Flexible bath brush

Sept. 10, 1935.

2,014,293

W. A. RILEY

FLEXIBLE BATH BRUSH

Filed Dec. 26, 1934

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ATTORNEY.

Patented Sept. 10, 1935

2,014,293

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE

2,014,293 FLEXIBLE BATH BRUSH Walter A. Riley, New York, N. Y.

Application December 26, 1934, Serial No. 759,267 4 Claims. (Cl. 128—62)

This invention relates to bath brushes and particularly to an improved flexible brush, an object being to provide a construction which may be used as a massage device.

Another object of the invention is to provide a bath brush of coarse rubber or other suitable material, which may be used to apply soap or to rub any part of the body, and which may be manipulated at different points either at the back 10 or front of the body by a longitudinal action, a scraping action, or a rolling action.

A further object, more specifically, is to provide a flexible bath device having a resilient contacting portion and a flexible support therefor 15 including a resiliently mounted handle, whereby as the device is pulled, back and forth there will be a yielding action and also a flexing to conform to the shape of the body.

In the accompanying drawing—

Figure 1 is a side view of a flexible bath brush disclosing an embodiment of the invention, a portion at the center being broken away and shown in section for better illustrating the construction;

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view through Fig. 1 approximately on the line 2—2, the same being appreciably enlarged;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view through part of one end of the brush shown in Fig. 1, and 30 illustrating how the handle and associated parts are formed, the same being on substantially the same scale as shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but with the device bowed.

Referring to the accompanying drawing by numerals, I indicates a resilient body which may be made from porous or other form of rubber, and which has integral ends 2 and 3 presenting round flange portions. The body I has a centrally 40 positioned longitudinally extending bore in which a flexible rubber hose or pipe 4 is fitted, said hose extending preferably beyond each end of the body. A metallic chain 5 extends through the rubber hose or pipe 4 and fits rather snugly therein.

As the respective ends of the brush are identical in construction, the showing in Fig. 3 illustrates the structure at both ends and the description of this figure is apt to both ends. As illustrated in Fig. 3, the rubber hose or pipe 4 extends an ap50 preciable distance from the body I and fits snugly in a tube 6 of metal or other comparatively stiff rigid material. This tube 6 is provided with a flange 7 normally fitting against the end of the body I. Over the tube 6 is slidably positioned a ⁵⁵ nut 8, the threads being arranged on the exterior thereof, and normally interlocking with the threads on a ring 9 embedded in a handle 10. The handle 10 may be of rubber, leather, wood, or other material and provided with a vent opening 11 at the extreme end, and also the handle is 5 preferably provided with shallow grooves 12 so as to present ridges 13 whereby the parts may be grasped. In addition, the end of the handle is rounded and formed into a ball-shaped portion 14 to prevent the hand accidentally slipping off 10 when the device is in use. When the parts have been assembled as shown, for instance in Fig. 3 and it should be desirable to remove the handle 10, the same may be readily removed by a rotation in the proper direction. The nut 8 is held by 15 friction sufficiently to permit the handle 10 to be readily screwed on and off as desired. As the handle 10 is usually of rubber, a pair of pliers may be inserted beneath the end of the grip and the nut 8 grasped and held during the rotation of 20 the handle though this is seldom necessary. It will be noted that the tightness of the handle on the nut is not the same as a large piece of machinery but is ample to hold the handle in place during the actuation of the device. If the handle 25 18 is grasped and pressed toward the body I and then rotated in the proper direction, an unscrewing action will take place. The spring 15 automatically provides a certain amount of friction.

If any additional friction is desired pressure as 30 just described will be sufficient.

A spring 15 rests at one end against the nut 8 and at the other end against a washer 16, which washer is held in place by an abutment or stop 17 secured to the end link of chain 5 by any suitable 35 means, as, for instance, a cotter pin (8. When the respective handles 10 and 10' are grasped and pulled away from each other, the springs 15 at the respective ends will be compressed more or less and will act to return the handles to their ⁴⁰former position when released. It will be evident that these springs could be of any desired strength so that it would require either a slight pull to move the handles or a greater pull, as may be desired. When the handles are being ⁴⁵pulled, the nut 8 will slide over the tube 6 to a greater or less extent according to the strain thereon, but will always return to its normal position when permitted. The sliding of the handle is desirable particularly where a comparative- ⁵⁰ly tall or large person uses the device, as it provides for the elongation of the device to a certain extent, which will permit easy actuation while the stretching of the device provides exerelse for the arms in addition to a massaging ac- ⁵⁵

2,014,293 tion. It will be observed that by reason of the stiff tube 6, the handle portion of the device is not flexible but is yieldable longitudinally of the device.

The body of the device from the exterior end portions of the flanges 12 and 13 is very flexible and may be bent around to the position shown in Fig. 4 or bent to a greater extent, and when bent may be rotated more or less. The brush is adapt10 ed to be used during bathing or immediately thereafter and may be used to apply soap to the body, though ordinarily this is not done. Usually the device is used near the end of the bath and may be rolled over the body, or more or less 15 doubled as shown in Fig. 4 and pulled and dragged over the body. Also the handles 10 and 10' may be grasped and the device pulled back and forth in a longitudinal reciprocating manner either in front or back of the body, or at some other point.

In this way, a desired massage and friction action is secured which will bring a healthy glow to the skin and which will help in putting the muscles in better flexing condition.