Assembly Wash Station

Abstract

An assembly wash station with which a plurality of users can easily and quickly wash their hands at the same time. The assembly wash station has a structural frame and a wash basin supported by the frame at a desired height relative to the ground. A water supply system is positioned above the basin so that water ejected from the water supply system is usable to wash the hands of the users as the water falls towards the wash basin. The wash basin is an elongate basin so that a plurality of users can use the assembly wash station simultaneously. Casters coupled to the frame allow the assembly wash station to be rolled to a desired location.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An assembly wash station with which a plurality of users can easily and quickly wash the hands of the users, the assembly wash station comprising:
 a structural frame;   a wash basin supported by the frame at a desired height relative to a surface upon which the wash station is positioned, wherein the wash basin comprises a lip, a first side and a second side;   a water supply system configured to provide water to the assembly wash station, wherein at least a portion of the water supply system is positioned above the basin such that water ejected from the water supply system is usable to wash the hands of the users as the water falls towards the wash basin; and   a soap dispenser securedly attached to the frame at a position adjacent to the basin, wherein the soap dispenser is configured to selectively supply soap to the plurality of users.   
     
     
         2 . The assembly wash station of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of casters securedly coupled to a lower portion of the frame such that the casters are positioned between the frame and the surface upon which the wash station is positioned, wherein the casters are configured to allow the assembly wash station to roll upon the surface. 
     
     
         3 . The assembly wash station of  claim 2 , wherein the soap dispenser is positioned at a height above the lip of the wash basin, and wherein the soap dispenser is positioned adjacent the first side of the wash basin. 
     
     
         4 . The assembly wash station of  claim 3 , further comprising a drying device attached to the frame at a position adjacent to the second side of the wash basin, wherein the drying device is positioned at a height above the lip of the wash basin, and wherein the drying device is configured to help the users dry their hands. 
     
     
         5 . The assembly wash station of  claim 4 , wherein the drying device is a paper towel dispenser. 
     
     
         6 . The assembly wash station of  claim 4 , wherein the drying device is a forced-air hand dryer. 
     
     
         7 . The assembly wash station of  claim 4 , wherein the wash basin has a basin width such that at least three users can wash their hands over the basin simultaneously. 
     
     
         8 . The assembly wash station of  claim 7 , wherein at least one drain hole is defined in a lower surface of the wash basin so that any water collected in the basin is directed through a drain pipe to a suitable disposal site. 
     
     
         9 . The assembly wash station of  claim 8 , wherein the water supply system comprises at least one supply pipe configured to provide water from a source of water to the assembly wash station, wherein the water supply system further comprises an elongate header in fluid communication with the at least one supply pipe, and wherein the header is positioned above the wash basin so that water exiting the header drops into the wash basin. 
     
     
         10 . The assembly wash station of  claim 9 , wherein a plurality of holes are defined in a lower portion of the elongate header so that water in the header is ejected through the holes towards the wash basin. 
     
     
         11 . The assembly wash station of  claim 10 , wherein the plurality of holes are substantially evenly spaced along a length of elongate header. 
     
     
         12 . The assembly wash station of  claim 10 , wherein at least a portion of the plurality of holes are unevenly spaced along the elongate header length such that a first cluster of holes are evenly spaced from each other, and a second cluster of holes are evenly spaced from each other, while adjacent holes from the first cluster and the second cluster are unevenly spaced from each other. 
     
     
         13 . The assembly wash station of  claim 12 , wherein the first cluster of holes define a first washing location along the elongate header and the second cluster of holes define a second washing location along the header that is spaced from the first cluster. 
     
     
         14 . The assembly wash station of  claim 10 , wherein the water supply system further comprises a valve positioned between the source of water and the elongate header, the valve configured to selectively stop the flow of water from the elongate header. 
     
     
         15 . A method of easily and quickly washing the hands of a plurality of users at the same time, the method comprising:
 providing an assembly wash station comprising:
 a structural frame; 
 a wash basin supported by the frame at a desired height relative to a surface upon which the wash station is positioned, wherein the wash basin comprises a lip, a first side and a second side; 
 a water supply system configured to provide water to the assembly wash station, wherein at least a portion of the water supply system is positioned above the basin such that water ejected from the water supply system is usable to wash the hands of the users as the water falls towards the wash basin; and 
 a soap dispenser securedly attached to the frame at a position adjacent to the basin, wherein the soap dispenser is configured to selectively supply soap to the plurality of users; 
   positioning the assembly wash station at a desired location; and   coupling the water supply system to a source of water such that water flows through the water supply system towards the wash basin.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the assembly wash station further comprises a plurality of casters securedly coupled to a lower portion of the frame such that the casters are positioned between the frame and the surface upon which the wash station is positioned, and wherein the casters are configured to allow the assembly wash station to roll upon the surface to the desired location. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the soap dispenser is positioned adjacent the first side of the basin, and wherein the assembly wash station further comprises a drying device attached to the frame at a position adjacent to the second side of the basin, and wherein the drying device is configured to help the users dry their hands.