Apparatus for automatically scrubbing a user's hand and fingers is disclosed in which three brush assemblies cooperate to perform the cleaning function. The first brush assembly includes a rotatable knob having outwardly projecting exterior bristles, the second includes a rotatable hollow cylinder annularly surrounding the knob and including inwardly projecting interior bristles, and the third bush assembly includes three individual rotatable finger brushes disposed between the knob and the cylinder in which each brush is hollow, has inwardly directed interior bristles and outwardly directed exterior bristles.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
This invention relates to handcleaning apparatus and pertains to devices in 
which a user's hand and fingers are inserted into the device for cleaning 
by rotating bristles. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
Automatic handcleaning devices have particular application in the medical 
field; i.e., for medical personnel preparing for a surgical procedure. 
Such devices are well known and examples are illustrated in U.S. Pat. Nos. 
2,952,859 and 2,961,672 issued on Sept. 20, 1960 and Nov. 29, 1960 
respectively, to John H. Alcamo. 
Generally, the prior art devices have worked well for many applications. 
Microscopic tests, however, have revealed that lodged bacteria is not 
adequately removed from all of the hand surfaces as, for example, between 
the base of the fingers (the "webbed concavity") and the inner sides of 
each finger. 
Accordingly, it is broadly the object of this invention to increase the 
amount of lodged bacteria removed from the hand and fingers during the 
scrubbing operation. 
Another object of this invention is to obtain more thorough cleaning in a 
convenient and inexpensive manner. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, a brush 
assembly containing three individual finger brushes cooperates with outer 
and inner brush assemblies to increase the amount of lodged bacteria 
removed during the hand scrubbing operation. 
In accordance with one feature of this invention, the outer brush assembly 
comprises a hollow cylinder having inwardly directed interior bristles 
adapted to remove lodged bacteria from the posterior surface of the hand 
and fingers of a user when the cylinder is rotated. 
In accordance with another feature of this invention, the inner brush 
assembly comprises a knoblike member having outwardly directed exterior 
bristles adapted to remove lodged bacteria from the interior or palmar 
surface of the hand and fingers of a user when the member rotates. 
In accordance with another feature of this invention, each finger brush is 
hollowed to accommodate an inserted finger and has inwardly directed 
interior bristles to remove lodged bacteria from the surface of the 
inserted finger and outwardly directed exterior bristles to remove lodged 
bacteria from the webbed concavity between fingers and sides of adjacent 
non-inserted fingers when the finger brush is rotated. 
A better understanding of these and other objects and features of this 
invention will be facilitated by reference to the following detailed 
description and drawing in which:

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a scrubbing mechanism for cleaning the inserted 
hand and fingers of a user is illustrated comprising three brush 
assemblies 11, 12, and 13 which are combined in a housing 10. A hand 14 is 
shown in exemplary form in FIG. 1 and, as will be explained more 
completely later on, the three brush assemblies are adapted to 
simultaneously and cooperatively rotate to achieve thorough scrubbing of 
the surfaces of the hand 14 when it is inserted therein. 
As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3, the brush assembly 11 comprises a 
stem 15, drive key 16 and knob 17. All are advantageously joined in a 
unitary structure made of a strong material such as steel. The know 17 is 
ball-shaped to fit a user's palm and is covered with a plurality of 
outwardly projecting exterior bristles. The drive key 16 is adapted to 
engage a power source (not shown) and a driving gear 18 mounted on the 
housing 10. As best seen in FIG. 3, the driving gear 18 engages one of 
several idler gears 19 mounted on the housing 10. 
The brush assembly 12 annularly surrounds the stem 15 and knob 17 structure 
and comprises a cylinder 20 surmounted by two mounting members 21. The 
cylinder 20 is hollowed to accommodate insertion of the hand 14 and is 
advantageously made up of a strong material such as steel. The inside is 
covered with a plurality of projecting inwardly directed interior bristles 
adapted to scrub the posterior surfaces of an inserted hand and fingers. 
In addition, one end may advantageously include a ring gear 22 which, as 
best seen in FIG. 3, is engaged and driven by one of several drive gears 
23. Advantageously the mounting mechanism 21 comprises bearing assemblies 
rotatably linking the cylinder 20 to the housing 10. 
The brush assembly 13 comprises three finger brushes 30 and, as best seen 
in FIGS. 1 and 3, each finger brush 30 includes an end 31 hollowed out as 
at A, B, and C. Moreover, each finger brush 30 includes a drive key 32 and 
a linking stem 33. Advantageously, the parts are formed as a unitary 
structure made of a strong material such as steel. Alternatively, however, 
the ends 31 can be flexible to facilitate conforming of the fingers to the 
brush assemblies. Each hollow end 31 is coated with a continuous cover of 
projecting interior and exterior bristles which form an exterior bristled 
lip 34 for scrubbing the webbed concavities 35 on the hand 14 of the user. 
As best seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the finger brushes 30 are disposed between 
the cylinder 20 and the knob 17 and as shown in FIG. 3, each is rotatably 
attached to a gear 23 by it's drive key 32. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the 
drive gears 23 and the drive gear 18 are linked by the idler gears 19. 
The specific spacing of the finger brushes 30, as best seen from FIGS. 1 
and 2, is set so that the opening A will accommodate a user's thumb, the 
opening B will accommodate a user's middle finger and the opening C will 
accommodate a user's small finger. The finger brushes 30 are spaced from 
each other so that the openings between adjacent brushes are adapted to 
accommodate the index and ring fingers of a user's hand, respectively. 
In operation, a user inserts his hand and fingers into the housing 10. When 
inserted, the palmar or anterior portion of the hand, index and ring 
fingers engage the bristles on the know 17, while the back or posterior 
portion of the hand, index and ring fingers engage the bristles projecting 
from the cylinder 20. The thumb, middle and small fingers, however, are 
each embraced by the bristles within an individual brush 30. Finally, 
exterior bristles on the brushes 30 engage the sides of the index and ring 
fingers, the bristles within the hollow of the ends 31 engage the tip and 
nails of the inserted fingers and the bristles at the lips 34 engage the 
webbed concavities between the fingers. Consequently, when the knob 17, 
cylinder 20 and brushes 30 rotate, all of the inserted hand and finger 
surfaces will be scrubbed. 
As seen from FIGS. 2 and 3, rotation of all brush units is responsive to 
rotation of the drive key 16. As the drive key 16 rotates, it rotates in 
turn the drive gear 18. The drive gear 18 then rotates the idler gears 19 
which, in turn, rotate the drive gears 23 and their associated stems 33. 
Finally as the drive gears 23 rotate, one or more engage the ring gear 22 
on the cylinder 20. As a result, the entire assembly commences rotation 
when the drive key 16 is rotated. 
In summary, a combination of brush assemblies has been disclosed which 
cooperate to achieve full engagement with the hand and finger surfaces of 
a user so as to obtain extensive removal of lodged bacteria during a 
scrubbing operation. Moreover, that result is achieved in an inexpensive 
and convenient device. While only one embodiment of the invention has been 
disclosed, it is representative of the principles of the invention and it 
will be recognized that many other embodiments falling within the scope of 
the invention will readily occur to those skilled in the art.