US20040068824A1

US20040068824A1 - Personal care apparatus assembly

Info

Publication number: US20040068824A1
Application number: US10/263,519
Authority: US
Inventors: James Gardner
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-10-03
Filing date: 2002-10-03
Publication date: 2004-04-15

Abstract

Personal care apparatus is disclosed and basically is comprised of cleansing liquid and rinsing liquid reservoirs, a pair of pumps that deliver liquid from the reservoirs to a pair of valved liquid delivery lines, a source of low-pressure air suction, a suction hose connected to the source of low pressure air suction, and a hand-held applicator element that is co-operably connected to the suction hose and to the pair of valved liquid delivery lines. The hand-held applicator element has a contact surface adapted to contact human skin surfaces without causing injury.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is common practice in connection with the cleansing care of the skin of bed-ridden individuals in hospitals, nursing homes, assisted care facilities, or home hospice care to provide either the patient or the aide giving care to the patient with an open container of a skin-cleansing liquid (e.g., warm water and soap or a mild detergent) and a clean washing cloth, followed by use of a rinsing medium (e.g., plain warm water) and a drying cloth (e.g., hand or body towel). Such practice tends to be very messy because of the use of open liquid containers and the frequent consequential spillage of liquids on or near the patient.

Hair shampooing for such patients is currently accomplished as the patient lies in a horizontal position with a shampoo trough under their head. Warm rinse water is poured over the patient's head and hair and into the trough which drains into a basin. After bathing skin and shampooing hair, the patient is usually given a massage administered by hand to improve circulation and to promote relaxation.

Other common methods of bathing, depending upon the patient's condition, are tub baths, stand-up showers, and sit-down showers with shower chair.

The current methods of bathing skin and shampooing hair for patients have numerous shortcomings, some of which are as follows:

1. Liquid in basins is contaminated when the wash cloth is first rinsed, therefore the patient is mostly washed with contaminated liquid.

2. Wash cloths move bacteria and microorganisms from one location to another on the surface of the skin and are not capable of extracting bacteria and deep cleansing the pores of the skin.

3. Wash cloths and towels tend to rub and irritate sensitive skin particularly that of elderly people.

4. Open basins and wet cloths promote frequent spillage of liquids on or near the patient causing unsanitary and unsafe conditions.

5. Continued refilling of a wash basin is labor intensive and promotes excessive water usage.

6. Transporting patients to tubs and showers is exceedingly painful in many cases and promotes injury from slips and falls.

The current process of bathing people in nursing care is antiquated, cumbersome, unsanitary, wasteful, labor intensive, time-consuming, and painful. Any patient or care giver could readily expand the list of shortcomings in current practice.

In order to overcome the many shortcomings of the prior practice I have devised a novel personal care apparatus assembly that may be efficiently used to give a person requiring personal care assistance a liquid bath in a manner that virtually is “dry bathing”.

The apparatus of the current invention simultaneously performs deep cleansing, therapeutic massaging, and skin drying, with liquid or mist, and is capable of traversing wounds, dressings, casts, burns, intravenous equipment, and the irregular shape of a human body without liquid spillage. In addition, the current apparatus is conveniently moved to the location of the patient thus eliminating the pain, risk, and cost of transporting the patient.

Further, the current invention always provides fresh liquid to the patient's skin therefore improving sanitation for the patient and the care giver. Lastly, the invention apparatus has an adjustable suction for deep cleansing bacteria from sensitive skin without irritation, for rinsing hair of a patient oriented in any position, and for improving circulation of blood near the surface of the skin thus giving the patient therapeutic renewal, relaxation, and a sense of well-being.

Other objectives and advantages of the present invention will become apparent during consideration of the descriptions, drawings, and claims and which follow.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The personal care apparatus of the present invention is basically comprised of a cleansing liquid reservoir having a liquid delivery pump, a rinsing liquid reservoir having a liquid delivery pump, a source of low-pressure air suction, a pair of valved liquid delivery lines that each are connected to a different one of the liquid reservoir delivery pumps, a suction hose connected to the source of low pressure air suction, and a hand-held applicator element that is co-operably connected to the suction hose and to the pair of valved liquid delivery lines. The hand-held applicator element has a human body skin contact surface adapted to contact a person's body surface and deliver fluids from the liquid delivery lines without causing personal injury, and the pair of liquid delivery lines are routed from the delivery pumps to the human body contact surface of the hand-held applicator element through the suction hose.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a general view of a patient receiving cleansing care through use of an apparatus assembly incorporating the present invention; [0017]
FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of a preferred embodiment of the invention hand-held applicator element; [0018]
FIG. 3 is a top view of the applicator element of FIG. 2; [0019]
FIG. 4 is a section view taken at line [0020] 4-4 of FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is a bottom view of a head portion of the hand-held applicator element of FIGS. 2 through 4; [0021]
FIG. 6 is a side elevation view of an alternate embodiment of the head portion of the invention hand-held applicator element; [0022]
FIG. 7 is an enlarged section view taken at line [0023] 7-7 of FIG. 5;
FIG. 8 illustrates an apparatus arrangement whereby a single fluid nozzle rather than a pair of fluid nozzles may be utilized to alternately deliver liquids from the apparatus cleansing and rinsing liquid delivery lines; [0024]
FIG. 9 depicts the flow pattern of cleansing and rinsing liquid and suction air when the end opening of the hand-held applicator head of FIG. 8 remains uncovered; and [0025]
FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 9 but illustrating the liquid flow and suction air flow when the hand-held applicator end opening is partially covered. [0026]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 of the drawings is a general view of a bed-ridden patient P receiving personal care by a nursing aide N such care involving utilization of a preferred embodiment of the personal care assembly [0027] 10 of the present invention. Assembly 10 is principally comprised of a pair of liquid reservoirs 12 and 14, each having a centrifugal pump 16 that is connected to the reservoir's bottom outlet and to a respective one of tubular liquid delivery lines 18 and 20. Preferably one reservoir contains water and the other contains some type of cleaning agent. Pumps 16 may also be vane pumps or any other suitable liquid displacement devices. Assembly 10 also has an electrically powered vacuum source 22 that internally has a centrifugal air-liquid separator and a waste liquid reservoir with waste water pump 23, and a flexible suction hose 24 that is operably connected to vacuum source 22 and that internally contains much of the lengths of valved delivery lines 18 and 20. The apparatus assembly is housed within and transported by mobile cart 26, and the nursing aide utilizes a hand-held applicator element 28 that is functionally connected to both the vacuum (low air pressure) environment of suction hose 24 and liquid delivery lines 18 and 20. Liquid delivery lines 18 and 20 preferably pass within suction hose 24.
FIGS. 2 through 5 pertain to a preferred embodiment of the hand-held [0028] applicator element 28 of assembly 10. Such hand-held applicator element includes a removable applicator head 30 and is essentially a continuation of flexible suction hose 24. The hand-held applicator element 28 also includes conventional spring- biased pinch valves 32 and 34 that are contained within valve housing 36 and that co-operate with liquid lines 18 and 20, respectively, to control fluid flow therethrough. As shown in FIG. 3 of the drawings, the liquid delivery lines 18 and 20 extend downstream of pinch valves 32 and 34, pass through the wall of hand-held applicator element 28 and enter applicator head 30. Of course liquid delivery lines 18 and 20 could also remain inside of element 28 and thereafter enter applicator head 30.
A shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 of the drawings, [0029] applicator head 30 includes a series of suction slots 38 positioned in the underside curved, human body, contact surface 39 of the invention removable applicator head element 30. Fluid discharge ports 40 and 42 at the discharge end of fluid lines 18 and 20, also are mounted within applicator head element 30 adjacent contact surface 39. It should be noted that fluid discharge ports 40 and 42 preferably do not extend outwardly of element 30 into alignment with body contact surface 39, but are recessed a distance therefrom as illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8. In FIG. 7 a partially-sectioned partial view of the applicator head element of FIG. 5 is utilized to illustrate the fact that liquid delivery lines 18 and 20 preferably are made adjustable in position longitudinally by a conventional threaded adjustment feature (see FIG. 4) so that the distance D from the discharge port of each liquid delivery line to the nearest curvilinear skin contact surface portion of hand-held applicator head 30 may be varied to be in the inward range of from {fraction (1/16)} inch to ¼ inch (usually ⅛ inch) when cleansing human body skin. It has been discovered that by adjusting this distance and by adjusting suction air pressure in applicator head 30, the liquid output from ports 40 and 42 may be a stream of liquid (reduced distance and reduced suction) or a mist of liquid (increased distance and increased suction). (See FIGS. 9 and 10). Combinations of these adjustments provide various unique stream and mist skin massaging swirls which massage the irregular under surface f (See FIG. 10) of a patient's body while at the same time preventing liquid and mist from spilling beyond patient under surface f and contact surface 39 of applicator head 30. Removable applicator head element 30 also includes rotatable valve discs 44 whose openings 46 may be rotated into various registration alignments with interior by-pass holes 48 to vary the magnitude of the suction pressure at suction slots 38—the more openings in registration, the lower the slot suction pressure. The FIG. 6 embodiment illustrates the same rotatable valve disc 44 having openings 46 which may be aligned with interior by-pass holes 48 to adjust suction pressure in an applicator head 50. It should be noted that the principal components of hand-held applicator element 28 are preferably fabricated of a polymerized polyvinyl chloride resin or its equivalent.
FIG. 6 also illustrates a form of [0030] applicator head 50 that may be substituted for applicator head element 30 and that is particularly useful for cleansing (shampooing) the hair of a bed-ridden patient. Basically, in embodiment 50 an open-ended, relatively large-diameter, section 52 of a flexible hollow tubing (containing one or both liquid lines 18 and 20 and their respective discharge ports 40 and 42) having a ring-shampoo body contact surface 39 is substituted for the suction slots 38 in the curved underside of the human body contact surface of applicator head 30. It should be noted that discharge ports 40 and 42 terminate within section 52 adjacent surface 39, such that they are spaced a distance from body contact surface 39 which may be as much as 5½ inches.
FIG. 8 illustrates an alternate embodiment [0031] 60 of the hand-held applicator head of FIG. 6. Such illustrates the fact that it may be advantageous to have a single liquid delivery line 62 with liquid discharge port 64 being fed by liquids from liquid delivery lines 18 and 20. Such is accomplished basically by the inclusion of a “Y” fitting 66 positioned in the system as shown. Also, embodiment 60 includes a mechanism whereby rotation of a soft hollow cap 70 relative to tubular section 52 causes discharge port 64 to be adjacent and variably positioned a distance D in the range inwardly from {fraction (1/16)} inch to 5½ inch from the end plane of the removable soft hollow cap 70 affixed to the end of the hand-held applicator hollow tube. The shorter distance in the range is used when the hand-held applicator is in contact with a body surface; the larger distance in the range is suitable for hair shampooing and the like.
In FIGS. 9 and 10 I schematically illustrate two of the separate flow patterns of liquid and air which occur at the [0032] skin contact surface 39 of the head of the invention hand-held applicator element. In the FIG. 9 case where the end opening at skin contact surface 39 remains completely uncovered the air flow X into the head completely draws the liquid Y from discharge ports 40 and 42 (or 64) into the airstream before the liquid reaches the skin contact surface 39 of the hand-held applicator element. In the FIG. 10 case, however, where the end opening is partially covered by a portion f of the body of the patient P the flows of liquid and air are modified in a manner whereby a combined liquid and liquid mist Y reaches the under surface of the human body element P, while at the same time the modified suction air pressure (due to the patient's body P restricting air from entering) within tubing section 52 draws air inwardly from around the sides of human body element P to prevent liquid and liquid mist from reaching these regions. In other words, liquid and liquid mist reach only under surface f of body element P but does not flow outwardly of body contact surface 39 or of body element P. Again, the distance D varies in the range of {fraction (1/16)} inch to 5½ inches and suction pressure is adjustable in magnitude depending on the intended use of the apparatus and the desired stream and mist swirl massage effect. In the embodiment of FIGS. 9 and 10 it may be observed that liquid delivery lines 18 and 20 are mounted in a tube 54 which overlies and slides with respect to hollow tube section 52. Sliding tube section 54 relative to tube 52 changes the distance D between ports 40 and 42, and surface 39.
Actual testing of the invention apparatus indicates that a patient of average size is thoroughly cleansed and massaged in 12 minutes (excluding face, hair, and perineal areas) with total liquid usage being 12 ounces (1½ cups) of water. [0033]
The present invention tested well for shampooing and rinsing hair. However, the face and perineal areas of a patient should be cleansed with a cloth. The machine aids in the process of providing the care-giver with fresh cleansing and rinsing liquid and eliminates the need for a basin. No empirical data is found which compares wet wash cloth cleansing with the suction and swirling mist of the present invention. However, visual tests of cleansing black pepper and mustard from the skin were performed. Such testing indicated that wet wash cloths “load up” and transfer the pepper and mustard from one area to another whereas the present invention deep suctions and removes particles from the skin. The present invention proved to be faster and cleaner for cleansing pepper and mustard from the skin than a wet washing cloth. [0034]
The present invention was also tested to obtain information concerning its massage comfort level. The three human subjects used in this testing were each given a head, neck, shoulder, back, and arm massage. Each stated that he/she had obtained an excellent level of relaxation and renewal. [0035]
Various changes may be made to the size, shape, proportioning, and materials of construction of the disclosed invention without departing from scope, meaning, or intent of the claims which follow.[0036]

Claims

I claim as my invention:

1. Personal care apparatus comprising of:

at least one cleansing liquid reservoir having a liquid delivery pump;

a source of low-pressure air suction;

a valved liquid delivery line having an outlet port and connected to said cleansing liquid reservoir liquid delivery pump;

a suction hose connected to said source of low-pressure air suction;

and a hand-held applicator element that is co-operably connected to said suction hose and to said valved liquid delivery line, said hand-held applicator element having a body contact surface adapted to contact and move over human skin without causing injury, said liquid delivery line being routed from said delivery pump to said hand-held applicator element, and said fluid outlet port is positioned adjacent to said body contact surface of said hand-held applicator element.

2. The invention defined by claim 1, and wherein said hand-held applicator element body contact surface has a suction inlet, said liquid delivery line outlet port being positioned within and surrounded by said hand-held applicator element body contact surface suction inlet.

3. The invention defined by claim 2, and wherein said liquid delivery line outlet port is positioned inwardly from the plane of said hand-held applicator element body contact surface suction inlet.

4. The invention defined by claim 2, and wherein said hand-held applicator element further comprises an adjustment means for adjusting the distance between said liquid delivery line outlet port and said body contact surface.

5. The invention defined by claim 4, and wherein said liquid delivery line outlet port is adjustably positioned throughout a range of {fraction (1/16)} inch to 5½ inches.

6. The invention defined by claim 1, and wherein said hand-held applicator element body contact surface has the form of a curvilinear surface having spaced-apart linear slots some of which are aligned with said fluid outlet port to deliver liquid from said liquid delivery line to the surface of a human body and the others of which remove liquid from the surface of a human body.

7. The invention defined by claim 1, and wherein said hand-held applicator element body contact surface has the form of the open end of a flexible tube, said flexible tube open end defining a suction inlet, and said liquid delivery line outlet port being positioned within said tube.

8. The invention defined by claim 7, and wherein said liquid delivery line outlet port is positioned inwardly from the plane of said hand-held applicator element body contact surface suction inlet.

9. The invention defined by claim 8, and wherein said hand-held applicator element further comprises an adjustment means for adjusting the distance between said liquid delivery line outlet port and said body contact surface.

10. The invention defined by claim 1, and wherein said hand-held applicator element body contact surface has the form of the open end of a rigid tube covered by a soft hollow end cap.

11. The invention defined by claim 10, wherein said soft hollow cap defines a body contact surface suction inlet, and wherein said liquid delivery line outlet port is positioned within said rigid tube and inwardly from the plane of said hand-held applicator element body contact surface suction inlet.

12. The invention defined by claim 11, and wherein said hand-held applicator element further comprises an adjustment means for adjusting the distance between said liquid delivery line outlet port and said body contact surface.

13. The invention defined by claim 1, and wherein said hand-held applicator element body contact surface has the form of the open end of a rigid tube, said rigid tube open end defines a body contact surface suction inlet and wherein said liquid delivery line outlet port is positioned within said rigid tube and inwardly from the plane of said hand-held applicator element body contact surface suction inlet.

14. The invention defined by claim 13, further comprising a second tube concentric with and axially movable with respect to said rigid tube, and wherein axial movement of one of said rigid tube or said second tube causes the distance between said liquid delivery line outlet port and said handheld applicator element body contact surface suction inlet to change.

15. The invention defined by claim 14 further comprising an air suction adjustment means for adjusting air suction pressure.

16. The invention defined by claim 15 wherein said air suction adjustment means is positioned in said hand-held applicator element.

17. The invention defined by claim 1 further comprising an air suction adjustment means for adjusting air suction pressure.

18. The invention defined by claim 2 further comprising an air suction adjustment means for adjusting air suction pressure.

19. The invention defined by claim 4 further comprising an air suction adjustment means for adjusting air suction pressure.

20. The invention defined by claim 6 further comprising an air suction adjustment means for adjusting air suction pressure.

21. The invention defined by claim 7 further comprising an air suction adjustment means for adjusting air suction pressure.

22. The invention defined by claim 10 further comprising an air suction adjustment means for adjusting air suction pressure.

23. The invention defined by claim 13 further comprising an air suction adjustment means for adjusting air suction pressure.

24. Personal care apparatus comprised of:

a pair of cleansing liquid reservoirs each having a liquid delivery pump;

a source of low-pressure air suction;

a first and second valved liquid delivery lines each having an outlet port and each connected to one of said pair of cleansing liquid reservoirs, a suction hose connected to said source of low-pressure suction;

and a hand-held applicator element that is co-operatively connected to said suction hose and to said first and second valved liquid delivery lines, said hand-held applicator element having a body contact surface adapted to contact and more over human skin without causing injury, said first and second liquid delivery lines being routed from said delivery pumps to said hand-held applicator element, and said outlet ports positioned adjacent to said body contact surface of said hand-held applicator element.

25. The invention defined by claim 24, and wherein said hand-held applicator element body contact surface has a suction inlet, said first and second liquid delivery line outlet ports being positioned within and surrounded by said hand-held applicator element body contact surface suction inlet.

26. The invention defined by claim 25, and wherein said first and second liquid delivery line outlet ports are positioned inwardly from the plane of said hand-held applicator element body contact surface suction inlet.

27. The invention defined by claim 26, and wherein said hand-held applicator element further comprises an adjustment means for adjusting the distance between said liquid delivery line outlet ports and said body contact surface.

28. The invention defined by claim 24 further comprising an air suction adjustment means for adjusting air suction pressure.

29. The invention defined by claim 25 further comprising an air suction adjustment means for adjusting air suction pressure.

30. The invention defined by claim 26 further comprising an air suction adjustment means for adjusting air suction pressure.

31. Personal care apparatus comprising:

at least one cleansing liquid reservoir having a liquid delivery pump;

a source of low-pressure air suction;

a suction hose connected to said source of low pressure air suction;

and a hand-held applicator element that has a human body contact surface and that is co-operably connected to said suction hose and to said valved liquid delivery line, said air pressure suction source, liquid delivery pump, and the distance from said liquid delivery line outlet port to said body contact surface are in a co-operative relationship such that an object adjacent to said hand-held applicator element human body contact surface controls the dispensing of liquid having a stream or mist form from said hand-held applicator element human body contact surface.

32. An apparatus for cleansing and massaging a human body with liquid in stream or mist form, and comprising:

at least one cleansing liquid reservoir having a liquid delivery pump;

a source of low-pressure air suction;

air suction adjusting means;

and at least one valved liquid delivery line that has an outlet port and that is connected to each of said liquid reservoir liquid delivery pumps; a suction hose connected to said source of low pressure air suction; and a hand-held applicator element that has a human body contact surface and that is co-operably connected to said suction hose and to said valved liquid delivery lines and distance adjusting means which varies distance from said outlet port to said human body contact surface.

33. An applicator head for a personal care apparatus which dispenses a stream or mist of liquid that cleanses and massages a human body, and comprising of a structure having at least one hollow portion therein, a human body contact surface, a liquid dispensing outlet positioned within said structure hollow portion, and a portion adapted to removably connect to a source of air pressure and a source of liquid dispensing.