Abstract:
A hygienic utensil having improved cleansing members for effectively cleaning and massaging the scalp is provided. The utensil for cleansing and massaging skin includes, a body and a plurality of branched bristle bundles. The plurality of branched bristle bundles extend outward from the body. The branched bristle bundles are grouped together to form cleansing members and attached to pedestals extending from the body. The cleansing members have a centermost portion in which the bristle lengths are shorter relative to the outermost bristle lengths.

Description:
[0001]    The present invention relates, in general, to a utensil for cleansing and massaging a skin surface. More particularly, this invention provides a utensil having improved cleansing members for effectively cleaning and massaging the scalp.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    A typical daily hygiene regimen includes cleansing the skin and hair with the aid of soaps and/or shampoos. Shampoos for the hair, in particular, are available in a variety of brands and formulations for the purpose of enhancing the appearance/condition of the hair. While some shampoos are specifically designed to treat scalp conditions such as dandruff and psoriasis, routine cleansing and massaging of the scalp is often ignored or attended to in an inconsistent manner.  
           [0003]    It is widely accepted that proper scalp cleansing can prevent many of the factors which contribute to and/or aggravate such conditions as dandruff and psoriasis. Moreover, scalp stimulation increases blood flow to the scalp which has been shown to be beneficial in those with thinning and/or unhealthy hair. However, presently, proper scalp cleansing is often overlooked absent a medical condition such as the type mentioned above.  
           [0004]    For example, a typical hair cleansing routine consists of a small amount of shampoo being applied by hand to the hair surface where the shampoo may or may not be worked into the hair root area with the fingers. As such, cleansing and/or massaging of the scalp is not uniformly or effectively done, and depending on hair thickness and cleansing habits of some, may not be done at all.  
           [0005]    Accordingly, there is a need for a hair utensil to effectively massage and cleanse the scalp for use during routine hygienic activities.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0006]    It is an objective of the invention to provide a utensil having improved cleansing members for effectively cleaning and massaging the scalp. The utensil for cleansing and massaging skin includes, a body and a plurality of branched bristle bundles. The plurality of branched bristle bundles extend outward from a pedestal portion attached to the body. The branched bristle bundles are grouped together to form cleansing members. The cleansing members have a centermost portion in which the bristle lengths are shorter relative to the outermost bristle lengths.  
           [0007]    In a further objective of the invention a utensil for cleansing and massaging skin is provided, including, a body and a plurality of body members. An elevated branched pedestal extends outward from each of the body members and each branch of the pedestals has an elevated surface. A plurality of branched bristle bundles extending outward from the body members, the branched bristle bundles being grouped together to form cleansing members, the cleansing members have a centermost portion in which the bristle lengths are shorter relative to the outermost bristle lengths.  
           [0008]    In still a further aspect of the invention, at least one ring element is secured to the body. The ring element includes bristles along a surface thereof for cleansing the scalp during use.  
           [0009]    It is another objective of the invention to provide a body having a facing surface. The body includes a plurality of recessed depressions therein and a plurality of balls housed in a corresponding one of the recessed depressions. The balls are rotatably suspended within the recessed depressions and each ball has a portion protruding from a corresponding one of the recessed depressions for contacting and rotating about the skin surface.  
           [0010]    It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description of the invention and the following detailed description are exemplary, but are not restrictive, of the invention.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING  
       [0011]    The invention is best understood from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cleansing and massaging utensil in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 2 is a side view of the cleansing and massaging member of the utensil of FIG. 1;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 3 is a side view of a cleansing and massaging member having three branched bristle bundles;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 4 is a side view of a cleansing and massaging member having four branched bristle bundles;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the invention in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of a ring element of the cleansing and massaging utensil of the exemplary embodiment as shown by inset  6  of FIG. 5;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 7 is side profile taken along lines  7  of FIG. 6;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 8 is a side view of the exemplary embodiment of the invention;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 9 is an enlarged view of a ring element of the exemplary embodiment of the invention as shown by inset  9  of FIG. 8;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 10 is a front view of the ring element of the exemplary embodiment of the invention taken along lines  10  of FIG. 9;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 11 is a front of an exemplary embodiment of the invention showing ring element anchors;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 12 is an enlarged view of a ring element of the exemplary embodiment of the invention as shown by inset  12  of FIG. 11;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 13 is side profile of a ring element taken along lines  13  of FIG. 12;  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 14 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the invention;  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 15 is a front perspective of a cleansing and massaging element in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention;  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 16 is a front view of a cleansing and massaging utensil in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention;  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 17 is an enlarged view of a cleansing and massaging element in accordance with the exemplary embodiment as shown by inset  17  of FIG. 16;  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 18 is a side profile of a cleansing and massaging element in accordance with the exemplary embodiment as taken along line  18  of FIG. 17;  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 19 is a front view of a cleansing and massaging utensil in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention;  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 20 is an enlarged view of a cleansing and massaging element in accordance with the exemplary embodiment as shown by inset  20  of FIG. 19;  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 21 is a side profile of a cleansing and massaging element in accordance with the exemplary embodiment as taken along line  21  of FIG. 20; and  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 22 is a front view of a cleansing and massaging element in accordance with the exemplary embodiment as taken along line  22  of FIG. 21. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0034]    Certain terminology used in the following description is for convenience only and is not limiting. The words “right,” “left,” “lower,” and “upper” designate directions in the drawings to which reference is made. The words “inwardly” and “outwardly” refer to directions toward and away from, respectively, the geometric center of the hygienic utensil in accordance with the present invention., and designated parts thereof. The terminology includes the words noted above as well as derivatives thereof and words of similar import. The term “cleansing and massaging member” is generally defined as the portions of the utensil contacting the scalp during use.  
         [0035]    The hygienic utensil or “brush” described herein employs cleansing and massaging members provided for use as an aid in the daily cleansing of human scalps and/or skin. It is recognized by those skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to a specific application and can be readily employed on other areas of the body or used for general cleansing purposes.  
         [0036]    Referring now to the drawings in detail, wherein like numerals indicate like elements throughout, there is shown in FIGS.  1 - 22 , a hygienic utensil, generally designated  10  in accordance with the present invention. The hygienic utensil  10  is provided for cleansing and massaging an area of skin, preferably the scalp during shampooing. In the preferred embodiment, the body  12  of the utensil  10  is formed of a rigid material such as a thermoplastic or wood and employs a plurality of cleansing and massaging members  15 . The body  12  may be contoured to adapt to rounded portions of skin such as the scalp. In an alternative embodiment, the body  12  may be an elastomeric sleeve and/or glove to be worn on the hand of a user such that the user&#39;s hand can readily adapt to an irregular surface.  
         [0037]    In an exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 1, a portion of the utensil  10  (shown cut-away) employs a plurality of cleansing and massaging members  15  fixedly mounted to pedestals  21  which are fixedly mounted to individual body members, generally designated  12   a.  Body members  12   a,  while shown as elongated portions of utensil structure, may be areas of an essentially planar utensil  10 . In this embodiment, each cleansing and massaging member  15  is a plurality of bristle bundles  16 . Each bristle  18  of each bundle  16  is preferably elongated in shape and constructed of nylon and/or thermoplastic material. In the exemplary embodiment, the bristle bundles  16  are branched for maximizing the footprint of the cleansing and massaging member upon contact to a surface. It is recognized by those skilled in the art that many suitable bristle materials exist for providing different levels of structural rigidity to each bristle  18 . For example, in alternative embodiments, any number of bristle bundles  16  can be arranged to form a cleansing and massaging member  15  as shown in FIGS.  2 - 4 .  
         [0038]    The branched bristle bundles  15  are mounted upon elevated pedestals  21 . In an exemplary embodiment, pedestals  21  are constructed of an elastomeric material such as rubber so as not to irritate the scalp upon contact. While the pedestals  21  are shown in FIGS.  1 - 4  as having a generally planar facing surface for receiving bristle bundles  16 , it is recognized by those skilled in the art that the pedestal facing surface may employ a branched facing surface or a contoured or curved surface, for adjusting the mounting elevation and/or orientation of bristle bundles  16 .  
         [0039]    As shown in FIGS.  1 - 4 , each cleansing and massaging member  15  is formed of bristle bundles  16 . Each bundle  16  of bristles  18  are provided to have differing lengths of bristles  18 , preferably the bundles  16  of bristles  18  are arranged so that the centermost portion of the cleansing and massaging members  15  have bristles  18  of a shorter length relative to the outermost bristles  18 .  
         [0040]    In using the exemplary embodiment of FIGS.  1 - 4 , pressure is placed on the utensil  10  by a user to cleanse the scalp, the bristles  18  are biased outwardly with respect to the center of the bristle bundles  15  to allow the shorter bristles to contact the scalp surface.  
         [0041]    Referring now to FIG. 5, an exemplary embodiment of the utensil  10  is shown employing ring elements  25 . Ring elements  25  employ bristles  27  which are shown in FIG. 6 as extending from an annular facing surface of ring element  25 . In the exemplary embodiment, ring elements  25  are constructed of an elastomeric material such as rubber, however those skilled in the art recognize that any number of flexible materials may be utilized. Moreover while ring elements  25  are shown as having only a single facing surface employing bristles  27 , those skilled in the art recognize that any number of ring element surfaces may employ bristles  27  such as those shown along the side annular surface of FIGS.  8 - 10 .  
         [0042]    Ring elements  25  of FIGS.  5 - 7  are secured to the utensil  10  by looping them through apertures created in the utensil (not shown). The ring elements  25  are provided to rotate and scrub the skin such as the scalp in use by freely moving through the utensil aperture.  
         [0043]    As shown in FIG. 10, the ring element may be constructed of an elastomeric annular ring  31  secured to a foam or sponge-like base material  33 . The sponge material  33  being utilized for delivering shampoos and/or soaps and for removing moisture from the surface being cleansed.  
         [0044]    In the exemplary embodiments of FIGS.  11 - 13  ring elements  25  are secured to utensil  10  by anchor portions  29 . The anchor portions  29  provide apertures external to the utensil  10 , such that where the utensil  10  is a glove, the rotation of the ring elements  25  is not interfered by a user&#39;s hand/and or fingers inside the glove.  
         [0045]    In the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 14, both ring elements  25  and cleansing and massaging members  15  are utilized with utensil  10 . It is recognized by those skilled in the art that the number, arrangement, and/or orientation of ring elements  25  and cleansing and massaging members  15  is a matter of design choice.  
         [0046]    [0046]FIG. 15 shows a utensil  10  having a body  12  in the shape of an ovoid base, the utensil  10  is designed to be gripped in the palm of the hand for use in intense scrubbing applications, such as the shampooing of an animal.  
         [0047]    In an embodiment shown in FIGS.  16 - 18 , a hygienic utensil, generally designated  10  is shown in accordance with the present invention. The hygienic utensil  10  is provided for cleansing and massaging an area of skin, preferably the scalp during shampooing. In the preferred embodiment, the body  12  of the utensil  10  is formed of a rigid material such as a thermoplastic or wood and employs a plurality of cleansing and massaging members  15 . It is recognized by those skilled in the art that a flexible body  12  may be utilized for adapting the shape of the utensil  10  to irregular surfaces.  
         [0048]    In this embodiment, the massaging and cleansing members  15  are resilient balls  40 . The resilient balls  40  are constructed of an elastomeric material such as rubber. The balls are housed in a corresponding one of a recessed depression  45  in the body  12  (shown as a body member  12   a  in the Figs.) As shown in FIGS.  17 - 18 , the balls  40  are rotatably suspended within each of the recessed depressions  45  such that a portion  40   a  of the balls  40  protrude from the depressions  45  to contact the skin surface when is use. In the exemplary embodiment, the exterior surface of the balls  40  have an irregular surface for use in cleansing. The recessed depressions are typically about 10% greater in circumference than the circumference of the balls  40  for providing unobstructed rotation. Preferably, the balls protrude from the surface of the body  12  by a distance of {fraction (2/8)} of an inch.  
         [0049]    In an alternative embodiment, shown in FIG. 19- 22 , the balls  40  are seated in the depression  45  by a flange plate  64  which frictionally biases the balls  40  against bearings  55  for providing ball rotation in a manner typical to that of a computer mouse.  
         [0050]    In use, when pressure is placed on the utensil  10  as it cleanses the scalp, the ball portions  40   a  protruding from the depressions  45  bristles  18  rotatably contact the scalp surface for cleansing and massaging.  
         [0051]    Although illustrated and described above with reference to certain specific embodiments, the present invention is nevertheless not intended to be limited to the details shown. Rather, various modifications may be made in the details within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims and without departing from the spirit of the invention.