US20140230173A1

US20140230173A1 - Bathtub or Shower Chair Foot Scrubber Attachment

Info

Publication number: US20140230173A1
Application number: US13/772,813
Authority: US
Inventors: Robert DiNunzio
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2013-02-21
Filing date: 2013-02-21
Publication date: 2014-08-21

Abstract

A bathtub or shower chair foot scrubber attachment has an arm member with a clamping component on its upper end. The clamping component is made of biasedly resilient material and, as a result, it can easily be attached to, detached from, and rotated around the legs of a bathtub or shower chair. A scrubber cleaning pad which comprises a plurality of foot cleaning bristles is located at the lower end of the arm member. Once the arm member is attached to the front leg of the chair, users can clean his or her feet without bending over or otherwise using their hands.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many seniors and individuals with certain physical disabilities have difficulty performing simple, daily activities which most people take for granted. This is certainly the case when these individuals face bathing and cleaning themselves. Often the simple act of bending over to wash one's legs and feet when in a shower or bathtub is difficult and sometimes impossible.
There are numerous aids available to address the bathing problems faced by seniors and the physically impaired. Shower and bathtub seats are available, as are various foot cleaning means which do not require the use of hands. However, such bathing assistant devices are either mutually exclusive components which can not work efficiently in tandem or they are too complex to be user friendly. Others comprise multiple complex parts which make them economically impractical.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is the object of the present invention to provide a foot scrubber attachment for a bathtub or shower chair which overcomes the disadvantages and limitations of prior bath or shower assist devices.
It is thus the object of the present invention to provide a foot scrubber attachment which can simply and easily be attached and detached from virtually any bathtub or shower chair.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a foot scrubber attachment with replaceable scrubber cleaning pads which are available to the users who simply sit on the chair and wash and clean his or her feet, without the need to bend over or otherwise use their hands for the cleaning activity.
These and other objects are accomplished by the present invention, a bathtub or shower chair foot scrubber attachment comprising an arm member with a clamping component on its upper end. The clamping component is made of biasedly resilient material and, as a result, it can easily be attached to, detached from, and rotated around the legs of a bathtub or shower chair. A scrubber cleaning pad which comprises a plurality of foot cleaning bristles is located at the lower end of the arm member. Once the arm member is attached to the front leg of the chair, users can clean his or her feet without bending over or otherwise using their hands.
The novel features which are considered as characteristic of the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention, itself, however, both as to its design, construction and use, together with additional features and advantages thereof, are best understood upon review of the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a view of two bath chair foot scrubber attachments of the present invention connected to the legs of a bathtub or shower chair.

FIG. 2 illustrates the manner of attachment of the bath chair foot scrubber attachment of the present invention to a bathtub or shower chair.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the components of the bath chair foot scrubber attachment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Foot scrubber attachment 1 comprises arm member 2 with lower end 4 and upper end 6 having outwardly extending clamping member 8. Clamping member 8 is made of biasedly resilient material, e.g. pliable plastic or equivalent. This material permits the arms of the clamping member to move apart to accept the leg of a shower chair and then come together around the leg to partially circumscribe the leg and thereby rotatably connect scrubber attachment 1 to the shower chair.
Base member 12 is connected to and extends substantially perpendicular from lower end 4 of arm member 2. Base member 12 comprises a rubber or equivalent material bottom pad support 14 and permanently attached intermediate pad support 16. Means 18 to removeably attach scrubber cleaning pad 20 is located and secured on intermediate pad support 16. Scrubber pad 20 has a top surface 22 from which upstanding foot cleaning bristles 24 extend. Means 26 is permanently secured to the bottom of scrubber pad 20 to removeably attach pad 20 to intermediate pad support 16 and hence to base member 12. Attaching means 26 is permanently fixed to scrubber pad 20 by adhesive 28. Removeable attaching means 18 and 26 can comprise Velcro® type hook and clasp devices or equivalent means to allow easy attachment and detachment between scrubber pad 20 and base member 12. In this way, when it is worn, scrubber pad 20 can be replaced with a new pad.
Intermediate pad 16 is utilized to provide additional support, rigidity, and height to foot scrubber attachment 1; however, it can optionally be omitted from base member 12. In such a configuration, attachment means 18 is permanently secured directly onto the top surface of bottom pad support 14.
In use, two foot scrubber attachments 1 and 1 a are positioned such that their respective clamping members are connected to legs 30 and 32 of bathtub or shower chair 40. By this connection, the clamping members and their respective scrubber attachments 1 and 1 a can be rotated around the chair legs and for optimal user position. See FIG. 1. When foot scrubber attachments 1 and 1 a are connected to chair 40, an individual can sit on the chair and comfortably, without bending, kneeling, or taking any other position, utilize scrubber pads 20 to brush and clean his or her feet.
Certain novel features and components of this invention are disclosed in detail in order to make the invention clear in at least one form thereof. However, it is to be clearly understood that the invention as disclosed is not necessarily limited to the exact form and details as disclosed, since it is apparent that various modifications and changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Claims

1. A foot scrubber attachment for a bathtub or shower chair having a seat and downwardly extending legs, said attachment comprising:

an arm member with upper and lower ends, said arm member comprising connection means at said upper end for removeably securing the arm member to a leg of a bathtub or shower chair, and a base connected to and extending out from the lower end of the arm member;

a scrubber pad having a top surface with upstanding foot cleaning bristles and a bottom surface; and

scrubber pad attachment means for removeably securing the scrubber pad to the base.

2. The foot scrubber attachment as in claim 1 wherein the connection means comprises a clamping member configured to partially circumscribe a bathtub or shower chair leg.

3. The foot scrubber attachment as in claim 1 wherein the scrubber pad attachment means comprises a hook and clasp attachment secured on the base and the bottom surface of the scrubber pad.

4. The foot scrubber attachment as in claim 1 wherein the base comprises a bottom support pad.

5. The foot scrubber attachment as in claim 4 wherein the base further comprises an intermediate support pad connected to the bottom support pad.

6. The foot scrubber attachment as in claim 2 wherein the scrubber pad attachment means comprises hook and clasp attachment devices secured on the base and the bottom surface of the scrubber pad.

7. The foot scrubber attachment as in claim wherein the base comprises a bottom support pad and an intermediate support pad, and the scrubber pad attachment means comprising hook and clasp attachment devices secured to the intermediate support pad and the bottom surface of the scrubber pad.