Abstract:
A foot scrubbing apparatus for scrubbing and cleaning one&#39;s feet while in a shower or bathtub and which is attached to the shower wall. The apparatus includes a soap reservoir having a manual pump mechanism that forces liquid soap through a tube to a foot component. The foot component attaches to the floor and includes multiple bristles for cleaning the bottom of the foot. The top of the foot is cleaned using a “U”-shaped saddle that also has bristles for cleaning. Soap is directed into the saddle area where it is discharged onto the foot via orifices.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     There are currently no applications co-pending with the present application. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The presently disclosed subject matter is directed to personal cleaning devices. More particularly, the present invention relates to a foot scrubbing apparatus designed to be used in a shower. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The age-old problem associated with the washing of one&#39;s feet while standing in a shower or tub has never really been solved. Usually, a person is forced to stand on one (1) foot while washing the other. This feat is difficult for even those in good physical condition. People who are elderly, disabled, overweight, or just clumsy, find it next to impossible to do. Long-handled scrub brushes have also been used, but they are often hard to use and ineffective due to the fact it is difficult to apply enough pressure over a long handle to clean one&#39;s feet. Because of the forgoing difficulty people often do nothing about cleaning their feet, thus sacrificing personal hygiene and the overall health and well being of having clean feet. 
     Accordingly, there is a need for a way by which an individual can quickly and easily cleanse and scrub their feet while in a shower or bathtub without the disadvantages normally associated with conventional feet cleaning methods. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The principles of the present invention provide for a foot washing apparatus that enables an individual to quickly and easily cleanse and scrub their feet while in a shower or bathtub. 
     A foot washing apparatus in accord with the present invention includes a soap dispenser with a manual pump assembly that is operated by an outward facing pump handle. When the pump handle is pressed liquid soap is pressurized for dispensing. A pressure valve prevents unpressurized liquid soap from leaking from the soap dispenser. The foot washing apparatus also includes a foot cleaning unit having a base with a first set of apertures and a first set of bristles, a first side extension that extends up from one (1) side of base, a second side extension that extends up from a second side of the base. The first side extension and the side second extension have a second set of apertures and a second set of bristles. The foot cleaning unit also includes a cleaning saddle that is between the first side extension and the second side extension. The cleaning saddle includes a third set of apertures and a third set of bristles. A flexible hose connects the soap dispenser to the foot cleaning unit. Inward force on the pump handle pressurizes liquid soap through the flexible hose and out of the apertures. 
     The foot washing apparatus beneficially further includes a plurality of suction cups for retaining the foot washing apparatus in position in a shower. The soap dispenser beneficially includes a mounting frame that holds a soap bottle and the manual pump assembly in position. In practice the soap bottle will have a threaded cap to enable refilling the soap bottle with liquid soap, and the soap bottle is mounted to the mounting frame by a spring clip. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The advantages and features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following more detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like elements are identified with like symbols and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is an isometric view of a foot washing apparatus  10  according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention and shown in a shower  15 ; 
         FIG. 2  is a front view of a soap dispenser  20  used in the foot washing apparatus  10  shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of the soap dispenser  20  shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a top view of a foot cleaning unit  25  as used with the foot washing apparatus  10  shown in  FIG. 1 ; and, 
         FIG. 5  is an end view of the foot cleaning unit  25  shown in  FIG. 4 . 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTIVE KEY 
     
         
         
           
               10  foot washing apparatus 
               15  shower 
               20  soap dispenser 
               25  foot cleaning unit 
               30  suction cups 
               35  mounting frame 
               40  soap bottle 
               42  cap 
               45  manual pump assembly 
               50  spring clip 
               55  pump handle 
               60  liquid soap 
               65  flexible hose 
               70  shower wall 
               75  floor 
               80  base section 
               85  cleaning saddle 
               90  pressure valve assembly 
               95  side extension 
               100  first set of bristles 
               105  second set of bristles 
               110  barbed connection port 
               115  hollow cavity 
               120  third set of bristles 
               123  aperture 
               125  discharge orifices 
           
         
       
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The best mode for carrying out the invention is presented in terms of its preferred embodiment, herein depicted within  FIGS. 1 through 5 , and a person skilled in the art will appreciate that many other embodiments of the invention are possible without deviating from the basic concept of the invention, and that any such work around will also fall under scope of this invention. It is envisioned that other styles and configurations of the present invention can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present invention, and only one particular configuration shall be shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope. 
     The terms “a” and “an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced items. 
     The preferred embodiment of the present invention is depicted within  FIGS. 1 through 5 . In particular  FIG. 1  shows an isometric view of a foot washing apparatus  10  being used in a shower  15 . The foot washing apparatus  10  includes a soap dispenser  20  and a foot cleaning unit  25 . The soap dispenser  20  is mounted on a wall  70  where it is held in place via suction cups  30 . The soap dispenser  20  uses a mounting frame  35  which holds a removable squeezable soap bottle  40  that is threaded into a manual pump assembly  45 . A spring clip  50  holds the soap bottle  40  in an inverted vertical position. Finally, a pump handle  55  is provided to operate the manual pump assembly  45  and force liquid soap  60  (see  FIG. 2 ) through a flexible hose  65 . Further detail on the soap dispenser  20  will be provided herein below. 
     Still referring to  FIG. 1 , a series of additional suction cups  30  hold the flexible hose  65  to the shower wall  70  such that it does not interfere with use thereof or other bathing activities. The flexible hose  65  terminates at the foot cleaning unit  25  which rests upon the floor  75  of the shower  15 , preferably in a location that is easy to reach with a user&#39;s foot while he or she is in the shower  15 . The foot cleaning unit  25  includes a base section  80  and a cleaning saddle  85  (described in more detail subsequently). The foot cleaning unit  25  is also held in place with suction cups  30  as shown. The suction cups  30  used with the soap dispenser  20 , the foot cleaning unit  25  and the flexible hose  65  allow for easy movement on any smooth surface. The suction cups  30  also enable the various components to be easily removed for cleaning and maintenance. 
     Refer next to  FIG. 2 , which is a front view of the soap dispenser  20  used with the foot washing apparatus  10 . The various components of the soap dispenser  20  are preferably made of plastic using an injection molding process. The soap bottle  40  can be provided as part of the foot washing apparatus  10  or it could be provided as a separate replaceable/refillable unit. A user could refill the soap bottle  40  with a liquid soap  60  of his or her choosing. The soap bottle  40  has a threaded cap  42  at its upper end. This enables easy removal and replenishment of the liquid soap  60 . 
     The soap dispenser  20  includes a pump handle  55  which beneficially has an ergonomic non-slip design that can be operated by simply pressing against it with one&#39;s hand. This enables use with wet or soap-covered hands. In practice other parts of a user&#39;s body can also be used should use by a hand not be possible. This feature can be important when one considers the difficulty in washing one&#39;s feet without hands. The internal components of the manual pump assembly  45  are well known in the art and would be similar to the manual pump mechanisms used in conventional liquid soap containers, hand cream dispensers, hand sanitizer dispensers and the like. A pressure valve assembly  90  is provided at the base of the manual pump assembly  45  to prevent inadvertent leakage of the liquid soap  60  through the flexible hose  65  (as shown in  FIG. 1 ) when the foot washing apparatus for shower use  10  is not in use. 
     Refer now to  FIG. 3 , a side view of the soap dispenser  20  as used with the foot washing apparatus  10 . This figure more clearly shows the operation of the spring clip  50  and how it aids in the retention of the soap bottle  40 . While depicted as a mechanical strap, the functionality of the spring clip  50  could also be accomplished by a nylon strap, a hook and loop fastener, a rubber strap or the like. As such, the depiction of a specific type of spring clip  50  is not intended to be a limiting factor of the present invention.  FIG. 3  also depicts the outward facing orientation of the pump handle  55  and highlights the ease upon which it can be used. 
     Referring next to  FIG. 4 , a top view of the foot cleaning unit  25 , the base section  80  has two (2) side extensions  95  that perpendicularly extend upward from the base section  80 . Additionally, the base section  80  has a plurality of equally-spaced apertures  123  that allow drainage of water during and after use. The upper surface of the base section  80  is provided with a first set of bristles  100  that are used for cleaning and scrubbing the bottom of one&#39;s foot. The side extensions  95  are provided with a second set of bristles  105  for cleaning the sides of one&#39;s foot. They second set of bristles  105  are of a length sufficient to allow different foot widths to pass through them while maintain contact for thorough cleaning. 
     Still referring to  FIG. 4 , the overall configuration and orientation of the side extension  95  as well the base section  80  allow use with either the right or left foot of a user. The cleaning saddle  85  is beneficially hollow and provides a barbed connection port  110  for connection of the flexible hose  65  (shown in  FIG. 1 ). A hollow cavity  115  (depicted by hidden lines) is used for the distribution of the liquid soap  60 . A third set of bristles  120  (partially visible in this figure) are located on the underside of the cleaning saddle  85 . The first set of bristles  100 , the second set of bristles  105 , and the third set of bristles  120  are envisioned as being soft pliable bristles that easily bend under moderate foot pressure but spring back erect for thorough cleaning. 
     Refer finally to  FIG. 5 , an end view of the foot cleaning unit  25 . This figure clearly shows how the third set of bristles  120  are located on the underside of the cleaning saddle  85  to clean the top of the foot as the foot is slid in and out of the cleaning saddle  85 .  FIG. 5  also clearly depicts the functionality of the second set of bristles  105  as positioned upon the side extension  95 . 
     Three hundred sixty degrees)(360° cleaning coverage of one&#39;s foot is possible when used in conjunction with the first set of bristles  100  Liquid soap  60  from the hollow cavity  115  is distributed via a series of discharge orifices  125  that are located on the underside of the cleaning saddle  85  between the bristles of the third set of bristles  120 . As a user works their foot in and out of the foot cleaning unit  25  liquid soap  60  is released onto the user&#39;s foot and distributed among the various bristles of the first set of bristles  100 , the second set of bristles  105 , and the third set of bristles  120 . This action provides for thorough cleaning of all foot surfaces without the necessity of bending over. The coverage afforded by the length of the bristles used in the first set of bristles  100 , the second set of bristles  105  and the third set of bristles  120  allows the foot washing apparatus  10  to be used with feet of a wide range of sized from small children up to full size adults. 
     Preferably the structural components of the foot washing apparatus  10  are made of heavy duty impact resistant plastic in an injection molding process. Such a material is corrosion resistant and is easily cleaned after use by simple rinsing. 
     It is envisioned that other styles and configurations of the present invention can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present invention; while only one particular configuration is shown and described that is for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope. 
     The preferred embodiment of the present invention can be used by a common user in a simple and effortless manner with little or no training. It is envisioned that the foot washing apparatus  10  would be constructed in general accordance with  FIG. 1  through  FIG. 5 . Upon purchase by a user, the soap dispenser  20  and the foot cleaning unit  25  are placed in a shower  15  as shown in  FIG. 1 . The location of the soap dispenser  20  may be set for use by the average height of the average user and by the availability of a smooth wall. The foot cleaning unit  25  would be positioned off to the side of the floor  75  where it is accessible by the user in a standing position in the shower  15 , but preferably not in direct path of water flow, drains, and the like. The soap dispenser  20  and the foot cleaning unit  25  would then be interconnected by the flexible hose  65  applied in a leak-proof manner. The soap dispenser  20 , the foot cleaning unit  25 , and the flexible hose  65  would be secured in place by the use of the suction cups  30 . Next, the user would remove the cap  42  to fill the soap bottle  40  with the desired liquid soap  60 . At this time, the foot washing apparatus  10  is ready for use. 
     During actual use of the foot washing apparatus  10 , the user would place his foot into the foot cleaning unit  25  and under the cleaning saddle  85 . Next, the user would activate the manual pump assembly  45  using the pump handle  55  such that liquid soap  60  is forced through the flexible hose  65  and out of the discharge orifices  125  on the underside of the cleaning saddle  85 . The user would then work his foot back and forth, forming lather while the bristles of the first set of bristles  100 , the second set of bristles  105  and the third set of bristles  120  clean the bottom, sides and top of his foot respectively. 
     It should be noted that the foot washing apparatus  10  is intended to clean one foot at a time with the user standing securely on the other foot while possibly holding a stationary object with their hands for stability. After cleaning one foot that foot might be thoroughly rinsed and placed on the floor  75  to prevent slipping. The user can then clean the other foot. When finished with use, water is run over the foot cleaning unit  25  to rinse it. The foot washing apparatus  10  may be removed from the shower  15  or left in place for future bathing/cleaning events. 
     The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention and method of use to the precise forms disclosed. Obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, and to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is understood that various omissions or substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstance may suggest or render expedient, but is intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the spirit or scope of the claims of the present invention.