US20120151701A1

US20120151701A1 - Multifaceted scrubbing device

Info

Publication number: US20120151701A1
Application number: US12/928,652
Authority: US
Inventors: Yong-Hoon Cho
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2010-12-16
Filing date: 2010-12-16
Publication date: 2012-06-21

Abstract

A multifaceted scrubbing device comprising a body having a head portion on one end and a handle on another end, the head portion having at least three faces for accommodating at least three working surfaces of one type or of different types. The working surfaces may be attached permanently to the faces on the head portion of the scrubbing device or they may be replaceable.

Description

This invention relates to a scrubbing device having a multiplicity of one or the same type of working surfaces of differing coarseness or a variety of different types of working surfaces on each face of a multifaceted head of the device.

BACKGROUND

Most scrubbing devices have only one working surface or a combination of two working surfaces, usually located on opposite sides or faces, mostly in a back to back orientation. These working surfaces may be of one or the same type of varying levels of coarseness or fineness or it may have different types of surfaces. Scrubbing devices that are multifaceted do not have at least three different working surfaces. They are either of the same working surface on all faces or at most, only two working surfaces. The claimed scrubbing device can be used for the feet and the legs as well as for the palm of the hands and the arms. One type of working surface may be used for removing thick calluses or corns that develop on the feet and the palm when the epidermis becomes partially keratinized due to frequent repeated contact with a variety of hard or coarse surfaces. Calluses and corn produces pain and discomfort when wearing shoes, while walking or even with a normal everyday activity. To remove calluses, one usually starts with a rougher working surface and then gradually reduce the coarseness of the surface as the callus is removed. Another working surface can be used to gently remove or exfoliate the dry flaking top layer of dead skin on the legs and the arms. Another working surface can be used to cleanse the feet, legs, palm or arms after the removal of the calluses or dry dead skin. The different types of working surfaces includes but is not limited to serrated metal, pumice stone, rubberized mats, brush of different bristles and densities, sponge, sandpaper and other scrubbing surfaces used for human use that are commercially available. The claimed invention does not claim the type of working surfaces but rather claims the provision of at least three different working surfaces in one scrubbing device. This will allow the user to conveniently simply flip or turn the faces when a different working surface is desired to perform a different function using only one scrubbing device. This eliminates the need to provide more than one scrubber, thereby also reducing the cost to the consumer. Scrubbing as used here includes buffing, abrasing or scrapping, smoothing, thinning, removing hyperkeratotic tissues, brushing, shining and the like.
It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a scrubbing device with a multifaceted head having at least three working surfaces of the same type of scrubber but of varying coarseness.
It is also an object of this invention to provide a scrubbing device with a multifaceted head having at least three different types of working surfaces.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a handle on the opposite end of the multifaceted head for easy handling of the device.
It is also a further object of this invention to provide replaceable working surfaces so that a working surface can be exchanged for another if needed during the operation.
It is also still a further object of this invention to provide a new replacement working surface as they become worn or as new ones get developed without having to buy another scrubbing device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A multifaceted scrubbing device, comprising a body having a head portion on one end and a handle on another end, the head portion having at least three faces for accommodating at least three working surfaces of one type or of different types. Head can be used to indicate head portion herein. The working surfaces may be attached permanently to the faces on the head portion of the scrubbing device or it may be replaceable allowing a user to use more working surfaces using a single scrubbing device. The top peripheral contour of the working surface may be flat or curved. The geometric shape of the working surface need not match with the geometric shape of the head of the scrubbing device. A trough-like etched portion at the head of the scrubbing device usually accommodates the working surface. It is also possible for the working surface to be attached to the outer surface of the head of the scrubbing device without the trough-like etched portion on the face of the head portion of the scrubber. Scrubbing device and scrubber are used herein interchangeably. The trough-like etched portion and the working surface have matching dimensions in order to attach through bonding, the working surface well into the trough-like etched portion and also to fit the replaceable working surface into the trough-like portion. For maximum bonding of the working surface, the base and lateral dimensions have to match and fit but for the replaceable working surface, only the lateral dimensions have to match and fit so long as the depth or width of the working surface fits into the recess or depth of the trough-like etched portion.
A replaceable working surface has to be modified in order to be able to change one working surface with another. A holder having a protrusion on at least two opposing lateral sides is permanently banded around the lateral periphery of the working surface. The protrusion is located at a middle section of the holder on both opposing lateral sides. The middle section is bordered by slits on both sides of the protrusion. The middle section has a width greater than the width of the rest of the opposing lateral sides which makes an upper peripheral edge of the middle section of the holder protrude on top of the working surface after the holder is banded to the working surface. This upper peripheral edge acts as a tab for pulling the working surface out of the trough-like etched portion at the head of the scrubbing device. The slits cut into the depth or width of the middle section but leaves behind an uncut bottom section. To accommodate the protrusion and situate the working surface into the trough-like etched portion, a small indentation is carved out at the inside lateral side of the trough-like etched portion. The indentation matches the protrusion on the working surface holder in both shape and number to lodge the protrusion into the indentation when the working surface is introduced into the trough-like etched portion on the faces of the head of the scrubbing device. To facilitate removal of the working surface from the trough-like etched portion, the indentation as well as the protrusion are placed at an upper section towards the outer surface of the head portion of the scrubbing device. The holder banding the working surface is recommended to be made of a resilient material to facilitate dislodging of the working surface from the indentation at the trough-like etched portion when the upper peripheral edge of the middle section at each opposing lateral sides are pushed or pinched towards each other.
Other embodiments of the present invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, wherein it shows and describes only certain embodiments of the invention by way of illustration. As will be realized, the invention is capable of other and different embodiments and its several details are capable of modification in various other respects, all without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the drawings and detailed description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not as restrictive.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Aspects of the present invention are illustrated by way of example, and not by way of limitation, in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a three-faced scrubbing device.

FIG. 2 is another perspective view of a scrubbing device with three different types of working surfaces, having a third one hidden from the drawing.

FIG. 3A-3C shows a four-faced, five-faced and six-faced scrubbing device.

FIG. 4A shows the top view of a flat top working surface.

FIG. 4B shows the top view of an arched top working surface.

FIG. 5 is an exploded view showing the assembly by attaching a working surface to one of the faces at the head of the scrubbing device.

FIG. 6 is an exploded view showing the assembly of a replaceable working surface to one of the faces at the head of the scrubbing device.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the interior of a face on a multifaceted scrubbing device for replaceable working surfaces.

FIG. 8 is an assembled replaceable working surface on a scrubbing device showing the protruding edge on the holder.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The detailed description represented herein is not intended to represent the only way or the only embodiment in which the claimed invention may be practiced. The description herein is provided merely as an example or examples or illustrations of the claimed invention and should not be construed as the only way or as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments or means of practicing the invention. Any means of providing a handheld multifaceted scrubbing device having at least three different working surfaces in one device is within the scope of this invention. Different working surface here means one or the same type or of different types of working surfaces. Those of the same type have similar materials, make up and preparation except for varying coarseness like a sandpaper. The different types have different materials, make up and preparation as stated above like pumice stone, serrated metal, sponge, etc. The detailed description includes specific details to provide a thorough understanding of the claimed invention and it is apparent to those skilled in the art that the claimed invention may be practiced without these specific details. In some instances, well known structures and devices are shown in block diagrams or drawn with broken lines in order to either avoid obscuring the main concepts of the invention or to show the relationship of one part to the other.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a three-faced scrubbing device 100. The working surfaces 1 can be of the same type, for example, an abrasive like a sandpaper with different degrees of coarseness or of different types as shown in FIG. 2, for example, a serrated metal on one face, a pumice stone on another face and a sponge on another face (not shown). The number of faces or working surfaces that can be accommodated in one device depend on the ability to use one working surface independent of the other surface, that is, without the other working surface interfering on its function. For example, a six-faced scrubbing device shown on FIG. 3C can still achieve this goal with proper design of for example, the top peripheral contour and the shape of the working surface.
The example that will be used here to describe the invention is a three-faced scrubbing device. To have more working surfaces, one way is to modify the triangular like head of the three-faced scrubbing device shown here to a rectangularly shaped head for a four-faced scrubbing device and so on as shown in FIGS. 3A-3C for a 4, 5 or 6-faced scrubbing device. The outside top peripheral contour of working surfaces 1 may be flat 2 or they may be curved or arched 3 outward. Although only one arch is shown, it may have several arches designed in a wave form. FIG. 4A shows the top view of a flat top working surface while FIG. 4B shows the top view of an arched top working surface. The three-faced scrubbing device as shown in the illustrated examples also has planar bases but the contours, top or base, are not as important as that of providing as much working surfaces as possible with less number of scrubbing devices so long as the top peripheral contours of the working surface will not hurt the user. While the illustrations show the working surfaces as rectangular in shape, any geometric shape may be used. The shape of the head having the number of faces should not be confused with the shape of the working surfaces. For example, the shape of the head may be the same or of a different geometric shape from that of the working surface. For example, the head may be rectangular while the working surface may be oval so long as the shape of the face on the head matches the shape of the working surface as will be described in more detail below.
One way of making this scrubbing device is to attach through bonding, the desired working surfaces 1 on the faces 4 of the scrubbing device by a glue or adhesive. The faces 4 are located at the head 5 of the scrubbing device opposite the handle 6 as shown in the examples. The scrubbing device is also referred to herein simply as device. The head of the scrubbing device is recommended to have trough-like etched out portions 7 with a base 8 on each face 4 to accommodate a working surface 1 as shown in FIG. 5. Although the etched out portion is shown here as rectangular in shape, it may have other shapes such as circular, cylindrical, square, etc. so long as the trough-like etched portions 7 have matching dimensions as the working surfaces 1. The working surfaces shown here also have a flat base 9 to enable maximum adhesion of the base 9 of the working surface 1 with a flat base 8 of the trough-like etched portion 7. If one chooses to design a non-flat base, the requirement is to have matching surfaces for the bases of the trough-like etched portion and the working surface. The lateral sides 10 of the working surface also matches with the lateral sides 11 of the trough-like etched portion 7 to also enable these sides to be attached or glued together for a more permanent bonding. Here, for example, glue is applied on the surfaces to be bonded and then the parts are pressed together and allowed to stand for a few minutes until the glue has set, dried up and bonded the parts together. Other types of bonding aside from the use of adhesives to bond the working surface 1 to the faces 4 of the body 12 of the scrubber is also known such as ultrasonic bonding.
To maximize the number of working faces that can be used per scrubbing device, the working surfaces 1 can be replaceable instead of permanently bonded to the faces 4 of the body 12. To enable this, the lateral sides of the trough-like etched portion 7 is modified. FIG. 6 shows how the parts are assembled in a scrubbing device with replaceable working surfaces. While the illustrations show the working surfaces as rectangular in shape, any geometric shape may be used. As stated above, the shape of the head having the number of faces should not be confused with the shape of the working surfaces. A replaceable working surface 1 a is banded around its lateral periphery with a holder 13 having a protrusion 14 on opposite lateral sides 10 a after banding with of the working surface. The holder 13 is banded permanently to the working surface by means known in the art such as by adhesion, ultrasonic bonding and the like. To make replacing easier, it is recommended to put the protrusion on only two opposing lateral sides instead of all four sides. FIG. 6 is an exploded view of how a replaceable working surface is assembled showing the lateral side 10 a of the holder 13 before banding with the working surface. The protrusion is recommended to be placed at an upper section of the middle section 15 of the lateral side 10 a of the holder 13. Also, a slit 16 is cut on both sides of the protrusion about approximately at least a millimeter away from the edges of the protrusion and it is recommended that the width 17 of the holder at the middle section 15 having the protrusion 14 bordered by the slits 16 is larger than the width 18 of the rest of the lateral sides 10 a to facilitate replacement of the working surface 1 a. The length of the slits are at least approximately one millimeter and cuts into the depth or width of the holder leaving at least 2 mm of uncut section at the bottom section of the holder as shown in FIG. 6. Although the protrusion is shown here as elongated, it can also be a protruding rounded nib or some other shapes. The shape of the protrusion may vary so long as it would be easy to dislodge the working surface but still hold the working surface on the device during usage. At the inside lateral side 11 a of the trough-like etched portion 7 on the head portion of the body 12 of the scrubbing device is a matching carved out recessed groove or indentation 19, herein simply indentation, depending upon the shape of the protrusion 14 on the working surface 1 a as shown in FIG. 7. When the working surface 1 a is positioned or placed on the trough-like etched portion 7, the protrusion 14 inserts into the indentation 19 to hold the working surface at the respective faces 4 of the scrubbing device. The protrusion, as stated above, is on the upper section of the middle section 15 but still rests on the indentation on the lateral wall 11 a of the trough-like etched portion 7 located within the upper section of the trough-like etched portion of the head. The slits 16 are at least a millimeter in length to help in receding the protrusion 14 from the indentation 19 independent of the rest of the lateral sides when the middle section 15 is pressed inwards away from the lateral wall 11 a of the trough-like etched portion 7 without being deterred by frictional force. To be able to replace one working surface with another, the holder 13 should be made of a resilient material to be able to recede the protrusion 14 out of the matching indentation 19 and subsequently lift the working surface out from the face of the device. There are thin resilient metals or plastics that can be used as holders. Further, since the width 17 of the middle section 15 is wider than the width 18 of the rest of the lateral sides of the holder 13, an upper peripheral edge portion 20 of the middle section acting like a tab, protrudes on top of the working surface as shown in FIG. 8. This portion is where a user presses on to dislodge the protrusion 14 from the indentation 19. To facilitate replacement, the indentation 19 and the matching protrusion 14 should be located on an upper section of the trough-like etched portion 7 and the middle section of the holder 13, respectively. The upper section is located towards the outer surface of the head of the scrubbing device but still within the interior of the trough like etched portion.
The body of the scrubbing device is recommended to be made of a plastic material but metal and wood can also be used. The device can have any shape for the handle 6 but one that is ergonomically shaped will help in providing a better grip as well as comfort to the user. A rubberized or padded handle can also be designed for the same purpose.

Claims

1. A multifaceted scrubbing device, comprising:

a body having a head portion on one end and a handle on another end, the head portion having at least three faces for accommodating at least three working surfaces of one type or of different types.

2. The scrubbing device of claim 1 wherein the working surfaces are attached permanently to the faces on the head portion of the scrubbing device.

3. The scrubbing device of claim 1 wherein the working surfaces are replaceable.

4. The scrubbing device of claim 1 wherein the working surface has a flat top peripheral contour.

5. The scrubbing device of claim 1 wherein the working surface has a curved top peripheral contour.

6. The scrubbing device of claim 1 wherein the working surface has a geometric shape different from the geometric shape of the head of the scrubbing device.

7. The scrubbing device of claim 1 wherein the head portion accommodate the working surface through a trough-like etched portion at the head of the scrubbing device.

8. The scrubbing device of claim 7 wherein the trough-like etched portions and the working surfaces have matching dimensions.

9. The scrubbing device of claim 2 wherein a trough-like etched portion on the head of the scrubbing device have a matching base and lateral dimensions as the working surface for maximum bonding of the working surface to the trough-like etched portion at the head of the device.

10. The scrubbing device of claim 3 further comprising a holder banded permanently around a lateral periphery of the working surface, the holder having a protrusion on opposing lateral sides.

11. The scrubbing device of claim 10 wherein the protrusions are located only at two opposing lateral sides.

12. The scrubbing device of claim 11 wherein the protrusion on the holder is at a middle section of the two opposing lateral sides having slits on both sides of the protrusion, the middle section bordered by slits having a width greater than the width of the opposing lateral sides thereby resulting into an upper peripheral edge of the middle section protruding on top of the working surface acting as a tab.

13. The scrubbing device of claim 3 further comprising an indentation on an inside lateral side of a trough-like etched portion at an upper section towards an outer surface of the head portion of the scrubbing device, the indentation matching a protrusion on a working surface holder banded to the working surface in both shape and number to lodge the protrusion into the indentation when the working surface is introduced into the trough-like etched portion on the faces of the head of the scrubbing device.

14. The scrubbing device of claim 13 wherein the holder is made of a resilient material.

15. A multifaceted scrubbing device, comprising:

a body having a head portion on one end and a handle on another end, the head portion having at least three faces for accommodating at least three working surfaces of one type or of different types attached permanently to the faces on the head portion of the scrubbing device, the head portion having a trough-like etched portion for accommodating the working surface of a matching dimension as the trough-like etched portion for maximum bonding of the working surface to the trough-like etched portion at the head of the device.

16. The scrubbing device of claim 15 wherein the working surface has a flat top peripheral contour.

17. The scrubbing device of claim 15 wherein the working surface has a curved top peripheral contour.

18. The scrubbing device of claim 15 wherein the working surface has same or different geometric shapes from a geometric shape of the head portion of the scrubbing device.

19. A multifaceted scrubbing device, comprising:

a body having a head portion on one end and a handle on another end, the head portion having at least three faces for accommodating at least three replaceable working surfaces of one type or of different types;

a holder banded permanently around a lateral periphery of the working surface, the holder having a protrusion on at least two opposing lateral sides, the protrusion located at an upper section of a middle section of the two opposing lateral sides towards an outer surface of the head portion, the middle section bordered by slits on both sides of the protrusion having a width greater than the width of the opposing lateral sides thereby resulting into an upper peripheral edge of the middle section protruding on top of the working surface acting as a tab; and,

an indentation on an inside lateral side at an upper section towards the outer surface of the head portion of the scrubbing device of a trough-liked etched portion of the head portion, the indentation matching the protrusion on the working surface holder in both shape and number to lodge the protrusion into the indentation when the working surface is introduced into the trough-like etched portion on the faces of the head of the scrubbing device.

20. The scrubbing device of claim 19 wherein the holder is made of a resilient material.

21. The scrubbing device of claim 20 wherein the working surface has same or different geometric shapes from a geometric shape of the head portion of the scrubbing device.