GB2531820A

GB2531820A - A back cleansing unit

Info

Publication number: GB2531820A
Application number: GB1419600.0A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Morris Jonathan; Morris Lucy
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2014-11-03
Filing date: 2014-11-03
Publication date: 2016-05-04
Also published as: EP3214986A1; GB201419600D0; US20170332849A1; IE20150394A1; WO2016071839A1

Abstract

A back cleansing unit 1 comprises a housing section 2, a head receiving section (3, Fig 7), wall mounting means (7, Fig 6) and power producing means (15, Fig 6) wherein the head receiving section 3 comprises gear teeth (16, Fig 7) to engage with a plurality of rotating heads on a rotating disc. The rotating disc 4 comprises a drive shaft (10, Fig 5) attached to a drive gear 11. The housing section 2 is moulded and the receiving sections 3 include integrally moulded or separately mounted gear teeth 16 for engagement with the drive gear (13, Fig 5) on the rotating heads 5.

Description

A back cleansing unit"

Introduction

The invention relates to a back cleansing unit for attaching to the side wall of a shower or bath.

Showering is a daily activity for most people. Most body parts can be cleaned easily 10 because they are within the reach of the showering person. However, one body part that has been traditionally difficult to reach, and thus, to wash, is the hack. As a result, this part of the body is not generally cleansed as well as the rest of the body.

There are various devices commercially available to remedy this problem. Most common is the use of a hand-held back washer which is usually a brush on the end of a stick or other such handle. This device however, is insufficient to provide a thorough cleaning of the back because it is manually operated. Another method of cleaning the back has involved the use of a detachable showerhead. Again this device needs to he manually operated. Devices for attaching to the side of a shower wall are also known. However these devices can he very complex to install and operate.

The present invention provides an improved means of reaching and cleansing the back area.

Statements of Invention

According to the invention there is provided a back cleansing unit, comprising: a housing section; a head receiving section; wall mounting means; and power producing means; wherein the head receiving section comprises gear teeth to engage with a plurality of rotating heads on a rotating disc.

In one embodiment of the invention the rotating disc comprises a drive shaft attached to a drive gear.

hi one embodiment of the invention the housing section is moulded and comprises integrally moulded or separately mounted gear teeth for engagement with the drive gear on the rotating heads.

In one embodiment of the invention when the rotating disc rotates in a clockwise direction the rotating heads rotate in a clockwise or counter clockwise direction.

In one embodiment of the invention the rotating heads are interchangeable and comprise any one or more of rotating brushes, exfoliation heads, massage heads and/or applicator heads. Most preferably each rotating disc comprises six interchangeable rotating heads.

In one embodiment of the invention the power producing means comprises motors with integrated gearboxes mounted on an integrated frame at the rear of the housing section. Preferably the integrated gearbox reduces the speed of the motor from high to low.

hi one embodiment of the invention the power producing means may be driven by any one or more of an electric motor, hydraulic motor, pneumatic motor and/or windup/spring mechanism.

In one embodiment of the invention the power producing means comprises an electric motor powered by a battery located in a watertight housing in a lower part of the housing section.

hi one embodiment of the invention the back cleansing unit comprises user controls mounted on the outside of the unit to control the unit.

In one embodiment of the invention the gear ratio is adjustable to set the speed of the rotating discs and the plurality of rotating heads.

In one embodiment of the invention the hack cleansing unit comprises a soap reservoir in an upper part of the housing section to dispense liquid soap, gel or cream down onto the plurality of rotating heads.

In another embodiment of the invention soap is dispensed through the rotating heads.

hi one embodiment of the invention the mounting means comprises suction cups for attaching the housing section to the wall of a shower or bath. Alternatively the mounting means may comprise fixings for permanently fixing the housing section to the wall of a shower or bath.

Brief Description of the Invention

The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: -Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the back cleansing unit according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the back cleansing unit according to the invention; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the rear of the back cleansing unit of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the rotating disc of the back cleansing unit of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the rear of the rotating disc of Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is enlarged partial view of the rear of the receiving section of the back cleansing unit. according to the invention; Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the receiving section of the back cleansing unit of Fig. 1; and Fig. 8 is an enlarged partial view of the receiving section of the hack cleansing unit of Fig. 3;

Detailed description

The hack cleansing unit of the present invention is an electrically powered unit that is fixed to the wall of a shower cubicle or bath to allow people to effectively wash their backs whilst showering or bathing. The unit may be detachably attached to the wall of a shower using suction cups or it may be permanently fixed to the wall using any suitable fixing means.

As shown in Fig. 1 the unit 1 comprises a main housing 2 and two receiving sections 3 for receiving two rotating discs 4. Each rotating disc 4 carries a plurality of rotating heads 5. The rotating heads 5 are interchangeable and may comprise any one or more of a rotating brush, exfoliation head, massage head and/or applicator head for applying moisturising cream or fake tan or any other products of a liquid or gel nature that the user would like to apply to the skin. Each rotating disc 4 has six interchangeable heads.

The rear of the main housing 2 as shown in Fig. 3 has an integrated base frame 6 for engaging with suction cups 7 which allow the unit 1 to be detachably mounted to a shower or bath wall. Alternatively the base frame 6 accommodates fixings for permanently fixing the unit to the side of a shower/bath wall. The upper end of the housing section 2 has receiving means 8 for a refillable liquid soap, gel or cream reservoir 9. The lower end of the housing section 2 has a watertight compartment 12 for holding a battery 14 to power the unit 1.

The rotating discs 4 comprising the rotating heads 5 arc mounted on a shaft 10 having stainless steel ball bearings. The shaft 10 is connected to a drive gear 11 on the rear of the housing unit 2. The drive gear 11 on the end of each shaft 10 rotates the heads 5. The housing section 2 is moulded and the receiving sections 3 have integrally moulded or separately mounted gear teeth 16 for engagement with the drive gear 13 on each of the rotating heads 5. The gear ratios may be adjusted by changing the size of the gears and thus the relative speed of the brushes and the carrier housing. The speed of rotation of the brushes can he changed either by means of fitting new gears with different gear ratios or an electrical motor controller to adjust the speed of the drive motor. The motor controller is used to cause the gears to rotate in a counter clockwise direction or to reciprocate between clockwise and counter clockwise rotation. The motor controller may be a pcb mounted inside the front cover and carrying the on/off switch. The rotating discs 4 rotate in a clockwise direction so the rotating heads 5 also rotate in a clockwise direction.

The drive gear 11 is integrated with a small low voltage DC high torque motor 15.

The integrated gear and motor is mounted on the base frame 6 on rear of the housing section 2. The speed of the motor is reduced throudi the use of the integrated gear box which reduces the speed but not the torque of the motor. The gearbox connected to each shaft 10 may be driven by an electric motor, hydraulic motor, pneumatic motor and/or wind-up/spring mechanism.

In the illustrated embodiment the power producing means is an electric motor powered by a sealed battery 14 located in a watertight housing 12 in the lower end of the housing section 2. Preferably the battery is housed in a water-tight plastic housing 12 in the lower end of the housing section 2. The battery 14 can easily be removed for charging.

The power producing means is controlled and operated by a switch on the outside of the housing section.

When the rotating heads 5 are brushes the reciprocating brush drive mechanism can be used to produce the effect of a massage.

The back cleansing unit has a detachable 'liquid soap reservoir' 9 in an upper part of the housing. It operates using a pump action mechanism. When pumped liquid soap is dispensed down onto the rotating heads.

Alternatively the soap may be dispensed directly through a nozzle in each of the brush heads using an electrically operated dosing pump integrated into the housing and controlled from a dosing button on the outside of the cover.

The back cleansing assembly of the invention is easy to install. It is easy to detach from the suction cups or permanent wall fixings in order to thoroughly clean all the components of the unit.

The invention is not limited to the embodiment hereinbefore described, with reference to the accompanying drawings, which may be varied in construction and detail.

Claims

Claims 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.A hack cleansing unit, comprising: a housing section; a head receiving section; wall mounting means; and power producing means; wherein the head receiving section comprises gear teeth to engage with a plurality of rotating heads on a rotating disc.

A back cleansing unit as claimed in claim 1 wherein the rotating disc comprises a drive shaft attached to a drive gear.

A back cleansing unit as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the housing section is moulded and comprises integrally moulded or separately mounted gear teeth for engagement with the drive gear on the rotating heads.

A back cleansing unit as claimed in any preceding claim wherein when the rotating disc rotates in a clockwise direction the rotating heads rotate in a clockwise or counter clockwise direction.

A back cleansing unit as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the rotating heads are interchangeable and comprise any one or more of rotating brushes, exfoliation heads, massage heads and/or applicator heads.

A back cleansing unit as claimed in any preceding claim wherein each rotating disc comprises six interchangeable rotating heads.

A hack cleansing unit as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the power producing means comprises motors with integrated gearboxes mounted on an integrated frame at the rear of the housing section.

A back cleansing unit as claimed in claim 7 wherein the integrated gearbox reduces the speed of the motor from high to low.

9. A hack cleansing unit as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the power producing means may be driven by any one or more of an electric motor, hydraulic motor, pneumatic motor and/or wind-up/spring mechanism.

10. A back cleansing unit as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the power producing means comprises an electric motor powered by a battery located in a watertight housing in a lower part of the housing section.

11. A hack cleansing unit as claimed in any preceding claim comprising user controls mounted on the outside of the unit to control the unit.

12. A back cleansing unit as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the gear ratio is adjustable to set the speed of the rotating discs and the plurality of rotating heads.

13. A back cleansing unit as claimed in any preceding claim comprising a soap reservoir in an upper part of the housing section to dispense liquid soap, gel or cream down onto the plurality of rotating heads.

14. A back cleansing unit as claimed in claim 13 wherein soap is dispensed through the rotating heads.

15. A back cleansing unit as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the mounting means comprises suction cups for attaching the housing section to the wall of a shower or bath.

16. A back cleansing unit as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the mounting means comprises fixings for permanently fixing the housing section to the wall of a shower or bath.

17. A back cleansing unit substantially as hereinbcfore described with reference to the drawings.