Patent Application
20060101597
The present invention relates to methods and systems for cleaning fingernails, especially methods and systems which automate the process of cleaning fingernails and improve the hygienic effect of performing fingernail cleaning.
Many industries employ manual labor that result in unsanitary conditions under the fingernails of the laborers. For example, catering, food production, agriculture, chemical, pharmaceutical, automotive, building, manufacturing, medical, etc.
In the meat processing industry, meat packers and handlers often get bits of animal carcass stuck under the ends of their fingernails. Those bits of material can be transferred to other locations in the meat processing plant or even to articles and food that may later be handled or consumed. Even when gloves are used to prevent such transfers of material, tears, holes and other unintended actions can result in unsanitary transfers. In another example, mechanics and machine operators often do not wear gloves to prevent contamination under the fingernails, yet they pick up machine oils, chemicals and other unsanitary fluids and dirt that must later be removed in order to prevent transfers to foods and other articles that they may handle.
Cleaning of one's fingernails is a cumbersome ritual, yet necessary under certain circumstances. Nail cleaning must be done before and after performing medical procedures, working with food, meats, live animals, paints, dyes, chemicals and other hazardous materials. Most do not enjoy cleaning fingernails, even after tasks where such cleaning is mandatory for hygiene purposes. Manual systems of fingernail cleaning, such as conventional scrub brushes, do not encourage hygienic behavior because manual systems do not make the process easy or pleasant. Moreover, manual systems produce highly variable results because they depend on such variables as the force applied by the user, whether or not and the amount of antibacterial soap used and the duration of the scrubbing process.
The risk inherent in conventional systems and methods is highly variable, but includes risk of cross infections and poisoning from nail to mouth or eyes and a risk of person-to-person transmission. Sources of illness or poisoning may include salmonella, toxic substances, worms, other bacteria and viruses.
According to aspects of embodiments of the invention, improved methods and systems for cleaning fingernails are provided. Methods and systems that improve the quality of the cleaning process as well as the inclination to perform the cleaning process are provided.
According to some aspects of embodiments of the invention, a personal hygiene device, comprises: a body; a motor within the body; a fluid supply within the body; a moving brush head extending from the body and driven by the motor at a sonic frequency; and a fluid dispenser within the body that directs a fluid from the fluid supply onto the brush head. The device may further include a brush replacement indicator. The indicator may be triggered by a number of cleaning operations performed, by a sensor or by depletion of the fluid supply, for example. The device may further comprise a battery operatively connected to power the motor. In that case, the device may further comprise a battery recharging circuit. The brush head may further comprise at least one rotating section. Alternatively, the brush head may further comprise at least one reciprocating section. The device may yet further comprise a switch actuated by a user contacting the brush head that operatively connects power to the motor.
The accompanying drawings, are not intended to be drawn to scale. In the drawings, each identical or nearly identical component that is illustrated in various figures is represented by a like numeral. For purposes of clarity, not every component may be labeled in every drawing. In the drawings:
This invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including,” “comprising,” or “having,” “containing”, “involving”, and variations thereof herein, is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items.
An exemplary embodiment illustrating various aspects of the invention is now described with reference to
A portion of the outer surface of the apparatus is covered with brush bristles 101. The brush bristles 101 may be affixed by any suitable means or method to one or more brush backings 102. The brush backings 102 are removeably attached to an interior mechanism of the apparatus. The interior mechanism of the apparatus includes several subsystems.
The interior mechanism of the apparatus includes a power subsystem, a brush mounting and vibrating subsystem, and a soap distribution subsystem.
The brush mounting and vibrating subsystem, shown in
The power subsystem preferably comprises a battery, battery charging circuit and power distribution circuits. The battery charging circuit need not be included within the apparatus but may be optionally provided within the apparatus if desired. Using battery power increases the safety of the system, when used in high-moisture environments, as would be expected for a fingernail cleaning system. Replaceable batteries can be used instead of rechargeable batteries, thus eliminating the need for battery charging circuitry. A connection to conventional electrical mains, e.g. 120V, 60 Hz power in the U.S. or 220V, 50 Hz power where that is standard, can be made using any suitable means or method, including a detachable external transformer or other device. By using a detachable external transformer, the connection to the mains need not be left in place while the apparatus is mounted for use near a wash basin.
Alternatively, a direct connection to the mains, without using a battery, can be made. In such embodiments, it is desirable to use a step-down transformer to reduce the mains voltage to a safer operating level.
In addition, there is a soap distribution subsystem including a receptacle 303 for a soap sachet 304, a network of tubing 305 connecting the soap sachet 304 to injection ports 306 below the brush bases and a manual or electrically driven soap pump 307. The soap sachet 304 may include a reinforced wall 308 having a weak spot 309 that may be punctured by an end 310 of the network of tubing so as to provide access to a fresh sealed soap sachet. The soap should be preferably an anti-bacterial soap or anti-bacterial lotion.
Beneath the brush supports 102, the mechanism includes a switch (not shown) so that when a user presses their fingernails onto the brush bristles 101, the motor 301 is energized to move the bristles 101 as described above. The switch can also energize a soap dispenser motor if one is provided.
Electronic circuits or mechanical devices can be employed to indicate when brush replacement or fluid supply replacement is required. For example, electronic circuits could count the number of cleaning operations performed, i.e. the number of closures of the switch mentioned above, a wear indicator could detect wear of the brush bristles or a fluid supply sensor could detect depletion of the soap from the soap sachet. Any suitable type of sensor can be used. Any of the foregoing sensors or devices could be used to then trigger an indicator, for example an indicator light, signaling that brushes and/or soap need to be replaced.
The movements of the brush heads can be either rotary A or linear B. Either motion can be reciprocal. The brush heads can include sections having each type of movement. The movements can be produced by any suitable linkage 302 to a motor 301 or other vibration inducing device.
Having thus described several aspects of at least one embodiment of this invention, it is to be appreciated various alterations, modifications, and improvements will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Such alterations, modifications, and improvements are intended to be part of this disclosure, and are intended to be within the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the foregoing description and drawings are by way of example only.
