Patent Publication Number: US-7219387-B1

Title: Foot cleansing device

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention, in general relates to pediatrics and, more particularly, to a device for use in a shower that is adapted for cleaning and abrading the skin on a foot. 
   The foot is a neglected portion for most people. It is generally difficult to clean when a person is in the shower. The person has to stand on one leg, which is dangerous, while cleaning the opposite foot or the person is required to bend down while standing under the shower. Many people lack flexibility to bend down and reach their feet. Consequently, people often omit washing their feet or if they do, they perform only a cursory cleansing. 
   These problems are especially difficult for people who suffer from disorders such as obesity, back problems, or other handicaps. 
   The foot is also prone to many dermatologic problems as well. People develop athlete&#39;s foot (one of many possible fungal infections), corns, calluses, and the like. Many people neglect treating these disorders for similar reasons as mentioned above. 
   People who suffer from athlete&#39;s foot know how severely their feet can itch. Minor abrasion of the affected area can alleviate itching while helping to remove layers of dead skin and promote the efficacy of certain athlete&#39;s foot medications that are topically applied. People with calluses on their feet know how difficult it is to bend down and use a hand held tool to abrade away their calluses. 
   Psoriasis and eczema sufferers also similarly benefit from abrading some of the dead skin off of the affected areas before applying any medication to the area. 
   It is also desirable to be able to massage a foot. This is well known to relax and calm a person. 
   Accordingly, there exists today a need for an apparatus and method for cleaning the feet of a user during the normal course of taking a shower that helps ameliorate the aforementioned difficulties while abrading dead skin and massaging the foot. 
   Clearly, such an apparatus and method would be useful and desirable. 
   2. Description of Prior Art 
   Devices for cleaning and massaging a foot are, in general, known. For example, the following patents describe various types of these devices: 
   U.S. Pat. No. 5,520,618 to Massiet, May 28, 1996; and 
   U.S. Pat. No. 6,142,156 to Brunderman, Nov. 7, 2000. 
   While the structural arrangements of the above described devices, at first appearance, have similarities with the present invention, they differ in material respects. These differences, which will be described in more detail hereinafter, are essential for the effective use of the invention and which admit of the advantages that are not available with the prior devices. 
   OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   It is an object of the present invention to provide a foot cleansing device and method that is safe to use. 
   It is also an important object of the invention to provide a foot cleansing device and method that can be used while in a bathtub or shower stall. 
   Another object of the invention is to provide a foot cleansing device and method that does not require a user to raise one foot high into the air. 
   Still another object of the invention is to provide a foot cleansing device and method that can be adapted to massage the feet. 
   Still yet another object of the invention is to provide a foot cleansing device and method that can be adapted to abrade the feet. 
   Yet another important object of the invention is to provide a foot cleansing device and method that is adapted to reach raised or arcuate portions of the feet. 
   Still yet another important object of the invention is to provide a foot cleansing device and method that operates automatically while taking a shower. 
   Still yet a first additional important object of the invention is to provide a foot cleansing device and method that cleanses the bottom and sides of the feet while taking a shower without requiring any additional time other than that to wash the remainder of the body. 
   Still yet a second additional important object of the invention is to provide a foot cleansing device and method that cleanses between the toes. 
   Still yet a third additional important object of the invention is to provide a foot cleansing device and method that can be used with oils, bath crystals, and various soaps. 
   Briefly, a foot cleansing device and method for cleaning, massaging, and abrading the skin of a foot that is constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention has a container that is placed on the floor of a bathtub or shower stall where a person taking a shower would normally stand. The container includes feet that elevate a bottom of the container above the floor which allows water to drain out of it. Openings are provided in the bottom of the container for water drainage. A first screen netting is disposed over the bottom of the container to prevent any particulates larger than the openings in the first screen netting from passing through the openings in the bottom of the container. A section of foam that is surrounded by a second screen netting is disposed on the bottom of the container. A lining of artificial grass is disposed over the foam and up and over the sides of the container. The lining is secured to the container. Any of a variety of abrasive materials from fine sand to courser materials is placed on top of the lining along with any bath oil, bath crystals, or soap. In use, the shower is started and the person stands in the container. Normal movement of the feet during a shower clean and abrade dead skin off the feet including the sides of the feet and between the toes, depending to some degree on which type of abrasive material is used. Water from the shower flows through the lining and out through the bottom of the container while maintaining the abrasive materials in the container on top of the lining. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The FIGURE is a cross-sectional view of a foot cleansing device and method. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Referring to the drawing FIGURE is shown, a foot cleansing device and method, identified in general by the reference numeral  10 . 
   A container  12  is placed on the floor  14  of a bathtub or shower stall where a person taking a shower would normally stand. The container  12  includes feet  16  that elevate a bottom of the container above the floor  14  sufficient to allow water coming from a shower  18  to drain through a plurality of openings  20  that are provided in the bottom of the container  12 . 
   A fine first screen netting  22  is disposed on the bottom of the container  12 . The first screen netting  22  is formed of any preferred mesh material, including nylon or galvanized screening material, cheese cloth, or any other desired material. 
   As shown in the FIGURE, the first screen netting  22  is elevated above the bottom. This is only for purpose of improving clarity as to the layers of components that are disposed within the container  12 . The first screen netting  22  is preferably adhered directly to the bottom of the container  12  so that it covers all of the openings  20 . The remaining components rest directly upon those that are underneath. 
   The first screen netting  22  prevents larger debris that may wash of a foot  24  of a user from passing through the openings  20  in the bottom of the container  12  and possibly clogging a drain (not shown). It also prevents any of a variety of abrasive materials  26  that may migrate to the bottom of the container  12  from passing through the openings  20  and clogging the drain. The abrasive materials  26  are discussed in greater detail hereinafter. 
   A section of foam  28  is surrounded by a second screen netting  30 . The second netting  30  is similar to the first netting  22 , however it fully surrounds the foam  28 . It is described in greater detail hereinafter. 
   The foam  28  and the second netting  30  are disposed on the bottom of the container  12  directly on top of the first screen netting  22 . The foam  28  preferably includes a type of foam commonly referred to as “egg crate” foam and is oriented so the points of the foam  28  are disposed upward. The foam  28  provides compression that adapts the foot cleansing device and method  10  to match the shape and contour of the foot  24 . 
   A lining  32  of artificial grass turf (as is commonly used as a carpeting material for exterior porches, decks, or stairs) is disposed over the foam  28  and up and over the sides and a surrounding lip  34  of the container  12 . The lining  32  is secured the container by a series of cords  36  that pass through both the lining  32  and the sides of the container  12 . Of course many other methods for attaching the lining  32  are anticipated, for example, VELCRO, or other types of fasteners may be used. 
   The abrasive materials  26  are placed on top of the lining  32 . Any preferred material may be used for the abrasive materials  26  from fine sand to courser grades of sand to large and highly abrasive materials, for example, gravel&#39;s, including epoxy coated aquarium gravel. 
   The abrasive materials  26  may be changed as the foot  24  adapts as well. For example, a user may at first have a tender underside  24   a  of his foot  24 . He or she may begin by using a fine grade of “play box” sand for a period of time. Then, as the foot  24  acclimates, a courser grade of sand may be used and the process repeated as often as desired. In this manner, the underside  24   a  of the foot  24  is trained to tolerate standing on coarser materials. 
   The abrasive materials  26  are also varied to suit the intended purpose of the foot cleansing device and method  10 . For example, to simply automatically cleanse the foot  24 , the finer grades of sand are typically used for the abrasive materials  26 . Prior to taking the shower  18 , a soap  38  is optionally poured into the container  12  on top of the abrasive materials  26 . 
   The user stands in the container  12  and takes the shower  18  in a normal fashion, washing their body while shifting the position of each foot  24  slightly and also shifting their weight from foot  24  to foot  24  as they flex and move during the course of the shower  18 , as is common. 
   The sand (as the abrasive material  26 ) works its way up between the toes of the foot  24 , cleaning and finely abrading these oft neglected body parts. The foam  28  cooperates with the lining  32  during the shower  18 . The foot  24  sinks into the foam  28  which stretches the lining  32  in various places. 
   The result is that the lining  32  forces some of the abrasive materials  26  into contact with a side  24   b  of the foot  24 , thereby automatically cleaning both the underside  24   a  and the side  24   b  of the foot  24 . 
   If the user desires, he or she may actually rub the underside  24   a  or the sides  24   b  or both of the foot  24  against the lining  32  on the sides of the container  12 . 
   While other materials can be used for the lining  32 , the artificial grass turf provides advantages in that it (along the sides of the container  12 ) also helps to cleanse and massage the foot  24  while retaining the bulk of the abrasive material  26  on top and in between the “blades” on top. This (the blades of artificial grass) prevent excessive shifting of the abrasive material  26  from occurring. 
   The lining  32  also permits the water from the shower  18  to pass through itself (the plane of the lining  32 ) and reach the lower level (bottom) of the container  12  where it drains out through the openings  20 . In this manner, the lining  32  acts as an upper level screen that retains the overwhelming bulk of the abrasive materials  26  on top while allowing water to pass through. The soap  28  is similarly washed away during each shower  18  thereby leaving the foot cleansing device and method  10  clean and ready for the next usage. 
   The soap  38  can include bath oils or bath crystals, as desired. When the user is done with the shower  18 , each foot  24  has been automatically cleaned without requiring any additional time. Also, there is no need for the user to raise one leg for cleaning of the foot  24  dangerously high while attempting to balance for a long period of time upon the other. Each foot  24  smells fresh, is clean, and has had some of the dead skin removed when the shower  18  is complete. 
   The process of taking the shower  18  while standing in the container  12  causes the lining  32  to stretch and relax as described hereinabove from normal weight shifting and normal slight movements of each foot  24  while the foam  28  compresses and expands periodically as well. During these changes, the abrasive materials  26  contact the foot  24  in different areas and at varying pressures. 
   The effect transcends that of a mere automatic washing of the foot  24  and provides an experience that includes a massaging of the foot  24 . The essence of a foot massage is to provide varying pressures of contact to various areas of the foot  24 , which the foot cleansing device and method  10  provides. Not only does the user benefit from a thorough cleansing of the foot  24 , the user also receives a foot massage every time he or she takes the shower  18 . 
   Removal of dead skin has also been accomplished which promotes healthy feet while possibly decreasing the chances of contracting an athlete&#39;s foot fungal infection. If such an infection already exists, the foot cleansing device and method  10  promotes healing and aids in the absorption and resultant efficacy of medications that can then be applied. 
   If desired, coarser or more abrasive substances can then be substituted for the abrasive materials  26  or they can be progressively added to the current abrasive materials  26 , as desired. More abrasive substances are especially useful for use as the abrasive materials  26  in removing dead and scaling skin, such as occurs with psoriasis, eczema, and other similar disorders. There is virtually no limit to what can be used for the abrasive materials  26  as long as it is retained in the container  12 . 
   Most materials selected as the abrasive materials  26  are given preference if they tend not to adhere to the skin of the foot  24 . This ensures that the abrasive materials  26  remain in the container  12  and are not transported out when the person leaves the shower  18  area. The user may also elect to slightly raise the foot  24  for a short period of time and allow water coming from the shower  18  to rinse any remaining abrasive material  26  off of the foot  24  and back into the container  12  before exiting. 
   Water from the shower  18  flows through the lining  32 , around and through the foam  28 , and out through the openings  20  in the bottom of the container  12  while maintaining the abrasive materials  26  in the container  12  on top of the lining  32 . If any of the abrasive materials  26  pass through the lining  32  they are prevented from embedding in the foam  28  by the second netting  30  and from passing out through the openings  20  by the first netting  22 . It is not desirable to have the abrasive materials  26  clog a shower stall or bath tub drain. 
   Periodically, the cords  36  are loosened and the abrasive materials  26  and the lining  32  and the foam  28  are removed for rinsing and drying. They are either then reused or replaced, when required. 
   The invention has been shown, described, and illustrated in substantial detail with reference to the presently preferred embodiment. It will be understood by those skilled in this art that other and further changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention which is defined by the claims appended hereto.