US3720205A

US3720205A - Body rubbing device

Info

Publication number: US3720205A
Application number: US00118057A
Authority: US
Inventors: A Liebman
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1971-02-23
Filing date: 1971-02-23
Publication date: 1973-03-13
Anticipated expiration: 1990-03-13

Abstract

A device for use by a person for rubbing across sections of his body, particularly the back of his body, as for scrubbing, massaging, applying lotions, body creams, and the like, is disclosed. The device includes an elongated tubular liquid absorbent main body formed from a limp material. A plurality of longitudinally spaced closed-ended sections are formed along the main body, and are provided with openings for receiving such things as cleansing soap, body lotion and the like. Optional gripping means are provided at the ends of the main body for being grasped by the hands of the user for drawing the device across sections of his body.

Description

United States Patent 1 Liebman 1 1 BODY RUBBING DEVICE [76] Inventor: Arno J. Liebman, 1819 Shore Drive S. Shore View 218, Saint Petersburg, Fla. 33707 22 Filed: Feb. 23, 1971 21 Appl.No.: 118,057

[ ]March 13, 1973 Primary Examiner-Lawrence W. Trapp Attorney-Parmelee, Utzler & Welsh [57] ABSTRACT A device for use by a person for rubbing across sections of his body, particularly the back of his body, as for scrubbing, massaging, applying lotions, body creams, and the like, is disclosed. The device includes an elongated tubular liquid absorbent main body formed from a limp material. A plurality of longitudinally spaced closed-ended sections are formed along the main body, and are provided with openings for receiving such things as cleansing soap, body lotion and the like. Optional gripping means are provided at the ends of the main body for being grasped by the hands of the user for drawing the device across sections of his body.

3 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTEUHARISIHYS 3,720,205

lNl/EN TOR.

ARA/0 J. L/EBMAN AI rorneys BODY RUBBING DEVICE This invention relates to a body rubbing device for use by a person for rubbing across sections of his body, particularly the hard-to-reach sections of his body such as his back or feet bottoms as for scrubbing, massaging, applying a body lotion and the like.

Various body rubbing devices for use by a person in scrubbing, massaging, or stimulating hard-to-reach sections of his body have been made and marketed. One such device is in the form of a somewhat narrow width, elongated piece of liquid absorbent material, such as cotton terry cloth, provided with handles of some sort at the remote ends whereby a person could grasp the device and draw it across parts of his body, such as his back. The usual method of making the tery cloth rubbing device was to cut sections from a large bolt of material and then attach the end handles. Frequently the device would be reinforced to give it more bulk by sewing a center section onto the first length of material. The necessity of having the required multiple manufacturing steps was costly and resulted in an unnecessarily expensive item, unattractive in price to the potential retail purchaser.

Aside from being too high in price, the terry clothtype body rubbing devices did not perform their intended functions very effectively. One problem with terry cloth, if it is not too thick, is its tendency to roll when it is drawn across the body. By so rolling the devices were not able to provide the scrubbing or massaging action desired by the user. Even without rolling the flat devices did not afford the rough stimulation to the body which users of such devices usually seek. Another deficiency in the old type rubbing devices was that suitable compartment or pocket space for receiving cleansing soap or body lotion was not provided. The users of such rubbing devices often desire to soap and wash parts of their body, such as their back or feet, with the device, or to apply lotion to their body with the device while getting a good massage with it. i

This invention overcomes the above noted drawbacks of the old body rubbing devices, by providing a device which is capable of being simply and inexpensively manufactured, and provides effective scrubbing, stimulating, massaging,and the like, to the body of the user. More particularly my device preferably, includes an elongated, tubular main body formed from a limp, liquid absorbent material. In my preferred form of, the device, the main body has a knitted or woven cloth sleeve with a deep-nap synthetic fiber material secured to the sleeve. The material is typically used for making removable sleeves for paint rollers. In addition, there is provided a series of distinct sections longitudinally arranged along the main body of the device, such sections being formed by transversely stitchng the main body. Such sections enhance the scrubbing or massaging characteristics of the device. Also, in one form of my invention, I provide slits in the sections to thereby define pockets into which cakes of cleansing soap or body lotion may be placed. Gripping means, such as loops of material, may be secured to the ends of the main body for being grasped by the hands of the user for drawing the device across sections of his body.

My device, since it does not have the tendency of thin terry cloth to roll and since it is provided with the distinct sections is a much more effective rubbing device than the old terry cloth devices. My device is also capable of being easily and inexpensively manufactured. The tubular material may be purchased and then cut to the desired length, stitched at the ends with the gripping means placed on the open ends prior to stitching, and then the center sections formed by transversely stitching across the material. If pockets are to be formed, the center sections merely need to be slit where desired and reinforced with stitching as necessa- Other details and advantages of this invention will become apparent as the following description of a present preferred embodiment thereof proceeds.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown a present preferred embodiment of this invention in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the upper sections of a human body as viewed from the back with a rubbing device embodying the present invention being used by the person to rub across a section of his back;

FIG. 2 is a enlarged plan view of the rubbing device illustrated in FIG. 1 with a section cut away to show details of construction;

FIG. 3 is a view taken along the line III III of FIG. 2; and 2 FIG. 4 is a plan view of a section of a rubbing device similar to that shown in FIG. 2 showing a modification to the device.

Referring now to the drawings, 10 generally represents the rubbing device of my invention and is shown in FIG. 1 as being used by a person for drawing across sections of his back as for scrubbing, massaging, washing, applying a body lotion, and the like. The rubbing device 10 includes an elongated, narrow width (e.g. 3 inches or so) tubular liquid. absorbent main body 12 formed from a deep nap fiber, such as a synthetic polyester fiber material or other synthetic material as for example, nylon or acrylic. The tubular material forming main body 12 comprises a knitted or woven inner sleeve 14 to which is attached or upon which is formed a deep nap outer covering 16. The tubular material of the main body 12 is typically that which is used in forming the familiar removable applicator sleeves for paint rollers and is characterized by its foam holding capabilities. Body 12 may, however, be formed with other liquid absorbent cloth material such as terry cloth folded over and stitched along its longitudinal seam to form a tubular body. By so forming a reinforced tubular body of terry cloth a more substantial body will be formed and the tendency of a thin body of terry cloth to roll when being drawn across a human body will be reduced.

The rubbing device 10 is formed by cutting the tubular material to the length desired for the main body 12. Loops of ribbon-like material, such as cotten, nylon or the like, are formed to make grasping handles 18. The free ends of each handle 18 is inserted into an open end of the main body 12 and that open end is stitched closed thereby securing the handle in place, The main body 12 is then provided with sections 20 by stitching the main body across its width as indicated at 21. The sections 20 are shown, although more could be formed on the main body 12. The sections 20 enhance the rubbing effect of the device 10 by providing an interrupted, rough surface on the main body 12. The sections 20 also serve as pockets for receiving material such as cakes of cleansing soap 22, as shown. Body lotion and the like could also be put into the sections 20. To make sections 20 into pockets, slits 24 are formed on the face of the main body 12 at the sections or alternatively at the edges of sections. The slits may be reinforced with stitching. When using the device the slits 24 will close themselves due to tension being drawn on the main body 12. If for any reason it is desired to mechanically close the slits 24, suitable closing means, such as a zipper, snaps, buttons or the like may be provided around the slits.

The rubbing effect of my device 10 may be increased by sewing sections of braided cord 26 or the like transversely across the main body 12. The sections of cord 26 or a continuous length of cord may be attached in any other fashion or pattern in the main body 12 for enhancing the effect of rubbing. Similarly, other protrusions may be attached to the main body 12 for increasing rubbing effect.

It has been found that my rubbing device 10 does not tend to roll along the longitudinal axis, when being used, as is the case with similar devices formed from thin cotton terry cloth. As a result, my rubbing device 10 provides more effective rubbing actions on the users body as compared with thin terry cloth devices. The other advantages of my rubbing device, such as ease of manufacturing, pockets for receiving soap and the like, and others, were elaborated upon in the introductory portion of this disclosure.

My rubbing device 10 could be easily used without the handles 18 by simply grasping the ends of the main body 12. The handles 18, however, make it easier to grasp the device, especially by people who have large or oversized bodies or by people who have arthritic or otherwise crippled hands. The handles 18 could also be used for printing the names of the owner on them or for other advertising purposes.

By forming two or more pockets in sections 20, two cakes of soap of the same or different kind could be inserted into the different pockets, or soap could be placed in one while a body lotion placed in the other. The high spots caused by the soap and/or lotion would add to the massaging action. The slits 24 in the central location of the pockets should, preferably, be shorter in length than the entire section 20 to a degree where the extended closed sections of the pocket form a trap, thus preventing the soap or other products from escaping without the need of a mechanical closure for the slits.

While I have shown and described a present preferred embodiment of this invention, it is to be distinctly understood that the invention is not limited thereto but may be otherwise variously embodied within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A device for use by a person for rubbing across sections of his body, particularly the back of the persons body, as for scrubbing, massaging, applying a powdered material and the like, comprising:

an elongated generally tubular main body portion formed of a woven sleeve which retains its generally tubular shape upon use, with liquid absorbent nap-like fibers extending from the outer surface of said sleeve, wherein the nap-like fibers are of a length at least twice the thickness of the sleeve, at least one closed-ended pocket being provided in said woven sleeve for containing or receiving cleansing soap, body powder or the like, and gripping means attached at each end of the main body portion for being grasped by the users hands to permit drawing said main body portion across the persons body.

2. The device specified in claim 1, wherein an opening is provided through the sleeve to the pocket to permit refilling the pocket.

3. The device specified in claim 1, wherein rib-like material is affixed to the outer surface of the main body portion for enhancing the rubbing effect of the main body portion.

Claims

1. A device for use by a person for rubbing across sections of his body, particularly the back of the person''s body, as for scrubbing, massaging, applying a powdered material and the like, comprising: an elongated generally tubular main body portion formed of a woven sleeve which retains its generally tubular shape upon use, with liquid absorbent nap-like fibers extending from the outer surface of said sleeve, wherein the nap-like fibers are of a length at least twice the thickness of the sleeve, at least one closed-ended pocket being provided in said woven sleeve for containing or receiving cleansing soap, body powder or the like, and gripping means attached at each end of the main body portion for being grasped by the users hands to permit drawing said main body portion across the person''s body.