Surgical washing device

• US 3,918,117 A
• Filed: 11/04/1974
• Issued: 11/11/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/1974
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lucille I. Plante
• Original Assignee: Lucille I. Plante
• Inventors: Plante, Lucille I.
• Primary Examiner(s): Roberts, Edward L.
• Application Number:
  US05/520,801
• Time in Patent Office: 372 Days
• Field of Search: 15/21R,21C,21D,97R,4
• US Class Current: 15/88.3
• 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

Abstract

A washing device is provided which is particularly adapted for employment in hospitals, laboratories, convalescent homes, etc., by the employer thereof. The washing device is operable for purposes of promoting more efficient scrubbing of the arms and hands of a person where scrubbing and cleansing thereof are required. The washing device includes an enclosure having a pair of openings provided in one end wall thereof through which access may be had to the interior of the enclosure. The pair of openings are each provided with means operable to close off the openings while yet permitting the hands and the arms of a person to be inserted therethrough. Within the interior of the enclosure, there is suitably supported for rotational movement a multiplicity of longitudinally extending brushes positioned so as to be capable of engaging a person'"'"''"'"'s arms when inserted within the enclosure and operable to effect a scrubbing thereof. In addition, there is also mounted within the enclosure a plurality of vertically extending rotatable brushes which are suitably located so as to be capable of being engaged by a person'"'"''"'"'s hands when the latter are inserted within the enclosure and which are operable for effecting a scrubbing of the person'"'"''"'"'s hands. In the interior of the enclosure adjacent to the top wall thereof there is suitably arranged relative thereto at least first pipe means operable for transmitting clean hot water to the interior of the enclosure whereat the clean hot water is caused to be sprayed into engagement with a person'"'"''"'"'s hands and arms located thereat. The washing device is equipped with suitable drive means operable for imparting rotation to the brushes, and control means operable for controlling the operation of the device. In accord with the preferred form of the washing device, the enclosure is provided with a cover which is attached thereto whereby to be movable between a closed position and an open position relative to the enclosure so as to enable access to be had to the interior thereof for purposes of performing maintenance and/or minor repairs on the equipment housed therein.

Claims

1. A washing device operable to be used to effectively and efficiently scrub the arms, hands and fingers of an individual so as to effect a sterilization thereof comprising:

a. an enclosure for the operating components of the washing device including a base, a detachable cover, and means mounting said detachable cover on said base, said detachable cover including one wall having at least a pair of openings formed therein and means supported in each of said pair of openings for movement between a first position and a second position relative thereto and operable in said first position to provide a closure for each of said pair of openings and in said second position thereof to permit the fingers, hands and arms of an individual to be inserted through said pair of openings;

b. brush means mounted for rotation in said enclosure, said brush means including a plurality of upper brushes, a plurality of lower brushes, a center brush and first means supporting said plurality of upper brushes, said plurality of lower brushes and said center brush in said enclosure with the major axes of all of said plurality of upper brushes, said plurality of lower brushes and said center brush extending horizontally and with said plurality of upper brushes, said plurality of lower brushes and said center brush positioned relative to each other so as to form a horizontally extending passage located on each side of said center brush between said plurality of upper brushes and said plurality of lower brushes and aligned with said pair of openings in said wall of said cover for receiving therewithin for engagement with said plurality of upper brushes, said plurality of lower brushes and said center brush the fingers, hands and arms of an individual after the fingers, hands and arms of the individual have been passed through said pair of openings in said wall of said cover, said brush means further including a plurality of fingertip brushes and second means supporting said plurality of fingertip brushes in said enclosure with the major axis of each of said plurality of fingertip brushes extending at right angles to the major axis of each of said plurality of upper brushes, said plurality of lower brushes and said center brush and with said plurality of fingertip brushes being positioned so as to have the major axes thereof aligned with but extending at right angles to said horizontally extending passages formed on either side of said center brush for engagement thereby with the fingertips of the fingers of an individual when the arms, hands and fingers thereof are located within said horizontally extending passages;

c. drive means supported within said enclosure including electrical motor means and means drivingly interconnecting said electrical motor means with said plurality of upper brushes, said plurality of lower brushes, said center brush and said plurality of fingertip brushes for imparting rotation thereto from said electrical motor means; and

d. fluid dispensing means including conduit means having a multiplicity of openings formed therein and means supporting said conduit means in said enclosure in spaced relation to said horizontally extending passages formed on either side of said center brush, said conduit means being operable to dispense fluid through said multiplicity of openings thereof to spray the interior of said enclosure therewith to cause the fluid to be applied to the arms, hands and fingers of an individual when positioned within said horizontally extending passages.

2. The washing device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means mounting said detachable cover on said base comprises a multiplicity of snap clamps arranged in spaced relation around the periphery of said base and said detachable cover.

3. The washing device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said plurality of upper brushes comprises a pair of brushes each including a shaft and a multiplicity of radially extending britles projecting outwardly from said shaft, said pair of brushes both lying in the same horizontal plane with said shafts thereof positioned in spaced parallel relation to each other.

4. The washing device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said plurality of lower brushes comprises a pair of brushes each including a shaft and a multiplicity of radially extending brisltes projecting outwardly from said shaft, said pair of brushes both lying in the same horizontal plane with said shafts thereof positioned in spaced parallel relation to each other.

5. The washing device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said plurality of fingertip brushes comprises a pair of brushes each including a shaft and a multiplicity of radially extending bristles projecting outwardly from said shaft, said pair of brushes both lying in the same vertical plane with said shafts thereof positioned in spaced parallel relation to each other.

6. The washing device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said electrical motor means includes a first output shaft operatively connected to said plurality of upper brushes, said plurality of lower brushes and said center brush for imparting rotation thereto therefrom and a second output shaft operatively connected to said plurality of fingertip brushes for imparting rotation thereto therefrom.

7. The washing device as set forth in claim 6 wherein said means drivingly connecting said electrical motor means to said plurality of upper brushes, said pluarilty of lower brushes, said center brush and said plurality of fingertip brushes includes a first belt and pulley drive interconnecting said first output shaft of said electrical motor means with said plurality of upper brushes, said plurality of lower brushes and said center brush and a second belt and pulley drive interconnecting said second output shaft of said electrical motor means with said plurality of fingertip brushes.

8. The washing device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said conduit means includes disinfectant solution dispensing means and liquid dispensing means.

9. The washing device as set forth in claim 8 wherein said disinfectant solution dispensing means includes a horizontally extending closed loop conduit having a multiplicity of openings formed therein for dispensing disinfectant solution therethrough and a vertically extending conduit having one end thereof connected in fluid flow relation with said horizontally extending closed loop conduit and the other end thereof connectable to a source of disinfectant solution.

10. The washing device as set forth in claim 8 wherein said liquid dispensing means includes a horizontally extending closed loop conduit having a multiplicity of openings formed therein for dispensing hot water therethrough and a vertically extending conduit having one end thereof connected in fluid flow relation with said horizontally extending closed loop conduit and the other end thereof connectable to a source of hot water.