Automated appendage cleaning apparatus with brush

Abstract

A system is provided for providing automated washing for debris removal from the skin of a user's hands. At least some embodiments of the present include a friction enhancing structure such as a brush. In at least one embodiment of the invention, the system includes an RFID capability for identifying when at least one component, such as a removable brush, is due to for replacement for sanitation reasons.

1 . An appendage cleaning system for removing at least one of a particulate, chemical, and biological substance from an appendage of a user, comprising:
 a cleaning station comprising an automatic washing mechanism for cleaning at least one appendage of a user;   a friction enhancing structure operatively interconnected to the cleaning station; and   a timing device associated with the cleaning station, wherein the timing device is settable and resettable to track at least one of:
 (a) a duration that the friction enhancing device is located within the cleaning station; and 
 (b) a duration between a disinfecting of the friction enhancing device. 
   
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the friction enhancing structure is selected from the group consisting of a brush, pad, sponge, and non-fluid tactilely perceptible material. 
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the automatic washing mechanism includes a recessed portion comprising an inner wall, and wherein the friction enhancing structure is located radially interior of the inner wall. 
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the friction enhancing structure is detachably connected to the inner wall. 
   
   
       5 . An appendage cleaning system for removing at least one of a particulate, chemical, and biological substance from an appendage of a user, comprising:
 a cleaning station having a body, the body including at least one recessed portion for receiving an appendage of the user, the recessed portion comprising an automatic washing mechanism for cleaning the appendage of the user;   a detachably attachable friction enhancing structure operatively interconnected to at least one of
 (a) an interior wall of the recessed portion, and 
 (b) a distal end of the recessed portion; 
   wherein the friction enhancing structure includes a nozzle for projecting a fluid through the friction enhancing structure; and   wherein the user can direct at least a portion of the appendage to contact the friction enhancing structure to augment removal of the at least one particulate, chemical, and biological substance.   
   
   
       6 . A method of cleaning an appendage of a user using a cleaning system, the cleaning system for removing at least one of a particulate, chemical, and biological substance from the appendage of the user, comprising:
 providing a cleaning station having a body, the body including at least one recessed portion for receiving the appendage of the user, the recessed portion comprising an automatic washing mechanism for cleaning the appendage of the user;   causing a detachably attachable friction enhancing structure to move, the friction enhancing structure operatively interconnected to at least one of:
 (a) an interior wall of the recessed portion, and 
 (b) a distal end of the recessed portion; and 
   performing at least one of:
 (a) projecting a fluid through the friction enhancing structure from a location within the friction enhancing structure; and 
 (b) using at least one sensor to monitor an identification of at least one of the user and the friction enhancing structure. 
   
   
   
       7 . The method as claimed in  claim 6 , further comprising monitoring a period of time associated with the friction enhancing structure. 
   
   
       8 . The method as claimed in  claim 6 , further comprising monitoring a period of time the user has positioned the appendage within the recessed portion of the cleaning station. 
   
   
       9 . The method as claimed in  claim 6 , further comprising monitoring a presence of the user at the cleaning station. 
   
   
       10 . A cleaning system, comprising:
 a sensor operable to sense placement of an appendage of a user in spatial proximity to a friction enhancing structure of a cleaning system, the friction enhancing structure comprising an electronic identifying device, wherein the electronic identifying device provides a designation data of the friction enhancing structure, and wherein the electronic identifying device is in communication with an automated reader, wherein the automated reader is configured to perform at least one of interrogating, scanning, and receiving a signal from the electronic identifying device for obtaining the designation data;   a processor operable to record, by the cleaning system, a length of time that the appendage was positioned in spatial proximity to the friction enhancing structure and to determine, by the cleaning system, that the friction enhancing structure requires replacement and/or disinfecting in response to passage of a selected time duration of use.   
   
   
       11 . The cleaning system of  claim 10 , wherein the sensor comprises an optical signal, wherein the optical signal is broken when the user positions the appendage within a washing mechanism of the cleaning system, and wherein the optical signal is restored when the user removes the appendage from the washing mechanism of the cleaning system. 
   
   
       12 . The cleaning system of  claim 11 , wherein the length of time that the appendage was positioned in spatial proximity to the friction enhancing structure is calculated by the length of time that the optical signal was broken. 
   
   
       13 . The cleaning system of  claim 10 , wherein the selected duration of use is a function of the length of time that the user's appendage was positioned in spatial proximity to the friction enhancing structure. 
   
   
       14 . The cleaning system of  claim 10 , wherein, when the processor determines that the friction enhancing structure requires replacement and/or disinfecting, the cleaning system deactivates until the friction enhancing structure has been replaced and/or disinfected. 
   
   
       15 . A method of cleaning, comprising:
 (a) sensing, by a sensor, placement of an appendage of a user in spatial proximity to a friction enhancing structure of a cleaning system, the friction enhancing structure comprising an electronic identifying device, wherein the electronic identifying device provides a designation data of the friction enhancing structure, and wherein the electronic identifying device is in communication with an automated reader, wherein the automated reader is configured to perform at least one of interrogating, scanning, and receiving a signal from the electronic identifying device for obtaining the designation data;   (b) recording, by the cleaning system, a length of time that the appendage was positioned in spatial proximity to the friction enhancing structure; and   (c) determining, by the cleaning system, that the friction enhancing structure requires replacement and/or disinfecting in response to passage of a selected time duration of use.   
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the selected duration of use is a function of the length of time that the user's appendage was positioned in spatial proximity to the friction enhancing structure. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the sensor comprises an optical signal, wherein the optical signal is broken when the user positions the appendage within a washing mechanism of the cleaning system, and wherein the optical signal is restored when the user removes the appendage from the washing mechanism of the cleaning system. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the length of time that the appendage was positioned in spatial proximity to the friction enhancing structure is calculated by the length of time that the optical signal was broken. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the selected duration of use is a function of the length of time that the user's appendage was positioned in spatial proximity to the friction enhancing structure. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein, when the cleaning system determines that the friction enhancing structure requires replacement and/or disinfecting, the cleaning system deactivates until the friction enhancing structure has been replaced and/or disinfected.