Patent Publication Number: US-8528126-B2

Title: Apparatus and/or device for personal hygiene

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a portable apparatus and/or device for personal hygiene by an individual who is confined to a room or bed and more particularly to a portable apparatus and/or device that has a first storage tank for storing clean water, a second storage tank for storing used water and a wash basin between the two tanks. 
     BACKGROUND FOR THE INVENTION 
     Portable sinks are well known and have been in use for many years. For example, a U.S. Pat. No. 5,301,376 of Herbert discloses a portable sink that is arranged for ease of transportation and storage. The sink includes a central housing having respective lower and upper housings positioned on opposite sides of the central housing. As disclosed, the upper housing includes a fluid reservoir structure arranged for orthogonal orientation relative to the central housing with a faucet permitting fluid to flow upon pivoting of the faucet relative to a floor cavity within the upper housing floor. A lower housing includes an upper housing reservoir in communication with a sink within the central housing for storage and subsequent disposal of fluid within the lower housing. 
     A more recent U.S. Patent of Patterson, U.S. Pat. No. 6,959,460 discloses a portable wash basin device wherein the device includes a sink for receiving fresh water therein for permitting a user thereof to wash. The sink defines an open top for the reception therein of the fresh water so that the user is permitted to wash therein. A container is disposed adjacent to the sink for containing the fresh water and a pump is operatively connected to the container for pumping the fresh water from the container into the sink. A lid is secured to the sink such that when the lid is disposed in an open disposition thereof access to the sink by the user thereof is permitted and when the lid is disposed in a closed position thereof the lid covers the sink. 
     Finally, an improved portable sink for use by the handicap is disclosed in a U.S. Pat. No. 7,331,070 of Al-Anezi. As disclosed, the portable sink includes a base member and a plurality of foldable legs for supporting the base member above a surface when in a first position and foldable flat against the base member for storage and transport. The sink also includes a first storage tank for containing a supply of clean water, a concave basin and a second storage tank for receiving dirty water from the concave basin. The base member also includes a support member for supporting the first storage tank above the level of the concave basin and means for supporting the second storage tank below the level of the concave basin with the lower part of the concave basin in contact with a top portion of the second storage tank. In addition, a fluid passage is provided between the lower part of the concave basin and the upper part of the second storage tank with a normally closed one-way depressible valve connecting the lower part of the basin and the second storage tank. This valve prevents water from the second storage tank from flowing back into the concave basin. In addition, a separate depressor constructed and arranged for manually depressing the valve is also provided for opening the valve to drain the dirty water from the basin and into the second storage tank. Finally, a cover fits over the base member with means for releasably fastening the cover to the base member. 
     Notwithstanding the above, it is presently believed that there is a need and a potential commercial market for a further improvement in a portable apparatus and/or device for personal hygiene by an individual who is confined to a room or bed. It is believed that there is a commercial market for such devices because they are more complete than many of the prior art devices by providing electricity for an electric dryer and shaver as well as a soap holder, brush holder, force of clean water and a storage tank for used water. Such devices are particularly suitable for moving from one side of a room to a bed or from a portion from another room to an occupied room for use by the occupant. The devices in accordance with the present invention are also believed to be manufactured at a competitive price and are durable and provide sufficient water for use by an individual in their personal hygiene. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In essence the present invention contemplates a portable apparatus and/or device for personal hygiene by an individual who is confined to a room or bed and more particularly to a portable apparatus and/or device that has a first storage tank for storing clean water, a second storage tank for storing used water and a wash basin between the two tanks. In a preferred embodiment of the invention the first storage tank for dispensing water into the basin is disposed above the basin while the second storage tank is provided below the tank for receiving spent water or used water from the basin. The apparatus and/or device also includes a frame member including four legs and four casters the bottom of the legs for moving the apparatus from one room to another or from one portion of the room over next to a bed. The frame member includes a lower frame supporting the second storage tank above a floor and for joining a first of one of said legs to a second of said legs and a third of said legs to a fourth of said legs as well as two cross members connecting said second of said legs to said fourth of said legs and each of said legs including means to raise and lower the height of the basin in order to accommodate beds of different heights. An outwardly extending faucet extends outwardly from the first storage tank over the basin for directing a stream of water over the hands of an individual and into the basin and the basin includes a closeable drain hole in a lower portion thereof and a hose connecting said drain whole and said second storage tank. A pair of forwardly extending arms in an upper portion of the frame extends over the basin and a pair of privacy curtains extends downwardly from the forwardly extending arms to opposite sides of the basin. Further, an extendable towel rack extends outwardly from an upper side member of the frame below the curtains. Further, the apparatus includes a housing having a face portion above the basin and facing an individual user and enclosing a first storage tank and a mirror is disposed on the face portion on one side thereof, a soap dish and tooth brush holder on opposite sides thereof and a fluid soap dispenser adjacent the faucet. 
     The invention will now be described in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals have been used to indicate like parts. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating a portable apparatus and/or device for personal hygiene by a person who is confined to a room or bed that shows the front and a first side of the apparatus or device; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view illustrating a portable apparatus and/or device for personal hygiene by a person who is confined to a room or bed that shows the front and a second side of the apparatus or device; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view illustrating a portable apparatus and/or device for personal hygiene by a person who is confined to a room or bed that shows the rear surface and the first side of the apparatus or device. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION 
     A portable apparatus or device  20  for personal hygiene by an individual that is confined to a room or bed includes a frame assembly  30  that includes four generally vertical legs  31 ,  32 ,  33 , and  34  with a caster  31 ′,  32 ′,  33 ′ and  34 ′ at the bottom of each leg for moving the apparatus or device  20  from one room to another or from one side of a room to another part of a room as for example next to a bed. The legs  31 ,  32 ,  33 , and  34  each include adjustment means  35 ,  36 ,  37 , and  38  respectively for raising and lowering a basin  24  to accommodate beds or chairs of different heights. 
     A lower portion of the frame assembly  30  includes a first tubular member  41  that extends between the legs  31  and  32  and rigidly connects two of the legs together. The frame assembly  30  also includes a second tubular member  42  that is rigidly connected to legs  33  and  34  and a pair of cross members  43  and  44  connecting the tubular members  41  and  42  to form a square portion of the lower frame that supports a second storage tank  50  for storing water that has been used for washing. The first tubular member  41  and the cross member  43  also provide a support  43 ′ for supporting a rubbish basket  40 . The legs  32  and  33  which are in the front of the apparatus or device  20  proceed upwardly from the floor to a level immediately below the top surface of the basin  24 . At this point the legs are turned rewardly by about 90 degrees to the back of the basin  24  and are again turned about 90 degrees to extend upwardly along a front portion of a first clean water storage tank  48  or housing  53  to partially form an upper portion of the frame assembly  30 . The tubular member that forms an upper portion of the frame assembly is again turned about 90 degrees toward the rear of the apparatus or device  20  and is then bent 90 degrees to become part of the leg  31  or leg  34  to become a part of leg  34 . An upper cross member  47  then rigidly connects to legs  31 , and  35  to form a fairly rigid frame assembly. Finally, a tubular cross handle  59  is fixed to an upwardly extending elbow  60  and  61  to connect an upper horizontal portion of the upper frame from the forward legs  32  and  33  that connect to a top portion of legs  31  and  34  to add further rigidity to the frame assembly  30 . 
     The clean water storage tank  48  is supported or rests upon the cross member  47  and on a rear portion of the stainless steel basin  24  that is supported by the rearwardly extending horizontal portions  63  and  64 . If necessary for added rigidity and stability an additional cross member can be added between the portions  63  and  64  and along the rear portion of the basin  24 . 
     The apparatus or device  20  also includes an upper housing  53  with a face plate  53 ′ that covers the first clean water tank  48  and includes a water level indicator  49  that extends upwardly on the face plate  53 ′ above a forwardly extending faucet number  55 . 
     A fluid soap dispenser  55 ′ is also adjacent the faucet  55 . The face plate  53 ′ also includes a soap holder  56  and brush holder  57  on one side of the face plate  53 ′ as well as a clock  58  such as a digital clock. Further, an electric blow dryer  65  is provided with an on/off switch  66  for drying an individual&#39;s hands, face or hair and protrudes slightly on one side of the apparatus or device  20  just above the basin  24 . A mirror  59  is positioned above the dryer  65  and the face plate  53 ′. 
     The basin  24  also includes a closeable drain hole  67  in a lower rear portion of the basin  24  and that is connected to the second storage tank  50  by a flexible hose  68  or other suitable connection. Further, as shown in  FIG. 3  a storage drawer  70  is provided in a lower portion  72  of the housing  53  for a clean towel, wash cloth or the like. Also, a retractable electric cord  71  extends outwardly from a lower rear portion of the housing  53 . In addition, a support  73  for the first clean water storage tank  48  is supported by the legs  31  and  34  and the lower portion  72  of the housing  53 . Finally, a paper tissue or paper towel dispenser  74  ( FIG. 3 ) is provided in one side of the lower portion  72  while electric sockets  75  and  76  for a shaver or the like are provided in an opposite side thereof. 
     While the invention has been described in connection with its preferred embodiment it should be recognized that changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the scope of the appended claims.