MODULAR WASHING DEVICE WITH TENSIONING MEMBER

Abstract

The present invention is a washing device with a handle, tensioning member, and loofah. The tensioning member is rotatably attached to the handle by means of a pivot. A plurality of capture features extend from the tensioning member, around which a rope of the loofah is configured to removably attach the loofah to the handle. The tensioning member is rotated away from the handle to expose the capture features, and is rotated towards the handle to create tension is the rope, which secures the loofah to the handle. The loofah further comprises a sponge portion which is configured against a loofah plate at a washing end of the handle. The washing device is used to wash oneself by grasping a handle portion of the handle and using the washing end of the handle with the loofah attached to wash oneself.

Claims

1. A washing device, comprising: a handle, the handle comprising: a washing end; a handle end; a top surface, the top surface comprising a groove; a tensioning member, the tensioning member comprising a plurality of capture features; a loofah, the loofah comprising: a sponge portion; and a rope, the rope comprising a first end and a second end; wherein the first end and the second end of the rope are permanently affixed to the sponge portion of the loofah to create a closed loop, and wherein the tensioning member of the handle is rotatably attached to the handle, and wherein when the tensioning member is rotated towards the handle, the tensioning member rests within the groove of the top surface of the handle, and wherein when the tensioning member is rotated away from the handle, the plurality of capture features is revealed, and wherein the sponge portion of the loofah is configured against the washing end of the handle, and wherein when the tensioning member of the handle is rotated away from the handle to reveal the plurality of capture features, the closed loop of the loofah is configured around one of the capture features, and wherein when the closed loop of the loofah is configured around one of the capture features, then tensioning member is rotated towards the handle to rest in the groove and to secure the loofah onto the handle.

2. The washing device of claim 1, wherein the loofah is a string loofah.

3. The washing device of claim 1, wherein the loofah portion is a sponge material.

4. The washing device of claim 1, wherein the capture features are each tooth-shaped.

5. The washing device of claim 1, wherein the handle further comprises a handle length.

6. The washing device of claim 5, wherein the handle length is at least 12 inches.

7. The washing device of claim 5, wherein the handle length is at least 16 inches.

8. The washing device of claim 1, wherein the washing end comprises a washing end diameter.

9. The washing device of claim 8, wherein the washing end diameter is at least 3 inches and not more than 6 inches.

10. A method of washing oneself, comprising: providing a handle, the handle comprising: a washing end; a handle end; a top surface, the top surface comprising a groove; a tensioning member, the tensioning member comprising a plurality of capture features, wherein the tensioning member of the handle is rotatably attached to the handle, and wherein when the tensioning member is rotated towards the handle, the tensioning member rests within the groove of the top surface of the handle, and wherein when the tensioning member is rotated away from the handle, the plurality of capture features is revealed; providing a loofah, the loofah comprising: a sponge portion; a rope, the rope comprising a first end and a second end, wherein the first end and the second end of the rope are permanently affixed to the sponge portion of the loofah to create a closed loop; configuring the sponge portion of the loofah against the washing end of the handle; rotating the tensioning member away from the handle; configuring the closed loop around one of the capture features; rotating the tensioning member towards the handle such that the tensioning member rests within the groove of the top surface of the handle; grasping the handle portion of the handle; and using the loofah configured on the washing end of the handle to wash oneself.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising adding a soap to the loofah before using the loofah to wash oneself.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the loofah is a string loofah.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the loofah portion is a sponge material.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the capture features are each tooth-shaped.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the handle further comprises a handle length.

16. The method of claim 16, wherein the handle length is at least 12 inches.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the handle length is at least 16 inches.

18. The method of claim 10, wherein the washing end comprises a washing end diameter.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the washing end diameter is at least 3 inches and not more than 6 inches.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] FIG. 1 is a right-side view of a washing device with a loofah detached from a handle.

[0018] FIG. 2 is a right-side view of a washing device wherein a tensioning member is rotated away from a handle and a loofah is being removably attached to the handle.

[0019] FIG. 3 is a right-side view of a washing device wherein a tensioning member is rotated towards a handle and a loofah is removably attached to the handle.

[0020] FIG. 4 is a top view of a washing device wherein a tensioning member is rotated towards a handle and a loofah is removably attached to the handle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0021] The description provided herein describes example embodiments of the present invention and is not intended to limit the invention to any particular embodiment, feature, use, size, shape, or any other property. Furthermore, the figures provided herein are for means of example, and are not intended to limit the invention to any particular embodiment, feature, use, size, shape, or any other property. The claimed invention is best understood by the appended claims.

[0022] As shown in FIG. 1, a washing device 10 utilizes a handle 20 and a loofah 50, which are detached from one another in FIG. 1. The handle 20 is an elongated member with a length 21 that extends from a handle end 28 and a washing end 22. A loofah plate 24 is configured at the washing end 22 of the handle 20. A slot 26 is cut into the loofah plate 24. The slot 26 is a rectangular shape and extends from the edge of the loofah plate 24 to a point near the center of the loofah plate 24.

[0023] A groove 32 is cut into a top surface 30 of the handle 20. The groove 32 has a length 32. A tensioning member 40 is configured within the groove 32. The tensioning member 40 is an elongated member with a length 41 that extends from a locking end 48 to a pivot end 46. The length 41 of the tensioning member 40 is less than or equal to the length 33 of the groove 32. The pivot end 46 of the tensioning member 40 connects to the walls of the groove 32 by means of a pivot 47, such that the tensioning member 40 is rotatably connected to the groove 32, and therefore rotatably connected to the handle 20. The locking end 48 of the tensioning member 40 may connect to the groove via a lock (not shown). A plurality of capture features 41, 41′, 41″, 41′″, 41″″, 41′″″, and 41″″″ are configured on a surface of the tensioning member 40 that is opposite to the surface of the tensioning member 40 that is flush with the top surface 30 of the handle 20.

[0024] The loofah has a diameter 53 that extends across a sponge portion 52 of the loofah. A rope 54 is connected to the sponge portion 52 of the loofah 50. The rope 54 comprises a first end and a second end, which are both connected to the sponge portion 52 to form a closed loop.

[0025] As shown in FIG. 2, the closed loop of the rope 54 is configured around one of the capture features 44′″″ of the tensioning member 40. The tensioning member 40 is rotated away from the handle 20 by means of the pivot 47 in order to expose the capture features 41, 41′, 41″, 41′″, 41″″, 41′″″, and 41″″″ from the groove 32. The sponge portion 52 of the loofah 50 is configured against the loofah plate 24. The rope 54 is threaded through the slot 26 of the loofah plate 24 before being configured around the capture feature 42′″″. Because of the view of FIG. 2, only one side of the closed loop is visible.

[0026] As shown in FIG. 3, after the closed loop of the rope 54 is configured around the capture feature 42′″″, the tensioning member 40 is rotated towards the handle 20 by means of the pivot 47 so that the tensioning member 47 once again rests within the groove 47. The tensioning member 40 may be secured in place by means of the lock at the locking end 48 of the tensioning member 40. The pivoting of the tensioning member 40 towards the handle 20 after the rope 54 has been configured around the capture feature 42′″ creates tension in the rope 54 which secures the loofah 50 in place. The sponge portion 52 of the loofah 50 is now secured against the loofah plate 24 of the handle 20 so that a user may use the washing device 10 to wash themselves.

[0027] As shown in FIG. 4, the groove 32 has a width 34, and the tensioning member 42 has a width 42. The width 42 of the tensioning member 40 is less than or equal to the width 34 of the groove 32. As shown in FIG. 4, the sponge portion 52 of the loofah 50 is configured against the loofah plate 24 of the handle 20. The rope 54 is threaded through the slot 26 of the loofah plate 24 and is configured around the capture feature (not shown in FIG. 4). The tensioning member 40 rests within the groove 32, and is rotatably connected to the groove 32 by means of the pivot 47, which is located at the pivot end 46 of the tensioning member 40.