Automated appendage cleaning apparatus with brush

• US 7,698,770 B2
• Filed: 03/22/2007
• Issued: 04/20/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Meritech Systems, LLC
• Original Assignee: Resurgent Health & Medical LLC
• Inventors: Barnhill, Paul R., Glenn, James, Prodanovich, Timothy
• Primary Examiner(s): Graham; Gary K
• Application Number:
  US11/689,582
• Publication Number:
  US 20080099043A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,125 Days
• Field of Search: 15/211, 15/884, 15/971, 15/881, 15/882, 15/883, 340/573.1, 134/180, 134/95.2, 134/181, 461/9, 462/8
• US Class Current: 15/21.1
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 13/02 power-driven carriers
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 13/04 with reservoir or other means for supplying substances
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 15/0002 Arrangements for enhancing monitoring or controlling the brushing process
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 2200/1006 Brushes for cleaning the hand or the human body
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 7/04 Mechanical washing or cleaning devices, hand or mechanically, i.e. power operated
• 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

Abstract

A system is provided for providing automated washing for debris removal from the skin of a user'"'"'s hands. At least some embodiments of the present include a friction enhancing structure such as a brush. In at least one embodiment of the invention, the system includes an RFID capability for identifying when at least one component, such as a removable brush, is due to for replacement for sanitation reasons.

Claims

1. An automated appendage cleaning system for removing at least one of a particulate, chemical, and biological substance from an appendage of a user, comprising:

a cleaning station comprising an automatic washing mechanism for cleaning at least one appendage of a user; and

a friction enhancing structure operatively interconnected to the cleaning station, the friction enhancing structure comprising an electronic identifying device, wherein the electronic identifying device provides a designation data of the friction enhancing structure;

a sensor operable to sense placement of the appendage of the user in spatial proximity to the friction enhancing structure of the cleaning system;

a compliance monitoring module operable to determine a length of time that the appendage was positioned in spatial proximity to the friction enhancing structure; and

a brush replacement module operable to determine that the friction enhancing structure associated with the designation data requires replacement and/or disinfecting in response to passage of a selected time duration of use;

wherein the electronic identifying device is in communication with an automated reader, wherein the automated reader is configured to perform at least one of interrogating, scanning, and receiving a signal from the electronic identifying device for obtaining the designation data.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the electronic identifying device comprises an RFID tag and the automated reader is an RFID reader and wherein the designation data is a unique RFID tag identifying the friction enhancing structure.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the friction enhancing structure is selected from the group consisting of a brush, pad, sponge, and non-fluid tactilely perceptible material and wherein the duration of use is a function of the length of time that the appendage is positioned in spatial proximity to the friction enhancing structure.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the automatic washing mechanism includes a recessed portion comprising an inner wall, and wherein the friction enhancing structure is located radially interior of the inner wall.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the friction enhancing structure is detachably connected to the inner wall.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the friction enhancing structure is mounted proximate a distal end of the recessed portion.

7. The system of claim 4, wherein the recessed portion comprises at least one nozzle, and wherein the nozzle projects at least one of a cleaning fluid and water toward the appendage.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the nozzle comprises an orifice for projecting a stream pattern and not a diffused spray or planar spray pattern.

9. The system of claim 4, wherein the recessed portion comprises a cylinder and wherein the length of time that the appendage is positioned in spatial proximity to the friction enhancing structure is determined by the length of time that the sensor senses that an optical signal is broken.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein cylinder is rotatable and wherein the length of time that the appendage is positioned in spatial proximity to the friction enhancing structure is determined by the length of time that the sensor senses that an optical signal is broken.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the optical signal is broken when the user positions the appendage within a washing mechanism of the cleaning system, and wherein the optical signal is restored when the user removes the appendage from the washing mechanism of the cleaning system, and wherein the length of time that the appendage is positioned in spatial proximity to the friction enhancing structure is determined by the length of time that the sensor senses that the optical signal is broken.

12. The system of claim 1, further comprising an administration computer operable to communicate with the automated reader to obtain the designation data.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the administration computer comprises a tracking algorithm for monitoring at least one of (a) a statistic concerning the friction enhancing device, and (b) the designation data.