normal healthy skin, there is no consequence, because the Foot Rake cannot cut, injure, damage or gouge soft live healthy tissue when stroked along the feet and the skin will be left clean and smooth, and the feet invigorated and comfortable.

Claims

CLAIMS FOR THE FOOT RAKE DESIGN1. The Foot Rake consists of three basic component parts comprising the handle) the rake head, and rake strip. The handle is attached to the rake head, and the rake head contains one or more rake strips which are stroked across the soles of the feet to rake and remove dead skin cells softened either from soaking while bathing) or after soaking in a warm saponaceous or Epsom Salt solution.
2. The Foot Rake of claim 1 may also consist of more than the three basic component parts with the addition of various permanently attached or removable brushes, pads, sponges or other application devices or materials) or whatever is deemed suitable as a vehicle for applying creams or other foot treatment preparations for either softening the skin of the feet in preparation for raking, or moisturizing after raking, or applying any other foot care treatment or preparation.
3. The three basic component parts of the Foot Rake can be made as one piece with the handle integral with the rake head, and the rake head integral with one or more rake strips.
4. The three basic component parts of the Foot Rake can also be made in more than one piece with the handle integral with the rake head, and separately made rake strips permanently attached to the rake head either by adhesion, riveting, welding, snap fit, or some other physical or chemical means.
5. The three basic component parts of the Foot Rake can also be made in two pieces with the handle removable from a rake head with integral rake strips.
6. The handle of the Foot Rake can be made with two rake heads, both either permanently attached or detachable from each end of the handle.
7. A rake head of the Foot Rake can be made to contain just one rake strip, or made to contain two or more rake strips with equal or varying spaces between them.
8. The rake head of a Foot Rake made with integral rake strips, can used as disposable for hygienic purposes, such as when used by health spars, podiaLrisLs, chiropodisLs, or oLher communal applications, Lo avoid contamination from one person to another.
9. The three component parts of the Foot Rake can also be made in more than two pieces with the handle integral with the rake head, and the rake head made with detachable and therefore replaceable rake strips.
10. The three component parts of the Foot Rake can be made in separate pieces with the handle and the rake strips detachable from the rake head, so all component parts can be rep'aceable and made from different materia's.
11. The handle length of the Foot Rake is typically 8 to 12 inches (20 to 30 cm), to facilitate users with normal reaching ability to rake the soles of their feet 12. The handle length of the Foot Rake can be more than 12 inches (30 cm), to facilitate users with limited reaching ability to rake the soles of their feet 13. The handle of the Foot Rake can be made extendable to facilitate all users.14. The handle of the Foot Rake has sufficient strength and rigidity to apply adequate raking pressure to remove soak softened skin cells from the feet 15. The width of the Foot Rake rake head is typically from less than ito 3 inches (2 to 8 cm), to accommodate sufficient lengths of rake strip to efficiently and effectively rake the feet.16. The raking faces of the Foot Rake rake strips can have many and various profiles, and be shaped to best suit the materials from which they are made, the desired raking duty, and other properties or personal raking preferences.17. The rake strips for the Foot Rake can be made and mounted so the raking faces of the rake strips pointtowards the handle for use when pulling, and away from the handle when pushing.18. The rake strips can be made with dual raking faces, enabling the Foot Rake to be used in both the pulling and pushing directions of the handle.19. The rake strips for the Foot Rake can be made with various raking profiles, including but not limited to concave, beaded, ridged, and burred rake faces, using such manufacturing processes as molding, forming, extruding or machining.20. The rake strips for the Foot Rake when intended to be removable and replaceable from the rake head, can be made with various cross-sections to suit retaining grooves slotted across the rake head, enabling retention and replacemenL of the rake sLrips.21. The handle for the Foot Rake can be made from plastic, wood, bamboo, metal, or any composition, composite or combination of these materials.22. The rake head for the Foot Rake can be made from p'astic, rubber, wood, bamboo, or metal, or any composition, composite or combination of these materials.23. The rake strips for the Foot Rake can be made from plastic, rubber, wood, bamboo, ceramic, pumice, emery, silica, polymer, or cast, rolled, drawn or formed metal, or any composition, composite or combination of these materials.24. The Foot Rake when not made from hard and heavy materials such as metal or silica based products, has the benefit of reduced personal injury or damage risk from dropping, corrosion, cutting and scratching.25. The Foot Rake when used with non metallic rake strips, is a considerable safety improvement over foot care devices which use sharpened metal blades that can cut healthy skin, or injure by penetrating cracked dead skin or split healthy skin tissue.26. The Foot Rake used on wet skin softened by pre-soaking, is an improvement over abrasion devices used dry to rub, file or sand feet, and which may impart dry friction burns.27. The Foot Rake used on wet skin softened by pre-soaking, is an improvement over dry abrasion devices used to rub, file or sand feet, because newly exposed hydrated skin resists further removal by dry abrasion.28. The Foot Rake used on wet skin softened by pre-soaking, is an improvement over dry abrasion devices used to rub, file or sand feet, because newly exposed hydrated skin rapidly dries to produce more unwanted dry skin.29. The Foot Rake using rake strips on wet skin softened by pre-soaking, is an improvement over dry abrasion foot care devices made from pumice, emery, silica or other stone materials, which clog glaze and cease to continue removing unwanted skin.30. The Foot Rake using rake strips on wet skin softened by pre-soaking, is an improvement over wet abrasion foot care devices made from pumice, emery, silica or other stone materials, which lose friction and cease to continue removing unwanted skin.31. The Foot Rake using rake strips on wet skin softened by pre-soaking, is an improvemenL over fooL care devices inLended to shred, shave or grate skin, but which may gouge and groove, leaving the skin rough to snag clothing and hosiery, and be more prone to drying and splithng.32. The open design of the Foot Rake provides for more efficient deaning after use compared to any other foot care device, because the material it removes from the feet is soft and soluble, and easily rinses away.33. The Foot Rake as a hand held device, has more sensitivity and control to saf&y remove offly dry skin softened by pre-soaking, than more aggressive, vigorous or powered foot care devices intended for use on hard dry skin. /CLAIMS for the FOOT RAKE Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows 1. A Foot Rake non-abrasive foot care device wherein a handle is embodied to a rake head holding one or more laterally placed Rake Strips for stroking the soles of wet pre-soaked feet, to rake and remove dead skin cells softened from bathing or soaking in a warm saponaceous or Epsom salt solution.RAKE STRIP2. The Foot Rake of claim 1, wherein a non-abrasive one piece Rake Strip provides effective removal of dead skin from the soles of the feet : 3. The Foot Rake of claim 1, wherein the width of the rake head is typically, but 0* p not limited to, 1 inch to 3 inches (2 cm to 8 cm). * S4. The Foot Rake of claim 2, wherein the rake strip is laterally configured straight, angled, bowed or curved across the rake head.5. The Foot Rake of claim 2, wherein the rake strip is configured on the rake head for presentation at a minimum rake angle of 90° to the skin.6. The Foot Rake of claim 2, wherein the rake strip cross-section or profile includes but is not limited to, flat, angled, triangulated, square, concave, ribbed, ridged, stepped, burred, or any composite or combination of these configurations.7. The Foot Rake of claim 2, wherein the rake strip is manufactured from plastic rubber, wood, bamboo, metal, or any composite of these materials.8. The Foot Rake of claim 2, wherein the rake strip is embodied with and made integral as one piece with the rake head.9. The Foot Rake of claim 2, wherein the separately manufactured rake strip is permanently attached mechanically, physically or chemically to the rake head.10. The Foot Rake of claim 2, wherein the separately manufactured rake strip is removable and replaceable from the rake head, attached to the rake head by slotted groove, friction fit, snap fit, or any other means of detachment.11. The Foot Rake of claim 2, wherein the rake strip is mounted with a rake face towards the rake handle for stroking the feet by pulling, or with a rake face away from the rake handle for stroking the feet by pushing, or any combination or configuration for stroking the feet by pulling or pushing.
12. The Foot Rake of claim 2, wherein the rake strip has dual sided raking faces, enabling the feet to be stroked by both pulling and pushing the rake handle. * ** * * * ** S * S *. ** * * . * * S.. S. .* * *