Abstract:
A hand-held shower head with an integral deployable brush for cleaning one&#39;s back and other hard-to-reach body areas is mounted to the shower head handle upon a sliding mechanism. In a lowered position, the brush is out of the way of the water stream enabling operation similar to a conventional hand-held shower. When in a raised position, the water stream flows through openings in the brush body.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     There are no current co-pending applications. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The presently disclosed subject matter is directed toward shower accessories. More particularly, the present invention relates to a handheld shower scrubber for those hard-to-reach areas of the body. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Bathing is an important function in today&#39;s society. People bathe or shower on a daily basis to become clean, eliminate body odor, and remove dirt. It can be very unpleasant to work with someone that has not bathed or showered for some time. 
     Today, most people tend to shower instead of taking a bath in a tub. The use of a shower instead of a tub saves time and water and can take up less space. Many people are rushed in the morning so getting ready for work, school, and social obligations means one often doesn&#39;t have adequate time to fill a tub, bath, and towel dry, and then get ready for their day. Therefore a shower is often more convenient. There is no need to fill a shower with water, which saves time, water, and thus money. 
     While some showers are very large, some are also small and very cramped. Therefore in many showers a handheld wand is not only useful it is a necessity. As useful or necessary as a shower wand is it still does not solve the age-old problems associated with washing the very hard-reach-areas of the body. While long-handled scrub brushes have been used they often do not enable adequate rinsing, they take storage space, and they can take significant time to use. 
     Accordingly, there exists a need a device by which a person can scrub and rinse those hard-to-reach body areas without the disadvantages described above. Beneficially such a device would be easy to use and low in cost. Preferably such a device would take the form of a shower wand, would incorporate a selectively used scrub brush, would provide for thorough rinsing, and would be useful for cleaning those hard to reach areas. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The principles of the present invention provide for a shower wand with scrub brush for scrubbing and rinsing hard-to-reach body areas. Beneficially the shower wand with scrub brush is easy to use, low in cost, takes the form of a shower wand, and incorporates a selectively used scrub brush. 
     A shower wand with scrub brush that is in accord with the present invention includes an elongated hollow handle having a shower head with a face on one (1) end and a water input on another end. The face includes water apertures for dispensing input water. The handle further includes an elongated slot and a locking feature at an upper end of said slot. The shower wand with scrub brush further includes a brush having a scrubbing feature and an integral arm with a protrusion. The integral arm is configured to slide along the slot and the protrusion is configured to fit into the lock feature. When the protrusion fits into the locking feature the scrubbing feature is in position over the face. 
     Beneficially the water input is threaded with external threads and a hose is threaded onto the water input. Also beneficially the locking feature locks the brush in an in-use position and prevents the brush from sliding along the slot until the locking feature is unlocked. In practice it is best if the scrubbing feature fits over the face such that the water apertures pass water through the scrubbing feature. Preferably the scrubbing feature includes a porous scrubbing surface. 
     The shower wand with scrub brush may further includes holder having an input spigot adaptor for receiving water from an existing spigot and a hose adaptor in fluid communication with the input spigot for passing received water into the hose. The holder may further include a handle opening for receiving and holding the handle and a valve for controlling water flow between the input spigot adaptor and the hose adaptor. Beneficially, the valve is a rotating ball valve having an angle that is controlled by an actuator. 
     An alternative shower wand with scrub brush that is in accord with the present invention includes an elongated hollow handle having a shower head with a face on one (1) end and a water input on another end. The face includes water apertures for dispensing input water. The handle further includes a pair of opposed elongated slots and that each ends in a locking feature. The alternative shower wand with scrub brush further includes a brush having a scrubbing feature and a pair of integral arms, each having a protrusion, that extend from the scrubbing feature. Each integral arm is retained in and slides along an associate elongated slot. Each protrusion fits into an associated locking feature when the scrubbing feature is over the face, and when a protrusion fits into a locking feature the brush is locked into position. 
     Beneficially, the alternative shower wand with scrub brush includes a hose that is threaded onto the water input. Also beneficially, when the scrubbing feature fits over the face water passing through the water apertures pass through the scrubbing feature. Preferably the scrubbing feature includes a porous scrubbing surface. 
     The alternative shower wand with scrub brush may further include a holder having an input spigot adaptor for receiving water from an existing spigot and a hose adaptor in fluid communication with the input spigot for passing received water into the hose. The holder may further include a handle opening for receiving and holding the handle. The holder beneficially includes a valve for controlling water flow between the input spigot adaptor and the hose adaptor. Preferably that valve is a rotating ball valve having an angle controlled by an actuator. 
    
    
     
       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 a perspective view of a shower wand with scrub brush  10  that is in accord with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is another perspective view of the shower wand with scrub brush  10  shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a front view of the shower wand with scrub brush  10  shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a holder  30  used in the shower wand with scrub brush  10  shown in  FIGS. 1 through 3 ; and, 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a hose  40  used in the shower wand with scrub brush  10  shown in  FIGS. 1 through 3 . 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTIVE KEY 
     
         
         
           
               10  shower wand with scrub brush 
               20  handle 
               21  head 
               22   a  face 
               22   b  water aperture 
               23  input opening 
               24  exterior threads 
               25   a  slot 
               25   b  locking feature 
               26  brush 
               27  scrubbing surface 
               28  arm 
               29  protrusion holder 
               31  hose adapter 
               32  spigot adapter 
               33  handle opening 
               34  actuator 
               35  ball valve 
               40  hose 
               41  holder fitting 
               42  handle fitting 
           
         
       
    
     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 . However, the invention is not limited to the described embodiment, 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. 
       FIGS. 1 ,  2 , and  3  illustrate a shower wand with scrub brush  10  that provides a scrubbing feature that enables thorough washing of oneself and which is in accord with the preferred embodiment of the present invention.  FIGS. 1 and 2  show opposing perspective views of the shower wand with scrub brush  10  while  FIG. 3  shows a front view. As shown, the shower wand with scrub brush  10  has an ergonomic, elongated, generally cylindrical handle  20  which extends from a bottom end having an input  23  upward to form an integral head  21 . The handle  20  is hollow and can supply water to the head  21  when connected to a water source. 
     The head  21  has a generally oval-shape and includes a flat front face  22   a  having a plurality of water apertures  22   b . The water apertures  22   b  enable water to be dispensed onto desired areas of a person showering. The bottom end of the handle  20  has the input  23  for receiving water that is to be routed to the head  21 . The input  23  takes the form of a connector with exterior threads  24  that enable attachment of the handle  20  to a hose  40  (described in more detail below and reference  FIG. 5 ). 
     The handle  20  includes a pair of elongated slots  25   a  that extend along the sides of the handle  20  and which are used to selectively slide a brush  26  up the handle  20 . At the upper ends of the slots  25   a  are locking features  25   b  that lock the brush  26  in an in-use position (described in more detail subsequently) by preventing the brush  26  from descending until a user actively releases the brush  26 . The in-use position has the brush  26  directly over the face  22   a  and water apertures  22   b.    
     The brush  26  adds a scrubbing element to the shower wand with scrub brush  10 . The brush  26  has a generally circular-shape that matches that of the face  22   a . This enables the brush  26  to completely cover the face  22   a  when in the in-use position. The brush  26  has a scrubbing surface  27  fabricated from porous materials such as, but not limited to: loofah, wood fibers, or the like. The scrubbing surface  27  enables water from the face  22   a  and water apertures  22   b  to pass through the brush  26 . The sides of the brush  26  extend into integral opposed arms  28  that slide along the elongated slots  25 . At the end of each arm is a protrusion  29  that selectively fits into a locking feature  25   b . This locks the brush  26  in position over the face  22   a  until a user removes the protrusions  29  from the locking features  25   b  which enables the brush  26  to move away from the face  22   a.    
       FIG. 4  shows a perspective view of a holder  30  that is used to attach the shower wand with scrub brush  10  to existing plumbing. The holder  30  is fabricated from various rust-proof materials and may have a variety of finishes for use with various decors. The holder  30  includes a threaded hose adapter  31 , a threaded spigot adapter  32 , a handle opening  33 , and an actuator  34 . The spigot adapter  32  threads onto an existing spigot (not shown) to receiving incoming water while the hose adapter  31  enables attachment of the hose  40  which has threaded ends. That hose  40  is described in more detail subsequently. The handle opening  33  is used to suspend the handle  20  while the actuator  34  is used to control the flow of water between the spigot adaptor  32  and the hose adaptor  31 . 
     The actuator  34  operably controls the rotation of an inner ball valve  35 . The rotational position of the ball valve  35  controls the flow of water through the holder  30  and thus through the handle  20 . As do most ball valves the ball valve  35  regulates the flow of water through internal apertures (not shown) by changing the angle of a ball aperture relative to pipe apertures. When the actuator  34  is manipulated to align the ball aperture with the pipe apertures maximum flow occurs, but when the ball aperture no longer aligns water flow is restricted. 
     The handle opening  33  is comprised of a generally “U”-shaped feature for suspending the handle  20  in an upright position with the head  21  oriented toward a user. The handle  20  is held in position when the handle opening cups the handle  20  from the holder  30 . This configuration enables easy removal of the handle  20  from the handle opening  33 . 
       FIG. 5  presents a perspective view of the hose  40 . Connecting the hose  40  to the hose adapter  31  directs water into the handle  20  and then to the head  21 . The hose  40  is beneficially a hollow tube fabricated from materials such as, but not limited to: nylon, rubber, or the like. The hose  40  can be made available in various lengths to accommodate the needs of the user. One (1) end of the hose  40  has a holder fitting  41  which threads onto the hose adapter  31  while the other end has a handle fitting  42  which threads onto the exterior threads  24  of the handle  20 . 
     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 preferred embodiment of the present invention can be used by a common user in a simple and effortless manner with little or no training. After initial purchase or acquisition of the shower wand with scrub brush  10  it would be installed by attaching the spigot adapter  32  onto an existing spigot; orientating the actuator  34  to close the ball valve  35 ; attaching the holder fitting  41  of the hose  40  to the hose adapter  31  of the holder  30 ; attaching the handle fitting  42  of the hose  40  to the handle  20  via the exterior threads  24 ; inserting the handle  20  into the handle opening  33  on the holder  30  as desired; using the shower wand with scrub brush  10  as desired via activating water flow into the shower wand with scrub brush  10  via manipulating the actuator  34  to open the ball valve  35 , thereby routing the water out of the water apertures  22   b ; extending the brush  26  as desired via moving the protrusions  29  of the arms  28  to mate with the locking feature  25   b  to lock the brush  26  in position; removing the handle  20  from the holder  30  and scrubbing a desired area; utilizing the shower wand with scrub brush  10  as desired; and providing for bathing in a shower in a manner which is quick, easy, and effective for all. 
     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 to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, 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.