Back-scrubbing and cleansing apparatus

• US 7,451,513 B2
• Filed: 11/23/2004
• Issued: 11/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/23/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Reinaldo Torres
• Original Assignee: Reinaldo Torres
• Inventors: Torres, Reinaldo
• Primary Examiner(s): CHIN, RANDALL E
• Application Number:
  US10/994,881
• Publication Number:
  US 20060107473A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,456 Days
• Field of Search: 15/211, 15/971, 460/6
• US Class Current: 15/21.1
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 7/024 characterised by a wall or bath tub mounting

Abstract

A back-scrubbing and cleansing apparatus includes a housing that has a plurality of sidewalls defining first and second isolated cavities. One side wall is provided with an inlet port in fluid communication with the first cavity for receiving a liquid cleansing agent therethrough. An end cap is threadably attachable to the inlet. The apparatus further includes a mechanism for removably attaching the housing to the shower wall and a plurality of rotatable scrubbing elements attached to another one of the sidewalls. The scrubbing elements include a plurality of resilient bristles. A mechanism is included for assisting a user to more effectively clean the selected body portion during operating conditions.

Claims

1. An apparatus attachable to a shower wall for cleaning a user'"'"'s backside, said apparatus comprising:

a housing having a plurality of integral sidewalls sized and shaped for defining first and second isolated cavities therebetween, one said sidewalls being provided with an inlet port in fluid communication with said first cavity and for selectively receiving a liquid cleansing agent therethrough from an exterior of said housing;

means for removably attaching said housing to the shower wall such that a user can readily adjust a position of said housing for targeting a selected body portion;

a plurality of rotatable scrubbing elements attached to another said sidewalls and protruding outwardly therefrom such that said scrubbing elements can selectively engage the selected body portion during operating conditions while a user'"'"'s hands remain free therefrom; and

means for assisting a user to more effectively clean the selected body portion during operating conditions;

wherein said attaching means comprises;

a plurality of articulated suction cups connected to another said sidewalls, said another sidewall being provided with a plurality of slots defined along horizontal and vertical axes, each said suction cups including an anchor portion respectively positioned within an associated one of said slots such that said suction cups can be adapted along the horizontal and vertical axes during operating conditions.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said assisting means comprises:

a conduit having an intake end portion disposed within said first cavity and further having a plurality of outlet end portions branching away therefrom, said outlet end portions being in fluid communication with said first cavity and being operably connected to said scrubbing elements wherein the liquid cleansing agent can be extracted from said first cavity for cooperating with said scrubbing elements during cleaning applications.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said assisting means further comprises:

a power supply source and a pump electrically coupled thereto; and

a switch operably connected to said power supply source and to said pump for selectively toggling said pump between operating and non-operating positions, wherein said pump is attached to said conduit for automatically extracting the liquid cleansing agent from said first cavity.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising power means for rotating said scrubbing elements in a selected direction and at a selected revolution per minute, said power means being contemporaneously operable with said assisting means such that the liquid agent can be dispensed while said scrubbing elements are rotated.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said power means further comprises:

a plurality of pulleys attached to said scrubbing elements respectively;

a plurality of belts operably attached to said pulleys respectively; and

a motor directly connected to one said pulleys for driving said one pulley such that remaining ones of said pulleys are caused to rotate in sync with said one pulley, one said belts defining a drive belt and being directly attached to said one pulley and other selected ones of said pulleys.

6. An apparatus attachable to a shower wall for cleaning a user'"'"'s backside, said apparatus comprising:

a housing having a plurality of integral sidewalls sized and shaped for defining first and second isolated cavities therebetween, one said sidewalls being provided with an inlet port in fluid communication with said first cavity and for selectively receiving a liquid cleansing agent therethrough from an exterior of said housing;

means for removably attaching said housing to the shower wall such that a user can readily adjust a position of said housing for targeting a selected body portion;

a plurality of rotatable scrubbing elements attached to another said sidewalls and protruding outwardly therefrom such that said scrubbing elements can selectively engage the selected body portion during operating conditions while a user'"'"'s hands remain free Therefrom, said scrubbing elements comprising a plurality of resilient bristles; and

means for assisting a user to more effectively clean the selected body portion during operating conditions;

wherein said attaching means comprises;

a plurality of articulated suction cups connected to another said sidewalls, said another sidewall being provided with a plurality of slots defined along horizontal and vertical axes each said suction cups including, an anchor portion respectively positioned within an associated one of said slots such that said suction cups can be adapted along the horizontal and vertical axes during operating conditions.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said assisting means comprises:

a conduit having an intake end portion disposed within said first cavity and further having a plurality of outlet end portions branching away therefrom, said outlet end portions being in fluid communication with said first cavity and being operably connected to said scrubbing elements wherein the liquid cleansing agent can be extracted from said first cavity for cooperating with said scrubbing elements during cleaning applications.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said assisting means further comprises:

a power supply source and a pump electrically coupled thereto; and

a switch operably connected to said power supply source and to said pump for selectively toggling said pump between operating and non-operating positions, wherein said pump is attached to said conduit for automatically extracting the liquid cleansing agent from said first cavity.

9. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising power means for rotating said scrubbing elements in a selected direction and at a selected revolution per minute, said power means being contemporaneously operable with said assisting means such that the liquid agent can be dispensed while said scrubbing elements are rotated.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said power means further comprises:

a plurality of pulleys attached to said scrubbing elements respectively;

a plurality of belts operably attached to said pulleys respectively; and

a motor directly connected to one said pulleys for driving said one pulley such that remaining ones of said pulleys are caused to rotate in sync with said one pulley, one said belts defining a drive belt and being directly attached to said one pulley and other selected ones of said pulleys.

11. An apparatus attachable to a shower wall for cleaning a user'"'"'s backside, said apparatus comprising:

a housing having a plurality of integral sidewalls sized and shaped for defining first and second isolated cavities therebetween, one said sidewalls being provided with an inlet port in fluid communication with said first cavity and for selectively receiving a liquid cleansing agent therethrough from an exterior of said housing, said housing including an end cap threadably attachable to said inlet port for preventing foreign debris from entering therethrough;

means for removably attaching said housing to the shower wall such that a user can readily adjust a position of said housing for targeting a selected body portion;

a plurality of rotatable scrubbing elements attached to another said sidewalls and protruding outwardly therefrom such that said scrubbing elements can selectively engage the selected body portion during operating conditions while a user'"'"'s hands remain free therefrom, said scrubbing elements comprising a plurality of resilient bristles; and

means for assisting a user to more effectively clean the selected body portion during operating conditions;

wherein said attaching means comprises;

a plurality of articulated suction cups connected to another said sidewalls, said another sidewall being provided with a plurality of slots defined along horizontal and vertical axes, each said suction cups including an anchor portion respectively positioned within an associated one of said slots such that said suction cups can be adapted along the horizontal and vertical axes during operating conditions.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said assisting means comprises:

a conduit having an intake end portion disposed within said first cavity and further having a plurality of outlet end portions branching away therefrom, said outlet end portions being in fluid communication with said first cavity and being operably connected to said scrubbing elements wherein the liquid cleansing agent can be extracted from said first cavity for cooperating with said scrubbing elements during cleaning applications.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said assisting means further comprises:

a power supply source and a pump electrically coupled thereto; and

a switch operably connected to said power supply source and to said pump for selectively toggling said pump between operating and non-operating positions, wherein said pump is attached to said conduit for automatically extracting the liquid cleansing agent from said first cavity.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising power means for rotating said scrubbing elements in a selected direction and at a selected revolution per minute, said power means being contemporaneously operable with said assisting means such that the liquid agent can be dispensed while said scrubbing elements are rotated.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said power means further comprises:

a plurality of pulleys attached to said scrubbing elements respectively;

a plurality of belts operably attached to said pulleys respectively; and

a motor directly connected to one said pulleys for driving said one pulley such that remaining ones of said pulleys are caused to rotate in sync with said one pulley, one said belts defining a drive belt and being directly attached to said one pulley and other selected ones of said pulleys.