Abstract:
A disposable liner is positioned within a foot/pedicure tub to protect clients from risks associated with unsanitary tubs. The foot tub includes an upper peripheral edge portion and an interior portion having a two-tiered foot platform molded therein. The disposable liner includes an elastic or drawstring band that fits snugly around and can be hidden under the upper peripheral edge portion of the foot tub. In addition, the disposable liner includes a plastic portion covering the interior portion of the foot tub. The plastic portion of the liner is shaped to conform to the two-tiered foot platform of the foot tub. When a pedicure is complete, a used liner may be easily removed and disposed of and a new liner may be arranged to prepare for the next client.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/461,411 filed Apr. 10, 2003. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0003]    The present invention pertains to the art of pedicure tubs and, more specifically, to a liner for a pedicure tub.  
           [0004]    2. Discussion of the Prior Art  
           [0005]    Pedicure treatments have become very common in many salons and spas. Typically, at the start of a pedicure, a client&#39;s feet are soaked in a warm foot bath to soften the skin on the feet. After several minutes of soaking, the feet are scrubbed and calluses are removed. In addition, the toe nails are trimmed and groomed. The feet are then soaked in the foot bath again to further cleanse the feet.  
           [0006]    Salons and spas treat a large number of clients daily. However, some clients are reluctant to treat themselves to a pedicure at a spa or salon because of the risks associated with receiving a foot bath in a tub used by other clients. Some risks that may be linked to salon foot tubs include the risk of contracting athlete&#39;s foot, planter&#39;s warts, and other foot fungus.  
           [0007]    Although salons and spas may clean foot tubs between clients, many clients still consider the risks associated with the foot tubs to outweigh the benefits of pedicures. In addition, the time and costs associated with thoroughly cleaning pedicure tubs between clients are considered quite unattractive. Based on the above, there exists a need for a way to quickly and easily sanitize a foot tub for use by consecutive clients in salons and spas.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0008]    The present invention is directed to a disposable liner for a pedicure or foot tub. The foot tub includes an upper peripheral edge portion and an interior portion preferably having a multi-tiered foot platform molded therein. The disposable liner includes an elastic or drawstring band that fits snugly around and may be hidden under the upper peripheral edge portion of the foot tub. In addition, the disposable liner includes a plastic or other impermeable main body portion covering the interior portion of the foot tub. The main body portion of the liner is shaped to conform to the foot tub. The liner also includes contour sections that correspond to the foot platforms or other structures within the foot tub. Therefore, each liner is preferably constructed to follow the contours of the particular foot tub for which it is designed. When a pedicure is complete, a used liner may be easily removed and disposed of and a new liner may be arranged to prepare for the next client.  
           [0009]    Additional objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment when taken in conjunction with the drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to corresponding parts in the several views. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]    [0010]FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a first embodiment of the disposable liner and foot tub of the present invention;  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the liner and foot tub of FIG. 1 with the liner positioned within the tub;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 3 is an exploded view of a second embodiment of the disposable liner and foot tub of the present invention; and  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the liner and foot tub of FIG. 3 with the liner positioned within the tub.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0014]    With initial reference to FIG. 1, the present invention is shown in combination with a pedicure foot tub  2 . Initially, it should be noted that various types of foot tubs are available in the market place and FIG. 1 illustrates one known type of tub sold under the trade name HELEN OF TROY. As shown, foot tub  2  includes an interior portion  9  that is defined by a bottom  12  and an annular side wall  14 . Annular side wall  14  terminates in an upper peripheral edge portion  17 . In accordance with this known foot tub  2 , annular side wall  14  is tiered such that, on an outer portion of foot  2 , upper peripheral edge portion  17  leads to a lip  20  that defines an undercut. Foot tub  2  includes a plurality of legs, one of which is indicated at  24 , which extend from bottom  12  for supporting foot tub  2  on a planar surface.  
         [0015]    Upper peripheral edge portion  17  of foot tub  2  is shown to include a frontal notch  26  which is in line with an interior pedestal  29 . In accordance with this known foot tub  2 , interior pedestal  29  includes a lower platform  32  extending from bottom  12  and an upper platform  33 . In general, platforms  32  and  33  are adapted to support a user&#39;s foot such that a technician can perform a series of pedicure operations. Arranged below frontal notch  26  is a face plate portion  38  which is provided with a rotary control knob  40 . Face plate portion  38  includes various indicia or markings  42 . In general, in a manner known in the art, foot tub  2  incorporates a heater and/or massage mechanism (not shown) such that control knob  40  is used to selectively control the activation/deactivation state of these mechanisms. For this purpose, foot tub  2  would also include a power cord (not shown) which is adapted to be plugged into a conventional outlet.  
         [0016]    Again, the structure and operation of foot tub  2  is known in the art and therefore will not be detailed further here. Instead, the present invention is particularly directed to the use of a disposable liner, generally indicated at  51 , for use in connection with foot tub  2 . As will be detailed more fully below, liner  51  is specifically shaped to match the contours of foot tub  2 , which minimizes potential piercings of liner  51  during the course of a pedicure and provides an overall professional configuration. In any event, liner  51  includes a bottom  54  and an annular side wall  56 . Annular side wall  56  terminates in an upper edge portion  59  which generally defines a circumferential sleeve  60 . Arranged within sleeve  60  is a band  62  formed from an elastomeric material.  
         [0017]    As indicated above, liner  51  is preferably constructed to follow the contours of the particular foot tub  2  for which it is designed. To this end, bottom  54  is provided with additional contour sections  65  and  66  (also see FIG. 2), with these additional contour sections  65  and  66  generally being defined by additional material positioned in strategic locations in correspondence to the structure of foot tub  2 . That is, with particular reference to FIG. 2, when liner  51  is placed within foot tub  2 , bottom  54  of liner  51  extends along bottom  12  of foot tub  2 , while additional contour sections  65  and  66  snugly accommodate platforms  32  and  33 . Annular side wall  56  of liner  51  extends up the annular side wall  14  of foot tub  2 , while also extending over upper peripheral edge portion  17 . More specifically, annular side wall  56  extends entirely over upper peripheral edge portion  17  until sleeve  60  is arranged beneath the under cut defined by lip  20 . At this point, band  62  is expanded such that upper edge  59  tightly extends about annular side wall  14  of foot tub  2  to securely retain liner  51  within interior portion  9 . A bathing material can then be supplied into liner  51  within interior portion  9  for a pedicure procedure. Since contour sections  65  and  66  extend snugly around platforms  32  and  33 , platforms  32  and  33  can be utilized in a conventional manner. Once the pedicure is complete, the water is drained from foot tub  2  and liner  51  is disposed of.  
         [0018]    Again, foot tub  2  takes the form of one commonly known type of pedicure tub employed in the industry. FIG. 3 illustrates another known foot tub  102  which is sold under the trademark JILBERE de PARIS. In manner similar to foot tub  2 , foot tub  102  includes an interior portion  109  that is defined by a bottom  112  and an annular side wall  114 . It should be noted that, whereas foot tub  2  is generally rectangular, foot tub  102  is is generally circular. In accordance with foot tub  102 , annular side wall  114  includes an upper peripheral edge portion  117  and an outer rim  118 . Similar to foot tub  2 , foot tub  102  includes a plurality of legs, one of which is indicated at  124 , which extends from bottom  112  for supporting foot tub  102  on a planar surface.  
         [0019]    Foot tub  102  is shown to include spaced indents  119  and  120  along upper peripheral edge portion  117 . An interior pedestal  129  is positioned within interior portion  109  between frontal indents  119  and  120 . In accordance with this known foot tub  102 , interior pedestal  129  includes a lower platform  132  extending from bottom  112  and an upper platform  133 . In a manner corresponding to platforms  32  and  33  of the FIGS. 1 and 2 embodiment described above, platforms  132  and  133  are adapted to support a user&#39;s foot such that a technician can perform a series of pedicure procedures. A foot massaging device  135  is also shown mounted on upper platform  133 . Foot massaging device  135  includes a plurality of rolling cylinders  136  which are used to massage the underside of a user&#39;s foot. A cover  138  extends across a portion of foot tub  102 . Cover  138  includes a control knob  140  which is used to selectively control the activation/deactivation of a heater and/or massage mechanism (not shown). As with foot tub  2 , foot tub  102  includes a power cord (not shown) adapted to be plugged into a conventional outlet.  
         [0020]    In a manner similar to foot tub  2 , the structure and operation of foot tub  102  is known in the art and therefore will not be detailed further here. Instead, the present invention is particularly directed to the use of a disposable liner, generally indicated at  151 , for use in connection with foot tub  102 . Liner  151 , which is shaped to match the contours of foot tub  102 , includes a bottom  154  and an annular side wall  156 . Annular side wall  156  terminates in an upper edge portion  159  which generally defines a circumferential sleeve  160 . A drawstring  162  is arranged within sleeve  160  for securing liner  151  to foot tub  102 . Again, liner  151  is constructed to follow the contours of foot tub  102 . Therefore, bottom  154  of liner  151  includes contour sections  165  and  166  (shown in FIG. 4). With particular reference to FIG. 4, when liner  151  is placed within foot tub  102 , bottom  154  of liner  151  extends along bottom  112  of foot tub  102 , while contour sections  165  and  166  snugly accommodate platforms  132  and  133 . As shown, liner  151  may also accommodate massage device  135  on platform  133 . Annular side wall  156  of liner  151  extends along annular side wall  114  of foot tub  102 , while also extending over upper peripheral edge portion  117  until upper edge portion  159  is arranged on outer rim  118  as shown in FIG. 4. At this point, drawstring  162  is pulled such that upper edge  159  tightly extends about annular side wall  114  of foot tub  102  to securely retain liner  151  within interior portion  109 . Liner  151  may then be filled with water for a pedicure procedure. Once the pedicure is complete, the water is drained from foot tub  102  and liner  151  is disposed of.  
         [0021]    In accordance with the most preferred forms of the invention, liners  51  and  151  are formed of a plastic material so as to be completely waterproof. Based on the above, a new liner  51 ,  151  will be utilized for each pedicure procedure thereby providing a client with the security of knowing that sanitary conditions exist. Again, in accordance with the preferred embodiments, liners  51  and  151  are constructed so as to conform to the particular foot tub  2 ,  102  being employed. Of course, it would be possible to simply provide additional material associated with bottom  54  or  154  in order that the additional material could extend around the contours of a respective tub  2 ,  102 , while perhaps bagging up along bottom  12  or  112 . However, in accordance with the most preferred form of the invention, contour sections  65 ,  66 ,  165 ,  166  are provided in order to ensure the structural integrity of liners  51  and  151  during use and to provide a much more professional, overall appearance, particularly given the nature of the invention and the clientele associated therewith.  
         [0022]    Although described with reference to a preferred embodiment of the invention, it should be readily understood that various changes and/or modifications can be made to the invention without departing from the spirit thereof. In general, the invention is only intended to be limited by the scope of the following claims.