WASH CHAMBER FOR AUTOMATED APPENDAGE-WASHING APPARATUS

• US 20080099047A1
• Filed: 07/27/2007
• Published: 05/01/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Meritech Systems, LLC
• Original Assignee: Iconn Systems LLC
• Inventors: Barnhill, Paul R., Johannsen, Thomas M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,641,740 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 134/18
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 2210/00 Combinations of water taps, soap dispensers and hand dryers
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 7/04 Mechanical washing or cleaning devices, hand or mechanically, i.e. power operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/80 Implements for cleaning or washing the skin of surgeons or patients
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2205/065 Hands
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 35/00 Baths for specific parts of the body electric circuits therefor A61H33/005; specific components therefor A61H33/60
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/18 Liquid substances or solutions comprising solids or dissolved gases
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/24 Apparatus using programmed or automatic operation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4984 Retaining clearance for motion between assembled parts
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53 Means to assemble or disassemble

Abstract

A wash cylinder or chamber for an automated cleaning station to clean an object or a person'"'"'s body part includes nozzles on the interior of the cylinder, the nozzles of one embodiment comprising an increasing roll angle providing a novel spray pattern. Additionally, embodiments of the invention include fluid guidance and conveyance structures, angled nozzles, sealing structures, finger guards, nozzle ribs, wash chamber seating mechanisms and drains, and nozzle inlays having a plurality of nozzles. Also disclosed are methods of washing an object or body part using a wash cylinder or chamber and methods of assembling a wash cylinder or chamber.

Claims

1. An automated cleaning station to at least partially clean at least a portion of at least one appendage of a person using at least one fluid, comprising:

a body;

a rotatable wash chamber associated with the body, the wash chamber including an inner member and an outer member, the wash chamber including a first end and a second end, the wash chamber including an axis of rotation;

an appendage receiving cavity located within the inner member, the appendage receiving cavity adapted for being accessible by the portion of the at least one appendage through an opening in the first end of the wash chamber;

an annular cavity located between the inner member and the outer member, the inner member including a first surface and a second surface, the first surface facing the appendage receiving cavity and the second surface facing the annular cavity;

a plurality of nozzles disposed on the inner member, the plurality of nozzles adapted to receive the at least one fluid from the annular cavity and to project the fluid into the appendage receiving cavity;

a fluid inlet into the annular cavity, the fluid inlet providing an entrance for the at least one fluid into the annular cavity, the fluid inlet being substantially radially symmetric with respect to the axis of rotation; and

a fluid guidance structure disposed on the second surface of the inner member in line with the fluid inlet, the fluid guidance structure being substantially radially symmetric with respect to the axis of rotation, the fluid guidance structure including a protrusion extending from the second surface of the inner member, the protrusion including a sloped surface being substantially symmetrical about the axis of rotation, the protrusion including a location of greatest offset disposed in line with the axis of rotation;

whereby during operation of the wash chamber, the at least one fluid flows in from the fluid inlet, into the annular cavity, and through the plurality of nozzles into the appendage receiving cavity, and wherein the fluid guidance structure operates to direct the at least one fluid flowing in from the fluid inlet into the annular cavity.

2. The automated cleaning station of claim 1, wherein:

the outer member includes a cylinder portion and a frusto-conical portion, the frusto-conical portion including a flat surface and a sloped surface, the flat surface including the fluid inlet;

the inner member includes a cylinder portion and a frusto-conical portion, the frusto-conical portion including a flat surface and a sloped surface, the fluid guidance structure being disposed on the flat surface of the inner member; and

wherein the outer member and the inner member are separate components that interconnect with each other to form the wash chamber.

3. The automated cleaning station of claim 2, wherein the plurality of nozzles comprise:

a first set of nozzles disposed on the inner member in a ring formation and proximate to the first end of the wash chamber;

a second set of nozzles disposed on the inner member in a helical pattern along a length of the cylinder portion of the inner member; and

a third set of nozzles disposed on the frusto-conical portion of the inner member.

4. The automated cleaning station of claim 1, wherein the annular cavity has a thickness of between one sixteenth of and inch and one eighth of an inch.

5. The automated cleaning station of claim 1, wherein the fluid inlet includes a tubular portion extending from the outer member, the tubular portion being adapted to be received in a seating mechanism disposed within the interior of the body.

6. An automated cleaning station to at least partially clean at least a portion of at least one appendage of a person using at least one fluid, comprising:

a body;

a rotatable wash chamber associated with the body, the wash chamber including an inner member and an outer member, the wash chamber including a first end and a second end, the wash chamber including an axis of rotation;

an appendage receiving cavity located within the inner member, the appendage receiving cavity adapted for being accessible by the portion of the at least one appendage through an opening in the first end of the wash chamber;

an annular cavity located between the inner member and the outer member, the inner member including a first surface and a second surface, the first surface facing the appendage receiving cavity and the second surface facing the annular cavity; and

a plurality of nozzles disposed on the inner member, the plurality of nozzles adapted to receive the at least one fluid from the annular cavity and to project the at least one fluid into the appendage receiving cavity, wherein at least one nozzle of said plurality of nozzles includes at least one rib adapted to engage a surface of the outer member to at least prevent the nozzle from being dislodged during the operation of the automated cleaning station

whereby during operation of the wash chamber, the at least one fluid flows in from the fluid inlet, into the annular cavity, and through the plurality of nozzles into the appendage receiving cavity.

7. The automated cleaning station of claim 6, wherein:

the outer member includes a cylinder portion and a frusto-conical portion, the frusto-conical portion including a flat surface and a sloped surface, the flat surface including the fluid inlet;

the inner member includes a cylinder portion and a frusto-conical portion, the frusto-conical portion including a flat surface and a sloped surface; and

wherein the outer member and the inner member are separate components that interconnect with each other to form the wash chamber.

8. The automated cleaning station of claim 6, wherein the plurality of nozzles comprise:

a first set of nozzles disposed on the inner member in a formation and proximate to the first end of the wash chamber;

a second set of nozzles disposed on the inner member in a helical pattern along a length of the cylinder portion of the inner member; and

a third set of nozzles disposed on the frusto-conical portion of the inner member, wherein each nozzle of the third set of nozzles includes the at least one rib.

9. The wash chamber of claim 6, wherein the annular cavity has a thickness of between one sixteenth of and inch and one eighth of an inch.

10. The automated cleaning station of claim 6, wherein the fluid inlet includes a tubular portion extending from the outer member, the tubular portion being adapted to be received in a seating mechanism disposed on the automated cleaning station.

11. A method of at least partially cleaning at least a portion of at least one appendage of a user using an automated cleaning station, comprising:

initiating a flow of a first fluid through a fluid inlet disposed on a wash chamber of the automated cleaning station, the wash chamber including an inner member and an outer member, the wash chamber including a first end and a second end, at least one of the first end and the second end connected to the automated cleaning station, the wash chamber including an axis of rotation, the wash chamber including an appendage receiving cavity and an annular cavity, the appendage receiving cavity being located within the inner member, the appendage receiving cavity being accessible through an opening in the first end of the wash chamber and being adapted to receive the at least a portion of the appendage for washing, the annular cavity being located between the inner member and the outer member, the inner member including a first surface and a second surface, the first surface facing the appendage receiving cavity and the second surface facing the annular cavity;

redirecting the flow of the first fluid from the fluid inlet into the annular cavity, the flow of the first fluid being redirected by a fluid guidance structure disposed on the second surface of the inner member in line with the fluid inlet, the fluid guidance structure being radially symmetric with respect to the axis of rotation, the fluid guidance structure including a protrusion extending from the second surface of the inner member, the protrusion including a sloped surface being radially symmetrical about the axis of rotation, the protrusion including a location of greatest offset disposed in line with the axis of rotation;

establishing a fluid pressure within the annular cavity; and

projecting the first fluid from the annular cavity through a plurality of nozzles and into the appendage receiving cavity, the plurality of nozzles being disposed on the inner member, and the first fluid being projected as a result of the fluid pressure established within the annular cavity;

whereby the wash chamber is rotated about the axis of rotation at least during the step of projecting the first fluid.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein:

the outer member includes a cylinder portion and a frusto-conical portion, the frusto-conical portion including a flat surface and a sloped surface, the flat surface including the fluid inlet;

the inner member includes a cylinder portion and a frusto-conical portion, the frusto-conical portion including a flat surface and a sloped surface, the fluid guidance structure being disposed on the flat surface of the inner member; and

wherein the outer member and the inner member are separate components that interconnect with each other to form the wash chamber.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the plurality of nozzles comprise:

a first set of nozzles disposed on the inner member in a formation and proximate to the first end of the wash chamber of the wash chamber;

a second set of nozzles disposed on the inner member in a helical pattern along a length of the cylinder portion of the inner member;

a third set of nozzles disposed on the frusto-conical portion of the inner member.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising contacting a second fluid with the portion of the appendage located within the wash chamber.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein one of the first fluid and the second fluid comprises water, and wherein one of the first fluid and the second fluid comprises at least one of a soap and a disinfectant.

16. A chamber for use in an automated fluid dispensing station for application of a fluid to at least a portion of one object using at least one fluid, comprising:

means for at least partially enclosing adapted for receiving the at least a portion of the at least one object;

means for receiving the at least one fluid into an end of the means for at least partially enclosing;

means for redirecting the at least one fluid within the means for receiving, the means for redirecting comprising at least one sloped protrusion located proximate a longitudinal end of an inner surface of the means for at least partially enclosing, wherein the sloped protrusion comprises a slope surface oriented at an angle of less than 90 degrees as measured between a rotational axis of the means for at least partially enclosing and the slope surface of the sloped protrusion;

means for containing the at least one fluid from the means for redirecting; and

means for projecting the at least one fluid from the means for containing, wherein the means for projecting is adapted to direct a spray of the at least one fluid into the means for at least partially enclosing.

17. The chamber of claim 16, further comprising:

means for rotating the means for at least partially enclosing.

18. The chamber of claim 16, further comprising:

means for seating the means for at least partially enclosing in the automated fluid dispensing station.

19. The chamber of claim 16, wherein the means for receiving the at least one fluid comprises a tube.

20. The chamber of claim 16, further comprising:

means for spacing, wherein the means for spacing maintains a width of at least a portion of the means for containing, the means for spacing being interconnected to the means for projecting.

21. The chamber of claim 16, wherein the fluid is at least one of a soap, disinfectant, and water.

22. The chamber of claim 16, wherein the fluid is a medicinal solution.

23. The chamber of claim 16, wherein the object includes at least one of:

an appendage of a person; and

an inanimate object.