IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
UP-0829783
(2007-07-27)
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등록번호 |
US-7757700
(2010-08-09)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
- Barnhill, Paul R.
- Johannsen, Thomas M.
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출원인 / 주소 |
- Resurgent Health & Medical, LLC
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대리인 / 주소 |
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인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
11 인용 특허 :
172 |
초록
▼
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 incl
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.
대표청구항
▼
What is claimed is: 1. A cleaning station to at least partially clean at least a portion of at least one appendage using at least one fluid, comprising: a rotatable wash chamber, the wash chamber including a substantially planar inner member and an outer member, the wash chamber including a first e
What is claimed is: 1. A cleaning station to at least partially clean at least a portion of at least one appendage using at least one fluid, comprising: a rotatable wash chamber, the wash chamber including a substantially planar inner member and an outer member, the wash chamber including a first end and a second end; an object receiving cavity located within the inner member, the object receiving cavity adapted for being accessible by the portion of the at least one object through an opening in the first end of the wash chamber; an annular cavity located between the inner and the outer members, the inner member including a first surface and a second surface, the first surface facing the object receiving cavity and the second surface facing the annular cavity; and at least one angled nozzle having an inlet side, a substantially planar outlet side, an inlet slot, and an outlet slot, wherein the inlet slot and the outlet slot intersect to form a passageway for the at least one fluid to travel from the annular cavity through the inlet slot, passageway, and outlet slot to the object receiving cavity, wherein the outlet slot is substantially transverse to the inlet slot, and wherein a plane of discharge of the at least one fluid from the outlet slot is disposed at an acute angle, relative to the substantially planar outlet side adjacent to the outlet slot; whereby during operation of the wash chamber, the at least one fluid flows into the annular cavity, through at least the angled nozzle, and into the object receiving cavity. 2. The station of claim 1, wherein: the outer member includes a cylinder portion and a frusto-conical portion, the frusto-conical portion including a flat surface and a sloped surface; the inner member includes a cylinder portion and a frusto-conical portion, the frusto-conical portion including a flat surface and a sloped surface; and wherein the outer member and the inner member are separate components that interconnect with each other to form the wash chamber. 3. The station of claim 2, wherein the angled nozzle is connectable to a recessed portion of the cylinder portion of the inner member, the recessed portion including a first substantially circular portion and a second substantially circular portion, the first circular portion having a smaller diameter than the second circular portion, the angled nozzle having a first substantially circular section adapted to be received in the first substantially circular portion of the recessed portion, and the angled nozzle having a second substantially circular section adapted to be received in the second substantially circular portion of the recessed portion. 4. The station of claim 2, further comprising a plurality of angled nozzles disposed in a ring located proximate to the first end of the washing chamber. 5. The station of claim 2, wherein a spray pattern associated with the angled nozzle is at least one of: a substantially planar spray; a spherical spray; a conical spray; a pulsed spray; and a jetted spray. 6. The station of claim 1, further comprising: a nozzle inlay, removably engaging the inner member, including a plurality of interconnected angled nozzles, the plurality of angled nozzles adapted to receive the at least one fluid from the annular cavity and to project the at least one fluid into the appendage receiving cavity. 7. The station of claim 6, wherein the nozzle inlay is connectable removably to a recessed portion of the cylinder portion of the inner member, the recessed portion including a first substantially rectangular portion and a second substantially rectangular portion, the first rectangular portion having a first width and the second rectangular portion having a second width, the first width being less than the second width, the nozzle inlay having a first substantially rectangular section adapted to be received in the first substantially rectangular portion of the recessed portion, and the nozzle inlay having a second substantially rectangular section adapted to be received in the second substantially rectangular portion of the recessed portion. 8. The station of claim 1, wherein the wash chamber has a constant radius along at least most of the inner member, and wherein the outlet side of the angled nozzle is substantially flush with the first surface of the inner member. 9. The station of claim 1, wherein the plane of discharge comprises a central axis of the at least one angled nozzle. 10. A cleaning station to at least partially clean at least a portion of at least one object using at least one fluid, comprising: a rotatable wash chamber, the wash chamber including first and second ends; an object receiving cavity located within the wash chamber, the object receiving cavity adapted for being accessible by the portion of the at least one object through an opening in the first end of the wash chamber; and at least one angled nozzle having an inlet side, a substantially planar outlet side, an inlet slot and an outlet slot, wherein the inlet slot and the outlet slot intersect to form a passageway for the at least one fluid to travel from the object receiving cavity through the inlet slot, passageway, and outlet slot to the object receiving cavity, wherein the outlet slot is substantially transverse to the inlet slot, and wherein a plane of discharge of the at least one fluid from the outlet slot is disposed at an acute angle, relative to the substantially planar outlet side adjacent to the outlet slot; whereby during operation of the wash chamber, the at least one fluid flows through at least the angled nozzle and into the object receiving cavity. 11. The station of claim 10, wherein the angled nozzle is connectable to a recessed portion of the wash chamber, the recessed portion including a first substantially circular portion and a second substantially circular portion, the first circular portion having a smaller diameter than the second circular portion, the angled nozzle having a first substantially circular section adapted to be received in the first substantially circular portion of the recessed portion, and the angled nozzle having a second substantially circular section adapted to be received in the second substantially circular portion of the recessed portion. 12. The station of claim 10, further comprising: a nozzle inlay including a plurality of interconnected angled nozzles, the plurality of angled nozzles adapted to receive the at least one fluid and to project the at least one fluid into the object receiving cavity, wherein the nozzle inlay is removably connectable to a recessed portion of the wash chamber, the recessed portion including a first substantially rectangular portion and a second substantially rectangular portion, the first rectangular portion having a first width and the second rectangular portion having a second width, the first width being less than the second width, the nozzle inlay having a first substantially rectangular section adapted to be received in the first substantially rectangular portion of the recessed portion, and the nozzle inlay having a second substantially rectangular section adapted to be received in the second substantially rectangular portion of the recessed portion. 13. The station of claim 10, wherein the wash chamber includes an inner member and an outer member. 14. The station of claim 10, wherein the wash chamber has a constant radius along at least most of the inner member, and wherein the outlet side of the angled nozzle is substantially flush with the first surface of the inner member. 15. A cleaning station, comprising: a rotatable wash chamber, the wash chamber including first and second ends and having a constant radius along substantially all of a substantially planar inner surface of the wash chamber; an object receiving cavity located within and substantially enclosed by the wash chamber, the object receiving cavity being accessible by a portion of at least one object through an opening in the first end of the wash chamber; and a plurality of nozzles disposed at selected locations on an inner surface of the wash chamber, wherein each of the plurality of nozzles is configured to be substantially flush with an adjacent portion of the inner surface of the wash chamber to inhibit contact of the nozzle with the at least a portion of the at least one object; whereby during operation of the wash chamber, at least one cleaning fluid flows through the plurality of nozzles and into the object receiving cavity. 16. The station of claim 15, wherein an outlet side of each of the plurality of nozzles is substantially flush with the adjacent portion of the inner surface. 17. The station of claim 15, wherein the plurality of nozzles have a plurality of roll angles. 18. The station of claim 15, wherein the plurality of nozzles have a plurality of pitch angles. 19. The station of claim 15, wherein a plurality of fluid conveyance structures are disposed at selected spatial intervals on the wash chamber and are operable to provide the at least one cleaning fluid to the plurality of nozzles. 20. The station of claim 15, wherein the plurality of nozzles are disposed at different locations along a length of the wash chamber and wherein the plurality of nozzles have differing roll angles and further comprising a number of nozzles disposed around the opening of the wash chamber, the number of nozzles having pitch angles ranging from about 5 to about 35 degrees. 21. The station of claim 15, wherein the plurality of nozzles further comprise at least one angled nozzle having an inlet side, a substantially planar outlet side, an inlet slot, and an outlet slot, wherein the inlet slot and the outlet slot intersect to form a passageway for the at least one fluid to travel from the annular cavity through the inlet slot, passageway, and outlet slot to the object receiving cavity, wherein the outlet slot is substantially transverse to the inlet slot, and wherein the outlet slot is disposed at a non-orthogonal angle, relative to the substantially planar outlet side, with respect to a central axis of the angled nozzle. 22. An automated cleaning station to at least partially clean at least a portion of at least one appendage using at least one fluid, comprising: a body; a rotatable wash chamber associated with the body, the wash chamber including an inner member and an outer member, the wash chamber including a first end and a second end; an object receiving cavity located within the inner member, the object receiving cavity adapted for being accessible by the portion of the at least one object through an opening in the first end of the wash chamber; an annular cavity located between the inner member and the outer member, the inner member including a first surface and a second surface, the first surface facing the object receiving cavity and the second surface facing the annular cavity; at least one angled nozzle having a rounded inlet slot and a rounded outlet slot, the inlet slot beginning at an inlet opening disposed on an inlet side of the angled nozzle and continuing through a portion of a width of the angled nozzle, the outlet slot beginning at an outlet opening disposed on an outlet side of the angled nozzle and continuing through a portion of the width of the angled nozzle, the outlet side of the angled nozzle substantially flush with a wall of the object receiving cavity, wherein the inlet slot and the outlet slot intersect to form a passageway for the at least one fluid to travel from the annular cavity to the object receiving cavity, wherein the outlet opening is substantially perpendicular to the inlet opening, and wherein the outlet slot is disposed at angle of between about 5 and 35 degrees with respect to a central axis of the angled nozzle; and a nozzle inlay including a plurality of interconnected angled nozzles, the plurality of angled nozzles adapted to receive the at least one fluid from the annular cavity and to project the at least one fluid into the appendage receiving cavity. whereby during operation of the wash chamber, the at least one fluid flows into the annular cavity, through at least the angled nozzle, and into the object receiving cavity; and wherein the nozzle inlay is connectable removably to a recessed portion of the cylinder portion of the inner member, the recessed portion including a first substantially rectangular portion and a second substantially rectangular portion, the first rectangular portion having a first width and the second rectangular portion having a second width, the first width being less than the second width, the nozzle inlay having a first substantially rectangular section adapted to be received in the first substantially rectangular portion of the recessed portion, and the nozzle inlay having a second substantially rectangular section adapted to be received in the second substantially rectangular portion of the recessed portion. 23. An automated cleaning station to at least partially clean at least a portion of at least one object using at least one fluid, comprising: a body; a rotatable wash chamber associated with the body, the wash chamber including a first end and a second end; an object receiving cavity located within the wash chamber, the object receiving cavity adapted for being accessible by the portion of the at least one object through an opening in the first end of the wash chamber; and at least one angled nozzle having a rounded inlet slot and a rounded outlet slot, the inlet slot beginning at an inlet opening disposed on an inlet side of the angled nozzle and continuing through a portion of a width of the angled nozzle, the outlet slot beginning at an outlet opening disposed on an outlet side of the angled nozzle and continuing through a portion of the width of the angled nozzle, the outlet side of the angled nozzle substantially flush with a wall of the object receiving cavity, wherein the inlet slot and the outlet slot intersect to form a passageway for the at least one fluid to travel to the object receiving cavity, wherein the outlet opening is substantially perpendicular to the inlet opening, and wherein the outlet slot is disposed at angle of between about 5 and 35degrees with respect to a central axis of the angled nozzle; and a nozzle inlay including a plurality of interconnected angled nozzles, the plurality of angled nozzles adapted to receive the at least one fluid and to project the at least one fluid into the object receiving cavity, wherein the nozzle inlay is removably connectable to a recessed portion of the wash chamber, the recessed portion including a first substantially rectangular portion and a second substantially rectangular portion, the first rectangular portion having a first width and the second rectangular portion having a second width, the first width being less than the second width, the nozzle inlay having a first substantially rectangular section adapted to be received in the first substantially rectangular portion of the recessed portion, and the nozzle inlay having a second substantially rectangular section adapted to be received in the second substantially rectangular portion of the recessed portion; whereby during operation of the wash chamber, the at least one fluid flows through at least the angled nozzle and into the object receiving cavity.
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