MODULAR PLATFORM OF BASE, PLUGINS, OVERLAYS, AND REACH ARMS FOR MISCELLANEOUS APPLICATIONS
20230390141 · 2023-12-07
Inventors
Cpc classification
International classification
Abstract
The present invention is a modular platform for assembling a device for miscellaneous applications, comprising a base to which either a plugin and/or an overlay may be attached, each serving specific functionality including cleaning, back scratching, massaging, scrubbing (with a surface adapting to body contours as per one embodiment), applying lotion/medication, etc. The base has a pipe-like hollow handle through which a normal or telescopic elongated reach arm may be fastened. Alternatively, handle endings may be fitted with an insert connectable to a matching reach arm. An example configuration is a ball/socket joint insert allowing free multi-axial rotation of a matching reach arm. Having the handle/device in between reach arms gives more control over directionality, coverage, and pressure over the target body area yielding more effective function. Included as a matter of illustration not limitation are: adaptive, massager, and general-purpose embodiments.
Claims
1. A modular platform for assembling a device to be used for miscellaneous applications unto a target object, comprising: a. a rectangular base with: a hollow handle on top of said base with a plurality of fastener configurations at the front, middle, and back of said handle to removably attach an insert to augment the functionality of said device, Grooves on all sides of said base for securing an overlay to said base, a front primary track to receive a plugin's main track, a right and left side female tracks of said base to receive optional side male tracks of said plugin, b. zero or more elongated reach arms connectable to said handle either directly or via said insert, c. with a surface serving specific functionality, at least one member from the set made of: one plugin with said main track, one plugin with said main track and two male tracks fitting into said side female tracks, one overlay superimposing said base or superimposing a combination of said base and said plugin, d. a first means of locking into place said plugin into said primary track, e. a second means of securing said overlay to said base, whereby, said device, assembled from said base and said plugin and/or overlay, may be used without said reach arms; or may be positioned in between said reach arms for better direction, coverage, and pressure over said target object area via said handle, in addition to said device serving functionality as per said plugin/overlay.
2. The device of claim 1, wherein said reach arm is a direct insert into said handle passing through one or both sides of said handle.
3. The device of claim 1, wherein said insert is a ball or socket joint fastened at either or both ends of said handle to participate in a ball-and-socket free-rotation joint.
4. The device of claim 1, wherein said reach arm has a ball or socket at the distal end to participate in a ball-and-socket free-rotation joint.
5. The device of claim 1, wherein said surface of said plugin is made adaptive to said target object by a third means.
6. The plugin of claim 5, wherein said third means uses elastic members.
7. The plugin of claim 6, wherein said elastic members function independently of one another.
8. The plugin of claim 6, wherein said elastic members are arranged in shapes or dimensions suiting their respective functional purpose.
9. The device of claim 1, wherein said plugin is purpose-built for a specific functionality such as scrubbing, scratching, massage, lotion/medication application.
10. The device of claim 1, wherein said overlay is purpose-built for a specific functionality such as scrubbing, scratching, massage, lotion/medication application.
11. The device of claim 10, wherein said overlay is a washcloth.
12. The device of claim 1, wherein said surface of said plugin is covered with anti-sliding layer for better grip with said overlay.
13. The device of claim 1, wherein said base, and/or said plugin are bendably flexible.
14. A hollow handle with a plurality of fastener configurations where an insert may be removably attached into any of its terminal ends to augment the functionality of said handle.
15. The hollow handle in claim 15, wherein said insert is statically fastened to said terminal end.
16. The hollow handle in claim 15, wherein said insert is a ball or socket joint terminally fastened to participate in a ball-and-socket free-rotation joint.
17. Use of elongated members to control directionality of and pressure on a device that is positioned in between said elongated members.
18. The setup of claim 17, wherein the connection means between said elongated member and said device allows zero or higher rotational degrees of freedom.
19. The setup of claim 17, wherein said elongated members are bendably flexible.
20. The setup of claim 17, wherein said elongated members are of fixed length or telescopic.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
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Naming/Numbering Convention
[0087] Figures numbered with 2 digits are more general (e.g.
[0088] Part detail drawing sheets are numbered in multiples of 100.
[0089] All parts have 3-digit numbers appearing on corresponding part detail sheets.
[0090] Parts that are similar or work together are given similar numbering. For instance, tubular feature 765 is similar to 865, both are insertable into tubular feature. Similarly, spring ball 130 snaps into the corresponding plugin hole 230, 430, or 530. The same applies for 660/160; 794/194; 894/194; 892/192.
[0091] The following table has a section for each drawing sheet. It starts with the title of the drawing sheet, a brief description, a listing of sub-figures on the sheet, followed by a table of reference numerals.
DESCRIPTION AND REFERENCE NUMERALS
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TABLE-US-00001 Sheet 1 of 11 Embodiments Shows all illustrated embodiments. Reference numerals that are multiples of 100 have a corresponding sheet with that figure number. FIG.11: base with misc plugin and overlay (Embodiment 1a) FIG. 12: base with misc plugin (Embodiment 1b) FIG. 13: base with adaptive plugin (Embodiment 2) FIG. 14: base with massager plugin (Embodiment 3) Reference numerals: 100 Base 200 Misc plugin 300 Overlay 400 Adaptive plugin 500 Massager plugin 600 Spring bar 700 Ball joint 800 Socket joint 900 Reach arms 901 Stick reach arm, full-length 902 Stick reach arm, half length 903 Socket reach arm 904 Ball reach arm Sheet 2 of 11 Exploded view of plugin-misc Shows an exploded view of Embodiment 1a, plugin-misc and shows a drawing of a person using the device on his back. FIG. 21: Exploded view of Embodiment 1a FIG. 22: Usage Reference numerals: 100 base 190 Base handle 200 Plugin-misc 240 Anti-sliding layer 300 overlay 600 spring bar 700 Ball joint 901 Stick reach arm, full-length 902 Stick reach arm, half-length 970 Fastener pin 23 Device Sheet 3 of 11 Base (100) Shows details of base, to which plugins/overlays are attached. FIG. 101: front view FIG. 102: side view FIG. 104: top perspective view FIG. 105: bottom perspective view Reference numerals: 102 Column 110 Primary track 120 Side female track 130 Spring ball to snap into plugin hole 140 Spring behind ball 150 Spring bar groove 160 Spring bar head cavity 165 Tubular feature 170 Finger notch for spring bar 180 Weight-saving cavity 190 Handle 192 Middle fastener holes 194 End fastener holes Sheet 4 of 11 Plugin-misc (200) Shows details of the miscellaneous plugin, to which an overlay may be attached. FIG. 201: front view FIG. 201A: front view Detail A FIG. 204: perspective top view FIG. 204C: perspective top view Detail C FIG. 205: perspective bottom view FIG. 205B: perspective bottom view Detail B Reference numerals: 210 Main track 220 Side male track 230 Snap plugin hole for base spring 240 Anti-sliding layer 250 Weight saving cavity Sheet 5 of 11 Overlay (300) Shows details of an overlay, which could be a washcloth FIG. 301: front view FIG. 304: perspective top view FIG. 305: perspective bottom view Reference numerals: 310 Surface for misc use: scrubbing, 320 Material/pattern depending on use scratching, massaging, applying lotion, etc. 330 Four sides to be held by 4 spring bars Sheet 6 of 11 Plugin-adaptive (400) Shows the adaptive plugin using individually independent springs with a concave shape. This plugin does not need side tracks. FIG. 401: front view FIG. 402: side view FIG. 404: perspective top view FIG. 405: perspective bottom view Reference numerals: 410 Main track 430 Snap hole for base spring ball 440 Curved individual springs 442 Cylinder enclosing spring Sheet 7 of 11 Plugin-massager (500) Shows the massager plugin, which modifies plugin-misc for a purpose-built function: massage. FIG. 501: front view FIG. 504: perspective top view Reference numerals: 510 Main track 520 Side male truck 530 Snap plugin hole for base spring ball 540 Massage ball Sheet 8 of 11 Spring-bar (600) Shows details of a spring-bar with a bend ending and a welded spring which is permanently fixed to the body of the base. FIG. 601: front view FIG. 602: side view FIG. 603: top view FIG. 604: perspective top view Reference numerals: 610 Bar 660 spring Sheet 9 of 11 Ball joint (700) Shows details of a ball joint with the cylinder part insertable into base handle end. FIG. 701: front view FIG. 702: side view FIG. 703: top view FIG. 704: perspective top view Reference numerals: 719 Ball joint receiving socket reach arm 765 Tubular feature 790 End-handle insert 794 End fastener hole Sheet 10 of 11 Socket joint (800) Shows details of a socket joint with the cylinder part insertable into base handle end. FIG. 801: front view FIG. 802: side view FIG. 803: top view FIG. 804: perspective top view Reference numerals: 810 Socket wall 819 Socket cup receiving ball reach arm 820 Socket wall slit 830 Joint ball cavity 840 Clamp to trap joint ball 865 Tubular feature 890 End-handle insert 894 End fastener hole Sheet 11 of 11 Reach arms (900) Shows different kinds of reach arms: stick, socket, and ball. Stick reach arms come in either half or full length. FIG. 901: stick reach arm, full-length FIG. 902: stick reach arm, half-length FIG. 903: socket reach arm FIG. 904: ball reach arm Reference numerals: 970 Fastener pin 992 Fastener holes for handle middle on 994 Fastener holes for handle end stick reach arms
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0093] At Drawing sheet 1 of 11 shows included embodiments, which are not to be construed as the only possible embodiments consistent with the spirit of this invention. [0094] a. Embodiment 1 has two versions: [0095] i. Embodiment 1a in
[0099] To show different permutations of reach arm configurations, Embodiment 1b shows no each arms; Embodiment 1a shows one socket reach arm (903) and one half-length stick reach arm (902); embodiment 2 shows one socket reach arm (903) and one ball reach arm (904); and, embodiment 3 shows one full-length stick reach arm (901).
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[0101] The next section is common and applicable to all embodiments in terms of description and operation. Sections thereafter inherit everything from the common section and add what is specific to a particular embodiment in its own section.
COMMON TO ALL EMBODIMENTS
Title
[0102] Base and base-relevant parts
Common Figures
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Description
[0104] The base 100, sheet 3 of 11, is mandatory for all embodiments. Base 100 is one rectangular member with a hollow handle 190 mounted on two columns 102 to leave space for a hand grip. The handle has two vertical holes 194 at both ends and two horizontal holes 192 in the middle where fastener pin 970 is inserted. The tubular feature 165 is where reach arm tubular features 765, 865, and 965 are inserted. The top surface of the base may have weight-saving cavities 180. A spring bar groove 150 and finger notch 170 are on each side of the rectangle. Notch 170 is an example of the second means of pulling spring bar 600 from its groove housing. Other equivalent means for pulling spring bar 600 from its groove housing are possible. The base has a front primary track 110 that is mandatory for all plugins. Use of side female tracks 120 on the right and left sides of the base is optional. Plugin-adaptive 400 is an example that does not use side tracks. Spring bar head cavity 160 is where springs 660 at the end of the spring bar are terminally fixed. The first means of locking into place a plugin's main track to base's primary track is illustrated by ball 130 which is permanently fixed to spring 140 behind it, both being part of the primary track side walls. Ball 130 of the base snaps into plugin's snap hole 230, 430, or 530.
[0105] Overlays 300 on sheet 5 apply to all embodiments. Although the figure has the appearance of solid material, any material including a washcloth may serve as an overlay. The texture, pattern, and material of the overlay are purpose-specific.
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[0109] The socket joint has socket wall 810 which has a plurality of vertical slits 820 to allow circumference expansion of the cup to snap ball 719 into socket cup 819. Flexible clamp 840 illustrates the third means of securing the ball inside the socket cup once they are snapped together. Other means of securing the ball inside the socket are possible.
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Operation
[0111] Common parts to all configurations are: 100, 300, 600, 700, 800, and 900. Base 100 is needed in all cases while reach arms are optional in all cases except for certain combinations. For instance, spring bars are used/needed only when overlays are used. Plugin-massager 500 does not need spring bars.
[0112] There are two primary configurations: a base with overlay, and a base with plugin (with optional overlay). To install overlay 300, at least 2 of the 4 sides 330 need to be tall enough to be captured by spring bars 600. This is one minimal configuration. Reach arms are discussed next.
[0113] Reach arms are optional and can be freely combined in any permutation. Included embodiments show configuration variations for the sake of illustration.
[0114] Embodiment 1b shown in
[0115] When stick reach arm 901 or 902 is used, tubular feature 765, 865, or 965 is inserted into tubular feature 165 of handle 190 until horizontal fastener hole for handle middle 192 aligns with reach arm middle hole 992, and vertical fastener hole for handle end 194 aligns with reach arm end hole 994. Then, fastener pins 970 are inserted into 992 and 994.
[0116] Indirectly attached reach arms such as ball/socket reach arms (904/903) must follow the attachment of a corresponding insert such as 700/800.
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EMBODIMENT 1
[0118] The only difference between embodiments 1a and 1b is that 1b does not have an overlay and does not have any reach arms. Only description of Embodiment 1a is included because it is more inclusive.
Title
[0119] Plugin-misc with overlay, socket reach arm, and half-length stick reach arm
Figures
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Description
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Operation
[0123] Exploded view
ALTERNATIVE EMBODIMENT 2
Title
[0134] Plugin-adaptive with one ball reach arm and one socket reach arm
Figures
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Description
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[0137] Plugin-adaptive, sheet 6 of 11, shows a front view
[0138] Snap holes for base spring ball 430 on the right and left sides are used to lock plugin-adaptive into base using base spring ball 130. An overlay 300 such as a washcloth may be used and fixed in place using spring bars 600 shown in
Operation
[0139] Plugin-adaptive 400 is slid into base primary track 110 until spring ball 130 snaps into hole 430 locking it in place. If an overlay such as a washcloth is desired, it can be fixed on the sides using spring bars 600. Reach arms exert pressure on the base via handle allowing springs to adapt to body contours of the target object of use. Having reach arms gives better coverage, pressure, and directional control of the device over the target area. Operation of the ball-and-socket joint/reach arm was elaborated earlier in the common section of this specification.
ALTERNATIVE EMBODIMENT 3
Title
[0140] Plugin-massager with full-length stick reach arm
Figures
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Description
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Operation
[0144] Plugin-massager 500 is slid into the primary track 110 of base until spring ball 130 snaps into hole 530 locking it in position. Plugin main track 210 is aligned to base primary track 110 and side male track 220 is aligned to side female track 120, then plugin-massager 500 is slid into base 100. The full-length stick reach arms 901 passes through handle 190 on both sides and can be fixed using any two or more fastening holes.
CONCLUSION, RAMIFICATIONS, AND SCOPE
[0145] Accordingly, the reader will see that, certain specific challenges have been addressed and resolved by the illustrated embodiments while providing a modular platform for new plugins/overlays to fill other existing or future needs.
[0146] Modularity allows the base handle of the device to have different kinds of insert configurations in addition to a choice of plugins and/or overlays.
[0147] Overlays allow reusability of existing devices by fitting them on top of the base illustrated using side spring bars. An exfoliating washcloth is an example of that. A back scratcher overlay would be another foreseeable example that isn't illustrated.
[0148] Plugins give ultimate flexibility for adding purpose-built functionality. The adaptive plugin and massager plugin embodiments are examples of that. A back scratcher would also work as a plugin.
[0149] Although the device may be used with any configuration of reach arms, the ability to have the device between both handles solves multiple problems at once including reachability, directionality, coverage, and pressure.
[0150] Reachability has been addressed by reach arms that connect either directly to the base handle of the device or indirectly via a handle insert. Two handle inserts and matching arms were illustrated in different embodiments to give better directional control over the device via ball-and-socket joint which affords multi-axial free rotation of the reach arm allowing fine-tuned control of positioning the device over hard-to-reach areas. Other types of handle insert configurations with purpose-built functionality are possible.
[0151] Directionality naturally leads to better and faster coverage of desired target area.
[0152] Being able to exert the right amount of pressure added to good directional control over hard-to-reach areas are major benefits, especially when combined, not seen in prior art.
[0153] While the above description contains many specificities, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments but as merely providing illustrations of some of the presently illustrated embodiments. For example, a special adaptive plugin may be created for different objects or different parts of the body. A plugin may come with a different shape of the adaptive surface than the shown convex shape; the shape could be concave or something else. The handle may have more than two sides or may have the angle between the sides different from the illustrated 180 degrees.
[0154] Thus, the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, and not by the examples given.