Wash chamber for automated appendage-washing apparatus
First Claim
1. A 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 rotatable wash chamber, the wash chamber including a first end and a second end and an axis of rotation;
an appendage receiving cavity located within and defined by 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, wherein the wash chamber comprises a housing enclosing substantially the appendage receiving cavity, the appendage receiving cavity being accessible by the at least one appendage through an opening in the housing;
a plurality of nozzles disposed on the housing, the plurality of nozzles adapted to project the at least one fluid into the appendage receiving cavity; and
a fluid conveyance structure adapted to deliver the at least one fluid directly to at least one nozzle of the plurality of nozzles, wherein the fluid conveyance structure is adjacent to a void space, wherein the fluid conveyance structure is offset from a center of the wash chamber at least a first radial distance, the center substantially collocated along the axis of rotation of the wash chamber, wherein the void space is located at a second radial distance from the center of the wash chamber, and wherein the first radial distance is substantially equal to the second radial distance for a given longitudinal position along a longitudinal length of the wash chamber, wherein, when the fluid conveyance structure is filled with the at least one fluid, the void space is not filled with the at least one fluid;
whereby, during operation of the wash chamber, the at least one fluid flows in from a fluid inlet, through the fluid conveyance structure and the at least one nozzle, and 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
23 Claims
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1. A 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 rotatable wash chamber, the wash chamber including a first end and a second end and an axis of rotation; an appendage receiving cavity located within and defined by 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, wherein the wash chamber comprises a housing enclosing substantially the appendage receiving cavity, the appendage receiving cavity being accessible by the at least one appendage through an opening in the housing; a plurality of nozzles disposed on the housing, the plurality of nozzles adapted to project the at least one fluid into the appendage receiving cavity; and a fluid conveyance structure adapted to deliver the at least one fluid directly to at least one nozzle of the plurality of nozzles, wherein the fluid conveyance structure is adjacent to a void space, wherein the fluid conveyance structure is offset from a center of the wash chamber at least a first radial distance, the center substantially collocated along the axis of rotation of the wash chamber, wherein the void space is located at a second radial distance from the center of the wash chamber, and wherein the first radial distance is substantially equal to the second radial distance for a given longitudinal position along a longitudinal length of the wash chamber, wherein, when the fluid conveyance structure is filled with the at least one fluid, the void space is not filled with the at least one fluid; whereby, during operation of the wash chamber, the at least one fluid flows in from a fluid inlet, through the fluid conveyance structure and the at least one nozzle, and into the appendage receiving cavity. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A cleaning station to at least partially clean at least a portion of at least one object using at least one fluid, comprising:
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housing means for enclosing substantially an object receiving cavity; means for providing access by the portion of the object to the object receiving cavity, the means for providing access residing within at least a portion of the housing means; means for rotating the housing means, wherein the means for rotating is adapted for rotating the housing means for receiving around the portion of the at least one object; means for establishing a flow of the at least one fluid into the object receiving cavity; means for conveying the at least one fluid, wherein the means for conveying is located adjacent to a void space; and a plurality of nozzles adapted for projecting the at least one fluid, wherein the plurality of nozzles receives the at least one fluid from the means for conveying, wherein, when the conveyance means comprises the at least one fluid, the void space is free of the at least one fluid, wherein the at least two nozzles of the plurality of nozzles are separated by an arc distance and are each separated from a center of the housing means by a substantially equal radial distance, and wherein the void space is located along a portion of the arc distance. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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15. A cleaning station, comprising:
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a rotatable wash chamber, the wash chamber comprising inner and outer housing members forming an annular space therebetween; an appendage receiving cavity located within and enclosed substantially by the inner housing member, the appendage receiving cavity being accessible, by at least a portion of an appendage of a user, through an opening in the wash chamber; a plurality of nozzles disposed on the wash chamber, the plurality of nozzles adapted to project at least one cleaning fluid into the appendage receiving cavity; and at least one fluid conveyance structure positioned in the annular space and in communication with at least one nozzle, the at least one fluid conveyance structure dividing the annular space into fluid carrying and non-fluid carrying portions, whereby, when the fluid carrying portion comprises the at least one cleaning fluid, the non-fluid carrying portion is free of the at least one cleaning fluid. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A cleaning station, comprising:
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a rotatable wash chamber, the wash chamber comprising a housing; an appendage receiving cavity located within and substantially enclosed by the housing, the appendage receiving cavity being accessible, by at least a portion of an appendage of a user, through an opening in the housing; a plurality of nozzles disposed on the housing, the plurality of nozzles adapted to project at least one cleaning fluid into the appendage receiving cavity; and a plurality of fluid conveyance structures positioned at discrete intervals on an exterior of the housing and in communication with the plurality of nozzles, wherein a substantial portion of the housing exterior is free of fluid conveyance structures. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23)
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Specification