Washing Device

Abstract

A washing device for cleaning surfaces such as human skin and the like hygienically which includes an upper shell portion and a lower plate portion having discharge and suction return openings therein adapted for connection, respectively, to a source of washing foam and a source of vacuum. A porous cover element is received over the shell and the lower plate and underlies the discharge and suction return openings in a manner to effect passage of the washing foam through the porous cover onto the surface being cleaned when the device is pressed thereagainst, the cover effecting passage of the discharged washing foam directly to the suction return opening so as to prevent dripping when the device is raised from the surface being cleaned.

Description

The present invention relates generally to washing devices, and more particularly to a washing device for cleaning surfaces such as human skin and the like hygienically by discharging a foam washing medium onto the surface being cleaned and substantially simultaneously withdrawing the washing foam by suction.

The washing of patient's skin, and particularly bedridden patients confined in hospitals and the like, presents a problem in that the washing apparatus must generally be transported to the patient's bed side where a washing medium is applied to the patient's skin for washing the same. A commonly employed technique is to bathe the patient by means of a washcloth or sponge which is dipped into a liquid washing medium and thereafter applied against the patient's skin. This arrangement exhibits the major disadvantage that much time is lost in refreshing the washing solution and maintaining the washcloth cleansed and saturated with fresh washing solution. An additional drawback is that during bathing, the sponge or washcloth drips washing solution onto the patient, his garments, or the bed coverings. The present invention provides a substantial improvement over the aforenoted patient bathing technique by providing a washing device adapted to dispense a washing medium onto a surface being cleaned while being adapted to substantially prevent dripping of the washing medium when the device is not in engagement with the surface being cleaned.

Accordingly, one of the primary objects of the present invention is to provide a novel washing device having means for dispensing a washing medium onto the surface to be cleaned and substantially immediately thereafter withdrawing the used washing medium from the surface.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel washing device which is particularly adapted for dispensing a foam washing medium in a manner to prevent undesirable dripping of the washing medium.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel washing device which includes a lower plate portion having washing medium discharge openings therein and suction return openings disposed peripherally of the discharge openings, and which further includes a porous cover element adapted to effect discharge of the washing medium through the porous cover onto the surface being cleaned when the device is pressed thereagainst, and which cover effects direct return of the discharged washing medium through the suction return openings when the device is spaced from the surface being cleaned.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a novel washing device as described wherein the lower plate portion is generally triangular in plan configuration and has a plurality of discharge openings disposed along an axis central to the side edges of the triangular surface, the suction return openings being disposed along the side edges peripherally of the discharge openings, and wherein the porous cover element is slightly spaced from the discharge and suction return openings when the device is raised from the surface being cleaned in a manner to prevent dripping.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel washing device as described which includes a mixing chamber communicating with the discharge openings and having means therein to effect intermixing of compressed air and a foamable washing medium whereby to effect discharge of a washing medium in the form of a foam.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention, together with the organization and manner of operation thereof, will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing wherein like reference numerals designate like elements throughout the several views, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view taken along the longitudinal axis of a washing device in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a rear end view taken generally along the line 2--2 of FIG. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3--3 of FIG. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line 4--4 of FIG. 1 but showing the washing device pressed against a surface being cleaned; and

FIG. 5 is a transverse sectional view similar to FIG. 4 but showing the washing device spaced from the surface being cleaned.

Referring now to the drawing, a washing device constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention is indicated generally at 10. The washing device 10 finds particular application in the washing of surfaces such as human skin hygienically and to this end is particularly adapted for washing bedridden patients where dripping of the washing medium is undesirable, and where it is desirable to remove the washing medium from the surface being cleaned substantially immediately after applying it. The washing device 10 includes body means having a lower generally flat plate portion 12 and an upper shell portion 14.

The lower plate portion 12 is generally triangular in plan configuration and has a rear or base edge surface 16 and equally shaped side edge surfaces 18 and 20, the corner intersections of the side edge surfaces with the rear edge surface being rounded as shown in FIG. 3. The plate portion 12 of the washing device 10 has an upstanding hook-shaped element 22 formed thereon at the apex of the triangular shaped plate portion. The hook-shaped element 22 provides means for attaching the flat plate portion 12 to the upper shell portion 14 as will be described more fully hereinbelow.

The flat plate portion 12 of the washing device 10 may be made of a suitable plastic material and has an inverted U-shaped or V-shaped raised wall portion 24 formed therein which defines a passage extending substantially the length of the major axis of the triangularly shaped plate portion 12 generally equidistant between the side edge surfaces 18 and 20. When initially formed, the passage defined by and underlying the raised wall portion 24 opens outwardly of the lower surface of the flat plate 12. An elongated rectangularly shaped member 26, having a length substantially equal to the length of the opening in the lower surface of the flat plate portion 12 underlying the raised wall portion 24 and having a width substantially equal to the transverse width of the opening underlying the raised wall portion 24, is secured within such opening to form a flow passage between the member 26 and the raised wall portion 24. The elongated member 26 has three discharge openings 28 spaced longitudinally along the length thereof for the discharge of a washing medium from the lower surface of the lower plate portion 12, as will become more apparent hereinbelow. The member 26 may also be made of plastic and may be secured to the lower plate portion 12 by suitable means such as an epoxy resin. It will be understood that other constructional techniques may be employed to provide the desired flow passage and discharge openings for the washing medium along the major axis of the triangular shaped plate 12.

The raised wall portion 24 of the lower plate 12 has an angularly upwardly directed tubular portion 30 which communicates with the passage defined between the raised wall 24 and the member 26 when secured onto the lower surface of the flat plate 12. The upper end of the tubular portion 30 terminates in a tubular connecting member 32 having a generally rectangular cross sectional configuration defining a chamber 34 therein. The chamber 34 communicates with the flow passage defined by the tubular portion 30 and the raised wall portion 24, and provides a mixing chamber for washing medium and pressurized air, as will be described more fully hereinbelow.

The upper shell portion 14 of the washing device 10 has a rearward wall 38 the lower edge surface 40 of which lies in a plane containing the lower edge surface 42 of the remaining or forward portion of the outer shell 14. The outer shell 14 has a suitable opening 44 therein to receive the aforementioned hook-shaped portion 22 on the base plate 12 during assembly to assist in retaining the plate portion within the upper shell 14.

The rearward wall 38 of the upper shell portion 14 has an outwardly directed connecting boss 46 having external right-hand threads 47 thereon. The connecting boss 46 is generally tubular and communicates with the interior of the shell 14 through a circular tapered suction opening 48 which intersects the rear wall 38. The connecting boss 46 also has a pair of tubular flow passages 50 and 52 therethrough which communicate at their inner ends with the interior chamber 53 of a tubular connecting member 54 having a generally rectangular cross sectional configuration. The tubular connecting member 54 may be formed integrally with or otherwise suitably secured to the inner surface of the rearward wall 38 so as to extend within the interior of upper shell portion 14. The connecting member 54 is adapted to be received within the connecting member 32 in sealed relation therewith such that the flow passages 50 and 52 communicate with the interior of the chamber 34 in the connecting member 32 and thus with the flow passage defined beneath the upstanding wall 24 of the lower plate 12.

By manipulating the lower plate portion 12 so as to telescope the connecting member 32 over the connecting member 54, and by thereafter inserting the hook-shaped portion 22 of the lower plate 12 within the opening 44 in the upper shell 14, the lower plate 12 and upper shell 14 may be maintained in assembled relation with the lower surface of the plate 12 coplanar with the lower edge surfaces 40 and 42 of the upper shell 14. The relative configurations of the lower plate 12 and the upper shell 14 are such that the rear edge 16 of the lower plate 12 abuts the rear wall 38 of the upper shell 14 and a substantially continuous opening 56 is provided between the side edge surfaces 18 and 20 of the lower plate 12 and the outer shell adjacent the lower edge 42 thereof. The opening 56 comprises a suction return opening in the washing device 10.

The external threaded boss 46 on the upper shell 14 provides a means for connecting the opening 48, and thus the interior of the upper shell 14, to a vacuum source through a suction tube (not shown) having a tubular end adapted to be received within the opening 48. The connecting boss 46 also provides means for connecting the flow passages 50 and 52, and thus the chamber 34, to a source of air pressure and a source of foamable liquid washing medium such as a detergent compatible with human skin. For this purpose, the connecting boss 46 may be releasably connected to a multi-channel flow conduit having separate flow passages connectable to the flow passages 48, 50 and 52.

A foraminous element 58, such as a porous expanded polyurethane material, is positioned within the chamber 34 in the connecting member 32 and serves to effect intermixing of the liquid washing medium and air pressure supplied thereto through the flow passages 50 and 52 so as to establish a washing foam which may be discharged through the discharge openings 38.

After assemblying the lower plate 12 within the upper shell 14 as above described, a cover means, indicated generally at 60, is mounted on the assembled lower plate 12 and upper shell 14. The cover means 60 comprises a porous glove madeof 5-10 mm foam rubber or expanded polyurethane. The porous glove 60 may be made of a generally flat sheet of the foam material having a generally triangular plan configuration similar to and larger than the lower plate 12, the sheet of foam material being slit at 62 intermediate the upper and lower surfaces so as to define upper and lower layers 64 and 66 integrally joined along their peripheral edges except at the rear end surfaces 68. By separating the upper and lower layers 64 and 66, an opening is provided into which the assembled plate 12 and upper shell 14 may be inserted.

The porous glove 60 has a circumferential configuration such that when the glove is inserted onto the assembled lower plate 12 and upper shell 14, the lower layer 66 of the porous glove underlying the lower plate 12 is spaced from the plate 12 when the washing device 10 is raised above a surface to be cleaned. When the washing device 10 is placed against a surface to be cleaned, such as indicated at 70 in FIG. 4, the lower layer 66 of the porous glove 60 is pressed directly against the lower plate 12.

In operation, the washing device 10 is connected through its connecting boss 46 to a multi-channel flow conduit having a suction channel connected to a source of vacuum, a channel connected to a source of air pressure, and a channel connected to a source of foamable liquid washing medium. The suction channel, air pressure channel and washing medium channels are connected to the flow passages 48, 50 and 52, respectively, in the connecting boss 46 of the washing device 10. The washing device 10 is then placed against a surface to be cleaned, such as the surface 70 of a patient's skin, and a washing foam is discharged through the discharge openings 28 due to intermixing of the pressurized air and foamable liquid washing medium within the foraminous mixing element 64. With the lower layer 66 of the porous glove 60 being pressed against the lower plate 14, the washing foam discharged from the openings 28 passes through the underlying layer 66 of the porous glove and onto the surface 70 for washing action by the washing foam, as shown by the flow direction arrows in FIG. 4. Substantially simultaneously with the discharge of washing foam through the porous glove layer 66 onto the surface 70 being cleaned, the washing foam is sucked back through the porous glove layer 66 and through the peripheral suction opening 56 to the suction opening 48 where it passes outwardly toward the vacuum source (not shown) to which the washing device 10 is connected.

When the washing device 10 is raised from the surface 70 being cleaned, as after washing a patient and when moving the washing device 10 to a different location, the lower layer 66 of the porous glove 60 becomes slightly spaced below the lower surface of the lower plate 12. Thereafter, any washing foam which is discharged through the discharge openings 28 passes directly to the suction opening 56 where it is passed upwardly through the suction passage 48, as indicated by the flow direction arrows in FIG. 5. In this manner, a closed or return circulation of the washing foam is established without the washing foam being passed through and outwardly of the lower layer 66 off the porous glove 60. Such direct passage of the washing foam from the discharge openings 28 into the suction return opening 56 when the washing device is raised from the surface being cleaned serves to prevent dripping of the washing medium from the porous glove and eliminates problems associated with such dripping.

The porous glove 60 may be inverted on the assembled lower plate 12 and upper shell 14 to interchange the upper cover surface with the lower cover surface and maintain efficient foam discharge during use. The upper and lower layers 64 and 66 of the porous cover 60 may be made of different thicknesses so as to allow either thickness to underlie the lower surface 12 of the washing device whereby to vary the amount and character of washing foam discharged through the lower surface of the porous glove as desired. Alternatively, the upper and lower layers 64 and 66 of the cover glove 60 may be formed from materials having different porosities so as to allow varying of the amount of washing foam discharged dependant upon which of the layers is disposed against the lower plate portion 12 of the washing device 10.

While a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been illustrated and described, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that changes and modification may be made therein without departing from the invention and its broader aspects. Various features of the invention are set forth in the following claims.

Claims

I claim:

1. A washing device for cleaning surfaces such as human skin and the like hygienically, comprising, in combination, body means including a plate portion having at least one discharge opening therein, means within said body defining a flow passage for connecting said discharge opening to a source of washing medium for discharge through said discharge opening, said body means having at least one suction return opening spaced peripherally from said discharge opening, means within said body means for connecting said suction opening to a source of suction, and cover means on said body means, said cover means having a porous portion adapted to cover said discharge opening and said suction opening such that washing medium discharged through said discharge opening passes through said porous portion of said cover means onto the surface being cleaned and is thereafter withdrawn from the surface through said suction opening when said plate portion and associated porous portion of said cover means are pressed against the surface being cleaned, said porous portion of said cover means further being adapted for movement away from said plate portion when the washing device is spaced from the surface being cleaned such that washing medium discharged from said discharge opening is withdrawn through said suction opening without passing outwardly through said porous cover means whereby to prevent dripping of the washing medium.

2. A washing device as defined in claim 1 wherein said discharge opening is disposed centrally of said plate portion, and wherein said suction opening is located generally adjacent a peripheral edge portion of said plate portion.

3. A washing device as defined in claim 2 wherein said suction opening comprises an elongated opening which at least partially encircles said discharge opening.

4. A washing device as defined in claim 1 wherein said cover means comprises a porous glove releasably mounted on said body means and extending substantially around the peripheral surface of said body means.

5. A washing device as defined in claim 4 wherein said porous glove is made from a single sheet of porous material having generally planar upper and lower surfaces and sliced between its said upper and lower surfaces to define upper and lower layers separable to allow insertion of said body means.

6. A washing device as defined in claim 1 wherein said plate portion comprises a generally flat lower plate, and wherein said body means further includes an upper shell portion having a rear end wall, and means mounted on said end wall for connecting said washing device to sources of washing medium, pressurized gas and vacuum.

7. A washing device as defined in claim 6 wherein said upper shell portion defines with said lower plate an internal chamber adapted to be connected to a source of vacuum, said discharge opening being disposed generally centrally in said lower plate and being adapted for connection to sources of washing medium and pressurized gas, said lower plate and said upper shell defining said suction opening therebetween along the periphery of said lower plate in communicating relation with said chamber.

8. A washing device as defined in claim 1 wherein said body means includes an upper shell portion having means thereon for connection to a source of vacuum, a source of pressurized air and a source of washing medium, said body means further having means for connecting said discharge opening to the sources of pressurized air and washing medium, said suction opening being disposed peripherally of said discharge opening and being adapted for connection to the source of suction such that washing medium discharged through said discharge opening is withdrawn through said suction opening by suction.

9. A washing device as defined in claim 1 wherein said plate portion is generally triangular in plan configuration and has a plurality of discharge openings spaced along the major axis thereof, said discharge openings being adapted to discharge a washing medium therethrough.

10. A washing head as defined in claim 1 wherein said flow passage includes a mixing chamber connected in communication with said discharge opening and adapted for connection to sources of washing medium and pressurized air, and including means disposed within said chamber to effect intermixing of washing medium and pressurized air introduced therein to effect discharge of a washing foam through said discharge opening.

11. A washing device as defined in claim 1 wherein said cover means comprises a porous glove mountable over said body means and having upper and lower layers, said upper and lower layers being interchangeable to place either of said layers in underlying relation to said plate portion.