Background of the Invention The removal of thickened and dead skin from the feet is ideally performed while having a shower, or taking a bath. Prior art devices for this purpose include pumice stones and specially design skin abrasion rasps which can be prone to the growth and build up of mould, fungus and bacteria as well as other micro- organisms. These devices are often difficult to clean and handle while in the shower cubicle or bath. As a consequence of the wet and slippery surfaces and the difficulty of maintaining balance either by bending or standing on one leg, this can be a dangerous exercise especially for elderly or disabled persons.

Object of the Invention These and other problems are sought to be overcome by the present invention or to at least to provide the public with a useful choice.

Summary of the Invention In one aspect, the present invention resides in an epidermal exfoliator including in combination a shaped receptacle base of a resilient material having a shaped

receptacle with drainage holes therein for the draining of water from the receptacle, a complimentarily shaped abrasive element adapted to fit snugly into the receptacle and surface attachment means located on the undersurface of the receptacle base, said surface attachment means adapted to adhere firmly to a smooth surface thereby preventing the receptacle from moving when in use.

Preferably the abrasive element is fabricated of a natural pumice stone preferably measuring 8.5cm x 5.5cm and rounded at the edges.

Preferably the abrasive element is oblong in shape, however any other suitable shape may be adapted.

Preferably the attachment means are suction cups located on the undersurface of the mounting means.

Preferably there are three suction cups, which are arranged, in triangular formation.

Preferably the receptacle base is of a resilient material and is preferably 5cm to 20cm in size, length, width or circumference.

More preferably the receptacle base is round in shape.

Alternatively the receptacle is oblong in shape or a triangular shape and also can be hexagonal in shape.

Preferably if circular, the receptacle base is 15cm in diameter, 5cm in height at its highest point and is dome shaped with circumferential drainage holes.

Preferably the receptacle base is constructed of resilient thick plastic material which is preferably 3mm thick.

Preferably the receptacle base if plastic or similarly resilient material and is injection moulded in a shelled out form.

Preferably the receptacle base is blow moulded in hollowed out form.

Preferably there are three recesses in the base of the mount for suction cups to be set in a triangular formation.

Preferably where the mount is of a square configuration, there are four recesses in the base for the suction cups.

Preferably the suction cups allow the mounting to be fixed either permanently or temporarily to a floor or wall surface of a shower.

Brief Description of the Drawings In order that the invention be better understood and put into practical effect, reference will be made to the accompanying drawings wherein, Figure 1 and 1a shows a plan view of a preferred epidermal exfoliator according to the invention.

Figure 2 shows a plan view of an epidermal exfoliator showing a receptacle for an abrasive element with drainage holes.

Figure 3 shows the underside of an epidermal exfoliator with recesses for suction cups and drainage holes.

Figure 4 shows the underside of an epidermal exfoliator with suction cups inserted into recesses and drainage holes.

Figure 5 shows a side view of an epidermal exfoliator with an abrasive element, receptacle and suction cups.

Figure 6A and 6B show views of an epidermal exfoliator comprising a shaped base covered with an abrasive material.

Figure 7A and 7B shows an epidermal exfoliator consisting entirely of an abrasive material.

Detailed Description of the Drawings An epidermal exfoliator is disclosed for use in showers or on the floor while seated for example. The invention is described in detail below with reference to the typical embodiments and accompanying drawings.

Referring to Figures 1 to 5, a preferred example of the invention is comprised of a dome shaped receptacle base 1 with a centrally placed receptacle 4 into which an abrasive element 2 fits, the receptacle having six drainage holes 5-10 adjusted to drain water from the receptacle thereby keeping the abrasive element as dry as possible. The receptacle base has three recesses 11,12, 13 in which three suction cups 14,15, 16 are inserted.

The receptacle base holds the abrasive element firmly in place as force is applied while scrubbing the feet. The suction cups enable the receptacle base to be attached firmly to a shower, bath or a smooth floor or wall surface.

The receptacle base is made preferably of resilient plastic in a dome shaped configuration. The abrasive element is preferably a natural pumice stone especially configured to fit the receptacles of the receptacle base. The suction cups are preferably made of a clear PVC and a suitable size as to attach firmly to the bath, floor or wall surface. Preferably there will be three suction cups, in a triangular formation.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the receptacle base is 150mm in diameter, and is dome shaped and preferably 50mm at its peak height. The centrally placed receptacle for the abrasive element is 86mm long, 56mm wide and 35mm deep with six drainage holes arranged in a uniform pattern to effectively drain the receptacle thereby keeping the abrasive element as dry as is possible. This reduces the possible build up of mould, fungus or bacteria on the abrasive element.

The abrasive element is preferably made of natural pumice stone measuring 85mm long, 55mm wide and 35mm in height and is rounded at the edges for safety reasons. The receptacle base is preferably made of resilient 3mm thick plastic and is injection moulded in shelled out form. There are three recesses in the underside of the receptacle base for attaching suction cups in a triangular formation. The suction cups allow for the receptacle base to be fixed either temporarily or permanently to the bath, wall or shower floor surface.

As an example, the present invention can be used in the following manner.

Referring to Figure 5, the receptacle base 1 is pushed down onto the floor surface so that the suction cups 6 adhere firmly to the floor. With one foot firmly on the floor surface, the heel of the other foot is placed on top of the abrasive element 2 and rotated from sided to side so as to effect the exfoliating/cleaning process.

The foot can be placed at various angles on top of the abrasive element 2. The foot can also be rubbed back and forth along the side and top of the abrasive element 2 to exfoliate thickened or dead skin from the foot where necessary. As an example, this process can be safely carried out whilst standing on the floor surface or sitting on a shower chair in a shower cubicle. The process can also be carried out by placing the exfoliator on any smooth floor surface to which the suction cups 14-16 will firmly adhere. It is not necessary for the exfoliator to be wet when used.

Figure 6A and 6B show drawings of a further preferred version of the epidermal exfoliator 20 wherein the epidermal exfoliator includes a shaped base 20a of a resilient material, preferably injection moulded plastic wherein the base is coated with an abrasive material, typically silicone or carborundum particles. There are surface attachment means in the form of holes for attaching suction cups 22,24, 26 located on the undersurface of the base. The suction cups when attached to a smooth surface such as the floor or wall of a shower prevent the base from moving as the user applies pressure to the epidermal exfoliator.

Figure 7A and 7B show another version of the epidermal exfoliator 30 wherein the shaped base 30 consists entirely of the abrasive material such as a acrylic or fiberglass base impregnated with carborundum or silicone particles. There are also surface attachment means cast into the base in the form of pedestals 30b, 30c, 30d with apertures for the insertion of suction cups 32,34, 36 so that the base can be adapted to adhere firmly to a smooth surface such as the floor or

wall of a shower thereby preventing the base from moving when pressure or force is applied to the epidermal exfoliator by a user.

The following description of preferred embodiments is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention its application or uses. The exfoliator is not restricted to the above embodiments and equivalent solutions that lie within the scope of the following examples.

The abrasive element can be made of any suitable abrasive material and include more than one element, the abrasive element could also be of various shapes and sizes. The receptacle base can vary in size, length, width or circumference and be square, oval, oblong, triangular, hexagonal or free formed in shape. The receptacle can be made of plastic in blow moulded hollowed out form, or of a suitable resilient material in a solid form. The exfoliator can comprise a specially shaped receptacle made of a flexible material with the receptacle base being a large suction cup adhering to the floor surface. The recesses for the suction cups on the underside of the receptacle base can be of any suitable quantity and arranged in different formations.

The exfoliator can comprise a device that does not have an receptacle for an abrasive element but is coated in an abrasive substance or abrasive particles or the device itself may be made entirely of an abrasive material.

Variations It will of course be realised that while the foregoing has been given by way of illustrative example of this invention, all such and other modifications and variations thereto as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of this invention as is herein set forth.

Throughout the description and claims this specification the word"comprise"and variations of that word such as"comprises"and"comprising", are not intended to exclude other additives, components, integers or steps.