US3870419A

US3870419A - Back scrubber, massager and lotion applicator

Info

Publication number: US3870419A
Application number: US408812A
Authority: US
Inventors: George H Sage
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1973-10-23
Filing date: 1973-10-23
Publication date: 1975-03-11
Anticipated expiration: 1992-03-11

Abstract

A resilient body having opposed faces connected together by a wall to form a soap receiving chamber. Opposed straps attached to the body form a handhold for enabling a person to scrub his back with the body portion. A plurality of fingers are affixed to and depend from one of the faces while a plurality of projections depend from the opposed face. A plurality of apertures formed in one face enables fluid flow to occur therethrough. A deformable soap receiving slot is formed along a marginal portion of the wall for admitting a bar of soap or a container of lotion into the chamber. The lotion container has perforations formed therein in indexed relationship respective to the apertured face of the resilient body, which allows a metered flow of lotion onto one''s body.

Description

[111 3,870,419 [451 Mar. 11, 1975 1 BACK SCRUBBER, MASSAGER AND LOTION APPLICATOR [76] Inventor: George H. Sage, PO. Box 732,

Galveston, Tex. 77550 22 Filed: Oct. 23, 1973 21 Appl. No.: 408,812

[52} US. Cl. 401/8, 401/201 [51] Int. Cl. A47k 7/03, A61h 7/00 [58] Field of Search 15/188, 222; 4/158; 128/65, 67; 401/8, 28, 196, 201; 252/92 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,012,653 12/1911 Knickerbocker 128/65 X 1,379,925 5/1921 Kawasaki 15/222 1,418,019 5/1922 Pearson 401/28 1,618,059 2/1927 Cocroft 128/65 2,116,864 5/1938 Fehrenbach 401/28 X 2,318,680 5/1943 Ellinger 15/222 3,431,055 3/1969 Lowery 401/201 X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 936,823 12/1955 Germany 252/92 7/1954 Canada 15/222 12/1905 Switzerland 15/222 Primary ExaminerDaniel Blum Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Marcus L. Bates [57] ABSTRACT A resilient body having opposed faces connected together by a wall to form a soap receiving chamber. Opposed straps attached to the body form a handhold for enabling a person to scrub his back with the body portion. A plurality of fingers are affixed to and de pend from one of the faces while a plurality of projections depend from the opposed face. A plurality of apertures formed in one face enables fluid flow to occur therethrough. A deformable soap receiving slot is formed along a marginal portion of the wall for admitting a bar of soap or a container of lotion into the chamber. The lotion container has perforations formed therein in indexed relationship respective to the apertured face of the resilient body, which allows a metered flow of lotion onto ones body.

6 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures BACK SCRUBBER, MASSAGER AND LOTION APPLICATOR BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Scrubbing ones back while bathing in either a shower or a bathtub is a difficult and often seemingly impossible task in that one usually resorts to all sorts of gymnastics in order to reach that inaccessible hollow portion of the anatomy located between and below the shoulders. There are available long handled brushes to which soap lather can be applied and transferred onto the above mentioned portion of ones anatomy; however, in order to manipulate the brush it usually must be held in one hand in a cumbersome and tiring position. Moreover, the vast majority of brushes of this nature do not impart the proper sensation into the small of ones back and accordingly, many people soon tire of manipulating such a long handled brush and simply go about with unwashed backs.

Back scrubber apparatus having straps disposed thereon which can be grasped in either hand and manipulated with a natural and efficient motion have been heretofore proposed. In prior arts there are found back scrubbers within which a bar of soap can be disposed so that soap suds are generated on ones back while scrubbing in the above described manner.

However, none of the prior arts provide apparatus which can be used to first scrub the back with a rich lather followed by a massaging action. Furthermore, manypeople enjoy applying various liquids to their back; as for example, bubble bath solution, or the application of various lotions after completion of the bath. Accordingly, it would be desirable to be able to enjoy a back scrubber apparatus within which a bar of soap can be disposed efficiently and easily. It is also desirable that such a back scrubber include means by which one can massage various portions of his anatomy. Furthermore, it would be desirable that such an apparatus have means associated therewith by which a container of liquid could be inserted thereinto for application onto ones back.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to apparatus for scrubbing, massaging, and applying lotion to ones back comprised of a' resilient body having opposed faces bounded by a side wall within which a bar of soap or a container of liquid can be removably stored for use. Opposed straps attached to and depending from the body enables a person to hold a strap in each hand in order to scrub or massage his back.

A plurality of fingers are affixed to and depend from one face while a plurality of projections depend from the other face so that the former can massage the back while the latter imparts a scrubbing action thereinto.

A plurality of apertures are formed in one face of the body for enabling fluid flow to occur therethrough. A deformable soap or container receiving slot is formed about a marginal portion of the side wall for enabling a bar of soap or a container of lotion to be inserted therethrough.

An outwardly directed port formed in a sidewall of the apparatus in spaced relation to the slot enables the neck of a container to be received therein as well as enabling liquid to be poured into the chamber. The container is provided with a plurality of perforations which are indexed with the apertures formed in one face of the body.

Accordingly, a primary object of the present invention is the provision of improvements in a back scrubbing apparatus which enables one to scrub or massage his back as well as apply lotion thereto.

Another object of the invention is to provide a back scrubber device within which a bar of soap can be removably placed in an efficient and easy manner.

A further object of this invention is to disclose and provide a resilient chamber forming back scrubber having means on one side thereof by which a persons back can be scrubbed, and means on the obverse side by which ones back can be massaged.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a lotion container in combination with a back scrubbing apparatus arranged relative to one another so that tion can be applied to ones back after he has had his bath.

These and various other objects and advantages of the invention .will become readily apparent to those skilledin the art upon reading the following detailed description and claims and by referring to the accompanying drawings.

The above objects are attained in accordance with the present invention by the provision of a combination of elements fabricated in a manner substantially as described in the above abstract and summary.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1, shown partially in phantom, discloses a perspective view of one operative configuration of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, broken, plan view of the invention with some parts thereof being broken away therefrom, and some of the remaining parts thereof being shown in section;

FIG. 3 is a broken, part cross-sectional side view of the apparatus disclosed in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a broken bottom view of the apparatus disclosed in FIG. 2, with some parts thereof being broken away therefrom and some of the remaining parts thereof being shown in section; 7

FIG. 5 is an elevational view of a container apparatus for use in conjunction with me back scrubber disclosed in the foregoing figures, with some parts thereof being broken away therefrom and some of the remaining parts thereof being shown in section; and,

FIG. 6 is a top view of the apparatus disclosed in FIG. 5, with some parts beingbroken away therefrom and some of the remaining parts thereof being shown in section.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION FIG. 1 discloses a back scrubber, massager, and lotion applicator apparatus 10, made in accordance with the present invention, in one of its operative configurations. As seen in the detailed illustration of FIGS. 2-4, the back scrubber is comprised of a molded integral piece of plastic which forms a hollow body 11. A first strap assembly 12, in the form of a loop, is attached to the hollow body in opposed relationship to a second strap assembly 14, with each of the straps being identical to the other. Each strap has a mediallooped portion 15 which provides a handhold so that the scrubber can be manipulated in the illustrated manner of FIG. 1.

' gated cylindrical outward projections, form the massaging face of the apparatus. The distal end of each of the fingers is spaced a considerable distance from the contiguous end thereof. Fingers 18 are arranged on the sloped circumferentially extending wall portion while fingers 19 are forward on the central wall portion of the massaging face of the apparatus.

A port 20 in the form of a hollow cylindrical housing is integrally formed with and outwardly extends from the side wall of the hollow body. The obverse or opposed face of the back scrubber is provided with a plurality of spaced apart conical projections 21 which form the scrubbing side of the apparatus. A plurality of apertures 22 are interspersed between the cones and communicate with the interior of the hollow plastic body.

A deformable circumferentially extending slot 24 is formed within a marginal circumferentially extending portion of the side wall with the slot terminating as seen illustrated at 26 in underlying relationship to one of the attached ends of each of the straps. The slot is of a size to receive an ordinary bar of soap therethrough.

The soap or lotion receiving chamber 28 is formed by the inside wall surface 30, with the chamber being in communication with apertures 22, port 20 and slot 24. The chamber is of a size to admit storage ofan ordinary bar of soap therein.

As seen in the illustration of FIGS. and 6, a lotion container in the form of a plastic bottle 32 has a chamber forming outer wall 34 with perforations 36 being formed in one face of the bottle in indexed relationship respective to apertures 22 of one face of the back scrubber. An outwardly depending neck 38 has a cap 40 removably affixed thereto so that the lotion bottle can be filled with lotion or liquid soap. The opposed wall 42 is unperforated and is substantially parallel to the perforated wall 44. Sloped wall portions 46, 46' generally coincide with the sloped inside wall 30 of the back scrubber so that ,the lotion bottle can be forced through'the-deformable slot 24 and into the chamber 28 of the back scrubber, with the neck 38 of the bottle being placed in registry with the interior of port so that the perforations within wall 44are indexed or axially aligned with the apertures 22 of the scrubbing face of the back scrubber.

Where deemed desirable, soap solution, bath salts, or lotion can be placed within the chamber 28 by means of port 20 whereupon port 20 is then provided with a closure member such as, illustrated at 40 in FIG. 5 and 6, should such an expedient be found desirable.

In operation, a bar of soap is forced through the deformable slot and into the chamber of theback scrubber whereupon the medial portion of the U-shaped straps are grasped in each hand of the user thereof so that the scrubber face 21 can be applied to the back with a vigorous reciprocating scrubbing action in the illustrated manner of FIG. 1. Water can be placed into the chamber to co-mingle with the soap by placing the port 20 adjacent to the shower head, or alternatively, the entire apparatus can be submersed-in waterjAs the solution containing the soap emerges through apertures 22, a rich lather is formed as the back is scrubbed.

After ones back has been suitably scrubbed, the massager portion of the back scrubber is brought into contact with the back by simply manipulating the hand held straps. The fingers provide a pleasant and invigorating sensation as the massager face of the scrubber is manipulated in the manner of FIG. 1.

After ones back has been scrubbed and massaged,

the bar of soap is removed from the chamber and the lotion bottle substituted therefor. The bottle is inserted into the chamber by forcably inserting the neck 38 through the deformable slot with the neck continuing through the chamber until it is placed in registry with the port so that the perforations in wall 44 are placed in indexed relationship respective to the apertures 22. Ones-back is treated with the lotion as it flows through the small perforations 36, through the apertures 22, and onto ones back. After the lotion has been properly applied, the back can again be massaged if desired. The lotion bottle is removed by simply pushing ones finger through the port, thereby forcing the lotion bottle back out through the slot.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for scrubbing, massaging, and applying liquid to ones back comprising a resilient body having opposed faces and bounded by a side wall, said body having means forming a chamber therein, opposed straps attached to and depending from said body for enabling a person to hold a strap in each hand in order to scrub his back with said opposed faces;

a plurality of fingers affixed to and depending from one of said faces, a plurality of projections depending from the other of said faces, a plurality of apertures formed in one of said faces for enabling fluid flow to occur therethrough; means forming a deformable soap receiving slot about a marginal portion of said side wall; said slot being spaced between said opposed faces;

therebyenabling a bar of soap to .be forced through the slot and into the chamber so that the soap can co-mingle with water and flow through said aper-- tures while one is scrubbing his back;

a container for a l'otion supply, said container having opposed faces and bounded by a side wall to form a chamber therewithin, outlet means for enabling lotion to flow'from the last said chamber;

said container being of a size relative to said chamber of said resilient body to be received therein and through said slot.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 and further including means forming an outwardly directed port from said side wall, said port being spaced from said slot. said port being arranged for receiving a container neck therein.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said opposed straps are a resilient elongated loop having terminal ends integrally formed to said side wall at spaced locations thereby forming looped extensions, the medial portion of said strap forming a handhold.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said slot has marginal end portions, each end portion of said slot underlying one terminal end of each strap.

5. Back scrubbing and massaging apparatus comprising a resilient cylindrical body having opposed relatively flat faces bounded by a circumferentially extending side wall, said opposed faces and side wall jointly forming a chamber therewithin, opposed straps. attached to and depending from-said boclyfor enabling a person to hold a strap .in each hand and to rub his back with either of said opposed faces;

a plurality of fingers affixed to and depending from one of said faces, a plurality of projections affixed to and depending from the other of said faces, a plurality of apertures formed in one of said faces for enabling any fluid which may be contained in the chamber to flow from said chamber onto ones back;

means forming a deformable circumferentially extending slot through a marginal length of said side wall; said slot being spaced between said opposed faces;

a port formed through said side wall in opposed relationship to said slot, so that a bar of soap can be forced through the slot and out of the chamber by portion of said strap forming a handheld.

Claims

1. Apparatus for scrubbing, massaging, and applying liquid to one''s back comprising a resilient body having opposed faces and bounded by a side wall, said body having means forming a chamber therein, opposed straps attached to and depending from said body for enabling a person to hold a strap in each hand in order to scrub his back with said opposed faces; a plurality of fingers affixed to and depending from one of said faces, a plurality of projections depending from the other of said faces, a plurality of apertures formed in one of said faces for enabling fluid flow to occur therethrough; means forming a deformable soap receiving slot about a marginal portion of said side wall; said slot being spaced between said opposed faces; thereby enabling a bar of soap to be forced through the slot and into the chamber so that the soap can co-mingle with water and flow through said apertures while one is scrubbing his back; a container for a lotion supply, said container having opposed faces and bounded by a side wall to form a chamber therewithin, outlet means for enabling lotion to flow from the last said chamber; said container being of a size relative to said chamber of said resilient body to be received therein and through said slot.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 and further including means forming an outwardly directed port from said side wall, said port being spaced from said slot, said port being arranged for receiving a container neck therein.

5. Back scrubbing and massaging apparatus comprising a resilient cylindrical body having opposed relatively flat faces bounded by a circumferentially extending side wall, said opposed faces and side wall jointly forming a chamber therewithin, opposed straps attached to and depending from said body for enabling a person to hold a strap in each hand and to rub his back with either of said opposed faces; a plurality of fingers affixed to and depending from one of said faces, a plurality of projections affixed to and depending from the other of said faces, a plurality of apertures formed in one of said faces for enabling any fluid which may be contained in the chamber to flow from said chamber onto one''s back; means forming a deformable circumferentially extending slot through a marginal length of said side wall; said slot being spaced between said opposed faces; a port formed through said side wall in opposed relationship to said slot, so that a bar of soap can be forced through the slot and out of the chamber by placing one''s finger through the port and pushing the soap therethrough; a lotion container having opposed faces bounded by a side wall to form a lotion containing chamber therewithin, outlet means for enabling lotion to flow from the last said chamber; so that the lotion container can be forced through said slot and into the first said chamber.