WASH CHAMBER FOR AUTOMATED APPENDAGE-WASHING APPARATUS
First Claim
1. An automated cleaning station to at least partially clean at least a portion of at least one appendage of a user 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;
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 nozzle inlay including a plurality of interconnected nozzles, the nozzle inlay interconnected to 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.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
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.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. An automated cleaning station to at least partially clean at least a portion of at least one appendage of a user using at least one fluid, comprising:
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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; 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 nozzle inlay including a plurality of interconnected nozzles, the nozzle inlay interconnected to 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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method of at least partially cleaning at least a portion of at least one appendage of a person using an automated cleaning station, comprising:
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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; 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 fluid being projected as a result of the fluid pressure established within the annular cavity, wherein at least two of the nozzles are incorporated in a nozzle inlay, the nozzle inlay being set within the inner member; wherein the wash chamber is rotated about the axis of rotation at least during the step of projecting the fluid. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. 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:
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a body; a rotatable wash chamber associated with the body, the wash chamber including a first end and a second end; an appendage receiving cavity located within the wash chamber, 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; and a nozzle inlay including a plurality of interconnected nozzles, the nozzle inlay interconnected to the wash chamber, the plurality of nozzles adapted to receive the at least one fluid and to project the fluid into the appendage receiving cavity. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of at least partially cleaning at least a portion of at least one object using an automated cleaning station, comprising:
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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 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 object receiving cavity, the object 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 object for washing; projecting the first fluid through a plurality of nozzles and into the object receiving cavity, the plurality of nozzles being disposed on the wash chamber, wherein at least two of the nozzles are incorporated in a nozzle inlay, the nozzle inlay being set within the wash chamber; wherein the wash chamber is rotated about the axis of rotation at least during the step of projecting the fluid. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification