Water jet cleaning appliance

• US 3,943,951 A
• Filed: 11/04/1974
• Issued: 03/16/1976
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/1974
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Donald R. Spotz
• Original Assignee: Donald R. Spotz
• Inventors: Spotz, Donald R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bleutge, Robert L.
• Application Number:
  US05/520,562
• Time in Patent Office: 498 Days
• Field of Search: 128/66, 128/370, 134/99-102, 134/175, 134/177, 134/198-200, 4/1, 4/165
• US Class Current: 134/100.1
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 29/17 Nail cleaners, e.g. scrapers

Abstract

The present cleaning appliance has a cleaning chamber for receiving the finger to be cleaned, a jet nozzle at the upper end of this chamber for discharging pressurized water onto the finger, a reservoir for a cleaning solution directly above the cleaning chamber, and a valve controlling the flow of the cleaning solution from the reservoir down into the cleaning chamber. The cleaning solution is conducted separately down to the jet nozzle where it becomes entrained with the water after the latter has just emerged from the jet nozzle.

Claims

1. A personal cleaning appliance for using pressurized water to clean the extremities of a person'"'"'s hand or foot comprising:

a receptacle defining a cleaning chamber for receiving the extremity to be cleaned;

means on said receptacle at one end of said cleaning chamber for the insertion of the extremity to be cleaned;

jet nozzle means for discharging pressurized water into said cleaning chamber;

means for connection to a water source having a water passage there through leading to said jet nozzle means for passing pressurized water thereto;

passage means leading into said chamber adjacent said jet nozzle means for conducting a liquid cleaning solution separately from said water passage onto the pressurized water after discharge from said jet nozzle means in said cleaning chamber for entraining the liquid cleaning solution with the water; and

valve means between said reservoir and said jet nozzle means for controlling the flow of cleaning solution from said reservoir to said jet nozzle means;

said valve means being cooperable with said passage means for selectively opening and closing the same.

2. A personal cleaning appliance for using pressurized water to clean the extremities of a person'"'"'s hand or foot comprising:

a receptacle defining a cleaning chamber for receiving the extremity to be cleaned and defining a reservoir above said cleaning chamber for holding a quantity of liquid cleaning solution;

said receptacle presenting an upper end wall extending across the upper end of said cleaning chamber with said reservoir located directly above said end wall;

said end wall of said cleaning chamber having orifice means extending downward therethrough for passing the cleaning solution from said reservoir down into said cleaning chamber;

means on said receptacle at one end of said cleaning chamber for the insertion of the extremity to be cleaned;

jet nozzle means positioned by said end wall of said cleaning chamber adjacent to said orifice means for discharging pressurized water into said cleaning chamber;

means for connection to a water source and having a water passage therethrough leading to said jet nozzle means for passing pressurized water thereto;

said orifice means serving in operation to conduct the liquid cleaning solution separately from said water passage onto the pressurized water after discharge from said jet nozzle means for entraining the liquid cleaning solution with the water; and

valve means between said reservoir and said jet nozzle means for controlling the flow of cleaning solution from said reservoir to said jet nozzle means;

said valve means being cooperable with said orifice means for selectively opening and closing said orifice means.

3. An appliance according to claim 2, wherein:

said receptacle has a top end wall spaced above said upper end wall of said cleaning chamber;

and said valve means presents a handle above said top end wall and is threadedly mounted in said top end wall to be turned between a position closing said orifice and a position opening said orifice.

4. An appliance according to claim 2, wherein:

said upper end wall of the cleaning chamber carries a surface that is inclined downwardly and laterally from the lower end of said orifice over to said jet nozzle means for conducting the cleaning solution onto the pressurized water discharge at the outlet of said jet nozzle.

5. An appliance according to claim 4, wherein:

said receptacle has a top end wall spaced above said cleaning chamber;

and said valve means presents a handle above said top end wall and is threadedly mounted in said top end wall to be turned between a position closing the upper end of said orifice and a position opening the upper end of said orifice.

6. An appliance according to claim 2, wherein:

said receptacle has a screw-threaded opening leading into said reservoir above said cleaning chamber;

and further comprising;

a plug threadedly mounted in said opening, said plug having a vent passage therein which at its inner end opens into said reservoir, said vent passage having its outer end blocked by the wall of said reservoir at said screw-threaded opening in one rotational position of the plug and having its outer end open beyond said last-mentioned wall in another rotational position of the plug in said screw-threaded opening.

7. An appliance according to claim 2 wherein said means for the insertion of an extremity to be cleaned comprises:

an elastomeric flexible diaphragm extending across said one end of said cleaning chamber and comprising a plurality of flexible and resilient sectors in succession circumferentially around a central opening for passing the user'"'"'s extremity.