IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
UP-0331038
(2008-12-09)
|
등록번호 |
US-7789095
(2010-09-27)
|
발명자
/ 주소 |
- Barnhill, Paul R.
- Johannsen, Thomas M.
|
출원인 / 주소 |
- Resurgent Health & Medical, LLC
|
대리인 / 주소 |
|
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. An automated cleaning station to at least partially clean at least a portion of at least one appendage of a person 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,
What is claimed is: 1. An automated cleaning station to at least partially clean at least a portion of at least one appendage of a person 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, the wash chamber including an axis of rotation; an appendage receiving cavity located within the inner member, the appendage receiving cavity adapted for being accessible by the portion of the at least one appendage 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 appendage receiving cavity and the second surface facing the annular cavity; a first set of nozzles disposed on the inner member in a ring configuration, the first set of nozzles located proximate to the first end of the wash chamber, wherein each nozzle of the first set nozzles is adapted to produce a spray that is projected at a pitch angle of between 15 and 35 degrees and at a roll angle of substantially 0 degrees; a second set of nozzles disposed on the inner member in a helical pattern along a length of the cylinder portion of the inner member, the second set of nozzles including a first nozzle located proximate to the opening in the first end of the wash chamber, wherein each nozzle of the second set of nozzles is adapted to produce a spray pattern that is projected at a pitch angle of substantially 0 degrees, wherein a first spray pattern associated with the first nozzle of the second set of nozzles is projected at a first roll angle, wherein a second spray pattern associated with a second nozzle of the second set of nozzles is projected at a second roll angle, the second roll angle steeper than the first roll angle, and wherein a remainder of the second set of nozzles each have a corresponding spray pattern oriented at progressively steeper roll angles; at least one off-helix nozzle disposed on the inner member; a third set of nozzles disposed on a frusto-conical portion of the inner member; a guard comprising an annular recess located on the inner member proximate to the opening in the wash chamber and a cylindrical portion disposed on the body, wherein the cylindrical guard is received in the annular recess, and wherein an inner surface of the cylindrical portion is flush with the first surface of the inner member; a seal between the inner member and the outer member, the seal comprising an annular ring operatively associated with a circular flange disposed on the outer member; a drain disposed on the inner member including a drain surface having a plurality of perforations; a seating mechanism associated with the body, the seating mechanism adapted to receive a fluid inlet disposed on the wash chamber, the fluid inlet comprising an opening in the outer member and a tubular portion extending from the opening, the fluid inlet providing an entrance for the at least one fluid into the annular cavity, the fluid inlet being radially symmetric with respect to the axis of rotation, wherein the seating mechanism includes an o-ring, the o-ring providing a seal between an interior of the seating mechanism and a receiving basin, the receiving basin adapted to receive fluid exiting the appendage receiving cavity through the drain; whereby during operation of the wash chamber, the at least one fluid flows in from the fluid inlet, into the annular cavity and through the first, second and third set of nozzles, and the off-helix nozzle into the appendage receiving cavity. 2. The automated cleaning station of claim 1, wherein the second set of nozzles include: the first nozzle, wherein the first roll angle is between 0 and 15 degrees; the second nozzle, wherein the second roll angle is between 15 and 30 degrees, wherein the second nozzle is adjacent to the first nozzle; the remainder of the second set of nozzles including: a third nozzle for producing a third spray pattern projected at a third roll angle of between 30 and 45 degrees, wherein the third nozzle is adjacent to the second nozzle; a fourth nozzle for producing a fourth spray pattern projected at a fourth roll angle of between 45 and 60 degrees, wherein the fourth nozzle is adjacent to the third nozzle; a fifth nozzle for producing a fifth spray pattern projected at a fifth roll angle of between 60 and 75 degrees, wherein the fifth nozzle is adjacent to the fourth nozzle; and a sixth nozzle for producing a sixth spray pattern projected at a sixth roll angle of between 75 and 90 degrees, wherein the sixth nozzle is adjacent to the fifth nozzle. 3. The automated cleaning station of claim 1, wherein, each perforation associated with the drain is approximately ⅛ to ⅜ inch in diameter. 4. The automated cleaning station of claim 1, wherein the spray pattern associated each nozzle of the first set of nozzles is at least one of: a substantially planar spray; a spherical spray; a conical spray; a pulsed spray; and a jetted spray. 5. An automated cleaning station to at least partially clean at least a portion of at least one appendage of a person 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, the wash chamber including an axis of rotation, the outer member and inner member each including a cylinder portion and a frusto-conical portion, each frusto-conical portion including a flat surface and a sloped surface; an appendage receiving cavity located within the inner member, the appendage receiving cavity adapted for being accessible by the portion of the at least one appendage 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 appendage receiving cavity and the second surface facing the annular cavity; a first set of nozzles disposed on the inner member in a ring configuration, the first set of nozzles located proximate to the first end of the wash chamber, wherein each nozzle of the first set nozzles is adapted to produce a spray that is projected at a pitch angle of between 15 and 35 degrees and at a roll angle of substantially 0 degrees; a second set of nozzles disposed on the inner member in a helical pattern along a length of the cylinder portion of the inner member, the second set of nozzles including a first nozzle located proximate to the opening in the first end of the wash chamber, wherein each nozzle of the second set of nozzles is adapted to produce a spray pattern that is projected at a pitch angle of substantially 0 degrees, wherein a first spray pattern associated with the first nozzle of the second set of nozzles is projected at a first roll angle, wherein a second spray pattern associated with a second nozzle of the second set of nozzles is projected at a second roll angle, the second roll angle steeper than the first roll angle, and wherein a remainder of the second set of nozzles each have a corresponding spray pattern oriented at progressively steeper roll angles; at least one off-helix nozzle disposed on the inner member; a third set of nozzles disposed on the frusto-conical portion of the inner member; whereby the first, second and third sets of nozzles, and the at least one off-helix nozzle are operable to receive the at least one fluid from the annular cavity and to project the fluid into the appendage receiving cavity. 6. The automated cleaning station of claim 5, wherein the second set of nozzles include: the first nozzle, wherein the first roll angle is between 0 and 15 degrees; the second nozzle, wherein the second roll angle is between 15 and 30 degrees, wherein the second nozzle is adjacent to the first nozzle; the remainder of the second set of nozzles including: a third nozzle for producing a third spray pattern projected at a third roll angle of between 30 and 45 degrees, wherein the third nozzle is adjacent to the second nozzle; a fourth nozzle for producing a fourth spray pattern projected at a fourth roll angle of between 45 and 60 degrees, wherein the fourth nozzle is adjacent to the third nozzle; a fifth nozzle for producing a fifth spray pattern projected at a fifth roll angle of between 60 and 75 degrees, wherein the fifth nozzle is adjacent to the fourth nozzle; and a sixth nozzle for producing a sixth spray pattern projected at a sixth roll angle of between 75 and 90 degrees, wherein the sixth nozzle is adjacent to the fifth nozzle. 7. The automated cleaning station of claim 5, further comprising: a guard comprising an annular recess located on the inner member proximate to the opening in the wash chamber and a cylindrical portion disposed on the body, wherein the cylindrical guard is received in the annular recess, and wherein an inner surface of the cylindrical portion is flush with the first surface of the inner member. 8. The automated cleaning station of claim 5, further comprising: a seal between the inner member and the outer member, the seal comprising an annular ring operatively associated with a circular flange disposed on the outer member; and a plurality of screws interconnecting the inner member and the outer member, the screws presenting no protrusions into the appendage receiving cavity. 9. The automated cleaning station of claim 5, further comprising: a drain disposed on the inner member including a drain surface having a plurality of perforations, each perforation being approximately ⅛ to ⅜ inch in diameter. 10. The automated cleaning station of claim 5, further comprising: a seating mechanism associated with the body, the seating mechanism adapted to receive a fluid inlet disposed on the wash chamber, the fluid inlet comprising an opening in the outer member and a tubular portion extending from the opening, the fluid inlet providing an entrance for the at least one fluid into the annular cavity, the fluid inlet being radially symmetric with respect to the axis of rotation, wherein the seating mechanism includes an o-ring, the o-ring providing a seal between an interior of the seating mechanism and a receiving basin, the receiving basin adapted to receive fluid exiting the appendage receiving cavity through the drain. 11. The automated cleaning station of claim 5, wherein the spray pattern associated each nozzle of the first set of nozzles is at least one of: a substantially planar spray; a spherical spray; a conical spray; a pulsed spray; and a jetted spray. 12. A cleaning station, comprising: (a) a body; (b) 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, the wash chamber including an axis of rotation; (c) an appendage receiving cavity located within the wash chamber, the appendage receiving cavity adapted to receive, through an opening in the first end of the wash chamber, at least a portion of at least one appendage of a person and contact, the at least a portion of the at least one appendage, with at least one cleaning fluid; (d) a plurality of nozzles positioned along a length of the wash chamber to spray the at least one cleaning fluid into the chamber to contact the at least a portion of the at least one appendage when the at least a portion of the at least one appendage is positioned in the wash chamber; wherein at least one of the following is true of the plurality of nozzles: (i) the nozzles have differing pitch angles, wherein, for a selected nozzle, a pitch angle is an angle of intersection between a nozzle plane defined by a nozzle orifice and a first plane normal to at least a portion of an adjacent surface of the wash chamber; (ii) the nozzles have differing roll angles, wherein, for a selected nozzle, a roll angle is an angle between a nozzle orifice and a selected second plane and wherein the roll angle is measured in a third plane defined by to at least a portion of an adjacent surface of the wash chamber; (e) a seal between the inner and outer members; (f) a drain disposed on the inner member including a drain surface having a plurality of perforations; and (g) a seating mechanism associated with the body, the seating mechanism adapted to receive a fluid inlet for the at least one cleaning, the fluid inlet being in fluid communication with the plurality of nozzles; whereby during operation of the wash chamber, the at least one cleaning fluid flows in from the fluid inlet, through the plurality of nozzles, and into the appendage receiving cavity. 13. The cleaning station of claim 12, wherein the nozzles have differing roll angles. 14. The cleaning station of claim 13, wherein plurality of nozzles includes a first nozzle located proximate to the opening in the first end of the wash chamber and a second nozzle located at a greater distance from the opening than the first nozzle, wherein the first nozzle is adapted to produce a spray pattern projected at a roll angle and the second nozzle is adapted to produce a spray pattern projected at a second roll angle, and wherein the first roll angle is less than the second roll angle. 15. The cleaning station of claim 14, wherein the plurality of nozzles have progressively greater roll angles with increasing distance from the opening end of the wash chamber. 16. The cleaning station of claim 12, wherein the second roll angle ranges from about 15 to about 30 degrees. 17. The cleaning station of claim 12, wherein both (i) and (ii) are true and wherein the third plane is at least one of tangential to and parallel to an inner surface of the wash chamber adjacent to the selected nozzle. 18. The cleaning station of claim 12, wherein the seal comprises an annular ring operatively associated with a circular flange disposed on the outer member. 19. The cleaning station of claim 12, wherein the seating mechanism includes an o-ring, the o-ring providing a seal between an interior of the seating mechanism and a receiving basin, the receiving basin adapted to receive fluid exiting the appendage receiving cavity through the drain. 20. The cleaning station of claim 12, further comprising: a guard comprising an annular recess located on the inner member proximate to the opening in the wash chamber and a cylindrical portion disposed on the body, wherein the guard is received in the annular recess, and wherein an inner surface of the guard is substantially flush with the first surface of the inner member.
※ AI-Helper는 부적절한 답변을 할 수 있습니다.