US3761989A

US3761989A - Hand and arm washer

Info

Publication number: US3761989A
Application number: US00218865A
Authority: US
Inventors: R Gore
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1972-01-19
Filing date: 1972-01-19
Publication date: 1973-10-02
Anticipated expiration: 1990-10-02

Abstract

A fixture for assisting a disabled or one-armed person to wash his hand or arm in an easy and convenient manner; the device consisting of an upstanding post attachable by a vacuum cup in a wash bowl basin, the upper end of the post supporting a plastic form over which a bag of terry wash cloth or towel is fitted, the form having an opening vertically therethrough, the opening lower end being connected to a hose connected to the wash bowl faucet, so that water can flow outward of the terry cloth bag so the person can rub his arm or hand thereagainst during the washing operation.

Description

nited tates Patent [19] Gore ' l l HAND AND ARM WASHER Ralph E. Gore, 673 Armstrong Ave, Mansfield, Ohio 44906 [76] Inventor:

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 843,260 2/1907 Cloud 4/158 2,561,240 7/1951 Spearman 15/164 1,372,412 3/1921 Finkhousen 15/160 UX 1,994,413 3/1935 Webster r 4/184 2,556,003 6/1951 Sanclell et al. 15/211 X 2,893,644 7/1959 Holden l 239/282 3,082,988 3/1963 Holden 248/206 R FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 507,597 12/1954 Italy 15/75 659,609 1/1964 ltaly l5/75 1,132,766 11/1956 France..... 134/166 R 1,513,536 1/1968 France 128/66 271,593 11/1965 Australia 401/203 357,704 8/1922 Germany 4/184 Primary Examiner-Daniel Blum Attorney-John N. Randolph [57] ABSTRACT A fixture for assisting a disabled or one-armed person to wash his hand or arm in an easy and convenient manner; the device consisting of an upstanding post attachable by a vacuum cup in a wash bowl basin, the upper end of the post supporting a plastic form over which a bag of terry wash cloth or towel is fitted, the form having an opening vertically therethrough, the opening lower end being connected to a hose connected to the wash bowl faucet, so that water can flow outward of the terry cloth bag so the person can rub his arm or hand thereagainst during the washing operation.

4 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures HAND AND ARM WASHER This invention relates generally to equipment for handicapped persons. More specifically it relates to apparatus for personal washing.

It is generally well known that handicapped persons such as those who have only one arm or hand, have difficulty in easily and confortably washing their remaining good arm or hand due to not being able to rub it during lathering with soap, scrubbing or rinsing off, which task is accomplished normally by the use ofthe other hand. This situation is accordingly in want of improvement.

Therefore, it is a principal object of the present invention to provide a hand and arm washer intended especially for handicapped persons who cannot use or do not have a second hand to help themselves.

Another object is to provide a washer which can be quickly and easily set up in a wash bowl basin, and also readily removed therefrom so that the basin may be normally used by other persons in a home.

Another object is to provide a washer which is readily portable so that it may be transported when a handicapped person is going on a vacation or is traveling and stops at hotels or motels.

Other objects are to provide a hand and arm washer which is simple in design, inexpensive to manufacture, rugged in construction, easy to use, and efficient in operation.

These and other objects will be readily apparent upon a study of the following specification and the accompanying drawing, wherein:

HO. 1 is a perspective view of the invention set up for use in a wash bowl basin.

HO. 2 is a cross section on line 22 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a case within which the washer can be stored when removed from the wash bowl basin.

Referring now to the drawing in detail. the reference numeral represents a hand and arm washer according to the present invention wherein there is a plastic form ll of generally flat character which is aflixed upon the top end of a chromium plated pipe 12 which at its lower end is secured to a mechanical vacuum cup 13 that has a flip lever 14 for evacuating air from underneath so that it can be rigidly secured upon the sur face of a wash bowl basin 15; the lever 14 being easily operated by a one-hand person.

The form 11 has all edges gently and smoothly rounded. It has rounded corners and a rounded upper end. A series of inverted, interchangeable bags 16 is placeable over the form 11; the bags being made of form fitting terry cloth wash cloth and towel material, so that they may be used for soaping up, rubbing, rinsing, and drying operations.

The form 11 has a central vertical opening 17 therein which is open on the upper end of the form, and which at its lower end communicates with a sideward nipple 18 connected to one end of rubber hose 19 which at its other end is connected to the wash bowl faucet 20 so as to let water flow through the device while in use. The nipple 18 is connected to the pipe 12.

Thus in use a person can rub his hand or arm against the bag-covered form so as to soap up, scrub, rinse off and dry in a convenient and efficient manner.

When not in use, the washer 10 can be stored away in an attractive container 21 fitted with removable cover 22.

The washer can be 18 inches tall; the form being 7 inches long.

While various changes may be made in the detail construction, it is understood that such changes will be within the spirit and scope of the present invention as is defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A hand and arm washer comprising a base, suction cup means detachably securing the base to the upper side of a wash basin bottom, a rigid post fixed to and rising from the base, a tubular fitting secured on said post and having a laterally projecting inlet end and an upwardly extending outlet end, an elongated relatively flat rigid form disposed in an upright osition on and secured to the outlet end of said fitting, said form having a passage communicating with said outlet end and opening through the upper end thereof. an inverted sack of a porous fabric material detachably disposed over and having close fitting engagement with said form, and a flexible conduit leading from a source of liquid under pressure and having an outlet end connected to the inlet of said fitting.

2. A washer as in claim I, said sack being formed of wash cloth material.

3. A washer as in claim I, said form being relatively thick and having rounded corners and a rounded upper end.

4. A washer as in claim 1, said form being composed ofa solid block ofa material impervious to liquids, such

Claims

1. A hand and arm washer comprising a base, suction cup means detachably securing the base to the upper side of a wash basin bottom, a rigid post fixed to and rising from the base, a tubular fitting secured on said post and having a laterally projecting inlet end and an upwardly extending outlet end, an elongated relatively flat rigid form disposed in an upright position on and secured to the outlet end of said fitting, said form having a passage communicating with said outlet end and opening through the upper end thereof, an inverted sack of a porous fabric material detachably disposed over and having close fitting engagement with said form, and a flexible conduit leading from a source of liquid under pressure and having an outlet end connected to the inlet of said fitting.

2. A washer as in claim 1, said sack being formed of wash cloth material.

3. A washer as in claim 1, said form being relatively thick and having rounded corners and a rounded upper end.

4. A washer as in claim 1, said form being composed of a solid block of a material impervious to liquids, such as a plastic.