Patent Publication Number: US-2019174970-A1

Title: Back scrubbing device

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     The present application is related to and claims priority from prior provisional application Ser. No. 62/598,431, filed Dec. 13, 2017 which application is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     COPYRIGHT NOTICE 
     A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever. 37 CFR 1.71(d). 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The following includes information that may be useful in understanding the present invention(s). It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art, or material, to the presently described or claimed inventions, or that any publication or document that is specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art. 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to the field of back scrubbing devices and more specifically relates to a self-contained, battery-powered, waterproof, motorized back scrubber/conditioner/massager structured and arranged to mount on the shower wall via suction cups and scrub the upper back of the user with three variable-speed, interchangeable rotary brush-heads. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Almost all of us take a least one shower daily, and many take two—and not one of us (with the possible exception of a few yoga masters!) can adequately reach and wash our own back. A sponge doesn&#39;t help much, nor does a washcloth or brush. It gets complicated, and parts of the upper back remain untouched. And for those with flexibility problems, disabilities, or joints made stiff by age and arthritis, fully washing one&#39;s back alone is practically impossible. What&#39;s needed, then, is a way for a single individual to reach and scrub his or her own back. Therefore, a need exists for a device that makes it possible for anyone to get a good, satisfying back-scrub and skin-conditioning in the shower and a back-massage as well. 
     Various attempts have been made to solve problems found in the back scrubbing device art. Among these are found in: U.S. Pat. No. 6,996,861 to Aaron Thomas Clark, Jr.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,704,903 to Wayne L. Jahnke; U.S. Pat. No. 7,451,513 to Reinaldo Torres; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,345,640 to Mary A. Goss. This prior art is representative of motorized back scrubbing devices structured and arranged to attach to shower wall. 
     None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the invention as claimed. Thus, a need exists for a reliable Back Wash, a self-contained, battery-powered, waterproof, motorized back scrubber/conditioner/massager structured and arranged to mount on the shower wall via suction cups and scrub the upper back of the user with three variable-speed, interchangeable rotary brush-heads and to avoid the above-mentioned problems. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known back scrubbing device art, the present invention provides a novel back scrubbing device. The general purpose of the Back Wash, described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a self-contained, battery-powered, waterproof, motorized back scrubber/conditioner/massager structured and arranged to mount on the shower wall via suction cups, and scrub the upper back of the user with three variable-speed, interchangeable rotary brush-heads. A great addition to any shower, the present invention is especially useful to those who suffer limitations of flexibility and mobility; for the present invention will enable virtually any user to wash, scrub, condition, and massage any area of his or her upper back without assistance. The features of the invention which are believed to be novel are particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings and detailed description. 
     The Back Wash offers stress-free, instant access to the users own upper back. With its unique, triple rotary-head design, and its interchangeable scrubbing and massaging heads, the Back Wash effectively permits the user to reach, and scrub or massage, any area of their back—regardless of their physical flexibility or lack thereof, with absolutely no undue strain or stretching required. A delightful addition to the shower for anyone, the Back Wash is a special blessing to those who suffer from a lack of flexibility or joint mobility. Not only does the Back Wash scrub one&#39;s back—a great feature to be sure—it also provides skin-conditioning and a relaxing back massage, thereby tripling its usefulness and value. The Back Wash mounts easily and detachably to the wall of the shower, so that raising or lowering the unit—as one might do for a child or a person in a wheelchair is fast and easy. The Back Wash is of tremendous utility and pleasure to virtually anyone who bathes by shower, and this highly useful product should find a wide and enthusiastic market reception, both in the United States and around the world. The Back Wash is cost-effective to produce. 
     The present invention holds significant improvements and serves as a back scrubbing device. For purposes of summarizing the invention, certain aspects, advantages, and novel features of the invention have been described herein. It is to be understood that not necessarily all such advantages may be achieved in accordance with any one particular embodiment of the invention. Thus, the invention may be embodied or carried out in a manner that achieves or optimizes one advantage or group of advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving other advantages as may be taught or suggested herein. The features of the invention which are believed to be novel are particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings and detailed description. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The figures which accompany the written portion of this specification illustrate embodiments and method(s) of use for the present invention, a Back Wash, constructed and operative according to the teachings of the present invention. 
         FIG. 1  shows a perspective view illustrating a back scrubbing device with brushes according to an embodiment of the present invention with a close up of the pull-out drawer. 
         FIG. 2  is a rear view illustrating a back scrubbing device according to an embodiment of the present invention of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view illustrating a back scrubbing device with sponges according to an embodiment of the present invention of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view illustrating a back scrubbing device with massage balls according to an embodiment of the present invention of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view illustrating a back scrubbing device with hair removing patches according to an embodiment of the present invention of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 6  is a partial cut-away view illustrating the interior of a back scrubbing device according to an embodiment of the present invention of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     The various embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein like designations denote like elements. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     As discussed above, embodiments of the present invention relate to a Back Wash, a self-contained, battery-powered, waterproof, motorized back scrubber/conditioner/massager structured and arranged to mount on the shower wall via suction cups, and to scrub the upper back of the user with three variable-speed, interchangeable rotary brush-heads. A great addition to any shower, the present invention is especially useful to those who suffer limitations of flexibility and mobility; for the present invention will enable virtually any user to wash, scrub, condition, and massage any area of his or her upper back without assistance. 
     Referring to the drawings by numerals of reference there is shown in  FIGS. 1-6 , and beginning with  FIG. 1 , the present invention features a back scrubbing device  1  comprising a waterproof, molded-plastic casing  2 , rounded triangular in shape, and measuring 7 inches in height, 12 inches in width, and 2 inches in thickness or depth. Referring now also to  FIG. 2 , the casing  2  has a top portion  21   a , a bottom portion  21   b , a back wall  3 , a front wall  4  and a side wall  5 . The side wall  5  extends between the back wall  3  and the front wall  4  and includes apertures  6   a ,  6   b , and  6   c . Each of these apertures can be selectively opened or closed. They are able to be closed to keep out unwanted moisture. The purpose of the apertures in the open position will be described in greater detail in the following paragraphs. 
     The back wall  3 , front wall  4  and side wall  5  form a hollow interior volume  7  (as can be seen in  FIG. 6 ). The side wall  5  is shown as being continuous in  FIGS. 1-6 , but the casing  2  is not limited to this particular substantially curved triangular shape. In the embodiment shown, the substantially triangular shape includes three apexes  8   a ,  8   b  and  8   c  which form three quadrants  9   a ,  9   b  and  9   c  (shown in  FIG. 5 ) each in proximity to a respective apex  8   a ,  8   b  and  8   c.    
     The outer surface of back wall  3  of the casing  2  is equipped with multiple suction-cups either nine smaller cups  10   a - 10   i  (as shown in  FIG. 2 ) or three larger cups (not shown) with which it attaches to the shower wall, as well as a selectively openable and closeable gasket-sealed battery compartment  16   a  (See  FIG. 2 ) to allow a battery to be inserted when open and to prevent moisture from getting to the battery when closed. 
     The back scrubbing device will operate on a lantern-type, 6-volt battery (shown in  FIG. 6 ) which serves as the power source  16 . This power source  16  is located within the interior volume  7  and will power three variable-speed motors  15   a ,  15   b  and  15   c  (Low, Medium, and High speeds) which, through either gears or belts, are configured to drive three rotary brushes  11   a ,  11   b  and  11   c  (see  FIG. 1 ) in rotation. The three brushes  11   a ,  11   b  and  11   c , with detachable heads 3½ inches in diameter, will be situated at the three apexes  8   a ,  8   b  and  8   c  of the rounded triangle, and will extend outward beyond the surface of the unit. 
     Each of the three rotary brushes  11   a ,  11   b  and  11   c  are attached to a panel  12   a ,  12   b  and  12   c  (see  FIG. 3 ) respectively. Each panel  12   a ,  12   b  and  12   c  have at least one aperture  13  (see  FIG. 1 ) therethrough but typically will have more apertures  13  through which liquids are able to pass and furthermore have the brushes  11   a ,  11   b  and  11   c  with bristles  14   a ,  14   b  and  14   c  attached thereto and extending outwardly therefrom. Each of the three rotary brushes  11   a ,  11   b  and  11   c  are suitably attached to the front wall  4  of the casing  2  at the respective ones of the three quadrants  9   a ,  9   b  and  9   c . Each of the three rotary brushes  11   a ,  11   b  and  11   c  are adapted to rotate. The three brushes  11   a ,  11   b  and  11   c  are formed of plastic bristles  14   a ,  14   b  and  14   c  which are available as rigid or flexible. 
     A control member  17  controls On/Off, as well as the Speed Setting, and rotating direction of the brushes  11   a ,  11   b  and  11   c . The control member  17  is situated on the front wall  4  of the back scrubbing device, between the two lower brushes  11   b  and  11   c  (See  FIG. 1 ). The control member  17  is electrically connected to the power source  16 . A small aperture  6   a  having hinged lid  6   d  that can be selectively opened or closed in the center top  21   a  of the back scrubbing device unit opens to the interior. Through this aperture  6   a , body-wash or a similar liquid or lotion is poured, and travels to and expelled through the aperture(s)  13  in each of the three brushes  11   a ,  11   b  or  11   c  by means of interior tubes or channels  18   a ,  18   b  and  18   c . Each channel  18   a ,  18   b  and  18   c  has at least one wall member  19  forming an interior volume (see  FIG. 6 ). 
     The brushes  11   a ,  11   b  and  11   c  are removable from the panels  12   a ,  12   b  and  12   c , and are washable, replaceable, and interchangeable with other appliances. The back scrubbing device appliances includes not only the three brushes  11   a ,  11   b  and  11   c —which is offered in Soft, Medium, and Hard—but also a set of sponges ( FIG. 3 )  24   a ,  24   b  and  24   c  (for application of skin-care lotions or creams), and a set of massage balls  25   a ,  25   b  and  25   c  ( FIG. 4 ) and hair-removal patches  26   a ,  26   b  and  26   c  ( FIG. 5 ) for removing hair from the back in the shower. 
     The casing  2  is provided with a second aperture  6   b , having hinged lid  6   e  that can be selectively opened or closed, this one on the center bottom portion  21   b , which can be selectively opened to drain the casing  2  after use. To rinse the unit, the user would pour water into the opened top aperture  6   a , with the brushes  11   a ,  11   b  and  11   c  running, and open the bottom aperture  6   b  to let the rinse-water run through. Also, a drawer  22  compartment pulled by a circular handle  23 , slides in and out of aperture  6   c  in one side of the back scrubbing device unit, provides water tight storage space when closed for pill bottles—when the drawer  22  is inside the casing  2 , making it convenient for back scrubbing device users to take their medication in the shower. (For example, those with certain heart conditions, may need to have their medication immediately available at all times). 
     Upon reading this specification, it should be appreciated that, under appropriate circumstances, considering such issues as design preference, user preferences, marketing preferences, cost, structural requirements, available materials, technological advances, etc., other kit contents or arrangements such as, for example, including more or less components, customized parts, different color combinations, parts may be sold separately, etc., may be sufficient. 
     The embodiments of the invention described herein are exemplary and numerous modifications, variations and rearrangements can be readily envisioned to achieve substantially equivalent results, all of which are intended to be embraced within the spirit and scope of the invention. Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientist, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application.