In accordance with one aspect of the invention there is provided a foot treatment assembly which includes : a body for location on a support surface; and a multiplicity of bristles connected to the body to project therefrom for brushing at least part of the foot of a user as the user moves his foot, in contact with the bristles, thereacross.

The body may comprise a base portion and a bristle support portion to which the multiplicity of bristles are connected, the base portion being vertically flattened, having a lower face for contact with a said support surface and an upper face to which the bristle support portion is secured, the bristle support portion having a floor, with the multiplicity of bristles defining at least a primary set of bristles which is connected to the floor so that the bristles thereof project operatively upwardly from the floor for brushing the sole of the foot of a user.

The bristle support portion may be integrally formed with the base portion, the bristle support portion projecting operatively upwardly from the upper face of the base portion, with the floor of the bristle support portion being provided by at least part of the upper face of the base portion.

Said multiplicity of bristles may also define at least one secondary set of bristles closely spaced from the primary set of bristles, the bristles of each secondary set projecting more or less normal to and towards the bristles of the primary set, the bristles of each secondary set being generally for brushing one side and an upper part of the foot of a user when the bristles of the primary set brush the sole of the user's foot.

The multiplicity of bristles may define two secondary sets of bristles, the bristles of the respective secondary sets projecting towards each other above and over the floor of the bristle support portion, so that the bristles of each secondary set generally brush one side and an upper part of the foot of a user when the bristles of the primary set brush the sole of the user's foot.

The bristles of at least one of the primary set of bristles and the two secondary sets of bristles may be provided by bristles of a replaceable bristle component, which bristle component includes a bristle component base and a plurality of bristles connected to the bristle component base to project therefrom, the bristle component being replaceably connected to the bristle support portion, so that said at least one set of bristles is releasably connected to the bristle support portion via the bristle component base.

The bristle support portion may also include two spaced more or less aligned walls respectively projecting, from opposite sides of the primary set of bristles, operatively upwardly from the floor of the bristle support portion, such that operatively inner faces of the two walls face each other, with the bristles of the respective secondary sets projecting from the inner faces of the respective walls.

The primary set and the two secondary sets of bristles may respectively be provided by bristles of a primary and two secondary independently replaceable bristle components, each set of bristles thus being replaceably connected to the bristle support portion via its associated bristle component base, the assembly being provided with connecting formations by means of which the primary and the two secondary bristle components are connected to the bristle support portion.

The connecting formations may include a recess in the inner face of each of the walls of the bristle support portion, in which recesses the bases of the secondary bristle components are respectively received, and two receiving spaces respectively defined, at or adjacent operatively lower ends of their respective bases, by the bases of the secondary bristle components, with the base of the primary bristle component being slidably received in said receiving spaces, such that the bases of all the bristle components are held captive relative to the bristle support portion.

The bristle support portion may be located more or less centrally on the base portion, the base portion being shaped and sized for receiving that foot of the user which is not being brushed.

The bristles of the primary set of bristles may be shorter and more rigid than the bristles of each secondary set of bristles.

At least part of the upper face of the base portion adjacent the bristle support portion may have an irregular surface for massaging the sole of the foot of a user. The upper face of the base portion may include at least one bulge-defining formation providing the upper face with said irregular surface. Each bulge-defining formation may be releasably secured to the support portion, to provide for replacement thereof, the support portion being provided with at least one securing formation by means of which each bulge- defining formation is releasably secured thereto.

The assembly may also include at least one scraper fast with the body for scraping the foot of a user. Each scraper may be provided by a scraper edge defined by the bristle support portion.

The assembly may further include at least one abrasive surface for grinding the foot of a user. Each abrasive surface may be provided by a abrasive component releasably connected to the bristle support portion.

At least part of the base portion may be of flexible construction, to permit at least partial conformation thereof to a shape of a said support surface on which the assembly is supported.

The assembly may yet further include at least one retaining formation provided on the lower face of the base portion for resisting movement of the assembly relative to a said support surface on which it is supported.

The assembly may at least partially be constructed from a synthetic plastics material.

The assembly may be suitable for use in a shower or bath. Thus the assembly 10 is constructed of a material or materials which is/are not adversely affected by exposure to liquids, such as liquid soap and water.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention there is provided a bristle component for use with an assembly as hereinbefore described, which bristle component includes a bristle component base having a floor, and a multiplicity of bristles connected to the base, the multiplicity of bristles defining a primary set of bristles whose bristles project operatively upwardly from the floor of the base, and two secondary sets of bristles, the bristles of the respective secondary sets projecting, normally to the bristles of the primary set and above the floor, towards each other and towards the primary set of bristles.

The bristle component may include two spaced opposed walls projecting, on opposite sides of the primary set of bristles, operatively upwardly from the floor, the respective secondary sets of bristles being respectively connected to the respective walls.

The bristles of the primary set may be shorter and more rigid than the bristles of the secondary sets.

The invention is now described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings.

In the drawings, Figure 1 shows a three-dimensional view of a body of a foot treatment assembly in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 shows a three-dimensional view of a foot treatment assembly in accordance with the invention; and Figure 3 shows a sectional front elevation, taken at Ill-Ill in Figure 2, of the foot treatment assembly in accordance with the invention.

With reference to the drawings, a foot treatment assembly in accordance with the invention is generally indicated by reference numeral 10. The assembly 10 includes a body 12 (see in particular Figure 1) having a base portion 14, and a bristle support portion 16. The assembly 10 further includes a multiplicity of bristles 18 connected to the bristle support portion 16 as hereinafter described.

The base portion 14 is of roughly elliptical outline when seen in plan view.

The base portion 14 is vertically flattened having lower face 20 (Figure 3) for contact with a support surface (not shown) on which the assembly 10 is supported, and an upper face 22.

The assembly 10 will, typically, be supported on a horizontal support surface.

The lower face 20 of the base portion 14 is provided with a plurality of retaining formations in the form of transverse ribs 24 (Figure 3) for resisting movement of the assembly 10 relative to a said support surface on which it is supported. The upper face 22 of the base portion 14, in turn, is provided with a plurality of bulge-defining formations 26 spaced around the bristle support portion 16. The purpose of the bulge-defining formations will become more apparent hereinafter.

In the embodiment shown, the bristle support portion 16 is integrally formed with the base portion 14, so that the body 12 is of unitary construction. The bristle support portion 16 projects operatively upwardly form the base portion 14. In other embodiments (not shown), the bristle support portion 16 can be releasably secured to the base portion 14.

The bristle support portion 16 includes a floor 28, which, on account of the unitary construction of the body 12, is defined by the upper face 22 of the base portion 14, and two spaced aligned walls 30,32 projecting upwardly from the base portion 14 on opposite sides of the floor 28. The walls 30,32 respectively have inner faces 34,36, which inner faces 34,36 face each other. The walls 30,32 are further respectively provided with recesses 38,40 intruding into their inner faces 34,36. The purpose of the recesses 38,40 will become more apparent hereinafter.

The assembly 10 further includes a primary bristle component 42 (Figures 2 and 3) which includes an elongated flattened primary bristle component base 44 and a primary set of bristles 46, the bristles of which project operatively upwardly from the base 44. The base 44 is located on the floor 28 of the bristle support portion 16 such that the bristles of the primary set of bristles 46 project operatively upwardly relative to the floor 28 for brushing the sole of a foot of a user (not shown) when the user moves his foot, in contact with the bristles, thereacross. The assembly 10 also includes two secondary bristle components 48,50 having respective flattened secondary bristle component bases 52,54. Bristles of two secondary sets of bristles 56,58 respectively project from the respective secondary bristle component bases 52,54. The bristles of the respective sets 46,56, 58 are connected to their associated bases 44,52, 54.

The secondary bristle component bases 52,54 are respectively complimentarily shaped to the respective recesses 38,40. The bases 52,54 are respectively received in the respective recesses 38,40, such that the bristles of the respective sets of secondary bristles 56,58 project towards one another over the floor 28 and normal to the bristles of the primary set of bristles 46. In use, when the bristles of the primary set of bristles 46 brush the sole of the foot of a user, the bristles of the respective secondary sets of bristles 56,58 brush the sides and upper parts of the foot of the user.

The bristles of the one set 56 thus brush the one side and upper part of the foot of the user, and the bristles of the other set 58 brush the other side and the upper part of the user's foot. The bristles of the primary set 46 are shorter and more rigid than the bristles of the secondary sets 56, 58.

A foot-receiving space is thus defined between the floor 28 and the two walls 30,32 of the bristle support portion 16, with the multiplicity of bristles 18 being located in said foot-receiving space. The bristles of the sets 46,56, 58 together constitute the multiplicity of bristles 18.

The bristles of the primary set of bristles 46 and the two secondary sets of bristles 56,58 are, in the embodiment shown, thus releasably connected to the bristle support portion 16 via their associated bristle component bases 44,52, 54, to permit replacement of the multiplicity of bristles 18 when they are worn-out or otherwise damaged.

Naturally, the bristle components 42,48, 50 are independently replaceable, such that the respective sets of bristles 46,56, 58 are independently replaceable. In other embodiments (not shown) the bristles of the respective sets 46,56, 58 may be directly connected to the bristle support portion 16, so that in such embodiments, the assembly 10 does not include the respective bristle component bases 44,52, 54.

In yet further embodiments (not shown), the bases 44,52, 54 of the respective bristle components 42,48, 50 may be integrally formed with one another so that the assembly 10 includes only one bristle component which is replaceably connected to the bristle support portion 16. The base of said bristle component is thus of unitary construction. In said embodiment, the base of the bristle component will thus define a floor and two walls projecting, on opposite sides of the floor, operatively upwardly therefrom, with the bristles of the primary set of bristles projecting upwardly from the floor and with the bristles of the respective secondary sets of bristles projecting towards one another and normal to the bristles of the primary set form the respective walls. Said bristle component and its sets of bristles thus constitute a bristle assembly in accordance with the invention.

The recesses 38,40 together with receiving spaces 60,62 defined between respective lower ends of the secondary bristle component bases 52,54 and the floor 28 of the bristle support portion 16 form connecting formations by means of which the bristle components 42,48, 50 are releasably connected to the bristle support portion 16. More particularly, the lower ends of the bases 52,54 are respectively provided with operatively inwardly projecting lips 51,53, and the base 44 is provided with two spaced longitudinally extending ridges 49, the ridges 49 being respectively in abutment with the lips 51,53. As can be seen from the drawings, the bases 52,54 are received in the respective recesses 38,40, and the base 44 of the primary bristle component 42 is slidably received, on the floor 28, in the receiving spaces 60,62, so that all three the bristle components 42,48, 50 are held captive relative to the bristle support portion 16.

The walls 30,32 respectively are shaped to define scraper edges 64,66 against which the foot of a user can be scraped, for example to remove dead skin cells or the like.

The assembly 10 further includes abrasive components 55,57, 59,61 releasably connected to the walls 30,32. Each abrasive component 55,57, 59,61 provides an abrasive outer surface for grinding the foot of a user. The abrasive components 55,57, 59,61 are in the form of strips releasably connected to the outer faces 68,70 of the walls 30,32. Although not visible, the walls 30,32 are provided with connecting formation by means of which the abrasive components 55,57, 59,61 are connected thereto. The abrasive components 55,57, 59,61 can thus be replaced when they are worn-out or otherwise damaged.

The base portion 14 is constructed from a plastics polymeric material, including polypropylene. Likewise, the bristles 18 are constructed from a plastics polymeric material, including polypropylene. The rest of the assembly 10 is constructed from a material which is not affected by moist or water, thus permitting use of the assembly 10 in a shower or bath without damage to the assembly 10. The base portion 14 is of resiliently flexible construction so that it more or less conforms to a shape of said support surface on which the assembly 10 is supported.

In use, the assembly 10 is located on a support surface such that the lower face 20 of the base portion 14 is in contact with said support surface. In use, the assembly 10 is located on the floor of a shower or bath. A user then places one of his feet, next to the bristle support portion 16, on the upper face 22 of the base portion 14. The sole of said foot of the user is thus located on top of the bulge-defining formations 26 so that it is massaged thereby. To this end, the bulge-defining formations 26 are releasably secured to the base portion 14, so that they are replaceable depending on the type of foot massage required. The body 12 is thus provided with connecting formations (not visible) by means of which the bulge-defining formations 26 are connected to the base portion 14. The foot of the user located on the base portion 14 thus also serves to anchor the assembly 10 on said support surface.

The other foot of the user is then inserted into the foot-receiving space defined between the floor 28 and the two walls 30,32 of the bristle support portion 16, such that the sole of said foot of the user is in contact with the bristles of the primary set 46, and sides and upper parts of the user's foot is in contact with the bristles of the secondary sets 56,58. The user then moves his foot in reciprocal fashion through the receiving space, such that the bristles of the primary set 46 brush the sole of his foot, and the bristles of the secondary sets 56,58 respectively brush respective sides and upper parts of his foot. If required, soap, for example liquid soap, can be applied to the sets of bristles 46,56, 58 before the user starts brushing his foot.

Once the one foot of the user has been brushed, the user changes feet and the brushing process as hereinbefore described is repeated for the other foot. The sole of the foot which was brushed first is thus now massaged by the bulge-defining formations 26. Also, if required, the user can scrape the sole, sides and heels of his feet against the scraper edges 68,70, to rid them of dead skin cells or the like. Likewise, the user may grind his feet, typically the heels of his feet, against the abrasive surfaces provided by the abrasive components 55,57, 59,61.

The invention as described and illustrated thus provides a foot treatment assembly which can easily be used to treat the feet of a user, and which assembly provides for replacement of independent components thereof when they are worn-out or damaged.