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 person 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, the wash chamber including an axis of rotation;
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;
a plurality of nozzles disposed on 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;
a fluid inlet into the annular cavity, the fluid inlet providing an entrance for the at least one fluid into the annular cavity, the fluid inlet being substantially radially symmetric with respect to the axis of rotation; and
a fluid guidance structure disposed on the second surface of the inner member substantially in line with the fluid inlet, the fluid guidance structure being substantially radially symmetric with respect to the axis of rotation, the fluid guidance structure including a protrusion extending from the second surface of the inner member towards the fluid inlet, the protrusion including a sloped surface being substantially symmetrical about the axis of rotation, the protrusion including a location of greatest offset disposed substantially in line with the fluid inlet;
whereby during operation of the wash chamber, the at least one fluid flows in from the fluid inlet, into the annular cavity, and through the plurality of nozzles into the appendage receiving cavity, and wherein the fluid guidance structure operates to direct the at least one fluid flowing in from the fluid inlet into the annular 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.
239 Citations
23 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 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 an inner member and an outer member, the wash chamber including a first end and a second end, the wash chamber including an axis of rotation; 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; a plurality of nozzles disposed on 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; a fluid inlet into the annular cavity, the fluid inlet providing an entrance for the at least one fluid into the annular cavity, the fluid inlet being substantially radially symmetric with respect to the axis of rotation; and a fluid guidance structure disposed on the second surface of the inner member substantially in line with the fluid inlet, the fluid guidance structure being substantially radially symmetric with respect to the axis of rotation, the fluid guidance structure including a protrusion extending from the second surface of the inner member towards the fluid inlet, the protrusion including a sloped surface being substantially symmetrical about the axis of rotation, the protrusion including a location of greatest offset disposed substantially in line with the fluid inlet; whereby during operation of the wash chamber, the at least one fluid flows in from the fluid inlet, into the annular cavity, and through the plurality of nozzles into the appendage receiving cavity, and wherein the fluid guidance structure operates to direct the at least one fluid flowing in from the fluid inlet into the annular cavity. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method of at least partially cleaning at least a portion of at least one appendage of a user 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; directing the flow of the first fluid from the fluid inlet into the annular cavity, the flow of the first fluid being directed by a fluid guidance structure disposed on the second surface of the inner member substantially in line with the fluid inlet, the fluid guidance structure being substantially radially symmetric with respect to the axis of rotation, the fluid guidance structure including a protrusion extending from the second surface of the inner member and towards the fluid inlet, the protrusion including a sloped surface being substantially radially symmetrical about the axis of rotation, the protrusion including a location of greatest offset disposed substantially in line with the fluid inlet; 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 first fluid being projected as a result of the fluid pressure established within the annular cavity; whereby the wash chamber is rotated about the axis of rotation at least during the step of projecting the first fluid. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A cleaning station, comprising:
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a rotatable wash chamber, the wash chamber including inner and outer members, the wash chamber having first and second ends, and the wash chamber having an axis of rotation; an appendage receiving cavity located within the inner member, the appendage receiving cavity adapted for being accessible by at least a portion of at least one appendage through an opening in the first end of the wash chamber; an annular cavity located between the inner and outer members, the inner member including first and second surfaces, the first surface facing the appendage receiving cavity and the second surface facing the annular cavity; a plurality of nozzles disposed on the inner member, the plurality of nozzles adapted to receive at least one fluid from the annular cavity and to project the at least one fluid into the appendage receiving cavity; a fluid inlet into the annular cavity, the fluid inlet providing an entrance into the annular cavity for the at least one fluid; a fluid guidance structure disposed on the second surface of the inner member substantially in line with the fluid inlet, the fluid guidance structure including a protrusion extending from the second surface of the inner member towards the fluid inlet, the protrusion being radially symmetric about the fluid inlet, the protrusion including a sloped surface having a location of greatest offset disposed substantially in line with the fluid inlet; whereby during operation of the wash chamber, the at least one fluid flows in from the fluid inlet, into the annular cavity, and through the plurality of nozzles into the appendage receiving cavity, and wherein the fluid guidance structure operates to direct the at least one fluid flowing in from the fluid inlet into the annular cavity. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of cleaning, comprising:
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initiating a flow of at least one fluid through a fluid inlet disposed on a wash chamber of a cleaning station, the wash chamber including inner and outer members, the wash chamber including first and second ends, at least one of the first and second ends being connected to the 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 at least a portion of an appendage for cleaning, the annular cavity being located between the inner and outer members, the inner member including first and second surfaces, the first surface facing the appendage receiving cavity and the second surface facing the annular cavity; directing the flow of the at least one fluid from the fluid inlet into the annular cavity, the flow of the at least one fluid being directed by a fluid guidance structure disposed on the second surface of the inner member substantially in line with the fluid inlet, the fluid guidance structure including a protrusion extending from the second surface of the inner member and towards the fluid inlet, the protrusion being radially symmetric about the fluid inlet, the protrusion including a sloped surface; establishing a fluid pressure within the annular cavity; and projecting the at least one 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 at least one fluid being projected as a result of the fluid pressure established within the annular cavity; whereby the wash chamber is rotated about the axis of rotation at least during the step of projecting the at least one fluid. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification