Method of and apparatus for maintaining hygiene for upper extremity amputation or hemiplegia

• US 8,372,207 B1
• Filed: 01/25/2010
• Issued: 02/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Independence Through Innovation, LLC
• Original Assignee: Independence Through Innovation, LLC
• Inventors: Shields, Julie
• Primary Examiner(s): Spisich, Mark
• Assistant Examiner(s): HORTON, ANDREW ALAN
• Application Number:
  US12/692,776
• Time in Patent Office: 1,114 Days
• Field of Search: 15/211, 15/882, 15/883, 15/971, 151/035, 422/28, 422/105, 422/107, 422/108, 422/110, 422/116, 422/292, 422/300, 134/18, 134/199
• US Class Current: 134/6
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 7/06 Washing devices for one-armed persons

Abstract

A one handed hand washer/scrubber is provided enclosed in a self contained, counter placeable housing having an entry orifice at one side for insertion of a user'"'"'s hand. A sensor monitors the entry orifice for detection of a user'"'"'s hand accessing a washing cavity within the housing. Two scrubbing web assemblies are housed within the washing cavity, each having a proximal stepper motor placed near the entry orifice, opposite a second stepper motor spaced distally therefrom. Each stepper motor attaches to and supports a sanitizer, disinfectant, soap or cleanser soaked web draped between, and are used to dispense a new section of web for each subsequent use and to reciprocate a working section of web front to back (or back and forth) during use. A series of foam rollers align the rear of the working section of web. The rollers are spring urged to allow for intimate contact of the web against the variable contours of a users hand.

Claims

1. An automated mechanism to allow for the washing of one hand by itself comprising a one handed hand washer and scrubber provided as a self contained, counter placeable housing, said housing forming an entry orifice at one side for insertion of a user'"'"'s hand and a washing cavity within said housing, said automated mechanism further comprising a means for detection of a user'"'"'s hand accessing said washing cavity within said housing and a proximity sensor or any type of conventional electric eye sensor for monitoring the entry orifice for detection of a user'"'"'s hand accessing said washing cavity within said housing, wherein said washing cavity is a generally elongated area symmetrically lined on parallel sides with an upper scrubbing web assembly and lower scrubbing web assembly, respectively, wherein each scrubbing web assembly comprises:

a proximal stepper motor placed near the entry orifice;

a second stepper motor spaced opposite and distally from the entry orifice;

wherein each stepper motor attaches to and supports web draped between, and are used to dispense a new section of web for each subsequent use and to reciprocate a working section of web back and forth during use.

2. The automated mechanism of claim 1, further comprising a series of foam rollers aligning the rear of the working section of web, said rollers being spring urged toward the washing cavity to allow for intimate contact of the web against the variable contours of a users hand.

3. The automated mechanism of claim 2, wherein each roller is rotatable about a mounting supporting axle and include a plurality of radially extended and laterally aligned protuberance that allow further penetration of the web against the contours, between the fingers, cuticles and nails of a hand entering the washing cavity.

4. The automated mechanism of claim 1, wherein said web is precharged with an alcohol-based hand sanitizers.

5. A one handed hand washer and scrubber apparatus comprising:

a housing adapted for placement on a counter top, said housing forming an entry orifice at a front for insertion of a user'"'"'s hand;

a washing cavity formed within said housing and in fluid communication with said entry orifice, wherein said washing cavity further comprises a generally elongated area laterally aligned with said entry orifice and sized to accommodate the entry of and placement within a user'"'"'s hand;

a detection mechanism for detecting a hand traversing said entry orifice and accessing said washing cavity within the housing, wherein said detection mechanism is selected from the group consisting of;

proximity sensors or optical detectors; and

a physical cleaning unit operatively activated by said detection mechanism, said physical cleaning unit adapted to wash and scrub the hand placed within said washing cavity, wherein said physical cleaning unit comprises;

a first upper scrubbing web assembly mounted above and aligned with an upper boundary of said washing cavity; and

a second lower scrubbing web assembly mounted below and aligned with a lower boundary of said washing cavity,

wherein said upper and said lower scrubbing web assemblies each comprise;

a proximal stepper motor placed near said entry orifice;

a second stepper motor spaced distally from said proximal stepper motor;

a scrubbing web draped between and attached to said proximal and said second stepper motor;

wherein said scrubbing web is adapted to be precharged with cleansing agent to be used in assisting in a hand washing process and selected from the group comprising;

sanitizer;

disinfectant;

soap; and

other type of cleanser desired.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein each said stepper motor is further adapted to operate synchronously to dispense a new working section of web for each subsequent use, and to reciprocate the dispensed working section of web front and back during use.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said physical cleaning unit further comprises:

at least one foam roller aligned with working section of web, wherein said roller is spring urged to allow for intimate contact of the web against the variable contours of a users hand,

wherein said roller is further rotatable about a mounting supporting axle.

8. A method for hand washing comprising:

a. placing a user'"'"'s hand into a scrubbing device adapted for sanitary maintenance and cleaning of such a user'"'"'s hand in an automated fashion;

b. sensing the placement of said hand into said scrubbing device;

c. activating an upper scrubbing web assembly having a first stepper motor placed opposite a second stepper motor and supporting a web draped between;

d. activating a lower scrubbing web assembly synchronously with said upper scrubbing web assembly, said lower scrubbing web assembly further having a first stepper motor placed opposite a second stepper motor and supporting a web draped between;

e. reciprocating said upper scrubbing web and said lower scrubbing web back and forth over the upper and lower surface of the user'"'"'s hand, respectively, during use.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

urging a working section of said upper and lower scrubbing webs against the variable contours of a users hand.