US20070089758A1

US20070089758A1 - Pumice foot mat

Info

Publication number: US20070089758A1
Application number: US11/258,501
Authority: US
Inventors: Portia Koutscumbos
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-10-25
Filing date: 2005-10-25
Publication date: 2007-04-26

Abstract

An apparatus for providing foot care. Such apparatus comprises a base member having a predetermined shape and having an upper surface and a bottom surface. There is an abrasive means disposed on the upper surface of the base member and a means disposed on the bottom surface of the apparatus for releasably securing the apparatus to a solid surface such as base of a bathtub or shower stall.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates, in general, to a mat for use in a bathtub or shower, and, more specifically the present invention relates to a bath mat having an abrasive surface layer for foot care.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Human foot problems have merited an ever increasing attention from the population in general, and even more concern with persons who are diabetic or pregnant women. It has been known that skin built upon the foot such as calluses or corns has been a recurring problem to such feet that been subjected to prolonged friction and pressure. With the increased time that people have been spending in shoes while walking on concrete or other hard surfaces these problems has increased dramatically.
Medicated pads have been used to alleviate some of the problems with corns and foot creams and abrasive materials such as files or sloughing creams aid in the removal of hardened skin or calluses. However, these have not always been found to be an adequate solution. Part of the reason for failure of many of these aids has been the time required to work on the such foot problems. Thus, it would be advantageous if such foot problems, such as dry skin or calluses, could be addressed while doing other activities such as bathing or showering.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Thus, the present invention provides an apparatus for providing foot care. Such apparatus comprises a base member having a predetermined shape and having an upper surface and a bottom surface. There is an abrasive means disposed on the upper surface of the base member and a means disposed on the bottom surface of the apparatus for releasably securing the apparatus to a solid surface such as base of a bathtub or shower stall.
In an alternate embodiment of the invention there is provided a method for providing foot care. The method comprises the steps of providing an apparatus having an abrasive surface on an upper surface of the apparatus and a securing means on a bottom surface. The next step is disposing such apparatus on a surface of one of a bathtub and a base of a shower stall and
then engaging the abrasive surface of the apparatus with a foot in a back and forth motion thereby removing any dead skin on the foot.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is, therefore, one of the primary objects of the present invention to provide a bath mat which has a pumice upper surface.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a bath mat which can provide foot care without the need of bending over.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a bath mat which will stick to bath tub or shower base.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a bath mat such abrasive upper surface will remove dry skin from the soles of the feet.
These and various other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent after a full reading of the following detailed description, particularly, when read in conjunction with the attached drawings as described below and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top view of the present invention showing the abrasive surface.
FIG. 2 is a bottom view of such mat shown in FIG. 1 showing a means for securing such mat according to an embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 3 is cross sectional view of the mat shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.
FIG. 4 is an end view of the present invention according to an alternate embodiment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED AND ALTERNATE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Prior to proceeding with the more detailed description of the present invention it should be noted that, for the sake of clarity, identical components which have identical functions have been designated by identical reference numerals throughout the several views illustrated in the drawings.
The present invention provides an apparatus, generally designated 10, for providing foot care. Such apparatus 10 comprises a base member 2 having a predetermined shape and having an upper surface 4 and a bottom surface 6. There is an abrasive means, generally designated 20, disposed on the upper surface 4 of the base member 2 and a means, generally designated 30, disposed on the bottom surface 6 of the apparatus 10 for releasably securing the apparatus 10 to a solid surface such as base of a bathtub or shower stall.
Although there are a variety of abrasive means 20 that can be used according to a presently preferred embodiment of the invention such abrasive means is pumice.
Further, the means disposed 30 on said bottom surface of the apparatus 10 for releasably securing the apparatus 10 to a solid surface includes one of at least one suction cup, at least one magnet and double sided tape. It is presently preferred that such means disposed on the bottom surface 6 for releasably securing the apparatus 10 to a solid surface includes a plurality of suction cups 8.
In the embodiment the would include double sided tape 12, as seen in FIG. 4, for securing such apparatus 10 it is preferred that such double sided tape 12 have different adhesive characteristics on each side of the double sided tape 12. The adhesion between the tape 12 and the bottom surface 6 of the apparatus 10 should be a relatively strong bond whereas the characteristics of the adhesive bonding the tape 12 to the solid surface should be a relatively light bond so the apparatus 10 can be removed easily. Such embodiment utilizing magnets would only be useful for engaging the tub bottom and not useful for shower stalls having a rubberized or plastic bottom.
Such apparatus 10 provides foot care by passing a foot across the abrasive surface 20 thereby removing dead skin and repeatedly passing the foot over the abrasive surface 20 with some pressure can reduce the problem with calluses on the bottom of the foot.
It is presently preferred that such base member 2 is resilient and that such base member 2 is selected from one of rubber and plastic, with the preference being a rubberized material. Such base member can have a variety of shapes; however, it is preferred that the predetermined shape of such base member 2 is generally rectangular.
In an alternate embodiment of the invention there is provided a method for providing foot care. The method comprises the steps of providing an apparatus 10 having an abrasive surface 20 on an upper surface 4 of the apparatus and a securing means 30 on a bottom surface 6. The next step is disposing such apparatus 10 on a surface of one of a bathtub and a base of a shower stall and then engaging the abrasive surface 20 of the apparatus 10 with a foot in a back and forth motion thereby removing any dead skin on the foot.
The method further includes the additional step of repeating the back and forth motion with a plurality of back and forth motions while applying pressure on the abrasive surface for removing calluses.
The method further includes the step of releasably securing the apparatus 10 to the surface of one of a bathtub and a base of a shower stall by means of suction cups 8 disposed on bottom surface 6 of said apparatus 10. There is an additional or alternate step of releasably securing the apparatus 10 to the surface of one of a bathtub and a base of a shower stall by means of double sided tape 12 disposed on the bottom surface 6 of the apparatus 10.
While a presently preferred embodiment and alternate embodiments of the present invention has been described in detail above, it should be understood that various other adaptations and/or modifications of the invention can be made by those persons who are particularly skilled in the art without departing from either the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. An apparatus for providing foot care, said apparatus comprising:

(a) a base member having a predetermined shape and having an upper surface and a bottom surface;

(b) an abrasive means disposed on said upper surface of said base member; and

(c) a means disposed on said bottom surface of said apparatus for releasably securing said apparatus to a solid surface.

2. The apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said abrasive means is pumice.

3. The apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said means disposed on said bottom surface of said apparatus for releasably securing said apparatus to a solid surface includes one of at least one suction cup, at least one magnet and double sided tape.

4. The apparatus, according to claim 3, wherein said means disposed on said bottom surface of said apparatus for releasably securing said apparatus to a solid surface includes a plurality of suction cups.

5. The apparatus, according to claim 3, wherein said means disposed on said bottom surface of said apparatus for releasably securing said apparatus to a solid surface includes said double sided tape.

6. The apparatus, according to claim 5, wherein said double sided tape has different adhesive characteristics on each side of said double sided tape.

7. The apparatus, according to claim 3, wherein said means disposed on said bottom surface of said apparatus for releasably securing said apparatus to a solid surface includes a plurality of magnets.

8. The apparatus, according to claim 1 wherein such solid surface is one of a bathtub and a base of a shower stall.

9. The apparatus, according to claim 1 wherein such foot care is provided by passing a foot across said abrasive surface thereby removing dead skin.

10. The apparatus, according to claim 1 wherein said base member is resilient.

11. The apparatus, according to claim 10 wherein said base member is selected from one of rubber and plastic.

12. The apparatus, according to claim 11 wherein said base member is rubber.

13. The apparatus, according to claim 1 wherein said predetermined shape of said base member is generally rectangular.

14. A method for providing foot care, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) providing an apparatus having an abrasive surface on an upper surface of said apparatus and a securing means on a bottom surface;

(b) disposing said apparatus on a surface of one of a bathtub and a base of a shower stall; and

(c) engaging said abrasive surface of said apparatus with a foot in a back and forth motion thereby removing any dead skin on said foot.

15. The method, according to claim 14, wherein said method further includes the step of repeating said motion in step (c) with a plurality of back and forth motions while applying pressure on said abrasive surface for removing calluses.

16. The method, according to claim 14, wherein said method further includes the step of releasably securing said apparatus to said surface of one of a bathtub and a base of a shower stall by means of suction cups disposed on said bottom surface of said apparatus.

17. The method, according to claim 14, wherein said method further includes the step of releasably securing said apparatus to said surface of one of a bathtub and a base of a shower stall by means of double sided tape disposed on said bottom surface of said apparatus.