US2378471A - Back washer - Google Patents

Description

June 19, 1945. w. DIXON 2,378,471

' BACK WASHER Filed Nov. 22, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Inventor M r Q I I June 19, 1945. w. DIXON 2,378,471

\ BACK WASHER Filed No v. 22, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor p/lxon l V/ /l am J By Patented June 19, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE I BACK WASHER William Dixon, Henderson, Ky. Application November 22, 1943, Serial No. 511,325

8 Claims.

This invention is a device for use in facilitating the washing of the back while bathing, and an object of the invention is to provide a portable device of this character which is well adapted for the purpose designed.

The invention together with its objects and advantages wi11 be best understood from a study of the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein L ure 1 is a side elevational view illustrating the application of the invention.

Figure-2 is a perspective view of the device.

Figure 3 is a sectional view through a soap receptacle, and a Figure 4 is a detail view partly in section and partly in elevation illustrating a drive and clutch mechanism hereinafter more fully referred to.

Referring to the drawings by reference numerals it will be seen that in the preferred embodiment thereof the device comprises a support in theform of a pair of laterally spaced parallel base rods 5-5 which adjacent one end are connected together andsecured in spaced relation through the medium of a cross bar 6. At the ends thereof the bars 5 are provided with opening 1 which through the medium of screws or other suitable fastening elements the base bars may be secured to a, floor or the like for anchoring the device more or less permanently.

Rising from the base bars 5 are standards 8 that are braced with respect to the base bars 5 through the medium of brace rods 9.

At the upper ends thereof the standards 8 are connected by a cross bar I 0.

Depending from the cross bar Ill and secured at their upper ends to the bar III in any suitablev manner as by being integral therewith are elongated bearing bars I I that are braced relative to the standards 8 through the medium of brace bars l2."

A shaft I3 is supported between the upp r ends of the bearing bars II, the ends of the shaft l3 extending through openings provided therefor in the bars II and having their terminals journaledin the upper ends of the standards 8. Mounted on the shaft l3 to turn therewith is a roller l4 over which is trained an endless scrubbing-towel l5 which is also trained over a roller l8 which is rotatably supported between the bearing'rods II at the lower ends of the rods as clearly shown in igure 2.

Suitably mounted on one of the standards 8 adjacent the upper end of the latter, is a gear case [1 into which one end of the roller shaft l3 extends. On said end thereof shaft I3 is equipped with a gear l8 that is in mesh with a worm I!) on 0ne.end of the shaft 20 of an electric motor 2|. Motor 2| is supported through the medium of a suitable bracket structure 22 provided therefor adjacent the upper end of one of the brace bars 9. It will thus be seen that drive from motor 2| is transmitted through the gearing I9 and It to the roller shaft l3 whereby to cause the endless towel l5 to move over the rollers l4 and I6.

Further in accordance with the present invention there is provided a receptacle 23 for liquid soap and the receptacle 23 has the bottom thereof perforated as at 24 and as shown in Figure 3. The receptacle 24'is mounted on the end of a supporting arm 25 which latter at its free end is provided with a hook 26 that engages over the cross bar ill in a manner shown. Threadedly engaged with the hook-equipped end 26 of the supporting arm or bracket 25 is a thumb screw 21 that is adapted to be threaded home into binding engagement with the bar ill for securing the bracket 25' at the desired position of adjustment ible shaft 29.

Shaft 29 has an end thereof extending into the gear case I! and on said end is provided with a clutch element 3| that is complemental to a clutch element 32 provided on the worm-equipped end of motor shaft 20 as also shown in Figure 4.

For moving the clutch 3| into and out of 'engagement with the clutch element 32 there is practice, the support is positioned adjacent one end of a bath tub 36 with the standards 8 disposed at opposite sides of the tub and the lower portion of the towel [5 extending down into the tub. In this connection it will be noted that the bearing bars II are spaced inwardly from the standards -8 a distance suflicient to accommodate the side walls of the tub.

In using the device to wash the back'the user, as suggested in Figure 1, sits in the tub with the back in contact with the towel l5 so that obviously the towel in its path of travel contacts the back in a manner to briskly rub the l:afm .thwhentieg sired to supply soap to the oac or e was n oi! the same the receptacle 23 is brought into use and obviously the contents of the receptacle discharging through the perforations 24 will fall upon the back of the person. In order that the contents in a good, soapy condition will be supplied to the back, the agitator 28 may be employed and to bring the agitator 28 into play the lever 33 is thrown in a manner to engage the clutch elements 3|, 32 so that drive will be transmitted from the motor and through the flexible t 29 to the agitator 2a. i ,will thus be seen that with this device the back of the bather may be conveniently thoroughbbed and cleaned. 1y thought that a clear understanding of the construction, utility and advantages of a device of this character will be had without a more deailed description. t Having thus described the invention what is la'med as new is: c In a device of the character described, a supporting structure adapted to be arranged adjacent one end of a bath tub and embodying a pair of vertical parallel bearing-rods, upper and ted lower rollers respectively rotatably suppor between and by the upper and lower ends of said rods, and an endless towel trained over said rollers to engage the back of a bather sitting r' ht within the bath tub. 2? In a device of the character described, a

supporting structure adapted to be arranged adne end of a bath tub and embodying 523 12 of vertical parallel bearing-rods, upper and lower rollers respectively rotatably supported between and by the upper and lower ends of said rods, and an endless towel trained over said rollers to engage the back of a bather s tting upright within the bath tub, a soap dispensing receptacle mounted on said supporting means and arranged relative to said towel for discharging soap downwardly onto the back of the bather in contact owel.

I r i a device of the character described, a supporting structure adapted to be arranged adjacent one end of a bath tub and embodying a pair of vertical parallel bearing-rods, upper and lower rollers respectively rotatably supported between and by the upper and lower ends of sa d rods, and an endless towel trained over said rollers to engage the back of a bather sitting upright within the bath tub, asoap dispensing receptacle mounted on said supporting means and arranged relative to said towel for discharging soap downwardly onto the back of the bather in contact with the towel, a motor mounted on the supporting structure, and driving mechanism between said motor and one of said rollers.

4. In a device of the character described, a supporting structure adapted to be arranged adjacent one end of a bath tub and embodying a .pair of vertical parallel bearing-rods, upper and lower rollers rotatably supported between said rods, and an endless towel trained over said rollers, a soap dispensing receptacle mounted on said supporting means and arranged relative to said towel for dispensing soap on the back of a bather in contact with the towel, and driving mechanism connected with one 0!. said rollers, and an agitator arranged in said soap dispensing receptacle and means operatively connecting said agitator with said driving mechanism.

5. In a device of the character described, a portable supporting structure, vertically spaced upper and lower horizontal rollers rotatably mounted on said supporting structure in the same vertical plane, an endless towel trained over saidrollers, a bracket arm extending forwardly from and adjustable laterally of said supporting structure above the upper roller, interengaging'means on said arm and supporting structure for securing said arm at the desired position of lateral adjustment on said supporting structure, and a soap dispensing receptacle mounted on said arm.

6. In a device of the character described, a portable supporting structure, vertically spaced upper and lower horizontal rollers rotatably mounted on said supporting structure in the same vertical plane, an endless towel trained over said rollers, a bracket arm extending forwardly from and adjustable laterally of said supporting structure above the upper roller, interengaging means on said arm and supporting structure for securing said arm at the desired position of lateral adjustment on said supporting structure, a soap dispensing receptacle mounted on said am, an electric motor mounted on said supporting structure, and drive means operatively connecting said motor with one of said rollers.

7. In a device of the character described, a portable supporting structure, vertically spaced upper and lower horizontal rollers rotatably mounted on said supporting structure, an endless towel trained over said rollers, a bracket arm extending forwardly from said supporting structure above the upper roller, interengaging means on said arm and supporting structure for securing said arm at the desired position of lateral adjustment on said supporting structure, and a soap dispensing receptacle mounted on said arm, an electric motor mounted on said supporting structure, and drive means operatively connecting said motor with one of said rollers, an agitator arranged within said soap dispensing receptacle, and power transmitting means operatively connecting said motor with said agitator and including a flexible shaft and a clutch device for controlling the transmission of drive from the shaft of said motor to said flexible shaft.

- 8. In a device of the character described, a supporting structure adapted to rest upon the floor and constructed -to straddle a bath tub adjacent one end of the latter, a vertical scrubbing device suspended from the supporting structure and arranged to depend into the bath tub in position to engage the back of abather sitting upright within the-latter, said scrubbing device including an endless towel, and means to cause traveling movement of said endless towel.

WILLIAM DIXON.

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