Patent ID: 7641740

Claim:
An automated cleaning station to at least partially clean at least a portion of at least one appendage of a person using at least one fluid, comprising: a body; a rotatable wash chamber associated with the body, the wash chamber including an inner member and an outer member, the wash chamber including a first end and a second end, the wash chamber including an axis of rotation; an appendage receiving cavity located within the inner member, the appendage receiving cavity adapted for being accessible by the portion of the at least one appendage through an opening in the first end of the wash chamber; an annular cavity located between the inner member and the outer member, the inner member including a first surface and a second surface, the first surface facing the appendage receiving cavity and the second surface facing the annular cavity; a plurality of nozzles disposed on the inner member, the plurality of nozzles adapted to receive the at least one fluid from the annular cavity and to project the fluid into the appendage receiving cavity; a fluid inlet into the annular cavity, the fluid inlet providing an entrance for the at least one fluid into the annular cavity, the fluid inlet being substantially radially symmetric with respect to the axis of rotation; and a fluid guidance structure disposed on the second surface of the inner member substantially in line with the fluid inlet, the fluid guidance structure being substantially radially symmetric with respect to the axis of rotation, the fluid guidance structure including a protrusion extending from the second surface of the inner member towards the fluid inlet, the protrusion including a sloped surface being substantially symmetrical about the axis of rotation, the protrusion including a location of greatest offset disposed substantially in line with the fluid inlet; whereby during operation of the wash chamber, the at least one fluid flows in from the fluid inlet, into the annular cavity, and through the plurality of nozzles into the appendage receiving cavity, and wherein the fluid guidance structure operates to direct the at least one fluid flowing in from the fluid inlet into the annular cavity.