US20110094049A1

US20110094049A1 - Back-scrubbing device

Info

Publication number: US20110094049A1
Application number: US12/909,076
Authority: US
Inventors: Li-Ken Chen; Allen Fang
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-10-28
Filing date: 2010-10-21
Publication date: 2011-04-28
Also published as: TWM387637U; JP3165108U

Abstract

A back-scrubbing device has a resilient body, wherein the body has a front surface, a rear surface and multiple sucking discs. The front surface has a ridge and two concavities. The rear surface has multiple disc holes. Each disc hole has an inner edge and a holding member and respectively holds one of the multiple sucking discs. Each of the multiple sucking discs has a sucking surface, a disc-rear surface and a threaded shaft. The disc-rear surface contacts the inner edge of one of the disc holes. The threaded shaft is held in one of the disc holes. The back-scrubbing device is attached to a wall of a bathroom for washing a back of a user when he or she is taking a shower or having a bath.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a back-scrubbing device, especially to a back-scrubbing device attached to a wall of a bathroom for washing a back of a user when he or she is taking a shower or having a bath.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Daily or frequent body cleaning is necessary for hygienic or social reasons. A conventional body-cleaning means comprises dispensing cleaning reagent such as soap and scrubbing or brushing a body of a user with hands or a towel to wash a dirt off the body.
However, washing specific body portions requires considerable exertion. For example, the user has to bend his or her arms over to wash the back with efficacy. Such action is a great burden especially for senior citizens or patients with little agility. Forced washing actions may result into insufficient cleaning or injury leading to health problems or social inconveniences.
To overcome the shortcomings, the present invention provides a back-scrubbing device to mitigate or obviate the aforementioned problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The main objective of the invention is to provide a back-scrubbing device attached to a wall of a bathroom for washing a back of a user when he or she is taking a shower or having a bath.
The back-scrubbing device in accordance with the present invention has a resilient body, wherein the body has a front surface, a rear surface and multiple sucking discs. The front surface has a ridge and two concavities. The rear surface has multiple disc holes. Each disc hole has an inner edge and a holding member and respectively holds one of the multiple sucking discs. Each of the multiple sucking discs has a sucking surface, a disc-rear surface and a threaded shaft. The disc-rear surface contacts the inner edge of one of the disc holes. The threaded shaft is held in one of the disc holes.
When taking a shower or having a bath, a user may scrubs his or her back against the front surface of the body that is attached to a wall of a bathroom with the multiple sucking discs. The body is compressed when a force is applied thereto for pressing the sucking discs against the wall. After the sucking discs are attached to the wall, the body is released from the force and rebounds. The rebounding body pulls the threaded shaft while the inner edges of the disc holes contacting the disc-rear surface keep pressing the sucking discs against the wall. Such actions help generate a strong vacuum-atmosphere between the sucking surface and the wall so that the body is firmly held on the wall.
Other objectives, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a back-scrubbing device in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the back-scrubbing device in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is another exploded perspective view of the back-scrubbing device in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional top view of the body of the back-scrubbing device in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an operational side view in partial section of the body of the back-scrubbing device in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a side view in partial section of the back-scrubbing device in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a front view of a second embodiment of a back-scrubbing device in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of a third embodiment of a back-scrubbing device in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of a back-scrubbing device in accordance with the present invention; and

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a fifth embodiment of a back-scrubbing device in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, a back-scrubbing device in accordance with the present invention has a body (10). The body (10) is resilient and may be made of a foam plastic material. The body (10) has a front surface, a rear surface and multiple sucking discs (144). The body (10) may be a round-cornered cuboid.
With reference to FIG. 3, the back-scrubbing device may further comprise a cover (20) that is reticular and covers the body (10). The cover (20) may comprise an opening and at least one fastener. The opening comprises multiple inner corners and an opening inner edge. The at least one fastener may comprise multiple elastic bands (21). The multiple elastic bands (21) are attached to the opening inner edge and respectively adjacent to the inner corners.
With reference to FIG. 4, the front surface has a ridge (11) and two concavities (12). The two concavities (12) are recessed into the body and lateral to the ridge (11).
A user may soap his or her body before scrubbing against the front surface of the body (10). The ridge (11) and the two concavities (12) match the shape of the back of the human body and thus allow efficacious scrubbing. When the body (10) is equipped with the cover (20), the reticular cover (20) helps generate foam from the soap dispensed on the body of the user for ideal hygienic cleaning and comfortable showering or bathing experience.
With reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, the rear surface has multiple disc holes (14). Each disc hole (14) has an inner edge and a holding member (141) and respectively holds one of the multiple sucking discs (144). The holding member (141) comprises a holding hole (142) and a screwing element (145). The screwing element (145) is mounted in the holding hole (142).
Each multiple sucking disc (144) has a sucking surface, a disc-rear surface and a threaded shaft (143). The disc-rear surface contacts the inner edge of one of the disc holes (14). The threaded shaft (143) is screwed in the screwing element (145) of the holding hole (142) of the holding member (141).
A sucking disc (144) has to be pressed in order to attach to a surface such as that of a wall. The sucking disc (144) holds itself in place with the vacuum atmosphere generated between the sucking surface and the surface. The sucking disc (144) is more firmly attached to the surface the stronger the vacuum atmosphere is.
In order to attach the body (10) to a surface such as that of a wall of a bathroom, a pressing force is applied to the body (10) so that the sucking discs (144) of the rear surface are pressed against the wall. This action presses the air out from between the sucking surface of the sucking disc (144) and the wall and results into a vacuum atmosphere therebetween.
When the force is no longer applied to the body (10), the body (10) rebounds and pulls the threaded shaft (143) in a direction leading away from the wall. While the threaded shaft (143) is pulled away, the inner edge of the disc hole (14) contacting the disc-rear surface keeps pressing the sucking disc (144) against the wall. Since the pressing inner edge keeps air from flow-in, the pulling of the threaded shaft (143) stretches the sucking disc (144) and enlarges a space between the sucking surface and the wall, which strengthens the vacuum atmosphere. The strengthened vacuum atmosphere provides stronger help attaching the body (10) to the wall. When being use, the body (10) is firmly held in place with the strengthened vacuum atmosphere even the user roughly rubs or scrubs his or her body against the body.
With reference to FIG. 7, the secondary embodiment of the back-scrubbing device in accordance with the present invention is similar to the foregoing first embodiment but further comprises multiple massaging protrusions (13) formed on the front surface of the body (10). With the massaging protrusions (13) the user may enjoy massaging while scrubbing his or her body with the back-scrubbing device.
With reference to FIG. 8, the third embodiment of the back-scrubbing device in accordance with the present invention is similar to the foregoing first embodiment and has a cover (20A). The cover (20A) of the third embodiment of the back-scrubbing device is reticular and comprises an opening and at least one fastener. The opening comprises an opening inner edge. The at least one fastener comprises an elastic band (21A). The elastic band (21A) is attached to the opening inner edge and crosses the opening of the cover (20A).
With reference to FIGS. 9 and 10, the fourth and fifth embodiments of the back-scrubbing device in accordance with the present invention are similar to the foregoing first embodiment and have different shapes therefrom. The body (10B) of the fourth embodiment of the back-scrubbing device is disc-shaped. The body (10C) of the fifth embodiment of the back-scrubbing device is heart-shaped. With the variance in the shape of the body (10B, 10C) demonstrated with the above embodiments, it is clear that the back-scrubbing device in accordance with the present invention may be differently shaped without escaping the scope thereof.
The present invention provides a back-scrubbing device with which a user may scrubs his or her body portions with ease. The back-scrubbing device is able to attached to a wall firmly so that the user can use it conveniently.
Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and features of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only. Changes may be made in the details, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.

Claims

1. A back-scrubbing device comprising

a body being resilient and comprising

a front surface comprising

a ridge; and

two concavities recessed into the body and lateral to the ridge;

a rear surface comprising

multiple disc holes each comprising

an inner edge; and

a holding mbmber comprising

a holding hole; and

a screwing element mounted in the holding hole; and

multiple sucking discs mounted in the multiple disc holes and each comprising

a sucking surface;

a disc-rear surface contacting the inner edge of one of the disc holes; and

a threaded shaft screwed in the screwing element of the holding hole of the holding member.

2. The back-scrubbing device as claimed in claim 1 further comprising multiple massaging protrusions formed on the front surface of the body.

3. The back-scrubbing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the body is a round-cornered cuboid.

4. The back-scrubbing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the body is round-cornered cuboid.

5. The back-scrubbing device as claimed in claim 1 further comprising

a cover being reticular and covering the body.

6. The back-scrubbing device as claimed in claim 5, wherein

the cover comprises at least one fastener.

7. The back-scrubbing device as claimed in claim 6, wherein

the cover comprises an opening comprising

multiple inner corners; and

an opening inner edge; and

the at least one fastener comprises multiple elastic bands attached to the opening inner edge and respectively adjacent to the inner corners.

8. The back-scrubbing device as claimed in claim 6, wherein

the cover comprises an opening comprising an opening inner edge; and

the at least one fastener comprises an elastic band attached to the opening inner edge and crossing the opening.

9. The back-scrubbing device as claimed in claim 5, wherein

the body is disc-shaped.

10. The back-scrubbing device as claimed in claim 5, wherein

the body is heart-shaped.