WASH CHAMBER FOR APPENDAGE-WASHING APPARATUS

• US 20090107528A1
• Filed: 12/30/2008
• Published: 04/30/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Meritech Systems, LLC
• Original Assignee: Resurgent Health & Medical LLC
• Inventors: Barnhill, Paul R., Johannsen, Thomas M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,754,021 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 134/18
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 2210/00 Combinations of water taps, soap dispensers and hand dryers
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 7/04 Mechanical washing or cleaning devices, hand or mechanically, i.e. power operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/80 Implements for cleaning or washing the skin of surgeons or patients
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2205/065 Hands
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 35/00 Baths for specific parts of the body electric circuits therefor A61H33/005; specific components therefor A61H33/60
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/18 Liquid substances or solutions comprising solids or dissolved gases
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/24 Apparatus using programmed or automatic operation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4984 Retaining clearance for motion between assembled parts
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53 Means to assemble or disassemble

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.

Claims

1-10. -10. (canceled)

11. A method of at least partially cleaning at least a portion of an appendage of a user using an automated cleaning station, comprising:

initiating a flow of a first fluid into a wash chamber of the automated cleaning station, 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, 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;

rotating the wash chamber;

conveying the first fluid directly to at least a first nozzle of a plurality of nozzles, the conveying including routing the first fluid through a fluid conveyance structure that delivers the first fluid to the first nozzle, the fluid conveyance structure located adjacent to a void space, wherein the void space is not filled with the at least one fluid; and

projecting the first fluid through the first nozzle and into the appendage receiving cavity;

wherein the wash chamber is rotated about the axis of rotation at least during the step of projecting the fluid.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the fluid conveyance structure includes a tube proximate the wash chamber and extending from a fluid manifold proximate a fluid inlet at an end of the wash chamber, to at least the first nozzle.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the fluid conveyance structure conveys the first fluid to a subset of the plurality of nozzles, the subset including the first nozzle but not all of the plurality of nozzles.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the fluid conveyance structure is offset from a center of the wash chamber at least a first radial distance, 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.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the void space is spaced apart from the liquid conveyance structure along an arc length of the wash chamber.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the fluid conveyance structure is offset from a center of the wash chamber at least a first radial distance, 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.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the wash chamber further comprises an inner member, an outer member, and an annular cavity located between the inner member and the outer member, wherein the fluid conveyance structure and the void space are located between the inner member and the outer member.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the fluid conveyance structure comprises one or more of a tube, duct, channel and groove.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein the fluid conveyance structure includes a first fluid duct proximate the wash chamber and extending from a fluid manifold proximate to a fluid inlet at an end of the wash chamber, to at least the first nozzle.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the plurality of nozzles includes:

a first set of nozzles disposed on cylindrical portion of the wash chamber in a helical pattern;

wherein the first fluid duct connects each nozzle in the first set of nozzles to the fluid manifold.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the fluid conveyance structure includes a second fluid duct and the plurality of nozzles includes a second set of nozzles disposed on the wash chamber in a ring proximate to the first end of the wash chamber, wherein the second fluid duct connects each nozzle in the second set of nozzles to the fluid manifold.

22. The method of claim 21, where the first fluid duct and the second fluid duct are interconnected.

23-26. -26. (canceled)