CLEANING AND STERILIZING DEVICE

• US 3,699,984 A
• Filed: 01/12/1971
• Issued: 10/24/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 01/12/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Charles T. Davis
• Original Assignee: Charles T. Davis
• Inventors: Davis, Charles T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Roberts, Edward L.
• Application Number:
  US05/105,830
• Time in Patent Office: 651 Days
• Field of Search: 15/21R,21B,21C,21D,97 134/44,46,47,58R,95,199 4/1 128/366,66 34/202 182/148,132
• US Class Current: 134/95.2
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/18 Liquid substances or solutions comprising solids or dissolved gases

Abstract

A housing into which the hands and forearms may be inserted and subject to sequential cleansing steps preparatory to performing aseptic surgery. The housing includes openings through which the forearms are sealing received and spray cleaning means for sequentially spraying soap, bacteroicide and alcohol solutions completely about the external surfaces of the hands and adjacent forearms portions disposed within the housing. In addition, means is provided whereby heated and filtered air may be subsequently blown over the cleansed forearms and hands prior to their being removed from within the housing.

Claims

1. A hand and forearm spray cleaning machine including a housing having one wall in which at least one hand and forearm receiving opening is formed having a horizontal center axis, and spray head means supported within said housing inwardly of said one wall spaced apart along and about the center axis of said opening, said spray head means including means for discharging jets of fluids delivered thereto generally radially inwardly toward the center axes, means for supplying fluid under pressure to said spray head means, said machine including a support from which said housing is supported at an elevation with said one wall comprising a forwardly facing front wall, a platform disposed forwardly of an upstanding plane containing said front wall and at an elevation below said opening, said platform and housing being supported for relative vertical adjustment.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said housing is stationarily supported from said support.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said spray head means includes a plurality of axially spaced and aligned frame-like spray heads disposed generally coaxial with said center axis.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said center axis is generally horizontally disposed.

5. The combination of claim 1 wherein said one wall has a pair of spaced openings formed therethrough, each of said openings having a set of said spray head means operatively associated therewith.

6. The combination of claim 1 including a plurality of fluid containers in said housing, the last mentioned means including means for supplying fluid from each of said containers to said spray head means.

7. The combination of claim 6 wherein said last mentioned means also includes foot engageable control means supported from said platform operative, when actuated, to sequentially pump fluid from said container to said spray head means.

8. A hand and forearm spray cleaning machine including a housing having one wall in which at least one hand and forearm receiving opening is formed having a horizontal center axis, and spray head means supported within said housing inwardly of said one wall spaced apart along and about the center axis of said opening, said spray head means including means for discharging jets of fluids delivered thereto generally radially inwardly toward the center axes, means for supplying fluid under pressure to said spray head means, and means operative to pump filtered heated air into said housing.

9. A hand and forearm spray cleaning machine including a housing having one wall in which at least one hand and forearm receiving opening is formed having a horizontal center axis, and spray head means supported within said housing inwardly of said one wall spaced apart along and about the center axis of said opening, said spray head means including means for discharging jets of fluids delivered thereto generally radially inwardly toward the center axes, means for supplying fluid under pressure to said spray head means, said housing including a hinged closure cover portion which may be swung to an open position affording ready access to the interior of said housing, said closure cover portion and said housing including closely opposing sets of corresponding marginal edge portions when said closure cover is in the closed position, at least one set of opposing edge portions defining diametricallY opposite sides of said opening and being provided with resilient seal means for forming a relatively good air tight seal about a forearm projecting through said opening.

10. The combination of claim 9 wherein said machine includes power means operative to selectively swing said closure cover portion between open and closed positions, whereby a person using the machine may remove his forearm and hand from the machine without contamination thereof by contact of his forearm or hand with any external portion of the machine.