MOBILE AIR-BLAST SPRAYING MACHINE FOR FEET DISINFECTION

Abstract: An air-blast spraying machine for feet disinfection, of a mobile or removable type, comprises a bearing structure and a covering element with at least an operating area for the resting of bare feet or feet with footwear to be disinfected. At least a tank containing disinfectant liquid is mounted onto the bearing structure and is connected to air-blast spraying ejector means located in proximity of the operating area. An air pump is connected to the ejector means and can be selectively activated by actuator means to supply air to them, thus suctioning and spraying the disinfectant liquid coming from the tank. The machine can comprise a rechargeable battery which permits it to be located strategically and easily installed everywhere. The air-blast spraying machine can be operated by actuators of various type, e.g. proximity switches, photocells, manual push buttons, press switches and the like.

Description: DESCRIPTION MOBILE AIR-BLAST SPRAYING MACHINE FOR FEET DISINFECTION TECH ICAL FIELD The present invention pertains to the field of machinery and equipment for feet disinf ction. BftCKGROUM! * ) RT Λs i <= known, "n most swimming poαlϊ an bath ng establishments fi::ed basins for feet disinfection are used, for example a bπc or made by- digging a ditrh or by arranging a raised-step structure, filled with disinf a liquid, which is often stagnant rather than of a running hype. The construction of equipment for feet disin ectio is an urging need in many other fields, like for example the medical sector and the food industry, and many other sectors which, however, seldom adopt solutions of the above mentioned ind, since a fixed structure would nvol e the exclusive and permanent dedication of a predetermined portion of wall-able floor, as uell as huge maintenance costs, not to mention the appearance, usually not so pleasant, of the r no n basins. The aim of the present invention is to eliminate the above mentioned drawbacks, while providing a means for feet disinfection, both bare and with footwear, which is easy to install and to maintain, easy to move, safe to use and health / , as well as aesth t l ca 11 > pleasant and, hαwe pr, not DC e'psncne. The* ctstcd object s attained uAh ^n si --nlsst -p'-c ing nachine for f ee! AsmfecAon <- f a ,ob lie or remπv ,=n 1 e t > pe ., ' iho se : - ->π eti vε c ara teristi s are illustrated in the enclose^ c 1 a l s . DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION In a preferred embodiment, the machine according to the present invention can be positioned on the floor in a well defined passageway, 111- for example between doorposts or in the middle of a passageway, in order to have people passing b, make use of sa d disinfection machine. In an other embodiment, the machine is particularly suited for wall mounting at a minimum height from the ground, in order to mal- e it easier for the people passing by to use it. Anyway, an advantage of the present invention is that is does no require a permanent connection to a water supply mains or to a drainage system, thus making it possible to use it in isolated or not equipped areas, like for example an the beach. The air-blast spraying machine can be operated by using actuators of various t / pe, like for example proximity switches, photocells, manual push buttons, press buttons and the like, further charac eris cs and όαvantages of the ore?ent invention t-* ill nettεr emerge from the detailed description that follows. made with reference to the accompan ing drawings which represent three preferred embodiments in the form of a nnn limiting example. The invention w i 11 now be described in detail, b> way of example. with the aid of the accompanying draw ngs in which: -figure 1 shows perspective view of a first embodimert of the machine according to the presen*- i ivent ion; figure _ "* shows a functional diagram of the component parts of the machine in igure 35 -figure 3 shows a functional diagram analogous to that of figure 9 of a second embodiment of the achi ne ; -figure <+ shows a functional diagram analogous to the two previous ones of a further embodiment of the machine according to the present invention. With reference tc figure 1 in the accompanying drawings, an air-blast spraying machine according to the present invention comprises a bearing structure or framework 10, preferably made of, but not limited to, soldered plate, equipped with support ng feet • i _, possibl adjustable i height,. As an alternative to the feet 1 i the bearing structure 10 can he equipped with revolving wheels, at least one of which is preferably fitted with a brake., Gn the bearing structure 10 a protection cap 12 can tc found, functioning as am aesthetically pleasant protective casing, preferably made of., but not limited to, moulded plastic material or fiberglass or the like. To the bearing structure 10 and/or to the cap 19 a bearing handrail 1H can be optionally fixed which can also be used as a handle to move the air-blast spraying machine, especially when this is equipped w.i th whee 1 s . In this central area of the bearing structure 10 or of the cap 19 two entεnded footboards 16 a r envisaged, which are meant to accomodate the feet, of the operator of the air-hlast spraying machine. On the bearing structure 10, on the sides of the central a.r≡s. occupied by the footboards 16, are placed the elements which are necessary for the nperatiαn of the air-blast spraying machine, whose interconnexions Γ B better illustrated in figure 2. In particular, from a tank 1.8 containing disinfectant liquid of a known type protrudes a delivery pipe <?.0 connected to ,: couple πf sir blast -preying ejectors Ξ2 placed on the sides ry the footboards 16. On the pipe 90, a normal 1 / closed solenoid valve 9H is normally interplaced, whose opening is controlled by • control circu t 96 el tricall - supplied by a battery 9R fed by a network external feeder 30, The control -ircuit also selectively controls the operation of the air pump 39 whose delivery pipe 3H is connected to the couple of ejectors Ξ2 . A couple of proximity switches 36, also placed on the sides of the footboards 16, is electrically connected tn the control circuit 96. When an operator approaches with his f e one of the o footboards 16, one of the two prαAmity switches 36 sends a presence signal to the control circuit 96 which, in turn, sends an enabling signal meant to open the solenoid valve 9H and imultaneously activates the air pump 39. The 5 liquid contained in the tanl IS is suctioned by the action of the air coming nut of the ejectors 22 and there sprayed and directed towards the footboards 16 and, therefore, towards the operator's feet. It has to be noticed that the 0 prαi'imitv switches detect the πresence of the operator ' r feet before they corns to rest onto the footboards 16, thus providing for the Disinfect nt to initially reach the foot sole when this is still raised, in order to subsequently disinfect * 3 the sid and the upper surface of the foot when thi e/entu ll / ^om s to rest nnto the footboard 1 . As an alternative, +-he control circuit 96 c an al~o be fitted with a timing device disconnecti g the 0 air pump and closing the solenoid valve after a preset i e. Although a timing device is not vital to the operation of the object of the present invention, it could however help to avoid the premature εmpt/mg of the tank 18 or ths useless consumption of electric energy in case of failure of the proximity switches 99. The presence of the rechargeable battery 98 makes it possible to position the air-blast spraying machine also in a place where a network- electric socket is not accessible, which considerably increases the versatility of use nf the air-blast. spraying machine. Some tests have been made by the Applicant which have shown that a rechargeable battery makes it possible to use the air-blast spraying machine for several days before having to charge the hatter', again. The use αf a _ er: ? rgeab J s battery al o makes it possible to tra egically position the air-blast spraying machine and to install it rvasil everywhere. The use of th<= solenoid valve -A, t u-n.. permits A f I 11 the tan ' - bo -e the level .f the ejectors 99 in such .ιay that it is possible to manufacture footboard- 16 which ar e , er y low wi h respect to the ground,. with the advantages deriving therefrom in terms of comfor able use of the air-blast spraying machine. Figure 3 shows a diagram of another embodiment of the air-bast spraying machine object of the present invention, where the elements which a r & in common with the example described above hear the same reference numbers. The tank IB containing the disinfectant liquid is connected, by means of the pipe 90, to a first couple of ejectors 22a placed on the sides of a horizontally- pivoted footboard 5 16a,, whose oscillating motion according to arrow A, caused by the operator's feet pressure and by the returning action of an elastic element 'not illustrated in the figure ) , activates a swi ch 17. The articulation of the footboard 16a around the fulcrum 91 can be obtained according to one of the .rver?.) methods i nown to -.xpr-rts i the fiel , β par icula l i eres i g thanks to its 51 rap 1 e manufacturing and low co t , consists in making an elas ic i di ectly on the plastic 5 protective casing of the caps nf the air-hlast spraying macnine. The ipe 90 deli vering the di i f ectant liquid is also connected to a second couple of ej e cto s 99h placed under the horizontally pivoted footboard '.0 1 a, in such a way that the jet nf the sprayed disinfectant liquid is directed onto an operator's feet sole when they are resting on the footboard 16a. In the example of figure 3 a timing circuit 19 is also explicitely illustrated, whose presence 5 is optional . The machine functioning illustrated in the embodiment of figure 3 is substantially analogous to the above description, with the difference that the presence of an operator's feet is detected by the switch 17, pressed by the horizontally pivoted footboard 1 a as a consequence of it? rotation downwards, whereas the isconnection of the air pump 39, when it is not determined by the optional timer 19, is caused by the lifting of the horizontally pivoted footboard • 6a induced by the pk.sii:: return element fft?," ■ t e footboard has been abandoned by the operator , Several embodiments of the above description can be obviously envisaged, all falling within the scope of the present invention. For example. the horizontally pivoted -footboard Aa could be replaced by a flexible footboard obtained i the c ap 12 made in plastic material thanks to the slightly bombed shape of its central part. Thanks to this solution it is possibile to keep the footboard thickness of the air-blast spraying machine at a low level, with the advantages deriving therefrom in terms nf comfortable and practical use. Figure H shows a further embodiment of the a \ r - blast spraying machine according to the present invention, whose component parts which are common with the two previous examples bear the same reference numbers. Said embodiment is particularly suited for a wall-mounted air-blast spraying machine, preferably in proximity of an electric supply socket in which a supply plug 0 can be inserted which, by means of a transformer 4-9, electrically supplies the internal component parts of the machine. It is possible, however, to embody said machine also i a form comprising a rechargeable battery, in a way similar tn that previously described. The embodiment illustrated in figure 4 comprises a mouthpiece 44, placed as low as possible with respect to the ground, within which two opposed spraying ejectors 99c are placed, preferably one above the other as illustrated in the figure. As an alternative to the use of proximity switches, as previously indicated,, the machine can also be activated manually by means of an external switch 46 „ for example placed over the machine in a pos-ition which can be easily reached by the operator. The bearing structure of the embodiment of the machine illustrated in figure 4 can be fixly mounted on a wall, or rest, as previously described, on possibly adjustable feet or on wheels, for an easy and comfortable displacement of the air-blast spraying machine in the desired position. An advantage of the embodiment of the present invention illustrated in figure 4 is that the operator's foot is suspended during the disinfection cycle, thus avoiding any contact between the part to he walked on and the component parts or any part of the machine. Thanks to thiβ embodiment the maximum level of hygiene can be reached . Obviously, the principle of the present invention still holding good, the embodiments as w ll as the relevant details can be widely varied with respect to what has been previously described and illustrated without falling outside of the field of the present invention.

Claims: I S CLA IMS An air-blast spraying machine for feet di infection, of a mobile or removable type, characterised in that it comprises: - a bearing structure; - a covering element comprising at least an operating area for the accomodation of feet to be d isinfected ; - at least a tank containing disinfectant liquid, mounted onto the bearing structure; air-blast spraying ejector means connected to the tank and placed in proximity of the operating area ; air pump means which are connected to the ejector means and which can be selectively- activated to send air to the ejector means to suction and spray the disinfectant liquid coming from the tank, and actuator means to selectively control the activation and d isact i at ion of the air pump means . An air-blast spraying machine as claimed in claim 1 , characterised in that it comprises at least a solenoid valve element interplaced between the tank and the ejector means, whose opening can be selectively activated by the actuator means in order to permit the flow of the disinfectant liquid from the tank to the ejector means. 3. An air-blast spraying machine as claimed in claim 2, characterised in that the disinfectant liquid contained in the tank is at a higher level with respect to the ejector means. 4, An air-blast spraying machi e as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the actuator means comprise proximity switches located in proximity of the operating area. 5, An air-blast spraying machine as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the actuator means comprise at least a switch selectively activated by an operator . 6. An air-blast spraying machine as claimed in claim 5, characterised in that the switch is activated by the motion of a portion of the covering element caused by the operator's feet pressure. An air-blast spraying machine as claimed in any of the previous claims, characterised in that it comprises a rechargeable battery for electrical sypply. 8. An air-blast spraying machine as claimed in any of the previous claims, characte ised in that it comprises a timing device. An air-blast spraying machine as claimed in any of the previous claims, characterised in that the operating area is meant to accomodate the operator's feet, while the actuator means control the activation of the air pump means and the subsequent air-blast spraying of disinfectant liquid before the operator's foot sole comes to rest completely onto the operating area. 10, An air-blast spraying machine as claimed in any of the previous claims, characterised in that at least an ejector means is located in proximity of the operating area with such an orientation that it can be directed towards the foot sole of the operator of the air-blast spraying machine. 11. An air-blast spraying machine as claimed in any of the previous claims, characterised in that in the embodiment fitted with a rechargeable battery it is possible to strategically position the machine and install it easily everywhere. 12. An air-blast spraying machine as claimed in any of the previous claims, charac erised in that in the embodiment illustrated in figure 4 there is no contact between the foot and the component parts or any part of the machine, since the part to be treated is suspended, with subsequent maximum level of hygiene.

Inventors: MORA GIULIANO, MORA, GIULIANO
Applicants: GAMAR S R L, MORA GIULIANO, GAMAR S.R.L., MORA, GIULIANO
Application year: 1998
Main classification: A61H35
IPC codes: A61L2