Patent Publication Number: US-6981953-B1

Title: Dual-functional massage bar used in bath

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to massage apparatus, and more particularly to a dual-functional massage bar which has massage and cleansing functions and a waterproof body so as to capable to use in the bath. 
   The conventional vibrated massage bars are in varied types and welcome by the population to massage their bodies for activating their muscles and relieving their exhaustions. But these massage bars are only useful on massage and can not be used to a bathe due to the lacking of waterproof. So that the people have to buy an expensive massage bathe and to utilize the bubbles and water flow to massage their bodies. 
   People are used to utilize a brush, a piece of sponge and/or a towel dipping some soap to wash their body. However, these articles have no any massage function. 
   Nowadays, there is no any apparatus in the market that can be utilized to simultaneously massage and clean the body in the bath. So either a massage bar or a cleansing article only achieves their single purposes. 
   SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
   The present invention has a main object to provide a dual-functional massage bar used in bath which is utilized in massage and cleansing the body of a bather to activate his muscles and to simultaneously refresh his exhaustion. 
   Another object of the present invention is to provide a dual-functional massage bar used in bath which is attachable to a sponge, a brush and or a piece of cloth for the cleansing purpose. 
   Still another object of the present invention is to provide a dual-functional massage bar used in bath in which the handle is capable of increasing the length to facilitate the user to massage and/or to clean his back. 
   Further object of the present invention is to provide a dual-functional massage bar used in bath which is of waterproof and can be buoyed up on the surface of the water in a bath. 
   Accordingly, the dual-functional massage bar used in bath of the present invention comprises a hollow interior main body composed of two corresponding halves having an externally thread adapter including an opening, a massage surface on a first half which includes a plurality of spacedly arranged balls, a piece of Velcro (hooks &amp; hoops) on the second half opposite to the massage surface for attaching a sponge, a brush and/or a cloth thereon. The sponge has a Velcro (hooks &amp; hoops) in the bottom engageable with the Velcro (hooks &amp; hoops) on the main body, two pieces of batteries inserted both into the opening of the adapter and an internally threaded tube which is then connected to the adapter with a pair sealing rings engaged therebetween for supporting the electric current dual-functional massage bar is of waterproof, it is capable of used in the bath. 
   The present invention will become more fully understood by reference to the following detailed description thereof when read in conjunction with the attached drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of the preferred embodiment of a dual-functional massage bar according to the present invention, 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view to show the assembly of  FIG. 1  looking from rearside, 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view to show the assembly of  FIG. 1  looking from foreside, 
       FIG. 4  is a side view of  FIG. 2 , 
       FIG. 5  is an underside view of  FIG. 2 , 
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view to show an elongate tubular handle may connect to the tube, 
       FIG. 7  is a plane view indicating that the dual-functional bar is operated by an user to clean his back, 
       FIG. 8  is an exploded perspective view to show that the piece of Velcro (hooks &amp; hoops) is replaced with a L-shaped clamping board and a coupling strip disposed on the underside of the sponge, 
       FIG. 9  is a side view to show that the strip of the sponge is engaged with the L-shaped clamping board, 
       FIG. 10  is an exploded perspective view to show that a cloth bag is able to wrap the dual-functional massage bar, and 
       FIG. 11  is a side view to show that an elastic band secured to the underside of the sponge to replace the strip. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   With reference to the drawings and initiated from  FIGS. 1 to 5 , the dual-functional massage bar of the present invention comprises a hollow interior main body  10  which is composed of a pair of corresponding halves  11  and  12 , a plurality of balls  11  disposed spaced apart on an underside, a piece of first Velcro  12  (hooks &amp; hoops) on the top and an externally threaded tubular adapter  13  connected to the rear end communicating to the inside of the main body  10  including an opening  131  in free end for engaging with a tube  15  which has threads  151  on inner periphery engaged with the threads of the adapter  13  with a pair of sealing rings  132  and  133  engaged therebetween. The tube  15  has a sealed bottom and is provided to dispose a pair of batteries  14  which are biased by a spring  152  and inserted into the adapter  13  for supplying electricity to a motor  101  and a vibrator  102  in the main body  10 . The coupling seam  103  between the two halves  11  and  12  is dealt with the waterproof process. 
   Three buttons  16  dispose spaced apart on the front side of the main body  10  and sealed by a thin membrane  161  for switching on/off the electricity. Note that the piece of sponge  20  may be replaced with a brush and/or a piece of the cloth. 
   In operation, switch on the electricity, the vibrator  102  begins to act to massage the body or to clean the body of the user in the bath. Due to that the massage bar is of complete waterproof and has adequate air therein, it is capable of buoyed on the surface of the water, especially used in a Japanese type bath or in a hot spring pool where the people are usually crowded. Once the user is unintentionally dropped the massage bar into the water, it will be automatically buoyed on the surface of the water so it is impossible to be lost. This massage bar can be also attached to a side of a bath to get the water molecules active and more oxidized by vibration that benefits to the skin cleansing. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , a long tube  17  may be sleeved onto the tube  15  which has an outer diameter equal to the inner diameter of the long tube  17  for the elongation of the handle to facilitate the users to wash or massage their backs. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 8 and 9 , the piece of Velcro (hooks &amp; hoops)  12  on the main body  10  may be replaced with a L-shaped clamping plate  18 . Meanwhile the piece of Velcro  21  under the piece of sponge  20  may be replaced with a strip  41  which is engageable with the clamping plate  18 . This replacement does not affect the above described original functions of the present invention. 
   Referring to  FIG. 10 , a cloth bag  50  may wrap the main body  10  without caring whether the piece of sponge  20  is existed. The bag  50  has an elastic band  52  on the opening  51  that restraints onto the rear end of the main body  10 . This alternate arrangement also does not affect the above discussed functions of the present invention. 
   Referring to  FIG. 11 , a rectangular cloth bag  70  may wrap onto the piece of sponge  20  for protecting the piece of sponge  20 . The rectangular cloth bag  70  has an elastic band  71  on lower opening to restraint the bottom of the piece of sponge  20 . The way of operating the dual-functional massage bar is unchanged. 
   Except the above discussed functions, the dual-functional massage bar is useful to the medical recovery treatment. 
   Note that the specification relating to the above embodiment should be construed as an exemplary rather than as a limitative of the present invention, with many variations and modifications being readily attainable by a person of average skill in the art without departing from the spirit or scope thereof as defined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents.