DEVICE FOR WASHING HANDS

• US 20130269733A1
• Filed: 12/14/2011
• Published: 10/17/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Conopco, Inc. (Unilever PLC)
• Original Assignee: Conopco, Inc. (Unilever PLC)
• Inventors: Chakrabortty, Amit, Sah, Amit, Shresth, Rudra Saurabh
• Application Number:
  US13/995,222
• Publication Number:
  US 20130269733A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 134/26
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 1/00 Wash-stands; Appurtenances therefor devices for washing the hair or scalp A45D19/00; basins used in manual washing or cleaning of crockery, table-ware, cooking-ware, or the like A47L17/02; with appurtenances for curative purposes A61H
• 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: A47K 7/04 Mechanical washing or cleaning devices, hand or mechanically, i.e. power operated

Abstract

The present invention is in the field devices for hand washing, in particular the washing and drying of hands in public bathrooms. Accordingly it is an object of the present invention to provide a device for cleaning hands, especially a device for wetting hands, depositing a cleansing and/or disinfecting composition and rinsing consecutively, using a low amount of water. It has been found that an air-water jet nozzle assembly comprising two nozzles wherein a first nozzle is in fluid communication with a feed liquid source; and a second nozzle connected to a source of compressed air may be used to clean hands using low amounts of water in a short time.

Claims

1. A device for washing hands comprising a chamber comprising:

i) An opening for inserting at least one hand;

ii) At least one of a air-water jet nozzle assembly, characterized by comprising two nozzles wherein a first nozzle (PW) is in fluid communication with a feed liquid source; and

a second nozzle (PA) connected to a source of compressed air;

wherein, the first nozzle is at an angle (α

) of between 1 and 60°

relative to the central axis; and

the second nozzle is at an angle (φ

) of between 1 and 45°

relative to the central axis (NOR); and

wherein the air nozzle does not co-axially surround the water passage; and

wherein the mouth of the second nozzle (OPA) is positioned more forward in the direction of the flow along the direction of the central axis than the mouth of the first nozzle (OPW), wherein the offset distance (OS) between the mouth of the first nozzle and the second nozzle is between 0.5 and 5 mm in said direction.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein:

a) the mouth of the first nozzle of the device has an opening of 0.2-3.5 mm²;

b) the mouth of the first nozzle of the device is less than 1 mm away from the wall of the second nozzle.

3. A device according to claim 1, wherein the device is connected to a separate unit comprising a compressor and a reservoir for holding the liquid, the compressor being the source of the compressed air and the reservoir holding the liquid being the liquid source.

4. A process for cleansing a hand with an air-water jet nozzle assembly comprising two nozzles wherein a first nozzle is in fluid communication with a feed liquid source;

and a second nozzle connected to a source of compressed characterized in that the first nozzle is at an angle (α

) of between 1 and 60°

relative to the central axis; and

the second nozzle is at an angle (φ

) of between 1 and 45°

relative to the central axis (NOR); and

wherein the air nozzle does not co-axially surround the water passage; and

wherein the mouth of the second nozzle (OPA) is positioned more forward in the direction of the flow along the direction of the central axis than the mouth of the first nozzle (OPW), wherein the offset distance (OS) between the mouth of the first nozzle and the second nozzle is between 0.5 and 5 mm in said direction; and

comprising the steps of;

a) Spraying a fine mist of detergent composition onto the hand;

b) Rinsing the hand by spraying a fine mist of water onto it;

c) Drying the hand by blowing air onto the hand.

5. A process according to claim 4, wherein said process is preceded by the step of spraying a fine mist of water onto the hand for wetting.

6. A process according to claim 4, wherein the air is heated to 30°

-70°

C.,

7. A process according to claim 4, wherein the ratio of air to water from the nozzle assembly is between 90:

10 and 99.9;

0.1.