US2318680A - Back scrubbing brush - Google Patents

Description

S 1943- F. H. ELLINGER I 2,318,680

BACK SCRUBBING BRUSH F iled Jan. 26, 1942 z- ATTORNEY5.

Patented May 11, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BACK SCRUBBING BRUSH Flora H. Ellinger, Chicago, 111.

Application January 26, 1942, Serial No. 428,255

6 Claims.

My present invention relates generally to improvements in brushes, and relates more specifically to improvements in the construction and operation of back scrubbing brushes.

Generally defined, an object of the invention is to provide animproved brush, especially adapted for scrubbing the human back when bathing, which is simple in construction and highly efficient in operation.

A more specific object of my invention is to provide a brush for the human back which is highly flexible and adjustableto properly cooperate with the backs of diverse individuals.

A further specific object of the present invention is to provide a back scrubbing brush which may be readily manipulated by a novice from various positions and with equal effectiveness.

An additional specific object of the invention is to provide a dual hand-led brush which most eifectively contacts the back of the user, and which is free of rough or-protruding parts likely to mar the skin.

A still further specific object of my invention is to provide a brush which is sturdy in construction and sanitary in use, and which may be readily manufactured of standard materials at. moderate cost.

Still another specific object of this invention is to provide a back brush which may be readily filled with a supply of liquid soap for effective cleansing when. in use.

An additional specific object ofthepresent in,- vention is to provide a back. scrubbing brush which serves both for cleansing and skin. stimulating. or massaging. purposes.

These and other specific objectsand advantages of my invention will be apparent from the following detailed description.

A clear conception of the several features constituting: my present improvement. and of the mode of constructingand of utilizing brush assemblages built in accordance-with my invention, may be: had by referring to the drawing accompanying and, forming a: part of this specification wherein like reference characters designate the same; or. similar-parts in: the several: views;w

Fig. isv a. plan view of th improved brush assemblage;

Fig. 2.is a transverse sect on through-the brush assemblage, taken. along-theline- 2"2 of 1; Fig. 3: a plan view of a modified type of brushassemblage, portions being breken away to illustrate details of construction;

4 is-a f'ragmentarypart sectional view of a further modified type of brush assemblage; and

Fig. 5 is an enlarged section through the brush shown in Fig. 4, taken along the line 5-5.

While the invention has been shown herein as being applied to a brush assemblage especially adapted for scrubbing the human back, it is not my desire or intent to thereby unnecessarily restrict the scope or utility of the improvement.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the improved brush I assemblage comprises in general, an elongated cylindrical brush I0 composed of several strands of twisted wire H having bristles [2 extending radially therefrom, a pair of relatively springy and flexible arms l3 each firmly secured at one of its ends to an adjacent end of the wires H, and a gripping handle I 1 attached to the opposite end of each arm l3. The brush l0 may be formed in a well known manner by twisting several strands of wire H about each other and about the medial portions of numerous bristles l-2 to firmly clamp the bristles therebetween, and the opposite ends of the wires II should preferably extend a substantial distance beyond the zone of the bristles 12. The arms 13 may be formedof resilient tubing or the like, and may be rigid-- ly attached to the protruding ends of the brush wires II by pressing, brazing, or otherwise s'e-- curing the ends of'these wires H within the hollow ends of the tubular arms. Each of the arms [3 is preferably bowed outwardly at I5 away from the adjacent end of the brush l0 and the ends I6 of the arms remote from the brush are bent at an oblique angle to the common plane of the arms for insertion within the handles 14; The handles I4 may be applied to the ends-1'6 of the arms I3 in any suitable manner; and these handles will then be disposed at an oblique angle to the common plane of the arms l3 by virtue of the bending of the arms at the ends [6. I

During normal use of the improved brush assemblage, the user may first apply soap tothe brush it), and may then grip the handles M; in the most convenient manner preparatory to scrubbing his or her back. The brush may then be effectively operated from any one ofthreepo-- sitions as follows: from an approximately vertical position with the handles held above the bathers-back and'pointed downwardly and rear-- wardly; or from an approximately horizontal'position, after the widened or bowed portion has been slipped over the shoulders of the bather, with the handles held in front of the b'athers body and'po'inted either upwardly or downward ly in the most natural manner; or from an approximately vertical position with the handles in a lowermost position and pointed upwardly and rearwardly.

It is readily apparent that the particular formation of the arms and gripping handle are of primary importance in the present improvement, since the brush may be readily manipulated from various positions with equal effectiveness because of the outward bowing of the arms and the angle at which the gripping handles are disposed with respect to the plane of the arms. The flexibility of the arms is also an important feature in this type of brush since the handles and arms may be spread laterally to vary the distance therebetween, as well as to permit adjustment of the brush unit to fit the individual using the assemblage.

Referring to Fig. 3, the modified assemblage shown therein comprises in general, an elongated cylindrical brush also composed of several strands of twisted wire 2| having bristles 22 extending radially therefrom, a pair of relatively rigid tubular arms 23 each snugly slipfitted at one of its ends upon an adjacent protruding end of the wires 2|, a gripping handle 24 attached to the opposite end of each tubular arm 23, and a turnbuckle 21 coacting with alined threaded eye-bolts 28 which coact with the arms 23 near the handles 24. The brush 2!! may be formed in the same manner as the brush |0 shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and the arms 23 are preferably formed of relatively rigid or stiff tubing. The protruding ends of the brush wires 2| may be snugly slip-fitted within the hollow ends of the tubular arms 23 remote from the handles, and each of these arm ends may be bowed outwardly at 25 away from the adjacent end of the brush '20. The opposite arm ends are preferably bent at an oblique angle relative to the common plane of the arms 23 for the reception of the handles 24, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The turnbuckle 21 and eye-bolts 28 are provided in order to facilitate lateral adjustment of the arms 23 relative to each other and to maintain the arms rigid and in a common plane, and the eyes of the threaded bolts ar firmly connected to the arms 23 near the handles 24. When the turnbuckle is rotated the width of the brush assemblage will be varied and the curved arm ends will then move laterally by virtue of the slip-fit o.

of the brush wire within the tubular arms. While the modified assemblage is not quite as flexible in us as the type shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the structure is nevertheless more rigid and is adjustable in width.

Referring to Figs. 4 and 5, the modified assemblage shown therein comprises in general, a relatively flat hollow brush body 30 having bristles 3| secured to the opposite sides thereof, two independent and segregated soap chambers 32, 33 formed within the brush body 30 and each communicating with the adjacent scrubbing zone through a plurality of small ports 34, access openings each provided with a closure cap 35, 36 for efiecting access to the chambers 32, 33, and twisted wires 31 or the like secured to the opposite ends of the brush 30 and extending outwardly beyond the zone of the bristles. The modified brush 30 may be mounted in a frame such as shown in Fig. 3, and may be reversibly suspended from the frame arms 23 in a manner already fully described. During normal use of the chambered brush, one or both of the chambers 32, 33 may be filled with liquid soap upon removal of the corresponding filling cap 35, 36,

and this soap will feed slowly to the adjacent scrubbing zone through the ports 34 when the brush is being used. Since the protruding wires 31 are slip-fitted within the ends of the arms 23, the brush 30 may be revolved about its longitu dinal axis to present either set of bristles to the scrubbing zone. It should be apparent that the modified structure shown in Figs. 4 and 5 not only provides a convenient and efiective method of soaping the human back, but also provides a brush wherein different types of soap may be used in the segregated chambers 32, 33.

From the foregoing detailed description it will be apparent that my present invention provides an improved back scrubbing brush which is simple and durable in construction, and which is highly efiicient and flexible in use. The improved brush assemblage may be readily manufactured and assembled of relatively standard stock and is extremely neat and compact in appearance. The assemblage may be readily manipulated from various different positions with equal effectiveness, and the arms are so shaped as to provide freedom in operation of the brush. The device may be firmly grasped with both hands, and the handles are disposed at an angle to the common plane of the arms to aid in convenient manipulation of the brush. The device is exceedingly sanitary, and is free of protruding parts likely to catch-and mar the skin, and has proven highly successful in actual use.

While the improved brush assemblage has been specifically described herein asbeing especially adapted for scrubbing the human back, it may obviously be conveniently utilized as an aid in cleansing or massaging other parts of the body such as the feet or legs when bathing. Other types of brushes may also be used with the frames herein shown and described, and any'standard brush may be readily provided with suitable means for retaining the same on the desired frame in place of the brushes shown. The lateral flexibility or movement of the arms is highly desirable since the brush assemblage may be adjusted or varied in widthto suit the convenience of th individual user, and the provision of two handles is also desirable since it facilitates manipulation of the brush assemblage.

It should be understood that it is not desired to limit this invention to the exact details of construction, or to the precise mode of use, herein shown and described, for various modifications within the scope of the claims may occur to persons skilled in the art. Iclaim:

1. In a back scrubbing device, an elongated brush rigidly'connected at its opposite ends to a pair of relatively rigid but resilient arms, each arm being permanently bowed outwardly away from the adjoining brush end immediately adjacent thereto and then being directed inwardly toward the other arm and having its free end permanently bent to an oblique angle with respect'to the common plane of the brush and arms, and a rigid handle firmly secured to the obliquely extending portion of each arm. 7 a

2. In a back scrubbing device, an elongated brush having a continuous scrubbing zon and being connected at its opposite ends to a pair of relatively rigid but resilient arms, each arm being permanently bowed outwardly away from the ad-' joining brush end immediately adjacent thereto and then being directed inwardly toward the other arm at the free ends of the arms, and a rigid handle fixedly secured to the free end of each arm and extending at an oblique angle to the common plane of the brush and arms.

3. In a back scrubbing device, a brush connected at its opposite ends to a pair of relatively rigid but resilient arms, each arm being bowed outwardly away from the adjoining brush end immediately adjacent thereto and then being directed inwardly toward the other arm at the free ends of the arms, a handle rigidly secured to the free end of each arm, and means associated with said arms near said handles for relatively laterally adjusting the same toward and away from each other while maintaining them in a common plane.

4. In a back scrubbing device, an elongated brush connected at its opposite ends to a pair of relatively stiff arms, each am being bowed outwardly away from the adjoining brush end immediately adjacent thereto and bent inwardly toward each other at the free ends thereof, a handle at the free end of each arm extending at an oblique angle to the common plane of the brush and the arms, and means co-operating with each of said arms for relatively laterally adjusting said arms and for maintaining them in a common plane.

5. In a back scrubbing device, a longitudinally curved brush connected at its opposite ends to a pair of relatively rigid but resilient arms, each aim being curved outwardly from the adjoining brush end and directly adjacent thereto and having its free end remote from the brush directed inwardly toward the corresponding free end of the other arm, and a rigid handle secured to the free end of each arm.

6. In a back scrubbing device, a longitudinally curved brush connected at its opposite ends to a pair of relatively rigid but resilient arms, each arm being curved outwardly from the adjoining brush end and directly adjacent thereto and having its free end remote from the brush directed inwardly toward the corresponding free end of the other arm, and a rigid handle secured to the free end of each arm, said handles being disposed at oblique angles relative to the common plane of the brush and arms.

FLORA H. ELLINGER.

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