Patent Abstract:
A wheeled cart is configured to removably carry a patient&#39;s personal wash basin. The cart includes a lid that covers the personal wash basin when the cart is moved from a bathroom to the patient so that liquid in the wash basin cannot splash out onto the floor if the cart strikes an obstruction. A flexible tube is provided for filling the basin from a sink. A drain pipe is provided to empty the wash basin without the need to lift the wash basin. A disposable thin personal wash basin having a funnel-shaped outlet may be used with the cart to minimize potential contamination.

Full Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/985,770 filed Nov. 6, 2007; the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present invention generally relates to health care devices and, more particularly, to a portable wash basin cart that is used to hold a patient&#39;s personal wash basin in a mobile, sanitary manner. 
     2. Background Information 
     Health care providers in a variety of environments often require a portable wash basin that is individual to the patient. Health care providers currently use a portable wash basin that must be carried back and forth from a bathroom for filling, emptying, cleaning, and refilling. Lower back pain is a common complaint of the users. These portable wash basins are typically a simple rectangular bucket that holds the wash and waste water. The wash basins are typically placed on available table, couch, or bed space when they are being used with the patient. When full of water, the basins are fairly heavy and unwieldy. Current was basins often cause spills and contamination to the support surface as well as surrounding areas. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention provides a wheeled cart configured to removably carry a patient&#39;s personal wash basin in a sanitary manner. The cart also allows the personal wash basin to be emptied and cleaned in a sanitary manner. The cart also allows the personal wash basin to be filled and moved without straining the back muscles of the user. The invention also provides a disposable personal wash basin for use with the cart. 
     The invention also provides a personal wash basin having a funnel-shaped outlet that protrudes from the lower surface of the personal wash basin. The funnel-shaped outlet may cooperate with a funnel-shaped outlet of the cart to minimize contact between the cart and contaminated waste water. The personal wash basin may be made from a thin, flexible material, such as a plastic, that may be disposable or recyclable. 
     In one configuration, the invention provides a portable wash basin cart for health care providers; the portable wash basin cart including: a frame; a personal wash basin defining an outlet; the personal wash basin being carried by the frame; a funnel carried by the frame; the outlet of the personal wash basin being aligned with the funnel; and a flexible drain pipe connected to the funnel. 
     Another configuration of the invention provides a portable personal wash basin cart that includes: a wheeled frame; a base basin carried by the wheeled frame; the base basin having a bottom wall defining an outlet; and a personal wash basin removably carried by the base basin; the personal wash basin having a bottom wall defining an outlet; the outlets being aligned when the personal wash basin carried by the base basin. 
     Each of the configurations described above may include flexible tube that allows water from a sink to be directed into the personal wash basin. Each of the configurations described above may include a frame that includes a handle with a lid for the personal wash basin connected to the handle. 
     A further configuration of the invention provides a portable personal wash basin cart that includes includes a base basin that is fixed to a cart frame and adapted to receive the patient&#39;s personal wash basin. The two basins may interlock at outlet funnels so that the personal wash basin is stable when held by the base basin. The outlet funnels allow the patient&#39;s personal wash basin to be drained without removing it from the base basin. The funnel-shaped opening prevents fluid from the personal basin from fouling the bottom of the base basin. A flexible drain pipe is removably connected to the outlet of the funnel-shaped opening. The drain pipe has an outlet adapted to fit onto a toilet bowl so the personal basin may be emptied directly into a toilet. To facilitate such draining, the outlet end of the drain pipe may be held by a C-shaped bracket that fits over the edge of a toilet bowl and holds the outlet end of the pipe in place. Caps are connected to both ends of the drain pipe and to the funnel-shaped opening to selectively close the openings. The cap for the funnel-shaped opening is used when the drain pipe is detached for cleaning. The cart includes a hook to hold the outlet end of the drain pipe so that the outlet is raised when not in use to limit dripping. 
     Another configuration of the invention provides a cart with a pair of basin holders. The dual configuration has the capacity to accommodate twice the amount of water/waste while providing the same sanitary benefits as the single unit. 
     The different features of the configurations described above may be combined in different combinations to form additional configurations. Each of the configurations described above may be provided with telescoping legs to allow the user to adjust the height of the device. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of an exemplary configuration of a portable wash basin cart. 
         FIG. 2  is a top plan view of the cart of  FIG. 1  with the lid in a different position. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view, partially in section, taken along line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is a side elevation view of the portable wash basin cart of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is a rear elevation view of the portable wash basin cart of  FIG. 1  with the lid closed. 
         FIG. 6  is an exploded perspective view of the portable wash basin cart of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the portable wash basin cart of  FIG. 1  attached to a sink faucet. 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the portable wash basin cart of  FIG. 1  emptying waste water into a toilet. 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of an exemplary double basin cart with the lids in their open positions. 
         FIG. 10  is an enlarged perspective view of the encircled portion of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view of the portable wash basin cart with the lid closed. 
     
    
    
     Similar numbers refer to similar parts throughout the specification. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The portable wash basin cart of the invention is indicated generally by the numeral  2  in the accompanying drawings. Portable wash basin cart  2  allows a personal wash basin  3  filled with waste water to be safely moved from one location to another with little risk that the waste water will spill out of cart  2  to contaminate an area that must then be cleaned. Personal wash basin  3  may be in the form of a stand-alone wash basin that is relatively rigid and capable of standing up while full of water. In another configuration, personal wash basin  3  may be provided in the form of a thin, flexible polymeric liner. The thin liner version of personal wash basin  3  may be disposable or recyclable. Portable wash basin cart  2  includes a flexible drain pipe that allows the user to safely drain waste water from personal wash basin  3  without strain on the user&#39;s back and with little risk of spilling the waste water during the draining process. 
     Cart  2  includes a frame  4  that is supported by at least two wheels  6 . Frame  4  may include four vertical legs  5  connected together with upper and lower sets of arms  7  disposed perpendicular to legs  5 . Legs  5  may be in the form of telescoping members to allow the height of cart  2  to be readily adjusted. The telescoping members may be held with friction or a ratchet that allows the user to adjust all four legs simply by lifting up or pushing down on was basin  3 . A common release catch also may be used to permit the adjustments. Each wheel  6  may be selectively locked with a brake  8 . Brakes  8  may be a lever-type or friction-type that prevent the wheel from freely rotating. When only two wheels  6  are used on cart  2 , one end of cart  2  must be lifted to roll cart  2  along the ground. Three or four wheels  6  are typically used so that cart  2  may be readily rolled from place to place without lifting a portion of frame  4 . Frame  4  may be fabricated from any of a variety of materials such as metal, plastic, or wood. In one exemplary configuration, frame  4  is fabricated from plastic or PVC tubes that are relatively light-weight and easy to sanitize. When plastic or PVC tubes are used to form frame  4 , corner joints and adhesive may be used to connect arms  7  with legs  5 . Mechanical connectors, such as screws, bolts, or rivets, may be used to secure the joints. 
     Frame  4  may be configured to define a storage shelf  10 , a plurality of shelves  10 , or a basket  10  that is adapted to hold supplies. Shelf  10  may be disposed just below a set of arms  7  to define a recessed shelf  10  with arms  7  defining a lip disposed about the perimeter of shelf  10 . 
     Frame  4  also may define a handle  12  that allows the user to grip cart  2  and control the movement of cart  2 . A lid  14  configured to cover wash basin  3  may be carried by handle  12  in a manner that allows lid  14  to be moved between open and closed positions. A pair of legs  15  connect lid  14  to handle  12 . Each leg  15  may include a sleeve that is rotatably carried by handle  12  to allow lid  14  to rotate between different positions. Handle  12  has an elongated, substantially horizontal portion that extends across the width of basin  2  where legs  15  are connected. Handle  12  includes a pair of L-shaped ends that have vertical portions that drop down from the ends of the elongated, horizontal portion and horizontal offset portions that connect to frame  4 . The offset portions provide space for a tray or shelf  13  disposed intermediate basin  3  and handle  12 . Tray  13  may be removably carried on the horizontal offset portions of the L-shaped ends of handle  12 . When completely open, lid  14  may hang down from frame  4  so that it will not accidentally fall down over the top of the wash basin on the user&#39;s hands or arms. The closed position of lid  14  ( FIG. 11 ) is used to cover personal wash basin  3  to prevent accidental splashes when cart  2  is being moved from place to place. 
     A flexible tube  16  may be used to fill personal wash basin  3  from a sink. Flexible tube  16  includes a faucet adapter  18  that fits a variety of common kitchen or bathroom sink faucets so that person wash basin  3  may be filled with clean water from a variety of locations. Tube  16  also prevents the user from having to lift a full wash basin  3  from a sink to cart  2 . Tube  16  may have a spray attachment on the cart end of tube  16 . Tube  16  may pass through an opening in tray  13  that functions to hold the spray attachment when tube  16  is not in use. 
     Portable wash basin cart  2  is configured to hold personal wash basin  3  that is typically filled with water or a water/soap combination used to attend to a patient. Basin  3  is personal to the patient and thus must be removed from cart  2  if cart  2  is used with a different patient. As such, basin  3  is removably carried by frame  4 . 
     Basin  3  is typically plastic and may be any of a variety of shapes such as round, oval, square, rectangular, or the like. A typical rectangular wash basin  3  is depicted as an example in the drawings. Basin  3  may be provided with its own lid that is snapped over the upper lip of basin  3  so that basin  3  may be sealed closed when removed from cart  2 . 
     Basin  3  may be provided with a drain opening  24  defined by the bottom wall  26  of basin  3 . A plug  28  is used to seal opening  24  when basin  3  is in use. Plug  28  may be secured to the top edge of basin  3  with a pull chain  30  to allow the user to pull plug  28  without reaching into the waste water in basin  3 . In one configuration of the invention, drain opening  24  is defined by a wall  29  that protrudes downwardly from bottom wall  26 . The protruding wall  29  may be shaped in the form of a funnel as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 10 . 
     In one configuration of the invention, frame  4  is configured to removably receive basin  3  directly. In the exemplary configuration of the invention depicted in the drawings, frame  4  includes a base basin  40  sized to removably receive personal wash basin  3 . In either example, a personal wash basin with or without funnel  29  may be removably held by frame  4 . 
     Wash basin  3  includes an upper flange  42  that rests on top of the upper lip of base basin  40 . Upper flange  42  of wash basin  3  defines a pair of handles  43  that allow basin  3  to be lifted from basin  40 . Flange  42  defines an opening adjacent each handle  43  so that the user may insert her hand between handle  43  and frame  4  when lifting basin  3 . Each handle  43  is C-shaped when viewed from above. Each handle  43  is integrally formed with flange  42 . Each handle  43  includes a rounded bottom wall that is spaced from the basin wall of basin  3  as shown in  FIG. 3  so that the user&#39;s fingers may be slipped between handle  43  and the basin wall when basin  3  is being lifted. As shown in  FIG. 3 , each handle  43  is disposed within base basin  40  when personal wash basin  3  is carried by frame  4 . This position ensures that any water splashing from basin  3  into the handle holes will be directed into base basin  40  and not onto the patient&#39;s floor. 
     Base basin  40  has a bottom wall  44  that includes a funnel  50  configured to receive funnel  29  so that personal wash basin  3  is supported from below by the contact between funnel  29  and funnel  50 . Funnel  50  defines the drain opening of basin  40  and allows basin  3  to be emptied without removing it from cart  2 . Funnel  50  is positioned directly below opening  24  so that little, if any, waste water draining from basin  3  will contact the inner surface of bottom wall  44 . Funnel  50  may be integrally formed with basin  40  or may be connected in an appropriate manner such as a press fit. Funnel  50  may have a larger diameter opening than opening  24 . An elbow joint may be connected to funnel  50  to direct waste water rearwardly. A removable cap may be provided to seal funnel  50  or the elbow joint when a drain pipe  60  is removed. As shown in  FIG. 10 , funnel  50  is configured to position the outlet of funnel  29  substantially evenly with the outlet of funnel  50  to minimize contact between waste water being drained from basin  3  and base basin  40 . Funnels  29  and  50  may be configured to position bottom wall  26  spaced from bottom wall  44  so that basin  3  may be easily removed from base basin  40 . 
     Flexible drain pipe  60  is removably connectable to the outlet of funnel  50 . Drain pipe  60  has an outlet  62  adapted to fit onto the edge of a toilet bowl so personal basin  3  may be emptied directly into a toilet. To facilitate such draining, outlet  62  of drain pipe  60  may be held by a C-shaped bracket  64  that fits over the edge of a toilet bowl and holds outlet  62  of pipe  60  in place. As shown in  FIG. 5 , the legs of the C-shaped bracket diverge so that the bracket may be used with a variety of different bowl rims. Caps may be removably connectable to both ends of drain pipe  60  to selectively close its openings. The caps are used when drain pipe  60  is detached from funnel  50 . Frame  4  includes a hook  68  to hold outlet  62  of drain pipe  60  so that outlet  62  is raised when not in use to limit dripping. A support  70  may hang from tray  13  to support pipe  60 . 
     Another configuration of the invention provides cart  2  that removably receives a pair of personal wash basins  3 . The dual configuration has the capacity to accommodate twice the amount of the water or waste water while providing the same sanitary benefits as the single unit  2 . 
     Cart  2  may be used by fitting basin  3  into frame  4  and fitting plug  28  into opening  24 . Cart  2  is then moved adjacent a water source wherein tube  16  is used to fill basin  3  with water. Lid  14  may then be closed and cart  2  is wheeled to a position adjacent the patient. The user opens lid  14  and performs the care needed by the patient. When cart  2  has a double basin, one basin may be used for clean water while the other is used for waste water. Once the user is ready is empty the waste water from basin  3 , the user may close lid  14  and move cart  2  into a bathroom. The user checks the connection between drain pipe  60  and funnel  50 , clips outlet end  62  to the edge of a toilet, and removes cap  66 . The user then pulls chain  30  to remove plug  28  and the water drains directly into the toilet. Cart  2  thus prevents the patient&#39;s sink from being fouled with waste water. The user may then clean personal basin  3  by connecting tube  16  to a sink and washing basin  3  while basin  3  remains in cart  2 . Cleaning basin  3  in this manner further prevents contamination of the patient&#39;s sink. Basin  3  may then be removed from cart  2  and left with the patient. Cart  2  is reused with the next patient by inserting the next patient&#39;s personal basin into frame  4  and repeating the process. 
     In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness, and understanding. No unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirement of the prior art because such terms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadly construed. 
     Moreover, the description and illustration of the invention is an example and the invention is not limited to the exact details shown or described.

Technology Classification (CPC): 0