US20100012139A1

US20100012139A1 - Foot Scrubbers

Info

Publication number: US20100012139A1
Application number: US12/506,054
Authority: US
Inventors: Joseph Perez
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-07-18
Filing date: 2009-07-20
Publication date: 2010-01-21

Abstract

A foot scrubber device and method comprises a scrubbing base having two exposed surfaces. Each exposed surface has at least one attachment means disposed along each outer longitudinal edge and covers substantially the entire edge perimeter therein. A hook and loop strap is adjustably attached to the attachment means to secure a user's foot therein. In another embodiment two or more hook and loop straps are used to secure the user's foot. In another embodiment, at least one attachment means is disposed along an outer edge that covers less than an entire edge perimeter therein. In a method of use, the user straps on one or more of the foot scrubbers, applies a cleaning product if desired and then moves their feet in a pattern effective for cleaning a surface such as a bathtub or shower stall.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority and herein incorporates by reference U.S. provisional patent application 61/081,876, filed Jul. 18, 2008.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

As soon as humans started building shelters, the issue of keeping them clean became important. The task of cleaning is not generally perceived to be easy or fun, but a necessity to live a healthy lifestyle. As our dwelling became more sophisticated, the job of cleaning has become increasingly more time consuming. The rise of indoor plumbing is essential to our modern way of life, and most everyone has a shower and or bathtub. The job of keeping a bathtub or shower stall clean can be backbreaking due to the cleaner having to bend over to reach all the surfaces that need cleaning. There is a need for an easy to use cleaning device and method that allows a user to stand up while cleaning.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A foot scrubber device and method comprises a scrubbing base having two exposed surfaces. Each exposed surface has at least one attachment means disposed along each outer longitudinal edge and covers substantially the entire edge perimeter therein. A hook and loop strap is adjustably attached to the attachment means to secure a user's foot therein. In another embodiment two or more hook and loop straps are used to secure the user's foot. In another embodiment, at least one attachment means is disposed along an outer edge that covers less than an entire edge perimeter therein. In a method of use, the user straps on one or more of the foot scrubbers, applies a cleaning product if desired and then moves their feet in a pattern effective for cleaning a surface such as a bathtub or shower stall.
Other features and advantages of the instant invention will become apparent from the following description of the invention which refers to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top view of a foot scrubber according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the foot scrubber according to embodiment shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a top view of the foot scrubber according to embodiment shown in FIG. 1 with hook and loop strap.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the foot scrubber according to embodiment shown in FIG. 1 with hook and loop strap.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the foot scrubber according to embodiment shown in FIG. 1 with hook and loop strap secured to a user's foot.

FIG. 6 is a side view of an alternate embodiment of a foot scrubber according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a side view of the foot scrubber according to embodiment shown in FIG. 1 secured to the user's foot.

FIG. 8 is a side view of an alternate embodiment of a foot scrubber according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a side view of an alternate embodiment of a foot scrubber according to the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a side view of the foot scrubber according to embodiment shown in FIG. 8 secured to the user's foot.

FIG. 11 is a side view of the foot scrubber according to embodiment shown in FIG. 9 secured to the user's foot.

FIG. 12 is a top view of a hook and loop strap according to embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the following detailed description of the invention, reference is made to the drawings in which reference numerals refer to like elements, and which are intended to show by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. It is understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that structural changes may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.
Referring to FIGS. 1 through 4 and 12, a foot scrubber 100 comprises a sponge base 110 having two sponge base side hook and loop attachment strips 116 disposed on each outer longitudinal edges therein. Attachment strips 116 cover substantially the entire longitudinal edge to provide maximum adjustability. Attachment strips 116 may be sewn, glued or sewn and glued to secure them therein. Sponge base 110 is adhered to a textured layer 120 which is rougher than the sponge surface for removing materials such as soap scum, dried liquids, etc. Textured layer 120 is adhered to sponge base 110 using a suitable adhesive providing a reversible scrubber as is known in the art. A complementary set of attachment strips 115 are provided along each outer longitudinal edge of textured layer 120 creating a sandwich structure with attachment strips 115 and 116 forming the outer surfaces therein and sponge base 110 and textured layer 120 sandwiched within.
An attachment strap 125 attaches to attachment strip 115 or 116 and then around foot 1 40 and then to another opposite attachment strip 115 or 116 respectively to secure user's foot 140 therein. Attachment strap 125 is elastic having a complementary hook and loop pad 130 on at least one side of each of its ends to secure it to attachment strip 115 or 116.
Referring now to FIG. 5, the user straps their foot 140 on sponge base 110 using attachment strap 125 with either scrubber layer 120 down or sponge base 110 down and then moves foot 140 across the surface to be cleaned. Additionally, the user may apply a scrubber to each foot allowing the user to use both feet to clean. The weight of the user applies pressure as he or she moves across the surface to be cleaned requiring much less effort on the part of the user as well as allowing the user to stand upright while cleaning rather than bending over which is often painful and difficult.
Scrubbing base 110 is a synthetic sponge, but may be made of any suitable material such as natural sponge or fiber, cotton, other cloth or other material as is known in the art. Textured layer 120 is a non-metallic scrubbing surface made of synthetic fibers as is known in the art. Again, any suitable scrubbing material may be used to provide an enhanced scrubbing surface as is known in the art.
Additionally, it may be desirable to place a hand (not shown) against scrubbing base 110 or textured layer 120 and strapping the hand in to provide a secure scrubbing pad for applications such as overhead cleaning, automobile washing, etc.
Referring now to FIGS. 6 and 7, the user secures foot scrubber to foot 140 using two attachment straps 125 instead of one as shown above. Attachment straps 125 attach with either sponge base 110 (FIG. 6) or textured layer 120 (FIG. 7) up.
After using, foot scrubbers 100 may be rinsed and wrung out to dry allowing them to be reused many times. Additionally, they may be placed in a washing machine after attaching the straps to prevent the hook and loop pads from attaching to other clothes.
Now referring to FIGS. 8 and 10, an alternative embodiment of a foot scrubber 200 is shown having a sponge base 210 having two attachment pads 215 centrally located on either outer edge of sponge base 210. An attachment strap 225 is used to secure foot 140 in a manner similar to the method discussed above.
Referring now to FIGS. 9 and 11, another alternative embodiment of a foot scrubber 300 is shown having a sponge base 310 having a plurality of attachment pads 315 located along the periphery of each outer edge of sponge base 310. A plurality of attachment straps 325 are used to secure foot 140 in a manner similar to the method discussed above.
Other fastening methods such as snaps, friction loop closures, ties or other suitable methods of attaching the straps may be used without departing from disclosed invention. Additionally, padding on the straps (not shown) may be added for extra comfort as is known in the art. The present invention may be produced in a one size fits all embodiment or may come in assorted sizes such as small, medium and large to accommodate individual users.
Although the instant invention has been described in relation to particular embodiments thereof, many other variations and modifications and other uses will become apparent to those skilled in the art.

Claims

1. A foot scrubber comprising:

a sponge base having a sponge surface;

a scrubbing surface coplanar to said sponge surface;

said sponge surface and scrubbing surface being adhered together wherein said sponge surface and said scrubbing surface are exposed;

an attachment strip fixedly disposed along at least a portion of each exposed longitudinal edges of said sponge surface and said scrubbing surface; and

at least one attachment strap having an attachment pad on each end thereof for attaching to said attachment strips wherein a body part is secured therein.

2. The foot scrubber according to claim 1 wherein said scrubbing surface is a non-metallic scrubbing surface.

3. The foot scrubber according to claim 1 wherein said attachment strap is elastic.

4. The foot scrubber according to claim 1 wherein said attachment strip is a hook and loop fastener.

5. The foot scrubber according to claim 1 wherein said attachment strap has at least one hook and loop attachment portions.

6. A foot scrubber comprising:

a base portion;

said base portion having a first surface;

a second surface adhered to said first surface;

an attachment means for removably attaching said base portion to a user's foot.

7. A method of using a foot scrubber comprising the steps of:

obtaining a foot scrubber comprising a base portion, said base portion having a first surface, a second surface adhered to said first surface, an attachment means for removably attaching said base portion to a foot;

attaching said floor scrubber to said foot;

dispensing an effective amount of cleaning product so that said cleaning product will contact a selected surface to be cleaned;

moving said foot in a pattern effective for cleaning said selected surface.