Self-cleaning hand washer

• US 20030033669A1
• Filed: 12/15/2000
• Published: 02/20/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/1996
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sunnybrook & Women's College Health Sciences Centre
• Original Assignee: Sunnybrook and Women's College Health Sciences Centre
• Inventors: Fernie, Geoffrey Roy
• Application Number:
  US09/807,764
• Publication Number:
  US 20030033669A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 4/619
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 10/48 Drying by means of hot air hair-drying devices A45D20/00; curative hot-air baths A61H33/06; electric heating elements H05B
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 2210/00 Combinations of water taps, soap dispensers and hand dryers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/80 Implements for cleaning or washing the skin of surgeons or patients
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/057 touchless, i.e. using sensors
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/14 Wash-basins connected to the waste-pipe
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 2201/90 Basins movable between several positions

Abstract

A hand washing apparatus has a hand washing bowl (30) mounted when in use at a suitable height for washing the hands. The bowl (30) and its cover are reconfigurable between a hand washing position and an inactive position. The hand washing apparatus includes controls for reconfiguring the bowl and its cover between a hand washing position and an inactive position, a dispenser (34) for dispensing water over the hands in the bowl and a dispenser (34) for dispensing soap over the hands in the bowl. Also disclosed is a method of cleaning the hands using such apparatus.

Claims

1. A hand washing apparatus comprising:

(a) a hand washing bowl and a cover, the bowl and cover being reconfigurable between a hand washing position and an inactive position in which the bowl is closed by the cover;

(b) a controller for reconfiguring the bowl between the hand washing position and the inactive position; and

,

(c) a dispenser for dispensing water, a cleaner and rinse water over hands in the bowl.

2. The hand washing apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the bowl is mounted at a suitable height for washing hands and is mounted for rotation about a generally horizontal axis between the hand washing position and the inactive position.

3. The hand washing apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the bowl is of a generally hemispherical shape and when the bowl is in the hand washing position, the bowl is open upwardly for access by a user and when in the inactive position, the interior of the bowl is inaccessible by a user.

4. The hand washing apparatus as claimed in claim 1 including an air dryer for generating a stream of hot air flowing over the hands of a user, the air dryer being operable by the user without touching the apparatus.

5. The hand washing apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein the air dryer is automatically operable after completion of a washing cycle.

6. The hand washing apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein the hot air is disinfected prior to flowing over the hands of a user.

7. The hand washing apparatus as claimed in claim 1 including a discharger for discharging a disinfectant into the bowl when the bowl is in its inactive position, for flowing around the interior of the bowl and rendering the same clean.

8. The hand washing apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein an air stream is provided to dry the bowl after the bowl has been cleaned.

9. The hand washing apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a collection sink positioned to receive the liquid contents of the bowl when the bowl is in the inactive position.

10. The hand washing apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a sensor for recognizing a particular user prior to the activation of a washing cycle.

12. The hand washing apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the apparatus has a controller that is preprogrammed with at least two different washing cycles and the user selects the desired washing cycle.

11. The hand washing apparatus as claimed in claim 11 wherein the apparatus has a controller that is preprogrammed with at least two different washing cycles, the user selects the desired washing cycle, and the apparatus includes a recording media to record the cycle that was selected by the particular user.

13. A hand washing apparatus comprising:

(a) a hand washing bowl mounted at a suitable height for washing hands;

(b) a controller for opening the bowl into a hand washing position and closing the bowl into an inactive position;

(c) a warm water dispenser for dispensing warm water over hands in the bowl;

(d) a soap dispenser for dispensing soap over hands in the bowl; and

,

(e) a rinse water dispenser for dispensing rinse water over hands in the bowl.

14. The hand washing apparatus as claimed in claim 13 wherein the bowl is mounted at a suitable height for washing hands and is mounted for rotation about a generally horizontal axis between the hand washing position and the inactive position.

15. The hand washing apparatus as claimed in claim 14 including an air dryer for generating a stream of hot air flowing over the hands of a user, the air dryer being operable by the user without touching the apparatus.

16. The hand washing apparatus as claimed in claim 14 including a discharger for discharging a disinfectant into the bowl when the bowl is in its inactive position, for flowing around the interior of the bowl and rendering the same clean.

18. The hand washing apparatus as claimed in claim 14 further comprising a collection sink positioned to receive the liquid contents of the bowl when the bowl is in the inactive position.

17. The hand washing apparatus as claimed in claim 17 wherein an air stream is provided to dry the bowl after the bowl has been cleaned.

19. A hand washing apparatus comprising:

(a) a hand washing bowl and a cover, the bowl and cover being reconfigurable between a hand washing position and an inactive position in which the bowl is closed by the cover;

(b) a dispenser for dispensing water, a cleaner and rinse water over hands in the bowl; and

,

(c) a controller actuated without use of the hands of the user for actuating the reconfiguration of the bowl and the cover between the hand washing position and the inactive position.

20. The hand washing apparatus as claimed in claim 19 wherein the bowl is mounted at a suitable height for washing hands and is mounted for rotation about a generally horizontal axis between the hand washing position and the inactive position.

21. The hand washing apparatus as claimed in claim 19 including an air dryer for generating a stream of hot air flowing over the hands of a user, the air dryer being operable by the user without touching the apparatus.

22. The hand washing apparatus as claimed in claim 19 including a discharger for discharging a disinfectant into the bowl when the bowl is in its inactive position, for flowing around the interior of the bowl and rendering the same clean.

23. The hand washing apparatus as claimed in claim 22 wherein an air stream is provided to dry the bowl after the bowl has been cleaned.

24. The hand washing apparatus as claimed in claim 19 further comprising a sensor for recognizing a particular user prior to the activation of a washing cycle, wherein the recognition of a particular user actuates the controller.

25. The hand washing apparatus as claimed in claim 19 further comprising a foot pedal to actuate the controller.

26. A method for a person to wash their hands using a hand washing apparatus comprising a hand washing bowl and a cover which are reconfigurable between a hand washing position and an inactive position, a controller for reconfiguring the bowl between the hand washing position and the inactive position;

and, a dispenser for dispensing water and a cleaner over the user'"'"'s hands, the method comprising the steps of;

(a) actuating the controller to move the bowl and the cover to the hand washing position;

(b) dispensing water and soap over the user'"'"'s hands; and

,

(c) dispensing water to rinse the user'"'"'s hands.

27. The method as claimed in claim 26 including dispensing a stream of hot air over the hands of a user

28. The method as claimed in claim 26 including dispensing a disinfectant into the bowl when the bowl is in its inactive position, for flowing around the interior of the bowl and rendering the same clean.

29. The method as claimed in claim 28 including dispensing an air stream to dry the bowl after the bowl has been cleaned.

30. The method as claimed in claim 26 wherein the apparatus also has a controller that is preprogrammed with at least two different washing cycles and the method includes selecting the desired washing cycle whereupon the various fluids are thereafter automatically dispensed.

31. The method as claimed in claim 26 wherein the apparatus also has a sensor for recognizing a particular user and the method further comprises the step of using a card to identify the user to the apparatus prior to the activation of a washing cycle.

32. The method as claimed in claim 31 wherein the user presents an identity card to the sensor to activate the apparatus.