US1372412A - Cripple's washing device - Google Patents

Description

W. L. FINKHGUSEN. CRIPPLES WASHING DEVICE.

, APPLICATION FILED JULY 23, I920- 1,3'72,4;1 2, Paten ed Mar. 22, 1921.

PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM LEROY FINKHOUSEN, OF VAN WERT, OHIO.

CRIPPLES WASHING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 22, 1921.

Application filed July 23, 1920. Serial No. 398,469.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WIL IAM LEROY FINK- HoUsEN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Van \Vert, county of Van Wert, and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cripplcs ashing Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has as its object to provide a toilet brush adapted for use in scrubbing the hands and face of individualsparticularly those who have lost, or are unable to use, either or both of their upper limbs, the brush having engaged with its backing, a vacuum or suction cup by which it may be attached to any convenient support and in any preferred position.

A further object is to provide such brushes in forms readily carried from place to place and used as required.

These objects are attained by the novel construction and combination of parts hereinafter described and shown in the accompanying drawings, forming a material part of this disclosure, and in which Figure l is a vertical sectional view of a conventional type of sink or lavatory; showing the application and use of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective View of the appliance in another position.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the brush.

Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawings in detail, particularly lFigs. 3 and 4, the brush will be seen to consist of an oval backing 10 having a convex outer surface in which are secured the brush tufts 11 in the usual manner.

Extending from the opposite side of the backing plate is a short cylindrical stem 14 containing a shallow annular recess 15.

A. highly flexible, pliable cylinder 16, made preferably of rubber, is molded. at its upper end to present an inturned beading 17 suited to be tightly received in the recess 15 so as to form an impervious joint when in engagement, while the lower end of the cylinder is curved outwardly into a bell-shaped base 18,.and constituting in effect a vacuum cup.

In operation, the base of the cup is applied to the object to which the brush is to be attached and the brush pressed firmly against it,.causing the cup to collapse and force out the air from within it.

Upon releasing pressure on the brush, the walls of the cup expand, due to their inhercnt resiliency, creating a partial 'acuum or suction capable of firmly supporting the brush in operative position.

Obviously, means are thus provided for attaching the brush to a wall as indicated in Fig. 3, or against the front wall of a sink, below the faucet, as shown in Fig. 2, or directly to the bottom of the sink as indicated in Fig. 1.

In any of these positions, a person is readily able to perform ordinary ablutions to the head without use of the hands, or if the person has but one hand, the same can be easily cleansed as shown in Fig. 2.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is r brush comprising a backing having a face containing tufts, a single integral cylindrical extension formed with the rear of said backing opposite the tufts, said exten sion having an annular groove, and a flexible tubular element fixed at one end in the mentioned groove forming an impervious joint closing one end of said element, said element flaring outwardly at its opposite, open end and adapted to exert a suctorial effect when )ressed against a surface where by the brus h is held by the vacuum thus. produced.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

WlLLlAM LEROY FINKHOUSEN.

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