Abstract:
Presented is a device having a unitary body molded from synthetic resinous material and including a base member having a central mounting recess on its back side for receiving the mounting stud of a suction cup. On its front side the device is provided with a multiplicity of rows of spaced elastically resilient “prongs”, or a multiplicity of “tuft” like projections each formed of many different thin filaments, or a multiplicity of “rod” like projections the distal ends of which are semi-spherical or “rounded” and useful for applying deep massaging pressure to the skin for stimulation thereof. Integrally formed on the base member are mounting flanges having integral mounting lugs and mounting apertures for detachably interconnecting one such device to a similarly constructed adjacent device to selectively form a specifically arranged configuration or array embodying a multitude of the devices.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   This invention relates to a means and method of stimulating human skin, particularly while a person is bathing and applicable particularly to stimulate and exfoliate the skin on a person&#39;s back. 
   2. Description of the Prior Art 
   The skin that covers the human body is one of the most important organs of the human body. The human skin lies in three layers: epidermis, dermis and subcutaneous fat. The purpose of the instant invention is exfoliation and preservation of the health of the epidermis, believed to be the front line of defense for the human body. Stated in other words, the skin, draped over the human body, forms the barrier between what&#39;s inside the body and what&#39;s outside the body. It protects the human body from a multitude of external forces. It is known that the outer layer of the epidermis comprises a protective covering called the stratum corneum and consists of fifteen to forty layers of flattened skin cells, or corneocytes that have migrated up from deeper regions and which replace themselves about once a month. It is for the purpose of cleansing the skin of these discarded corneocytes and preserving the health of the skin that the present invention has been designed. 
   A preliminary patentability and novelty search has revealed the existence of the following United States patents which, in one way or another, are useful for scrubbing or massaging the human body. None of these patents appear to disclose the novel structure of the instant invention as described, illustrated and claimed herein. 
   
     
       
             
             
             
             
             
           
         
             
                 
                 
             
           
           
             
                 
               4,047,259 
               4,053,960 
               4,704,759 
               5,277,389 
             
             
                 
               5,600,864 
               5,628,083 
               5,774,907 
               5,784,722 
             
             
                 
               6,053,464 
               6,227,742 
               6,370,722 
               D-344,633 
             
             
                 
               D-354,587 
               D-388,547 
               D-400,658 
               D-403,119 
             
             
                 
               D-444,916 
                 
                 
               5,779,653 
             
             
                 
                 
             
           
        
       
     
   
   One of the important objects of the present invention is the provision of a device that is simple to fabricate by injection molding in a configuration that enables it to be detachably mounted on a bathroom wall or a shower wall and useful for massaging, scrubbing or exfoliating the skin on a person&#39;s back during the process of bathing, but which may be used as a hand-held device for massaging, scrubbing or exfoliating other areas of the human body whether during the bathing process or apart from the bathing process. 
   Another object of the invention is the provision of a scrubbing or exfoliating device the working face of which is undulated and formed from independent and elastically resilient “prongs” or projections of different lengths so as to enable the massaging, scrubbing or exfoliation of surfaces of the human body that are irregular, such as, by way of example, the hip area, shoulders, shoulder blades, hollow of the back, elbows, knees or heel areas of the feet. 
   Still another object of the invention is the provision of a scrubbing device designed and configured to cooperate with and to be detachably interconnected with other like devices to form a variety of differently configured arrays formed by a multitude of interconnected scrubbing devices. 
   Yet another object of the invention is the provision of a scrubbing and exfoliating device provided with independent and spaced “prongs” arranged in concentric circular patterns or other selected pattern and formed of different lengths within each pattern to enable the user to use a selected amount of pressure on the prongs or elastically resilient projections to secure different intensities of pressure and scrubbing or exfoliation action on selected areas of the skin. 
   The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some of which, with the foregoing, will become apparent from the following description and the drawings. It is to be understood however that the invention is not limited to the embodiment illustrated and described since it may be embodied in various forms within the scope of the appended claims. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   In terms of broad inclusion, the massaging, scrubbing, stimulating and exfoliation device forming the subject matter of this invention comprises a unitary body preferably injection molded from an appropriate synthetic resinous material possessing elastic resilience and including a base member formed on its back side with a central recess for receiving the mounting stud of a suction cup and formed on its opposite or front side with a multiplicity of concentrically arranged rows of independent elastically resilient “prongs”, or a multiplicity of “tuft” like projections, each formed of many different thin filaments, similar to the tufts in a toothbrush, or a multiplicity of “rod” like projections the distal ends of which are semi-spherical or “rounded” and more appropriately used for applying deep massaging pressure to the skin for stimulation thereof rather then scrubbing or exfoliating it and selectively having varying lengths to provide an overall undulating characteristic to the distal ends of the elastically resilient “prongs”, “tufts” or “rods” or uniform lengths. Integrally formed on the base are means for detachably interconnecting one such device to a similarly constructed adjacent device to selectively form a specifically arranged configuration or array embodying a multitude of the devices, the array being arranged for detachable mounting on the wall of a shower or bathtub enclosure, or on any appropriate flat surface against which a person wishes to mount the array or a single device for the purpose of stimulating, exfoliating, scrubbing or massaging a selected area of the body. In this latter use, the device may be equipped with an appropriate elongated handle detachably secured to the base, or provided with a strap-like member under which the hand can be inserted to facilitate manipulation of the single device for imposing a scrubbing, exfoliation or massaging motion and pressure on the device and through the device on the underlying skin. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a top plan view of the front or operating face of the scrubbing and exfoliating device shown apart from any supporting structure. 
       FIG. 2  is a left side or edge elevational view of the scrubbing and exfoliating device. 
       FIG. 3  is a right side or edge elevational view of the device. 
       FIG. 4  is a bottom edge elevational view of the device. 
       FIG. 5  is a top edge elevational view of the device. 
       FIG. 6  is a bottom plan view showing the back side of the device opposite the operating face of the device as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the device illustrating the arrangement of exfoliating and scrubbing “prongs” or projections. 
       FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the back side of the device illustrating the central recess for receiving a suction cup. In the interest of clarity the suction cup is not shown. 
       FIG. 9  is a top plan view similar to  FIG. 1  but rotated counter-clockwise 90°. 
       FIG. 10  is a vertical cross-sectional view taken in the plane indicated by the line  10 - 10  in  FIG. 9 . 
       FIG. 11  is a vertical cross-sectional view illustrating the manner and means by which two adjacent devices are detachably secured together. 
       FIG. 12  is a front elevational view illustrating six of the detachably inter-engaging scrubbing devices secured in a vertical array to a wall structure such as a shower enclosure. 
       FIG. 13  is a front elevational view illustrating six of the detachably inter-engaged scrubbing devices secured in a “T” pattern array to a wall structure. 
       FIG. 14  is a front elevational view illustrating six of the detachably inter-engaged scrubbing devices secured in a rectangular pattern array to a supporting wall structure. 
       FIG. 15  is a top plan view similar to  FIG. 9  but illustrating a second embodiment in which the scrubbing and exfoliating elements of the device, instead of individual “prongs”, constitute multiple individual “tufts” formed from multiple elongated filaments enabling a softer more gentle engagement of the device with the skin. 
       FIG. 16  is a top edge elevational view of the second embodiment device illustrated in  FIG. 15 , taken in the direction of arrow  16 . 
       FIG. 17  is a top plan view similar to  FIGS. 9 and 15  but illustrating a third embodiment of the invention in which the elastically flexible elongated elements of the device that contact the skin are larger in diameter than the “prongs” of  FIG. 1  and therefore less flexible and are provided with a rounded distal end effective for applying gentle pressure during a massage procedure to effect deep stimulation of the skin in all of its layers. 
       FIG. 18  is a top edge elevational view of the third embodiment of the device illustrated in  FIG. 17 , taken in the direction of the arrow  18  in  FIG. 17 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   In terms of greater detail and referring to the drawings, it will be seen that the scrubbing and exfoliation device of the invention is conveniently formed by injection molding of a suitable synthetic resinous material, preferably a thermoplastic such as, by way of example, high-density polyethylene, low-density polyethylene, polypropylene, cellulose acetate, vinyl, cellulose acetate butyrate and other thermoplastics such as “Nylon” and polymethyl methacrylate sold under the trademarks “Lucite” or “Plexiglas”. Other suitable embodiments of the invention, using other materials and other methods of manufacture and use of the device may of course be utilized without departing from the spirit of the invention as will be hereinafter explained. 
   It is a matter of common knowledge that many people, perhaps most, take their skin for granted, giving little or no thought to its care and preservation. It has been estimated that if an adult human took off his skin and laid it flat, it would cover an area of about twenty-one (21) square feet. Visually, that would be a membrane three feet wide and seven feet long, about the size of beach towels on which many people lie in the sun to literally “cook” their skin to a darkened shade. Thus, the skin that covers the human body is by far the body&#39;s largest organ. The human skin forms a “highway” to our most intimate and psychological selves. This impervious yet permeable barrier, less than a millimeter thick in places, is composed of three layers, as explained above. The outermost layer is the bloodless epidermis. The intermediate layer is the dermis that includes collagen, elastin and nerve endings, while the innermost layer is subcutaneous fat that functions to provide an energy source, cushion and insulator for the body. A neuroscientist and associate director of the Institute for Sensory Research at Syracuse University has stated: “In simple terms people perceive three basic things via skin: pressure, temperature and pain.” Perceptions of pressure, temperature and pain manifest themselves in many different ways. Gentle stimulation of pressure receptors can result in ticklishness, gentle stimulation of pain receptors in itching. Both sensations arise from a neurological transmission rather than from something that physically exists. As stated by the neuroscientist referred to above: “When the nerve cells are stimulated, physical energy is transformed into energy used by the nervous system and passed from the skin to the spinal cord and brain. It&#39;s called transduction, and no one knows exactly how it takes place.” It is believed however that the process involves the intricate, split-second operation of a complex system of signals between neurons in the skin and brain. 
   It is for the purpose of enhancing all of these sensory advantages between the skin and the brain of humans and for the stimulation and preservation of the human skin that the stimulating, massaging, scrubbing and exfoliating device of this invention was designed. As seen in the drawings, the device is formed by a body designated generally by the numeral  2  and includes a base member designated generally by the numeral  3  from which project a multiplicity of integral generally perpendicular and spaced resiliently elastic “prongs”  4  ( FIGS. 1-14 ) or a multiplicity of spaced “tufts”  6  ( FIGS. 15 and 16 ) secured to and projecting from the base, or a multiplicity of integral relatively stiff but resiliently flexible spaced “rods”  7  ( FIGS. 17 and 18 ) projecting from the base and preferably injection molded from one of the synthetic resinous materials identified above in the case of the “prongs”  4  and “rods”  7 , or otherwise secured to the base in the case of the “tufts”  6  which are preferably formed from the gathering into a bundle of individually formed synthetic resinous filaments of small diameter which when gathered together and anchored in the base form a “tuft” that is pliant and relatively soft to the touch when brushed across the skin. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 6 and 8 , it will be seen that the base  3  is formed by and includes a plate portion  8  that is integral with a peripheral flange  9  both of which are generally symmetrical about a central axis, with laterally opposite portions of the plate portion  8  and the integral peripheral flange  9  being offset radially inwardly toward the central axis to provide smooth arcuate indentations at 90° intervals about the body. The plate portion  8  is provided with a central mounting recess  12  preferably open at its bottom end as shown in  FIGS. 6 and 8  and closed at its upper end as shown in  FIG. 7 , the recess being formed by an integral cylindrical wall  13  that projects below the bottom surface of the plate portion and projects beyond the top surface thereof to terminate in a closed end  14  which defines a button as seen in  FIGS. 7 ,  9 ,  10  and  11  of the drawings. The closed end or button  14  is useful as a location where digital pressure may be applied to detachably mount a fastener in the recess  12 . 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  3 ,  4  and  5  of the drawings, it will be seen that the plate portion  8  of the base  3  undulates between each of the four rounded or arcuate corners  16 ,  17 ,  18  and  19  and the central portion of the plate portion at which the central mounting recess  12  and the cylindrical wall  13  with a closed button end  14  are positioned. Stated another way, while the bottom edge  21  of the peripheral flange  9  is coincident with a single plane, the plate portion  8  rises perceptibly from each of the arcuate corners  16 ,  17 ,  18  and  19  toward the central axis and closed button end  14  to define a sloping 90° quadrant that then descends or slopes downward from adjacent the central axis and the closed button end  14  of the cylindrical wall toward the adjacent corners on opposite sides thereof. It will be seen from the drawings that each of the arcuate corners is associated with a sloping 90° quadrant as described above. From the drawings it will be seen that the resiliently elastic “prongs” of  FIGS. 1-14 , the “tufts” of  FIG. 16  and the “rods” of  FIG. 18  are distributed in spaced relation to one another over the entire upper surface of the plate portion  8  and are arranged in progressively increasing circular and arcuate patterns spaced radially from the central axis of the body and from the associated circular and arcuate patterns of projections, be they “prongs”, “tufts” or “rods”. 
   Again referring to the drawings, it will be seen from  FIGS. 2 ,  3 ,  4  and  5  that the resiliently elastic “prongs” integrally projecting from the plate portion  8  are of different lengths. Thus, referring to the four 90° quadrants discussed above that define the upper surface of the plate portion  8 , it will be seen from the drawings that with respect to each quadrant the arcuate pattern of integral “prongs” projecting from each corner portion commence with an outer or first arcuate row of multiple “prongs” of equal length, say nominally 15 mm in length. The second radially inwardly spaced arcuate row of multiple “prongs” in each quadrant contains “prongs” of different lengths, the two “prongs” at opposite ends of the row and alternately on opposite sides of intermediate “prongs” being approximately 10 mm in length, while the intermediate “prongs” are approximately 18 mm in length. This pattern of alternately arranged short and long “prongs” is continued in the radially inwardly spaced concentric rows of “prongs” so that collectively the distal ends of the “prongs” define an undulating surface that in each quadrant rises from a minimum height at the arcuate corner to a maximum height approximately midway between the arcuate corner and the central axis as shown in the drawings. Controlling the lengths of the “prongs” in this manner provides a generally depressed area defined by the distal ends of “prongs” surrounding the closed button end  14  of cylindrical wall  13  and from such closed end wall radiating laterally outwardly toward the lateral edges of the plate portion, thus enhancing use of the device to stimulate, massage, scrub and exfoliate pointed or projecting areas of the body such as shoulder blades, elbows, knees and heels, while enabling the same procedure over larger and flat or slightly recessed areas of the back and hollow areas of the body. Additionally, the distribution of short and long “prongs” through the multiple concentric rows thereof enables the application of selected differential pressure, i.e. more or less pressure, on the body of the device to effect engagement of more or less of the “prongs” with the surface of the skin and with differential pressure being applied to the skin by shorter and longer “prongs” to secure different degrees of stimulation of the skin. 
   As thus described the device may be used by holding it in one hand and drawing it across a selected area of the body to stimulate the skin be it by massage, by scrubbing to cleanse the skin or by scrubbing to exfoliate dead skin cells from the surface of the skin. Used in this manner it may be easily and conveniently held in the palm of one hand by letting the fingers grasp the periphery of the flange  9  and directing the movement and engagement of the “prongs” on the skin with selective pressure. Where desired, a strap (not shown) having a mounting stud centrally positioned and push-to-engage and peel-to-disengage fasteners on opposite end portions may be detachably mounted on the device by forcing the mounting stud into the central mounting recess  12  and the strap wrapped about the back of the hand and the interengageable fasteners engaged to retain the device detachably secured to the hand. 
   The device, singly or in multiple numbers, may also be mounted on the wall of a shower stall, or on the wall above a bathtub so that a person bathing may place his (or her) body against the device and, by rotational and vertical motions of the body, effect stimulation, massage, scrubbing or exfoliation of a given area of the body without the use of hands. For use in this manner, the central recess  12  of the body frictionally yet detachably receives the mounting stud  22  of a conventional suction cup  23  (shown in broken lines in  FIG. 10  in a detached attitude in the interest of clarity) and the suction cup after being detachably secured to the device is then detachably secured to a selected wall surface in the usual manner by digital pressure applied to the button  14  to flatten the suction cup against the support structure. In this regard, it will be understood that conventional suction cups are formed from a flexible material such as rubber or plastic, are usually circular and are formed with a concave surface which when applied to a flat wall surface flattens to expel air from between the concave surface of the suction cup and the flat wall surface to thus detachably secure (detachably stick) the suction cup to the wall surface. 
   As illustrated in  FIG. 10  in broken lines (albeit detached), the suction cup  23  is attached to the back side of the device by pressing a finger on the concave surface of the suction cup and another finger on the button  14  and forcing the mounting stud  22  into the central mounting recess  12  formed by the cylindrical wall  13 . The length of the mounting stud  22  and the depth of the central mounting recess  12  are dimensioned so that when the suction cup  23  is flattened against a flat wall, the edge  21  of the flange  9  abuts the flat wall, thus providing stability to the device, now detachably secured to the flat wall. The frictional fit of the mounting stud  22  in the central mounting recess  12  formed by the cylindrical wall  13  provides another important and unique advantage to the user, that of easy removal of the device from a wall for purposes of cleaning either the wall or device, or rearrangement into another desired interconnected pattern. When the user desires to remove the device he grasps the outer edges of the base unit with his fingers and pulls it away from the wall. The frictional fit of the mounting stud  22  in recess  12  allows the base device to be pulled free from the suction cup while the suction cup remains detachably attached to the wall because the force retaining the suction cup to the wall is greater than the frictional force retaining the stud in the recess  12 . Once this is accomplished and the suction cup, still attached to the wall, is revealed, it is an easy matter to remove the suction cup by lifting one edge of its rim to break the suction force between the cup and the wall. Reinstallation of the suction cup  23  onto the base unit is then easily accomplished by the method described above. Alternatively, if desired, the suction cup now attached to the back side of the device, instead of being detachably secured to a flat wall surface as described above, may instead be detachably secured to a flat surface on an elongated handle (not shown) and the device then manipulated by hand to stimulate, massage, scrub and exfoliate areas of the body more easily reached through use of the device equipped with a detachable handle. It will thus be understood that the massaging, scrubbing and exfoliating device of the invention lends itself to being used in several different modes of operation, each to accomplish the end result of conveniently and effectively stimulating, massaging, scrubbing and exfoliating the skin over selected areas of the body of the person manipulating the device. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 12 ,  13  and  14 , it will be seen that multiple devices may be detachably interconnected in various desirable arrays or patterns to achieve different effects or to facilitate the use and function of the device by different people having different physical limitations. Multiple units thus detachably interconnected and detachably attached to a shower wall, for instance, provide greater stability and resistance to lateral displacement by the pressure applied to the array by the user. In  FIG. 12  it is seen that six identical devices as described above and illustrated in the drawings in  FIGS. 1 through 11 , inclusive, are arranged vertically in an array designated generally by the numeral  26 , detachably secured to one another and each detachably secured to the flat surface  27  of a flat wall  28  through use of suction cups as described above. To implement each device to enable detachable interconnection of multiple devices, reference is made to  FIGS. 1 ,  6 ,  8 ,  10  and  11  of the drawings. As there illustrated and as previously discussed, the body  2  of the device is provided with a peripheral flange  9 . Projecting laterally (perpendicularly) from the peripheral flange at four 90° intervals about the device are integral mounting flanges  31 ,  32 ,  33  and  34 , each of the mounting flanges having an outer edge  35  curved to match the curvature of the radially inward curvature of the peripheral flange  9  at the locations of the mounting flanges. 
   Formed in the mounting flange  31  is an ovate aperture  36  with one edge of the aperture lying closely adjacent the associated sidewall of the flange  9  as shown. In like manner the mounting flange  32  is provided with an ovate aperture  37  similarly positioned with one edge of the aperture closely adjacent the associated sidewall of the flange  9 . The mounting flange  33 , on the other hand, is provided with an integral mounting lug  38  positioned on the flange in a position closely adjacent the outer edge of the flange. In like manner, the flange  34  is also provided with an integral mounting lug  39  positioned closely to the outer edge of the mounting flange  34 . The mounting lugs  38  and  39  are shaped to conform closely to the shape of the ovate apertures  36  and  37  for a reason that will hereinafter be explained. Suffice to say that the mounting lugs  38  and  39  are integrally formed on and project perpendicularly from the mounting flanges  33  and  34  and are dimensioned and configured to engagingly project into the ovate apertures  36  and  37  in a snug frictional yet detachable engagement. 
   It will thus be seen that when two or more of the identical devices are arranged in differently configured arrays  41 ,  42 ,  43  and  44 , respectively, as shown in  FIGS. 11 ,  12 ,  13  and  14 , the mounting lug of one of the devices will penetrate and detachably engage with the ovate aperture in the associated device, and the outer periphery of the curved mounting flange on which a mounting lug is formed will abut the curved associated surface of the peripheral flange  9  next adjacent the ovate aperture in the underlying mounting flange having an aperture penetrated by a mounting lug. In this manner any number desired of the devices may be detachably interconnected one with another of the identical devices to form the arrays illustrated or other selected arrays of different configuration to provide the lateral stability of the array as described above. 
   In the embodiments of the invention illustrated in  FIGS. 15 through 18 , inclusive, the body of the device is fabricated in the same configuration and is provided with the same peripheral flange  9  and the same mounting flanges provided with similar ovate apertures and mounting lugs and accordingly the same reference numerals are utilized in connection with these embodiments to designate similar elements. Referring to the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 15 and 16 , the only difference of this embodiment from that illustrated in  FIGS. 1-14  is that the plate portion  8  is provided with “tufts”  46  arranged in a similar concentric pattern but with fewer concentric rows because the “tufts” are somewhat larger than the integral “prongs” of  FIGS. 1-14 . In this embodiment the “tufts”  46  are each formed from a multiplicity of individual strands or filaments  47  of natural fiber or synthetic resinous (plastic) filamentary material gathered together to form the “tuft” and then one end of the “tuft” is embedded and permanently secured in the plate portion  8 . These “tufts” provide a softer scrubbing or exfoliating effect when applied to the skin and are useful for those individuals that have a particularly sensitive skin. 
   Referring to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in  FIGS. 17 and 18 , it will be seen from the illustration that the body  3  of this device is identical to the body of the device illustrated in  FIGS. 1-14 , including the flange  9  and the radially projecting mounting flanges  31 ,  32 ,  33  and  34  and the ovate apertures and mounting lugs associated with the respective mounting flanges as previously discussed. Again, the only difference in structure is the nature of the “projections” or “rods”  48  which, in this instance, are integral with the plate portion  8  and are of larger diameter than the “prongs” of  FIGS. 1-14 . Another difference is that the distal ends  49  of the rods  48  are rounded or semi-spherical so as to impose a gentle pressure over a larger area of the skin when the device is used and pressure is applied to effect a massaging motion of the device. The semi-spherical or rounded ends of the rods are spaced apart as shown, and the lengths of the rods are varied as previously discussed so as to provide the undulating configuration discussed above in connection with the embodiment of  FIG. 1  or, in the alternative, the distal ends of the rods may terminate in a common plane. The rods, while being larger in diameter, are nevertheless resiliently elastic and capable of flexing when downward pressure is applied and lateral motion of the device is affected over the surface of the skin. Because of the larger diameter and the semi-spherical distal ends of the rods, however, the effect is more to massage the skin and underlying tissue rather than scrub or exfoliate the skin, although at least some exfoliation will occur. 
   While the nature of the “tufts” and “rods” of the embodiments illustrated in FIGS.  15 / 16  and FIGS.  17 / 18  are different from the “prongs” of  FIG. 1 , the structure of the bodies of these embodiments is identical, thus enabling multiple such devices to be detachably interconnected in the same manner and in the same and different configurations as illustrated in  FIGS. 12 ,  13  and  14 . Additionally, while “prongs” and “tufts” of different lengths are illustrated and described, it should be understood that the “prongs” and “tufts” may be of equal length so long as the structure of the body with which they are integral or to which they are secured and from which they project enables multiple such devices to be detachably interconnected in the manner illustrated in  FIGS. 12 ,  13  and  14 . 
   Having thus described the invention, what is believed to be new and novel and sought to be protected by Letters Patent of the United States is as set forth in the claims.