Self-cleaning hand washer

Abstract

A hand washing apparatus has a hand washing bowl ( 30 ) mounted when in use at a suitable height for washing the hands. The bowl ( 30 ) and its cover are reconfigurable between a hand washing position and an inactive position. The hand washing apparatus includes controls for reconfiguring the bowl and its cover between a hand washing position and an inactive position, a dispenser ( 34 ) for dispensing water over the hands in the bowl and a dispenser ( 34 ) for dispensing soap over the hands in the bowl. Also disclosed is a method of cleaning the hands using such apparatus.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A hand washing apparatus comprising: 
 (a) a hand washing bowl and a cover, the bowl and cover being reconfigurable between a hand washing position and an inactive position in which the bowl is closed by the cover;    (b) a controller for reconfiguring the bowl between the hand washing position and the inactive position; and,    (c) a dispenser for dispensing water, a cleaner and rinse water over hands in the bowl.    
     
     
         2 . The hand washing apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the bowl is mounted at a suitable height for washing hands and is mounted for rotation about a generally horizontal axis between the hand washing position and the inactive position.  
     
     
         3 . The hand washing apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the bowl is of a generally hemispherical shape and when the bowl is in the hand washing position, the bowl is open upwardly for access by a user and when in the inactive position, the interior of the bowl is inaccessible by a user.  
     
     
         4 . The hand washing apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  including an air dryer for generating a stream of hot air flowing over the hands of a user, the air dryer being operable by the user without touching the apparatus.  
     
     
         5 . The hand washing apparatus as claimed in  claim 4  wherein the air dryer is automatically operable after completion of a washing cycle.  
     
     
         6 . The hand washing apparatus as claimed in  claim 4  wherein the hot air is disinfected prior to flowing over the hands of a user.  
     
     
         7 . The hand washing apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  including a discharger for discharging a disinfectant into the bowl when the bowl is in its inactive position, for flowing around the interior of the bowl and rendering the same clean.  
     
     
         8 . The hand washing apparatus as claimed in  claim 7  wherein an air stream is provided to dry the bowl after the bowl has been cleaned.  
     
     
         9 . The hand washing apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  further comprising a collection sink positioned to receive the liquid contents of the bowl when the bowl is in the inactive position.  
     
     
         10 . The hand washing apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  further comprising a sensor for recognizing a particular user prior to the activation of a washing cycle.  
     
     
         11 . The hand washing apparatus as claimed in  claim 11  wherein the apparatus has a controller that is preprogrammed with at least two different washing cycles, the user selects the desired washing cycle, and the apparatus includes a recording media to record the cycle that was selected by the particular user.  
     
     
         12 . The hand washing apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the apparatus has a controller that is preprogrammed with at least two different washing cycles and the user selects the desired washing cycle.  
     
     
         13 . A hand washing apparatus comprising: 
 (a) a hand washing bowl mounted at a suitable height for washing hands;    (b) a controller for opening the bowl into a hand washing position and closing the bowl into an inactive position;    (c) a warm water dispenser for dispensing warm water over hands in the bowl;    (d) a soap dispenser for dispensing soap over hands in the bowl; and,    (e) a rinse water dispenser for dispensing rinse water over hands in the bowl.    
     
     
         14 . The hand washing apparatus as claimed in  claim 13  wherein the bowl is mounted at a suitable height for washing hands and is mounted for rotation about a generally horizontal axis between the hand washing position and the inactive position.  
     
     
         15 . The hand washing apparatus as claimed in  claim 14  including an air dryer for generating a stream of hot air flowing over the hands of a user, the air dryer being operable by the user without touching the apparatus.  
     
     
         16 . The hand washing apparatus as claimed in  claim 14  including a discharger for discharging a disinfectant into the bowl when the bowl is in its inactive position, for flowing around the interior of the bowl and rendering the same clean.  
     
     
         17 . The hand washing apparatus as claimed in  claim 17  wherein an air stream is provided to dry the bowl after the bowl has been cleaned.  
     
     
         18 . The hand washing apparatus as claimed in  claim 14  further comprising a collection sink positioned to receive the liquid contents of the bowl when the bowl is in the inactive position.  
     
     
         19 . A hand washing apparatus comprising: 
 (a) a hand washing bowl and a cover, the bowl and cover being reconfigurable between a hand washing position and an inactive position in which the bowl is closed by the cover;    (b) a dispenser for dispensing water, a cleaner and rinse water over hands in the bowl; and,    (c) a controller actuated without use of the hands of the user for actuating the reconfiguration of the bowl and the cover between the hand washing position and the inactive position.    
     
     
         20 . The hand washing apparatus as claimed in  claim 19  wherein the bowl is mounted at a suitable height for washing hands and is mounted for rotation about a generally horizontal axis between the hand washing position and the inactive position.  
     
     
         21 . The hand washing apparatus as claimed in  claim 19  including an air dryer for generating a stream of hot air flowing over the hands of a user, the air dryer being operable by the user without touching the apparatus.  
     
     
         22 . The hand washing apparatus as claimed in  claim 19  including a discharger for discharging a disinfectant into the bowl when the bowl is in its inactive position, for flowing around the interior of the bowl and rendering the same clean.  
     
     
         23 . The hand washing apparatus as claimed in  claim 22  wherein an air stream is provided to dry the bowl after the bowl has been cleaned.  
     
     
         24 . The hand washing apparatus as claimed in  claim 19  further comprising a sensor for recognizing a particular user prior to the activation of a washing cycle, wherein the recognition of a particular user actuates the controller.  
     
     
         25 . The hand washing apparatus as claimed in  claim 19  further comprising a foot pedal to actuate the controller.  
     
     
         26 . A method for a person to wash their hands using a hand washing apparatus comprising a hand washing bowl and a cover which are reconfigurable between a hand washing position and an inactive position, a controller for reconfiguring the bowl between the hand washing position and the inactive position; and, a dispenser for dispensing water and a cleaner over the user's hands, the method comprising the steps of: 
 (a) actuating the controller to move the bowl and the cover to the hand washing position;    (b) dispensing water and soap over the user's hands; and,    (c) dispensing water to rinse the user's hands.    
     
     
         27 . The method as claimed in  claim 26  including dispensing a stream of hot air over the hands of a user  
     
     
         28 . The method as claimed in  claim 26  including dispensing a disinfectant into the bowl when the bowl is in its inactive position, for flowing around the interior of the bowl and rendering the same clean.  
     
     
         29 . The method as claimed in  claim 28  including dispensing an air stream to dry the bowl after the bowl has been cleaned.  
     
     
         30 . The method as claimed in  claim 26  wherein the apparatus also has a controller that is preprogrammed with at least two different washing cycles and the method includes selecting the desired washing cycle whereupon the various fluids are thereafter automatically dispensed.  
     
     
         31 . The method as claimed in  claim 26  wherein the apparatus also has a sensor for recognizing a particular user and the method further comprises the step of using a card to identify the user to the apparatus prior to the activation of a washing cycle.  
     
     
         32 . The method as claimed in  claim 31  wherein the user presents an identity card to the sensor to activate the apparatus.