US20020166187A1 - Permanently mountable back brush - Google Patents
Permanently mountable back brush Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20020166187A1 US20020166187A1 US09/852,193 US85219301A US2002166187A1 US 20020166187 A1 US20020166187 A1 US 20020166187A1 US 85219301 A US85219301 A US 85219301A US 2002166187 A1 US2002166187 A1 US 2002166187A1
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- brush
- scrubbing
- base
- wall
- bristles
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
- 238000005201 scrubbing Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 26
- 239000000853 adhesive Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 13
- 230000001070 adhesive effect Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 13
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 claims description 7
- 229920001971 elastomer Polymers 0.000 claims description 3
- 235000009814 Luffa aegyptiaca Nutrition 0.000 claims description 2
- 244000302544 Luffa aegyptiaca Species 0.000 claims description 2
- 239000000203 mixture Substances 0.000 claims description 2
- 239000004744 fabric Substances 0.000 claims 1
- 238000006748 scratching Methods 0.000 abstract description 4
- 230000002393 scratching effect Effects 0.000 abstract description 4
- 238000004140 cleaning Methods 0.000 description 3
- 239000004033 plastic Substances 0.000 description 3
- 229920003023 plastic Polymers 0.000 description 3
- 239000004677 Nylon Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 2
- 229920001778 nylon Polymers 0.000 description 2
- 238000003287 bathing Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000000919 ceramic Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000005260 corrosion Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000007797 corrosion Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000011152 fibreglass Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000004579 marble Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000008707 rearrangement Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000000344 soap Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000001356 surgical procedure Methods 0.000 description 1
- 125000000391 vinyl group Chemical group [H]C([*])=C([H])[H] 0.000 description 1
- 229920002554 vinyl polymer Polymers 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47K—SANITARY EQUIPMENT NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; TOILET ACCESSORIES
- A47K7/00—Body washing or cleaning implements
- A47K7/02—Bathing sponges, brushes, gloves, or similar cleaning or rubbing implements
- A47K7/022—Bathing sponges, brushes, gloves, or similar cleaning or rubbing implements for washing the back, e.g. bath straps
- A47K7/024—Bathing sponges, brushes, gloves, or similar cleaning or rubbing implements for washing the back, e.g. bath straps characterised by a wall or bath tub mounting
Definitions
- the present invention relates generally to brushes, and more particularly to a body cleaning and scratching brush that is adapted to be permanently mounted on a vertical surface, such as a wall or in a shower or bathtub.
- a problem with scrubbing the back with such a brush is that the bather must twist in awkward positions to reach around the chest and over the shoulders. This procedure can be difficult for the elderly and impossible for those having disabilities, who are recovering from surgery, or who have other ailments. Because it is awkward and time-consuming, persons simply in a hurry may not take the time necessary for this important part of personal hygiene.
- the present invention is directed to a brush for scrubbing and scratching the human body.
- the brush includes a base having a scrubbing surface extending from the front face of the base and an adhesive surface on the rear face of the base, for permanently attaching the brush to a wall with the front face being directed away from the wall.
- the scrubbing surface is preferably curved or rounded such that it is thicker in the center than along the sides.
- FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the permanently wall-mountable back brush of the present invention.
- FIG. 2 is a perspective back view of a portion of the back brush, showing the adhesive surface and the peel-off backing of one embodiment of the adhesive attachment mechanism.
- FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of one embodiment of the back brush.
- FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the back brush.
- a bath brush 10 which includes a base 12 having a scrubbing surface 14 extending from its front face.
- the base 12 can be formed of plastic or other suitable material in order to resist corrosion, such as for example mildew-resistant rubber, vinyl or nylon.
- the base 12 is sufficiently long and wide to contact a substantial portion of the human back.
- the scrubbing surface 14 is preferably curved or rounded such that it is thicker in the center of the back brush than along the sides. While the embodiment of the back brush illustrated in FIG. 1 has top and bottom ends 16 , 18 that are squared off and flat, the ends may in another embodiment be rounded.
- the area of scrubbing surface 14 is, in one embodiment, preferably close to the area of the average person's back, for rapid and easy cleaning. Since brush 10 remains affixed to a wall, the scrubbing surface area is not limited in size to that which can be easily handled or maneuvered on the end of a handle.
- Base 12 may take many shapes, such as the elongated shape shown in FIG. 1, or as a disk shape, an upper torso shape, or rectangular, oval or octagonal shapes.
- the scrubbing surface may be selected from any of a number of materials suitable for comfortably and effectively rubbing, scratching or cleansing the human body.
- the material may be one or more rubber sponges, a plurality of bristles, a loofa sponge, Astroturf®, and the like, or mixtures thereof.
- the scrubbing material may be a cloth-like material, similar to a washcloth, to which soap can optionally be applied by the user for cleaning the back.
- the presently preferred scrubbing surface comprises an arrangement of bristles protruding from the base 12 .
- the bristles may all be the same length or they may be of different lengths.
- FIG. 3 shows a cross-section of one embodiment of the back brush 10 where the base 12 itself is in a curved or rounded shape and bristles 20 , all of relatively the same length, extend from the base to provide a scrubbing surface.
- FIG. 4 shows a cross-section of another embodiment of the back brush 10 where the base 12 is flat and the bristles 20 are of varying length, with the inner bristles being longer than the outer bristles, to provide a scrubbing surface that is curved or rounded.
- the bristles may be of different relative stiffness. That is, some bristles are relatively stiffer or less flexible than others of the bristles for better scrubbing action.
- the inner bristles may be less flexible than the outer bristles.
- the bristles 20 can be formed of any suitable material, such as nylon, and are secured to base 12 in conventional fashion by methods known in the art.
- the bristles may be attached individually to the scrubbing surface of the base or they may be bunched together into clusters, which clusters are distributed over the scrubbing surface.
- the bristles may be uniformly distributed on the front face of the base or distributed in a desired design or pattern on the front face of the base.
- the back brush 10 is mounted on the wall by means of an adhesive surface 22 on the back face of the base 12 , as illustrated in FIG. 2.
- the adhesive may cover the entire surface of the back face or it may cover only a portion of the back face, such as in stripes or circles and the like. Prior to use, the adhesive surface is conveniently covered by a peel-off backing 24 , which is removed to expose the adhesive to permanently attach the back brush to a shower or bathtub wall.
- the adhesive will be chosen from any adhesive that will strongly, and preferably permanently, adhere to the particular wall surface, such as ceramic tile, cultured onyx, synthetic marble, Corian® plastic, fiberglass, and the like. Such adhesives are known to those skilled in the art.
Abstract
The present invention is directed to a brush for scrubbing and scratching the human body. The brush includes a base having a scrubbing surface extending from the front face of the base and an adhesive surface on the rear face of the base, for permanently attaching the brush to a wall with the front face being directed away from the wall. The scrubbing surface is preferably curved or rounded such that it is thicker in the center than along the sides.
Description
- The present invention relates generally to brushes, and more particularly to a body cleaning and scratching brush that is adapted to be permanently mounted on a vertical surface, such as a wall or in a shower or bathtub.
- There have long been brushes for scrubbing the human body, and particularly the back, during bathing. The majority of these back brushes generally take the form of a brush with a long handle by which the user can reach around and scrub his or her own back.
- A problem with scrubbing the back with such a brush is that the bather must twist in awkward positions to reach around the chest and over the shoulders. This procedure can be difficult for the elderly and impossible for those having disabilities, who are recovering from surgery, or who have other ailments. Because it is awkward and time-consuming, persons simply in a hurry may not take the time necessary for this important part of personal hygiene.
- Another problem is that, to keep the brush from becoming cumbersome, its bristled portion is relatively small and flat and is only suited for relatively localized scrubbing over a limited area with limited pressure. Numerous sweeps are necessary for total coverage. Another problem is that, since the handle portions are usually long, narrow plastic members, they can break off and render the brush useless.
- Back brushes have been developed that removably attach to a tub or shower by suction cups. However, continued exposure to heat and moisture from the showers or baths leads to the cups loosing their suction grip and moving around when used rather than staying firmly in one place, making them less effective, or falling off the wall entirely.
- The present invention is directed to a brush for scrubbing and scratching the human body. The brush includes a base having a scrubbing surface extending from the front face of the base and an adhesive surface on the rear face of the base, for permanently attaching the brush to a wall with the front face being directed away from the wall. The scrubbing surface is preferably curved or rounded such that it is thicker in the center than along the sides.
- A better understanding of the invention can be had by reference to the following Detailed Description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
- FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the permanently wall-mountable back brush of the present invention.
- FIG. 2 is a perspective back view of a portion of the back brush, showing the adhesive surface and the peel-off backing of one embodiment of the adhesive attachment mechanism.
- FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of one embodiment of the back brush.
- FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the back brush.
- Referring now to the drawings, wherein like characteristics and features of the present invention shown in the various FIGURES are designated by the same reference numerals.
- Referring to FIG. 1, a
bath brush 10 is disclosed which includes abase 12 having ascrubbing surface 14 extending from its front face. Thebase 12 can be formed of plastic or other suitable material in order to resist corrosion, such as for example mildew-resistant rubber, vinyl or nylon. In a preferred embodiment, thebase 12 is sufficiently long and wide to contact a substantial portion of the human back. Thescrubbing surface 14 is preferably curved or rounded such that it is thicker in the center of the back brush than along the sides. While the embodiment of the back brush illustrated in FIG. 1 has top andbottom ends 16, 18 that are squared off and flat, the ends may in another embodiment be rounded. - The area of scrubbing
surface 14 is, in one embodiment, preferably close to the area of the average person's back, for rapid and easy cleaning. Sincebrush 10 remains affixed to a wall, the scrubbing surface area is not limited in size to that which can be easily handled or maneuvered on the end of a handle.Base 12 may take many shapes, such as the elongated shape shown in FIG. 1, or as a disk shape, an upper torso shape, or rectangular, oval or octagonal shapes. - The scrubbing surface may be selected from any of a number of materials suitable for comfortably and effectively rubbing, scratching or cleansing the human body. The material may be one or more rubber sponges, a plurality of bristles, a loofa sponge, Astroturf®, and the like, or mixtures thereof. Alternatively, the scrubbing material may be a cloth-like material, similar to a washcloth, to which soap can optionally be applied by the user for cleaning the back.
- The presently preferred scrubbing surface comprises an arrangement of bristles protruding from the
base 12. The bristles may all be the same length or they may be of different lengths. FIG. 3 shows a cross-section of one embodiment of theback brush 10 where thebase 12 itself is in a curved or rounded shape andbristles 20, all of relatively the same length, extend from the base to provide a scrubbing surface. FIG. 4 shows a cross-section of another embodiment of theback brush 10 where thebase 12 is flat and thebristles 20 are of varying length, with the inner bristles being longer than the outer bristles, to provide a scrubbing surface that is curved or rounded. Within each of these embodiments, the bristles may be of different relative stiffness. That is, some bristles are relatively stiffer or less flexible than others of the bristles for better scrubbing action. Thus, for example, the inner bristles may be less flexible than the outer bristles. Thebristles 20 can be formed of any suitable material, such as nylon, and are secured tobase 12 in conventional fashion by methods known in the art. The bristles may be attached individually to the scrubbing surface of the base or they may be bunched together into clusters, which clusters are distributed over the scrubbing surface. The bristles may be uniformly distributed on the front face of the base or distributed in a desired design or pattern on the front face of the base. - The
back brush 10 is mounted on the wall by means of anadhesive surface 22 on the back face of thebase 12, as illustrated in FIG. 2. The adhesive may cover the entire surface of the back face or it may cover only a portion of the back face, such as in stripes or circles and the like. Prior to use, the adhesive surface is conveniently covered by a peel-offbacking 24, which is removed to expose the adhesive to permanently attach the back brush to a shower or bathtub wall. The adhesive will be chosen from any adhesive that will strongly, and preferably permanently, adhere to the particular wall surface, such as ceramic tile, cultured onyx, synthetic marble, Corian® plastic, fiberglass, and the like. Such adhesives are known to those skilled in the art. - Although particular embodiments of the invention have been illustrated in the accompanying FIGURES and described in the foregoing Detailed Description, it will be understood that the invention is not limited only to the embodiments disclosed, but is intended to embrace any alternatives, equivalents, modifications and/or rearrangements of elements falling within the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.
Claims (6)
1. A wall-mountable back brush, comprising:
a base having a front face and a back face,
a scrubbing surface extending from the front face,
an adhesive surface on the rear face, for permanently attaching the brush to a wall with the front face being directed away from the wall.
2. A back brush according to claim 1 further comprising a peel-off backing on the adhesive surface.
3. A back brush according to claim 1 wherein the scrubbing surface comprises a material selected from the group consisting of one or more rubber sponges, a plurality of bristles, a loofa sponge, Astroturf®, cloth, and mixtures thereof.
4. A back brush according to claim 1 wherein the scrubbing surface comprises a plurality of bristles.
5. A back brush according to claim 1 wherein the scrubbing surface is curved or rounded such that it is thicker in the center than along the sides.
6. A back brush according to claim 4 wherein the scrubbing surface is curved or rounded such that it is thicker in the center than along the sides.
Priority Applications (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US09/852,193 US20020166187A1 (en) | 2001-05-08 | 2001-05-08 | Permanently mountable back brush |
PCT/US2002/014729 WO2002089649A1 (en) | 2001-05-08 | 2002-05-07 | Permanently mountable back brush |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US09/852,193 US20020166187A1 (en) | 2001-05-08 | 2001-05-08 | Permanently mountable back brush |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20020166187A1 true US20020166187A1 (en) | 2002-11-14 |
Family
ID=25312704
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US09/852,193 Abandoned US20020166187A1 (en) | 2001-05-08 | 2001-05-08 | Permanently mountable back brush |
Country Status (2)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US20020166187A1 (en) |
WO (1) | WO2002089649A1 (en) |
Cited By (8)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20030144618A1 (en) * | 2002-01-25 | 2003-07-31 | Harmon Douglas D. | Back scratching device |
US20080250594A1 (en) * | 2007-04-13 | 2008-10-16 | George David Green | Wall mountable back body scrubbing device |
US20090077763A1 (en) * | 2007-09-21 | 2009-03-26 | Che-Yuan Chang | Bathing aid and bathing assembly using the same |
US20090159092A1 (en) * | 2007-02-05 | 2009-06-25 | Munoz Wilfredo R | Scrubbing device |
US20110010841A1 (en) * | 2007-09-21 | 2011-01-20 | Che-Yuan Chang | Bathing aid and bathing assembly using the same |
US20130019423A1 (en) * | 2009-12-23 | 2013-01-24 | Afl Telecommunications Llc | Bristle based fiber optic connector cleaner |
US8726445B1 (en) * | 2012-03-08 | 2014-05-20 | Dennis F. Wagner | Shower-mounted back scrubber |
US11432687B1 (en) * | 2019-06-05 | 2022-09-06 | Robert Kowalski | Applicator system |
Family Cites Families (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE8706389U1 (en) * | 1987-05-05 | 1988-01-07 | Maier, Hans Wolfgang, 8031 Gilching, De | |
DE4307338A1 (en) * | 1993-03-09 | 1994-09-15 | Horst Kuropka | Back-washing aid made of plastic |
-
2001
- 2001-05-08 US US09/852,193 patent/US20020166187A1/en not_active Abandoned
-
2002
- 2002-05-07 WO PCT/US2002/014729 patent/WO2002089649A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
Cited By (10)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20030144618A1 (en) * | 2002-01-25 | 2003-07-31 | Harmon Douglas D. | Back scratching device |
US20090159092A1 (en) * | 2007-02-05 | 2009-06-25 | Munoz Wilfredo R | Scrubbing device |
US20080250594A1 (en) * | 2007-04-13 | 2008-10-16 | George David Green | Wall mountable back body scrubbing device |
US20090077763A1 (en) * | 2007-09-21 | 2009-03-26 | Che-Yuan Chang | Bathing aid and bathing assembly using the same |
US20110010841A1 (en) * | 2007-09-21 | 2011-01-20 | Che-Yuan Chang | Bathing aid and bathing assembly using the same |
US9345366B2 (en) | 2007-09-21 | 2016-05-24 | Che-Yuan Chang | Bathing aid and bathing assembly using the same |
US20130019423A1 (en) * | 2009-12-23 | 2013-01-24 | Afl Telecommunications Llc | Bristle based fiber optic connector cleaner |
US8945312B2 (en) * | 2009-12-23 | 2015-02-03 | Afl Telecommunications Llc | Bristle based fiber optic connector cleaner sub-surface |
US8726445B1 (en) * | 2012-03-08 | 2014-05-20 | Dennis F. Wagner | Shower-mounted back scrubber |
US11432687B1 (en) * | 2019-06-05 | 2022-09-06 | Robert Kowalski | Applicator system |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
WO2002089649A1 (en) | 2002-11-14 |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION |