SHOWER AND BATH DEVICE FOR MASSAGING AND/OR CLEANING FEET

DISPOSITIF A DOUCHE ET BAIN POUR LE MASSAGE ET/OU LE NETTOYAGE DES PIEDS

English Abstract

The invention concerns a shower and bath device for massaging and/or cleaning
the feet which considerably facilitates footcare for the elderly, the
overweight and semi-invalids. According to the invention, the device takes the
form of a channel which is open towards the front and in which brushes,
sponges, frictional surfaces or similar massage and/or cleaning appliances are
disposed.

French Abstract

L'invention concerne un dispositif à douche et bain pour le massage et/ou le nettoyage des pieds. Elle a pour but de fournir un tel dispositif facilitant considérablement les soins des pieds, en particulier pour les personnes agées ou obèses ou partiellement invalides. Ce but est atteint grâce au fait que le dispositif selon l'invention est réalisé sous la forme d'une rigole ouverte sur sa face antérieure, et dans laquelle sont disposés des brosses, éponges, surfaces de frottement ou autres organes de massage et/ou de nettoyage analogues.

Claims

Claims
1. A showering and bathing apparatus for foot massage
and/or foot cleansing consisting of a trough with a
cross-section that is tapered towards its upper
opening, massage and/or cleansing elements (3) that are
attached to the inside surfaces of the side parts (8)
of said trough and to the trough bottom (2), and a
water supply system (11, 12), characterized in that
said trough bottom (2) and both side parts (3) of said
trough that is open and freely accessible at its end
faces have an elastic design to allow adjustment to the
supporting surface or overall elastic contact with the
foot, and in that they comprise a duct system (11) with
an entry fitting (12) and nozzles directed towards the
inside of the trough for the supply and distribution of
water and/or cleansing agents and/or disinfectants.
2. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in
that fixing elements (4) for positive or frictional
engagement with a bath mat (6) are provided on the
underside of the trough.
3. The apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in
that said fixing elements are nipples (4) that engage
with recesses (5) in said bath mat (6).
4. The apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in
that said recesses (5) of said bath mat (6) are slotted
in star shape.
5. An apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
characterized in that said nipples (4) can be form-fitted

with suction cups (7) for attaching the trough
directly to the bottom of a bath-tub or shower base.
6. An apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
characterized in that the duct system (11) consists of
two separate sub-systems, each having at least one hose
fitting (12) for the supply of cold or hot water,
respectively.
7. An apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
characterized in that said duct system (11) is
integrated in the side parts (8) and the trough bottom
(2).
8. An apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7,
characterized in that the massage and/or cleansing
elements (3) to be attached to the internal surfaces of
the trough are brushes, sponges, or rubbing surfaces.
9. The apparatus according to claim 8, characterized in
that the massage and/or cleansing elements (3) in one
and the same trough differ in hardness, material
quality, and finish.
10. The apparatus according to claims 8 and 9,
characterized in that the brushes form V-shaped rows of
bristles.

Description

~ 1 2~ 03~ 18
Showering and Bathing Apparatus for Foot Massage
and/or Foot Cleansing
Description
This invention relates to a showering and bathing apparatus
for foot massage and/or foot cleansing.
It is the object of this invention to provide a showering
and bathing apparatus for foot massage and/or foot
cleansing by means o~ which specifically older people,
overweight people or partially disabled people find it
easier to groom their feet.
This object is achieved by the apparatus of the invention
in that it has the shape of a trough which is open at its
end faces, and in which there is an arrangement of brushes,
sponges, rubbing surfaces or similar massage and/or
cleansing elements.
In a preferred embodiment of the solution according to the
invention the trough comprises side parts that run towards
each other leaving a gap at their top that enables forward
and backward movement of a foot within the trough. This
design facilitates simultaneous cleansing and massage of
the top and bottom sides of a foot.
The trough is preferably made of an elastic material to be
adjustable to various curvatures of tub bottoms and to
different foot sizes and ankle widths.
In another preferred embodiment of the solution according
to the invention the trough is equipped with fixing
elements on its underside which can be form-fitted and/or
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frictionally engaged with a bath mat. Thus the apparatus of
the invention can be combined with a bath mat for antiskid
attachment. Furthermore, these fixing elements may be
provided with suction cups so that the apparatus of the
invention can be firmly attached to a tub bottom or tiled
floor without depending on a suitable bath mat.
In yet another advantageous embodiment, the trough
comprises a duct system with inward-directed nozzles that
distribute water and/or a cleansing agent, and with at
least one hose fitting connected to said duct system. This
embodiment facilitates particularly thorough foot
cleansing.
The trough is preferably equipped with brushes, sponges,
rubbing surfaces or similar massage and/or cleansing
elements that differ in hardness and/or material quality or
finish. Thus the apparatus of the invention may
simultaneously contain natural bristles for regular foot
cleansing and harder plastic bristles for removing patches
of horn skin.
In yet another advantageous embodiment of the solution
according to the invention, the duct system consists of at
least two hydraulically isolated sub-systems, each
comprising at least one hose fitting. This embodiment
facilitates simultaneous, controlled supply of cold and hot
water for achieving a contrast shower effect that
stimulates the blood circulation.
In yet another advantageous embodiment, the massage and/or
cleansing elements consist of brushes forming V-shaped rows
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of bristles. This embodiment allows optimum cleansing, in
particular of the spaces between the toes.
The present invention shall now be explained in greater
detail with reference to an embodiment and to the figures
in the accompanying drawings, in which:
Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic, perspective view of a
showering and bathing apparatus for foot massage
and/or foot cleansing;
Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic, perspective view of a bath
mat;
Fig. 3 is a top view of a recess in the bath mat
according to Fig. 2;
Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic top view of the apparatus
according to Fig. 1 illustrating its operating
principle; and
Fig. 5 is a cross-section of the apparatus of the
invention with an integrated duct system.
As shown in Fig. 1, the showering and bathing apparatus 1
of the invention is a trough that is open at its end faces.
The trough bottom 2 has side parts 8 that run towards each
other and form a gap 9. As is best shown in Fig. 4, the
apparatus of the invention is designed in such a way that
the entire foot is washed and massaged by simply moving it
forward and backward.
The side parts 8 and/or the trough bottom 2 are preferably
made of rubber, PVC, or a similar elastic material. The
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, ~
design of the invention guarantees that the gap 9 can be
elastically widened for different ankle widths.
The trough has fixing elements 4 in the form of nipples on
its underside. The apparatus 1 can thus be either inserted
in the recesses 5 of a bath mat 6, or it can be separately
attached to the bottom of a bath tub or shower base using
the suction cups 7. To connect the apparatus with a bath
mat 6, the nipples 4 are plugged into the recesses 5 that
said bath mat usually has. As shown in Fig. 3, it is
advantageous when said bath mat 6 has recesses that are
slotted in star shape so that the apparatus 1 can easily be
form-fitted with the bath mat 6.
As Fig. 1 also shows, massage and/or cleansing elements 3
are arranged across the entire surface area of the trough
bottom 2 and the side parts 8. These may be brushes or
sponges that differ in hardness and/or material quality and
finish. The brushes preferred for use on the trough bottom
2 form V-shaped rows of bristles.
Figs. 1 and 4 show that the apparatus 1 may ~urthermore
comprise a duct system 11 with inward-directed nozzles for
distributing water and/or cleansing agents, and a hose
fitting 12 connected with said duct system. This hose
fitting 12 can be used, for example, to connect a soap
dispenser that by a simple pressing operation feeds the
desired quantity of soap to the brush or cleansing system.
The duct system 11 may advantageously be divided into two
isolated sub-systems, each of which comprising a separate
hose fitting.
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The duct system 11 with hose connection 12 can also be
used, if required, for supplying a disinfectant, which
renders the apparatus of the invention suitable for use in
public swimming baths.
The present invention shall not be restricted to the
preferred embodiment specified above; it is obvious that a
number of variations can be conceived which may be
different in design but do not depart from the solution
presented.
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List of re~erence numbers
1 massage and cleansing apparatus
2 trough bottom
3 massage and/or cleansing elements
4 fixing elements
recess
6 bath mat
7 suction cups
8 side parts
9 gap
foot
11 duct system
17 fitting for hose connection
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Representative Drawing