Abstract:
An automatic back-cleansing apparatus for fixing to a vertical bath or shower surface includes a main housing section having a rotating head receiving section with gear teeth for engaging rotating heads on a rotating disk section adjacent the main housing section. The rotating disk section includes a drive shaft attached to a first drive gear and each rotating head includes a second drive gear engaging the gear teeth. Each of the rotating heads includes an interchangeable brush configured for removable fixation on a mushroom shaped projection torsionally coupled to the second drive gear, and a reservoir disposed in the main housing section dispenses a liquid soap onto at least one of the rotating heads.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of the priority filing date of international application number PCT/IB2015/058496, entitled “A Back Cleansing Unit,” which was filed on 3 Nov. 2015, and which claims the benefit of the priority filing date of British domestic application no. GB1419600.0, filed 3 Nov. 2014. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    The invention relates to a back-cleansing unit or apparatus for attaching to the side wall of a shower or bath. 
         [0003]    Showering is a daily activity for most people. Most body parts can be cleaned easily because they are within the reach of the showering person. However, one body part that has been traditionally difficult to reach, and thus, to wash, is the back. As a result, this part of the body is not generally cleansed as well as the rest of the body. 
         [0004]    There are various devices commercially available to remedy this problem. Most common is the use of a hand-held back washer which is usually a brush on the end of a stick or other such handle. This device however, is insufficient to provide a thorough cleaning of the back because it is manually operated. Another method of cleaning the back has involved the use of a detachable showerhead. Again, this device needs to be manually operated. Devices for attaching to the side of a shower wall are also known. However, these devices can be very complex to install and operate. 
         [0005]    The present invention provides an improved means of reaching and cleansing the back area. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    According to the invention there is provided a back-cleansing unit, comprising: a housing section; a head receiving section; wall mounting means; and power producing means; wherein the head receiving section comprises gear teeth to engage with a plurality of rotating heads on a rotating disk section. In one embodiment of the invention the rotating disk section comprises a drive shaft attached to a drive gear. 
         [0007]    In one embodiment of the invention the housing section is molded and comprises integrally molded or separately mounted gear teeth for engagement with the drive gear on the rotating heads. 
         [0008]    In one embodiment of the invention when the rotating disk section rotates in a clockwise direction the rotating heads rotate in a clockwise or counter clockwise direction. 
         [0009]    In one embodiment of the invention the rotating heads are interchangeable and comprise any one or more of rotating brushes, exfoliation heads, massage heads and/or applicator heads. Most preferably each rotating disk comprises six interchangeable rotating heads. 
         [0010]    In one embodiment of the invention the rotating head comprises a brush carrier section comprising a central mushroom shaped projection, a flat plate section and an elongated stem section which engages with the drive gear. Preferably the interchangeable brush head is of an elastic material and attaches to the brush carrier section by stretching over the central mushroom shaped projection. 
         [0011]    In one embodiment of the invention the power producing means comprises motors with integrated gearboxes mounted on an integrated frame at the rear of the housing section. Preferably the integrated gearbox reduces the speed of the motor from high to low. 
         [0012]    In one embodiment of the invention the power producing means may be driven by any one or more of an electric motor, hydraulic motor, pneumatic motor and/or wind-up/spring mechanism. 
         [0013]    In one embodiment of the invention the power producing means comprises an electric motor powered by a battery located in a watertight housing in a lower part of the housing section. In one embodiment of the invention the back-cleansing unit comprises user controls mounted on the outside of the unit to control the unit. In one embodiment of the invention the gear ratio is adjustable to set the speed of the rotating disk sections and the plurality of rotating heads. 
         [0014]    In one embodiment of the invention the back-cleansing unit comprises a soap reservoir in an upper part of the housing section to dispense liquid soap, gel or cream down onto the plurality of rotating heads. 
         [0015]    In another embodiment of the invention soap is dispensed through the rotating heads. 
         [0016]    In one embodiment of the invention the mounting means comprises suction cups for attaching the housing section to the wall of a shower or bath. Alternatively, the mounting means may comprise fixings for permanently fixing the housing section to the wall of a shower or bath. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         [0017]      FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of the back-cleansing unit according to the invention; 
           [0018]      FIG. 2  illustrates a perspective view of the back-cleansing unit according to the invention showing removable components at the upper and lower end of the unit; 
           [0019]      FIG. 3  illustrates a perspective view of the rear of the back-cleansing unit; 
           [0020]      FIG. 4  illustrates a perspective view of the rotating disk section of the back-cleansing unit; 
           [0021]      FIG. 5  is a partial enlarged view of the brush carrier section; 
           [0022]      FIG. 6  is a partial exploded view of the brush carrier section; 
           [0023]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a brush section of a brush carrier section according to another embodiment of the invention; 
           [0024]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a brush carrier of a brush carrier section according to another embodiment of the invention; 
           [0025]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a mushroom-shaped projection of a brush carrier section according to another embodiment of the invention; 
           [0026]      FIG. 10  is an exploded view of a brush carrier section according to another embodiment of the invention; 
           [0027]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of the rear of the rotating disk section of  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0028]      FIG. 12  is a partial enlarged view of the rear of the receiving section of the back-cleansing unit according to the invention; 
           [0029]      FIG. 13  is a perspective view of the receiving section of the back-cleansing unit of  FIG. 1 ; and 
           [0030]      FIG. 14  is an enlarged partial perspective view of the receiving section of the back-cleansing unit of  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0031]    The following description is presented to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the invention, and is provided n the context of a particular application and its requirements. Various modifications to the disclosed embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments and applications without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Thus, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments shown, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and features disclosed herein. 
         [0032]    The back-cleansing unit of the present invention is an electrically powered unit that is fixed to the wall of a shower cubicle or bath to allow people to effectively wash their backs while showering or bathing. The unit may be detachably attached to the wall of a shower using suction cups or it may be permanently fixed to the wall using any suitable fixing means. 
         [0033]    As shown in  FIG. 1  the unit  10  comprises a main housing  12  and two receiving sections  14  for receiving two rotating disk sections  16 . Each rotating disk section  16  carries a plurality of rotating heads  18 , preferably seated in depressions  19  on the rotating disk section  16 . The rotating heads  18  are interchangeable and may comprise any one or more of a rotating brush, exfoliation head, massage head and/or applicator head for applying moisturizing cream or fake tan or any other products of a liquid or gel nature that the user would like to apply to the skin. Each rotating disk section  16  preferably comprises six interchangeable rotating heads  18 . 
         [0034]    The rear of the main housing  12  as shown in particular in  FIG. 3  has an integrated base frame  20  for engaging with suction cups  22  which allow the unit  10  to be detachably mounted to a shower or bath wall (not shown). Alternatively the base frame  20  accommodates fixings for permanently fixing the unit  10  to the side of a shower/bath wall. The upper end of the main housing  12  has receiving means  24  for a refillable liquid soap, gel or cream reservoir  26 . The lower end of the main housing  12  has a watertight compartment  28  for holding a battery  30  to power the unit  10 . 
         [0035]    The rotating disk sections  16  comprising the rotating heads  18  are mounted on a shaft  32  preferably engaging stainless steel ball bearings (not shown). The shaft  32  is connected to a first drive gear  34  inside the main housing  12 . The first drive gear  34  engages each shaft  32  to rotate with the rotating disk sections  16  and the rotating heads  18 . The main housing  12  is molded and the receiving sections  14  have integrally molded or separately mounted gear teeth  36  for engagement with a second drive gear  38  on each of the rotating heads  18 . The gear ratios may be adjusted by changing the size of the first drive gear  34  and second drive gears  38  and thus the relative speed of the rotating disk sections  16  and the rotating heads  18 . The speed of rotation of the rotating heads  18  can be changed either by means of fitting new gears (not shown) with different gear ratios or using an electrical motor controller (not shown) to adjust the speed of the drive motor  40 . Such a motor controller may be used to cause the gears to rotate in a counter clockwise direction or to reciprocate between clockwise and counter clockwise rotation. In one embodiment such a motor controller may be a printed circuit board mounted inside the main housing  12  and connected to an on/off switch. The rotating disk sections  16  preferably rotate in a clockwise direction, causing the rotating heads  18  to also rotate in a clockwise direction. 
         [0036]    The rotating heads  18  comprise a brush carrier section  42  which is connected to each second drive gear  38  on the rear of the rotating heads  18 . In one embodiment as shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the brush carrier section  42  comprises a central first mushroom shaped projection  44 , a flat plate section  46  and a first elongated stem section  48  which engages the second drive gear  38 . Interchangeable brushes  50  with a first central opening  52  are attached to the brush carrier section  42  by pressing the first mushroom shaped projection  44  through the first central opening  52  on an interchangeable brush  50 . The interchangeable brushes  50  are preferably manufactured from silicon and the first central opening  52  is capable of stretching over the first mushroom shaped projection  44  for easy attachment and removal. Two flattened surfaces  54  on either side of the first central opening  52  of the interchangeable brush  50  prevents any relative movement between the interchangeable brush  50  and the carrier section  42 . 
         [0037]    In another embodiment of the invention as shown in  FIGS. 7-10 , a second mushroom shaped projection  56  is a separate unit that has four keys  58  that engage corresponding complimentary keys  60  on a second central opening  62  on an interchangeable brush  50  to lock both components together. A second elongated stem section  64  of the second mushroom shaped projection  56  then locks into a carrier plate  66  and engages with the second drive gear  38 . As the interchangeable brushes  50  rotate, the direction of motion ensures that the connection becomes tighter as more pressure is placed on them. To remove the interchangeable brushes  50  in such an embodiment, the user simply rotates the interchangeable brush  50  and associated second mushroom shaped projection forty five degrees counter clockwise and the interchangeable brush  50  and second mushroom shaped projection  56  lift away from the carrier plate  66 . 
         [0038]    The first drive gear  34  is integrated with a small low voltage DC high torque drive motor  40 . The integrated first drive gear  34  and drive motor  40  are mounted on the base frame  20  on the rear of the main housing  12 . The speed of the drive motor  40  may be reduced through the use of the integrated gear box  68  which reduces the speed but not the torque of the drive motor  40 . The integrated gearbox  68  is connected to each shaft  32 , and the drive motor  40  may be an electric motor, hydraulic motor, pneumatic motor and/or wind-up/spring mechanism. 
         [0039]    In the illustrated embodiment, the power producing means is an electric drive motor  40  powered by a sealed battery  30  located within a watertight compartment  28  in the lower end of the main housing  12 . Preferably the compartment  28  is a plastic housing used for housing the battery  30  in the lower end of the main housing  12 . The battery  30  can easily be removed for charging by removing it from the watertight compartment  28 . The battery  30  or other power producing means is controlled and operated by a switch on the outside of the main housing  12 . 
         [0040]    When the rotating heads  18  are brushes, a reciprocating brush drive mechanism can be used to produce the effect of a massage. Preferably the back-cleansing unit  10  has a detachable liquid soap reservoir  26  in an upper part of the main housing  12 , and the detachable liquid soap reservoir  26  operates using a pump action mechanism  70 . When pumped, liquid soap (not shown) is dispensed down onto the rotating heads. Alternatively the soap may be dispensed directly through a nozzle (not shown) in each of the brush heads using an electrically operated dosing pump integrated into the housing and controlled from a dosing button on the outside of the cover. 
         [0041]    The back-cleansing unit  10  is easy to install. It is also easy to detach from the suction cups  22  or other permanent wall fixings in order to thoroughly clean all the components of the unit  10 . 
         [0042]    The foregoing descriptions of embodiments of the present invention have been presented only for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present invention to the forms disclosed. Accordingly, many modifications and variations will be apparent to practitioners skilled in the art. Additionally, the above disclosure is not intended to limit the present invention. The scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims.