GB2378892A

GB2378892A - Back scrubber

Info

Publication number: GB2378892A
Application number: GB0218615A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Joseph Dunmore; Susan Hewitt
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-07-20
Filing date: 2002-08-12
Publication date: 2003-02-26
Also published as: GB0218615D0

Abstract

An improved back scrubber comprises a body member 1 (conveniently moulded from plastics) and has a handle portion and carries an annular formation 7 at one end that provides a reception location for a sponge pad 11. The sponge pad is carried releasably whereby the sponge pads can be replaced without having to replace the handle. The sponge pad has a main body portion 13, a retaining portion 15, and a reduced portion 17.

Description

Title : Back Scrubber DESCRIPTION The present invention relates to a back scrubber.

Known back scrubbers comprise an elongate handle which carries at one end the scrubbing means. The known scrubbing means comprises either bristles integrally formed with the handle or a synthetic sponge element which is bonded to the handle.

The present invention is particularly concerned with back scrubbers that utilise a sponge as the scrubbing means. All the known prior art back scrubbers have the sponge fixedly secured to the handle. However, the sponge material has only a limited life, and the construction dictates that the whole item is replaced. Naturally, this has resulted in a reluctance on the part of the public to purchase sponge back scrubbers despite the fact that they are much more pleasan to use than those employing bristles.

The present invention aims to solve this problem.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a back scrubber comprising a body member that is substantially elongate, and a sponge pad, and characterised in that the sponge pad is releasably connectable with the body member.

In a preferred embodiment the body member is formed with a reception portion for the sponge pad. Preferably the reception portion is at one end of the body member. Preferably the reception portion comprises a through hole in the

body member.

The through hole may have a continuous periphery or its periphery may be slotted. The through hole may be of any convenient shape. It may be circular or non-circular.

Preferably the sponge has a portion that is purpose formed to fit the reception portion. More particularly, it has further portions to one side and the other of the purpose formed portion that are so dimensioned and/or shaped that they locate the sponge body with respect to the body member. The further portions conveniently comprise a main sponge body and a retaining body. In the preferred embodiment the retaining body is smaller than the main body but larger than the purpose formed portion and dimensioned to be able to be pushed through the through hole.

Preferably the main sponge body and the purpose formed section are circular as viewed in cross-section. The sponge may have a flexible but impermeable skin. This allows the device to be used for rubbing in creams with the sponge.

The handle is preferably formed from plastics, conveniently as a moulding, and preferably curved along its length for convenience of use. Other materials could be used for the handle eg wood or metal.

The present invention will now be described further, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings; in which :- Figure 1 is a side view of a back scrubber according to the present invention, and Figure 2 is a plan view of the back scrubber of Figure 1.

The back scrubber comprises a body 1 having a handle portion 2 which is generally elongate and gently curved along its length. The handle is formed of moulded plastics and having a peripheral rim 3 infilled by a web 5. The handle is of uniform section along its length so that it can be held at any location. In an alternative, one end is provided with a hand grip or formation that aids gripping.

The body has an annular formation 7 at one end of the handle providing an internal through bore 9. The annular portion provides a reception location for a sponge pad 11. The illustrated sponge pad has a main body portion 13, a retaining portion 15 and a reduced portion 17 in between the main body portion 13 and the retaining portion 15. In the illustrated embodiment the respective portions of the sponge pad are circular as viewed in cross section. The section of the reduced portion mirrors the shape of the aperture 9. Circular is preferred as a reduced diameter portion 17 can be readily formed by machining of the sponge. Furthermore, it allows the sponge to rotate in use. An alternative to machining is to mould the sponge in any desired shape. The retaining portion is illustrated as having the same outside diameter as the annular formation 7. It could be as large as the main body 13, but being of reduced size is advantageous as it makes it easier to fit the sponge to the body as less material has to be compressed to fit through the bore 9.

In an alternative embodiment the handle portion of the body is substantially straight until adjacent the annular formation that receives the sponge, where it is kinked to angle the sponge relative to the handle.

Claims

1. A back scrubber comprising a body member that is substantially elongate, and a sponge pad, and characterised in that the sponge pad is releasably connectable with the body member.

2. A back scrubber as claimed in claim 1 in which the body member is formed with a reception portion for the sponge pad.

3. A back scrubber as claimed in claim 2 in which the reception portion is at one end of the body member.

4. A back scrubber as claimed in claims 2 or 3 in which the reception portion comprises at least one through hole in the body member.

5. A back scrubber as claimed in claim 4 and comprising one through hole which has a continuous periphery.

6. A back scrubber as claimed in claim 4 and comprising one through hole whose periphery is broken to define a mouth to receive the sponge.

7. A back scrubber as claimed in claim 4 in which the through hole is circular.

8. A back scrubber as claimed in claim 4 in which the hole is non-circular.

9. A back scrubber as claimed in anyone of claims 2 to 8 in which the sponge has a portion that is purpose formed to fit the reception portion.

10. A back scrubber as claimed in claim 9 in which the sponge has further portions to one side and the other of the purpose formed portion that are so dimensioned and/or shaped that they locate the sponge body with respect to the

body member.

11. A back scrubber as claimed in claim 10 in which further portions conveniently comprise a main sponge body and a retaining body.

12. A back scrubber as claimed in claim 11 in which the retaining body is smaller than the main body but larger than the purpose formed portion and dimensioned to be able to be pushed through the through hole.

13. A back scrubber as claimed in anyone of claims 9 to 12 in which the main sponge body and the purpose formed section are circular as viewed in cross- section.

14. A back scrubber as claimed in anyone of the preceding claims in which the sponge has a flexible but impermeable skin.

15. A back scrubber as claimed in anyone of the preceding claims in which the body is formed from plastics.

16. A back scrubber as claimed in anyone of the preceding claims in which the body defines a handle that is curved along its length for convenience of use.

17. A back scrubber as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 15 in which the body defines a handle having a hand grip portion and wherein the reception portion for the sponge pad is angled with respect to the hand grip portion.

18. A back scrubber constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

19. A back scrubber sponge comprising a main sponge body, a retention body and a portion connecting the main sponge body and the retention body, and wherein the connecting portion has a periphery that is smaller than each of the main sponge body and the retention body defining a recess therebetween.

20. A back scrubber sponge as described in claim 19 in which the main sponge body and the retention body have substantially the same peripheral shape and dimension.

21. A back scrubber sponge as claimed in claim 19 or 20 in which the volume of the main sponge body is greater than that of the retention body.

22. A back scrubber sponge constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.