Abstract:
A produce cleaning system having a housing member defining a base, a sidewall, and an open unit cavity therebetween. The sidewall may define a water compartment and a cleansing compartment. The system may include a lid configured to close the open unit cavity and one or more jet sprayers secured to an interior surface of the unit cavity. The jet sprayers may be configured to selectively disperse fluids from the water compartment and cleansing compartment toward the basket. The system may include an interface configured to receive operation commands based on user input including a rinse command and cleansing command, such that the rinse command includes instructions to direct the jet sprayers to disperse fluid from the water compartment, and the cleansing command includes instructions to direct the jet sprayers to disperse fluids from both the water compartment and the cleansing compartment.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 61/797,621, filed Dec. 12, 2012, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated in its entirety by reference herein. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The present disclosure relates to a produce cleansing device and a method using the same. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Pesticides are commonly used as a plant protection product that is meant for preventing, eliminating or mitigating any damage pests may inflict on the plants. The produce sold in your local supermarket may have been treated with pesticides and/or are susceptible to contaminants from the plant growing and/or distribution process. Most people hand wash fruits and vegetables before consuming, however washing by hand may be time consuming and if done incorrectly may not eliminate all the pesticides and contaminants from the fruit and/or vegetable. 
         [0004]    Pesticides may pose several risks including physical symptoms such as impaired mental functions, disruption of hormone functions, and an increased risk of developing cancer. Physical symptoms due to pesticide exposure may also include respiratory problems and asthma, headaches, nausea, skin rashes, genetic damage linked to neurological disorders, and impaired immune functions. Mental symptoms due to pesticide exposure may include disorientation, attention problems, and fatigue. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    In a first illustrative embodiment, a produce cleaning system having a housing member defining a base, a sidewall, and an open unit cavity therebetween, the sidewall defining a water compartment and a cleansing compartment. The system may include a basket configured to sit within the unit cavity and to receive produce. The system may include a lid configured to close the open unit cavity and one or more jet sprayers secured to an interior surface of the unit cavity. The jet sprayers may be configured to selectively disperse fluids from the water compartment and cleansing compartment toward the basket. The system may include an interface configured to receive operation commands based on user input including a rinse command and cleansing command, such that the rinse command includes instructions to direct the jet sprayers to disperse fluid from the water compartment, and the cleansing command includes instructions to direct the jet sprayers to disperse fluids from both the water compartment and the cleansing compartment. 
         [0006]    In a second illustrative embodiment, a produce cleansing device having a housing member defining a base, a sidewall, and an open unit cavity therebetween, the sidewall defining one or more fluid cavities configured to store fluid. The device may include a spin mechanism supported by the base. The device may have a basket configured to sit within the unit cavity. The basket may have a center post with a center ring at one end and operatively connected to a spin latch at the other end, such that the spin latch is configured to mate with the spin mechanism. The basket may rotate with the spin mechanism. The device may have a lid configured to close the open unit cavity, and the lid may include a handle and a lock configured to engage the center ring of the basket. The device may have a plurality of jet sprayers secured to an interior surface of the unit cavity and configured to be in fluid communication with the one or more fluid cavities. The jet sprayers are oriented such that fluid disperses therefrom in a plurality of trajectories to contact multiple sides of produce within the basket. 
         [0007]    In a third illustrative embodiment, a method for cleansing produce with a produce cleansing device by placing produce within a basket positioned within a unit cavity of the device. The basket may engage with a spin mechanism of the device. The method may include a motor activating to spin the spin mechanism and basket engaged therewith in response to user input to a speed spin dial. The method may have one or more jet sprayers positioned within the unit cavity and in communication with a fluid source activating to disperse fluid therefrom on multiple portions of the produce as the basket spins in response to user input to a start button. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]      FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of a produce cleansing unit; 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a rear perspective view of the produce cleansing unit from  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is a front perspective view of a basket for the produce cleansing unit from  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is a front perspective view of the produce cleansing unit from  FIG. 1  illustrating a spin dry feature and basket dividers; 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  is a front perspective view of two baskets for the produce cleansing unit from  FIG. 1  illustrating a spin dry feature and basket; 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  is a front perspective view of the produce cleansing unit from  FIG. 1  illustrating one or more spray nozzles and a spin mechanism positioned within the produce cleansing unit; 
           [0014]      FIG. 7  is a front perspective view of the produce cleansing unit from  FIG. 1  illustrating the spin mechanism; and 
           [0015]      FIG. 8  is a front perspective view of a drain mechanism from the produce cleansing unit from  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0016]    Embodiments of the present disclosure are described herein. It is to be understood, however, that the disclosed embodiments are merely examples and other embodiments can take various and alternative forms. The figures are not necessarily to scale; some features could be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particular components. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the embodiments. As those of ordinary skill in the art will understand, various features illustrated and described with reference to any one of the figures can be combined with features illustrated in one or more other figures to produce embodiments that are not explicitly illustrated or described. The combinations of features illustrated provide representative embodiments for typical applications. Various combinations and modifications of the features consistent with the teachings of this disclosure, however, could be desired for particular applications or implementations. 
         [0017]      FIG. 1  shows an example of a produce cleansing unit  100  having a base  98  and a sidewall  99 . The unit  100  may include a front lid  102  to cover the unit cavity  103  where a basket (described below) may be placed and a back lid  104  to cover a cleaner container  126  and a water container  124 . The unit  100  may include an interface  101  having one or more circuits configured to communicate with an on/off switch  106 , a start switch  108 , a cleaner selector  110 , a rinse only switch  112 , a spin speed dial  114 , and a hot water switch  116 . The interface  101  may receive input from one or more switches or selectors and control the unit  100  based on the received input. The unit  100  may also include a liquid pan or drain pan  122  to receive drainage from the well  103 . The unit  100  may include a hot water ready indicator light  118  and a full drain indicator light  120 . 
         [0018]      FIG. 2  is a rear view of the unit  100 . A back portion  200  of the unit  100  may have a hot water port  202  and a cold water port  204  to provide an optional connection to an external water supply such as a faucet. The back portion  200  of the unit  100  may also have a drain plug  206  which may be removed to provide an optional connection of a drain hose  207 . A water container  124  and a cleaner container  126  may be configured to be inserted and removed from a cavity defined by the back portion  200  of the unit  100 . 
         [0019]      FIG. 3  shows one example of a basket  302  for inserting into the well  103  of the unit  100 . The basket  302  may also be referred to as a well herein. The basket  302  may include a center post  308  having a spin latch  312  and center ring  306  at a top portion of the center post  308  to assist in locking a ball handle  310  to the basket  302  via a lock  304 . When the lock  304  engages the center ring  306 , and the spin latch  312  is engaged with a spin mechanism (described below) of the unit  100 , a user may spin the basket  302  manually. 
         [0020]      FIG. 4  shows an example of a spin dry feature and a produce separation feature of the unit  100 . The basket  302  and center post  308  may include tracks or slots to receive a corresponding number of dividers  402  to separate produce positioned within the basket  302 . 
         [0021]    The unit cavity  103  may have two options for a type of basket or well to utilize during operations.  FIG. 5  shows a first option which utilizes the basket  302  and also shows a second option which utilizes another example of a basket  508 . As mentioned above, the basket  302  may include the center post  308  for use with a spin dry cycle and dividers  402 . A handle  502  may assist in lowering the basket  302  into the well and removing the basket  302  from the well  103 . The basket  508  may not include a center post or dividers to provide a larger space to receive large items of produce. The basket/well  302 ,  502  may have a handle. 
         [0022]      FIG. 6  shows additional features positioned within the unit cavity  103  of the unit  100 . For example, one or more jet sprayers  602  may be positioned within the unit cavity  103  that may spray water and/or cleaner. The jet sprayers  602  may be oriented in multiple directions, such as up and down, to disperse fluid in more than one trajectory such that fluid contacts multiple sides and/or portions of the produce within the unit cavity  103  as further described below. A spin mechanism  604  may be positioned at the bottom of the unit. The spin mechanism  604  may include a receiving element, or bottom spinner  605 , which may engage the spin latch  312  or spin latch  504  such that the spin mechanism  604  and basket  302  or  508  may spin simultaneously. 
         [0023]      FIG. 7  shows an example a motorized spin feature of the unit  100 . In this example, the basket  302  or  508  may be positioned within the unit cavity  103  and engaged with the spin mechanism  604  as described above. As mentioned above, the jet sprayers  602  may be positioned around the unit cavity  103  to cleanse the produce. Once the washing is done, a motor  702  in communication with the spin mechanism  604  may activate and spin the basket  302  or  508  to dry the produce contained therein. Now additionally referring to  FIG. 8 , a drain pan  122  may receive liquid from the cleansing process of the unit  100 . The drain pan  122  may be positioned within a cavity of the unit  100  which is in fluid communication with the unit cavity  103 . The drain pan  122  may have a flip spout  802  that flips up and rotates such that the drain hose  207  may attach to the flip spout  802  to remove fluid from the drain pan  122 . The drain pan may have a handle  804  to assist in moving the drain pan  122  into and out of the unit  100 . The drain pan  122  may have a notched space  806  instead of a handle  804  to assist in moving the drain pan  122  in and out of the unit  100 . 
         [0024]    Examples of unit  100  operations are now provided. Open the lid  104  in the back of the unit. Fill the containers  124 ,  126  from the back of the unit. Both containers  124 ,  126  are removable for easy access. The larger side  124  is for water and the other side  126  is for the cleaner, i.e. vinegar-water, lemon-water or peroxide-water mix. Put both containers  124 ,  126  back and close the lid  104 . For example, you&#39;ll have enough fluid in the back of the unit for 4-6 cycles (separate uses) for each time you fill up. 
         [0025]    Remove the large round ball handled lid  102  from the top of the unit. Pull out (well #1) or (basket #1)  302 ,  508  from the main unit  100 . Place the fruit and/or veggies into the well  302 ,  508  and put it back into the unit  100 . Put the lid  102  back on.
       1. Turn it on with on/off switch  106 ;   2. Twist the spin speed dial  114  on the front of the unit  100  to the desired speed. More delicate foods will need a slower speed. (i.e., berries)   3. Decide if you want cleaner. If you want cleaner  126 , press the length of time  110  you want to wash the food with the cleaner  126  (30 sec., 1 min. or 2 min.). The amount of cleaner  126  used from the back of the unit will depend on how long you chose the wash the food.   4. If you choose cleaner  110 , the rinse cycle will immediately follow. The rinse indicator light will go on while the cycle is running and will last about a minute. When the cycle is complete, the rinse light turns off.   5. You can choose just the rinse cycle  112 , Hot or Cold. If you choose Hot, press the Hot button  116  and wait for the Red Hot Ready indicator light  118  to go on, then press rinse and then the start button  108 .
           a. Note: You can sprinkle a little baking soda directly on the food before you start a cycle.   
           6. To dry the cleaned food, push down on the round ball  310  on the lid  102 . If you&#39;re using (well #1)  302  with the center post  308 , you will hear the center post  308  catch and lock  306  onto the lid  304 . Once it&#39;s locked, press down on the ball  310  on the lid to spin dry your food. You will hear and feel it spinning. You control how fast and how long you want to spin dry by the speed and pressure you put on the lid. The harder and faster you push, the faster the food will spin dry. Push soft and slow and the food will spin slowly. Just a couple of pushes should remove any access water off most foods.       
 
         [0033]    When the wash/rinse and spin dry cycles are completed, the food will be clean. The rinse indicator light will turn off and the water will automatically drain into the bottom drain pan  122 . 
         [0034]    Lift up on the lid knob  310 . You&#39;ll hear the lid  304  and center post unlock  306 . Remove the lid  102  and take the really clean food out of the well. 
         [0035]    Prior to use, there is a drain pan hose attachment  207  that screws onto the back of the drain pan  122 . The other end of the hose sets in the sink. That way, when the cycle is done, the water will drain into the pan and trickle down and through the hose  207  and into the sink. 
         [0036]    After a few uses, if you didn&#39;t use the hose attachment  207 , or you forgot to empty the pan, the drain pan warning light  120  will come on to let you know that the pan is full and needs to be emptied. To empty the drain pan  122 , pull the handle  804 ,  806  from the front bottom of the unit  100 . Take the pan  122  out and empty it into the sink. Then slide it back onto the unit  100 . 
         [0037]    The food is now clean and ready to eat or cook. 
         [0038]    There is a (well #2)  508  or (basket #2)  508  without a center post for larger veggies and fruits, i.e., squash, lettuce, etc. The washing cycles work the same, however, the food will need to drip dry. 
         [0039]    Both wells can wash different size dusty knick-knacks, eye glasses, some jewelry and the like. (Nothing with cooked food or crumbs, grimy dirt or things with chemicals, excluding fruits and veggies.) 
         [0040]    The vegetable and fruit cleaner is designed to clean and sanitize fruit and veggies quicker and cleaner than hand washing them. There&#39;s a hot water feature designed to help remove waxes from foods such as apples and cucumbers. The manual push spin dry lid feature offers a more natural, energy efficient and quicker way to dry the food. 
         [0041]    While exemplary embodiments are described above, it is not intended that these embodiments describe all possible forms encompassed by the claims. The words used in the specification are words of description rather than limitation, and it is understood that various changes can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. As previously described, the features of various embodiments can be combined to form further embodiments of the invention that may not be explicitly described or illustrated. While various embodiments could have been described as providing advantages or being preferred over other embodiments or prior art implementations with respect to one or more desired characteristics, those of ordinary skill in the art recognize that one or more features or characteristics can be compromised to achieve desired overall system attributes, which depend on the specific application and implementation. These attributes can include, but are not limited to cost, strength, durability, life cycle cost, marketability, appearance, packaging, size, serviceability, weight, manufacturability, ease of assembly, etc. As such, embodiments described as less desirable than other embodiments or prior art implementations with respect to one or more characteristics are not outside the scope of the disclosure and can be desirable for particular applications.