Self-cleaning hand washer

• US 5,972,126 A
• Filed: 11/10/1998
• Issued: 10/26/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sunnybrook and Women's College Health Sciences Centre
• Original Assignee: Sunnybrook and Women's College Health Sciences Centre
• Inventors: Fernie, Geoffrey Roy
• Primary Examiner(s): EL ARINI, ZEINAB
• Application Number:
  US09/188,351
• Time in Patent Office: 350 Days
• Field of Search: 134/18, 134/26, 134/42, 134/29, 134/95.2, 134/95.3, 134/104.1, 134/57 R
• US Class Current: 134/18
• 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 method for a person to wash their hands using a hand washing apparatus comprising a hand washing bowl having an interior and a cover which are reconfigurable between a hand washing position in which the person can wash their hands and an inactive position, a controller for reconfigurating the bowl between the hand washing position and the inactive position; and, a dispenser for dispensing water and a cleaner over the person'"'"'s hands, the method comprising the steps of actuating the controller to rotate the bowl and the cover about an axis to the hand washing position; dispensing water and soap over the person'"'"'s hands; and, dispensing water to rinse the person'"'"'s hands.

Claims

1. A method for a person to wash their hands using a hand washing apparatus comprising a hand washing bowl having an interior and a cover which are reconfigurable between a hand washing position in which the person can wash their hands and an inactive position, a controller for reconfigurating the bowl between the hand washing position and the inactive position;

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

(a) actuating the controller to rotate the bowl and the cover about an axis to the hand washing position;

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

,

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

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 further including dispensing a stream of hot air over the hands of the person.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1 further 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.

4. The method as claimed in claim 3 further including dispensing an air stream to dry the bowl after the bowl has been cleaned.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the apparatus also has a controller that is preprogrammed with at least two different washing cycles and the method further includes selecting a washing cycle whereupon various fluids are thereafter automatically dispensed.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the apparatus also has a sensor for recognizing a particular person and the method further comprises using a card to identify the person to the apparatus prior to a washing cycle being activated.

7. The method as claimed in claim 6 wherein the person presents an identity card to a sensor to activate the apparatus.

8. The method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising moving the hand washing bowl to the inactive position after the person has washed their hands.

9. A method for a person to wash their hands using a hand washing apparatus comprising a hand washing bowl which is reconfigurable between a hand washing position in which the person can wash their hands and an inactive position said method comprising the steps of:

(a) rotating the bowl to place the hand washing bowl in the hand washing position;

(b) dispensing a solution for use by the person in washing their hands; and

,

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

10. The method as claimed in claim 9 further including the step of moving the hand washing bowl to the inactive position after the person has washed their hands.

11. The method as claimed in claim 10 wherein the bowl is automatically moved to the inactive position after the person has washed their hands.

12. The method as claimed in claim 9 further including the step of dispensing a stream of hot air over the hands of the person.

13. The method as claimed in claim 9 further including the step of disinfecting the bowl when the bowl is in its inactive position.

14. The method as claimed in claim 13 further including the step of drying the bowl after the bowl has been cleaned.

15. The method as claimed in claim 14 further comprising the step of presenting an identity card to a sensor to activate the apparatus.

16. The method as claimed in claim 9 wherein the apparatus also has a controller that is preprogrammed with at least two different washing cycles and the method further includes the step of selecting a washing cycle whereupon various fluids are thereafter automatically dispensed.

17. The method as claimed in claim 9 wherein the apparatus also has a sensor for recognizing a particular person and the method further comprises the step of using a card to identify the person to the apparatus prior to a washing cycle being activated.