Article Washing Device

Abstract

An article washing device for countertop cleaning of nursing bottles includes a plurality of walls, which are engaged to and positioned in a housing to define a refill reservoir for holding water, a wash compartment, a drain basin positioned under and in fluidic communication with the wash compartment, a heated compartment, and a chamber within the heated compartment. A tray is selectively insertable through a slot in the housing so that the tray is in fluidic communication with the chamber. The tray holds detergent selectively delivers an effective amount of the detergent to the chamber to generate a cleaning solution. A plurality of spray arms is positioned in the wash compartment. An article is positionable over a respective spray arm. A heater selectively heats the cleaning solution and a pump selectively pumps the cleaning solution and water through the respective spray arm to clean and to rinse the article, respectively.

1 . An article washing device comprising:
 a housing defining an interior space,   a plurality of walls engaged to the housing and positioned in the interior space defining a refill reservoir, a wash compartment, a drain basin positioned under and in fluidic communication with the wash compartment, a heated compartment, and a chamber within the heated compartment, wherein the refill reservoir is configured for holding water;   a tray selectively insertable through a slot in the housing, such that the tray is in fluidic communication with the chamber, wherein the tray is configured for positioning of detergent, the tray being configured for selectively delivering an effective amount of the detergent to the chamber for generating a cleaning solution;   a plurality of spray arms positioned in the wash compartment, wherein each spray arm is configured for inserting into a respective article;   a heater positioned in the heated compartment, wherein the heater is configured for selectively heating the cleaning solution; and   a pump positioned in the chamber and being in fluidic communication with the spray arms, wherein the pump is configured for selectively pumping the cleaning solution and water through the spray arm for cleaning and rinsing the respective article, respectively; and   a float valve positioned in the chamber and being operationally engaged to the motor, such that the float valve is positioned for actuating the motor prior to a level of fluid in the chamber falling below an inlet of the pump.   
     
     
         2 . The article washing device of  claim 1 , further including:
 a refill opening positioned in a top of the refill reservoir;   a passthrough opening positioned in a bottom of the refill reservoir;   a control valve engaged to the refill reservoir and positioned in the passthrough opening; and   a motor engaged to the control valve, such that the motor is enabled for selectively actuating the control valve for opening and closing the passthrough opening.   
     
     
         3 . The article washing device of  claim 1 , further including:
 a plurality of slits positioned in a lower end of the wash compartment, such that fluid flows from the wash compartment to the drain basin; and   a hose engaged to and extending from the housing, the hose being in fluidic communication with the drain basin, wherein the hose is configured for draining the fluid from the drain basin.   
     
     
         4 . The article washing device of  claim 1 , further including:
 an access opening positioned in an upper end of the wash compartment, wherein the access opening is configured for accessing the wash compartment;   a lid hingedly engaged to the wash compartment, such that the lid is positioned for selectively closing the access opening; and   a handle engaged to the lid, wherein the handle is configured for grasping in digits of a hand of a user for opening and closing the lid.   
     
     
         5 . The article washing device of  claim 1 , further including a pipe engaged to the tray and extending into the chamber, such that the tray is in fluidic communication with the chamber. 
     
     
         6 . The article washing device of  claim 1 , further including a grasp engaged to the tray, wherein grasp is configured for grasping in the digits of a hand of a user for sliding the tray within the slot. 
     
     
         7 . The article washing device of  claim 1 , further wherein each spray arm comprises:
 a first tube engaged to and extending from a lower end of the wash compartment;   a plurality of second tubes, each second tube being engaged to and extending transversely from the first tube; and   a plurality of spray holes, one spray hole being positioned in the first tube at a terminus of the first tube distal from the lower end of the wash compartment, each second tube having a spray hole positioned in an endpoint of the second tube distal from the first tube.   
     
     
         8 . The article washing device of  claim 1 , wherein the heater comprises a heating element. 
     
     
         9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . The article washing device of  claim 1 , further including:
 a power cord engaged to and extending from the housing, the power cord being operationally engaged to the heater, the pump, and the motor; and   a controller engaged to the housing and being operationally engaged to the heater, the pump, the motor, and the power cord, wherein the controller is configured for inputting of commands for selectively controlling the heater, the pump, and the motor.   
     
     
         11 . The article washing device of  claim 10 , wherein the controller comprises a touch screen. 
     
     
         12 . The article washing device of  claim 1 , further including a plurality of feet engaged to a lower surface of the housing, Wherein the feet are configured for stabilizing the housing on a surface. 
     
     
         13 . An article washing system comprising:
 a housing defining an interior space,   a plurality of walls engaged to the housing and positioned in the interior space defining a refill reservoir, a wash compartment, a drain basin positioned under and in fluidic communication with the wash compartment, a heated compartment, and a chamber within the heated compartment;   water positioned in the refill reservoir;   a tray selectively insertable through a slot in the housing, such that the tray is in fluidic communication with the chamber;   detergent positioned in the tray, such that the tray is positioned for selectively delivering an effective amount of the detergent to the chamber for generating a cleaning solution;   a plurality of spray arms positioned in the wash compartment;   an article positioned over a respective spray arm;   a heater positioned in the heated compartment, wherein the heater is configured for selectively heating the cleaning solution;   a pump positioned in the chamber and being in fluidic communication with the spray arms, such that the pump is enabled for selectively pumping the cleaning solution and water through the respective spray arm for cleaning and rinsing the article, respectively;   a passthrough opening positioned in a bottom of the refill reservoir;   a control valve engaged to the refill reservoir and positioned in the passthrough opening;   a motor engaged to the control valve, such that the motor is enabled for selectively actuating the control valve for opening- and closing the passthrough opening; and   a float valve positioned in the chamber and being operationally engaged to the motor, such that the float valve is positioned for actuating the motor prior to a level of fluid in the chamber falling below an inlet of the pump.   
     
     
         14 . An article washing device comprising:
 a housing defining an interior space,   a plurality of walls engaged to the housing and positioned in the interior space defining a refill reservoir, a wash compartment, a drain basin positioned under and in fluidic communication with the wash compartment, a heated compartment, and a chamber within the heated compartment, wherein the refill reservoir is configured for holding water;   a refill opening positioned in a top of the refill reservoir;   a passthrough opening positioned in a bottom of the refill reservoir;   a control valve engaged to the refill reservoir and positioned in the passthrough opening;   a motor engaged to the control valve, such that the motor is enabled for selectively actuating the control valve for opening and closing the passthrough opening;   a plurality of slits positioned in a lower end of the wash compartment, such that fluid flows from the wash compartment to the drain basin;   a hose engaged to and extending from the housing, the hose being in fluidic communication with the drain basin, wherein the hose is configured for draining the fluid from the drain basin;   an access opening positioned in an upper end of the wash compartment, wherein the access opening is configured for accessing the wash compartment;   a lid hingedly engaged to the wash compartment, such that the lid is positioned for selectively closing the access opening;   a handle engaged to the lid, wherein the handle is configured for grasping in digits of a hand of a user for opening and closing the lid;   a tray selectively insertable through a slot in the housing, such that the tray is in fluidic communication with the chamber, wherein the tray is configured for positioning of detergent, the tray being configured for selectively delivering an effective amount of the detergent to the chamber for generating a cleaning solution;   a pipe engaged to the tray and extending into the chamber, such that the tray is in fluidic communication with the chamber;   a grasp engaged to the tray, wherein grasp is configured for grasping in the digits of the hand of the user for sliding the tray within the slot;   a plurality of spray arms positioned in the wash compartment, Wherein each spray arm is configured for inserting into a respective article, each spray arm comprising:
 a first tube engaged to and extending from the lower end of the wash compartment, 
 a plurality of second tubes, each second tube being engaged to and extending transversely from the first tube, and 
 a plurality of spray holes, one spray hole being positioned in the first tube at a terminus of the first tube distal from the lower end of the wash compartment, each second tube having a spray hole positioned in an endpoint of the second tube distal from the first tube; 
   a heater positioned in the heated compartment, wherein the heater is configured for selectively heating the cleaning solution, the heater comprising a heating element;   a pump positioned in the chamber and being in fluidic communication with the spray arms, wherein the pump is configured for selectively pumping the cleaning solution and water through the spray arm for cleaning and rinsing the respective article, respectively;   a float valve positioned in the chamber and being operationally engaged to the motor, such that the float valve is positioned for actuating the motor prior to a level of fluid in the chamber falling below an inlet of the pump;   a power cord engaged to and extending from the housing, the power cord being operationally engaged to the heater, the pump, and the motor;   a controller engaged to the housing and being operationally engaged to the heater, the pump, the motor, and the power cord, wherein the controller is configured for inputting of commands for selectively controlling the heater, the pump, and the motor, the controller comprising a touch screen; and   a plurality of feet engaged to a lower surface of the housing, wherein the feet are configured for stabilizing the housing on a surface.