US2517996A - Apparatus for hygienically treating the hands - Google Patents

Description

8, 1950 E. s. FRANKLIN ETAL 2,517,996

A APPARATUS FOR HYGIENICALLY TREATING THE HANDS Filed Dec. 5, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. CARL SATTLIR Y EDWARD S. FRANKLIN B @MQWJL 4 7' TORNEVS 1950 E. s. FRANKLIN ETAL 2,517,996

APPARATUS FOR HYGIENICALLY TREATING THE HANDS Filed Dec. 5, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. CARL SATTLER EDWARD S. Fnmxgm Patented Aug. 8, 1950 APPARATUS FOR HYGIENICALLY TREATING THE HANDS Edward S. Franklin and Carl Sattler, Detroit,

Mich., assignors, by direct and mesne assignments, to Ralzemond B. Parker, Royal Oak,

Mich.

Application December 5, 1947, Serial No. 789,984

11 Claims. (Cl. 2161) This invention relates to an apparatus for treating and conditioning the hands and wearing apparel of players and workers and particularly to a process and apparatus for hygienically treating and conditioning the hands of bowlers and players of other types of games, and makers of tools, gauges and watches and the like.

Heretofore, there have been associated with bowling alleys towels and chalk for drying and conditioning the hands of the players. Associated with each bowling alley there is usually provided a towel mounted on a newel post or the like and used by all of the players in a particular game on the alley and by players in subsequent games.

In the larger bowling alley establishments, clean towels are provided daily or even more frequently, but, even so, the continued use of such towels by many persons is very unsanitary, and the spread of contagious diseases can very readily occur by the use thereof. In watch making establishments and in tool and gauge manufacturing plants, liquid treating solutions have been usedto treat the hands of the workers, but such solutions have reacted strongly and harmfully on the hands.

An important object of this invention is to provide an improved device for treating and conditioning the hands of players, such as bowlers and players who use their hands in other games, which eliminates the use of towels altogether and may dispense if desired with the employment of chalk and other similar means for improving the hands of the players.

Another important object of this invention is to providea novel hand conditioning device which not only eliminates the use of such unsanitary towels but subjects the hands of the players to antiseptic treatment which is germicidal and fungicidal in action.

Another important object of the invention is 'to provide a device of this character which is not only hygienic but improves the hands of the' tional newel posts such as used in bowling alleys or separately supported from the floor. The device comprehends the use of a gaseous medium such as air, having incorporated therein an antiseptic substance, and warmed so that it will act more eifectively and quickly dry upon the hands of the user. An important feature of the invention is the provision of a device having a blower for causing the air to flow upon the hands of a bowler or worker, and the further provision in the device of both heating means and antiseptic means for providing a gaseous medium for hygienically treating and conditioning of the hands of such users. The various elements of the device are mounted in a novel relationship to one another to accomplish this purpose in a highly efficient manner and without entailing any dif ficult movements on the part of the user.

Another important feature of the invention is the provision in such a device of control means, preferably electrical, for starting and stopping the operation of the device at the will of the user so that the device is only operative when it is intended for the purpose designed. As a result, the device is economically operated. A further important feature of the invention is the provision of a device of this character wherein two control devices mounted on opposite sides of the unit may be operated by two bowlers simultaneously if desired, and thereby enable one unit to provide service to a pair of adjacent bowling alleys.

The invention is capable of being manufactured and assembled at low cost and to operate for long periods of time. The invention when embodied in the unit illustrated herein consists of few parts which are so arranged relatively to one another that each part performs its function without interference with the other parts and which are capable of being manufactured at low cost and assembled rapidly b unskilled Workmen. 7

Various other objects, advantages and meritorious features of the invention will become more fully apparent from the following specification, appended claims and accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective View illustrating the mounting and location of a unit alongside of a pair of bowling alleys.

Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view through the unit.

Fig. 3 is a top view of the unit with the cover element removed,

asmecc P l Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail sectional view of the antiseptic chamber.

Fig. 5 is a top view in small scale of a unit with the cover element thereon,

Fig. 6 is a schematic view of the electrical circuit associated with the unit, and

Fig. 7 is a side elevation in small scale, partly broken away in cross section, and illustrating a modification of the invention for treating. articles such as bowlers shoes.

As shown in Fig. 1, the unit generally indictaed at I0 may be mounted upon anewel post such as that located to the rear of and between two adjacent bowling alleys. The unit is shown mounted upon the upper end of the newel post but may, if desired, be supported by brackets from the side of the post, or, if desired, supported from the floor independently of the post. The unit 19 is preferably constructed with an outside shell in the form of the bowl. I2, the upper end of the bowl being covered by a, perforated inverted dished cover plate is.

Referring more specifically to Figs. 2 and 3, the bowl portion I2 of the unit is provided with two separate sets of air inlet apertures or openings, one set being located in the side of the bowl at 1'6 and the other set being located in the bottom of the bowl at it. As shown in Fig. 3, the side apertures I8 preferably take the form of elongated slots having thei longitudinal dimensions extending parallel to the upper edge of the bowl. These slots l6 cover a substantial portion of the sides of the bowLand as shown'in Fig. 3, extend almost completely around the bowl leaving an unap'ertured wall section 20 on one side of the bowl. The bottom apertures l8 may be in the form of circular holes or short arcuate slots.

The cover element M, previously mentioned, has a diameter such that it may be received over the bowl portion l2 and cover the entire area thereof.- The cover element is provided with a plurality of arcuate slots 22 spaced radially from the" center thereof and of increasingly greater lengths the further they are removed from the center, as shown in Fig. 5. The slots 22 form a gridpattern over the entire area of the cover element and it" is from these slots that the antiseptically treated air flows. The peripheral edge of the cover M is preferably shaped to provide a depending flange or rim 24 which fits over the upper edge of the bowl portion 12 and which is secured thereto against removal by set screws 26. The perforated area of the cover element may be divided into two half-sections by an arcuate shaped vertical plate 28 extending diametrically across the cover element and secured as shown in Fig. 5 to opposite sides of the cover element. This plate divides the upper area of the unit into two sections from which the treated air issues, enabling the unit to be simultaneously used by two players without interference with one another.

Within the bowl portion of the unit there is provided an air-blowing fan 3!) fixed to a vertical shaft 32 driven by an electric motor 34. The fan '30 is located in the upper section of the bowl portion l2 and is so constructed that when rotated in one direction it will draw in air through the side inlet ports l6 and cause the same to flow out of the discharge ports 22 in the cover member l4. The electric motor is provided with a dependent vertical shaft 38 to which a small fan 40 under the motor is attached. The sides of the motor are preferably provided with cooling fins 42 which are enclosed within a circular metal hand or sleeve 44. The fins extend vertically and are spaced apart from one another to form vertical open-ended passages around the motor 34. Below the motor housing supported thereby is a dished cover plate element 44 having a series of openings 46 disposed immediately belowthe fan Ml. When the motor is in operation the fan 40 is. also rotated and acts to draw in air through the bottom holes or ports is of the bowl portion, through the openings 46 of the cover member 44, and thence upwardly through the passages between the fins 42. This air serves to cool the motor when in operation.

Disposed on a level below the main fan 30 and approximately on the level of the upper end of the motor is an electrical heating coil 48 which, as shown in Fig. 3, is supported in the shape of a square. The character of the support for the electrical heating element is preferably four equidistantly spaced armsifl rising vertically from the bottom of. the bowl and inclined inwardly for attachment to the; band 44, as shown in Fig. 2. The upper end sections of the arms 50 incline outwardly and are shaped to grip insulators 52' each of which is axially boredto provide a passage for the heating coil 48. The lower ends of the supporting arms 50 are each attached by means of screws 54 to an upwardly projecting boss 56 forming' an integral part of the bowl portion l2.

Located within the unit I5 is a receptacle or container holding. a liquid of. antiseptic characteri'stics. This liquid, as will be later explained, is capable of being readily vaporized and carried into the air stream created by the larger fan 30. Referring to Figs- 3 and 4,, there is located in the interior of the bowl element [2 adjacent one side portion thereof a receptacle indicated at 58 which may be cast integrally with the wall of the bowl. This receptacle is provided with a removable cover member 60 having a central aperture 62 therein. Normally the: cover member 60 is retained in place upon the receptacle and may be secured thereto against unintentional removal by any suitable means such as the set screws shown at 63- in Fig. 3. Within the receptacle is a .body of liquid 64 having antiseptic qualities as previously mentioned and a wick. 68 partially immersed in the liquid and having one end thereof projecting upwardly through the aperture 62 in the cover plate 50. The container 58' has one wall common with the wall of the-bowl and a feed inlet passage 10 is bored or otherwise formed in this wall which opens into the container for supplying liquid thereto. Preferably the passageway 10 inclines upwardly from the receptacle and is provided with a tube 12 projecting from the outer end thereof having a normally closed cap M overlying the outer end thereof. This form of supply conduit enables the container 58 to be refilled periodically without requiring the removal of the cover member 14.

As shown in Fig. 3, the container 58 for the antiseptic liquid is located on one side wall por tion of the bowl, and the air inlet slots [6 terminate short of this portion leaving the area of the side wall where the containeris located unapertured. The'projecting end of the wick 68 is on a level in the bowl portion so as to discharge its fumes into the air stream created by the. fan 30 and flowing between the inlet ports l5 and the discharge ports 22.

The electric motor 34 and the heating coil 48 are'preferably supplied with electric current from a single source of electrical energy. The circuit for the motor and the coil is schematically illustrated in Fig. 6. The motor and the coil are located in series in a normally open circuit indicated at '16 which may be closed by two separate switches 18-18. Either one of the switches will operate the motor and the heating coil.

To facilitate use of the unit, the two switches 18-48 previously described are mounted on opposite sides of the device and preferably on opposite sides of the dividing plate 28 as shown in Fig. 5. The switches are preferably microswitches having depressible push buttons Bil as shown in Fig. 5. These buttons project through the cover member 22 as shown in Fig. 2 closer to one end of the dividing plate 28 than the other and by virtue of this arrangement a bowler or other user may rest his wrist upon the push button to close the switch thereof and extend his hand over the grid portion of the cover plate It to receive the upwardly flowing air issuing from the ports 22. When the device is associated with a pair of bowling alleys, the dividing plate 28 is arranged to extend parallel to the bowling alleys and thereby serve to separate the hands of two bowlers using the device at the same time.

The antiseptic liquid which it is desired to use is preferably formaldehyde in aqueous solution which is mixed in a water solution at approximately a 5% concentration. Formaldehyde is germicidal and fungicidal in action and when deposited on the hands of bowlers and the like at the proper concentration will provide a surface coating which will not only destroy bacteria but will also condition the hands of the bowlers for holding the ball. An important feature of such a substance is the fact that, in addition to its bacteria destroying quality, it also tends to inhibit perspiration and reduce the acid condition of the hands. In addition to the antiseptic ingredient in the water solution, it is desirable to add a small percentage of a deodorant for neutralizing the odor of the antiseptic and for sweetening the air issuing from the unit.

Formaldehyde in a gaseous warm condition is considerably more effective than when in liquid form and the present invention takes advantage of this fact and employs the means hereinabove described for mixing a small but eifective percentage of the compound in a warmed air stream. Formaldehyde in the liquid form heretofore used to treat the hands of watchmakers and the like is inflammable, but in the approximately 5% concentration used in the device of this invention, the formaldehyde whether in liquid or gaseous condition is not combustible.

Figure 7 illustrates a modification of the invention wherein the device is adapted for treating articles in place of the hands as previously described and which is particularly adapted to treating shoes, gloves and other wearing apparel. Referring to Fig. 7, the device is generally similar to that previously described except that the cover member M is differently shaped and is provided with novel means for treating such articles. The cover member of the modification is indicated at 82 and is preferably imperforated through its entire area except for its provision of two upwardl projecting tubes 84-84. The upper ends of these tubes may be curved or bent as shown at 86 to form horns upon which shoes or gloves or other wearing apparel may be mounted to receive the treated air from the device. In Fig. 7, abowlers shoe is shown fittedover one of the horns 86.

The cover member 82 is shaped to be fitted over the bowl portion l2 which is constructed like that previously described including a fan 30 and the air inlet slots I6. One push button 90 corresponding to either one of the push buttons -80 previously described may be reciprocally mounted in the cover member 82 for controlling the action of the device. This push button may be so located that when the cover member 82 is laid upon the bowl member l2 the push button will align with one of the micro-switches B8 of the device. One push button alone is sufficient for operating the device and the other micro-switch may be inoperatively concealed by the cover member. To use the modification of Fig. 7, the cover member M of the previous embodiment of the invention is removed and the cover 82 provided with the tubes 84-84 is substituted therefor. Thereafter by putting shoes, gloves or other articles of wearing apparel upon the horns 86 the warm air containing formaldehyde at the same or slightly higher concentration will be blown into the shoes or gloves and sterilize them completely.

While there has been illustrated and described two preferred forms of the invention, it will be understood that various changes and modifications therein may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It will therefore be understood that the claims appended hereto are intended to cover all changes and modifications which fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What we claim is:

l. A hand conditioner for bowlers comprising, in combination, a bowl-shaped hollow body having a plurality of air inlet ports in the side thereof, a cover member extending over the upper end of the body and having a plurality of air discharge outlet ports, a power driven fan disposed in said body and adapted when rotated to create a stream of air entering the inlet ports and flowing through the body and discharging from said outlet ports, means in the body for heating the air stream as it flows therethrough, and means in the body for introducing an antiseptic fluid into the air stream as it flows therethrough.

2. A hand conditioner for bowlers and the like comprising, in combination, a bowl-shaped hollow bod having a plurality of air inlet portsin the side thereof, a cover member extending over the upper end of the body and having a plurality of air discharge outlet ports, an electrical motor in said body having a fan so disposed in the body that in operation it creates a stream of air entering said inlet ports and flowing through the body for discharge from said outlet ports, an electrical heating element in the body so disposed in the air stream that it warms the same, means in the body for introducing an antiseptic fluid into the air stream, and an electrical controlling means on the outside of the body operable to start and stop the operation of both the motor and the heating element.

3. A hand conditioner for bowlers and the like comprising, in combination, a bowl-shaped body having a set of air inlet ports in the side wall thereof and a second set of air inlet ports in the bottom thereof, a cover member extending over the upper open end of the body having a plurality of air discharge outlet ports, an electric motor in the body, a main fan operatively driven by the motor and so disposed on a level in the bowl between the first set of air inlet ports and the outlet ports in the cover member as to create an air stream moving through the body, a fan operatively driven by the motor and disposed in the lower part of th bowl immediately adjacent electric circuit means for operating said motor and said heating coil from a source of electric energy, and a switch in the circuit means operable to start and stop the operation of the motor and the coil simultaneously.

4. An air treating device comprising, in combination, a hollow body opened at the top, a removable cover member for the body adapted to overlie the open end thereof, said body and said cover member having one or more ports through which air may pass, a power driven fan located in the body in such position therein that when rotated it will create an air stream in the body causing air to enter said one or more ports in the body and exhaust the same upwardly through said one or more ports in the cover member, a heating element located in the body in such position therein that it will warm the air stream created by the fan, and a container located in the body adapted to hold a vaporizable liquid antiseptic and provided with means for injecting the vaporized portion of the antiseptic into the air stream created by the fan.

5. An air treating device comprising, in combination, a hollow body opened at the top, a removable cover member for the body adapted to overlie the open end thereof, said body and said cover member having one or more ports through which air may pass, a power driven fan located in the body in such position therein that when rotated it will create an air stream in the body causing air to enter said one or more ports in the body and exhaust the same upwardly through said one or more ports in the cover member, a heating element located in the body in such position therein that it will warm the .air stream created by the fan, a container located in the body adapted to. hold a vaporizable liquid antiseptic, a normally closed inlet passage through the body for filling said container, and means for. discharging the fumes of the antiseptic held in said container into the air stream created by the fan.

- 6-. A hand conditioner for players and workers comprising, in combination, a hollow body opened at the upper end and provided with a plurality of air inlet ports opening thereinto below the upper end thereof, a cover member for the body adapted to overlie the open end thereof and provided with a plurality of air outlet ports opening upwardly therethrough, an electrically driven blade. located centrally in the body on a level between the cover member and the inlet ports and adapted when rotated to create an air stream movin through the body from the air inlet ports upwardly through the air outlet ports, an electrical heating element supported in the body in encircling relationship around the axis of rotation of the blade and on a level between the blade and the airinlet ports so as to Warm the air entering the same, a normally closed container in the body adapted to contain. a vaporizable liquid, said container having means for slowly discharging vapors of the liquid into the air stream created by the blade.

7. A hand, conditioner comprising, in combination, a hollow body opened at its upper end and provided with a plurality of air inlet ports in the side wall thereof spaced circumferentially therearound, a cover member ior the body over- 8 lying; the upper opened end thereof andv pro vided with a plurality of air outlet ports over substantially the entire area thereof, a vertical guard plate secured to and extending diametrically across the upper side of the cover member and dividing the ported area thereof into two separate sections, an electrically driven rotating blade located centrally in the body on a level between the cover member and the air inlet ports, an electrical heating element supported in the body in encircling relationship to the axis of rotation of the blade and on a level between the same and the air inlet ports, an electric circuit delivering current for operating said blade and said heating element including two switches located on the upper side of the cover member on opposite sides of the guard plate.

8. A hand conditioner comprising, in combination, a hollow body opened at its upper end and provided with a plurality of air inlet ports in the side wall thereof spaced circumferentially therearound and in spaced relationship to the upper end of the body, the cover member for the body overlying the opened end thereof and provided with a plurality of air outlet ports over substantially the entire area thereof, a vertical guard plate secured to and extending diametrie cally across the upper side of the cover member and dividing the ported area thereof into two separate sections, a container located in the body adapted to hold a vaporizable liquid antiseptic and provided with means for injecting vaporsof the antiseptic into the air within the body, an electrically driven fan located centrally in the body on a level between the cover member and the air inlet ports and, adapted upon rotation to induce air to enter the inlet ports and discharge from the outlet ports, an electric heating element supported in the body in encircling relationship to the axis of rotation of the fan and on a level between the fan and the air inlet ports, an electric circuit for delivering current to operate said fan and said heating element, and a pair of depressible switches for controlling the circuit located on the upper side of the cover member substantially diametrically opposite to one another and adjacent to the opposite ends of said guard plate.

9. A hand conditioner comprising, in combination, a hollow-bowl--shaped body opened at its upper end and provided with a plurality of air inlet ports in the side wall thereof spaced circum ferentially therearound and in spaced relation to the upper end of the body and further provided with one or more air inlet ports in the bottom thereof, a cover member for the opened endof the body adapted to overlie the same. and provided with a plurality of outlet ports extending substantially over the entire area thereof, a vertical guard plate secured to andv extending d1 ametrically across the upper side of the cover member and dividing the portedarea thereof into two separate sections, an electric motor mounted centrally in the body and driving a relatively large blade located ona level between the cover member and the side wall air inlet ports and driving a relativeiy smaller blade located adjacent to the bottom of the body, said motor adaptedupon operation to simultaneously rotate both of. said blades to cause the larger blade to. induce air to enter the side wall inlet ports and to cause the smaller blade to induce air to enter-thebottom air inlet ports, and an electric heating element supported in the body in encircling relationship to. the axis of-rotation of said larger blade; and

on a level between the same and the side wall air inlet ports, a container located in the body adapted to hold a vaporizable liquid antiseptic and provided with means for discharging the fumes of the antiseptic held in said container into the air stream created in the body by the larger blade, and an electric circuit for delivering current to operate said blades and said heatin element including a pair of depressible control switches projecting from the upper side of the cover member substantially diametrically opposite to one another and adjacent to the opposite ends of said guard plate.

10. A conditioning device comprising, in combination, a hollow body opened at its upper end and provided with a plurality of the air inlet ports in the side wall thereof spaced circumferentially therearound, a cover member for said body overlying the opened end thereof and provided with one or more upwardly projecting tubes perforated adjacent their upper ends and communicating at their lower ends with the interior of the body, an electrically driven blade rotatably supported centrally in the body on a level between the cover member and the air inlet ports and adapted to induce air to enter the inlet ports and discharge from the perforated ends of the tubes, an electric heating element supported in the body in encircling relationship to the axis of the rotation of the blade and on a level between the blade and the air inlet ports, a container supported in the interior of the body adapted to hold a vaporizable liquid antiseptic and including means for discharging the fumes of the antiseptic held therein into the air stream in the body created by the blade.

11. A conditioning device comprising, in combination, a hollow substantially closed body having a plurality of air inlet ports below the upper end thereof, a motor driven rotatable blade mounted in the body for inducing air to enter the inlet ports, an electrical heating element in the body for heating the air thus induced, a container supported in the interior of the body adapted to hold a vaporizable liquid antiseptic including means for discharging the fumes of the antiseptic into the air induced to enter the body, and one or more tubular projections rising from the upper end of the body and having their lower ends opening into communication with the interior thereof, said one or more tubular projections being bent laterally adjacent to their upper ends and provided with one or more air outlet ports through which air antiseptically treated in the body may escape.

EDWARD S. FRANKLIN. CARL SATTLER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,455,034 Small May 15, 1923 1,945,379 Roesch Jan. 30, 1934 2,335,056 Grison Nov. 23, 1943 2,354,817 Law Aug. 1, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 501,154 Great Britain Feb. 22, 1939

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