US3579656A - Portable hair wash sink - Google Patents

Abstract

A PORTABLE HAIR WASH SINK IN THE FORM OF A COMPACT BODY UNIT INCLUDING A BASIN, SELF-CONTAINED MEANS FOR SUPPLYING WATER UNDER PRESSURE, AND SPRAY MEANS FOR APPLYING WATER TO THE HEAD OF THE USER. THE SINK ALSO INCLUDES SHOULDER BOARDS AND A MATING NECK REST FORMING A YOKE AROUND THE NECK OF THE USER. THE BOARDS AND NECK REST ARE DISHED TO INSURE DRAINAGE INTO THE SINK BASIN.

Description

United States Patent Oflice 3,579,656 Patented May 25, 1971 3,579,656 PORTABLE HAIR WASH SINK Joseph S. Guarrasi, 39 Buckingham Road, Brooklyn, N.Y. 11226 Filed Feb. 20, 1969, Ser. No. 800,926 Int. Cl. A45d 19/00 US. Cl. 4-159 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A portable hair wash sink in the form of a compact body unit including a basin, self-contained means for supplying water under pressure, and spray means for applying water to the head of the user. The sink also includes shoulder boards and a mating neck rest forming a yoke around the neck of the user. The boards and neck rest are dished to insure drainage into the sink basin.

This invention relates to an improved portable hair wash sink especially adapted to be used for invalids, and more particularly, to a hair Wash sink structured to insure that drainage from the head and hair of the user will be returned to the sink basin.

The portable sink is made in the form of a small and compact unitary structure which includes a basin, selfcontained means for supplying water under pressure, and an enclosed reservoir for draining water from the basin. The structure is so arranged that the hair can be washed thoroughly without spilling any of the water outside the basin. While the sink unit may have general application for home or salon use, and may also be made in the form of a toy accessory to be used by children in washing the hair of dolls, it is particularly suitable for use in washing the hair of invalids or bed-ridden persons. Because of its small, compact size, the sink unit may be placed on the head of a bed and conveniently employed to wash the hair of a person lying in the bed.

The problem of hygienic care of invalids is complicated due to their lack of mobility, which often may be total. While it is often possible to utilize a sponge or a damp cloth with the body, washing of the hair requires a significant volume of water.

It is known to provide hair wash sinks, which may be portable in nature, and which contain their own water supply as well as a reservoir for receiving waste water. Furthermore, it is known to provide means for supplying the water under pressure. Such known sinks, however, are relatively complicated structures, and are often large and bulky, requiring that they be mounted on wheels and rolled to the bedside for use when required.

Due to the anatomy of the human body, and the varying degrees of immobility of an invalid, the prior art structures require that the patient be moved so that his head could be placed over the basin. oftentimes, it is difficult to move the patient without discomfort both to the patient and the atendants. Furthermore, such arrangements make it difficult to prevent a certain amount of spillage on the bed or the body of the patient.

Accordingly, it is among the principal objects of the present invention to provide a portable hair wash which will allow drainage from the head of the user into the sink basin without spillage on the user or the surrounding environment.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a hair wash sink of the character described which will eliminate all unnecessary movement of the patient, both of the whole body or a portion thereof.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved hair wash sink which is comfortable and yet will firmly support the user for the desired purpose.

Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a portable hair wash dryer of the character described which will fit comfortably around the neck of the user forming a yoke-shaped structure which is dished so as to support the neck and the head of the patient, and yet allow proper drainage into the sink basin.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a portable hair wash sink of the character described, which is inexpensive and simple to manufacture, and yet is durable in use to a high degree.

In accordance with the invention, there is provided a portable hair wash sink which includes a water supply chamber having pressurizing means associated therewith, as well as a spray hose. Furthermore, the sink includes a basin to receive drainage, and a Waste reservoir directly therebeneath, in which the drainage can be stored.

Extending outwardly and upwardly from the front wall of the sink basin are a pair of shoulder boards which are designed to fit comfortably around the head and neck of the user. A neck rest portion may be detachably secured to the shoulder boards, and when it is so secured, the shoulder boards, neck rest, and front wall of the sink basin form a yoke-like structure surrounding and supporting the neck and head of the user. The boards and neck rest are dish-shaped so that as drainage comes from the hair and head of the user it is caught within the dished boards and neck rest. Since the boards and neck rest extend angularly upward from the sink basin, the drainage is returned directly to the sink basin.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent during the course of the following specification when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a portable hair wash sink made in accordance with the invention and shown in position on a bed and receiving the head of an invalid for the hair-washing operation, the neck rest being also placed in position, and water from the spray hose being applied to the head of the patient;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, cross-section taken along line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a section taken along line 33 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a partial section taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view showing the hair wash sink of FIGS. 1-4 mounted on a portable stand and being utilized to wash the hair of an invalid seated in a wheel chair.

Referring in detail to the drawings, and in particular to FIG. 2, there is shown a hair wash sink assembly 10 made in accordance with the present invention. The sink assembly 10 generally comprises a water supply chamber 12, pressurizing means 13, a spray hose 14, a sink basin 16, and a waste reservoir 18. In accordance with the invention, there is also provided shoulder boards 20- and a neck yoke 22, which support the head of the user and also prevent spillage of water, as hereinafter described.

More specifically, the sink assembly 10 is made in the form of a relatively shallow, elongated rectangular box defined by a fiat bottom wall 24, side walls 26, 28, and end walls 30 and 31.

Intermediate the end walls 30 and 31 is an angularlydisposed partition wall 32, which extends downwardly and forwardly from the top of the box to the bottom wall 24 thereof. This partition wall 3-2 separates the water supply chamber 12 from the basin 16 and water reservoir 18, and serves as the front end wall of said water supply chamber 12. Enclosure of the water supply chamber 12 is completed by a cover plate 34 which overlies the top edges of side walls 26, 28 as well as end wall 30 and partition wall 32, and is secured thereto by suitable means such as screws 35, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, to form an airtight chamber.

The cover plate 34 is formed with a through bore 36 through which passes the reduced neck portion 37 of a hand pump 38. In this manner, the hand pump 38 is secured to the cover plate 34 with its cylinder portion located within the water supply chamber 12, and its handle portion 39 projecting exteriorly above the cover plate 12. The plate 34 is also formed with a bore 40 in which is disposed a bushing 42. The nose 14 passes through the bushing 42 and terminates in a spray head 44, the bushing providing an airtight passage for the hose through the cover plate 34. A third bore 46 is located in the cover plate, as shown in FIG. 4. This bore 46 is threaded and is sized to receive a pressure cap 48 which may be removed to release the pressure within chamber 12 and also to permit the water supply chamber to be filled in accordance with the particular desired needs. The cap 48 may then be again screwed in place to insure an airtight environment within the chamber 12.

The sink basin 16 is defined by a curved bottom wall 50 mounted between the forward portions of the side walls 26 and 28, and extending between end wall 31 and partition wall 32. Because of its curvature, the lowest portion of bottom wall 50 is at the center of the basin, and a drainage port 52 with a mating drainage plug 53 is located at this central point of wall 50.

The waste reservoir 18 is located directly beneath basin 16 and is formed by the walls 31, 32, the forward lower portions of the side walls 26 and 28, and the forward portion of bottom wall 24. A disposal plug 56 is located within a bore 57 at the lower end of side wall 26 (FIG. 3), and when said plug 56 is removed, the waste liquid in the reservoir 18 may drain out through the bore 57.

At its upper end, the front wall 31 is made of greater thickness, as indicated at 58 in FIG. 2, and at its center has a forward wall surface 60 shaped to conform to the neck of the user to provide a comfortable neck rest therefor. Formed integrally with the sides of this thickened front wall portion 58, as continuations thereof, are the pair of shoulder boards 20. The boards are spaced apart a sufficient distance to accommodate the neck of an average user and to fit snugly around the neck, overlying the shoulders, while the neck rests upon the central wall surface 60.

The upper surfaces of each of the shoulder boards 20 are dish-shaped to provide for drainage of water from the head and hair into the basin 16. Each of these upper surfaces, as shown in FIG. 3, constitutes sloping marginal edge portions 62 communicating with a central concave trough or channel 64. Each of the troughs or channels 64 communicates directly with the basin 16, and the shoulder boards 20 are upwardly and forwardly inclined, so that water dripping from the head and hair of the user, and falling upon the shoulder boards 20, will flow into said basin 16 without spilling outside the sink unit.

The neck yoke 22 is of the arcuate shape shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, and has a bottom wall 66 bordered by upstanding marginal flanges 67 and 68. At its ends, the yoke 22 is provided with means for mounting the yoke on the ends of the shoulder boards 20, such means being, for example, in the form of clip members 69 molded integrally at the ends of neck yoke 22. The clip members 69 are sized to receive and frictionally grip the ends of the shoulder boards 20 for detachable and adjustable mounting of the neck yoke as an extension of the shoulder boards. When the neck yoke is in mounted position, it extends around the front of the users head, forming a snug, but comfortable yoke-like structure which catches any liquid dripping from the chin or forward portion of the head, and directing this waste liquid to the shoulder boards and thence downwardly into the sink basin.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, all that is necessary utilizing the invention in a bed 70, is merely to move the invalid 72 slightly forward and to place the bed pillows 74 underneath his back, placing the neck between the shoulder boards 20 with the back of the neck resting on the neck support surface 60. In this position, the back of the head overlies the basin 16. Then the neck yoke 22 is secured into position around the forward portion of the neck of the user.

The hand pump 38 may then be actuated by pumping the handle 39 in the vertical direction indicated by arrow 76 in FIG. 2 to build up the pressure within the water supply chamber 12. The spray nozzle 44 is then directed to the hair 78 of the patient 72 and the water released therethrough by depression of the usual valve lever 80 so that the Washing process may be completed as desired. The pump handle 39 may be actuated whenever required to maintain the pressure in chamber 12. Instead of a hand pump, a motor driven pump may be employed.

After the washing operation is completed, the plug 53 may be removed from the basin, allowing the waste water therein to drain into the reservoir 18. Since the reservoir 18 is enclosed, the sink unit may be lifted and removed from the bed without spilling any water from the basin.

FIG. 5 shows the manner in which the sink assembly 10 may be used to wash the hair of a person in an upright sitting attitude. In this view, the patient 82 is shown sitting in a wheel chair 84, and the sink assembly 10 is mounted on a portable support stand 86. In this position, even though the head of the patient may be upright, all of the liquid dripping therefrom is received on the neck yoke 22 and shoulder boards 20 and directed into the basin 16, without spilling on the patients body.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown and described herein, it is obvious that numerous omissions, changes and additions may be made in such embodiment without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A portable hair wash sink assembly comprising a compact hollow enclosed container divided into a water supply chamber, a basin formed in the upper surface of said container at one end thereof, and an enclosed waste reservoir located beneath said basin and communicating therewith, the bottom wall of said basin constituting the top Wall of said waste reservoir, spray means connected to said water supply chamber, means for supplying water under pressure from said water supply chamber to said spray means, a pair of shoulder boards extending outwardly from the end of said container adjacent said basin, said shoulder boards being spaced apart a sufficient distance to accommodate therebetween the neck of the user and to overlie the shoulders of said user, and being upwardly inclined and provided with a concave upper surface to receive waste water sprayed on the head of the user and direct said waste water into said basin, and a neck yoke at the free ends of said shoulder boards serving as a continuation of the latter for enclosing the neck of the user.

2. A sink assembly according to claim 1 in which said neck yoke has means for removably securing the same to the free ends of said shoulder boards, said neck yoke having an arcuate configuration and being sized to extend around the front of the neck of the user as a continuation of said shoulder boards, whereby to receive drainage from the head of the user and direct said drainage onto said shoulder boards and thence to said basin.

3. A sink assembly according to claim 2 in which the said neck yoke is channel shaped to insure the retention of all the drainage.

4. A sink assembly according to claim 1 in which said enclosed container comprises a fiat rectangular box having bottom wall, side walls, front and rear end walls, and an angularly-disposed internal partition wall, said partition wall, rear end wall, and the rear portions of said side walls forming the enclosed water supply chamber.

5. A sink assembly according to claim 4 in which said basin is formed by an arcuate wall extending from the top of said front end Wall to the top of said partition wall, and extending laterally between said side walls, said arcuate Wall also defining the top wall of said waste reservoir.

6. A sink assembly according to claim 1 in which the means for supplying water under pressure comprises a hand pump mounted in said water supply chamber.

7. A sink assembly according to claim 1 in which the spray means includes a spray hose extending inwardly of said water supply chamber and having a spray nozzle at the terminal end thereof.

6 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 10/1950 Kenna 4l59X 12/1961 Cofiman et al. 4l59 12/1962 Perekrestenko 4l59 7/1965 Cofirnan et a1. 4l59 6/1969 Watson 4-159 7/1969 COkie et a1. 4-166 FOREIGN PATENTS 10/1962 France 4l59 LAVERNE D. GEIGER, Primary Examiner 15 H. K. ARTIS, Assistant Examiner